Right after Herbs & Lotions opened for another business in Day of Moon, Alfraed gathered Elise, Lisa, and Beno near the counter for a small meeting. As the initiator, Alfraed briefly informed there was an opportunity for bulk purchase from the Night Crown, the biggest brothel in Anspia. Hearing that specific name out of nowhere made his three employees widened their eyes in surprise, yet the informer did not notice it. In this meeting, Alfraed wanted to know their opinions on how they should carry on with the deal, as accepting the deal now would definitely increase the store's revenue, but burden put on production would also increase accordingly.
Elise gave an opinion that since the buyer would purchase in bulk, they should give a discount. But, prefer to restrict the discount up to five-percent only. If they were too easy to give discount to new buyer, it would be unfair to existing buyers like Dal. Of course, the case would be different if they bought as much as the dwarf merchant, which almost reached 2,000 bottles per month.
"…I see, thank you for the input Ms. Elise"
Then, Lisa uttered her opinion that depending on amount of orders, the preparers might need to work overtime to compensate the increase in workload, and if the overtime happened frequently, it might be more efficient for us to just hire a new preparer.
Later on, Beno gave similar opinion that they might need to hire new potion-maker, depending on the orders. Yet, there was also possible to invest in new equipment instead to fasten the process. So, the headcount remained the same.
"I'll take that into account. Please keep me up to date me on that matter"
So, when entering negotiation in the afternoon with Valgin Marblewind, the Night Crown's owner, he would remember what Elise said to him about pricing, and would not need to worry about how many the customer would buy because Lisa and Beno already gave him a solution to deal with the workload that accompanied the new orders.
For the potion-makers, Alfraed was leaning on the option to provide them with better equipment than adding new employee. He needed to spend funds at the beginning, no doubt, yet in the long run this decision would minimize the business' fixed costs.
Too bad there was no new invention to make the prepares' job more efficient and faster at the moment, and must increase their numbers if the orders proved to be too much to handle.
However, before Alfraed could called off the meeting, Elise, Lisa, and Beno asked him the same question simultaneously with suspicious gazes.
""Boss (Alf), what were you doing in the red light district?""
Alfraed did not do anything wrong.
Nothing whatsoever.
But, at that moment, he felt like a boy who was caught red-handed doing something inappropriate by his parents and older sister. Though, who was more appropriate to fill position of the older sister was up for debate. As an attempt to convince them, he told the story on how he received such an opportunity in details, and they finally believed him.
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At two o'clock in the afternoon, Alfraed arrived in front of the Night Crown. Contrary to the burst of activities that took place inside this building at night, right now there was rarely any activity at all that could be seen. It was almost like an empty building.
Might be because all of the 'models' were resting during this hour. All of them certainly need to restore their stamina because at night they were extremely occupied. Well, that was his own inexperienced opinion.
"Boss, is this really the place?"
"Yeah, let's go through the back"
Alfraed planned to go alone while bringing the samples in a pull cart. However, Elise insisted he should not go solo to a potential customer, much less pulling a cart by himself. As business owner, he should maintain a certain degree of dignity.
Sadly, Elise nor the team leaders could not come to keep the store running. After she had discussion with Lisa and Beno, they decided for Hybald Turner to accompany him.
Hybald is one of his potion-makers. A handsome, tall, and smart young man with low fade haircut. In fact, many women's eyes they passed by to reach this place were strongly glued to him. It was like he was here to completely make Alfraed not stand out.
Though, Alfraed showed no sign of envy to his subordinate's overflowing appeal. Not to brag, but Alfraed had numerous occasions where countless eyes were fixated upon his dazzling figure. It's just that, those eyes belonged to hungry beasts that had taste for human flesh...
...The point was, Alfraed was not jealous, not at all.
Alfraed slowly approached a pair of securities guarding the back door, and introduced himself as someone from Herbs & Lotions, and that he had prior appointment with the owner of the Night Crown.
One of the securities immediately recognized him, and they were indeed told of such appointment. Thus, the two of them were permitted to go inside.
