Chapter 255: Chapter 236: Business Should Be Win-Win Chapter 255: Chapter 236: Business Should Be Win-Win Amberser said all this targeting the small and medium-sized nobility, whose entire fortune might just suffice for a bottle of Youth Magic Potion, an object beyond their reach. But this diluted version of the Youth Magic Potion, which lasts only a few days, was coveted by everyone as an attractive item.

After listening to Amberser, many people found his words reasonable. Before, they had thought of selling it only to wealthy noblewomen, who notoriously spend generously for youth and beauty, but now they saw the broader utility. It seemed that all noble households should stock up on several bottles of this potion for future needs.

If marketed well, this Magic Potion could even be touted as the key to determining a family’s prosperity or decline.

Endel Mark hastily shouted, “Nine hundred Gold Coins! I bid nine hundred Gold Coins a bottle!”

This outcry instantly ignited the competitive spirit in others, and after another round of bidding, the wholesale price of the Magic Potion shot up to one thousand two hundred Gold Coins.

But beyond that point, everyone began to hesitate, with the price increasing by just a few Gold Coins at a time, until Young Master Mark finally secured the agency rights for the Youth Magic Potion at one thousand two hundred eighty Gold Coins.

Endel Mark proudly said to Amberser, “Sorry to say, although you have keener insight than I do, it seems the Mark Family has deeper pockets.”

Endel Mark was envious of Amberser, for he was younger and more handsome, and had pointed out a sales target for the Magic Potion that Endel Mark himself hadn’t considered.

How could this guy be so much more talented than him?

But no matter, his family was wealthy.

The world is never short of smart people, but the vast majority of them are unable to break free from the shackles of their class. Just like now, this man knew the opportunity in front of him could be lucrative, but without enough money, he could only watch others make a profit.

Endel Mark, with the attitude of a victor, told Amberser, “Let me advise you, don’t always try to show off your cleverness. If you hadn’t revealed your thoughts just now, you probably could have won with eight hundred Gold Coins, instead of losing the opportunity like now and teaching me how to make more money.”

Amberser, with a beaming face, said, “Right, right, you are correct, I hope you can make more.”

Endel Mark frowned, feeling as if he had just punched the air; why wasn’t this man the least bit agitated?

Was he pretending? It didn’t seem so; the man was smiling as if he had made a fortune himself.

Just as Endel Mark was perplexed, the much-admired Miss Isabelle approached the two of them. Endel Mark thought she had come to speak with him, especially since they were now business partners from that point onward.

This young Alchemy Prodigy was not only talented but also quite attractive. Endel Mark had a significant fondness for her. If he could marry her, wouldn’t the Magic Potion effectively become his family’s asset?

Indeed, all the competitors had the same idea; after learning that Miss Isabelle was still single, these nobles sent over their best children, hoping to gain both a person and wealth. And now, Endel Mark had the advantage of acting first.

Endel Mark was about to greet Isabelle and invite her to dinner when he heard Isabelle respectfully say to the young man he had just ridiculed, “Teacher, you’re finally back.”

“Teacher?!”

Not only did Endel Mark’s eyes widen, but so did everyone else’s, as they found it unbelievable.

This young man, who looked to be seventeen or eighteen, was Miss Isabelle’s teacher?!

What kind of teacher, surely not in Alchemy?

Amberser smiled faintly and said to Isabelle, “You did well, I’m quite shocked. But let’s postpone reminiscing for later and prioritize business for now.”

Seeing the cheerful demeanor between the two, an agitated Endel Mark said, “You two are in cahoots to deceive me? I won’t acknowledge the results of the bidding just now!”

Planting a shill is indeed a problem, and Endel Mark’s desire to retract his bid was understandable.

However, as soon as Endel Mark finished speaking, Amberser said, “You’re right, so how about this: the bidding just now is void. Now, with the price at one thousand two hundred Gold Coins per bottle, who is willing to accept? We can sign the contract right now.”

No sooner had Amberser finished than several of the unsuccessful bidders shouted out loud in agreement.

“One thousand two hundred Gold Coins, we, the Osman Family, will take it!”

“One thousand two hundred thirty Gold Coins!”

…

The scene once again turned into a bidding war, making Endel Mark feel as sick as if he had swallowed a fly.

This was also the reason Amberser was unconcerned; the Magic Potion wasn’t fake, its effects were genuinely demonstrated for all to see, and the market wasn’t an illusion. Regardless of whether Amberser was a shill, everything he said was true, and whoever secured the agency rights would naturally make a fortune.

The one who had ridiculed Amberser was Endel Mark, not the other young masters; their embarrassment had nothing to do with them. Of course, it was most important for them to make money first—who cared whether Endel Mark was willing or not?

