The elder hadn’t finished speaking before a steel-like palm ruthlessly landed on his face, taking several teeth out and deforming his cheeks.
Wilder sneered, his icy-cold puppet-like gaze made everyone afraid to talk.
“Fool, our business’ influence mainly comes from high-end products and low grade recovery potions. There are at least several hundred businesses of that kind, but it doesn’t matter how many there are, the biggest share of the potion market is still in the hands of our Rodney Family!
“Investigate, find the materials used in the most profitable high grade potions of the Gilded Rose. You don’t need all the materials, just find out one of two key materials. So what if the Gilded Rose can come up with some high grade potions?
“We only need to compound these potions and we will have absolute dominance!
“With absolute dominance, destroying the Gilded Rose would be as easy as slaughtering a pig!”
The group of elders didn’t dare to speak, the one that had been hit had lost a few teeth and was pale, yet he didn’t even dare to let out a sound.
After a few minutes, one of the elders cautiously opened his mouth.
“Sir Wilder, I found a kind of material named Platinum Rock, it’s an indispensable part catalysts used in potions.
“Without that thing, the Gilded Rose won’t be able to compound their high grade potions. Even if they manage to compound them, they won’t get much profits since they would need to spend at least ten times the compounding cost.
“And most importantly, the Andlusa Kingdom doesn’t produce that kind of material, and the Odin Kingdom only produces a small amount which can only provide for some small shops, the supply doesn’t meet the demand.
“The Sten Kingdom is the biggest supplier. There is one family in the Odin Kingdom acting as a proxy, they aren’t strong and only have two 1st Rank Heaven powerhouses. As long as we take over all the Platinum Rocks, the Gilded Rose won’t be able to obtain any.”
Wilder coldly looked over.
“What are you waiting for? Go and inform that family that no Platinum Rock can be sold to the Gilded Rose, they can only sell it to our Rodney Family.
“Do I still need to teach you? Use the carrot and the stick.
“We should have a subordinate bandit expert at highly toxic poisons, right? Just dispatch him to threaten that family. If they don’t listen to our command, have him poison that family’s members one by one.
“If they listen to our command and refuse to sell the Platinum Rocks to the Gilded Rose, we will pay 10% more for the Platinum Rocks.
“I don’t believe that a small family with two 1st Rank Heaven Mages would refuse.”
…
Three days later, Faleau looked for Lin Yun in the Gilded Rose.
“Sir Merlin, there is trouble.”
Lin Yun put down the Book of Mantras with a frown and looked at Faleau.
“Did the Rodneys cause some trouble?”
Faleau had a wry smile on his face.
“Although it looks like this matter has no relation to the Rodney Family, anyone with a brain can see that this is a trick of the Rodney Family.
“I heard that the Rodney Family has a new leader, a hidden genius named Wilder. He is 35 and has already reached the 4th Rank of the Heaven realm. He is also very ruthless and tyrannical, he pressured the elders of the Rodney Family to the point where they couldn’t raise their heads just as he took over the leadership.
“This matter is definitely linked to Wilder.
“There is a problem with our supply of Platinum Rocks from the Bojinsen Family. A member of the Bojinsen Family came today to tell us that their family will no longer provide Platinum Rocks to the Gilded Rose…”
Light flashed in Lin Yun’s eyes.
“Platinum Rocks? The material for the catalysts?”
Faleau nodded with a frown.
“Most of our Gilded Rose’s top-notch potions require three catalysts, and Platinum Rock’s fine powder is a core component to all three of them.
“The Andlusa Kingdom doesn’t produce Platinum Rock, and although there are some in the Raging Flame Plane, they are all by-products of other kinds of ore veins. There is too little of it and it’s not enough for the Gilded Rose’s use.
“If we lose the potions that have great effects on Heaven Rank powerhouses, the Gilded Rose’s position and reputation will suddenly take a turn for the worse and it might greatly affect the business.
“Moreover, the Bojinsen Family didn’t tell us the reason, they only notified us. I sent someone to inquire and he managed to get some information after bribing a housekeeper.
“Apparently, the Viper Bandits seeked the Bojinsen Family, injured the head of their household and threatened to poison members of the Bojinsen Family if they sold Platinum Rocks to our Gilded Rose.
