TF Amethyst

TFA1 6.5 - Solar Power Plant

On Amstell Continent, the currency with highest exchange rate was gold coin, which could only be issued by Kingdom of Makai or Kingdom of Horrep.

A piece of gold coin was made of pure gold weighing 21 grams. By using the gold price which was currently perched at USD 52/gram, the value of gold coins was equivalent to USD 1,092 or rounded down to USD 1,000 by Lt. Colonel Slane.

To be honest, pricing USD 7,000 or 7 gold coins for a 900 watts solar power plant complete with a water pump, pipeline, and ice cube maker along with transportation and installation costs was already giving an 8% profit.

Since 2022 the US of A government had begun subsidize the price of solar power plants, and coupled with research and development that continued to increase its efficiency, the price of solar power plant had experienced a consistent downward trend.

So, why did Lt. Colonel Slane ask for 25 gold coins as compensation from Osvik?

Because that was the standard price he charged to anyone who didn't get a special discount like Old Man Dourk or Tuscan Region's nobles.

Is the price set by Lt. Colonel Slane too expensive?

According to Lt. Colonel Slane’s calculation it was absolutely not, as the selling price was not calculated by cost of goods plus the percentage of profit, and then being applied to all consumers.

Each commodity had different values ​​for consumers in different situations. A glass of water would be nothing to the people living by the lake, but a luxury commodity for people who lived in the desert. As for people who almost died from dehydration, they would not hesitate to buy it with all the belongings they have.

In fact, Lt. Colonel Slane felt that the price he was offering was still too cheap. Given that with the current level of science and technology on Amstell Continent, it would take centuries before the concept of electricity was born and could be widely applied. Osvik also did not seem to mind Lt. Colonel Slane's calculation. He cheerfully paid the price. 

Luckily, apart from his bodyguards' weapon and equipment that he took from Dourk Tavern, the security in Registration Office did not confiscate his other belongings. The two banknotes' suitcases were still intact and were not missing a single banknote, even though the security officer had opened and through fully checked them.

For the wall clock, Osvik paid for it with a 10-year of managing rights for a hill in Kandez Region. He was super relieved because Lt. Colonel Slane did not ask for fertile farmland, but rather a hill that was tightly covered by pine trees which were generally used only as firewood.

With an ecstatic heart, Osvik requested another 10 wall clocks in exchange with 10-years of administration right for a whole plateau that was tightly covered by a pine forest. Osvik had a hoped that Amethyst Merchant would turn the entire plateau into agricultural land which would be returned to him in 10 years.

'Turning a pine forest into farmland is not easy, but Amethyst Merchant would do it for me,' Osvik muttered while his heart flew up into the clouds.

Osvik did get suspicious when Lt. Colonel Slane calmly used a map to pinpoint the location he requested. Moreover, he even showed a photo of the requested area which seemed to be taken from the air, and it was so accurate and detailed to the point that Osvik had to rub his eyes several times to make sure there was nothing wrong with his vision.

Also, Osvik saw how in an instant Lt. Colonel Slane created a very neat administer right agreement using a device he calls laptop and printer. Although Lt. Colonel Slane explained that he only had to change the name and a few other parts before printing it, Osvik still did not understand how a 16-page document could just appear in a few breaths of time after the agreement was reached by both side.

Osvik was not a smart human, but he wasn't stupid either. Therefore, he was fully aware that Lt. Colonel Slane had long been eyeing the hill and the plateau for which he had requested its administer right. 

But in the end, Osvik chose not to think too deep about it. He was sure that there was no gold or other mineral in that hill or the plateau. Besides, the location of the hill and plateau was on the remote border so it had no strategic value if Amethyst Merchant had the intention to use it to attack Walluo City.

At the same time, Lt. Colonel Slane felt a slight guilty because the land that Osvik gave up was much bigger than his initial estimation. However, because Osvik signed the agreement while smiling from ear to ear, the guilt that lingered in Lt. Colonel Slane's heart was slowly but surely evaporating.

After putting the agreement into his briefcase, Lt. Colonel Slane cheerfully said, "Now we can go to Amethyst Merchant Marketing Office to see commodities Ser Osvik might be interested in. Meanwhile, some of your bodyguards will go to Maple Palace Hotel to drop your belongings and guard your room."

Osvik immediately frowned. "Ser Slane, no nobles on Amstell Continent will willing to stay at a hotel. Asking a noble to stay in a hotel is tantamount to insulting him."

Lt. Colonel Slane smiled cheerfully before saying. "If you want a roadside camping, I'll provide it.”

An irritation instantly enveloped Osvik's heart. However, after he remembered that he had just obtained 10 wall clocks for a cheap price, his irritation immediately subsided.

'Who knows I'll get another big fish with similar cheap price. I have to be patient while waiting for another golden opportunity.' Osvik then took a deep breath before casually saying, "Well, there's a first time for everything. Ser Slane, we'd better hurry."

