Seeing Maddox's confused shrug, Alzo explained to him that the mallia pill was a hair growth pill. “I have a client requesting one, but I haven’t been able to source a seller from around the area. You see, it’s not the most profitable pill to make.”
“Why not?" Maddox asked curiously. "It sounds like something that can be really popular.”
“Cosmetic enhancement pills are nice, but they are expensive to make and only last for around a year in the real world,” said Alzo. “Most people have to replenish every year, or risk their hair falling out again." One mallia pill cost $200,000, but a batch of ingredient cost $150,000. If the batch failed, then there was no profit unless the alchemist sell the pill at $300,000. At that rate, most people would consider spending half a million to hire a cosmetic cleric. "Since it’s not the biggest money maker, most alchemists and apothecaries focus on other types of enhancement.”
"Can you get me the ingredients?" asked Maddox.
Alzo had received a deposit for the mallia pill, but it wasn't enough to cover the raw material cost of the pill, which consisted of five different spiritual plants. "It's going to take some time, and you will have to front the money."
"I don't need the spiritual plants, the mundane plants will do," said Maddox. If he bought the spiritual variety, it would empty out his orcoin. It was a gamble, but his grafting ability was his best leverage to get on a crew.
Alzo raised his eyebrow, curiously wondering how Maddox was going to create the mallia pill without spiritual plants. "If that is so, you can buy mundane plants from the market," he suggested. "If you have a good connection with any of the market vendor, they can usually pool together their plants and sell it to you."
The following morning, Maddox went to the Halland Library to look up different recipes for mallia pill. The simplest recipe required five different type of B-rank and C-rank plants, but with his budget, he could graft C-rank plant at best. His only option was to use a recipe involving ten different D-rank plants. After finding the recipe, he read through the instructions. Unlike the pills he had crafted before, the ingredients for the Mallia pill required a controlled environment. Each ingredient had a temperature requirement. Maddox didn't have proper equipment with him to control the temperature and he didn't know anyone from the Halland Academy to request their equipment. It was possible to raise the temperature with the campfire, but lowering the temperature was extremely difficult. He would have to wait for nightfall and hire an ice mage to help him create the pill.
As soon as Maddox collected the recipe, he returned to Mel's market stall. Although she sold mainly fruits, as an employee of Pingten, she knew ways to acquire other items.
Mel looked through Maddox's list and her eyes immediately saw dollar signs. "These I can get to you, but are you sure you want that many plants?" She asked. "It's going to cost you at least $10,000."
"That's not a problem," said Maddox. $10,000 was pennies compared to $150,000.
Mel gave him a look. The same guy was haggling with her the day before on $50 pears, and all of the sudden he was fine with paying $10,000 on mundane plants? She knew she was scammed by a rich guy. "What are you doing anyway, building a garden?"
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"It's to train for my exam," said Maddox.
Mel laughed. "I know, I'm joking. I will send the delivery to campground #34."
By the time Maddox returned to the campground, there was a cart full of mundane plants. Maddox drew them into his item creation and then grafted them together. Alzo watched the process as he vended his materials to the other campers. He was skeptical about Maddox's ability. The following day, Alzo couldn't believe his eyes. Half of the plants were glowing with a green aura. He knew grafting was a method used by alchemist, but he didn't know it was possible to do it without casting any spell. He immediately send a carrier pigeon out to Boris.
As for the pill itself, Maddox hired one of the campers to create a kyro spell. It didn't need to be powerful, just enough to lower the temperature. It took Maddox three days to create one successful pill. He wasted the entire cart full of plants, but at least they were mundane plants.
With the successful pill, Alzo set up a meeting with Boris later in the evening at the Noman Bar and Lounge. It was the regular hangout location for many mercenary. Even before they entered, there were lively sound of music and people chattering inside. The desert didn't offer much entertainment, so live singers and bands were hired to work in taverns. Inside the bar was a large dining area with a bar counter in the corner. On the other end was a wooden stair leading up to a u-shaped mezzanine balcony that led into the different rooms and lounges.
Alzo led Maddox up the stairs. As they walked toward the lounge room, Maddox looked down across the dining customers. The majority of them were rankers, and not the regular variety either. They wore a mixture of clothes, from modern fashion to light tunic, but it couldn't mask the aura radiating from every part of their body. Some cheerfully sang along with the singer and drank beer like it was still the 1600s.
"Most of them are part of Boris's crew," said Alzo. "They got back four days ago from their trip, so they are just resting and preparing for another one in a few days." They entered a the lounge room, but there was no one inside. "It's typical for him to be late."
Alzo set the spiritual plants on the coffee table while Maddox walked around the room. Although the dining area downstairs had simple decoration, the lounge appeared more modern with painted plaster wall and hardwood flooring. The plush sofa and craftsman armchair created an L-shape configuration over the area rug. The furniture were shipped in from the real world and enhanced so that they wouldn't deteriorate within the otherworld realm. Maddox moved his hand across the lacquered surface of the sofa's wooden back, wondering what the cost of enhancement for furniture was.
Then, the door swung open, and a toned man in his forties entered the room. His hair was dark, except for the noticeable greys on both of his temple and red highlight tips. Maddox suspected the red highlights were mana manifestation rather than a dye job. Powerful rankers exhibited physical change due to their environment. Unlike most people, the man didn't have a robe. Instead, he wore a cargo plant and short sleeve t-shirt that exposed his large biceps and dark tan.
****
“Why are we allowing 31 examinees this year?” asked the head AA examining board.
“A VIP client requested to be tested this year.”
“What an odd one. Are all the materials ready?”
Practical exams required the examinees to perform three tasks, purification, transmutation and fusion. The expense that required made it difficult to use quality ingredients. Instead, most of the items used in the practical exam were the lowest grade spiritual plants.
Jupine and aquamint plants were known as the simplest spiritual herbs to cultivate within the Holyoke Realm. The third item was always unknown until it was revealed. It could be another plant or it could be some sort of mineral.