Potion-Selling

Merlin then went out to check the price of these potions. He walked out of the academy area wearing an old blue cloak that completely concealed his face.

Merlin strolled around the market asking the prices of different potions.

Waldecian was a big city under the rule of the Church of Light. So, with artistic or cultural senses relating to the Church of Light’s teachings, the houses and buildings were huge.

It was also the gathering place for merchants from all the kingdoms due to the fact that the Church of Light was located in the center of them all. Therefore, it became a gathering place for merchants from everywhere.

And the Church of Light welcomed everyone wholeheartedly because the taxes gained from those trades made this one of the wealthiest cities.

Merlin noticed that they had the sun-shining symbol decorated in front of almost every shop. It was an assurance that they were under the protection of the Church of Light.

Merlin was looking around until he came across a magical tools shop; he spotted a magical ring displayed in the front.

It was a big, luxuriously-decorated place. But they just left a valuable ring on the display outside. Weren’t they a bit concerned that it would get stolen?

Then, at a glance, Merlin sensed the energy of the blue magical alphabets coating all over the glass display.

Merlin understood immediately: this display was carved by an alphabet user. Surely, nobody would dare steal it. And this was also a sign, saying that the shop owner had an amicable relationship with an alphabet user.

Everyone knew that those people under the care of alphabet users were not the ones to mess with.

There were four or five rings in the display cabinet. The price tags shown would easily make a commoner sweat.

Each ring cost two diamonds. That being said, for those who wished to possess them, they would have to pay two million zenis.

That was not a small amount of money. The average income people received here was only fifteen thousand zenis. So, a magical ring was a luxury an ordinary could not ask for.

Merlin’s wish to own a magical ring was temporarily withheld after seeing the price. Surely, if he could make money from selling potions, he would be able to afford a ring.

Merlin restrained himself and walked on.

Strolling around, Merlin met a lot of peddlers. Some of them also sold magical-power-restoring potions. Noticing that, he unhesitantly went in to ask for the price.

And the answer was that each of those cost eight thousand zenis.

EIGHT THOUSAND ZENIS!!

This low-level potion cost as much as eight thousand zenis??

Merlin asked the peddler why these were so expensive. And he explained that the reason was there were only two types of power-restoring medicine: liquids and pills.

They worked differently. The pills were cheaper than liquids because the magical-power-restoring pills would restore only some of the magical power, slowly, which would take quite some time to show results. But the liquids were different; they could fulfill one’s magical power immediately while the wizards and witches would not have to waste a long time.

So, liquid medicine was more popular than pill medicine and more expensive.

Because of its ability to fulfill the used-up magical power, the low-level-power-restoring potions cost as high as eight thousand zenis while the pills only cost just two thousand zenis.

Certainly, whether pills or liquids, the wizards could not spend money extravagantly. They had to think carefully before taking the medicine to avoid wasting money.

Merlin continued his exploration. He found the mid-level-magical-power-restoring potion. And it cost fifty thousand zenis while the high-level one cost as high as a hundred and fifty thousand zenis.

They were very pricey. A normal person would have to work for three months to be able to afford a mid-level potion, let alone the top one.

Merlin’s face was now painted with a smile. He would become a millionaire soon.

Merlin could not keep his joy in. Everywhere in the world, medicine was valuable and expensive. A lot of people built themselves up by selling medicine.

Merlin tightened the wrapping cloth he was holding and then started looking for a shop to sell his potions.

After a while, Merlin came across a not-lavishly-decorated place. Speculating from the front, it was a medium-sized shop. And he would not say it was grand.

Merlin decided to choose this shop and walked in right away.

He found several open cabinets filled with merchandise boxes. Some of them had boxes lying on slantingly, making him anxious. Because the shop was cramped with tons of goods, it looked smaller than it should be.

There was no one taking care of the front desk. And it seemed like Merlin was the only customer here.

“Hi…shop owner...is there anyone here… is the shop owner here?”

Merlin shouted and asked for the shop owner for a while. Suddenly, an old man answered.

“Ah...sir… forgive me for making you stand here for so long …Well, what can I...”

Words from a serviced mind stopped when the shop owner saw the customer.

He squinted and his voice changed.

“What do you want, little boy?”

His voice was uttered gently before, but now it became aggressive and rude. His eyes were staring at the small guy wearing a ragged blue cloak.

Merlin did not let that bother him; he did not care about his manners. He just spoke out with a monotonous voice.

“I want to sell a magical-power-boosting potion.”

The shop owner looked at the child. Offensively, he then answered,

“Hmm….get out young lad. Low-level magic boosting potions are very easy to find in this city. In fact, there are tons in here. I’m not buying.” He said it tediously.

Hearing that, Merlin’s eyebrows came knitting together.

“But mine are not low-level potions.”

The shop owner’s expression changed a little bit. But somehow, he did not seem delighted.

“So which level is it?” He said while smirking at Merlin. Of course, he did not believe that a poorly-dressed boy would really have anything good to offer him.

“Well, I will let you look at it yourself then.” Merlin put the cloth on the counter and unfolded it.

Inside the wrap, there were twenty magical-power-restoring potions of the highest level.

“High-level-restoring potions! Where did you get these!?” In disbelief, the shop owner stared at those potions. Judging by the boy’s clothes, it was unbelievable that he had such valuable goods in his possession.

