NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48: A Transaction and Bargain (1)
"Welcome," greeted a well-dressed middle-aged man.
He was tall and wore a friendly smile. Dressed in a black suit with a badge bearing a golden star, he exuded a calm and polite aura.
When he saw that his visitor was only a child, he showed no disdain at all. Instead, he looked respectful, displaying his professionalism.
Merlin liked that attitude and immediately pulled back his hood, startling the man at once.
"Are you…" Before he could finish, Merlin pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shhh! No need to say it. Just take me to meet the head of your store."
The man swallowed nervously and gave a quick nod. "Of course, Young Master Merlin. Please, follow me."
He never expected the guest to be the young master of the Clay family. It was fortunate he hadn't offended him—otherwise, the consequences could have been dire.
After all, Merlin's reputation for causing trouble and stirring annoyance had already spread throughout Droswen. There was even a saying: "You can mess with the prince, but never with Merlin Clay. Cross him, and peace will be the last thing you know."
As exaggerated as it sounded, that was the image everyone had of him.
If Merlin knew what the man was thinking, he would have immediately reconsidered his favorable impression.
Under the middle-aged man's guidance, Merlin walked through the store. As the largest potion store on South Street, Alkira was indeed spacious.
Potions ranging from bronze to gold level were neatly displayed in the showcases. The variety was so extensive that visitors rarely left empty-handed.
The interior was luxurious. Gold and white walls combined to create a grand yet welcoming atmosphere. Crystal lamps hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, even glow throughout the room.
Price tags stood in front of each display case, allowing customers to see the value of each potion at a glance.
The staff looked professional and skilled, both in appearance and knowledge.
Merlin was then led to the second floor, where more potions were arranged—though far fewer customers were present than downstairs.
Finally, they reached a door at the end of the corridor. The middle-aged man knocked softly.
"Branch Manager, sorry to disturb you. You have a guest," he said politely.
After a moment, a lazy voice called from inside:
"Let the guest in."
The door opened, and the middle-aged man gave Merlin a small nod, silently inviting him to enter.
Merlin thanked him and stepped inside. His gaze fell on a beautiful woman, absorbed in her work at the desk.
She wore a black professional suit with a white inner blouse. Her body was slim, with a narrow waist, while her chest and hips appeared full.
Her brown hair was loosely braided and pinned into a bun on the right side. Square-shaped glasses lent her a stern, serious appearance.
When she glanced at Merlin, the woman froze, clearly taken aback.
"Merlin?" she exclaimed in astonishment. "Why are you here? Are you with your father?"
She quickly put away her work, stood up, and walked over to him.
Merlin smiled warmly. "Good afternoon, Aunt Eliza. Sorry for disturbing you. No, I came alone."
"I see," Eliza replied gently. "Sit down first. I'll prepare a drink. Would you like hot chocolate or cold?"
"Cold," Merlin answered without hesitation.
Eliza nodded and walked to the far end of the room, toward the private minibar.
Merlin strolled over to the sofa and sat down lazily. His eyes swept across the workspace, and he couldn't help but admire the elegant interior.
'Aunt Eliza definitely has a sense of aesthetics,' he whispered softly.
Eliza was the head of the Alkira Store branch in Droswen City. Coincidentally, the Clay family did business with this store, buying a large number of potions each month.
Suffice it to say, the Clay family was a major customer, so it was natural that Merlin knew Eliza well.
"By the way, why did you come here, Merlin? Do you need something from me?"
Eliza returned carrying a tray, placing a cup of cold chocolate and a cup of hot coffee on the table before sitting on the sofa opposite Merlin.
Merlin picked up the cold chocolate and took a sip. The slight bitterness of the cocoa blended perfectly with the sweetness of the syrup, filling his mouth with delight.
After a few sips, he gave a small nod. "You were right, Aunt Eliza. I do need something from you."
Eliza blinked in curiosity, studying him intently. She knew Merlin well.
In her mind, Merlin was a brash brat—arrogant, irritating, and cruel. While most people might overlook a child's mischief, she never could.
She had met many children from noble families, but none as stubborn as Merlin. Even the naughtiest among them still respected rules and boundaries.
Merlin was different—completely unruly, to the point that Eliza often found him unbearable.
If it weren't for her family's business ties with the Clays, she would have avoided him entirely.
However, a few days ago, during a visit to the Clay family, she had noticed that the boy had changed significantly.
Honestly, it was a relief to her—something she had previously thought impossible.
"So, what do you need?" Eliza asked gently.
She wasn't sure what a small child like Merlin could truly want, but she still intended to assist him properly.
Merlin took out a bottle of A-level potion he had previously bought from the system shop and placed it on the table.
"I want to sell you a gold-level healing potion," he said bluntly.
Eliza froze, her eyes immediately fixed on the bottle, a mix of confusion and astonishment crossing her face.
"You want to sell this?"
She picked up the bottle and examined it carefully. The bright blue liquid, clear as a cloudless sky, sparkled beautifully, almost as if it were glowing from within.
An instant later, her eyes widened, and her heart began to race.
"The perfect potion?" Her breath caught.
Admittedly, while potions were classified into three levels, another factor mattered even more: purity. Each alchemist's skill and luck could make a huge difference.
Some potions were successfully concocted but had low purity—5%, 10%, and so on. Even a few percentage points could greatly affect a potion's value.
Of course, the effects when consumed also varied.
As far as she knew, the average purity of potions in the Alkira store ranged from 10 to 60 percent. Even at 10 percent, the price was high, and many buyers were eager to acquire them.
But a potion at 100 percent? She had never seen one in person—this was her first.
Shaking off her shock, she carefully set the bottle back on the table and asked seriously, "Merlin, can you tell me where you got this?"
If she could discover its source, it would undoubtedly work to her advantage.
Merlin, however, was no fool. He pressed an index finger to his lips and replied, "It's a secret, Auntie…"