Early in the morning, the trio of girls roams the street. The sound of birds chirping can be heard as some people walks by and look at the stalls selling foodstuffs. Nahmat's gaze seems to be focused on those foodstuff too which forces Austina to pull her away before she can even think of taking something.
They have asked some people, and got some directions. Finally, they arrived at a large establishment.
The building is a three story one, and it seems wide. Annexed to it is another large storage house and there is a large opening to it's other side with some carriages and stables on it in the corner.
"So this is the Prudle Firm." Aozora muttered, staring the place up and down. There is a plaque there that seems to indicate the name of this establishment, though she can't read it so she is not sure.
The first thing they see entering is the neat line up from the tables and baskets. There are a wide array of some foodstuff, weapons, leather, armors, and even some mysterious tools. On the shelves on the distance, she can see a neat arrangement of flasks and other containers. Besides the entrance is a reception desk where a guy with a slick hair is manning it.
"Welcome to Prudle Firm. You may look at our products and see what you fancy." The guy recited in a practiced and professional manner as he gestured for the products lined up on the side.
"Sorry. We are not here to buy anything." The neat guy's smile twitches but it is barely noticeable. "I'm here for someone named Sherman. Is he here?" Aozora asked.
"May I ask who are asking?"
"Tell him it's Aozora. I'm sure he is expecting us."
"Yes ma'am. Please wait as we verify your claims."
After that, he called up to someone and conveyed her words to him. That person goes somewhere after that.
After waiting for awhile, they saw that guy again along with the man they are looking for.
"Oh. It's you girls!" He said it so casually as he got closer to them. "Do you need something?"
"Actually, I have a business proposal. Can we talk somewhere else?" Aozora said in a confident stride.
She is not really used by this, but she thinks that her plan is something big, so she wanted to act confidently.
"If it's you, then I think I can trust that this is not some prank but..." He frowned. "I'm just a worker here. Another person is in charge of that job."
"Okay. Can you introduce us to him?"
"Of course. I owe you girls something, so this one's nothin!" He gave them a thumbs up. "Follow me!"
They followed him and go pass the shop, going straight to the stairs.
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It took them a moment until they arrived at an important looking door. Sherman knocks on it and after being prompted, he identifies himself. After getting the permission, he opens the door and gestures for them to follow.
The room is an office. There are two couches facing an circular table. There are some potted plants from here or there and some portraits of people and nature hanging on the walls. There is a desk a few steps besides the wooden table where a cushioned chair is behind it. Sitting on that chair is an old man with a slick white hair turned to the side, and eyes the color of leaves. His face gives the impression of a guy who have experienced a lot of things.
"Who are these fair ladies?" The old guy asked as his eyes scrutinizes them. His elbows are resting on the table as his chin rested on the back of his clasped hands.
"Ah. These are the girl I'm talkin about!" He excitedly introduced them. "This is Aozora, and this one is her servant, Austina." Then he looks at Nahmat with an unsure look. "I don't know who are they're new companion..."
"She's Nahmat. She just joined us recently." Aozora interjected.
"Oh! Sorry about that!"
Nahmat just nodded at him.
"I see." The guy on the chair nodded.
"Anyway, girls. Meet the owner of this branch, Markus Prudle!"
Aozora is surprised to hear that this old man is the owner of this place. She thought they are only going to meet someone a bit important, but not this one.
"Anyway. What is your purpose coming to my firm?" He directed his gaze at Aozora.
Aozora can feel an intimidating aura within him, though she is unfazed. She can liken his gaze from her teachers on her former world who always tries to look intimidating whenever she tries to ignore them.
"Here. I wanted to sell this." She gestured for the sword princess to hand her the potion and she obliges, taking the potion within her pocket and handing it to her. Then she puts it on the table.
"Oh." He stops resting his elbows on the table and then he leans, trying to look at the potion. Sherman took it and put it on his desk, making him go back to his seat and take a look at it carefully.
"This might take awhile so I think you should take a sit first."
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Hearing Sherman's advice, they obliged and took their sit on one couch. While that is happening, Markus is looking at it, making impressed noises everytime he turned it from different angles. After awhile, he sighs before looking at Aozora.
"Where did you get this?"
"I made it." Aozora answered in a casual manner. "How much is it?"
"Your the one who made it!?" His eyes are widened and his tone is shocked, his composure losing as he stood up.
"Yes."
The old man's mouth is open, eyes unbelieving before he closes it and sitting back. He looks to be thinking about things, and after a moment he opened his eyes.
"Okay. How many can you make?"
"Ten." She lied.
She didn't want to say that she can create hundreds of it in a single day. Thousands if she can upgrade the functions of her Shop on Item Shop Simulator.
"Great. Do you need any help on procuring ingredients?"
Aozora narrowed her eyes. 'He is probing me!' She took a gulp before facing him confidently. "No. I can do it on my own."
"Oh." He looks at the potion again. "What if we buy the manufacturing process?"
Aozora didn't want that. It is also impossible because she is doing it inside her game.
"Impossible. I would like to keep it a secret."
"I see." The old merchant backs off. "Okay. I will buy all your stocks. How many do you have right now?"
"I only carry ten of it." Aozora said while gesturing for her friends.
Nahmat nodded before she took the nine other potions that Aozora materialized in advance before coming here. She arranges it on the table before sitting once again.
