Soon, the group got ready to leave, except for the tall, slender young man who remained behind.
Fili chuckled, "Donald, aren't you leaving? Do you want Charlie to make you a separate dish?"
"Fili, I want to discuss a business deal with Charlie. Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you; you know I'm not interested in cultivation."
Fili shrugged, "You're always thinking about business. Do you really want to get your hands on that formula? I advise you to forget that thought!"
Donald smiled faintly, choosing not to comment.
Once Leon and the others left, Donald deliberately glanced at Eileen.
Charlie understood and said, "Eileen, could you step out for a moment? I'd like to have a private chat with him."
Eileen nodded and left the laboratory, closing the door behind her.
Donald straightened up and said, "Actually, it's nothing that can't be made public; it's just my personal habit to ask unrelated people to leave when discussing business."
Charlie smiled and waited for him to continue.
"My name is Donald Lewis. I don't know if you've heard of the Lewis surname, the one from Faro City."
Charlie turned his mind, recalling relevant information from the corners of his brain. It wasn't that Faro City was a small place, but previously, Charlie had shown little interest in this aspect.
Faro City was a port city, and it caught Charlie's attention because it was part of the Golden Coast Alliance. The Lewis family was the ruling family of Faro City and an ally of the Pavel family.
He remembered that a long time ago, the two families had some dealings; the head of the Lewis family once tried to arrange a marriage with Duke Thomas, offering one of his daughters, Anna, to Charlie. However, Thomas postponed the matter, claiming the child was still too young. Later, as Charlie's bad reputation spread, the matter fell through.
Of course, whether Donald knew about this, Charlie had no way of knowing.
Charlie replied with a smile, "I know; we are families within the same alliance."
"Exactly!" Donald's face lit up as he leaned slightly forward. "In fact, Fili misunderstood me. I'm not interested in the Angoro Magic Rhinoceros formula. It might bring you some decent profits, but in my eyes, it doesn't qualify as a business."
"Oh?" Charlie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. It seemed this young man aimed for something greater.
Donald asked, "Charlie, how widespread is tea in your hometown? Is it something everyone drinks? What's its status in Haines City?
I've been paying attention to the current trends in major port cities, yet I have no impression of it. Can you enlighten me?"
So this guy was focused on tea! Moreover, he was subtly testing Charlie's understanding of its commercial value.
Charlie couldn't help but admire Donald's sharp business sense. On Earth, tea was a multi-billion-dollar industry, with nearly 20 producing countries and hundreds of consuming nations. It could be said to be a globally popular business.
Noticing Charlie's unusual reaction, Donald's left pinky twitched slightly, but his expression remained calm. "What's wrong?"
Charlie's eyes sparkled, "Nothing, just astonished by your vision. You really aim high!"
Donald looked at Charlie, exhaling deeply. "It seems heroes see eye to eye; you see this business opportunity as well!"
"Of course!" Charlie replied with a smile. "Rest assured, I discovered it in a secluded village during my travels. The locals concocted a special after-meal drink that is fragrant, invigorating, fatigue-relieving, and enhances thinking. I traded some food for its recipe.
Later, I meticulously studied the formula, sourced some substitutes, and managed to create something even better with superior flavor and effects.
Look at this cup of tea; the brew is a vibrant green, with a delicate and elegant aroma, a smooth and sweet taste, and it also has invigorating effects that restore magical energy. Who wouldn't love it? I can't think of anyone who could refuse!"
Donald showed an excited expression, following Charlie's line of thought. "On a lovely afternoon, a charming young lady sits elegantly in a white leisure chair by the street, gracefully holding a beautiful porcelain cup from the High Jess brand. The gentle breeze plays with her hair, and her flowing dress dances in the wind. Two carriages accidentally bump into each other because the coachman was distracted. The young lady smiles slightly and departs like a spirit of the wind."
Charlie smirked, "That's quite a picturesque scene."
"Charlie, are you interested in partnering up? I believe it will create a trend among the upper class of the empire. Not to mention its taste and effects; as a beverage, it can seamlessly blend into various upper-class activities without losing value.
I think many mages will fall in love with this drink; it can replace many unhealthy habits of staying awake and represents a healthier lifestyle."
Donald had shown Charlie more than once his keen insight into business. Just from a cup of tea, he had identified its positioning, its consumer base, and its cultural significance. He truly had a knack for business; it was no wonder he said the ribs formula didn't qualify as a business.
"That's a great idea, but why should I partner with you? Or rather, what can you offer in return?" With the formula in hand, Charlie undoubtedly had the upper hand.
In fact, Charlie had many ideas for making money, but he lacked the time to implement them. He was focused on gaining power rather than indulging in business or amassing vast wealth. His goal in making money was to support his cultivation, allowing him access to more resources and enjoy them more fully.
In this sense, Charlie needed a partner, and Donald seemed to have that potential.
"I completely understand your perspective. You've correctly identified my current predicament." Donald revealed a wry smile, speaking sincerely. "My father has seven sons, and I'm third in line. My maternal family is a second-tier noble family from Lewis City, which places me fifth in the line of succession—an achievement from my hard work over the years.
Currently, I manage a vineyard, a magical jewelry shop, and a small auction house in Lewis City. These three businesses can bring me about 20 million gold coins in profits annually. After deducting debts, my net worth is around 70 to 80 million."
