Chapter 43: The Deal

The weather remained gloomy and oppressive.

School had just let out at five o'clock, and the sky had already fallen completely dark.

Compared to the gloomy weather, today Gune's mood was much more cheerful.

Mentor Olof was willing to guide him into the study of rune analysis—this was a rare stroke of good fortune.

If he hadn't displayed extraordinary talent, he probably wouldn't have earned such an opportunity.

"Learning rune analysis, then creating new spells." Gune narrowed his eyes slightly.

"This will be a long process of study."

"For several years, even a decade or more, I will be a dedicated scholar."

"Only when I have accumulated a deep enough foundation in both the supernatural and rune studies will I be able to create new supernatural spells."

When Gune arrived at the entrance of Old Stone Street,

a black carriage blocked his path.

The carriage door opened, and he saw Veya, dressed in a robe and cloak.

After quickly scanning the surroundings, Veya said hurriedly, "Get in."

Without hesitation, Gune climbed into the carriage.

As soon as he sat down, he noticed that the cramped carriage held not only himself and Veya

but also a middle-aged nobleman in a brown top hat and black-blue robe.

The man was of medium build, with a kind yet dignified face. He wore a pocket watch on his chest, a pair of gray-white gloves, and carried a black bamboo cane.

This was standard noble attire.

When Gune saw the silver pocket watch on the man's chest, his heart stirred.

"This is my uncle, Viscount Dylan, who holds a fief and a hereditary title," Veya introduced once Gune was seated.

"A fief and a hereditary title." Gune couldn't help but take a few more glances at this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man.

Then Veya added,

"And after he finishes his twenty-year tour of duty at the Ruins City, a promotion to count is almost certain."

"Haha... it's not as exaggerated as you say; it's all thanks to the family's power," Viscount Dylan said with a chuckle.

"And this must be the future master alchemist my niece has praised so highly—Lord Gune, I presume?"

"It's an honor to meet you, Viscount Dylan." Gune rose slightly to bow.

"This kind of boastful introduction is far too obvious!" Gune thought as he sat down, glancing at Veya.

At that moment, Veya, peering through the gap in the carriage window curtain as if she had spotted something interesting, paid no attention to what was happening inside.

After a long pause,

Viscount Dylan spoke softly.

"I hear from my niece Veya that you, Lord Gune, have extraordinary skill in refining high-grade fine potions."

Hearing this, Gune understood what the man was getting at.

He had brought up the fief, the hereditary title, and even the future count status.

This was a display of wealth and status to gain the upper hand in their cooperation.

At this point, Gune naturally couldn't afford to be at a disadvantage.

"High-grade fine potions are not my goal. My true pursuit is secret-pattern potions," Gune said, his tone devout and rhythmic.

"These are powerful potions that can directly enhance our physical body, soul, and source power."

"More importantly, the supernatural properties carried by secret-pattern potions can change the current weakness of supernatural professions across the entire era."

"Moreover, through deductions based on the latest alchemical texts from the White Tower of Longyu Mountain, combined with my own understanding of alchemy, I have gained new insights into handling the supernatural properties of medicinal herbs."

"Perhaps, in the near future, a batch of secret-pattern potions will be born from my hands."

Gune's words made even Veya, who had been "intently" staring out the window, turn to look at him.

Viscount Dylan was somewhat taken aback and couldn't help glancing at Veya: "This doesn't match what we discussed earlier! Wasn't this person supposed to be modest?"

"Lord Gune's talent and skill in alchemy will undoubtedly lead to great achievements in the future."

Viscount Dylan composed himself slightly before speaking tentatively.

"Lord Gune, as you know, high-grade fine potions possess extremely strong supernatural properties."

"Long-term consumption can help enhance certain aspects, such as the sensitivity of the soul and physical body."

"I wonder if you, Lord Gune, can refine such potions?"

"Do you have the corresponding formula?" Gune asked.

"Yes!" Viscount Dylan replied bluntly.

"Then there's no problem." Gune had confidence in that.

