### Chapter 49: The Black Fangs Shelter (2)
‘No matter how many times I look at this, I just can’t believe it.’
With that thought in my mind, I gazed at Miss Rubia.
Her attitude shifted dramatically the moment we started discussing business.
The clumsy older sister I used to worry about was nowhere to be seen.
Now, she wore an intelligent gaze with a cold expression.
Resting her chin on her hand and calculating profits and losses meticulously, she embodied the very essence of what it means to be a “professional.”
Not long after Miss Rubia’s remarkable transformation…
“This is…”
Her mouth dropped open in astonishment.
A totally expected reaction.
The cost difference here is roughly fifty times or more.
‘Maybe I worried about Miss Rubia for nothing.’
The materials I used were all relatively obscure secondary materials.
However, the fact that she could arrive at that conclusion so swiftly led me to one unavoidable conclusion.
She had all that data stored in her head.
Everything related to market pricing.
“This is definitely profitable. No, it’s way beyond just profitable.”
Miss Rubia’s face was painted with disbelief.
Thinking back, it wasn’t surprising.
Elf hair is a bit tricky to obtain, but it’s not completely out of reach. There are suppliers, after all.
Since no one recognizes its true value, the price isn’t too high. Plus, I know more potion recipes than just this one.
“We can rake in a fortune.”
Miss Rubia declared confidently.
Words coming from a proven entrepreneur who owns this very mansion.
It was clear that she was running a simulation of this entire business venture in her mind.
‘I have zero experience in this field.’
Recollections of the ancient alchemist storyline from the previous game’s side quests popped up. During gameplay, I merely unlocked some useful recipes.
I never ventured into the idea of mass-producing them or starting a business.
It was tough to think beyond that.
In truth, I’ve never even dabbled in running a business.
How would I know about sourcing materials, or sales and promotional methods?
‘I’m certainly glad I chose to partner with Miss Rubia.’
I can repay her for all the favors while simultaneously gaining from this endeavor.
It’s like killing two birds with one stone.
As I mused over this, a smile spreading across my face, Miss Rubia’s expression suddenly turned grave.
What in the world got her so serious?
As I stared at her, my face puzzled, Miss Rubia broke the silence with a pale expression.
“This discovery is too revolutionary. It’s so revolutionary that it might actually become a problem.”
The tone was somber.
The atmosphere grew tense naturally.
“How much are you planning to sell this for?”
Miss Rubia asked, contemplating whether to go for a premium pricing strategy or to sell at a more moderate price to maximize our earnings.
Well, for me, that was a straightforward decision.
“We should sell it at a reasonably fair price.”
Sure, profits might take a hit, but saving lives is far more important.
If we were to gouge prices on a life-saving potion just to profit, how would we be any different from those detestable managers at the mining camp?
‘Besides, part of the plan is to enhance my influence.’
Not just with this elixir, but with other potions I can supply at much lower prices thanks to the recipes I know.
This is my chance to launch a potion business on a national scale.
Providing potions at fair prices for everyone.
Saving countless people who couldn’t afford treatment, and boosting my influence throughout the empire.
I conveyed my aspirations to Miss Rubia.
She regarded me with an even more serious demeanor.
“Do you have any idea what kind of impact this will have?”
“Well, of course.”
Naturally.
This could shake the market to its very core.
An absolute monster would emerge in the potion market, offering everything at less than one-tenth the original price, and with better quality, too.
The market would definitely crash.
All associated businesses would be thrown into utter chaos.
Nobles entrenched in this business might very well attempt to kidnap and kill us as a result.
Although, with Lien around, those nobles might end up worrying about being chopped to bits instead of us.
Regardless.
It was painfully clear that this would throw a massive wrench into the empire’s societal gears.
“How the heck do we even…?”
Miss Rubia bit her lip, lost in thought.
But, for once, I felt I could lend a hand.
Sure, I’m not a businessman.
‘But why must we tackle this like a businessman?’
A transmigrator has their own methods.
“We can just take over the entire potion market!”
“…What?”
“We absorb everything in existence. Just bring it all under our control.”
Is there really a need to open new branches or recruit staff?
We just make everything ours.
Breaking free from conventional thinking, using knowledge from the original story and cheats to wreak havoc.
That’s the very essence of being a transmigrator, right?
