Chapter 11: The Supply Contract
Arum personally poured the tea.
Steam rose from the cup placed before Elliott, who leaned crookedly against the back of his chair.
His arrogant posture somehow suited the seat of honor inside the Hundred Herbs Apothecary.
"Please, have some. This is Snow Mountain Tea brought from the Northern Sea."
Arum's attitude was not merely respectful. It was almost servile.
Inside his head, he had already decided that Elliott was a promising Alchemist connected to the Celestial Light Consortium headquarters.
Elliott barely touched the cup to his lips before setting it down.
"Let us skip the introductions. Time is money."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
Arum took out a parchment scroll and a quill that he had prepared in advance.
As expected of a merchant, he had already drafted the contract.
"Here it is."
Elliott casually looked over the parchment Arum handed him.
It was packed with tiny clauses, but the main terms were simple.
[The Hundred Herbs Apothecary shall purchase all Blood-Staunching Powder produced by Elliott Franrt, Party A.]
[Elliott Franrt, Party A, shall not supply the product to any merchant group other than the Hundred Herbs Apothecary.]
[Payment shall be settled in mana stones immediately upon delivery.]
However, the most important details were missing.
The prices they had agreed upon verbally, and the exact quantity to be supplied.
Arum watched Elliott's expression before speaking carefully.
"Shall we proceed with the prices you mentioned earlier? Twelve mana stones for high grade and four for mid grade?"
Elliott gave a short nod.
"There is no need to repeat myself."
"Understood. Then only the most important matter remains."
Arum swallowed.
"How much can you supply each month?"
Elliott rested his chin on one hand and thought for a moment.
'I spent all of yesterday working and produced sixteen packets.'
But that had been the result of staying awake through the night and running the furnace like a madman to increase his proficiency.
Things would be different from now on.
This was a world ruled by strength.
Making money was important, but he also needed enough time to cultivate and increase his own power.
He also had to consider the time required to obtain ingredients and rest.
'Four packets a day should be reasonable.'
Four packets a day meant one hundred and twenty a month.
It was the highest amount he could produce without becoming completely tied to alchemy, while still earning a substantial income.
After finishing his calculations, Elliott raised his fingers.
"One hundred and twenty packets."
"What?"
"I can supply approximately one hundred and twenty every month."
Arum frowned at the proposal.
He stroked his beard, clearly troubled.
"One hundred and twenty packets is certainly an impressive amount, but it may be excessive."
"Excessive?"
"Blood-Staunching Powder is different from medicine used for cultivation. It is an emergency treatment that people purchase only after being injured. No matter how good its quality is, people will not buy it as regularly as food."
Arum calculated entirely from the perspective of a merchant.
"It would be troublesome if the stock began piling up. Let us reduce it to half, sixty packets. That is an amount the Hundred Herbs Apothecary can sell without difficulty."
Elliott's eyes narrowed.
The demand was limited.
'Sixty packets. I could produce that by working only a couple of hours each day. That is not bad.'
Having more free time was actually welcome.
However, it would not be wise to yield without receiving something in exchange.
If Arum wanted to reduce his risk by lowering the quantity, Elliott needed to gain something as well.
Elliott picked up the quill and tapped one of the clauses.
"Fine. We will make it sixty, as you suggested. In exchange, remove this clause."
"Which clause?"
Elliott pointed at the exclusive supply condition.
"The condition that prevents me from selling to merchants other than the Hundred Herbs Apothecary."
"That is…"
"Think about it."
Elliott cut him off with a cold smile.
"You are the one reducing the quantity because you cannot sell everything I produce. Do you expect me to leave the remaining products rotting in storage? If you refuse to buy them, it is only natural that I sell them elsewhere."
Arum fell silent.
He had used limited demand as the reason to restrict the amount he would purchase. That left him with little justification for controlling where Elliott sold the remaining products.
'The demand for Blood-Staunching Powder is limited either way.'
After completing his calculations, Arum nodded.
"Understood. You are correct. We will remove the exclusive supply clause."
Arum drew a red line through the condition.
"In exchange, you must give the Hundred Herbs Apothecary priority over the first sixty packets."
"Naturally."
Once the contract had been revised, both men pressed their seals onto the parchment.
The agreement was complete.
Arum carefully stored the contract away. Then, without fully concealing the greed in his eyes, he asked another question.
"Sir, aside from Blood-Staunching Powder, have you considered signing a contract for any other products?"