Chapter 55: Let’s stay here and tighten the screws.

Until the last worker who chose to withdraw had left, Luwei slowly nodded.

She didn’t say much.

On the contrary, saying more would only make things worse.

This was inherently a relief job, yet some people, because of the unusually high pay, thought Luwei wanted to harm their lives…

It wasn’t exactly hard to understand.

“Good. Starting today, you are the official employees of this ‘Potion Workshop’.”

“As for matters like contracts, insurance, onboarding benefits, please discuss them with your foreman.”

After saying this, Luwei paused, as if waiting for the workers to digest this news…

As expected, the crowd erupted into another round of intense discussion.

“Wait, this is a Potion Workshop!?”

“They didn’t say that when we were hired!!”

“D-did I hear that right?”

That’s right.

Luwei had specifically instructed not to reveal the job content or location when recruiting workers.

Even if asked, they would only get the reply, “That’s confidential.”

This was also why these workers were suspicious about the job’s nature…

“So it’s an alchemy workshop… No wonder the pay is so high.”

“Hahaha, those who ran off with their buckets earlier must be kicking themselves with regret now…”

“By the way… don’t Potion Workshops only hire alchemy apprentices? What use are we?”

“Could it be cleaning, moving materials…?”

“Are you joking?

Doing that kind of work, how could you possibly get 20 silver coins a month!?”

The intensity of the workers’ discussion was somewhat beyond Luwei’s expectations.

But that was understandable,

because, in the eyes of ordinary people, working in a Potion Workshop was absolutely a high-salary, high-threshold job!

Alchemy—was one of the most lucrative professions recognized in this world.

A potion sold for 5 gold coins might cost less than 3 gold coins to produce.

If the alchemist’s skill was higher, the cost could be pushed even lower!

And this was after deducting the cost of hiring the alchemist.

If we only counted the expense of magical materials—

Potion Workshops could have a profit margin exceeding 100%!

In people’s impressions, even the guard dog at a Potion Workshop lived better than a person!

Not to mention the workshop owner… they’d probably drop gold bricks from their pockets with every step.

Regarding this, Luwei was quite in agreement.

This was also why she was eager to break into the potion market with the “Life Potion” formula!

How does that old saying go?

‘Once there is appropriate profit, capital becomes bold… with 50% profit, it will take risks… for 100% profit, it dares to trample all human laws!’

And the profit Luwei could obtain by selling Life Potions to the market was far, far more than 100%!

A Life Potion costing within 30 silver coins had effects dozens of times better than an Elementary Healing Potion priced at 5 gold coins.

Its overall effectiveness approached that of a Mid-Grade Healing Potion priced at over a hundred gold coins!

If calculated this way, the profit margin for the Life Potion—

was a terrifying 40,000%!

A formula like this, its secrecy level could absolutely make an entire country guard it with their lives!!

Not to mention, there was also a “Giant Strength Potion” production line being built in the Potion Workshop…

Thinking of this, Luwei couldn’t help but think of the Third Princess, Fina…

Perhaps it was after seeing such enormous profits that she went to such lengths, setting up this series of traps, just to get her hands on the treasury Luwei possessed?

Luwei’s expression suddenly turned somewhat gloomy…

Over the past few days, Fina hadn’t made any moves, but Luwei felt this was abnormal.

Even putting herself in Fina’s shoes, if she, as a kingdom’s leader, accidentally learned that a subordinate under her command possessed such immense wealth…

If it were Luwei, she would also spare no effort, trying every method to take possession of these things!

So at this stage, she couldn’t let the profits from the Potion Workshop go to her head.

She still had to think of countermeasures quickly, to figure out how to deal with Fina’s covetousness towards her…

“Alright, Shuangsha, let’s go.”

After handling the Potion Workshop matters, Luwei also took away the last batch of Life Potion inventory—

These were the Life Potions produced when the Potion Workshop was still under the control of the Seventh Army.

But now… the front line no longer needed them.

It was better for her to sell them off herself to obtain some startup capital.

“Shuangsha, you can carry this, right?”

Luwei couldn’t help but ask an extra question, because the beast-girl in front of her was carrying a bundle taller than herself, yet looked completely at ease…

Hearing this, Shuangsha just nodded.

