Chapter 412: Fake Medicine Plan

Snow Bird Harbor.

The alchemy workshop was thick with smoke and heavy with the pungent scent of herbs.

Magician Zhong Bei from the Alchemists' Guild covered his mouth as he stepped inside, immediately engulfed by the acrid fumes.

The same fate befell the gold level alchemist, Da Bei.

With graying temples and a weathered face, Da Bei swiftly covered his nostrils with a handkerchief amidst the thick fumes.

“Lord Magicians, this way please.” Guided by an alchemy apprentice, they were led into a small, separate compartment.

The smoke here was finally less oppressive.

Here, Zhong Bei and Da Bei finally encountered the person they sought - Magician Bu Quan.

Magician Bu Quan was conducting an alchemy experiment.

Before her, a table held a small crucible, steaming as it was baked by magic flames. In the glass beaker she held, swaying gently, blue and red potions rippled.

Bu Quan was experimenting with refining the alchemy process for the dragon rider potion.

The formula for the dragon rider potion came from the War Merchant's database and was quite sophisticated. Even given Bu Quan's alchemy expertise, significantly altering the formula itself would prove challenging in such a short timeframe.

However, she could refine the alchemy process itself, making large-scale, streamlined production feasible.

Once successful, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps' output of this potion would increase at least threefold!

“Magician Bu Quan, it's been two years since we last met, hasn't it?” Magician Da Bei initiated the greeting.

Bu Quan glanced up at him before quickly returning her gaze to her beaker, “Lord Da Bei,” she replied, "you've traveled all the way from the capital specifically to see me. Is this about me joining the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps? If you're here to persuade me to leave the mercenary group and return to the Alchemy Guild, then there's no need to say more."

“As you can see, I'm quite busy right now.”

"Why not skip the small talk and get straight to the point? It saves time and benefits us both, wouldn't you agree?"

“So, my answer is - I'm staying here.”

Magician Da Bei's mouth opened slightly. His carefully prepared words of persuasion were completely derailed by Bu Quan's blunt response.

Taking a deep breath, Magician Da Bei clutched his chest, “Magician Bu Quan, seeing you like this truly pains me.”

“As your senior, I cannot bear to watch a rising star of alchemy fade away before my eyes.”

“Look at yourself now. What are you doing?”

“You're refining processes for mass-producing potions? Such mundane, uninspired work, is it truly worthy of a genius like you?”

“Is this how the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps treats you?”

“You're wasting your time, squandering your talent, and expending your future.”

Bu Quan didn't even bother to lift her head this time. She simply issued her dismissal: “The door is over there. Gentlemen, you're welcome to leave now.”

Magician Zhong Bei and Magician Da Bei: ...

Moments later.

The two magicians were escorted out by the alchemy apprentice.

“Ahem, ahem, ahem.” Magician Zhong Bei coughed loudly.

Magician Da Bei lowered his handkerchief, greedily inhaling the fresh air outside the alchemy workshop.

Magician Zhong Bei looked deeply concerned: "Father, what are we to do now? Magician Bu Quan's resolve is too strong. You offered such generous terms just now, yet she remained unmoved. It seems I'm in for trouble this time."

Magician Da Bei sighed deeply, “This is my fault. I never imagined such a task would lead to such complications. Remember how much I sacrificed and owed favors to secure this assignment for you?”

“Father, I've let you down.” Magician Zhong Bei bowed his head; his voice filled with regret.

Though born into the Alchemy Guild, his innate talent was limited by bloodline—far weaker than his father's.

He was destined to remain confined to the silver level.

Magician Da Bei had only this one son, pinning his hopes on him to inherit the family legacy. Thus, Magician Da Bei had mobilized his connections and resources, going to great lengths to secure this position for him - to secretly protect Bu Quan and monitor him for the Alchemy Guild.

This role not only offered generous rewards in guild contributions but also provided an opportunity to establish ties with Bu Quan. Should Bu Quan advance to the gold level or achieve greater alchemy feats, Magician Zhong Bei could profit from this early connection.

It could be said Magician Da Bei spared no effort for his son.

Alas, man proposes, heaven disposes. The Bayonet Gang was utterly annihilated within a single day. After successfully exacting her revenge, Bu Quan actually joined an outsider mercenary group!

If this news reached the Alchemy Guild, it'd definitely cause an uproar. As the one responsible for his covert surveillance, Magician Zhong Bei would surely bear the blame. Given his talent and alchemy prowess, he'd essentially reached the pinnacle of his career within the Alchemy Guild.

After failing to persuade Bu Quan, Zhong Bei hurriedly relayed the news to his father.

As a gold level Alchemy Great Master, Da Bei rushed straight to Snow Bird Harbor.

Yet his attempt to reason with Bu Quan also ended in failure.

“Father, what should we do now?”

“Calm down. Think carefully, there must be a way.” Da Bei's breathing gradually steadied.

He deliberately tested Zhong Bei: “Have you thought of any solutions?”

Magician Zhong Bei pondered: "If we can't bribe Bu Quan, perhaps we could bribe the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps directly? If the temptation is high enough, I believe Commander Long Fu will voluntarily expel Bu Quan. That way, Magician Bu Quan would have no choice but to return to the Alchemy Guild."

Magician Da Bei shook his head. "You underestimate the value of a silver level Alchemy Great Master! Bu Quan is already indispensable to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps' production plan. Her worth will only grow. If they were just ordinary mercenaries, heavy bribes might work. But they're backed by arms dealers. Think about it, would a power capable of transnational arms smuggling be swayed by our petty interests?"