Donald appeared similar to Charlie but possessed such wealth. Compared to Charlie from half a year ago in Haines, it was like night and day. With a similar background, Donald was undoubtedly far more accomplished than himself.
Charlie remained calm, showing no visible reaction.
Donald revealed a bitter expression. "I know you might not care about this wealth, but it's all the resources I currently possess."
If this statement had been made before Charlie arrived at the Arcane Circle, it would have been a great irony; back then, receiving 10,000 gold coins would have made him ecstatic.
However, within the Arcane Circle, money had become insignificant. The Arcane Circle capitalized on knowledge to reap enormous profits. Rune engravers could turn ordinary materials into magical equipment worth thousands, while other factions on the continent depended on the high-end products of the Arcane Circle.
"High-end technology monopoly" was why money was so cheap.
A single credit could sell for four to five thousand gold coins at the Sky Harbor; in the black market, it was even more. At this rate, Charlie had already spent nearly ten million gold coins, and just moments ago, he had effortlessly earned credits worth 7.5 million gold coins. How could a student with an annual income of 20 million feel about this?
Charlie knew he had exerted enough pressure and said, "You should understand the value of tea; it may well become a billion-dollar business in the future. If you manage to grasp it, leading the Lewis family might not be a dream. So, your bargaining chips seem rather scarce, don't they?"
"Charlie, don't try to sell me dreams. Although it holds great potential, it's not something one or two people can digest alone. We need more allies involved so that we can share the spoils; otherwise, we might not even get a chance to eat the cake," Donald argued dryly.
"I understand." Charlie waved his hand and said, "Tell me your thoughts. If you were to take charge, what would you do?"
Donald organized his thoughts and said, "If Charlie is willing to collaborate with me, the first major issue is to solve the production capacity: how to control costs? What is its growth cycle? Where can it be produced? What manufacturing processes are involved? The most important question is how to keep the formula secret, ensuring competitors don't catch on to any flaws. This requires an in-depth study after understanding the formula, breaking it down, and isolating each step.
Next is the marketing issue—how to make it a bestseller in the empire? This seems to be my strong suit. I have an uncle who is a court earl, and we have some business dealings. His expertise lies in grasping the trends of the upper class, adept at introducing certain products into the core circles of the millennium-old empire.
Besides, my family has some channels; currently, I can access about one-eighth of them. If I can secure the formula, I can persuade my father to allow me to utilize all the channels. This is the result of a hundred years of accumulation by the Lewis family, and I aim to spread it across the country without significant issues.
Of course, your father is also a member of the Golden Coast Alliance, and his channels won't be inferior to ours. However, each has its own circle, and sometimes the channels can be complementary..."
Charlie interjected, "I will not use the Pavel family's channels. This business is mine alone and not connected to the family."
Upon hearing this, Donald immediately recalled the major incident that had recently erupted in Haines City. He couldn't help but feel a bit pleased; Charlie's stance was undoubtedly good news for him, indicating that he was of greater value.
Donald continued to outline his thoughts: "The remaining issue is how to divide the cake."
He paused for a moment, glancing at Charlie, "If Charlie can grant me a 50% share, I would consider using it to woo some key figures in the empire to ensure the business runs smoothly. As for who to target, I would need to discuss that with my father. I believe you wouldn't be interested in how my 50% share is allocated. If it's less than 50%, then I can't guarantee it will work out."
His reasoning was clear, and it seemed Charlie wouldn't need to guide him further.
Charlie nodded slightly and asked, "How can I trust you?"
"That's the crucial question!" Donald sighed heavily and said, "Currently, I can't provide any collateral for the formula exchange; I don't have that much capital. But if you handle the finished product alone, it won't be marketable, and the business will be impossible."
"I can't help with that."
Charlie was unable to solve this problem; he couldn't simply hand over the formula based on a few words. He needed Donald to present something of value as collateral.
Donald raised his head and said, "I have a proposal; I wonder if you would be interested, Charlie."
"Let's hear it."
"If Charlie trusts me, I'm willing to sign a magical master-servant contract with you for three years, using my life as collateral. I believe within a year, I can deliver satisfactory results. At that time, we can sign a distribution agreement. After the contract is signed, you can perceive my thoughts and control me to do anything—even kill me with a mere thought!" As he spoke, Donald's gaze was intense as he looked at Charlie.
Is there a streak of madness flowing through the Lewis family?
This guy is simply insane! Betting his life for an opportunity!!
However, from another perspective, how much is a life worth? Can it be exchanged for billions or even hundreds of billions of gold coins? If Donald was determined to stake his life for this formula, what could Charlie do?
Charlie countered, "You really have such confidence in its value?"
"Absolutely."
"Then aren't you afraid that I might control you later and change the 50-50 distribution agreement?"
"Trust is mutual. If you agree now, it's also a sign of trust in me. You believe that I can open up a market worth billions for you, and you think my life is worth that much. So why shouldn't I trust you?"
Talking to smart people is that easy; everything that needs to be pointed out has been, without the need for excessive explanation.
Charlie raised his hand, fist-bumping Donald's in agreement, "Deal!"
"Deal!" Donald smiled, removing a ring from his finger. "To express my sincerity, I'll give this to you, and I will also cover the cost of the magical contract scroll."