Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 503 Bait
The "new inventions" they created from their wild ideas were either good-looking but useless, having nothing to offer except for the name of a magical item; or they had extremely low cost-effectiveness, and there were even more practical alternatives that already existed; and the few new products that were actually usable were later proven to be old ideas of their predecessors, making all their efforts futile.

So, can we rely on spellcasters with higher levels of skill?
The more advanced a spellcaster is, the longer they tend to immerse themselves in the field of arcane magic, in other words, the more disconnected they are from the outside world and daily life.

The magical equipment or alchemical potions they create are highly sought-after items that are worth a fortune, but what about everyday goods?
"This magical coat with its own cleansing function only costs fifty gold, so why are so few people buying it?"

—A question from a master alchemist.

Yeah, it's only fifty gold coins. It's really friendly to ordinary citizens whose monthly income is only around ten gold coins. Why the hell is no one buying it?
Which of the truly wealthy and powerful aristocrats doesn't have their own personal laundry servants? And some of their formal wear is only worn once, so how many of them would need such so-called self-cleaning robes?

Another point is this master's aesthetic sense, which is truly indescribable, yet he is extremely confident and stubborn, remaining unmoved even when investors practically begged him on their knees.

These days, the client doesn't deserve to be called a father; only the one with the biggest fist has the right to speak.

The number of truly outstanding so-called blue ocean industries is extremely small, which makes businesses that were originally considering investing in such businesses very cautious about such activities.

There's no way around it; you can learn from your mistakes. So many people have fallen into the same trap so many times. If they still don't learn their lesson, they really need to go to the temple, make a good prayer, and donate generously, asking the shepherd to cleanse and purify them.

Maybe you were cursed by some unfortunate thing and became mentally challenged?

Bellera spoke very tactfully, her face full of pitifulness, her lake-like eyes carefully observing the other person's reaction, afraid that the other person would become angry.

"The gap between a conceptual product in the laboratory and market acceptance can often leave confident inventors battered and bruised before they finally wake up, so I understand your concerns."

Upon hearing this, Bellera breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the other party wasn't a brainless or stubborn person.

"but!"

Come again? !
The lady's heart skipped a beat, and then she heard the other person's next words:

"But my product is completely different..."

What was bound to happen has finally happened. This kind of arrogance that borders on the absurd is truly a hereditary disease among these sorcerers.

Bellera struggled to suppress the urge to unleash a torrent of curses, her large eyes already showing signs of rolling back.

"Does Madam not believe me?"

If even with the mage's current perception, he couldn't detect Madame Dussel's unusual expression, then there's only one possibility: she's deliberately feigning ignorance. However, Master Zhang didn't have time for beating around the bush and directly stated the truth.

"I dare not. I am but a widowed woman. How can I possibly comment on the wizard's wondrous ideas?"

Bellera's words subtly rebuffed the other party, who didn't seem to mind, but instead began to marvel at the humanistic atmosphere of Deepwater City.

Not every ordinary merchant can navigate the world with confidence when facing a wizard who wields mysterious powers. Compared to other cities in the Sword Coast, Waterdeep, the crown jewel of the North, possesses more than just economic prosperity; the vision and demeanor of its inhabitants alone set it apart from the rest.

"Practicality and cost-effectiveness are the two factors that determine the sales prospects of a product."

"The former attracts the purchasing demand of users, while the latter determines the market breadth of the product."

These words, while not exactly profound insights, revealed a glimpse into the laws of the business market. They weren't just some arrogant delusions, and they eased Bellera's expression.

"Take this soap and try it out first, then we can consider whether there's a possibility of cooperation between us."

The latter took the soap and carefully examined the small object in his palm, which resembled a block of solidified mutton fat, unable to resist stroking its smooth, rounded surface with his fingertips. "Soap? What is its purpose? At what price do you intend to sell it?"

"This is a cleaning product that can truly benefit the general public..."

Another round of self-promotion ensued, leaving Madame Dussel somewhat bewildered and skeptical. However, she was surprised when she heard that the expected price would not exceed 5 silver coins.

It's not that the price is too high, but rather too low.

She was once obsessed with the so-called skin care and cleansing products produced by various alchemy workshops, and she still regularly uses certain mixed shower gels. She is quite aware of the price range of such products.

Even if it's not a complete replacement, the low-end version is incredibly reasonable for this price.

If the wizard in front of me wasn't lying, then at this price, this little bar of soap in my hand would be more than enough to sweep up the rest of the market, excluding a few top customers.

No, not only that, the price, measured in silver coins, has already shed the previous high-end luxury label of various shower gels, thus opening up a broader user market.

The only concerns are its actual effectiveness and the specific costs that the other party avoids discussing.

"As for why I specifically came all the way to Deep Water City to find your chamber of commerce?"

The mage lord steered the conversation to another of Bellera's questions:

"Neverwinter City is too small to accommodate too many chambers of commerce. Those reckless individuals without a strong background have long been eliminated through various means, both overt and covert. And I can't just poach people directly."

“So you found us? A golden alfalfa that’s heading into decline,” Bellera retorted.

"Since we're recruiting people anyway, why not find someone we've dealt with before?"

"As for the so-called shrinking scale and declining strength,"

The monk smiled slightly:
"Does this have much of an impact on a promising emerging industry?"

"What you want is probably not as simple as just cooperation, is it?"

The other party's confident and assertive tone gave Bellera a sudden idea, and she roughly guessed the true nature of this so-called cooperation.

Bellera, who has not yet used the soap samples, cannot yet make a judgment, but once its effects are as described, it is not an empty promise that a gold mine yet to be developed is right in front of her.

However, the question is, given the heavy losses and the devastating financial damage already inflicted on Golden Alfalfa, what resources can it offer to match this seemingly delicious windfall?

And what makes them so likely to retain the covetousness and lust that inevitably come with huge profits?

The answer is almost explicitly stated.

"Tell the others what you think is right, but I need a reply as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Madame Dussel's expression shifted between light and shadow for a while, but then she calmed down and even showed a hint of joy.

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(End of this chapter)