The Queen of Scrolls never admits defeat

Chapter 42 The Shady Merchant Moran
"Then how do you know how to do business?" Lilith said incredulously, "The apprentice-level witch's book and the Golden Pen technique only cost 5 mana! How dare you charge 50 mana?"

"Senior, you're mistaken! The Witch's Book and the Golden Pen spell require a permanent cost of 5 Mana, which means you lose your maximum mana. This only requires a one-time cost of 50 Mana, without losing your maximum mana, and you can permanently own a character card. Isn't that more cost-effective than the Witch's Book?"

Moran had considered it carefully.

If it also charges permanent mana like the Witch's Book, who will have enough mana to buy all the cards she develops in the future?
It would be better to charge only one-time magic power for each card, making a small profit but increasing sales volume.

This would solve her magic depletion problem while also leaving some room for future witch magic.

She's even come up with two names for her future witch magic.

Card-drawing magic, specially prepared for gamblers. Pay permanent magic to unlock card pools with corresponding drop rates, and pay one-time magic to draw cards.

Card Album Magic is designed for whales who can't afford to gamble and just want a guaranteed win. It requires spending permanent magic to unlock card albums of the corresponding level, and then spending a one-time magic to buy the cards they want.

In short, she will definitely not lose out.

Lilith glanced at it again and still felt it was too expensive. The main problem was that her magic power was severely depleted; a quick study of the Bloodthirsty Needles would deplete it all, so she needed to negotiate the price further.

"You just said that it only takes 10 Mana to make a {character card}. Doubling that would be a huge profit, but five times that is way too much!"

"For your sake, senior, could you give me a discount?"

"Senior! I've already given you a discount!" Moran pulled out another contract: "Look, this is the price I charge everyone else!"

"What? From now on, when I upgrade my cards, I'll have to pay you 50% of the upgrade cost as a one-time mana fee?" Lilith felt a wave of dizziness.

"These are upgradeable cards that can be used all the way to the peak level! Unlike Lady Tracy and the others, I didn't sell each level of witch magic once; I was just happy to collect some interest from the upgrades."

And you don't need it. Considering we're all witches, I won't take the upgrade bonus for these three cards.

But don't bring up the 10 Mana thing again, it's affecting my card sales!

Moran said with a smile:
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Lilith. 'Being close to witches, keeping accounts clear, and engaging in fair transactions' not only made things easier for everyone but also solved my immediate problem. It was fantastic!"

Lilith: "..."

Is that how she taught?
This is going a bit too far!
Just moments ago, he was foolishly offering to give away cards, even making the bold claim that he would give away Little Witch cards to the entire school.

How did you end up being called a cunning merchant who's even more cunning than a goblin?

I originally thought it was a glutinous rice ball, but now I know it's filled with black sesame seeds.

She suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia for her former junior, Moran.

Looking at the other two female students, who were watching the commotion with amusement but suppressing a smile, I couldn't help but say:

"Aren't you two going to try and bargain? It's so expensive, how can you accept that?"

“Sure! Fifty mana? A few strings of breadfruit will make up for it. Moran, if you ever need magic power, you can come to me. We'll sign a contract and lend it to you,” Vasita said.

“I think so too. After all, it’s just a one-time drain on magic power, and it will recover in a few days,” Sylph said.

Lilith looked at the two of them; one had an energy halo that could blind people, while the other had a dimmer energy halo, but it was still much brighter than hers.

No wonder he is so generous!
With both of her junior classmates in this state, what else can Lilith say?

"Fine, fine! I'll let it go this time, but if you charge this much next time, I might have to think twice!"

At least we know that Moran isn't really stupid; once he figures things out, he's even more cunning than a goblin.

Moran knew her senior would agree; although her energy aura was dim, she could definitely provide 50 mana of magic power.

Lilith also reminded Vasita and Sylph:
"You two, you can't keep thinking you can get away with not haggling when you buy things just because you're rich. No matter how much wealth you have, it can't withstand such extravagance!"
Even at the Witches' Market, if you're unfamiliar with the market prices and don't know how to bargain, you'll end up paying more for things than others.

Once you're out in the wilderness, if you spend so recklessly, people will just see you as easy targets and take advantage of you without hesitation!

"Understood, senior!" Vasita and Sylph nodded obediently.

Moran happily handed them the contract.

I spent 30 Mana Magic and gained 150 Mana Magic. My Magic Power increased from 180 to 330, and I suddenly became much richer.

"Happy transaction! I'll definitely let you guys know first when new cards come out!" Moran said with a beaming smile.
"By the way, Lilith-senpai, could you help me promote this among the second-year students?"

Lilith raised her chin: "Then that's a different price!"

"I'm planning to make bread and juice tonight, how about I bring a big jug to my senior?" Moran said.

She was originally in dire need of bread and juice, but now that she has the magical income from selling cards, it's not so urgent anymore.

Lilith, who still hasn't mastered using cooking magic to make juice and can only do it manually, is shamefully tempted, but she still can't stand that cunning little witch, and says irritably:
"Okay, okay! Let's go! The other little witches are probably already halfway up the mountain, and you're still dawdling at the door!"

She came over out of curiosity to take a look and lost 50 mana magic points, leaving her full of resentment.

The remaining magic power isn't even enough to upgrade this {character card} to intermediate level.

Skip breakfast, just drink bread and juice, and go eat breadfruit!

The mere thought of breadfruit made Lilith put on a mask of pain.

Goodbye, senior!

We've indeed wasted too much time here; the first-year witch has already left.

Moran took the lead and ran towards the academy castle.

Vasita and Sylph followed closely behind.

"Molan, slow down! We left early today, so a little delay won't make us late! Don't worry!"

Sylph ran alongside, shouting as she went.

"I have to catch up with them and try to sell a few more character cards before class starts!" Moran shouted back, "Take your time, I'll wait for you up ahead!"

At this moment, Moran seemed to possess boundless power, making Sylph and Vasita feel inferior to him.

They resigned themselves to their fate and slowed down.

"Lilith is really something! How could someone like Moran be tricked by an outsider? It's good enough if she doesn't trick others!"

"Yes! Moran has a real talent for business!"

"She's quite the little money-grubber!"

"We all need to learn, because we'll be earning magic power by selling witch magic in the future!"

"Ok!"

……

(End of this chapter)