Magician Zhong Bei fell silent.

Magician Da Bei encouraged, “Think again. Is there a better approach?”

Magician Zhong Bei pondered deeply before finally saying, "I have an idea. Our target isn't the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, but the arms dealer behind them. The arms dealer came here solely to penetrate the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's arms market. We can leverage our connections within the Alchemy Guild to help them expand their market reach, using that leverage in negotiations."

Magician Da Bei shook his head again. "Now I'll give you some bad news. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps has already secured a commercial partnership with the Li Jian Clan. The dragon rider potions produced by Bu Quan are now being distributed throughout the Ice Sculpture Kingdom via the Li Jian Clan's commercial channels."

“Can our connections and influence possibly rival the Li Jian Clan's?”

Magician Zhong Bei paled and shook his head. The Li Jian Clan was a major noble clan within the Ice Sculpture Kingdom. Their clan's influence was vast, ranking either second or third in power.

Magician Zhong Bei felt like crying: “In that case, my mission is truly doomed to fail.”

“Not necessarily.” Magician Da Bei patted his son's shoulder, “We can't bribe the arms dealer backing the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, but destruction is always far easier than construction.”

Magician Zhong Bei's eyes lit up, “Father, are you suggesting we eliminate the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps outright?”

Magician Da Bei tapped his son's head in exasperation. "What exactly is in your head? We're alchemists, combat isn't our forte. How much combat strength do we even have? You want us to take on a mercenary group battle-hardened through countless conflicts?"

Magician Zhong Bei retorted defiantly: “We could hire mercenaries, gangs, or other factions to do the dirty work for us!”

"How much money do you plan to spend? Even if we spent our entire fortune, could we guarantee the hired forces would eliminate the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps? And if they were wiped out, how would Bu Quan view us? What would the arms dealers backing the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps do? Do you truly believe we could keep the secret of paying others to do our dirty work?"

Magician Zhong Bei fell silent once more.

At a loss for solutions, he spread his hands in resignation. "Father, just tell me what you propose. I'll follow your lead."

Magician Da Bei was so furious he wanted to slap him again.

Magician Zhong Bei failed to grasp his father's earnest intentions. Lacking his father's alchemy prowess, he would forever be confined to the silver level. Achieving his father's standing within the Alchemy Guild was virtually impossible.

Deprived of alchemy talent and lacking gold level potential, Magician Da Bei could only cultivate his son's political acumen. Yet the son proved unfit for the task, choosing instead to follow instructions.

“What can I do? You're my only son,” Magician Da Bei sighed, finally revealing his plan.

“We're going to cause destruction. The goal is to make the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps recognize our destructive power. Use conflict to force peace, compelling them to voluntarily abandon Bu Quan.”

“They're at a critical juncture right now.”

"You saw it yourself just now, Bu Quan and her crew are frantically mass-producing potions. I have to admit; the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps has some talented individuals. They aim to break into the market with mount potions and establish stable sales channels. Once they start distributing all kinds of alchemy military supplies nationwide, it'll be twice the result with half the effort.

Magician Zhong Bei was inspired: “If we just destroy their alchemy workshop...”

Before he could finish, Magician Da Bei delivered another sharp blow to his head.

"Don't openly antagonize them! Don't provoke Bu Quan's hostility. If you act so directly, even if Bu Quan returns to the Alchemy Guild, she'll become our enemy. By the time she rises to the guild's leadership, I'll be old, retired, or even dead. But you? You'll have a very hard life."

“Now, shut your mouth and listen to me properly.”

Magician Da Bei, worn down by his son's torment, lost patience and laid out his plan: “We can sell counterfeit potions!”

“The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps aims to use dragon rider potions to break into the market, filling the gap for mount potions across the kingdom.”

"We can produce potions that closely mimic the dragon rider potion, but with weak efficacy and severe side effects, potions that could even harm the mounts themselves. We needn’t brew large quantities. Just a fraction entering the market will utterly ruin their reputation, preventing them from achieving this crucial step."

“During this process, we can initiate negotiations.”

“Naturally, we won't reveal to the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps that we're the masterminds behind the counterfeit potions.”

"I will step forward, using my authority as an elder, to help the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps clarify the truth and prove their innocence. The condition for this assistance? Bu Quan must return to the guild!"

"Their time is limited; they need my help. Otherwise, if this drags on, other nobles or the Alchemy Guild will develop mount potions, seize the market, and ruin their business plans."

"Brilliant! This plan is truly brilliant! Producing counterfeit potions requires minimal cost from us, and crucially, it plays to our strengths. There's no need to risk combat!" exclaimed Magician Zhong Bei enthusiastically.

Magician Da Bei shook his head: “Executing this won't be easy. We don't possess the exact formula for the dragon rider potion, making it difficult to craft convincing counterfeits.”

“Should we steal it?” asked Magician Zhong Bei.

“No.” Magician Da Bei shook his head. "I have a better option. We buy several dragon rider potions and pay a visit to Master Cai Jing."

“Father, you mean the forger, Master Cai Jing?”

“That's right. Creating counterfeit potions ourselves would be quite difficult in such a short time. But if Master Cai Jing takes it on, success is assured. Ever since he was expelled from the Alchemy Guild, he's been living on Flower Skirt Island."

“Given the friendship between us, I'll just swallow my pride and ask him for help this time. He will assist us.”