Chapter 625: Section 412: Fake Medicine Plan
Snowbird Port.
The alchemy workshop was shrouded in smoke, the smell of potions heavy in the air.
As soon as Master Zhong Bei from the Alchemy Guild entered the workshop, suffocating plumes enveloped him.
Master Da Bei, a Golden Level alchemy master, faced the same fate.
With temples streaked with gray, his weathered face was quickly covered by a handkerchief held to his nose.
“Please this way, esteemed Mages,” under the guidance of an Alchemist Apprentice, they were led into a separate small cubicle.
The smoke in the cubicle was significantly less dense.
It was here that Master Zhong Bei and Master Da Bei finally encountered the person they wished to meet—Master Bu Quan.
Master Bu Quan was engaged in an alchemy experiment.
Before him on the table, a Magic Flames heated a small crucible, emitting steam. In her shaking glass beaker, blue and red potions swirled.
Bu Quan was attempting to improve the potion-making process for Dragon Power Riding Magic Potion.
The formula for the Dragon Power Riding Magic Potion came from the War Merchant’s database, a fairly refined formulation. Following Bu Quan’s alchemy, it was difficult to improve the formula in a short time.
However, she was capable of enhancing the alchemical process to enable mass production.
Once successful in her enhancement, the production volume of this Magic Potion by the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would increase at least threefold!
“Master Bu Quan, it has been two years since we last met,” Master Da Bei initiated the conversation.
Bu Quan glanced up at him, then quickly averted her eyes back to her beaker, responding, “Master Da Bei, have you come all the way from the Royal Capital to discuss my joining the Dragon Lion Mercenary Group with me? If you are here to persuade me to leave the Mercenary Group and return to the Alchemy Guild, then let’s not further discuss.”
“I am quite busy, as you can see.”
“Why don’t we skip the conversation and jump directly to the outcome? It saves time, benefiting everyone, doesn’t it?”
“So my answer is—I will stay here.”
Master Da Bei slightly opened his mouth, his carefully prepared persuasive speech unspoken, severely thrown off by Bu Quan.
Taking a deep breath, Master Da Bei clasped his chest, “Master Bu Quan, seeing you like this truly breaks my heart.”
“As your senior, I can’t bear to see a future star of the alchemy domain deteriorate before me.”
“Look at what you are doing now! You are actually improving the process for mass production, a mundane and unimaginative task. Is such a job worthy of a talent like you?”
“Is this how the Dragon Lion Mercenary Group treats you?”
“You’re wasting your time, your talent, you’re squandering your future.”
Bu Quan didn’t even bother to look up this time, she simply dismissed them, “The door is right there, gentlemen, I won’t see you out.”
Master Da Bei, Master Zhong Bei: …
Moments later.
Both Mages were courteously ushered out by the Alchemist Apprentice.
“Cough, cough, cough.” Master Zhong Bei coughed loudly.
Master Da Bei, letting go of his handkerchief, greedily breathed in the fresh air outside the Alchemy Workshop.
With a worried expression, Master Zhong Bei mentioned, “Father, what should we do now? Master Bu Quan is too resolute. You’ve already offered such generous terms, yet she remains unmoved. It seems I’m in for trouble this time.”
Master Da Bei sighed deeply, “I am to blame; I didn’t expect such a task would lead to this complication. I had spent quite a lot of favors and resources to secure this job for you.”
“Father, I’ve disappointed you.” Master Zhong Bei bowed his head, his voice filled with guilt.
Coming from an Alchemy Guild background, he lacked the alchemical talent possessed by his father due to their bloodline.
He was destined to remain at the Silver Level in his lifetime.
As the only son of Master Da Bei, who had hopes of him continuing the family business, Master Da Bei used his connections and resources to painstakingly secure this job—secretly protecting Bu Quan and monitoring for the Alchemy Guild.
This position not only promised a substantial return from the guild contribution but also helped establish a connection with Bu Quan. If in the future Bu Quan advanced to the Golden Level or achieved higher alchemical accomplishments, then Master Zhong Bei could also benefit from the early relationship.
Indeed, Master Da Bei put considerable thought into his son’s future.
Unfortunately, man’s plans can’t compare with fate’s. The Saber Gang was annihilated in a single day, and Bu Quan, after seeking her revenge, joined a foreign Mercenary Group!
This news, once sent back, would certainly cause an uproar within the Alchemy Guild. As the person responsible for her covert protection, Master Zhong Bei would definitely be held accountable. Given his talent and capability in alchemy, he had virtually reached his limit within the Alchemy Guild.
Following the failed persuasion of Bu Quan, Master Zhong Bei hastily reported this information to his father.
Master Da Bei, a Golden Level alchemy master, quickly arrived at Snowbird Port.
The attempt at persuasion with Bu Quan also ended in failure.
“Father, what should we do next?”
“Don’t panic, let’s think it through carefully,” advised Master Da Bei, his tone gradually calming.
He intentionally tested Zhong Bei, “Have you thought of any solutions?”
Alchemist Zhong Bei pondered, “Since tempting Bu Quan directly didn’t work, maybe we could directly tempt the Dragon Lion Mercenary Group? If the stakes are enticing enough, I believe the leader of Long Fu would definitely consider sacrificing Bu Quan. Then, Bu Quan will have no choice but to return to the Alchemy Guild.”
Master Da Bei shook his head, “You underestimate the value of a Silver Level alchemy master! Bu Quan is now an indispensable productive asset for the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. Her value will only increase. If the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps were just a typical mercenary group, then perhaps luring them with a large sum of money might work, but they have the backing of arms dealers. Consider this, an organization capable of international arms smuggling, would they be easily swayed by our interests?”
