System Change

For the next few days, everyone spent their time together, catching up. Derek took Rayna to the Adventurer’s Guild to both train her new skills, and get her a Gold Adventurer’s Badge. She easily completed her testing missions to obtain the rank.

Normally, Jacks would be the one to help Rayna, but he was busy with his son. They had a lot of catching up to do. Derek knew Jacks had let Jake know about everything that had transpired and was glad to see that the two of them ended up having a decent relationship.

Prince Edgar was a bit of an oddball. He mostly just sat around, listening and giving his two cents on topics that interested him. More than anything, the man seemed to be happy to be where he was, and not where he obviously should have been. The Prince turned out to be a very patient man, as well. There was a never-ending stream of questions flowing out of Thomas’s mouth about the Academy.

Derek also found time to take Malorie to the bank and set everything up. She would be the manager at their shop, so he gave her access to everything, including his finances. He wasn’t worried about money. If he need it personally, he could just go on a hunt for something big. He also wasn’t worried about her stealing. He trusted her and trusted that she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize Brandi’s future.

Rudy finally got over his excitement and decided that his business didn’t need a flamboyant name. He was in the contract business. It was better to be straightforward. Eventually, he settled on Contracts by Rudy. Derek helped with the slogan, ‘Always get it in writing!’ After a short conversation with Geoffrey, the sign and slogan was mounted above the entrance to his part of the building.

Finally, Derek talked with Stella about the Void Beast materials, and was able to get everything within two days. Apparently, Alanah had made an official announcement and was beginning to prepare for the auction, which would be the first of two, and be held in Savannah. Thus, the Void Beasts were already in the process of being prepared when he made the request.

Roman was ecstatic when Derek delivered the materials, as was Rudy. It was the first contract he made under his new business. Overall, the contract was in Derek’s favor, but Roman couldn’t complain. He would not only being making an absurd amount of money, but the experience he would get for crafting the potions would be no joke. He even redoubled his efforts in teaching Brandi when she went over for lessons.

As for Sabrina Elras, f everything was as Edgar said, then she didn’t have anything to do with it. He did see the elf around, though. He even caught her staring in his direction a couple of times when he was in the central part of the city. She would quickly turn her head and act as if nothing happened.

He still heard nothing about or from Natalie Savannah. Apparently, the incident with the ambush didn’t warrant her involvement, as everything was settled without death. A prince being there probably helped the matters, as well.

Which led Derek to today. He was standing outside the Crown Restaurant waiting for one last meeting with Stella before he left for a dungeon. In his storage bracelet, sat one vial of the Potion of Physical Permanence.

The auction was a month away, and he was looking to add an extra layer to it. He hadn’t planned on rushing out the product so fast, but with the auction happening sooner than he originally thought it would, he decided to show off his new product.

“I don’t know why we’re here. I have more than enough clout to advertise the potion for myself.” Roman clicked his tongue.

“I trust Alanah’s clientele much more than I trust yours. Hers is very selective, yours… not so much.” Derek said. “Plus, it may be better for you to keep your name hidden. You may attract some unsavory characters once it becomes known that you can create such a potion.”

Roman spat on the street. “I already attract unsavory characters. They pay the best.”

“Yeah, but none of your previous potions would be worth killing for, and I don’t think you’re as strong as Alanah is. I don’t think Shae’s backing would be enough to keep you safe after announcing something like this, and my reputation isn’t high enough yet. It will be one day, possibly soon, but for now, I think it’s best to rely on Alanah and the Crown.” Derek said.

“Whatever… we’ll try it your way. But the costs are coming out of your half.” Roman said.

Derek chuckled and led Roman into the Crown Restaurant. They were quickly ushered upstairs to Stella’s office. She was waiting for their arrival.

“Stella!” Derek walked in and grabbed a seat.

Roman followed his lead and hopped in a chair of his own.

Stella didn’t seem to mind their casual attitudes. “What can I help you with, Mr. Hunt?”

“No need to be formal around Roman… you know Roman, right?” He asked.

“We’ve met in passing before, but we’ve never had business.” Stella looked at Roman. “It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Mr. Pascal.”

Roman clicked his tongue. “Call me Roman. Mr. Pascal was my no-good bum of a father.”

