A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 130 Wishing you a successful cooperation

When Pierre Newsingen established the Hercules beverage company outside the Hercules workshop, he was actually playing a trick: the first company, Star Tower, held 60% of the shares, while Mr. Pierre was only one of the partners and general manager. The later-established Hercules had no connection with the Alchemy Department in terms of shareholding.

However, Hercules Company purchased large quantities of concentrated extracts of energy potions produced by Hercules as raw materials under a long-term agreement, causing the cash inflow of the potion workshop to grow in tandem with the popularity of the beverage.

Furthermore, Pierre gave the chief professor's students 20% of the beverage company's shares, maintaining the partnership with the guild and the magic tower. As the alchemy department's employees were making more and more money, they stopped bothering with this somewhat shrewd businessman.

As for Rorschach's shares, everyone agrees that since Rorschach improved the process and developed the new product, he deserves them, just as the Alchemy Department's 60% stake without contributing any money is perfectly reasonable.

Now, unaware of the inside story, Hassa's original plan was to bypass the beverage company and contact the alchemy department, which was the opposite of Rorschach's request. He hoped that the Baldorom Chamber of Commerce could open up channels for the "Hercules" company so that his share of the profits would be more and more.

Ideally, the Baldorom Merchant Guild would introduce the technology and establish joint venture branches and beverage factories within the Empire. As for energy potions, Rorschach felt they weren't particularly important; soda could fill the entire continent with happiness, since humans simply couldn't resist the pleasure brought by sugar intake.

"Mr. Hasai, if you don't have any plans, you can come with me. I can invite you to visit the Purple Soda Beverage Factory."

The beverage factory on the outskirts of town had expanded considerably, and wagons were lined up waiting to haul goods. The guard at the gate recognized Rorschach, immediately greeted him, and then informed Pierre Newsingen.

"Master Luo Xia, what brings you here? It's been a long time! Since the second section has been running smoothly after the last debugging, I haven't bothered you again."

The brightly dressed man spoke to the boy, who was about the same age as his own children, with an almost fawning manner, which made Hasai, who was watching from the sidelines, feel a little amused. He also realized that the young master's classmate, like the young master, was not a sorcerer who only knew how to tinker with magic.

"This is Mr. Pierre Newsingen, the 'King' of the 'Hercules' beverage company. This is Mr. Hassai from Imperial Bain, representing the Baldorom Merchant Guild, who wants to visit our factory," Rorschach introduced them.

"Bardorom Trading Company! When I was still a nobody, a mere merchant, your reputation was known to everyone from the Dumas River to the Seine River." In addition to his brightly colored clothes, Pierre's actions were also a bit too flamboyant in Mr. Haase's eyes. For example, he was now holding his guest's hand tightly, making it impossible for Haase to easily shake him off.

"But may I ask how you two met?" Pierre asked as a final question.

"Don't laugh at me, but I was rescued from robbers by the mage Rorschach." Hasai did not reveal the relationship between Rorschach and the young master of the merchant guild.

Pierre's expression changed from a beaming smile to a serious one: "Sir, how could you laugh? You are a guest who has come from afar. To be robbed in this city is a disgrace to us Valois people! I am deeply sorry."

Have you finished your pleasantries? If not, come inside and say it. Pierre's habit of blocking visitors at the doorway and letting them stand in the cold wind has resurfaced. Rorschach decided to give him a private reminder to the manager one of these days.

During the visit, Pierre introduced the following to potential partners:

"This was designed by the mage Rorschach. It's an improvement made by Rorschach that increased its efficiency."

"Master Rorschach, are you a member of the Alchemy Department?" This greatly surprised Hasai, as the entire factory's processes had been designed or improved by Rorschach.

"No, it just so happens that I can put the theories I've learned into practice." Rorschach was quite proud that his design had been brought to fruition as Valuana's largest and most advanced beverage factory. He didn't pretend to be reserved and smiled as he added to Pierre's unprofessional explanation.

After the visit came a discussion session. It was only a "discussion" because the Chamber of Commerce representative, Hasai, was only a mid-level partner. His original task was limited to "inspection" and "investigation," and now he could only finalize a letter of intent for cooperation.

The general content and method of the cooperation were the same as Rorschach had expected. The two parties would jointly build a factory in the Empire. The Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom of Bain could guarantee a smooth process in all aspects, from importation, construction, production and sales. However, in the capital, stricter approval and higher-cost promotion would be required.

Factories within the Empire can only blend and bottle soda. Energy potion concentrate is stably supplied by "Hercules" at a "reasonable price" (although it can only be considered a middleman). Potion versions and energy potion cocktails can only be imported from the Holy Kingdom and cannot be produced within the Empire.

The last point didn't bother Hasai. According to his observation, the Empire loved to chase after high-end foreign wines, emphasizing Valois sparkling wine and Istani ale. Now, with a magical "health wine" imported from the Holy Kingdom, the profit margin would definitely exceed that of brewing and selling domestically.

During the meeting, whenever Rorschach offered a suggestion, both sides eagerly agreed, making the talks extremely smooth. What was advantageous for him was that he would also have shares in the branch company and would continue to receive a substantial consulting fee.

"I wish you a successful collaboration."

"Master Rorschach, our cooperation is going smoothly," the two businessmen said in unison, speaking in accents from the southern Empire and Valuwana.

After a day of fussing, the boy declined Pierre's dinner invitation and finally found some peace and quiet in his small dormitory.

In the afternoon, Pierre vaguely sensed that Roscha was very concerned about the construction of the Empire's factory. The reason for this was that Roscha was also considering his future after the completion of his research project.

Although he hadn't been at the Tower of Stars for a year, Rorschach had to prepare for his departure, regardless of whether his research was complete. He still remembered the Chief's reminder: even if there were no immediate developments, if the Holy Kingdom and the Empire went to war in the near future, he needed to find a way out and not implicate the Merkler family.

Besides the thirteen magic towers, there are also small-scale mage societies and even individuals who build their own magic towers. Some are recognized by guilds, while others are not or simply distance themselves from guilds.

Some of these scattered magic towers are well-hidden and concealed in unknown areas, while others were built by mages recruited by lords to serve as magic advisors and receive sponsorship from the lords.

In the empire, resident mages who have made outstanding contributions will be honored by the council, governor, or lord by building towers. The towering buildings standing in the town have a monumental significance, and overlooking the low houses, they appear even more extraordinary.

Rorschach also has a vague, immature idea: to build a personal magic tower in the future. However, this "magic tower" will certainly not be just a tower, and there will be more than one tower. Construction will require a large investment, and perhaps the Baldorom Merchant Guild could be a suitable partner. At least for now, they will take the first step.

After briefly thinking it over, Rorschach began writing the letter:

To Barthes:

I am Luo Xia. I haven't heard from you since we parted ways after graduating from college, and I miss you terribly.

Until yesterday, I ran into Mr. Hasay, a partner of the Bardorom Chamber of Commerce, in Valuana and learned of your location. It was an interesting evening, starting at a rustic restaurant.

The letter continued to be written until night fell, and Rorschach yawned.

At this time, most of the residents of Valuana were asleep. At the end of St. Montgomery, a hoodlum who was active at night emerged from an alley and was immediately subdued, unable to move or make a sound.

Late at night, more than ten men surrounded the entrance to Old Red's Bar, hidden in the alley. They were on high alert, not even a mouse could sneak in or out. These men wore dark gray or ultramarine cloaks, obscuring their faces. Upon closer inspection, the ultramarine cloaks were embroidered with stars.

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(End of this chapter)