Big G, Coffee Machine and Goblin

Chapter 18 Sales Contract
"That's not enough. The flame produced by this alchemical artifact is too small, almost harmless. Its only use is for starting fires. Even if it's better than flint, how much do you think adventurers are willing to pay for it?"

Although Charles was unconvinced, he had to admit that Balta's words made some sense.

If the half-elf girl were to embody this character, she certainly wouldn't be willing to spend a fortune just to improve the ignition experience.

So she turned to Ma Li and started discussing it.

Balta stood there quietly, seemingly waiting for the two to make a decision, but in reality, he was secretly observing the changes in Charles and Mario's expressions.

Especially the former, young people of this age easily wear their emotions on their sleeves, while Ma Li on the other side is a bit hard to understand.

This person seemed to care a lot about the deal, yet also seemed not to care that much.

After listening to Charles's explanation, Ma Li took out another item from his backpack.

"This is SOD Honey," the half-elf girl explained to Balta. "Applying the white lotion inside to the skin can make it smoother and more hydrated, and it has a beautifying and anti-aging effect."

Balta's eyelids twitched, but his expression didn't change. He simply gestured for the young shop assistant next to him to extend the back of his hand so that Charles could squeeze some Dabao cream onto it.

He then first brought the product to his nose and smelled it, then had the young clerk apply it evenly and observe for a while before asking the clerk how she felt.

"It seems a bit slippery."

Balta disagreed, "Lamia's mucus has a similar effect, and this bottle can't hold much. I'll add at most three more bottles of animal communication potion."

Charles protested, "Do you even know what you're talking about?! These two items are unique in the entire continent of Revatres!"

Balta chuckled. "Everyone who sells alchemical artifacts says that, even if they're just little gadgets for novice alchemists to practice on."

The half-elf girl wanted to argue with the other side, but Ma Li patted her shoulder lightly and reminded her, "The effects of the medicine will wear off soon."

"This place is a rip-off! The owner is a crooked businessman, clearly trying to drive down the price!" Charles said angrily. "Let's go somewhere else."

“But neither the Giant Bear Power nor Dulin General Store sells animal communication potions,” Ma Li comforted her. “It’s alright, this transaction is just an emergency. They’re just some cheap trinkets, you can find them everywhere in my hometown.”

He opened his backpack and took out a pair of sunglasses and gloves. "Tell him that we can exchange these two items for twenty bottles of animal communication potion. If he doesn't agree, we'll go back to the original deal and exchange the lighter for four bottles. We'll buy the rest in another city."

Afterwards, Ma Li explained the uses of these two items to Charles.

After further negotiations, it was Balta's turn to hesitate. He was well aware of the true value of these items, and those country bumpkins and stingy adventurers might not be willing to pay such high prices for them.

However, many nobles and wealthy merchants enjoyed these novel gadgets, and they were generally very generous.

And the most generous one of them happens to be in Eagle's Beak City right now.

The man came in disguise this time, and even the Morales family didn't know it. Balta only obtained this secret information by chance.

If you can make that person happy, this investment could potentially increase fivefold, no, even tenfold.

However, people are always greedy. Even with huge profits beckoning him, Balta still wanted to cut costs as much as possible.

However, the two people in front of him were also very straightforward. They did not intend to bargain with him and directly issued an ultimatum, leaving him with no way to use his superb negotiation skills.

Just as Balta was about to agree, his gaze fell on Mali's hand.

He had actually noticed that thing quite some time ago, because Ma Li almost never let it out of his sight, always clutching it tightly. This shows how important it was.

Moreover, even putting that aside, its incredibly smooth surface and hair-like beautiful texture are unlike anything Balta has ever seen.

Even the dwarven blacksmiths, renowned for their forging skills, could never forge such metal.

“Plus that!” Balta said greedily.

After listening to Xia Er's translation, Ma Li glanced at his thermos and said, "That's fine, but tell him it costs extra. At least thirty Golden Eagles."

"Fifteen," Balta countered.

"twenty five."

"twenty."

"make a deal!"

Ma Li handed over his thermos. Although losing his drinking water was a bit inconvenient, he still had a water bladder in his backpack to make do with, so it wasn't a big deal.

Another major reason is that the other party gave him just too much. He even seriously considered whether to bring a truckload of thermos cups over to sell later.

Anyway, there's plenty of stock in supermarkets and stores all over Luoyang. If he could sell each one for twenty Golden Eagles, or even just one Golden Eagle, he could become rich overnight.

If he makes a few more trips to other cities, it will take at most a month. Okay, let's be conservative and give him six months. By then, the richest man on the continent of Revatres will also be surnamed Ma.

Clearly, both parties were satisfied with the deal.

Balta absolutely adored the thermos after getting it; the more she looked at it, the more she liked it.

The only downside was that when the young clerk opened the drawer, he found only twelve bottles of animal communication potion inside.

Balta said apologetically, "Look at my memory. Animal communication potions aren't needed very often. This is all the stock we have in the shop. I can gather the materials and ask an alchemist to help me make the rest, but it will take at least a month to get it. If you're not comfortable with that, we can sign a contract."

The naive half-elf girl thought Balta had simply misremembered, but Mali knew that the guy was probably just pretending and had known all along that the stock was insufficient.

However, he was too lazy to argue any further and said to the half-elf girl, "No need, let him exchange the rest for gold coins."

Balta was definitely at a disadvantage by exchanging goods like this, since his purchase price was lower than his selling price. However, he knew he was in the wrong, and since he had made a considerable profit this time, he was unusually generous. He went upstairs, opened his little vault, counted out sixty gold eagles, and handed them to Ma Li.

However, just as the latter was about to take it, he withdrew his hand and said with a smile.

"This is a big deal worth hundreds of gold coins, so it's better to have a contract in case either party regrets it in the future."

Upon hearing this, Charles retorted angrily, "So you know you're a shrewd businessman? Are you worried we'll come back to cause you trouble?"

Balta wasn't angry. He said calmly, "Say what you will. This deal was indeed agreed upon by both parties. I never forced you from beginning to end."

"The gods will punish your greed, and one day you will have nothing left!"

(End of this chapter)