"For one, the adventurer would've seen them as two separate deals, hence the need to contemplate the additional purchase," Leo pointed out. "As opposed to them just having to contemplate spending more for a single deal, if you'd made it a two-for-one. How much do you sell your T-stones for?"

Ryan didn't know if he should've been taking notes at this point. The amount of good information that Leo had just been giving to him for free was something that most people had to learn through experience... usually bad ones. But the big man was putting him through certain tactics that could help advance him further and faster.

"Not for much, just five gold a piece, or six depending on how well the adventurer is dressed," Ryan mumbled.

"Okay, so let's say you sell for five gold a piece," Leo said. "Your package of fifteen potions costs about three hundred and fifty silvers, correct?"

"That's right," Ryan said with a nod, eager for Leo to get to the point.

"Good, let's see," Leo pondered for a moment. "Why don't you offer both for five gold and three hundred silvers, or even five gold and two hundred silvers, letting them get a small but reasonable discount for the two?"

Ryan didn't really need to think much on the idea, as he'd already done something like that before. He didn't need the schematics to visualize how useful and potent such a strategy was. The problem was that the simplest things tended to elude him, and he couldn't really blame himself as he was but a single person.

Ryan breathed a sigh in angst. His entire frame was tired of the back and forth that he was mentally struggling with—his own ideas or the ones that Leo had suggested to him. In truth, there wasn't much of an argument to be made; Leo's words were logical and valuable from every angle. It just felt a little weird having someone come into his shop and tell him what to do.

"You're right, that's what I'm going to do, but don't you think that amount would be too high for most adventurers?" Ryan asked.

The five gold and two hundred silvers might not mean much to the elf, but for someone like Talas, that would probably be a lot. On the other hand, the dwarf did like good deals, so maybe it could work out.

"That shouldn't be your problem. Your job is to advertise your products to each and every customer that comes to your shop, regardless of if they can afford it," Leo stated firmly.

Ryan couldn't fathom why he'd do something like that, offering items to customers he knew couldn't afford them at that point. It seemed like a colossal waste of time.

"Why should I even bother with that? If they can't afford it, won't it be a waste of time?" Ryan asked.

Leo ran his hand through his sandy-brown hair—a stark contrast to Ryan's black. The big man seemed to be taking a deep breath simultaneously.

"Ryan, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say," Leo said, "and that's saying a lot, as you usually say a lot of dumb things... frequently."

Ryan couldn't even take offense at the jab since the big man was technically right in his statement. But Ryan could care less about the jab, seeing the amount of business knowledge he was gaining.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Get to the point," Ryan pressed.

"Fine. The reason is so that your offer can be imprinted in the minds of those who come to buy from you," Leo explained. "So that the next time they need one or two, they'd have knowledge of a discount and wait for the pair. You understand?"

Oh, so that was why, Ryan thought. The thought behind the deal was starting to make more sense to him with each passing second.

"Yeah, I do. Thanks, man," Ryan said gratefully.

"You can thank me by implementing them," Leo said. "Speaking of which, we should be headed to the market."

"Now?" Ryan asked, perplexed.

Why would Leo even want him to leave his shop unguarded and follow him to the market by this time of day? Arson's silhouette was at its peak, signifying that it had gotten to midday. It was around the time he usually got most of his customers. It was the worst time to lock up shop; that was a terrible, terrible idea.

"You want to learn how to make those potions, right?" Leo asked.

"Yes, but this is the busiest time of the day," Ryan protested.

"I know, but I don't know when next I'll be free to teach you. It's either you sacrifice a small part of today, or we leave the potential potions benefit hanging in the air."

"Isn't there any other way? Maybe tomorrow?" Ryan asked hopefully.

"That's not how it works, Ryan. Besides, I don't know if I'll even be given time off for the duration of my stay. I'm still working, like I told you," Leo said.

Ryan honestly didn't want to do this, especially on a day like this. Why did it seem like Veron loved screwing him over? Did some god get some sick and twisted pleasure from throwing him conundrums like these?

Ryan ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He didn't need to pull up his stat screen to know that time was already running out to pay his trader's fee. Heck, he was probably down to single digits in the hours he had left.

What to do, what to do? Ryan tried weighing both options: stay and potentially make enough to somehow pay off his fee and simultaneously spit in his friend's face—someone who'd taken the day off and shown him a few tricks, someone he'd been able to bounce ideas off. No, there wasn't much to think about.

"Okay, but we need to be fast, really, really fast," Ryan conceded.

"No worries, we just need a few things. Shouldn't take too long."

Without wasting much time, Ryan locked up the shop, and the pair began their trek into the alchemist market.

"I don't like this. It's midday; the rest of the vendors think that I am a clown," Ryan whined.

"Pfft, are the other vendors giving you coin?" Leo asked.

"No."

"Are they feeding you?"

"No."

"Sheltering you?"

"No."

"Then why should you be bothered about them? You said it yourself—the only person's opinion that should matter to you is... yours," Leo pointed out.

It was true; Ryan had said that a few hours ago. At the end of the day, it was only his opinion of himself that really mattered.

"You seem to have gotten wiser. That city must have been enlightening," Ryan said.

"You have no idea. Besides, it wasn't like I had a choice—it is the city," Leo replied.

Ryan could understand the big man's words. After all, it made a lot of sense that he'd had to wise up after getting into the city. Denair was to Wergon as a stick was to a proper sword. The difference was clear to anyone. The city was bigger, with walls and guards and way more noble blood than their little town. He couldn't even say for certain that their little town housed any nobles at all.

"That is true."

The pair walked in comfortable silence as they got closer to the market, Ryan unconsciously running a finger over the emerald ring's orb—a habit he'd picked up without realizing.

The entrance of the alchemist market bubbled over with lots of Statics selling their wares to other Statics, mainly. Ryan had yet to see an adventurer in the alchemist market but couldn't rule it out as a possibility.

Leo seemed to scan the crowd disinterestedly, his eyes roaming the various wares displayed in the open market.

"Do you have someone in particular you prefer to buy from?" Leo asked, the big man seemingly more impatient than Ryan to get this over with.

"N—actually, I think it's about time I introduce you to Jenora," Ryan said.