“So that’s why it’s called ‘Roman’s Potions and Brews’ even though ‘Pascal’s Potions’ would sound so much better.” Derek chuckled.

“Well then, Roman… Derek… to what do I owe the pleasure?” She asked.

“Well, about that.” Derek flicked his wrist and a vial with liquid that was rapidly changing in color appeared in his hand. “Roman created this neat little potion, and I was hoping we could auction it off under the guise of the Crown.” He held the potion out for Stella to take.

Stella frowned as she received the potion. “The auction is known for only selling permanent stat boosting meals from Void Beasts. We wouldn’t want to taint that by adding…” she trailed of as she examined the potion. “Permanence?” she asked.

Derek smiled. “Yup. It’s a potion that increases stats perfectly. I thought it would work well as a… refreshment to your meals.”

Her eyes widened. “What’s the increase? How much? Which stats?” She asked.

“Well…” Derek teased. “It increased my Strength, Dexterity, Endurance, and Vitality by five points each. It’s also a potion, so I don’t think it will have the same problem that the meals have. You should be able to drink them back to back without waiting a long time between… of course, the potions are rare, so we haven’t actually tested that yet.”

“So it gives Dexterity and Vitality… that will be a big draw. Especially the Vitality. The King’s excitement over the blood from the baby beast giving extra Vitality was palpable. Most people cannot cheat death by old age, whenever that it, so every point in Vitality or Endurance, but especially Vitality, matters.” She said.

“So, what do you think? Can we use the Crown as a platform to sell the potion on? I would rather know that these permanent stats are going to somebody vetted by Alanah, than a random person who may or may not be an enemy.” Derek said.

“I think we can work something out. What kind of deal do you two have? What do you bring to the table, Derek? You aren’t an Alchemist last I checked.” Stella said.

“Who said I wasn’t an Alchemist?” Derek asked with a confused look.

“What?” Both Stella and Roman shouted.

Derek snorted and waved his hands. “Just kidding. I don’t have the patience for something like Alchemy. It seems like a fun craft, but it’s not for me.”

Stella rolled her eyes.

“As for your question. I provide the materials. Just as I did with your meals… well, I provide the main materials.”

Everything seemed to click for Stella after that. “So this is what the Void Beast leftovers went towards. Of course it is. I only know of one ingredient that can be used to increase stats permanently, and it’s the Void Beast. Why would it be any different for potions?”

Stella turned to Roman with a glint in her eyes and smiled. “We do have a few extra sets of Void Beast materials that we’ve accumulated or haven’t sold over the years. Would you be interested?”

Derek snapped his fingers in front of Stella’s face. “Hey… I’m still here.”

Stella snapped back. “Oh… sorry about that. I got ahead of myself. We may not even have all the correct materials needed, anyway. I don’t know if we have any claws left in our stock, as they make for great smiting materials… hides as well.”

“So, what do you say? Can we work with you?” Derek asked.

“I’m sure we can work something out. I’ll contact my Mistress about it later.” Stella answered and held the potion out for Derek to take.

“Keep it. You’ll need to test it to verify it’s worth. Just remember.” Derek said. “We’ve provided the entirety of the product. You will only be advertising and selling it to your clients a product that doesn’t necessarily need your advertising or selling. Only your backing… if that.”

“I am well aware.” Stella said.

“That’s good.” Derek said. “Call me on the communication crystal once you figure something out. I may be out for a couple of weeks, but we will be able to work something out before the auction.”

“Oh? Where are you going?” Stella asked.

Derek shrugged. “Around.” He said. “Anyway, we need to get going.”

Derek stood, as did Roman.

“It’s been a pleasure doing business with you again.” Derek reached out and shook Stella’s hand.

“Always.” Stella said.

After that, the two left the Crown and began their trip back to Roman’s shop.

“You sure were quiet in there.” Derek said.

“I don’t like doing business with business minded people. I like to set a price, then they pay it or leave. Negotiations make my skin crawl.”

“So that’s why you didn’t put up much of a fight with our contract?” Derek said.

“They weren’t bad terms, either. You didn’t seem like the type to rip me off.” Roman said.

“Indeed.”