Leo’s mind was buzzing.
He stared fixedly at that pot of Moonlight Orchid, feeling as if even his own breath had come to a halt.
Those emerald green leaves, the upright flower stalk, the flower bud swelling at a speed visible to the naked eye…
What kind of fertilizer is this?
This is obviously Time Gem mixed with Spring of Life, and then a bit of Golden Fertilizer added!
The effect is simply outrageous!
So good, it almost feels unreal.
“This… this…” Butler Afu could no longer string a complete sentence together. He pointed at the flower, then at the black soil in Liana’s hand, his old face flushed red with excitement.
That look in his eyes, as if he were staring at a moving mountain of gold.
No, countless mountains of gold!
Leo snapped back to his senses, and one thought instantly took over his mind.
This thing must be sold! Immediately! Right now!
If this thing is kept in Blackwood Town for his own use, it would be a waste of treasure! Only by turning it into shiny gold coins could he soothe his heart that’s been stabbed by deficits!
“Afu!” Leo’s voice trembled with excitement, “Prepare immediately! We’re going to Silver Creek City!”
“Silver Creek City?”
“Yes!” Leo said resolutely, “We have to go to the nearest big city, find the most powerful partner, and sell our ‘Spirit Secret Recipe No.1’ at a sky-high price!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a small fair hand shot up high.
“Me, me, me! I want to go too!”
Irina’s eyes sparkled like two stars, her face practically shouting, “Take me with you!”
She cleared her throat and put on a dignified look: “As the future Lady of the Territory, I must get familiar with the territory’s commerce in advance and share your burdens in the future. It’s my duty!”
Leo glanced at her sideways.
Yeah, right.
This girl just wants an excuse to go out and have fun.
Still, he only curled his lips and acquiesced.
After all, a long journey is much better with someone to banter with than sulking alone.
“Alice, Liana, you two as well.” Leo looked at the other two.
This trip would be Blackwood Town’s first official commercial activity.
They needed to make a grand impression!
He could already picture it in his mind.
Himself—the dashing young lord.
Irina—the lively and adorable future Lady.
Alice—a cold, expressionless, stunningly beautiful silver-haired knight with a two-meter-eight aura.
Liana—naturally charming, infinitely alluring enchantress mage.
With this group walking around, wouldn’t heads turn two hundred percent?
When doing business, the presence must be overwhelming.
“To show our steadiness and sincerity,” Leo paused, then instructed Afu, “Forget the gryphon, go rent the most gorgeously decorated four-wheeled carriage.”
He was making careful calculations in his mind.
Mainly, he was afraid that flying in on a gryphon would be too high-profile, like paratroopers dropping right at the City Lord’s mansion— that’s not doing business, that’s picking a fight.
If they scared the clients off, how would they reap the rewards?
Keep a low profile and make a quiet fortune—that’s the real deal.
Half an hour later, a carriage that could only be described as luxurious rolled out of Blackwood Town.
The cabin was spacious and comfortable, furnished with soft velvet cushions, and a dainty table in the middle held exquisite refreshments.
However, the atmosphere inside the carriage had absolutely nothing to do with “steadiness.”
“That’s mine! I saw it first!”
Irina clutched the last piece of Strawberry Cake on the plate, glaring warily at Liana across from her.
“Oh dear, Irina, look, you’ve already eaten two pieces, let your big sister have a taste, hmm?” Liana smiled slyly, her violet eyes glinting with mischief, as a hand snaked quietly around from the side.
“No way! Don’t even think about it!”
Alice, meanwhile, sat alone in the corner, eyes closed, shutting out all the chaos in front of her as if meditating.
Leo leaned against the other side, feeling his temples throb.
He was beginning to seriously doubt whether he was actually a business tycoon out for negotiations.
This felt much more like a poor soul being dragged along on a spring outing with three bickering companions.
“Ahem!” Leo cleared his throat heavily, trying to steer the conversation back on track, “Enough fooling around! Let’s talk business—discuss negotiation strategies!”
At the mention of “business,” Irina and Liana finally paused their scuffle.
