Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 1254 - 40: Struggle for Interests

Chapter 1254: Chapter 40: Struggle for Interests

"Ah, I really didn’t expect it to be developed by you," Warrensen said after a long silence, closing the documents he held and closing his eyes to ponder for a moment, sighing, "We in the Kingdom of Mages had also conducted this research. We spent fifteen years and countless funds on it, but in the end, we didn’t gain much. Unexpectedly, you here had not leaked any news and had already completed the research. Heh, truly fills one with envy."

"Actually, we were also quite surprised," Antuin replied with a smile of non-committal, softly saying, "Hogg and I actually knew that Miss Vivian had been working on improvements and new developments of these casting potions, but we really didn’t think the results would come this quickly, to be honest. When I heard the news yesterday, it really gave me a fright."

"I was startled too, without any prior indication." The master of the Tower of Alchemy, Hogg, stroked his beard and said with a grin, "Yesterday afternoon she suddenly rushed into my office, slammed the documents and all the boxes down on my desk, demanding they be included in the agenda of this session of the Supreme Council. I was completely unprepared for what had happened until I read through a page of the documents that I understood the importance of this development report. Fortunately, the council was already planned to be convened today, and the councilors and their substitutes had already gathered in the tower, so it was possible to give them an initial review of the documents and products. Otherwise, it would have been even more trouble to assemble those people at the last minute. However, being able to witness this epoch-making breakthrough come into public view, no matter how troublesome, is worth it."

"Heh, we once mobilized the whole nation’s efforts, with five lords leading all subordinate development departments in a joint effort, we spent fifteen years and wasted it all without developing even a single potion," Warrensen said, still wearing a gentle and kind smile, "And today you tell me that just a twenty-something-year-old young girl casually researched for a few years and developed three potions in succession. It seems to me that us lords of the Kingdom of Mages are simply a joke."

"The study of magic is not like warfare, where having more people necessarily means having a higher chance of victory," Antuin said with a serious expression, but his words seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm, "Without a good research atmosphere, without fully mobilizing everyone’s passion, and restraining everyone like craftsmen, no matter how many people are gathered, success might not be achievable. On the other hand, as long as we can free each researcher from the shackles of their thoughts, even without cooperation, even with just one person’s effort, unexpected breakthroughs can occur."

"Tsk, are you criticizing our Kingdom of Mages’ way of researching?" Warrensen still smiled, but his gaze turned sharp, "I recall that in the past thousand years, the achievements of our Kingdom of Mages have not been few, just that this time you took a step ahead."

"What do you think I mean?" Antuin said calmly, "In a thousand years your achievements have indeed been numerous, but how many of them were creative like this? Your achievements are more about improvement, heh, only just took a step ahead this time, didn’t we?"

"Tap, tap, tap," Pannis lightly tapping the table with his fingers, smiling yet not smiling, said, "Our Miss Vivian is really just a young girl in her twenties, sorry about that, heh heh, but were you just commenting on her age and qualifications?"

"What do you think?" Warrensen immediately responded in Antuin’s manner, "My words are meant literally; you can interpret them as you wish, that is your freedom, I have no interest in meddling."

"Gentlemen, it seems we’ve gone off-topic a bit," Vivian furrowed her brows and coughed lightly, saying, "The time of researchers is precious. Rather than wasting such valuable time here, I would prefer to stay in my laboratory, and I think everyone feels the same. So, let’s end this lengthy discussion and make a decision quickly."

"There’s no need for discussion, or rather, the discussion ended when we finished these documents," Warrensen said with his kind smile fading, speaking seriously, "This achievement is indeed very important for mages who haven’t reached Demigod strength, so I can promise, in the name of the official Kingdom of Mages, to rapidly promote the three casting potions on the Butte Plateau, helping you open all potion sales channels, allowing your Mage Guild’s potion products to be sold in every city, and without collecting taxes. However, I also have demands; I require that all sales related to the Butte Plateau be conducted through the Butte Plateau Mage Council, and the prices must be thirty percent lower than the market rate."

"Are you joking?" As a leader of one side, the master of the Tower of Alchemy, Hogg, would not back down just because of Warrensen’s influence, stroking his beard and scoffing, "Thirty percent lower than the market rate, do you know what that means? Hmph, that implies you’d make a higher profit than us. Do you think I would agree? If you really insist on that thirty percent discount, you’re forcing us to raise the potion prices, which lets you easily earn more, but it would put our Alchemy Association in opposition against all the mages. Do you think we are foolish enough to agree to that?"

"That’s your own problem," Warrensen also refused to budge: "Having two major forces jointly promote and recognize this achievement is far more effective than if your Mage Guild were to do it alone, a fact you have to admit. Hence, you’re even willing to let go of profits to hurriedly pull me back from the conference in Neville City for discussion. Since that’s the case, what’s the issue with you letting go of some profits?"

"The problem is that it’s too much," Hogg slammed the table in protest, "If we were to sell you the potions at your price, and you then resold them to the entire Continent, that would equate to us working for you for free; we must be foolish to do such a thing."

"It seems we are still far from ending this discussion," Vivian glanced at the timer, suddenly interrupting the dispute as she stood up, "With that being the case, I’ll leave first. I still have other matters to attend to tonight and don’t wish to be delayed by such an uninteresting issue."

"Wait a moment, Miss Vivian," Hogg said urgently, "We still need to discuss the specific details about potion production and profit distribution."

"That," Vivian’s mouth curled into a sly smile, shaking her head, "Talk to my agent about that tomorrow, I’m not responsible for negotiations."

"Agent?" Hogg furrowed his brows, hesitatingly asking, "Miss Catherine from the Nellie adventure team?"

"Yes," Vivian smiled and nodded, "That will be a pleasant negotiation."

"Oh, my," Hogg let out a despairing groan.