Under different circumstances, Endel Mark would have left in a huff, preferring not to make the money rather than lose face.

However, the Mark Family could not afford to miss this deal.

With the destruction of Alchemy City, alchemy became a “demon that could potentially destroy the world,” leading to a prolonged stagnation in the sale of alchemical products. As Amberser said, the world couldn’t completely do without alchemy, but recovery would take time.

Would things get better in two months?

The Mark Family couldn’t wait two months.

Their main business was the transportation of alchemy potions, unlike other nobles who primarily managed the production of their own lands. The stagnation of potion sales had a far more severe impact on the Mark Family, with their finances almost hitting rock bottom. If things continued this way, they would have to sell not only their family castle but also the land it stood on.

For a family, selling land was akin to suicide.

Thus, no matter how much Endel Mark loathed it, he clenched his teeth and said, “I apologize, I was too rash earlier. I am willing to accept the results of the auction, 1,280 gold coins per bottle, let’s sign the contract.”

Amberser glanced at Endel Mark, genuinely surprised that the Young Master Mark could swallow his pride. He had thought the young master would be enraged and resort to violence, which would have given him the chance to take him down and demand compensation from the Mark Family.

“Oh, I can’t let Young Master Mark suffer a loss. Indeed, I was at fault, let’s set the price at 1,250 gold coins. Consider these 30 gold coins as a token of my apology,” Amberser said.

Endel Mark was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, “Ah? Are you serious?”

“Of course, in business, it’s all about mutual benefits. It’s only by everyone making money that we can sustain a long-term partnership,” Amberser said.

Endel Mark suddenly found Amberser much more agreeable. Although it was a mere concession of 30 gold coins, sometimes such a slight margin could determine profit and loss in sales channels.

The Mark Family needed to find every possible way to resolve the economic crisis. This potion represented a chance to turn things around, and the reduction of 30 gold coins made that chance much greater.

With feelings of being slighted now evaporated, Endel Mark realized he had been too petty. After all, it was he who picked the fight in the beginning. Amberser, far from taking offense, even offered him a discount—such magnanimity.

Worthy of being Miss Isabelle’s teacher, indeed a man of great stature.

Endel Mark, overjoyed, signed the contract with Amberser, barely glancing at the terms, thus overlooking the fact that his distribution rights were confined to the territory of the old kingdom of Alchemy City.

In other words, sales agency rights for the rest of the continent were still firmly in Amberser’s hands.

Once that was taken care of, Amberser had his maid Cardina, who had turned into a young girl, send the man away and then joined Isabelle in the castle’s alchemy laboratory.

Amberser settled naturally into his chair, then said to Isabelle, “Take a seat. Now that we’re alone, tell me about what has happened during this time.”

Isabelle looked at Amberser, feeling a complex mix of confusion and reassurance.

It was only after Amberser had left that she realized the castle ghost was the same person as the Lich Lord, for she had not seen her “teacher” since Amberser’s departure.

She had even complained about her job in front of her “teacher” and now, recalling that, she felt like an idiot, embarrassed to the point of fidgeting with her feet.

Isabelle had recognized him the moment Amberser began to bid, but it was his voice echoing in her ear, reminding her to play along with his act.

Isabelle instantly understood that her teacher was about to con someone again and thus followed his performance intently. Sure enough, that Young Master Mark had been duped by her teacher, transforming from an enemy to a devoted business partner.

He was truly remarkable, just as he had always been.

“Teacher, after you left, I figured we needed money to maintain the castle, so I tried to earn it using alchemy…”

Isabelle meticulously recounted her experiences during this time to Amberser.

Truth be told, it wasn’t that complicated. Amberser had left only a small amount of alchemy materials for Isabelle, along with a contingent of skeleton troops for self-defense.

They had not a single gold coin, so Isabelle had to strive to make money on her own.

When ordinary alchemy potions stopped selling, Isabelle grew disheartened. Then one day, she discovered some strange substance in a corner of the castle—viscous fluid with white spots.

Perhaps luck was on Isabelle’s side as she experimented with rats to test the effects of the slime, finding that it had rejuvenating properties. Shocked by the discovery, she attempted to refine it using her alchemy skills. After numerous experiments, she finally created a formula with relatively stable effects.

“Something from inside the castle? How come I’ve never seen it?”

Amberser was shocked, unaware that his castle still contained such marvels.

Isabelle led Amberser to where the slime had appeared, and looking at the bizarre orange slime, Amberser suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

Quickly, he remembered. Wasn’t this the Teleportation Circle connected to Alchemy City’s sewer system? Back then, he had left it there, hoping to trap Slimes… But what was this stuff that had been transported?