“I only came here to sell these. Other things are none of your business.” The child answered calmly, and offensively.

The shop owner frowned after hearing that. He lowered his eyes to scrutinize the boy.

“Deal...I will take them for ninety thousand each.” He said in a resolute and indifferent tone.

Merlin’s face changed instantly after hearing the offer.

“This old man thinks I am a lamb to the slaughter?” Unsatisfied, Merlin grumbled in his head.

He stood there for a while then said,

“Are you trying to rip me off? Why is it far lower than the market price?” Merlin's voice showed he was discontented.

The shop owner smiled then stated,

“Hehe… of course, I give you the lower price because these goods were stolen. There is no way a boy like you could own these things. Me buying these is already a great favor for you.”

Merlin became even more upset hearing the shop owner’s words.

“Nonsense! These potions are mine! I can guarantee you they are not stolen goods! And the price must be no less than one hundred and fifty thousand zenis!”

The owner smiled and burst into laughter.

“HAHAHA...! Young man, you are talking nonsense. It is true that these potions are sold at one hundred and fifty thousand zenis in the market. But you are selling them at a medicine shop. The price is, of course, lower than the market. This is not the place for you to run around. If you are not willing to sell, then leave!” The shop owner spoke with a scornful look.

Merlin took a deep breath. He tried to keep himself together then said,

“Higher than one hundred and fifty thousand zenis, that is the right price. Because my potions are more special than the typical high-level potions. They have latent properties.”

“What in the hell are you talking about?” The owner replied angrily.

“Huh, if you do not believe me, check it yourself. And you will see how these potions are different from the typical ones.”

Merlin picked up a bottle of magical-power-restoring potion and held it at the shop owner’s eye level.

The old man stared at the liquid inside the bottle. And not long after, there was a glimpse of surprise on his face when he saw that there was something different from normal potions.

Unsure, he grabbed a bottle to observe. With a closer look, these potions were blue, like any power-restoring potions. But the difference was that inside the water, there were golden sprinkles floating around as if they were alive.

He was stuck in a reverie. Looking at the potion, he could not believe what he was seeing. His eyes changed; he took a deep breath then said,

“Hum...and what is its latent property?” His voice sounded more serious this time.

Merlin beamed then answered.

“After drinking a high-magical-power-restoring potion, a wizard’s power would be restored. Not only that, it still has the ability to shorten the spell-casting time by up to thirty percent. And the time limit is five minutes.” Merlin paused then continued, “So, these are power-restoring potions greater than any ordinary ones. Their values, therefore, are definitely higher than one hundred and fifty thousand zenis, which is the normal price for the normal ones.” Merlin slowly explained.

The shop owner seemed to think about it for a while then spoke while laughing.

“HAHAHA, young man, do not kid me. It can’t be that a boy like you knows these properties. I am not a dumb swine that would let you slaughter easily.” He paused then his expression changed. “Go away, don’t make me hit you.”

Even though the shop owner had heard all of these potions’ properties from Merlin, it was not like he would fall for them. So, he tried to kick the boy out immediately. He had already wasted a lot of time listening to all those lies.

“Hmph!”

Hearing the shop owner’s arrogant words, Merlin could not help but growling. His growl was mixed with Xian vital essence.

The power of Xian vital essence quaked the whole shop. Everything inside was shaking. Losing balance, a merchandise box above the shop owner’s head fell down.

Although Merlin was upset, he did not intend to demolish this place.

Merlin pulled out his wand then flicked it swiftly. Suddenly, a blue magical alphabet appeared in the air. That alphabet turned into a magical hoop quickly.

At that moment, there appeared above the grumpy shop owner’s head a strange barrier that looked like blue glass.

CLANK!

The wooden box hit that glass barrier.

Everything happened very fast.

The old man was in shock. His face displayed confusion. His whole body was shaking. And his brain was trying to process everything that was happening.

Then, his face turned pale and completely changed.

“An alphabet user.” The shop owner’s face was full of shock. He then slipped out words unintentionally.

“This boy is an alphabet user. The god of fortune is in my place.” He could not help pondering in his head.

In the lifetime of a merchant, meeting an alphabet user was the luckiest of luck. It was known that if a merchant made friends with an alphabet user, he would be buried in piles of money and gold.

The old shop owner was so excited that he did not know what to do.

“So, are you not going to move? Are you waiting for it to fall on your head?” Emotionless, Merlin said coldly.

Hearing Merlin’s voice, the old man gained back his consciousness and walked out of that spot quickly.

Merlin swished his magical wand then the glass-like barrier disappeared.

The wooden box fell down onto the floor.

Thud!

The stuff inside was scattered everywhere, damaged. However, the old man’s face was now filled with a gleaming smile. He did not seem to care for all the damages.

It was certain that these damages could not compare to his interest in the alphabet user standing in front of him.

“Alphabet user.”

He said, as though he was dreaming. He stared at the boy with high expectation.

His face was decorated with a smile all the time like a madman.

It was such a crazy story that this little boy was an alphabet user. An alphabet user could not be this young.

Even though he could not clearly see the alphabet user’s face, the voice he heard was surely that of a little boy. A small guy in this dirty blue cloak had to be a little boy.

If he did not see it for himself, the old man would never believe that this child was an alphabet user.