“That’s good…”

Just as the two were about to leave,

a golden figure suddenly rushed out, looking very anxious.

“Your Highness! Y-you forgot about me…?”

Floxi hung her head, feeling a bit down.

These past two days, Her Highness Luwei said she was afraid of disturbing her alchemy studies, so she had Shuangna serve her and help her change clothes, replacing her position as the personal maid.

And for some reason, Floxi always felt like Her Highness was angry with her, always avoiding her.

Originally this time, when Her Highness actually took the initiative to call her to come along—Floxi’s heart was actually quite elated.

Perhaps the anger had subsided?

But along the way, there was practically no communication between the two.

It was always Floxi trying to start some conversation, while Luwei would answer perfunctorily with little interest.

That in itself wasn’t a big deal… Floxi enjoyed the feeling of silently guarding Luwei.

Until just now…

Luwei and Shuangsha were talking and then made to leave, almost leaving Floxi behind here!

And just as Floxi thought Luwei would pat her head, say sorry, and then take her along to leave—

“I didn’t forget.”

“How could I forget you?”

The corner of Luwei’s mouth curled up in a smile, making it hard to tell if she was happy or angry…

“You stay here and work the assembly line. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be leaving now.”

“Work the… what?”

Floxi didn’t quite understand.

“But I’m responsible for protecting you…”

“Protection? Shuangsha is more than enough…”

Luwei patted Shuangsha’s shoulder…

The latter’s expression didn’t change, still that same silent and dignified look.

But the tail behind her, wagging faster, betrayed her mood.

Floxi was completely stunned.

“You mean, you want me to stay here… manage the Potion Workshop?”

“Manage? Are you capable?”

Luwei said with a look of disdain.

“Don’t be idle after your potion classes. Come here and work for me.”

As she spoke, Luwei didn’t forget to dangle a carrot.

“If you work hard enough and the quality of the potions produced is high, I might consider putting you in a management position…”

And looking at Floxi’s expression gradually becoming aggrieved…

Luwei didn’t soften her heart in the slightest.

“Why are you making such a bitter face? You should be happy!”

“As a member of the Caris Family, you should take pride in enduring hardship! Besides, you’re already an adult. Do you still expect the family to give you pocket money?”

“The family’s situation is very difficult right now. Although you’re just an adopted daughter, you should still do what you can.”

“Your pocket money is cancelled from now on. The salary from the Potion Workshop is enough for your expenses…”

After this series of moves, Floxi was feeling a bit dizzy.

Luwei had successfully kept Floxi at the Potion Workshop by appealing to higher principles and values…

“Hmm~~ hmm hmm~”

On the way back, thinking of Floxi’s deflated expression from earlier, Luwei couldn’t help but hum a little tune.

She just felt in a great mood.

This was a plan that killed two birds with one stone!

Not only could it make Floxi work for her, earning the 30 gold coins sooner to complete [Romance Quest 3]…

More importantly, Luwei had found an opportunity to shake off this sticky nuisance once and for all.

And talking about protecting her, what a joke…

Luwei was quite certain in her heart,

‘When there’s no danger, Floxi is the biggest danger!’

As the two traveled from the suburbs towards the Kares Territory, the trees around them gradually thinned.

The muddy paths began to converge into main roads, with hurried carriages, horses, and pedestrians constantly passing by…

Even after suffering such an impact, the public order and living standards of the Kares Territory hadn’t declined.

Doors weren’t locked at night, and lost items weren’t picked up on the road.

If not exactly thriving, it was still a pretty good picture within the entire Federation.

Seeing the people under her governance living and working in peace and contentment, a sense of accomplishment rose in Luwei’s heart…

Until, her gaze fell on the side of the road—

A thin, small girl was squatting by the roadside, looking quite unwell…

“Shuangsha, slow down.”

Luwei stopped Shuangsha, who had been walking with her head down,

then went forward to check on the girl’s condition.

Although Luwei didn’t have the ability to help every suffering resident of the Kares Territory,

Her Highness Luwei was kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to see the poor…

Helping a little one right in front of her was something she could do.

Thinking this, Luwei was about to ask about the other’s situation.

But her peripheral vision caught sight of the top of the girl’s head—

That was… an unbearably dazzling golden light!

Luwei’s words of concern got stuck in her throat, and her expression instantly became one of immense surprise…