章 22: Marcus Opening The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Path For Durant’s Family
編集者: EndlessFantasy Translation
Marcus finally arrived at Durant's home two days later.
Upon seeing that Durant had long recovered long ago, Marcus heaved a sigh of relief.
Durant immediately got his servant to prepare a meal for the travel-worn Marcus, preparing to catch up with him.
"Marcus..." Durant said slowly after Marcus drank his red wine. "I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've already reached the advanced-mage realm. The three chests of gold coins should belong to some big family, right?"
"Yes, it's from the Griffin family," Marcus said that and then changed the topic. "Speaking of which, Durant, from the moment I entered the door until now, I noticed that you're kind of worried. Did something happen recently?"
"Nothing much. It's just that although things have been getting better at the fishing grounds, business is still not how it used to be." Durant sighed and said, "I'm afraid that we'll have to shift our focus on another industry in the near future."
"Which industry?"
"I'm not sure. My father hasn't given it much thought yet. Forget it. Let's eat." Durant felt that he had said too much and chose to stop talking about this topic.
"I have something." Marcus smiled and took an ancient parchment out of his pocket and said slowly, "I think this medium-level stamina potion formula can help you. The price of potions has always been rising, so mages try their best to concoct their own potions instead of buying them from shops.
"Of course, those who don't have a potion formula can only buy potions." Marcus handed the potion formula to Durant and added, "The starting price of the potion should be at least 2,000 gold coins per bottle on the market. The profit is more or less 1,000 gold coins."
"That much!?" The astonished Durant's eyes widened. "Why is the profit so high, Marcus?"
"Durant, the most expensive part of a potion is not the materials." Marcus said in a deep voice, "The most expensive part is the skill of the person who makes the potion. A good pharmacist can not only concoct a potion faster, but they can also make one that has a good effect.
"A potion has a certain level of toxicity. A good pharmacist will reduce this toxicity level to the extreme."
Durant had heard that potions were very profitable, but he did not expect them to be to such an extent. "Marcus, I agree!"
"Durant, I think you should let your father think about it first. The highest cost of concocting a potion is the pharmacist, not the herbs!"
"Yes." Durant held Marcus's hand tightly and said firmly, "I will bring you to my father now. I believe he will agree."
At dusk...
In Bud's home, the situation was not very good.
A bald man with a scar told Bud slowly, "Since your fishing ground business is on the verge of bankruptcy, I hope you can consider my suggestion."
"No, no, no, Mr. Deron." Bud pretended to be very respectful and said to the scar-faced man, "Your business is located in the Black Zone, so it's considered illegal."
"What do you mean by saying that my business is illegal?" Deron's eyes suddenly exuded a terrifying glint.
Bud didn't take to heart Deron's threatening gaze and tone, and he said calmly, "From my perspective, your business won't last long. I give it five or six years before it's banned."
"So what?" Deron smiled. "I've already made enough money, so what stops me from starting another business venture? Anyway, this is the pharmaceutical industry we are talking about."
"Mr. Deron, this is not the road of profiteering, but the road of crime," Bud said in a deep voice. "You're not selling a regular drug, but a drug that can make people addicted. I can't take part in this."
"You really won't reconsider?"
"I won't. I won't participate in your scheme. Mr. Deron, please take your leave," replied Bud.
"Hmph!" Deron drank a mouthful of wine, got up, and left.
"Rejected him?" A fat man beside Budd muttered, "Sir, then how do we maintain the family business?"
"Ken, my good friend, you have to know that some opportunities are not opportunities but traps," explained Bud. "Trust me, this type of business will be banned and dealt a blow in a few years."
"Maybe..." Ken Clark was a little annoyed.
He had returned from studying abroad and become the best pharmacist in the area. Thus, he was little unwilling to lose this opportunity of working in the pharmaceutical industry.
At that moment, Durant brought Marcus to Bud's house.
"Father!" Durant smiled and said to Bud, "Our family is saved."
"Marcus..."
Bud had a sharp intuition, so he asked, "Don't tell me you want me to set out sights to the pharmaceutical industry?"
"Yes, Uncle Bud." Marcus took out the potion formula and handed it to Bud.
"It should be an ordinary low-level potion formula..." Bud sighed in his heart. "I appreciate the sentiment. It's just that children don't understand the world of adults—"
When Bud looked at the potion formula, his eyes immediately widened, and his heart was no longer calm.
"Low-level stamina potion!" he exclaimed. "Marcus, you really are our family's savior."
After saying that, Bud let Ken take a look.
Ken could care less about his gentlemanly demeanor as he shouted, "Bud, this potion is an improved version! Mr. Marcus, how did you get your hands on it? Someone bought this high-level formula for 20,000 gold coins in the black market!"
"A friend of mine gave it to me," replied Marcus.
"Marcus, this friend of yours is not simple!" Ken said excitedly.
"Hey, hey, our Marcus is also a level-4 advanced mage. It's not unusual for him to know a few strong people, right?" Durant added. "Since he's our family's protective umbrella', he's naturally very powerful!"
The other two people exclaimed in amazement.
When Marcus heard that this potion formula was so valuable, a high-level one on top of that, he was also astonished. Susan had actually lied to him that it had only cost her less than 10,000 gold coins.
'It seems that Susan's background is very powerful,' thought Marcus. 'I must repay Susan properly the next time I see her!'
Bud said worriedly, "Child, since a friend of yours gave you this formula, do you really want to give it..."
Bud didn't continue.
Marcus smiled. "It's okay, Uncle Bud. Didn't we agree on this before? I am your family's protector. Giving me 100,000 gold coins per year is already very good."
"Child, I know that you don't like to owe others anything," Bud's eyes were a little moist, "but I hope that you won't be too polite with our family in the future. Just tell me what you need. If our venture really succeeds, I will give you 30% of the profits!"
"Marcus replied, "Okay. Uncle Bud, I'd like us to start our pharmaceutical business now."
-- 贈り物
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