“And at that time, the Rodney Family appeared and bought all of their stock of Platinum Rock for 110% of its market price.
“If the place producing the Platinum Rock in the Sten Kingdom wasn’t a terrifying clan that only recognized the Bojinsen Family as their proxy, the Rodney Family might have already destroyed their Family instead of using threats and an offer…”
Hearing the report, Lin Yun fully understood what was going on and put away the Book of Mantras.
“What about Viper Bandits?”
Faleau had already collected information ahead of time.
“The Viper Bandits are vicious and merciless, they would never let others notice them, and every time they appeared, they would directly get rid of everyone. If they make a move, they’ll kill everyone.
“Their boss is called Viper and is a 2nd Rank Poison Mage, he is proficient in poisons and poison spells. He once poisoned a 3rd Rank Heaven Mage to death.
“One of the scariest things he did was poisoning to death an entire small mage family, including the tamed magic beasts, livestock, servants, commoners… Over a thousand people ended up poisoned to death.
“His methods are cruel and ruthless. Everyone knew that he did it, but he appeared in another area that day, proving that he didn’t do anything.
“If Viper personally makes a move, his terrifying reputation would be enough to make the Bojinsen Family accept the terms. After all, they would still be selling the Platinum Rocks…”
Lin Yun remained silent for a moment.
“Give me the coordinates of the Bojinsen Family, and prepare all the information for me.”
Faleau had already prepared it ahead of time. Aside from the coordinates, there was a crystal stone which recorded all information that could be of use.
Lin Yun departed once he got the information he needed.
After leaving Neverwinter City, he opened a Spatial Door and directly crossed several thousand kilometers to appear in the northernmost city of the Odin Kingdom.
It was quite far from Neverwinter City and its northern side bordered the Sten Kingdom. The Bojinsen Family was living in this city called White Birch City
White Birch City was still far in the distance when Lin Yun walked out of the Spatial Door. He checked the information he had on hand before walking towards White Birch City.
He rapidly found the living place of the Bojinsen Family, it covered a large area and their buildings looked very impressive. They were definitely the most powerful family of White Birch City.
After all, Platinum Rock was an indispensable material for high grade potions’ catalysts. Those few high grades potions of the Gilded Rose needed Platinum Rock for their catalysts.
And thus, the Bojinsen Family’s business was a unique business, no one would make things difficult for them. But the Bojinsen Family’s people didn’t expect that the Rodney Family, who usually wouldn’t bother them, would actually act in such a tyrannical way.
Lin Yun heard a lot of information after taking a walk around White Birch City. In the past few days, the Bojinsen Family had truly been in chaos. Moreover, it was said that the magic beasts they raised all died suddenly. The corpses emitted a foul odor, the few people contaminated by the corpses of the magic beasts all died inexplicably, and the plague started spreading through White Birch City.
Moreover, the Bojinsen Family’s patriarch seemed to have fallen ill, likely from the plague.
Lin Yun frowned and thought, ‘The Rodney Family is truly too overbearing, the trade of Platinum Rock would become difficult in the Odin Kingdom if the Bojinsen Family is destroyed. The pitiful amount of Platinum Rock produced by the Odin Kingdom isn’t enough for the Gilded Rose…
‘And the news of the Bojinsen Family’s patriarch being ill shouldn’t be fake… But how could a Heaven Rank powerhouse who completed their Extraordinary Transformation fall ill out of nowhere?
‘What a joke. There is only one explanation, he was poisoned. That Viper Bandits’ leader personally came and poisoned the patriarch of the Bojinsen Family.’
Lin Yun thought for a bit, he then suddenly disappeared at the corner of the street and reappeared inside the Bojinsen Family’s property.
It looked like the Bojinsen Family’s defenses didn’t exist in front of Lin Yun, he completely ignored them.
Lin Yun rapidly found the area where those magic beasts died inexplicably. The corpses might have been disposed of, but some dark green bloodstain still remained. After studying the ground for a bit, Lin Yun frowned.
The stench of this courtyard, the color of the blood, as well as the rumor of inexplicable death allowed Lin Yun to lock onto some poisons, but only one kind existed in this era.