"We've been waiting for you Mr. Logick"
A senior employee already waiting for their arrival, and politely escorted them to Valgin's private room in the third floor. The room was filled with luxury furniture, yet decent in size, and the master of such room was sitting in a sofa that seemed too big for him while enjoying his newspaper.
After small talks that would certainly happened, it was time to start negotiation.
"I can do this" said Alfraed with a volume that only he could notice.
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Despite his preparation and tension before the negotiation started, the result was anticlimactic because Valgin readily accepted the pricing that Alfraed proposed without any attempt to bargain. That was his way of showing gratitude for Alfraed's help the other day. At the end, the Night Crown purchased 500 bottles in total, consisted of Basic to High Grade, Medical, and Stamina potions. The value of this transaction was 722,000 rune, and the goods would be delivered in two days.
Alfraed was grateful of the result he received.
"Mr. Marblewind, may I know where is she right now?"
"Just call me Valgin, and I'll call you Alfraed, okay? You mean Misa? She should be in the training room. I'll take you there"
After the business matter was concluded, it was time to take care of another issue. Valgin knew exactly what Alfraed meant, and he personally lead the way to where the assaulted woman was.
"Here we are"
The training room was also located in the third floor, and it took less than a minute to go there. It was the biggest room in the building, and there were many musical instruments inside, as well as a large space for singing and dancing rehearsal. Valgin informed proudly that, aside from all the great things they could possibly do in bed, all his 'models' were good in both sound and performance art, in fact it was one of the prerequisites to work in the Night Crown.
Hearing his explanation, Alfraed was thinking those two beautiful skills were not for him, he was both tone-deaf and a terrible dancer. Fortunately, they were not required in his line of business.
Currently, a number of 'models' in the middle of doing their own practice, the efforts shown from each one of them were all real. Their determination to improve could be seen in their aura and eyes clearly. It reminded Alfraed that attaining success was never easy, and no matter what anyone might said, a great deal of endeavours was required to back it up. Period.
"Girls, take a break"
Valgin clapped his hands several time, and all the models stopped what they were doing immediately after hearing the sound they all knew too well. He also said to take a rest, and best prepare for the opening. In fraction of second, Alfraed noticed every 'model' was stunning. And, on top of that, for reason unknown to him, they were wearing two-piece bathing suit only, unreservedly revealing their curves. In this rare situation, 'not looking' was next-to-impossible course of action… Yet, giving up was not in his nature.
On the other hand, as the one governing them all, Valgin was unfazed by their erotic appearance. During the small talks, he even said that he never touched any of them, and that he was faithful to his wife.
Then, after the 'models' realized there were two young men standing beside their tiny boss, a commotion erupted…
"My, how handsome!"
"What's your name?"
"Is this your first time here?"
"I'm curious how you'll perform in bed..."
Like moths to a flame, countless models gathered and started to get clingy with him, as well as giving seductive comments.
No, it was not Alfraed.
The centre of their attention was Hybald, and the young potion-maker could handle all of their teasing in a very relaxed manner and naturally conversed with them, like a professional. On the other hand, Alfraed was left alone completely, he looked at him with blank expression and many thoughts swirling inside his head. The difference in treatment between the two of them was too far apart…
"…Errr… Alfraed, Misa is over there…"
Valgin looked at him with eyes full of pity, and tried to save him from being trapped in endless cycle of negativity by reminding the reason he was here today.
"…Right, let's get this over with…"
At the corner of the large room, stood a lady with purplish long hair who just finished stretching her perfect body, and she was clad in identical outfit like the rest of the 'models'. Despite surrounded by their attractiveness, her inherent beauty distinctly stood out easily. At the same time, Valgin playfully told Alfraed the fee to spend the night with her was 200,000 rune.
"...."
And, he employed ten 'models' of such caliber. By the young man's standard estimation, in a day Valgin could earn revenue of, approximately 2,000,000 rune from the ten 'models' alone, and around 40,000,000 rune a month, assuming they worked five days a week. On top of that, the halfling took care of forty other 'models' with above market standard with minimum fee 20,000 rune per session. So, total monthly revenue could easily surpassed 72,000,000 rune.
The young man was unable to say anything after calculating that enormous figure.
Now, the flawless lady fixated her speculative gaze toward the approaching Alfraed.