Zhong Bei lapsed into silence.
“Think again,” Master Da Bei encouraged, “is there a better strategy?”
After a moment of deep contemplation, Zhong Bei said, “Our target isn’t the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps but rather the arms dealers backing them. The arms dealers are here to expand into the Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s arms market. We could use our connections in the Alchemy Guild to help them penetrate the market and negotiate from there.”
Master Da Bei shook his head again, “Let me give you some bad news. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps has already entered a business partnership with the Lijian family. The Dragon Power Riding Potions that Bu Quan devotedly produces are now being distributed across the Ice Sculpture Kingdom through the Lijian family’s network.”
“Can our ties and connections compare with the Lijian family?”
Zhong Bei turned pale and shook his head. The Lijian family was a major noble house in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom, holding either the second or third rank in terms of power.
Zhong Bei looked like he was about to cry, “If that’s the case, my mission here is truly doomed.”
“Not necessarily,” Master Da Bei patted his son on the shoulder, “We can’t tempt the arms dealers behind the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, but destruction is always easier than construction.”
Zhong Bei’s eyes lit up, “Father, are you suggesting we eliminate the Long’s Mercenary Corps directly?”
Master Da Bei, exasperated, tapped his son on the head, “What exactly is in your head? We are alchemy mages, not warriors. How much combat power do we have to confront a mercenary corps that has been through many battles?”
Zhong Bei was somewhat defiant, “We could simply hire some mercenaries or gangs to do it for us.”
“And how much are you planning to spend?” countered Master Da Bei, “Even if we put all our assets on the line, can we guarantee that the mercenaries we hire will definitely eliminate the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps? Even if the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is eliminated, how would Bu Quan view us? How would the arms dealer behind them react? Do you think we can keep the hiring of others a secret?”
Zhong Bei fell silent again.
Unable to think of a solution, he simply spread his hands, “Father, if you have any ideas, just tell me. I’ll do as you say.”
Master Da Bei felt like hitting him again.
Zhong Bei didn’t understand his father’s painstaking efforts. Lacking his father’s alchemy skill, he was destined to remain at the Silver Level, and reaching his father’s current position within the Alchemy Guild seemed almost impossible.
Master Zhong Bei had no alchemy skill and lacked the Golden Level Mage rank, so Master Da Bei could only cultivate his son’s political acumen. Unfortunately, his son proved inadequate and completely gave up.
“Who told you to be my only son?” Master Da Bei sighed and reluctantly revealed his plan.
“We are going to sabotage to make the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps realize our destructive power, promote peace through war, and thereby make them voluntarily give up Bu Quan.”
“They are in a critical period right now.”
“You just saw it yourself, Bu Quan and others are frantically concocting Magic Potions on a large scale. It must be said, there are capable people in the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. They aim to open up the market with their Riding Magic Potions, establish stable sales channels, and eventually launch a variety of alchemic arms nationwide, which will make their efforts doubly successful.”
Inspired, Master Zhong Bei responded, “As long as we sabotage their Alchemy Workshop…”
Before he could finish, Master Da Bei forcefully tapped him on the head again.
“Don’t openly oppose them! Don’t provoke Bu Quan’s hostility. If you do that directly, even if Bu Quan returns to the Alchemy Guild, she will become our enemy. In the future, when she becomes a senior member of the Alchemy Guild and I am ageing, stepping back, or even dead and gone, your days will be difficult.”
“Now, shut up and listen carefully to me.”
Master Da Bei, driven to impatience by his own son, bluntly disclosed his own plan: “We can sell counterfeit medicines!”
“The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps wants to penetrate the market with their Dragon Power Riding Potion, seizing the unclaimed Magic Potion market across the Kingdom.”
“We can produce Magic Potions very similar to Dragon Power Riding, but with poor efficacy and severe side effects, even harmful to mounts. We don’t have to make too many, just enough to enter the market and utterly tarnish their reputation, preventing them from succeeding in this critical step.”
“In this process, we can negotiate.”
“Of course, we won’t tell the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps that we are the masterminds behind the counterfeit medicines.”
“I will step forward, in my capacity as a elder, to help the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps clarify the facts, proving they are innocent victims. And the condition for my help is the return of Bu Quan to the guild!”
“They have limited time and need my help. Otherwise, if they delay, other nobles or the Alchemy Guild will produce Riding Magic Potions, grabbing the market and thwarting their business plans.”
“Good plan, this method is really excellent! Producing counterfeit medicine only requires a minimal cost from us, and the key is that all these are our specialties. No risk of combat!” Master Zhong Bei continuously praised.
However, Master Da Bei shook his head, “It’s not easy to get to this point, we don’t have the exact formula for Dragon Power Riding Potion, and it will be very difficult to make similar counterfeit ones.”
“Do we need to steal it?” Master Zhong Bei asked.
“No.” Master Da Bei shook his head, “I have a better option. Let’s buy a few Dragon Power Riding Potions and then pay a visit to Master Cai Jing.”
“Father, do you mean the counterfeiting Master Cai Jing?”
“Yes. Making counterfeit medicine in such a short time won’t be easy. But if Master Cai Jing gets involved, success is guaranteed. Ever since being expelled from the Alchemy Guild, he has been living on Flower Skirt Island.”
“Considering the past relationship between him and me, this time I’ll swallow my pride and ask him; he will help us.”