Chapter 12. Illegal Business
“What kind of business? Let me hear it.”
Fulan asked with curiosity.
“Let us go somewhere quieter. Follow me.”
Elan stood up and walked toward a corner.
Fulan felt somewhat surprised. What kind of business could possibly be more sensitive than selling spells?
In Lodris, no shop was allowed to sell spells. Apprentices could only obtain spells in the ways Instructor Lita had mentioned—either by performing excellently in courses or by joining a Magic School.
Before coming here, Fulan had also asked around to see whether there were other places that sold spells.
As it turned out, there were indeed two such places.
However, both required recommendations through powerful families and factions. Since she had none, she had no choice but to come here.
Beyond that, she had been unable to discover any other leads.
From this, it was clear how strictly the entire City of Apprentices treated the illegal sale of spells.
Yet Elan had just sold a spell to her openly in a public place.
Now he wanted to discuss another business deal somewhere “quiet.”
After thinking briefly, Fulan followed him.
Elan turned a corner and pressed a nearby candle holder. Then he pushed against a section of the wall.
A dimly lit passage appeared.
Fulan followed him inside, carefully observing her surroundings.
They eventually arrived in a bare, undecorated room.
Elan turned to her.
“This will do. Let me ask you something. What is your success rate when brewing Energy Potions? Can you produce one within five attempts?”
Fulan was startled.
How did he know that I brew Energy Potions?
Elan smiled and explained.
“No need to be alarmed. I smelled the scent of Sunlight Flower. When it is used to produce Energy Potions, that scent lingers on the people around the potion for several days.”
“However, on the alchemist who brewed it, the scent is much stronger. Once you have encountered it a few times, it becomes easy to recognize.”
“I have met several such alchemists before and purchased certain things from them quietly…”
“So tell me. Can you produce one potion within five attempts?”
Fulan did not answer immediately.
She thought for a moment before replying.
“My success rate is slightly higher than that. But why should I sell to you?”
Elan shook his head.
“You would not be selling to me. You would be selling to other people.”
Fulan was stunned.
So that was the business he meant.
Running a smuggling operation right under the nose of the Alchemists’ Association.
That was practically asking to lose one’s head.
At that moment, she almost wanted to leave.
She truly did not want to become involved in something that dangerous.
However, when she thought about her extremely high production rate—far more potions than she could ever personally use—she hesitated.
With a trace of hope, she asked,
“What about the Alchemists’ Association?”
Her thinking was simple.
If Elan could provide a workable solution, she might consider it.
If not, she would walk away immediately.
But Elan’s next sentence shocked her.
“The Alchemists’ Association…” he repeated in a strange tone.
“You do not know, do you? The Association is already struggling to survive.”
“Struggling to survive?”
“Just last week, funds from the Alchemists’ Association were diverted by a committee member to invest in a shipment of goods—spices, gemstones, precious metals…”
“But,” Elan continued, “the civil war in the Kingdom of Antir broke out. The rebels seized the entire shipment.”
“Not only that, but the delivery deadline has already passed. The committee member used the name of the Alchemists’ Association for the contract, so the Association must now pay the penalty for breach of contract.”
“The diverted funds amounted to 220 percent of last year’s revenue.”
“The committee cannot possibly cover such a massive deficit.”
After hearing this, even Fulan felt that the Alchemists’ Association was doomed.
But such a major incident…
How had she never heard about it?
“Of course you would not know,” Elan said. “The Association has always used a dual pricing system for potions—one price for alchemists and another price for external buyers.”
“In the past, the price difference was not very large. Since alchemists could purchase materials and potions more cheaply, everyone simply pretended not to notice.”
“So when this disaster happened this year, the Association suppressed the news. They maintained nearly the same purchase prices for alchemists while raising the external selling price by more than double.”
“However, the truth was soon exposed. The embezzlement was also revealed.”
“The alchemists of Velos Academy and Blackwater Academy have already announced their withdrawal from the Association.”
Alchemists had tolerated the Association managing their potion sales because it also protected their interests and provided services.
But after this financial scandal, the Association’s operations had nearly collapsed.
The only reason some branches were still functioning normally was because of the extremely high selling prices of potions.
Once potions stopped selling, the Association would collapse.
The alchemists from Velos Academy and Blackwater Academy clearly believed the Association could not survive this crisis.
So they had begun establishing their own independent operations.
“The Association’s last lifeline is the Energy Potion.”
“Since potion prices increased, most other potions have become nearly impossible to sell. But Energy Potions are different.”
“The annual evaluation for the competition over official mage resources is approaching.”
“And this year, additional ranking positions will be added, allowing more apprentices to obtain resources.”
“So every Senior Apprentice is preparing intensely right now…”
“Everyone wants to gain an advantage over their competitors.”
“Energy Potions are essential. They give you the stamina to spend more time practicing.”
“That is why Energy Potions are still selling extremely well.”
Fulan understood immediately.
If Elan purchased potions from her and sold them at slightly below the Association’s inflated price, he would have no difficulty finding buyers.
This was a highly profitable business.
“But what if the Association becomes desperate and turns against us?”
Elan knew that this was the crucial moment.
If he could convince Fulan that the arrangement was safe, she would agree.
“What exactly are you afraid of?” he said.
“If I remember correctly, the Association abolished its compulsory contract ten years ago to reduce expenses.”
“Even if they discover that you are selling potions privately, they cannot legally punish you. At most, they would expel you from the Association.”
Being expelled would mean losing access to the Association’s trading channels.
In that case, she would become dependent on Elan’s channels instead.
“That is only the worst-case scenario,” Elan added.
“I am not afraid of selling spells. Do you really think I would be afraid of the Alchemists’ Association?”
What he said was true.
Selling spells risked angering the authorities of Lodris.
Selling potions merely offended the Alchemists’ Association.
The first was more serious in nature.
The second, however, was far more profitable.
Fulan had already made her decision.
Even if she were expelled from the Association, what did it matter?
If she completed this operation successfully, she would probably earn enough money to cover all the expenses needed to advance to the rank of an official mage.
“How much will you pay for one bottle?”
“The Association currently buys them for forty-five silver coins each. My price is thirty.”
Elan saw the dissatisfaction on Fulan’s face and quickly explained.
“I have to sell them for at least a little less than forty silver coins. Otherwise, buyers would simply go back to the Association.”
“And I need some profit as well. Even at this price, you will earn a great deal.”
“Deal.”