I became a god through archaeology in the Wizarding World.

Black Oak Street in the Lower Town is a narrow street lined with shops selling cheap herbs and secondhand alchemy equipment.

But at the end of the street, a three-story warehouse that originally belonged to a bankrupt grain merchant has now been completely transformed.

There was no sign hanging here, only two mercenaries wearing heavy leather armor guarding the entrance.

In the office on the second floor of the warehouse, Benjamin was sweating profusely as he checked the ledgers in his hands.

His shirt collar, which was originally a little tight, was now soaked with sweat, and his fat fingers moved quickly across the abacus, making a crisp, clattering sound.

"Rhodes, this is insane."

Benjamin stopped what he was doing, grabbed a large gulp of cold water, his eyes filled with both excitement and fear: "In just one morning, we received orders from three earl families and seven major merchant guilds. They don't want just a few bottles, they want several cases. At the current production rate, our orders are already booked until next month."

Rod sat in an armchair by the window, toying with a test tube containing a pale blue liquid.

That's the newly released standard version of the silence potion.

Compared to the original version he used in the Necropolis, this version has been diluted and stabilized, reducing its potency by 30%, but also minimizing side effects, making it more suitable for ordinary people and lower-level professionals.

"Tell them there's no stock," Rod said calmly.

"Out of stock?" Benjamin's eyes widened. "There are still two hundred bottles of freshly cooled finished product piled up in the warehouse. If we don't sell now, the price of this potion will plummet once the church's purification ritual is completely over."

"It won't plummet."

Rhodes put the test tube back on the shelf, stood up and walked to the map of the capital hanging on the wall.

"The calamity of the undead has ended, but the panic has not. After experiencing Mortimer's madness, those nobles have become like frightened birds. They buy potions not to cure their illnesses, but to buy psychological comfort. As long as this insecurity remains, Silence Potions will be hard currency."

Rhodes turned to Benjamin: "Besides, I don't want gold coins. To me right now, gold coins are just currency for buying basic materials. What I need are things that money can't buy."

He pulled a new list from his pocket and slammed it on the table.

"From today onwards, the sales rules will be changed. Only fifty bottles of potion will be sold to the public each day, payable in gold coins. The remaining shares will be sold only through barter."

Benjamin picked up the list, glanced at it, and gasped.

The list no longer includes ordinary herbs or ores, but rare magical materials such as "high-level soul crystal fragments", "dried body fluids of abyssal worms", and "complete harpy heart".

In particular, the "High-level Soul Crystal Fragment," which ranks first, is a rare item that can only be extracted from large battlefields or after the death of high-level undead creatures. It is usually strictly controlled by major forces and used to make high-level magical equipment or to conduct soul-based experiments.

"This...this will offend a lot of people." Benjamin wiped the sweat from his brow. "Those nobles are used to solving problems with money."

"Then let them get used to the new rules," Rhodes said calmly. "Or, let them go to the Lightforged family. Lucius also has the formula, but their production line is still being tested, and the Lightforged family's potions are prioritized for the Church, so the share they get is less than ours."

This is Rhodes's plan.

By taking advantage of time differences and production capacity, scarcity is artificially created.

He not only wanted to make money, but also wanted to use this opportunity to extract the key materials he needed for his evolution from those powerful families.

……

At three o'clock in the afternoon, a special guest arrived at the warehouse on Black Oak Street.

It was a man wearing a black cloak and a silver mask.

He went into the second-floor reception room alone, without any attendants.

Benjamin stood nervously to the side, while Rod sat behind the table with a cup of cold tea in front of him.

"I need ten doses of silencing potion," the masked man's voice was hoarse, as if he had grit in his throat. "Now."

"I'm sorry, today's gold coin sales have ended," Rhodes replied calmly, without even looking up at the other person.

"I didn't come here to buy it with gold coins."

The man extended a pale hand from under his cloak and placed a small box wrapped in black velvet on the table.

He opened the box, and a chilling coldness instantly filled the room.

Inside the box lay a gray crystal the size of a fingernail. Inside the crystal, countless tiny wisps of smoke seemed to be flowing, and a distorted human face could be vaguely seen screaming inside.

High-level soul crystal fragment.

Rhodes' pupils contracted slightly.

"Not bad quality." Rhodes reached out, picked up the crystal between two fingers, and felt the stinging sensation on his fingertips. "But this is only enough for five sets."

"You're greedy, young scholar." The masked man sneered. "This fragment is worth over two thousand on the black market."

"You know it's the black market." Rhodes put the crystal back in the box and pushed it back. "Here, I'm the only seller. Five sets, or you can try your luck at the Lightforged family."

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

The masked man stared intently at Rhodes, seemingly assessing the possibility of taking action.

But he ultimately restrained his murderous intent, because he sensed that at least three alchemical traps were hidden around this seemingly ordinary room.

"make a deal."

The man closed the lid and pushed the box toward Rod.

Benjamin immediately stepped forward and brought out the five wooden crates that had been prepared beforehand.

After the transaction was completed, the masked man didn't linger; he picked up the potion and quickly disappeared at the bottom of the stairs.

Rod picked up the black box, a very faint smile curving his lips.

I got the first puzzle piece.