By following the path and tracking the toxins, he quickly found a seemingly ordinary house. The house’s surroundings, roof, floor, and walls all had True Spirit Grade arrays arranged on them. There was no guard watching over the place, but there were many warning arrays.
Lin Yun walked to the doorway and touched the door. A few Law Runes appeared before his eyes and the arrays was instantly cracked.
“2nd Brother, didn’t I tell you not to come? My poison is contagious…”
A weak voice came from within just as Lin Yun pushed the door open.
The room was dark and a wisp of foul odor could be felt coming from within. Inside the room, a middle-aged man with a greenish complexion could be seen lying in a bed.
The middle-aged man noticed Lin Yun at the entrance and was immediately alarmed, but he didn’t yell and just kept a calm and collected expression.
“What else do you want? We already stopped supplying the Gilded Rose? What about my antidote? What about my son? What do you want?!
“I’ve already done as you asked, let my son go! If I don’t see my son within three days, don’t blame me for taking you down with me.
“Our Bojinsen Family might end up destroyed, but I can guarantee that no more Platinum Rock will appear in the Odin Kingdom in the future.”
The middle-aged man’s breath was very weak, and he was resisting the poison’s invasion by relying on his Extraordinary Power. But despair could be seen within his expression. This was a man who would keep his words if he was backed in a corner.
Lin Yun started talking before the man could continue.
“Patriarch Bojinsen, I’m Mafa Merlin, I own the Gilded Rose.”
The expression of the Bojinsen Family’s patriarch suddenly sunk.
“Sir Mafa Merlin, please leave. I won’t supply your Gilded Rose with Platinum Rocks anymore.”
Lin Yun smiled and casually sat down while keeping eye contact with the Bojinsen Family’s patriarch.”
“Patriarch Bojinsen, do you think everything will be over if you stop supplying our Gilded Rose? Do you think the Rodney Family will let you off?
“The new leader of the Rodney Family is young, arrogant, domineering and ruthless. He doesn’t understand that looking into the long-term is more profitable in business. From his actions, it can be seen that he has extremely strong possessive and controlling desires.
“He won’t leave the supplying of an important material in the hands of others, even if your Bojinsen Family is the only one holding onto Platinum Rocks in the Odin Kingdom.”
The Bojinsen Family’s patriarch had a disapproving expression and he appeared to be standoffish, as if he felt that everything happened because of the Gilded Rose.
Lin Yun remained indifferent.
“Patriarch Bojinsen, you would be wrong if you believed that you have been implicated by our Gilded Rose. You have only been drawn in the competition between me and the Rodney Family.
“At the same time, you are also unlucky since you let the leader of the Rodney Family figure out that you control their lifeline of Platinum Rocks. Even without the Gilded Rose, he would sooner or later discover that.
“The Rodney Family’s alchemy business covers the entire northern part of the Odin Kingdom, and their potioneering business, which accounts for most of their products, occupy the biggest share of the northern Odin Kingdom. With Wilder’s character, you would be his target sooner or later.
“But you still believe that they would just let this go? Let me tell you, aside from the venom of a Seven Ring Snake, there is also a kind of ore poison in your body.
“They must have told you that it was to teach you a lesson. And to make sure that you would listen to their command and stop supplying our Gilded Rose, they didn’t tell you how to detoxify it and only gave you some relief medicine, right?”
Shock suddenly appeared on the face of the Patriarch of the Bojinsen Family.
Lin Yun continued to speak casually.
“They gave you a medicine that supposedly alleviates the symptoms of the poison when it flares up? It’s a kind of black pill with dark green in its center, right? When you take the pill you don’t feel any pain, but you feel weaker and weaker and your Extraordinary Power struggles more and more to suppress the poison, turning your face green.
“How many times have you taken this so-called antidote? Twice? If you took two pills, there should be a very faint green mark appearing on the end of your spine, from your tailbone to your waist…”
Hearing Lin Yun’s explanation, shock appeared on Patriarch Bojinsen’s face. He didn’t argue, struggled to stand up and condensed a water mirror before undoing the upper part of his robe.
