Chapter 44: The Peak
After a brief silence on the other end of the communicator, a voice spoke:
"Mr. White Night, before we cooperate, we must clarify one thing."
"Speak."
"Our cooperation must absolutely not involve that despicable, vile, shameless, malicious, stingy, filthy, lecherous, and greedy bastard."
Among Burgi Goldcrown's derogatory terms, "treacherous" was notably absent. In goblin civilization, treachery is not a derogatory term.
"Agreed."
"Very well. What aspect of cooperation are we pursuing? Mr. White Night, my intuition tells me this cooperation is an opportunity for me. Oh, and by the way, when I was young, I was just an ordinary employee of the Goblin Merchant Guild. I climbed to that position once, and I can climb back a second time. Those arrogant major shareholders have no idea what terrifying existence I faced as a fraudster."
Mentioning Kaisa made Burgi Goldcrown shudder involuntarily. He seemed completely dominated by Kaisa, lacking even the will for revenge. In truth, this was a wise choice. The gap between Burgi Goldcrown and Kaisa wasn't just a few levels; they weren't even in the same tier.
"I have a batch of 'Maple Color Honey Milk' on hand."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Burgi Goldcrown's ears perked up on the other end of the communicator.
"Mr. White Night, are you... consigning it?"
"No. I'm selling you a decades-long reservation in a single transaction."
"Name your price."
"80,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, supplying you with 30 liters of 'Maple Color Honey Milk' monthly for 50 years."
'Maple Color Honey Milk' was a top-tier nourishing product. If priced at 100,000 Soul Coins for 30 liters, the Goblin Merchant Guild would gladly purchase it. A standard package of 'Maple Color Honey Milk' was only 15 milliliters, meaning 30 liters could be packaged into 2,000 servings, each costing 50 Soul Coins to produce.
Ultimately, it was something that couldn't enhance strength. To make its single transaction price substantial, the supply years had to be stacked.
At first glance, the Goblin Merchant Guild seemed to profit. The issue was that 'Maple Color Honey Milk' couldn't grant powerful strength. A noblewoman's beauty depended on her faction's stability. The Star Realm's main theme had always been survival of the fittest. Thus, while this nourishing product commanded a high price, it had limitations and required long-term, stable management.
The only advantage was that the Star Realm was vast and boundless. The number of factions hoarding Soul Coins was incalculable. In fact, the Goblin Merchant Guild also sold Space-Time Power externally, but their price was very high: 1 ounce = 550 Soul Coins, with a purchase price of 1 ounce = 300 Soul Coins.
What Su Xiao lacked now was time. The Abyss Calamity was imminent. Although he had ascended to the Supreme Peak, facing this calamity truly required more than his current level. In fact, it was even harder than advancing from ordinary Supreme to Supreme Peak.
Looking across the entire world, Su Xiao knew of only three beings who had surpassed the Supreme Peak: the Supreme Being, the Tuanzhang, and the current Lord of the Abyss.
This also indirectly showed that breaking through the Supreme Peak was extremely difficult. Therefore, he needed even greater strength to obtain more resources.
That said, there were naturally differences in strength among those at the Supreme Peak. There was no such thing as a newcomer or veteran. One had to fight to determine if they were stronger than another.
Based on the Black Tiger Bee's growth rate, Su Xiao estimated that in about two months, its 'Maple Honey' output would be enough to supply the Goblin Merchant Guild's 50-year share. In truth, the real profit from 'Maple Color Honey Milk' depended on whether its sales went crazy.
The reason for such exaggerated production was that Su Xiao discovered the 'Maple Color Honey Milk' he concocted from 10 liters of 'Maple Honey' was a concentrated version. It required a 1:28 dilution to match the 'Maple Color Honey Milk' sold in the Second Era.
From 10 liters of 'Maple Honey,' he produced 18 liters of 'Concentrated Maple Color Honey Milk,' which after dilution yielded 504 liters of 'Maple Color Honey Milk.'
If the Goblin Merchant Guild's monthly 30 liters of 'Maple Color Honey Milk' wasn't enough to sell, they would have to purchase extra from Su Xiao. At that point, the purchase price would be easier to control.
Moreover, this 50-year buyout meant little to Su Xiao, because the current version of 'Concentrated Maple Color Honey Milk' was made without equipping the [Peak Work] title and using crude concoction methods for restoration. Only this ensured 100% consistency with the Second Era's 'Maple Color Honey Milk.'
Once the initial delivery of 'Maple Color Honey Milk' was completed with the Goblin Merchant Guild, and they used various channels for rapid promotion to make it sell like wildfire, that would be the time for Su Xiao, with Alchemy Lv.99, to concoct '2nd Generation Maple Color Honey Milk'...
At that point, the Goblin Merchant Guild would be less willing to fully honor this 50-year buyout and would instead be more inclined to make certain supplements based on this cooperation foundation.