"How much for it?"
"Are you telling us to decide the price?"
"Of course. I can see if I am being pulled a fast one." She gave a confident smile.
Of course it's a bluff. Aozora is just pulling up the tactics that she learned from reading web novels or some anime that she watches while charging her phone.
She always needs to look confident, and while a sociopath, she is smart enough to see that having a poker face helps on negotiation.
She just hopes that she have a convincing poker face.
"I see." He looks to be contemplating about it. "How about a gold coin for each?"
"Nope. That's too low. What about ten times of that?"
Of course, it's just another bluff. She didn't want to look so easy from an obviously experienced merchant. She is shamelessly staring at him with a confident stare.
"Okay. Five gold coins!"
"Hmm... add some more."
"Fine. 7 Gold Coins. I can't raise it any longer!"
"Hmm...." Aozora tried to look like she is contemplating before flicking her finger. "Deal!"
The old guy seems to be amused as she says that. Aozora didn't notice it. She is not that good when it comes to reading facial expressions.
"Thank you for that."
"It's nothing." Aozora thought of something. "Wait, why don't we make an exclusivity contract?"
She reads on some internet about that. That contract is pretty helpful for her because she will have a stable income if it's approved.
"I would love that!" He raises his hand. "Sherman, take some of the papers there."
"Aye boss!"
He goes on one of the drawers that he pointed and rummages through it for a moment before coming back with two contracts. Aozora is a bit surprised that they are already prepared for that.
Sherman put one of the contract papers to the old man's desk while the other is put on the table in front of her. She would love to read it, but unfortunately, she can't.
"I'm sorry... I can't read." Aozora said while her shoulders slumped. "Can someone read the clause for me?"
"Oh right, yer not from around here!" Sherman scratches his head in embarrassment before taking the paper. "Don'tcha worry. We are upright merchants here. Everything I say will be the truth!"
With that, he recites what is written on the contract.
Essentially, the supplier is obligated to perform weekly delivery to this firm. They will deliver the agreed amount of the product for that week, and this company will pay the agreed amount of money.
"Then, ya have to write yer name an' signature."
After that explanation, Aozora nodded. She can understand that much.
"Okay. Can you please write my name. I don't know how to write it in your language."
"Ya can also write it in yer own language! I think that would be the language of the Transmigrators, right?"
She freezes. She didn't thought that they would know.
"... Well, yer' one of their descendants so I think that's normal." She sighs when he ended it at that.
He handed her the paper and looks at it. "So, what's the agreed amount?"
"I am already writing it here. Okay, here is my stamp. Just put your signature here." Markus stated as he handed the paper to them.
Sherman took it and handed it to her. She looks at it and see that the amount is written in Japanese. She widened her eyes and turned her head to the merchant.
"Don't be surprised. Any merchant worth their salt should know a lot of languages, even those from the Transmigrators." He gave her a mysterious smile.
She felt a bit creeped out at that. "Okay, thank you..." Suddenly, she felt a bit shy.
She reads it and saw that the amount are 50 potions every week. Each of these potions costs 7 Gold Coins, which means she will acquire a total of 350 Gold Coins every week.
She nodded to this and put her signature on on the stamped document. She also put her signature on the other document before passing it to Markus through Sherman.
After awhile, the two of them have two copies of the contract. Markus stands up and walks to her side with his hand presented. She met it with her own as she also stands up.
"Please to work with you."
"Likewise."
The two of them stared at each other, the contract held on their free hand.
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After selling the ten potions, they talk for a bit more, hitting some of the finer details before the girls finally leaves the premises.
They decided to use those ten potions as a prototype to hype it up. After that, they will be expecting the fifty potions next week.
After the three girls left, Markus sighs as he took a seat on his desk. Sherman is already out and have passed the potions to his other important employees for safekeeping.
'Those potions are too precious. I am surprised she gave us some leeway.'
The amount that Aozora proposed is pretty accurate, but he managed to haggle it to 7 Gold Coins. He can see that she have a good head on her shoulders.
"As expected of a descendant. She is also incredible." He mutters as he look at the ceiling, remembering that miraculous potion.
That potion is not really that special. It have the same efficacy as the high grade potion, though that's all there is to it. What really stands out though is it's lifespan.
It's not degrading at all!
He can see it at the color of the potion. If the color is vibrant then it is still new, but if it's dark then it is close to expiration. It's efficacy will also weaken.
To check for it's lifespan and efficacy, skilled appraiser like him can look at the different angles of the liquid and see the viscosity of it's movements. If they see something like some spots of darkening or the viscosity being thick, then they can discern how much time it have before it's expiration. Trying to move it around too much will turn it viscous, and the potion will quickly degrade.
Aozora's potion is weird. It's not viscous and is just a pure red liquid, yet it is very vibrant. Even when he moves it around, it is not becoming sticky and it's vibrancy is just there. It's like he is looking at gold and not being able to smear it despite scratching it.
Which means, her potion is a miracle. It have the same unaging property as the miraculous potion, Elixir. The only difference is that it only have the efficacy of a high class potion.
"I am glad to have made a contract with her."
He smiled as he thinks of this boon that fell on his firm. He wanted to make sure that their relationship stays amicable so she doesn't just leave.