However, just as he was about to put the crystal away, a noisy argument suddenly came from downstairs, followed by a heavy thud as something fell to the ground.

Benjamin's expression changed, and he rushed to the window to look down.

"It's the city guards! And... the Iron Duke's private army!"

Rod's smile vanished.

He tucked the box into his coat, straightened his collar, and slowly stood up.

"Let them come up."

A moment later, the office door was pushed open roughly.

A tall officer in a dark blue uniform, bearing the rank of major, strode in.

Behind him followed two fully armed soldiers, their longswords striking their leg armor with each step, producing a piercing metallic sound.

The major had a angular face, sharp eyes like an eagle, and an aura of battle-hardened bloodlust.

Major Kyle, one of the most trusted lieutenants of the Iron Duke.

"Rod Griffin."

Major Kyle walked to the table, looking down at Rhodes, skipping even the most basic formalities: "I am here on the orders of His Excellency the Duke."

"This is private property, Major." Rhodes looked at him calmly. "Even His Excellency the Duke cannot trespass on the property of a royal scholar."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

Kyle said coldly, pulling out a document stamped with the military seal from his pocket and slamming it down in front of Rhodes.

"The military suspects that the raw materials for this batch of medicine are involved in the trade of contraband, and that its efficacy is crucial to the army. In accordance with the Wartime Emergency Requisition Act, all stockpiles here are now under military control. Furthermore, His Highness the Duke demands that you hand over the complete formula for the Silence Potion by sunset tomorrow."

Benjamin turned pale with fright and huddled in the corner, too afraid to make a sound.

This is outright robbery.

The Iron Duke represents the kingdom's most powerful military force. They suffered heavy losses in the Necropolis and desperately need this potion to restore their fighting strength. They also covet the enormous profits behind it.

Rhodes didn't even glance at the document.

He remained seated in his chair, his hands clasped over his stomach, his expression as composed as if he were watching a poorly made play.

"Wartime Emergency Requisition Act?" Rhodes repeated softly, "If I remember correctly, His Majesty Edward announced at the victory banquet that the calamity of the undead was over and the kingdom had entered a period of rest and recuperation. The capital city is not currently in a state of war."

"The Duke says it's still a state of war, so it is a state of war." Kyle's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his body leaning forward, exuding an imposing aura. "Rhodes, don't think you can bargain with the military just because you have a medal. In the face of true power, your little tricks are meaningless."

"True power..."

Rhodes nodded, seemingly agreeing with the statement.

Then he reached out and pointed to the "Royal Honorary Scholar" badge on his chest, which was shimmering slightly.

"Major, do you recognize this?"

Kyle frowned: "That was a gift from His Majesty..."

“That’s right, it was bestowed by His Majesty.” Rhodes interrupted him. “Moreover, you may not know this, but this badge is not just an honor; it’s also a locating beacon.”

Rhodes stood up, took a step forward, and approached Kyle.

"His Majesty is very concerned about my safety and my research. Every bottle of potion in this warehouse is on the Royal Mage Corps' monitoring list. They are not just commodities, but also tributes I offer to His Majesty."

Rod's voice wasn't loud, but every word clearly pierced Kyle's ears.

"Are you now requisitioning His Majesty's tribute? Or does His Excellency the Iron Duke believe that the military's needs have superseded His Majesty's will?"

Kyle's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

He certainly knew what that badge meant.

Those were the king's eyes and ears, and also the king's dog leash.

You have to consider the owner before you beat a dog.

If he forcibly takes away this batch of medicine today, a report titled "The Iron Duke Attempts to Seize Royal Assets" will appear on the King's desk tomorrow.

This is an extremely dangerous sign given the current delicate relationship between the royal family and the military.

Kyle's grip on the sword hilt tightened and loosened, then tightened again.

He stared intently at Rod, trying to find a trace of fear or bluff in the young man's face.

But all he saw was absolute calmness and an almost mocking composure.

This young man is not only a scholar, but also a shrewd politician.

He saw himself as a pawn in the power struggle between the royal family and the military, and used this identity to shield himself with the strongest armor.

"Okay. Very good."

Kyle took a deep breath and withdrew his hand from the hilt of his sword.

He grabbed the requisition documents from the table and crumpled them into a ball.

"Rhodes Griffin, I will remember you. I hope your protective charm will continue to work this well."

After saying that, Kyle turned around abruptly and strode out of the office with his soldiers.

The footsteps downstairs gradually faded into the distance.

Benjamin let out a long sigh, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Good heavens, Rhodes, were you just threatening the Iron Duke's lieutenant? What if they actually make a move..."

"They dare not."

Rhodes sat back down in his chair and took out the box containing the fragments of the soul crystal from his pocket.

He looked out the window at the gradually darkening sky, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The king used him to put pressure on the military, while the military tried to use him to test the king's limits.

He's like he's dancing between two sharp blades.

But that's exactly what he wanted.

As long as this balance remains, he will have room to maneuver in both directions.

"Continue shipping, Benjamin."

Rhodes opened the box, his fingertips touching the cold crystal, feeling the surging energy contained within.

"Raise the price by another 20%. Since the military wants it, let them buy it with real money. As for the formula... that's a separate price."