Chapter 102
Spirit Grass.
It was a special medicinal herb that helped strengthen, circulate, and purify mana within the body.
It was considered one of the highest-grade medicinal ingredients.
‘As highly valued as it is, it’s also incredibly difficult to obtain.’
It took three to five years for Spirit Grass to fully mature.
On top of that, the temperature and climate had to be perfectly precise, and each one had to be carefully nurtured with devotion in order to grow properly.
‘Even if it matures, that’s not the end of it.’
Among them, only when tended for a long time by expert hands could one harvest ‘A-rank’ Spirit Grass.
“Greetings. This is our first meeting.”
While I was sitting on the sofa in the waiting room.
A young blond man in a neatly tailored suit entered the room.
“I am Nelson, Sales Team Leader of Erion Pharmaceuticals. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Dedenkman.”
Nelson bowed with very polite gestures.
I nodded at him and said.
“I thought only old white-bearded mages were in this line of work, but you’re younger than I expected.”
“Is that so? Well, when it comes to alchemy or pharmaceutical companies, that’s usually the image, but…… our Erion runs on young blood.”
Nelson gave a small laugh and sat down on the sofa.
“Then, to the main point…… I was told you inquired about selling Spirit Grass.”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard from an insider, Erion Pharmaceuticals has been struggling to get A-rank Spirit Grass these days.”
“……You know quite a lot.”
The employee nodded, admitting it.
Since I spoke with the nuance of seeing right through the company’s internal affairs, he must have judged there was no need to hide it.
‘Given the current situation…… Erion Pharmaceuticals used to deal exclusively in A-rank or higher Spirit Grass, but lately, with shortages, they’ve been accepting even B-rank Spirit Grass.’
Thanks to what I’d seen in the game’s setting guide, I had a full grasp of Erion’s internal state.
I lifted the briefcase I had brought and placed it on the table.
“Here are one hundred stalks of Spirit Grass from my territory. Please appraise them.”
“Understood.”
Though Nelson kept on his polite business smile, he didn’t seem all that pleased.
‘It’s natural he wouldn’t expect much.
Some eccentric nobles raised Spirit Grass as a hobby and then showed up just to get them appraised.
He must think I’m one of those types as well.
“Then, I’ll take a sample.”
When Nelson opened the briefcase, Spirit Grass emitting a vivid green light revealed itself.
When he heard that Villed, the second son of the Dedenkman family, wanted to sell Spirit Grass, Nelson had let out a sigh.
Dealing with nobles was always a pain.
‘Another waste of time, no doubt.’
Nelson clicked his tongue.
From time to time, strange nobles came trying to sell Spirit Grass.
Not once had any of them succeeded.
Every single one of them brought worthless D- or F-rank stuff.
But the Spirit Grass that Villed brought was different.
‘……The color is vivid.’
That was his only impression.
Just because it looked vivid didn’t mean it was high quality.
Moreover, he was the second son of the Dedenkman family.
With his notorious temper, there was no way he’d have the patience to raise high-quality Spirit Grass.
‘That second son’s foul temper is quite infamous.’
Some nobles even flew into a rage just for taking a sample.
Villed would probably do the same.
To prepare for that, Nelson politely opened his mouth.
“Sir Villed, I’ll tell you beforehand. Our Erion Pharmaceuticals does not deal in Spirit Grass below C-rank. If the Spirit Grass you’ve brought is appraised below C-rank, then……”
“Enough, just hurry and appraise it.”
What kind of rude bastard was this?
“Haha, understood. Excuse me for a moment.”
Hiding the vein throbbing on his forehead, Nelson took a sample piece and headed for the appraisal lab.
He dripped a liquid onto the Spirit Grass leaf to observe its tissue under the microscope.
‘……Surprising.’
The leaf’s tissue and arrangement were highly consistent.
What’s more, thanks to proper water and sunlight, it was resilient.
……At the very least, it wasn’t B-rank or lower.
