Gender-swapped Saintess: A Survival Diary on Hell Difficulty

[PS: I posted the wrong draft in the previous chapter. The second half was corrected in the early morning. You can go back and read it if the plot doesn't connect.]

Roland naturally fulfilled Dura's request.

She stood up from her seat, called Tess to come up and clear away the remaining dishes in the office, and then led Durra and Cecilia to the alchemy laboratory.

The lab and the office are not far apart.

Upon opening the heavy oak door, one is greeted by neat bookshelves, alchemy material jars, and a secondhand alchemy table that bears the marks of time.

On the alchemy table lay a newly refined stabilizing potion, contained in a long-necked glass bottle that cost five copper coins to buy, with the bottle opening sealed with the most ordinary cork.

Seeing all this, Sissia, who was following behind Dura, stared wide-eyed in surprise.

After obtaining Roland's permission, she went over, took the bottle of stabilizing potion, and returned to Miss Dura's side.

Sissia held up the glass bottle in her hand, staring at the surface of the potion liquid inside, which rose and fell with her movements, and exclaimed in amazement.

"Miss Laura, you managed to concoct stable potions in such a rudimentary place?!"

"Is this place very basic?"

Roland shrugged slightly.

"Actually, I think it's alright. The most important thing is that the alchemy platform is still very reliable, at least it has stood the test of time."

"A reliable alchemy table... Excuse my bluntness, Miss Laura, but doesn't this look like a secondhand item?"

Sissia hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

As Dura's business secretary, she had dealt with the potion trade quite a bit, so she had also learned a lot about alchemy and could be considered a potion master. She could tell at a glance that the alchemy table was of very poor quality.

Roland nodded in agreement.

"Otherwise, how can I say it has stood the test of time?"

Sissia: "..."

So that's what it meant?!

Hearing Roland's nonchalant attitude, Dura couldn't help but look up again at the succubus with the big butt who was leading the way.

A potion master who can adapt to a simple environment must have a potion-making skill level that is at least one level higher, and this calm and composed attitude shows that he is a person of good character.

Although she is a frivolous and flirtatious low-level succubus, she has great potential.

A certain idea that emerged in Du La's mind became more and more firm, and she touched the wealth coins more and more frequently with her right hand.

In her view, ordinary exchanges of benefits could not fully guarantee Roland's loyalty—especially at such a critical juncture.

The Gray Gold Family may seem to have a perfect life, but in reality, their financial chain is in jeopardy. Above them is the crumbling Kingdom of Wealth, below them is Lady Kalil who has discovered the secrets of the Cult of Wealth, and behind them is the Steel Core Crack, which is always ready to cripple their trade routes.

Under these circumstances, as the current head of the Gray Gold Clan, she also had to find a way to raise a large amount of medicinal herbs for Lady Kalil in exchange for one-third of the Divine Revival Array...

so tired.

Dura's eyes suddenly became somewhat dazed, and the three common language characters appeared in her mind.

Although she wasn't considered old among the gray dwarves, only old enough to be a mother to humans, she bore the heavy burden of her family and church, leaving her no time to breathe.

She also needs someone who can rival Secretary Cecilia, someone smart enough to manage her businesses in the lower city.

A smart person who is loyal enough.

Dura clenched the gold coin hanging at her waist again. The mysterious gold coin, made of a special material, warmed up slightly, as if in response to her thoughts.

Just as Dura was about to have an attack, Roland, who was leading the way, stopped.

Dura bumped into Roland from behind without warning, and her hands instinctively went to support her from the front, landing on Roland's buttocks on either side.

Because of its exceptional elasticity and the fact that it was covered by a layer of glossy, delicate black pantyhose, the tactile experience was wonderful and layered. She subconsciously slid it up and down a couple of times, which immediately attracted a strange look from Roland.

"My dear young lady, you promised you wouldn't engage in any underhanded dealings?"

"I have no interest in succubi!" Durra felt her face burning and argued, "It's just because you stopped suddenly without warning and I accidentally bumped into you."

"Alright, alright."

Roland waved her hand dismissively, as if the little girl had touched her butt.

A rich young lady like her should always receive some preferential treatment, shouldn't she?

She stepped aside, revealing the entrance to the secret greenhouse behind her, and made a "please" gesture.

"Young lady, this is the method of using stabilized potions that you wanted to know about, stabilized potion poison... aerosol chamber."

"This stuff is quite common in the Empire, and it's also a key technology for me to reduce food contamination and cultivate pink king oyster mushrooms."

……

Despite being touted as a key technology, the secret greenhouse currently uses only a standard version of the stable potion.

Because the original pink king oyster mushroom was too potent, Tess fell into a hallucination after consuming it and ended up eating at Roland Ranch without paying.

In order to enable the pink king oyster mushrooms to be put into operation in the tavern, Roland proposed to Tess the requirement of degraded cultivation.

At Tess's suggestion, the raw material used to maintain the purified environment was changed to a regular version of the stable potion.

As for the greenhouse that used the milk-based stabilizing potion, it was hidden in a newly dug small secret room on the second floor, where it was responsible for the breeding of mushroom spores and was no longer directly used in the tavern's operations.

This is also why Roland was willing to take Dura on a tour of the greenhouse.

Secretary Sissia stood in the center of the enclosed greenhouse, looking around at the cultivation boxes neatly stacked on the shelves, and murmured.

"incredible."

"Just a few bottles of apprentice-level potions are enough to achieve the effect of a medium-sized purification facility. That's really cost-effective."

Dura, who was closer to Roland, studied her for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Roland's swaying heart-shaped tail.

"Miss Laura, how many bottles of stabilizing potion are needed each day to maintain this environment?"

"The consumption isn't high, but that's only if it's sealed properly."

Roland noticed what Dura was thinking and gave her a timely reminder.

"Young Miss, if you're thinking of using this thing to replace the purification facilities, then forget it. As the space expands, the consumption of stabilizing potions will increase exponentially."

"Moreover, the materials used in the Dark Underground are expensive. If it is to be used on a large scale, it would be better to use the purification facilities of our Black Iron City, which would actually save money."

Dura nodded slightly.

That makes sense; the harsh environment of the Dark Underground makes potion costs very high.

Even if it can only be used on a small scale, if operated properly, it can gain a good business advantage in precision magic, catering, and service industries. The Spinning Sparrow is a good example.

She entered a state of deep thought, subconsciously stroking the heart-shaped tail she was holding in her hand.

The soft fingertips gently brushed across the skin of her tail, making Roland's expression somewhat unnatural.

This is the difference between races.

Many people compare the succubus's heart-shaped tail with the orc's fluffy tail, but in fact, the succubus's tail is stronger, more sensitive, and has unique special functions.

Loran was quite happy to have the aloof little girl touch her succubus tail, but only if it was in a private setting.

The atmosphere we're in now, where we're discussing serious matters, doesn't seem quite right.

To get Dura to stop, Roland cleared her throat, drawing the young lady's attention back.

"Cough cough."

"Miss, please just say what's on your mind. I'd be happy to help you."

After regaining her senses, Dura indeed released the heart-shaped tail from her hand and said solemnly.

"Miss Laura, did you sign a confidentiality agreement with the Steel Church?"

"If not, I want the formula for a stable potion."