Luciel stood before the grand shop, admiring the elegant glass windows of the Shelley Chamber of Commerce. Known as one of the three largest commercial entities in Baifeng City, the Chamber's influence stretched across all of Western Asia. Luciel had heard much about their vast operations and the prestige that came with associating with them. Today, he had come to see if he could make a deal that would elevate his newly crafted potions.
"The Magic Pharmacy Shop of the Shelley Chamber of Commerce," Luciel muttered to himself, observing the bustling shop front. "It should be well-known for selling quality products. More people will be aware of the goods here."
Taking a deep breath, Luciel pushed open the door and entered the clean, orderly store. The air was filled with a faint scent of herbs and potions, and rows of magic elixirs, each contained in crystal-clear boxes, lined the shelves on his left. To his right, a polished counter gleamed under the soft lighting.
As soon as he stepped inside, an enthusiastic clerk greeted him with a bright smile. "Dear guest, welcome! Is there anything I can help you with today?"
Although Luciel's clothes were simple, his sharp features and an air of nobility about him gave off a distinct impression. The clerk, thinking him to be a young, wealthy aristocrat, immediately assumed he was someone of importance.
Luciel casually scanned the store, then addressed the clerk with a calm voice. "My name is Luciel Lanster."
The clerk paused, his smile faltering as he glanced at Luciel in confusion. "Uh..." he stammered. "I'm sorry, but... I don't think I know that name. Could you tell me more about yourself?"
Luciel nodded and, without missing a beat, reached into his pocket. He produced a thin piece of paper and a badge. "This is my admission notice to Orland College and my student badge," he explained, offering the items as proof. "I'm showing these to you to avoid any misunderstandings, in case you think I'm lying."
The clerk blinked in surprise, his confusion shifting to curiosity. "Well... Mr. Lanster, I do believe you are indeed a student at Orland Academy, but... I still don't understand. What exactly is it you want to do here? How can I help you?"
Luciel smiled and confidently replied, "I plan to sell a new type of magic potion recently developed by my instructor through your shop."
"Sell?" The clerk's confusion deepened, and he couldn't hide the skepticism in his voice. "Are you serious? You want to sell magic potions here?"
Luciel, undeterred by the doubt in the clerk's eyes, remained calm and serious. "Yes," he affirmed, then carefully took out the five bottles of potion he had meticulously crafted. "These are new power potions that have three times the effect of ordinary low-level strength potions. They are the result of my mentor's painstaking research, and there is not another batch like them in the entire Kingdom of Ryan."
He set the bottles gently on the counter and continued, "I'm offering them for sixty gold coins each, but if you take all five bottles, I can lower the price to fifty gold coins per bottle."
The clerk looked at the bottles with disbelief. His gaze shifted back to Luciel, incredulous. "Are you... Are you joking? Fifty gold coins per bottle?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Luciel raised an eyebrow, meeting the clerk's gaze with unshaken seriousness. "Do you think I'm joking?"
The clerk shook his head, not sure whether to laugh or to dismiss Luciel as a fool. "Sir, I'm afraid you've misjudged this place. There's no way I could buy your so-called 'new type' of potion at that price. Do you really expect us to take these bottles off your hands?"
Luciel, however, wasn't deterred. His eyes gleamed with a mix of cunning and confidence. "Maybe you should hear the name of my mentor before you make any hasty decisions."
The clerk raised an eyebrow, now intrigued. "Your mentor? Who is he?"
Luciel leaned in slightly, making sure his words carried the weight of authority. "My mentor is none other than Mr. Giles, the Deputy Dean of Orland Magic Academy, and a renowned master of magic potions."
"Lord Giles?!" The clerk's eyes widened in shock. "You're... you're his student?" His disbelief turned into awe.
Luciel offered a slight smile, but said nothing further. The student badge and the admission notice were all the proof the clerk needed. The clerk's demeanor shifted at once—his hesitation replaced with a hesitant but growing respect.
However, even though Giles was a prestigious figure, the clerk remained wary. "I still can't buy these potions... I don't have the authority to spend so much money on these, and what if I can't sell them? I'll be stuck with them."
Luciel's expression remained calm as he replied, "I don't expect you to buy them outright. You can simply display my potions in your shop. If customers show interest, you can sell them. Of course, if you're willing to make an effort to promote them, all the better."
The clerk's brow furrowed as Luciel's next words dropped like a weight on his mind. "Here's the deal: You can sell these potions at a price higher than fifty gold coins, and whatever extra money you make above the base price, you can keep for yourself."
Luciel's tone became persuasive, almost coaxing. "I'm even willing to leave the potions here on deposit first. You don't even have to buy them upfront. Just sell them and make a profit. Think about it. You'll make more money from a single sale than you would in months of work here. Why hesitate?"
The clerk stood frozen, torn between disbelief and the temptation of easy wealth. His monthly salary was a mere 30 silver coins, a sum so small that even one sale at fifty gold coins per bottle would multiply it many times over. The thought of pocketing extra money from a single sale was hard to resist, especially with the backing of someone as prestigious as Giles.
After a moment of hesitation, the clerk's face softened with a glimmer of greed. "Alright," he said, finally making up his mind. "I'll give it a try, but I hope you're not lying to me, Luciel."
Luciel's smile widened. "I would never lie about such an important matter. You can count on my mentor's name to guarantee the authenticity of these potions."
As he prepared to leave, Luciel added one final remark, "If it weren't for my mentor's curiosity about the market value of his new medicine, you wouldn't have had the opportunity to benefit from this. You're lucky to be the one to sell it."
The clerk, now fully persuaded, nodded eagerly. "I understand. I'll keep them on display and try my best to sell them."
Luciel nodded, confident in his successful negotiation, then left the shop with a satisfied smile on his face. He had used Giles's name to his advantage, knowing the clerk wouldn't dare question it. For now, the potions were in the hands of the Shelley Chamber of Commerce, and Luciel could only wait to see what would happen next.
To be continued...
(Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for the next chapter!)