Shampoo market
Inside his room, Draco paced back and forth across the small space, his mind racing with possibilities.
The two gold pouches in his pocket felt heavier than their actual mass. They were opportunities he'd never had before.
Finally, he sat down on his wooden bed, the old frame creaking softly. Zephyr perched on the windowsill, preening his tiny feathers while occasionally glancing at his contemplative master.
The short journey with Glade benefited me more than I expected.
The journey had accelerated his plans by a week.
Truth was, Draco had wanted to accept Glade's offer immediately. A thousand gold coins was more money than he'd ever dreamed of having from the Ashblade family. But something had held him back – an instinct that told him to play harder to get.
The reason was simple. Draco wanted to extort more money out of Glade.
The more desperate Glade became, the higher the price would climb.
His half-brother's fear of losing his inheritance position was clearly driving him to make increasingly generous offers. Why settle for a thousand when patience might yield fifteen hundred, or perhaps two thousand?
Draco leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling as his thoughts slowly organised themselves.
I know that deadbeat father of mine is never going to give me genuine attention or affection.
In Lucas Von Ashblade's mind, Draco represented the center of his misery. The living reminder of why his beloved concubine Charlotte had died.
Every time the Marquis looked at his bastard son, he remembered the person that gave birth to him.
During my initial years growing up, I was upset about it. I expected to be showered with riches and care simply because of my bloodline. But those naive expectations had died long ago.
Draco had learned to stop caring about earning his father's approval or claiming his place among the family's favored members.
"If this world doesn't want to give me a path… I will carve it out myself," he muttered, his eyes gazing through the small window at the clouds drifting in the distance.
While I've been weak, poor, and powerless, I haven't been idle during my time in this world.
During the long, lonely years of being overlooked and dismissed, Draco had done something his family never suspected, he'd studied the market.
His access to the family library and occasional trips to the markets had allowed him to observe what people needed, what they lacked, and where opportunities existed.
Knowledge was a form of power they didn't recognize, but it was power nonetheless.
The only issue was my lack of money. I never received an allowance from the family, so I never had a real chance to save or invest.
But now, with Glade's gold burning a hole in his pocket and the promise of much more to come, he could finally execute the business plans he'd been developing for years.
My first product needs to be something cheap to manufacture but with high profit potential.
The answer had come to him years ago during one of his visits to the city markets: shampoo.
In this world, people bathed with plain water and used crude mixtures of animal fats and ashes as body soap.
The concept of hair care beyond basic cleanliness was unknown. Most people's hair was dull, often greasy, and certainly never fragrant.
While I could manufacture fragrant soap as well, I'll save that for later. My first product needs to be distinctive and eye-catching.
Shampoo represented the perfect entry point.
The ingredients were relatively inexpensive and available. Such as various oils, herbs, and basic cleaning agents that he could source from merchants in the market.
The manufacturing process was simple enough that he could start small-scale production in a rented workspace.
Most importantly, it would introduce a completely new concept to the market.
These people had never experienced hair that smelled of lavender or jasmine, locks that felt soft and manageable, or the confidence that came with knowing your appearance was enhanced rather than merely clean.
I need money to fuel my progression as an awakener, and business profits can provide that independence.
His academy allowance of seventy gold coins per week was helpful, but it wouldn't be enough to purchase better Beastmaster manuals, rare cultivation resources, or the equipment necessary for serious hunting. Business income could change that equation entirely.
Draco stood up and moved to his small desk, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill.
He began sketching a rough plan. The plan was already in his mind long ago.
The reason he was writing it out now was because of his fear of cleaners or others finding the parchment.
I'll scout the market tomorrow. Based on what I observe, I'll determine my next steps regarding Glade's offer and whether leaving the family is the right move.
Zephyr chirped softly from the windowsill, drawing Draco's attention. The tiny hummingbird seemed to sense his master's excitement and determination.
"What do you think, little friend? Ready to help me build something that's entirely ours? " Draco asked quietly.
Chirp! Chirp!
The hummingbird's responding trill sounded almost like approval, and Draco found himself smiling.
Let Glade worry about inheritance and Father's approval. Meanwhile, I'll create my own legacy.
...
The next day arrived. Since it was an off day from the academy, Draco had the freedom to pursue his business plans without the constraints of classes and training.
He rose early, completing his daily mission with in a faster time than before.
The hundred push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups no longer felt quite as brutal as they had initially, though the ten-kilometer run still left him breathing heavily.
His cultivation session with Zephyr had become a peaceful routine, their bond strengthening incrementally with each passing day.
"I can feel my connection with Zephyr strengthening. The 'lesser' status will change soon enough."
After earning his stat points and allocating them once again to agility, Draco prepared for his market visit.
He dressed in simple, non eye-catching clothing and carefully counted out a portion of the gold coins Glade had given him.
'Just in case things go wrong. I can't place all my rggs in one basket.'
In Draco's mind, he was worried about being robbed in the market place.
After hiding the remaining gold in a good place, Draco turned to his Zephyr.
"Ready for a research trip, Zephyr?" he asked the tiny hummingbird, who responded enthusiastically from his perch on the windowsill.