“Wait, are you suggesting… we just kill everyone…?”
“…Miss Rubia, what do you really think I am?”
How does she even view me in her mind?
With that swirling in my thoughts, I continued.
“Of course, we ought to solve this with negotiations.”
With my cheat—which is my recipe—we hold all the cards.
We’re in a position to dominate the market as we see fit.
If we can convince them to come under our wing with good conditions, most would happily agree.
“Well, if persuasion fails, we can resort to threats.”
It’s like a charity project, really.
If potion prices drop, and my plan lets the commoners obtain potions easily, countless lives can be saved.
The conditions I’ll present to current merchants will be very generous, indeed.
Only the big fish, the ones making a killing off the potion business, would likely oppose.
I don’t plan to eliminate the bourgeoisie, but…
If a rich guy tries to obstruct our mission to save lives for his own profits, naturally, we might have to pull out some intimidation tactics.
“And if they choose to ignore even the threats… well, they can do whatever they want.”
If someone prefers to run their business next to ours while we’re offering a lifelong 90% discount on everything, that’s their choice.
In fact, I wouldn’t even stop them if they secretly tried sending assassins our way.
‘If they want to be chopped into 17 pieces by Lien, who am I to stop them?’
Hmm.
This is a flawless plan.
Despite being a transmigrator who has never even touched the original game, I’ve done my duties remarkably well.
As a transmigrator, I should cause at least this much chaos.
With these thoughts swirling around, I declared…
“Th-that’s… brilliant! It’s truly a genius idea!”
I gazed at Miss Rubia, who’s trembling now.
I was about to ask why she suddenly looked so scared, but my mouth snapped shut.
…Come to think of it.
This is a seriously ruthless plan.
I intend to grab hold of the empire’s entire potion business and throw down the gauntlet at anyone who gets in my way.
This is the kind of thing a shadowy organization boss would do.
But…
Once again, I chose to set my conscience aside.
‘It’s all for saving lives, after all.’
Overthinking every little detail would lead nowhere.
As a transmigrator, it’s time to play it cool and decisive.
*
Rubia finally began to grasp it.
The person standing before her was indeed the leader of the Black Fangs.
The most fearsome secret organization lurking in the shadows, shaking the empire itself.
There’s a line to how unflappable one can be.
The way he thinks couldn’t possibly be human.
…In some sense, that was only to be expected.
That man wasn’t human; he was something wearing a human mask.
“I’ll ensure that I use methods as humane as possible. Don’t be too frightened.”
Something that defies being human was trying to imitate one while saying that.
“I have critical weaknesses on people like Robin and Shiron. If we threaten them, no need to kill anyone.”
He seemed to be trying to portray himself as a gentle soul who despises killing, just like any ordinary person.
But it only backfired.
‘How on earth does he know such things…?’
Claiming to possess leverage over two giants dominating the empire’s economy—not just in the potion business.
Rubia couldn’t fathom the mental state of a leader who introduced such statements so casually.
“That’s… a relief. It’s great that it can wrap up peacefully.”
In the end, Rubia found herself forced to go along with this monstrous leader’s game yet again.
When will this leader stop masquerading as a human?
Whether he is an evil god or a benevolent one, it would provide some comfort if he simply revealed his true nature.
This laughable charade of human pretenses was thoroughly terrifying.
Shaking with fear, Rubia quickly pulled herself together.
‘I need to be of help!’
Even in her area of expertise, she had proven to be utterly unhelpful. She had only shown her incompetence lately.
She had to make amends one way or another.
Rapidly racking her brain, Rubia soon realized a critical issue.
The money would naturally flow in that scale with that recipe. Yet such endeavors almost always come at a cost.
If the leader’s vision came true,
the potions, previously hoarded by the wealthy nobles, would instead be widely distributed among all social classes.
This would undoubtedly harm the Holy Church’s income. Who’d want to visit the temple when they could use cheap potions?
In other words, embarking on this venture would likely create enemies with the Holy Church.
As soon as Miss Rubia grasped this, she hurriedly conveyed this fact to the leader.
Yet, the leader responded with complete indifference.
With his habitual relaxed smile, he stated,
“It’s okay. We were going to clash with them sooner or later anyway.”
Having obliterated the black market last time, now it was the Holy Church’s turn.
…Rubia felt lightheaded, as if she were about to faint.
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