Viscount Dylan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"The difficulty of refining this potion is very high. I've sought out three high-grade alchemists, and even when they succeeded, the success rate was extremely low," Viscount Dylan said with a cautious tone.

"Refining with a low success rate is just a waste of materials."

Gune remained calm inside.

"It's not surprising that high-grade fine potions have a low success rate when refined by high-grade alchemists."

Gune gently rubbed his fingers and said softly,

"Talking here won't accomplish anything."

"Viscount Dylan, you can hand me the formula and materials tomorrow or the day after, and we'll see the results."

Viscount Dylan glanced at Veya, who nodded slightly.

"Very well." Viscount Dylan nodded slightly.

"If you, Lord Gune, can indeed refine this type of high-grade fine potion with a high success rate,

then the demand for such potions will be enormous."

"Enormous demand?" Gune's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Enormous demand meant a large quantity of supernatural herbs.

Thus, the maneuverability would be considerable, and the profit margin substantial.

In alchemy,

the price of low-grade potions ranges from 20 copper yuan to around 100 copper yuan.

Many low-grade alchemists can refine low-grade potions.

And there are plenty of alchemist apprentices to help process the materials, while low-grade alchemists do the mixing.

In fact, in some places, steam machinery for refining potions has already begun to emerge; Gune vaguely sensed a hint of alchemical industrialization.

As a result, the price of low-grade potions leaves almost no profit margin.

A low-grade potion costing 20 copper yuan might yield a profit of just one or two copper yuan.

Compared to low-grade potions,

the profit from mid-grade potions is much more substantial.

Because mid-grade potions are scarce, yet the demand is not small.

Major powers urgently need these mid-grade potions.

Mid-grade potions range in price from 2 silver dragons (200 copper yuan) to 5 silver dragons (500 copper yuan).

A top-tier mid-grade essence potion at 500 copper yuan is already half a gold pound.

The profit is considerable, sometimes reaching around 50%.

Even at the lower end, it's 20%.

As for high-grade potions,

their prices are extraordinary.

High-grade potions range from 2 to 5 gold pounds.

In market terms, that's 2000 to 5000 copper yuan—equivalent to one or two months' income for many working-class people.

Fortunately, supernatural beings are not ordinary folk.

Many supernatural beings carry three to five high-grade potions on them.

At critical moments, these high-grade potions can save lives.

And the profit from high-grade potions, due to their scarcity, is quite high.

The average profit margin is over 100%.

This is why high-grade alchemists are so popular.

Any power that has an alchemist will treat them as a core asset.

After all, they are like a hen that lays golden eggs.

As for high-grade fine potions, which are even rarer than high-grade potions and can enhance certain attributes with long-term use,

even ordinary high-grade alchemists may not be able to refine these extremely rare potions.

Only expert-level alchemists can consistently refine them.

And expert-level alchemists are so scarce

that they can only be produced by powerful organizations like the Yulan Empire, the Yulan Supernatural Association, and the White Tower of Longyu Mountain.

One can imagine how limited the supply of high-grade fine potions is.

And these organizations themselves have a great demand for such potions.

As a result, these fine potions are essentially monopolized at the source.

Free supernatural beings who don't belong to major supernatural powers need not only money but also luck to obtain high-grade fine potions.

Compared to the 2 to 5 gold pounds for ordinary high-grade potions,

the price of high-grade fine potions ranges from 10 to 20 gold pounds.

At first glance, that's only four to five times higher than high-grade potions.

But high-grade fine potions require long-term consumption to show effects.

For example, a daily dose of one bottle means a monthly consumption of 300 to 600 gold pounds.

Over time, such consumption is beyond the means of ordinary supernatural beings.

Gune's gaze briefly swept over Viscount Dylan.

"The Sogg Ruins City is located on the border of the Supernatural Wasteland."

"This Viscount Dylan is the administrator of the Sogg Ruins City Supernatural Association; he probably has a vast amount of resources."

"If this deal goes through, refining these potions could make me rich."

Gune pondered silently in his mind.