If the '1st Generation Maple Color Honey Milk' nourished the body, the 2nd generation would nourish and repair it. This product would then appeal to both male and female users. The Goblin Merchant Guild knew very well what doubling the customer base meant.
Thinking it ended there? Of course not. After the 2nd generation sold for a while, Su Xiao would equip the [Peak Work] title to concoct [Concentrated Maple Color Honey Milk], the '3rd Generation Maple Color Honey Milk,' with effects of doubled nourishment and repair.
As for how Su Xiao could confirm the effects of the 2nd and 3rd generations, samples of both were already in the Alchemy Laboratory.
If the Goblin Merchant Guild only sold the 1st generation 'Maple Color Honey Milk' and never considered the subsequent two generations, it didn't matter. Su Xiao would supply the quantity corresponding to the 50-year cooperation and even provide enough '2nd Generation Maple Color Honey Milk' based on the initial sincerity of the cooperation. However, subsequent supply would no longer be exclusive to the Goblin Merchant Guild.
At that point, retail competition for 'Maple Color Honey Milk' would begin, which was precisely what the Goblin Merchant Guild least wanted to see. Therefore, as long as profits were sufficient, the major shareholder overseeing this matter would be very willing to let Su Xiao continuously fleece them.
The most critical point was that previous transactions of 'Black Maple Tree Yield' with the Goblin Merchant Guild had been pleasant. That was why Su Xiao gave them the surefire profitable business of retailing 'Maple Color Honey Milk.'
Thus, as long as the Goblin Merchant Guild's high-ranking official in charge wasn't absurdly stupid, they wouldn't explicitly demand exclusive supply of 'Maple Color Honey Milk.' Exclusivity was possible, but it couldn't be stated outright. As long as both parties benefited, it was an unspoken exclusive supply.
The Goblin Merchant Guild couldn't be treated as a single person. It was a merchant faction, with decision-makers being a group of major shareholders. Therefore, one had to both give them benefits and retain the means to trample them into the mud. This was the safest way to cooperate.
Burgi Goldcrown on the other end thought for a few seconds before saying, "Mr. White Night, I need to talk to the major shareholder who still supports me. Give me... one hour, ah no, half an hour."
"Waiting for your good news."
"Thank you, thank you!"
One reason Burgi Goldcrown had climbed to chairman of the Goblin Merchant Guild was his ability to seize opportunities and his gratitude toward those who gave him chances.
Burgi Goldcrown didn't need half an hour. In just 12 minutes, he completed the negotiation. He spoke into the communicator:
"Mr. White Night, I've discussed it with the shareholder. We can reserve 50 years of supply for 80,000 ounces of Space-Time Power, but we need to sign a contract from your Reincarnation Paradise. If you're busy, you can have your follower, Young Miss Beini, come to the Great Gathering Place to complete this deal. I'm already waiting there."
As Burgi Goldcrown spoke, the background noise became slightly louder. One could faintly hear price negotiations and, after the deal was done, the relaxed laughter of both parties no longer at odds.
Su Xiao was silent for over ten seconds before saying, "For the first transaction, I'll have Beini bring you back 100 liters of 'Maple Color Honey Milk.'"
Hearing this, Burgi Goldcrown fell silent on the other end. Finally, he said:
"Mr. White Night, you're truly a devil. I can see, in the near future, my pitiful appearance begging you for an increased monthly quota, willingly offering up Soul Coins."
After hanging up, a message arrived shortly from a Worker. The message contained the contract for this 'Maple Color Honey Milk' transaction. After reviewing the contract and materializing it, Su Xiao signed it.
[You have received a deposit certificate for 80,000 ounces of Space-Time Power.]
[You have submitted this certificate. You have obtained 80,000 ounces of Space-Time Power.]
...
With the Space-Time Power in hand, Su Xiao went to the room housing the Awakening Stele and applied to the Void Tree to activate the 'Inscribed High Stele' related permissions. Beini had previously sold off various miscellaneous gains, finally making the Space-Time Power barely sufficient.
[You have paid 100,000 ounces of Space-Time Power.]
['Inscribed High Stele' teleporting...]
[Teleportation complete.]
A pitch-black, smooth stele with a faint reflective sheen stood ahead. Fortunately, the room was tall enough, with a nearly ten-meter ceiling, allowing the over eight-meter-tall 'Inscribed High Stele' to almost reach the top.
[About to begin recording and inscribing the 'Peak Abilities' of powerful beings from the same system as you, from the beginning of the Star Realm's First Era to the current era.]
[Verification complete: You are a Technique Grandmaster/Law Destroyer. There are a considerable number of 'Supreme Peak' powerful beings in the same system as you. A total of 19 'Peak Abilities' are available for your reference.]