And sure enough, he discovered a cyan mark spreading from his waist to his tailbone, it was already a dozen-centimeter-long.
But he couldn’t feel it with his mana, he could only see it with his own two eyes.
Lin Yun glanced at it and gave an indifferent explanation.
“You won’t die once that mark reaches your head, but you’ll remain weak and fall from the Heaven realm. The snake venom will be solved at that time… Well, that’s not entirely correct, it will be devoured by the poison you are currently taking.
“The snake venom is feeding that kind of ore poison, and by the time you fall from the Heaven Rank, you’ll die a horrible death. Your body will stiffen and green rust will grow all over your body until you die.
“As for your snake venom, it’ll disappear within three months, but the ore poison will take root in your bone marrow. You’ll die in a year.
“Once you die, your Family will lose a Heaven Rank powerhouse. As for the other Heaven Rank powerhouse, he’ll definitely die within this year.
“When the time comes, your Family will have no Heaven Rank powerhouses while still having all kinds of benefits, attracting all kinds of wolves. Then, the Rodney Family will throw an olive branch and your Family will have no other choice but to accept it in order to not be destroyed. By going under the Rodney Family, your Family will become a source of wealth that will slowly be assimilated and the Platinum Rock business will slowly be taken over by the Rodney Family.
“Who would still remember the Bojinsen Family? What do you think…”
Lin Yun’s words made cold sweat trickle down the forehead of the Bojinsen Family’s patriarch. Terror could be seen in his eyes as his body shivered. He looked at the small metallic box covered in a layer of alchemy seals on his bedside table and opened it. A small metal-like dark ball with a wisp of dark green could be seen inside the box.
Lin Yun looked at the patriarch’s appearance and smiled as it looked like the discussion could continue. Talking would have been useless if he was still as guarded as before and kept his distance. But it looked like he still needed another push.
“Patriarch Bojinsen, your son should be taking over your position after your death, yet I just heard you say that your son seemed to have been taken away?
“That’s truly unfortunate, my prediction might happen ahead of time. Your Family will already go under the Rodney Family once you and the other Heaven Rank powerhouse die.
“And with the Rodney Family’s nature, how long would your son be used as a proxy? If it’s on the longer side, ten years. Ten years would be enough to take over the Bojinsen Family.
“Your son would end up dying unexpectedly and a “familiar” face pretending to be a member of the Bojinsen family would easily take over. It would be very simple, don’t you think?”
Patriarch Bojinsen’s green expression turned pale and despair flashed in his eyes before he fiercely smashed that pitch-black pill onto the ground.
“Sir Mafa Merlin, as long as you save my son and destroy those damned Viper Bandits, the Bojinsen Family’s supply of Platinum Rocks will never end up in the hands of the Rodney Family. I can even sign a soul contract so that as long as the Bojinsen Family still has this trade channel, the Gilded Rose’s supply will never be cut off!”
Lin Yun softly shook his head and took out a bottle of Health Potion and a bottle of Antidote he had refined himself before putting them into the hand of Patriarch Bojinsen.
“Patriarch Bojinsen, I’m looking for a supplier, I’m different from the Rodney Family. I know that profiting by myself isn’t beneficial and that only a mutually profitable business relationship can last.
“Those are a bottle of Health Potion and a bottle of Antidote I compounded myself. As luck would have it, these two can deal with the two poisons plaguing your body.
“You see, this is a very simple matter. We can keep speaking once you are cured, I don’t want my supplier to die so easily.”
The patriarch of the Bojinsen Family appeared to be embarrassed and ashamed.
The previous contract with the Gilded Rose was for a duration of three years, but it had been breached halfway. Regardless of the reason, it would make the patriarch of the Bojinsen Family feel ashamed for life, especially since Lin Yun came in person and helped him cleanse the poison.
After taking the Antidote, Patriarch Bojinsen immediately felt the effects. All the toxins converged to his arm, before condensing at the tip of his finger. Then, that small bag of toxins was pierced and a stinky dark green liquid spurted out. He then took the Health Potion and the potion’s huge vitality spread out. Within a dozen seconds, the aura of the patriarch returned to normal.
“Alright, Patriarch Bojinsen, we can discuss what’s coming next…”
