A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 108 Are you interested in sponsoring extreme sports?

As Rorschach admired the "liquid amethyst," a very serious question suddenly occurred to him: "Mr. Antoine, this stuff isn't addictive, is it?"

Antoine was caught off guard by Rorschach's serious expression: "No, no? The mages in the Alchemy Department drink it all the time. They didn't suffer much when the supply was cut off during the relocation. I've tried it myself, and the taste is even stranger than normal herbs. I don't want to drink it anymore."

Luo Xia breathed a sigh of relief: "Alright, let's refine more Sample No. 4 following the previous steps."

"What if it's addictive?" Antoine couldn't help but ask.

"If it exists, it won't be at this price; if it exists, it certainly can't enter the market!" This is Rorschach's bottom line: "Then, not a single drop of sample can leave this laboratory. Okay, forget about that. Let's also finalize the sublimation temperature of the mallow fruit extract."

Rorschach tasted a small drop of the concentrated extract one last time. The sour and slightly bitter taste spread from the tip of his tongue, and his head suddenly felt like it was rushing from his throat to the top of his head.

Unlike the energy drinks of his previous life, which he questioned as to whether they were truly effective or just placebos, this "energy potion" was indeed immediately effective. At least Rorschach was somewhat tired after conducting experiments for several hours, but a single drop of the concentrate revitalized him.

"Take sample number four and go see your uncle."

Pierre Newsingen's general manager's office is quite unassuming. Inside, the space is small, and there's not much in the way of personal style. The only thing that catches the eye is the half-open wardrobe, filled with clothes in vibrant shades of red, purple, bright green, and vivid blue, as well as the orange coat Mr. Pierre is currently wearing.

"Master Rorschach and his assistant! Welcome to my office." Pierre put down the business newspaper he was holding. There was no one else in the office now, so he personally poured two cups of tea for the visitors.

"Uncle Pierre, let me show you our results!"

"It's the work of Master Rorschach." Pierre gave his nephew a look.

"Mr. Pierre, Antoine was indeed a great help; he has a real talent for alchemy."

A bottle of clear purple liquid sat on the desk. Pierre picked it up and examined it closely: "It's beautiful, gentlemen. I can't see a single impurity, and it flows very well."

Antoine excitedly described their experiment and summarized the entire process. However, the general manager, listening with little interest, finally said to Rorschach after some deliberation, "Rorschach, I acknowledge your remarkable achievements, but regarding yield alone..."

He raised his small glass: "I don't think it's that high."

"The extraction rate of the active ingredients has increased! It has increased significantly!" Antoine was unconvinced by the criticism.

"Okay, let's say we set up a new production line for the new process, and then we have to buy new equipment or even redesign it. Even if we sell such a high-end version for double the price, it's not as good as simply expanding an existing production line."

"Yes, at least the open-top concentration tanks need to be changed, and some new separation equipment needs to be designed to achieve production from the laboratory to the factory." Rorschach did not deny these points.

"So from an economic perspective, and I'm sorry, from the perspective of a profit-driven businessman like myself, this achievement can only remain in the laboratory. Even if it's remarkable, it's not a worthwhile deal." Pierre shook his head. He was facing two young people, and it was very important to be tactful and cautious when denying their achievements.

Uncle, you

Luo Xia stopped the hothead: "Mr. Pierre, please give me the original product."

Pierre immediately took out a bottle from his drawer—it was the one he had used that made him decide to invest heavily in the project.

Luo Xia took the original and poured some into his tea. He stirred it and, unsurprisingly, got a cup of murky, awful stuff. Oil droplets gathered on the surface, and some clumps of sediment could be seen at the bottom of the cup.

Rorschach then added sample number four to the tea that was originally intended for Antoine. Without stirring, the liquid diffused naturally, resulting in a uniform, stable, and still transparent clear liquid, only tinged with a faint smoky purple.

The self-proclaimed profit-driven general manager suddenly sprang up from his chair, picked up the two cups of product—one clear and one cloudy—and examined them carefully.