Chirp! Chirp!
The journey to Silsom City's main market district took roughly an hour on foot from the Von Ashblade estate.
As Draco walked through the gradually changing landscape, from the grounds of noble estates to the bustling streets of the commercial district, he mentally reviewed his objectives for the day.
First priority: identify local plants with saponin content that could serve as natural cleansing agents.
The market square was already alive with activity despite the early hour. Merchants called out their wares while customers examined goods ranging from fresh produce to exotic materials imported from distant kingdoms.
The air was filled with a mixture of scents, spices, leather, metals, and the occasional whiff of sweat from those that got close to him.
Draco made his way toward the herbalist section, where several vendors displayed an impressive array of local and imported plants. His first stop was at a stall run by an elderly woman with sharp eyes.
"Good morning. I'm interested in learning about local plants that might have foaming properties." Draco said politely.
The herbalist looked him up and down, clearly trying to assess whether he was a serious customer or merely curious.
"Cleansing properties? What do you mean?"
"Not exactly, i'm looking for plants that might produce foam or bubbles when mixed with water." Draco replied carefully.
The woman's eyebrows rose with interest. "Ah, you're thinking about those plants. There are several that grow in this region."
She reached beneath her counter and pulled out several dried specimens, arranging them on the wooden surface.
"This is what we call soapwort, when you crush the roots and mix them with water, they create a natural lather. " she said, indicating a bundle of pale, dried flowers.
Draco examined the soapwort carefully, noting its fibrous root structure. "How much foam does it produce?"
"Quite a bit, though you need to know the proper preparation method. The roots need to be dried, ground into powder, then steeped in warm water before use."
Draco nodded.
She moved to another specimen. "These are soap berries – they grow wild in the forests about a day's ride from here. The fruit contains high levels of natural saponins. Just crush them and add water."
Soap berries could be perfect. Natural saponins are exactly what I need for effective cleansing.
"And this is yucca root. It produces similar results though It has a slightly earthy scent that some find off-putting." The herbalist continued, lifting a collection of long, sword-like leaves.
Draco purchased small samples of each plant. The herbalist also provided him with information about local suppliers who could provide larger quantities.
His next stop was at a merchant specializing in oils and fragrances. If he was going to create a superior hair-cleaning product, pleasant scent would be crucial for market appeal.
The merchant's stall was easily identifiable by the array of small glass bottles arranged in neat rows, each containing oils of different colors and viscosities.
The air around the booth carried a complex mixture of floral, herbal, and woody scents.
This is a good stall.
Draco approached, his purpose clear. His eyes immediately scanning the available inventory.
He already knew exactly what he was looking for, specific oils that would complement the saponin-rich plants he'd just acquired while remaining cost-effective for mass production.
"Lavender oil," he said directly to the merchant, pointing to a pale purple liquid in one of the bottles.
"What's your price per ounce?"
The merchant, a man with an elaborate mustache, quoted a figure that made Draco mentally wince. Premium imported oils would eat into his profit margins significantly.
Too expensive for a startup product. I need to think local.
"What about rosemary oil? And do you have any mint-based extracts?"
The rosemary oil was more reasonably priced, and its clean, herbal scent would appeal to both men and women without being overly feminine. Mint would provide a fresh, invigorating quality that could help justify premium pricing.
Draco purchased small quantities of both, along with a tiny vial of jasmine oil. The jasmine was expensive, but even a few drops could transform an ordinary scent profile into something luxurious.
He could market two product lines, a basic version with local herbs and a premium variant with exotic fragrances.
Diversified product offering from day one. Not a bad strategy.
Moving to his final stop, Draco sought out a general goods merchant who carried the binding agents and base materials he would need. Creating a stable, consistent product required more than just active ingredients.
He needed compounds that would hold everything together and maintain effectiveness over time.
He selected beeswax for its binding properties and natural preservation qualities, along with a specific type of regional clay known for its thickening abilities.
Some dried kelp from coastal suppliers would provide additional texture and potentially beneficial minerals for hair health.
The key is creating something that works consistently every time someone uses it. Quality control will make or break this business.
By midday, Draco had acquired everything necessary for his initial experimentation phase.
His leather satchel now contained multiple saponin-rich plants, fragrant oils, binding agents, and basic preparation materials.
I've spent two golden coins to acquire everything. Not a bad start.
As he began the walk back to the Von Ashblade estate, his mind was already organizing the testing sequence he would follow.
Start with the soapwort as the primary cleansing base, test different oil combinations for optimal scent, then experiment with binding agents to achieve the right consistency.
Tonight, I begin creating something this world has never experienced. Time to see if my knowledge from another life can translate into actual profit.
Zephyr chirped contentedly from his shoulder, the tiny hummingbird seeming to sense his master's excitement about their new business venture.
Draco Von Ashblade [Awakened] EXP: 7/100
Title: None
Talent: Dragon Lord (SSS-Rank)
Strength: 11 / Agility: 15 / Constitution: 10 / Mana: 50
Beastmaster Manual: None
Skills: None
Stat points: 0