CH 25

After it was confirmed that Toby was cured after taking the medicine.

Boris finally drank the herbal medicine given by Desinia.

He had his own considerations in his heart and he also understood why Desinia gave him the medicine.

What’s more, before he left, the little earl looked at him and said a sentence.

“If Mr. Abel can’t drink this herbal medicine, you should have less guts than Toby.”

Boris, “…” 

He can’t not drink it.

He absolutely shouldn’t be compared to a child who is only a few years old.

That night, Boris drank the first pot of medicine, and his mouth was almost numb.

The next morning.

Earl Desinia sent three new pots of potions, and explained that the three pots of potions were drunk in the morning, noon, and after lunch.

Vincent couldn’t help asking, “Master Boris, how are you feeling now?”

Boris, “I’ve felt better since I got up in the morning, and my head doesn’t hurt as much as yesterday… This medicine is really effective.”

He couldn’t help picking up the empty jar left over from last night’s drink and sniffing it at the mouth of the jar. In a moment, he was shocked by the strange smell inside.

This time, however, he did not evade.

After that, Boris asked Vincent to take a piece of parchment and put it on the table.

He poured all the residue in the jar onto the parchment, then slowly picked it with his fingers and looked at it.

Vincent couldn’t help taking a closer look.

After a long time, he shook his head and sighed, “Master Boris, I can’t see what kind of plant it is made from, and I don’t know which doctor is so capable…”

“Because of this medicine, I’m afraid our stance in the negotiation with Earl Desinia will have to be lowered.”

As the chief steward of the Nagarbi Chamber of Commerce, Vincent has first-class vision and methods.

Why can’t he see that if such a quick-acting and safe medicine is put into production and then the finished product is sold to the outside world, the benefits will be huge.

In particular, this plant medicine can effectively treat cough and fever symptoms.

Civilians and slaves don’t have to go to the doctor for medical treatment, they can buy it at a certain price in the shop, and they are sure that it has a very good curative effect. Also, the safety of the nobles is guaranteed…

This is the most urgent thing that all people dream of.

Earl Desinia deliberately took out this plant medicine, successfully hooking them.

“Master Boris, what do you think?”

Boris was silent for a while, slowly twirling the residue between his fingers, then suddenly smiled, “I really underestimated Earl Desinia.”

Boris took another day’s medicine, and his condition improved rapidly. His body has obviously recovered and his spirit is full.

He and Vincent were invited to the castle again.

Both sides are still sitting at both ends of the long table, and even the number of people present is no different.

Xia Zuoyi took the lead, “What does Mr. Abel think of this plant medicine?”

Boris, “Very good.”

“I wonder if Lord Earl can recommend me to the doctor who developed this medicine?”

Xia Zuoyi smiled at him.

“There’s no need to hurry, let’s talk about cooperation first.”

Boris raised his eyebrows, “Cooperation?”

“I remember that there was no cooperation between the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce and the Thorns Chamber of Commerce. Is Lord Earl wrong? “

Xia Zuoyi, “Naturally, there is no mistake. Just because there was no cooperation in the past does not mean there will be no cooperation in the future.”

“Don’t Mr. Abel think this plant medicine is a good cooperation object?”

“Or… Mr. Abel doesn’t really think this plant medicine is worth selling at the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce?”

It’s true that whoever has enough chips in hand will have the initiative.

Within a few days of living in Wissas, Boris had fully discovered the methods and processes of how to refine salt.

Once Betala Lake crystallizes and refines refined salt in accordance with the sun-dried salt method… Then, rose salt will not be the constraint on Nagabi salt.

If according to the previous plan, they would completely grasp Desinia, so that he had to merge the Thorns Chamber of Commerce into the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce. Rose salt and Nagabi salt would be sold together in the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.

The lost benefits will eventually come back.

But as soon as the plant medicine came out, the whole situation changed completely.

They are no longer on the active side, and the right to speak is in the hands of Desinia.

Boris said, “This plant medicine is certainly worth selling in the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce. It even has great significance.”

“How do you want to cooperate with the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce? Or what kind of conditions do you think the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can make with this plant medicine?” 

Xia Zuoyi, “Let me tell Mr. Abel how to cooperate.”

“The proportion and dosage of this plant medicine need to be allocated in advance. More or less of each plant will affect the efficacy… I only sell the finished medicine to the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce.”

“First of all, the plants that are boiled into this kind of medicine will be mixed together and ground to pieces. Then, they will be packed into packages with parchment. Each package can boil a pot of medicine.”

“I will send someone to deliver the finished medicine to the Anas Empire, and your Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can sell it right away.”

“As the labor cost, production cost and shipping cost of plant cultivation need to be paid by ourselves, the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce only needs to cook and sell.”

“So the profit share is seven for me and three for Nagabi.”

Boris didn’t answer for the time being.

Vincent immediately said, “It’s impossible. We, Nagabi Chamber of Commerce, can’t give up such a big interest.” 

Xia Zuoyi pursed his mouth, “Oh, I’ll be eight and you two will be fine.”

Vincent, “…”

He wondered if the little earl was playing tricks on him on purpose?

But he has no evidence.

Boris shook his head, “The Nagabi Chamber of Commerce will not agree to such profit sharing.”

“The cooperation method you mentioned is also unreasonable. Let’s not mention the distance between Gadaat and the Anas Empire, how time-consuming it is to sail on the Volley River…”

“In case of wind, wave, disaster, etc., the boat sinks or gets into the water, and all the plant potions in the boat melt into the river, who will compensate for the loss?”