Pierre, your nephew might not have a very good eye for business. At this point, Antoine was still somewhat confused, not understanding why such a simple act of dissolving could excite his uncle so much.

Rorschach, like a messenger from heaven, declared to the mortal Pierre, word by word: "The potion we have made is miscible with any proportion of water or wine."

No exaggeration, this is the good news Pierre has been waiting for since the factory was built. It means "blending!" Pierre exclaimed directly.

Previously, he complained to the dispatched representative about the limited product line, high unit price, and difficulty in selling, hoping to convey this to the Alchemy Department and ask the adults to find a way to improve the situation and overcome the problem of the incompatibility between the medicine and water.

Unfortunately, the young man mingled with the workers every day, even using magic to help. Pierre admitted that with the original representative pulling the workers along, the work progress had accelerated considerably, but the problem he was concerned about remained unresolved. Until the new representative, the sorcerer Rorschach, appeared! He solved the problem in a single day!

Sir, you're getting too excited. Could you please not be so blunt? Luo Xia coughed lightly: "I would prefer to describe it more accurately as being able to offer formulas with varying concentrations and adjust the corresponding flavors and effects to suit different target customers and price points."

"Yes, yes, look at me, after being a businessman for half my life, I still can't keep my composure."

"Currently, the original product sells for four livres, and one bottle is equivalent to the concentrated extract I have now. Therefore, we can create at least three product lines:"

The concentrated medicine, which costs 10 liters per bottle, should be diluted with less water to make customers believe that it is the most concentrated essence.

Then, one bottle of extract is diluted with ten or even fifteen bottles of water, plus plenty of sugar, and sold in restaurants for three livres—just enough to be cheaper than the cheapest table wine. Aren't soda water all the rage these days? We can add some bubbles, along with the sweet and sour taste; Valuwanans will love it.

Finally, I suggest mixing it with spirits, continuing to use mythological themes in the packaging, and creating some plausible hints. The goal is to have it in the liquor cabinets of every luxurious mansion, so that every dignitary can pour themselves a warm-up drink on a night when they feel restless and unable to enjoy themselves. The higher the unit price of this product line, the better.

We could also find ruthless individuals willing to cross the Strait of Istani without ships or magic to sponsor us, and then heavily publicize it in newspapers, emphasizing the slogan "I'll pay, you risk your life." However, these are things to consider later; the priority is to get the product up and running first.

Pierre gripped Rorschach's hand tightly, this time with far greater fervor than at the factory gate: "Mage Rorschach, you are not only a magical genius, but also a business genius! It is my greatest fortune to have you in my office instead of being my rival!"

Although Pierre had initially planned for the three product lines mentioned by Luo Xia, the idea of ​​adding soda water was unexpected, while the others were all within the general manager's plan. However, as a businessman, he firmly believed that flattery was free and the most cost-effective way to close deals and build relationships.

A few days later, another group meeting was held.

Pascal and Paulina hadn't arrived yet. Cano was reading the newspaper, and Rorschach was drawing. On their table was a glass bottle with small bubbles rising and bursting in the pale purple liquid.

Kano picked up the drink and poured himself a glass, then poured another for Rorschach: "This drink is pretty good. They say it's currently a limited-time special supply for the Alchemy Department. Snow gave me two bottles yesterday."

"Oh. Thank you."

Kano continued reading the newspaper: "How come this new trading company is already announcing its product is GG while it's still in the recruitment phase? Hercules? Could it be related to Hercules's Potion Workshop?"

"oh."

"What have you been drawing here?"

"The blueprints for the new equipment." Luo Xia was drawing the equipment assembly diagram. The extraction vessel and the ethanol regeneration tower had already been drawn. Now, the design was for a stirring and concentrating vessel with a head to seal the vessel body and a hydraulically driven stirring device.

These items, along with the previous processes, are now worth three times the labor cost, plus 20% of the original shares of the new trading company "Hercules" beverage company.

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(End of this chapter)