Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 895 - 182: Dream Merchant (Part 2)

For an alchemist, robbery is a high-risk, low-reward profession that even a newly entered apprentice wouldn't deign to glance at a robber.

Moreover, the price of 201 gold lions was already a "friendship price" she set to avoid leaving a bad impression on Ethan.

Normally, commissions below 1000 gold lions wouldn't even catch her eye.

If she were in the empire, she could just go to the noble district and fleece a few fat sheep, and those 4000 gold lions would come rolling in.

"So tell me, what kind of magic potions are you planning to sell?"

Ethan pulled up a chair and sat down. In front of Lindong, he felt his past pricing when he ran a store was overly conservative.

A magic scroll with a purity as high as 99.9% was priced at only 1.5 gold lions, which was affordable for an ordinary family in the empire, and even after moving to the imperial capital without financial pressure, the prices at Old Sen Magical Technology Store never increased; they sold goods that ordinary people could afford, so new products often sold out on the same day they were stocked.

Perhaps it was because he had lived in a low-consumption area of Ximu Town, a small border town, for so long that he had been deeply influenced, and sometimes even worried that the prices at the Magic Technology Store were out of touch with the community.

However, compared to his wife's business, his seemed like the difference between street food and Michelin three-star dining.

Although Ethan had never been an alchemist, he had gained some understanding of basic magic potions while Miss Keroy studied alchemy.

The best-selling magic potions were often those used to assist Transcendents in their cultivation.

Meditation potions, Qi-gathering potions, invigorating potions in the empire all took the route of thin profit margins with high sales volumes. A bottle often ranged from 5 to 8 gold lions, whereas those that could be sold for 15 to 20 gold lions were used for uncommon purposes like interrogation or summoning.

These were expensive, yet often a few days would pass without selling a single bottle.

"The customer demographic is very clear; it's those rich and foolish merchants and nobles."

Lindong had already made a plan, "Ginny should have quite a few names of fat sheep in border cities. For those people, price is not an issue; the key is whether we can control their hearts."

This 201 gold lion per bottle potion naturally wasn't aimed at scamming the poor.

Lindong was guiding her husband, who was accustomed to small-scale businesses, in the art of "Michelin three-star pricing" in practice, "And in the Far West, as long as we can make them believe that this 201 gold lions can bring greater value than 201 contribution points, our customers will come in droves."

It was only in front of Ethan that she would show such patience.

During her time associated with the Alchemist Association, no customer ever complained about her high charges; they all scrambled to place heaps of gold lions into her hands.

Because only someone like her, with such extraordinary talent and a strong background, who could blow up the Alchemist Association building without facing severe punishment, could truly meet the bizarre requests of clients.

"What are the effects of the magic potion?"

Ethan's heart rate quickened; he had to admit that Lindong's serious demeanor truly had a queen-like presence, and he was also very interested in how Lindong could provide a magic potion worth more than 201 contribution points for 201 gold lions.

"To let them have a meeting with the Goddess of Life, how about it?"

"So it's a scam!"

The Goddess of Life and other True Gods had long fallen, so how could they possibly hold a fan meeting with more than twenty users of the magic potion?

However, on the other hand, Ethan was well aware that for devout believers, they would surely be willing to spend those 201 gold lions, even more, because even the most devoted ascetics of the Church, those who had dedicated their lives to the Goddess of Life, couldn't earn Her attention even once.

"I don't see it that way."

Lindong shook her head, looked seriously at Ethan, "What do you think faith really is?"

Ethan couldn't answer for a moment, because for different people, the term has distinctly different interpretations, and he couldn't find an answer that could encompass everyone's ideas.

"In my view, in this topic, truth is the least important. Whether the Goddess of Life still exists, or whether she can respond to the prayers of believers, it won't change their inner thoughts. For true believers, even if their prayers have failed ten thousand times, they will believe firmly that the next time, or the time after that, they will succeed."

Lindong leaned against the balcony's edge, looking down at the bustling crowd, "In our eyes, they are all ignorant people deceived by Carlo, yet every one of them firmly believes that they are walking on the right path."

Whether it is the prophecy of doom or the arrival of salvation afterward, they all believe unwaveringly.

"I think this is the true genius of Carlo Esposito."

Anyone who doubts the authenticity of the prophecy of doom isn't merely opposing the Church Court but opposing the entire people of the Far West.

Looking down at them with a patronizing gaze, speaking of their ignorance.

Such behavior is destined not to awaken the people of the Far West, but instead surrender oneself to the angry populace, burning on the stake as a heretic.

As Ginny said, the truth doesn't matter; it has never mattered in such places.

"Actually, he is somewhat similar to an alchemist; a truly great alchemist never sells a specific magic potion, but rather a wish."

Carlo Esposito is the same.

He made everyone in the Far West believe in the future he depicted, allowing them to find their place in the world after the arrival of salvation.

Lindong just happened to turn her face.

Her waist-length silver hair embraced the noonday sun, and her captivating eyes made Ethan somewhat trance-like.

At this moment, Lindong was like a true witch, "To deal with such a tricky opponent, there are only two ways: either weave a more enticing dream or enter the dream he has woven, and then... steal his dream!"

Therefore, Lindong didn't support Ave's suggestion.

An incident like a fireplace explosion might cause chaos in the Church Court for a short while, but it could also make Carlo a martyr in the eyes of his supporters.

"Moreover, my first guest is already decided."

Lindong's lips curved slightly upward.

Ethan was convinced, "Who is it?"

"Bishop Solari."

Pope Carlo's most trusted subordinate, an incredibly devout believer willing to dedicate his life to the Goddess of Life.

Before traveling to the Far West, Ginny also mentioned this person to them.

Bishop Solari's residence was in the cathedral's wing, personally hailed as a model of asceticism by devotees of the Goddess of Life. Over the age of sixty, his frame unnaturally gaunt, as if life's vitality had been drained through strict fasting, prolonged prayers, and endless paperwork.

In today's world where the Church Court exploits wantonly, Bishop Solari was one of the few examples among the believers who wasn't fattened.

Solari's face was lean, with prominent cheekbones, and his skin, like translucent parchment, tightly wrapped around his bones, exuding an almost sickly pallor.

In the afternoon, Ethan held a glass bottle with emerald green bubbles, entrusting an upperclassman in elemental electricity to peer through the stained glass of the cathedral and probe the scene inside.

Solari led a disciplined life, now in his room.

The afternoon was a set time for prayer, and he was probably the kind of person Lindong described. Since joining the Life Church in his childhood, he likely conducted over ten thousand prayers.

This made Ethan feel that the glass bottle in his hand was surprisingly heavy.

Solari was their first target client, also the first local he needed to acquaint with in this city.

So the question arose.

How was he to convince an ascetic believer of the Goddess of Life that this bottle of magic potion priced at 201 gold lions could surpass the tens of thousands of prayers made in the past and earn him a glance from the Goddess of Life?

Ethan paced in front of the cathedral for nearly ten minutes.

Suddenly, he understood Lindong's intention.

A top-notch alchemist sells wishes.

The resolute face of Solari leaped forth in his mind, and thinking of this, Ethan took a step forward.

Now, he was about to sell a dream more enticing than that of Pope Carlo to the other party.