“What’s more, we don’t know the proportion and dosage of the plants.”

“In case the medicine package that was transported after hardship is replaced by someone, then it is boiled and drunk by the patients but it has no effect, or causes harm to the patients… Who will bear the responsibility?”

Xia Zuoyi said, “You don’t agree with such cooperation methods and benefit sharing?”

Boris, “Yes, I don’t agree. There are too many loopholes in this method.”

Xia Zuoyi, “But I like this cooperation method very much and I don’t intend to give in.”

Boris, “Lord Earl might as well consider it more carefully.”

“No matter how much you hide the doctor who has researched this botanical medicine, he will eventually be found out. Compared to a small country like Gadaaat, where do you think he would prefer to develop?”

“I think he wants to stay here and develop.”

Boris, “Does the earl want to try the methods of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce?”

“I don’t want to.”

“In this case, the earl might as well bring someone over to ask in person, so as to save the trouble later.”

Xia Zuoyi couldn’t help but shake his feet leisurely under the long table and said, “He’s right here.”

Boris raised his eyebrows and couldn’t help but glance over Udit, and then over the two knights standing at the back… No one looks like it.

Vincent, “Lord Earl, please don’t talk nonsense.” 

Xia Zuoyi stretched out his hand and pointed to himself, “Me.”

Boris was stunned, “What?”

Xia Zuoyi, “It’s me who made the plant medicine.”

“…”

Vincent can’t believe it. He stammers, “Lo, Lord Earl?!”

“Please don’t be kidding…”

“I won’t make jokes about this kind of thing. The plant medicine is the result of my research. I’ll apply to the Alchemy Association for the badge and qualification to become an alchemist.”

“…”

Xia Zuoyi put his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked straight into Boris’ deep lake-green eyes.

He said, “Do you want to take me back to the Anas Empire? But I prefer my own territory.”

“Sorry, no appointment.”

Vincent seemed to want to say something, but Boris raised his hand to stop him.

Boris, “You really made this herbal medicine?”

In fact, he believed it in his heart.

Xia Zuoyi nodded, “That’s right.” 

After a while, Boris couldn’t help sighing, “I didn’t expect that… Lord Earl, you’re really making things difficult for me…”

He shook his head, “But I still can’t agree with the cooperation method you proposed. It seems that this time…”

Xia Zuoyi said at this time, “It’s better for me to take a step back.”

Boris looked slightly surprised.

Xia Zuoyi, “I can sell the formula ratio of this plant medicine to the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce. After that, naturally, I will not interfere in the issue of how the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce wants to price and sell it.”

“But I want to have an independent trademark right. That is to say, all medicine cans for sale must be engraved with the emblem of the Desinian family.”

Boris, “Is that all you need?”

Xia Zuoyi, “More than that, of course.”

“I also want the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to promise that it will not interfere and suppress any goods sold by the Thorns Chamber of Commerce in the future.”

“And also promise that Nagabi salt will permanently withdraw from the kingdom of Gadaat.”

This sentence made Boris look at Xia Zuoyi deeply.

With inexplicable emotions in his eyes.

Xia Zuoyi calmly let him stare.

After awhile.

Xia Zuoyi said, “Give me money so you can look at me more, one gold coin to continue staring1.” 

The atmosphere was a bit stagnant, still, the corner of Vincent’s mouth couldn’t help twitching.

Boris said, “Did you actually only want the second cooperation in the end?” 

The first method of cooperation was thrown out in advance just to serve as a stopgap, right?!

Xia Zuoyi smiled when he heard the words but said nothing.

Boris, “If there is a fourth request, lord earl might as well say it all at once.”

Xia Zuoyi shook his head a little regretfully, “No more.”

“Then we can talk about what price the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can offer to buy the formula of this plant medicine.”

Boris, “You have already mentioned three conditions.”

“Even if I buy the formula of the medicine, the Thorns Chamber of Commerce can still sell it. In this case, is our Nagabi Chamber of Commerce a bit at a loss?”

“Besides, I have not said whether I would agree to the request of the Lord Earl.”

Xia Zuoyi, “Does Mr. Abel think I can only make medicines for cough and fever?”

“The Thorns Chamber of Commerce and the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can always carry out friendly cooperation. As long as the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce can give up a little position, we can achieve a win-win situation…”

“Are you right? Mr. Abel.”

Boris couldn’t help but remember what Vincent said to him before entering the castle. 

Vincent said, “Master Boris, if you don’t want to be at a disadvantage in your conversation with Earl Desinia, you can use the power of the Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to relentlessly suppress the Thorns Chamber of Commerce.”

“It can even force Earl Desinia to hand over the formula of the plant medicine…”

“There are tens of millions of ways to get it, and you can choose the unscrupulous path.”

Boris replied at the time, “My father once told me that it’s better to make friends than to establish enemies. It’s not easy for Nagabi Chamber of Commerce to achieve what it is today, and it will eventually lose everything if you do whatever it takes for the sake of profit.”

Vincent looked pleased.

Boris, “If you really have to back down… then back down. Proper concession can lead to more long-term development.”

But before we give in.

He must use bullying, temptation, and even intimidation. Whoever can’t hold on first will lose.

At this moment.

Boris said, “I need time to think about it. I’ll give you a reply tomorrow.”

He has to save himself some face…

Translator’s Notes: