After giving the weapon design to Gerald, Leon exited the shop with a smile on his face and started walking towards Merida’s Shop.
But his steps halted in front of an alchemist’s shop, where he saw two wagons filled with crates of healing and mana potions.
“We will take more of them once they come, so call your alchemists and get them to prepare more by this evening,” two Royal Guards said as they came out of the shop with one more crate of healing potions, both wearing shiny silver armour.
Behind them followed a little old man, probably in his 80s, with a worried expression on his face. He was the owner of the shop.
“B-But… Sir, I don’t think they will be able to make this amount in such a—”
“Look, old man, you took the contract… Now you will have to fulfill it. I don’t know how you will do it… Because if the order is not filled by the evening, a lot of people are gonna die on the battlefield, and you will be held responsible for their deaths,” the Royal Guard spoke with a serious expression, grabbing the old man’s collar.
“B-But most of my alchemists are too tired from all the work I have been giving them for the last three days, Sir, and they have threatened to leave me if I give them any more work… Please try to understand my situation,” the shop owner pleaded.
“Old man… You are going to—”
“How much do you want?” Suddenly, Leon asked from behind.
Both the guards immediately turned around and looked at Leon with confused expressions.
“What?”
“Commoner… Stay out of this. We are the Royal Guards, can’t you see?” one of the guards said with a serious expression.
“I can see, and that’s why I came to you guys. I know some alchemists who can get your work done really fast.
So, how much do you want?” Leon asked with a smile.
“Kid… We need 300 Minor Healing Potions and 300 Minor Mana Potions by the evening,” the other guard said with a neutral expression.
“I can get it done in two hours,” Leon replied with a neutral expression.
‘I have Instant Craft skill, and I can craft any number of potions with it easily. This is a perfect opportunity to level it up and make some money while doing it,’ Leon thought.
“How can we trust you? What if you just took the money and ran away?” the guard asked, letting go of the old man’s collar.
“Well… I don’t need your money,” Leon replied.
“What? So, will you invest your own money to make the potions?” the guard asked, confused.
“Yes… I will take the payment after I deliver the potions,” Leon replied with a smile.
“Listen to me, kid… This is a big responsibility we are talking about here. If you fail to do what you are promising, I will make sure you get proper punishment because I am believing you and I don’t even know you.
I don’t care where you live or who you are… You deliver what you promised just now, and you will receive the money.
If you couldn’t deliver what you promised, I will find you. You understand?” the guard asked.
“I understand… Now, let’s talk about the price,” Leon replied with a smile.
“What about the price? We will give you the market rate — 5 coppers for a Healing Potion and 4 coppers for a Mana Potion,” the guard replied.
“10 coppers for a Healing Potion and 8 coppers for a Mana Potion. That’s my price,” Leon replied.
“WHAT!?” both guards shouted at the same time.
“Oi, kid… Are you fucking with us?” one of the guards asked with an angry expression as he walked forward and grabbed Leon’s collar.
“You chose the quantity and time for the potions. I choose the price, and it just went up to 12 coppers for a Healing Potion and 10 coppers for a Mana Potion,” Leon spoke with a neutral expression, looking the guard dead in the eyes.
“What did you—”
“Oi, oi, oi… Leave his collar. Leave it…” his partner said hurriedly and slapped his hand away.
Slap
“Look, kid… I’m sorry for my partner’s temper. He gets angry really fast,” his partner spoke.
“Yeah, I can see that…” Leon replied as a smirk spread across his face and he adjusted his collar.
“Look, your prices are very high, and those soldiers who are dying on the battlefield need these potions, so please lower the prices…” he said with a polite expression.
“Guess who will be held accountable for their deaths? Me, who didn’t make the potions, or you, who didn’t deliver the potions?” Leon asked with a smile.
“Just beat the crap out of him and let’s look for other shops,” the guard shouted from behind.
“I will go back to the previous rates if he apologizes to me by bowing down,” Leon said with a smile as he pointed at the guard.
“Oh hell no… I am not bowing down to this commoner or saying—” Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed that his partner was looking at him with a smile.
“Come with me,” the guard said as he pulled him behind the wagons, and both of them started talking.
“I am not bowing to a commoner. I am a Royal Guard!”
“Yeah, but not for long… Once the general finds out that he is running low on healing potions, what will you do then?
Aren’t you the one who opened his big mouth and promised him 700 healing and mana potions by the evening?
We both know there aren’t any alchemist shops in this whole kingdom that can make that many potions till the evening.
That commoner is our last chance at becoming knights. So, either you save your fragile ego and walk away, or do as he says.
Because if you walk away, people will die in the war because of you and me,” the guard said, pointing towards Leon.
‘FUCK… Fine,” the guard shouted as they both walked up to Leon, and he immediately went down on his knees.
“I-I am s-sorry… K-Kid, please give us the potions at 10 coppers and 8 coppers,” the guard said heavily.
“Fine… Meet me back here in two hours,” Leon replied with a smile.