‘Huh, that spoiled young lord?’
Nelson blinked as he pulled his eyes away from the microscope.
Wasn’t this the first time a noble had brought in A-rank Spirit Grass?
It was of similar or even higher quality compared to those raised by skilled farmers or experts.
It met Erion’s demand for A-rank or higher Spirit Grass.
‘And they say that foul-tempered young lord raised this?’
No, perhaps he had simply failed to spot any flaws.
Nelson lowered his eyes back to the microscope to examine the sample again.
……No matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find any signs of dryness, insect bites, or traces of pesticide.
It was flawless, of perfect high quality.
‘I must admit what deserves recognition. He did grow it well.’
Spirit Grass of this level was rare.
Nelson had graded it as A+ rank, but……
That didn’t last long.
“……Huh?”
Inside the leaf, small white specks were scattered throughout.
‘White specks?’
Nelson’s eyes widened.
Among Spirit Grass, this was a trait unique to the most highly regarded variety from southern Kvarasan.
“No way, this is Kvarasan Spirit Grass?”
The words escaped his lips without him realizing.
It was considered the most premium kind, but also the hardest to cultivate.
Even seasoned experts and farmers had given up on it, and he hadn’t seen it in years.
‘……Then, this wasn’t A+ rank.’
It was Special-grade.
‘In such troubled times, how could there be Special-grade?’
No matter how many times Nelson checked, it was unmistakably Kvarasan Special-grade Spirit Grass.
Nelson took a deep breath, then carried the appraisal report and price table back to the waiting room.
「C-rank or below – Not purchased
B-rank – 80 gold
A-rank – 170 gold
A+ rank – 200 gold
Special-grade – 400 gold」
The price table shifted constantly.
At present, these were the prices.
According to the manual, that meant 400 gold per stalk.
“We will purchase the lot for a total of 40,000 gold.”
Nelson handed Villed the appraisal result and the contract.
Villed nodded in satisfaction and scrawled his signature across the contract.
“Thank you for the excellent transaction. The quality was truly impressive. I couldn’t help but admire it while appraising. How did you grow it?”
When Nelson asked, Villed shrugged.
“I didn’t grow it.”
“Pardon?”
With arms crossed, Villed answered the question.
“There are experts who manage Spirit Grass in my fields. I only brought some because it was the first harvest.”
“Spirit Grass fields, you say?”
“Twenty thousand pyeong. Divided into 48 sections, with twelve professional Spirit Grass caretakers assigned to manage each sector long-term.”
When Nelson blinked, Villed replied as though it was nothing special.
“What I brought today is just a very small part of it.”
“W-what……?”
Nelson’s jaw dropped before he finally came back to his senses.
“Ah, Sir Villed. I sincerely apologize, but could you please wait a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
“Just a bit. Please wait just a little bit longer!”
Nelson dashed out of the waiting room in a hurry.
Bang―!
Throwing open the door to the president’s office at Erion Pharmaceuticals, Nelson shouted desperately.
“Sisteeer!!”
On the desk before him, the nameplate read: “President’s Representative – Vice President Halton Nelka.”
“Damn it, how many times have I told you not to call me that at the company?”
The blonde woman, Nelka, looked at Nelson with exasperation.
“No, seriously, sis, look at this.”
Nelson thrust the appraisal report forward.
“Kvarasan. Special-grade! Special-grade after all these years! Father will be overjoyed!”
“……”
Snatch— Nelka grabbed the report from Nelson’s hands and slowly read through it.
Then she looked back at him.
“……Hey, who brought this in?”
“The Dedenkman family’s second son!”
“The second son? That scoundrel?”
Nelka sighed and lightly tapped Nelson on the shoulder.
“So what? Calm down already. Did you come just to brag that the deal went well?”
“Don’t be shocked, just listen carefully.”
After several deep breaths, Nelson carefully explained.
“Spirit Grass of this quality. In his territory. Being cultivated on a twenty-thousand-pyeong scale.”