Leo picked up a teacup, took a sip, and struck a composed, calculating pose.
“The tone for this negotiation is just six words—‘Rare goods, sold to the highest bidder.’”
“We only show off Spirit Secret Recipe No.1’s miraculous effects, but reveal absolutely nothing about the formula or how it’s made. And, it must be strictly limited in supply!”
Leo raised a finger, waving it in the air.
“We want to create an image of ‘buy it if you want, once it’s gone, it’s gone.’ Make them understand, this isn’t just an ordinary product—it’s a miracle that could change their family’s fate!”
Irina listened in astonishment, her mouth hanging open.
After a long moment, she finally managed to quip, “Wow, this isn’t fertilizer you’re selling, this is a limited edition divine elixir! Playing the hunger marketing trick like a pro!”
This routine, she was all too familiar with.
Leo smiled profoundly, a flash of wisdom seemingly glinting across his glasses.
“The essence of business is knowing how to play on people’s hearts.”
A few hours later, when the majestic city walls appeared on the horizon, the mood inside the carriage became lively again.
Silver Creek City.
Unlike the rural “town” of Blackwood, this was a real “city.”
Towering city walls built of grey-white giant stones, a gate wide enough for four carriages to pass through side by side. Inside and out, traffic was endless, the air alive with a cacophony of voices hawking wares in all sorts of accents, horses neighing, wheels rumbling—together composing a grand symphony of prosperity.
Irina, like a bird set free from its cage, pressed eagerly against the window, acting as Leo’s tour guide.
“Look, look! That tavern with the rusty axe sign! Last time I was here, the system sent me there for a delivery quest, but the boss insisted I beat him at cards before giving me the job. I won thirty copper coins from him in one go!”
“And over there! That ‘Mermaid’s Tear Inn’—I stayed there once! The beds were hard as rocks!”
Listening to her cheerful bragging, a smile unconsciously crept onto Leo’s lips.
It was a strange feeling, as if he really was sightseeing in another world with a hometown friend.
The carriage didn’t wander aimlessly around the city, but instead, following Afu’s prearranged route, headed straight for the most luxurious establishment in town: the Gold Gryphon Tavern.
This tavern occupied the prime spot beside the central square—a grand five-story building, with uniformed attendants standing smartly at the door.
The moment Leo and his group stepped down from the carriage, all eyes in the vicinity were drawn to them.
No helping it—with one man and three women, all blessed with outstanding looks and presence, they stood out far too much.
Led respectfully by the attendants, they booked the most luxurious suite on the top floor.
“Here, help me deliver this Signature Card to the president of the Merchant Guild.”
Leo took a Signature Card, meticulously prepared by Afu, from his pocket and handed it to the tavern Manager.
The card was made from fine perfumed paper, edged with gold, sealed with the Blackwood Town Lord’s family wax seal—both formal and mysterious.
The Manager’s pupils contracted slightly when he saw the recipient’s name, but he immediately bowed and agreed.
All arrangements were in place.
Leo stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window of the suite, gazing down at the dazzling nightscape.
A thousand lights twinkling, endless streams of carriages.
He took a deep breath, a flood of emotions welling up inside.
“Toiling soul, toiling soul, toil and you’re always beneath others…”
He muttered instinctively.
“Oh wait, I’m the boss now.”
“Well, that’s fine then.”
Just then, a warm, fragrant breeze came from behind, and a pair of soft arms encircled his waist.
“Master~” Liana’s sultry voice sounded in his ear, her breath sweet as orchids, “Stop staring, the night’s still young. There’s serious business to attend to, you know.”
Leo turned with a smile.
He saw Irina already sitting at the bedside, her face flushed, amber eyes moist as she gazed at him.
On the other side, Alice was even more direct—her knight’s attire already shed, leaving only her last two undergarments, silver hair cascading over her shoulders in a different kind of allure.
A knowing smile appeared on Leo’s face—one that all men understood.
Yes, after a busy day, it was time for the daily essential “Mana Circulation Therapy.”
“Coming, coming.”