---

Display Room, Amethyst Merchant Marketing Office.

Osvik already saw the iron carriage belonging to Amethyst Merchant. It had made him amazed, but the admiration he had felt was nothing compared to when he looked closely at it.

Osvik circled the M1152 Personnel Carrier a dozen times before finally he was satisfied and climbed into it. Osvik chose the seat next to the driver and during the trip, he poked his head out the window, much like a puppy that going out by car for the first time.

Lt. Colonel Slane wanted to ask Osvik so he sat in the back seat with him. Considering that statistics showed the highest number of fatalities in traffic accidents was at the passenger next to the driver.  

However, after he saw Osvik's face which was adorned with a grin from ear to ear, Lt. Colonel Slane canceled his intention and only advised his trusted driver to drive extra carefully.

Before long, Lt. Colonel Slane and his guest arrived in Amethyst Merchant Display Room. It was a combination of living room, bedroom, lounge, study room, kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and several other spaces combined into one like a 21st-century residence.

Osvik had entered Makai Royal Family's living room a few times, but somehow the living room that was filled with gold ornaments felt less classy than the Display Room he was currently entering.

Osvik looked at every corner of the Display Room with a wide-open mouth, before finally he turned to Lt. Colonel Slane. "Ser Slane, please begin the presentation."

To help him with the presentation, Lt. Colonel Slane brought three people he considered could represent the three main products of Amethyst Merchant, and the first person to give the presentation was Specialist Adam from MCG.

Specialist Adam immediately turned his laptop on. "Ser Osvik, according to Lt. Colonel Slane, you are interested in solar power plants and their applications."

Osvik nodded and Specialist Adam immediately continued. "Amethyst Merchant provides solar power plant packages based on the size of ​​the mansion, with a power around 5400-8000 watts."

"5400-8000 watts?"

A large question mark appeared on Maester Kallep's forehead, while Specialist Adam nodded and gave further explanation.

"As an illustration, the system used at Dourk Tavern generates 900 watts of power. Meanwhile, the system at the Registration Office generates 3600 watts of power.

Apart from the size of ​​the mansion, the applications that will be used will also determine the amount of power that the solar power plant must be generated."

With the help of a 3D simulation, Specialist Adam then explained how the solar power plant works in a mansion, including its application in powering the lighting system both inside and outside the mansion, pumping system and pipeline for clean water, and air conditioner to control room temperature.

As for small applications, Specialist Adam used the mock-ups kitchen to demonstrate electric teapots, electric stoves, refrigerators, pipeline capable of delivering cold, warm, to hot water, and several other electronic devices.

With sparkling eyes, Osvik, Maester Kallep, and the two other Maesters heeded Specialist Adam's explanation and demonstration. Until finally, Osvik couldn't wait anymore to find out how much the cost of solar power plant for Terrek Mansion.

"Ser Slane, how much is the price for this electricity-based system?"

"For a small mansion with 5400 watts of power, the package can be obtained for 250 gold coins, and it will increase if there are electric devices outside the package that you want to add."

Osvik reflexively tilted his head. "Isn't it only 25 gold coins for a system with 900 watts of power?"

Lt. Colonel Slane nodded firmly. "Yes, but the installation complexity from the smaller system to a larger system cannot be calculated by three plus three. If the complexity for 900 watts system is three, the complexity of an 1800 watts system will be nine."

Actually, Lt. Colonel Slane's explanation was a lie. The price of an 8,000 watts solar power plant was only USD 37,000 or 37 gold coins, including transportation costs from earth, installation costs, the most basic home device, and a profit of 12%.

However, what he was sold was not just an electricity-based technology, but also a technology gap of several hundred years. Osvik and Maester Kallep were also aware that this price was quite cheap, because they could easily reach it. But of course, Osvik was still looking for loopholes to bargain.

"Ser Slane, isn't there a special cut you can give?"

Unfortunately, Lt. Colonel Slane didn't give him a chance. "The mansions of Northern Coalition nobles mostly use packages worth 310 gold coins. They also add various electric devices outside of the basic package up to 50-80 gold coins. But if Ser Osvik wants a package with a simpler system, we can arrange that."

"Of course not!!"

Osvik's ego instantly drowned his rationality, including his intention to haggle. With a burning spirit he gave an instruction.

"Maester Kallep, if the system used in Terrek mansion is cheaper than the system used by Northern Coalition's nobles, it will also tarnished your name. So, make sure it never happens."

"Understood."

With steady steps and a fighting spirit that soared up to the sky, Maester Kallep approached Specialist Adam. It wasn't long before the two had sunk in discussing about the systems and devices used by Northern Coalition's nobles and the better options that Amethyst Merchant could provide.

Lt. Colonel Slane then gave a small smile before turning his head towards Osvik. "Now, what other commodity is Ser Osvik interested in?"

Osvik immediately turned his head towards Maester Rivak, who then took a step forward.

"Ser Slane, please show me Amethyst Merchant's culinary commodities."

*****