When he added that twelve professional caretakers were hired, each managing one of forty-eight divisions, Nelka shot to her feet on the spot.
“That wastrel…… I mean, where is the esteemed client now?”
“He’s waiting in the lounge, so hurry!”
At Nelson’s shout, Nelka dashed out of the vice president’s office.
The one who opened the waiting room door where Villed was waiting was not Nelson, but another figure.
“Greetings, young master. I’ve heard much about you. I am Halton Nelka, Vice President of Erion Pharmaceuticals.”
With restrained grace, Nelka bowed politely.
“I should have attended to you from the start, but there was a mistake. Please forgive us.”
Sitting down on the sofa, she began to speak.
“After checking the Spirit Grass you just sold us, the quality was superb. Once again, thank you for this excellent deal.”
When Villed silently stared at her, Nelka got to the main point.
“And I heard that you are cultivating Spirit Grass fields in your territory. Forgive me for asking, but are you under supply contract with another company……?”
“Not yet.”
Though she let out a sigh of relief at that answer.
“If I decide a contract is necessary, I am willing to consider multiple pharmaceutical companies.”
There was no telling when another company might snatch the deal away.
Nelka placed a supply contract on the table and said.
“Please, we ask you to sign a long-term supply contract with us at Erion Pharmaceuticals. We will purchase at five percent above market price.”
“Not bad.”
With arms crossed, Villed continued.
“However, I’d like you to add one more condition.”
“And what condition would that be?”
“Two years’ worth.”
Villed crossed his legs as he spoke.
“I want to receive two years of advance payment, under the condition of supplying one hundred stalks each month.”
“……Two years, you say?”
Nelka’s face clouded with hesitation.
Erion Pharmaceuticals was not a major conglomerate but a mid-sized company run by family executives.
This was their first time facing a deal of such magnitude.
The amount Villed demanded came to roughly one million gold.
If they took out loans and pooled the company’s funds, it was possible.
But providing two whole years of advance payment to a wastrel like Villed was undeniably a huge risk.
……Even so, giving up was not an option.
Wasn’t this contract for the finest Kvarasan Spirit Grass likely to be the first and last of her lifetime?
Nelka bit her lip for a long while before finally speaking.
“……Would it be possible for us to decide after directly inspecting the fields?”
“I cannot grant that request.”
Villed rejected it flatly.
“I discovered a special region suited for cultivating Kvarasan Spirit Grass. It’s a trade secret, so I cannot reveal it to just anyone.”
“……”
Since it was a refusal she could understand, Nelka stayed quiet for a moment.
Honestly…… she was suspicious.
Selling one hundred stalks of Spirit Grass might just be bait.
Perhaps the claim of a twenty-thousand-pyeong field was a lie to swindle them out of money.
She thought he might simply snatch the advance payment and run.
“Yes, from the company’s standpoint, it must be difficult to trust me.”
When Villed gave a faint smile, Nelka was thrown into confusion.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant……”
“Enough. If we’re to make a long-term contract, both sides must be able to trust one another.”
So saying, he added a new clause to the contract and continued.
“If I fail to supply even for a single month, I will hand over not only the advance payment but all Spirit Grass in my possession. Should there be any delay, the entire ‘family’ will be responsible for repayment.”
Villed took out the Dedenkman badge and infused it with mana.
“All of this will be bound under a Mana Contract.”
An unprecedented condition.
What’s more, the binding force of a ‘Mana Contract’ was more absolute than the laws of the Empire.
Even if Villed violated the agreement, they could demand repayment from the family, leaving no risk of losing the contract funds.
Of course, if the Special-grade Spirit Grass was supplied steadily as per the contract, that would be the best outcome.
Nelka quickly judged that this was not a losing deal.
Nodding with cold sweat running down her face, she accepted Villed’s offer.
“……I look forward to your continued supply.”
“And I as well.”
The two clasped hands with satisfied expressions.