The Trade of 100 Nether Orchids

Sensing someone else entering the shop, Ron looked up toward the door. Seeing it was Mason, he immediately broke into a smile and stood up from his recliner.

Before he could even offer a greeting, Mason asked first, "Your Highness Ron, that person earlier was so rude, why didn't you teach him a lesson?"

Ron chuckled as he looked at him. "I introduced the flowers in the shop to him and stated the prices clearly. Since he wasn't going to buy anything, why should I waste my breath and energy?"

After offering this explanation, Ron looked at the person behind Mason and said, "Mason, aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Oh, right..." Mason finally remembered the purpose of his visit and quickly stepped back half a pace, introducing him to Ron, "This is Professor Hicks from the Magic Academy, a Tier 6 high-level mage."

"Hello, Your Highness Ron." Hicks smiled and nodded, taking the initiative to reach out a hand toward Ron.

Given Hicks' status as a Tier 6 mage, he wouldn't normally need to take the initiative to offer a handshake, even when meeting high-ranking nobles.

If Ron were merely a Seventh Prince without any real power, Hicks would certainly not be as courteous as he was now.

"Hello, Professor Hicks. I have always admired life at the Magic Academy, and I am very pleased to meet you." Ron reached out to shake Hicks' hand lightly, greeting him with a smile that was neither servile nor overbearing.

"If you have the time, Your Highness Ron, you are welcome to visit the Magic Academy," Professor Hicks said politely, before getting straight to the point. "I heard about the Nether Orchid from Mason, so I came specifically to discuss a business deal with you. I wonder if Your Highness has the time?"

Ron raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that it looked like his main quest was about to be completed ahead of schedule.

"Of course, we can go upstairs to talk." Ron nodded readily, then looked at Mason with an apologetic expression. "Mason, could I trouble you to keep an eye on the shop? If anyone wants to buy a Nether Orchid, just leave the payment on the counter."

Seeing Professor Hicks nod, Mason replied immediately, "No problem, leave it to me."

"Sorry for the trouble." Ron thanked him and led Professor Hicks up to the second-floor living room.

The two sat opposite each other on the sofa.

Professor Hicks didn't beat around the bush and stated directly, "The Magic Academy wishes to purchase a large batch of Nether Orchids from you, Your Highness. We hope to establish a partnership with your flower shop."

"In principle, that is no problem," Ron nodded. "However, the Nether Orchid is a plant for which we have only just discovered a method for large-scale cultivation, and its survival conditions are quite demanding, so the current quantity is not very high."

Although for Ron, as long as he exchanged for enough Cultivation Space, the quantity of Nether Orchids was not an issue at all.

But this was business, after all, and he had to drive up the price of his own goods.

Professor Hicks nodded in understanding. "That is not a problem; we can purchase them based on your production volume."

Hearing that the quantity of Nether Orchids was low, Hicks was actually more accepting of the situation.

For a magical plant like the Nether Orchid, even if a method for large-scale cultivation had been found, it was surely only relative.

If the quantity were as abundant as common rice, that would be truly bizarre.

Before coming here, Hicks had already prepared himself mentally, even willing to pay a premium if necessary.

In any case, the Magic Academy was not short on money; the annual contributions from those great families alone were more than they could ever spend.

These great families were never stingy with their wealth when it came to sending their children to the academy to study magic.

Hicks wouldn't feel a shred of guilt spending their money.

"There are currently about one hundred Nether Orchids in the shop," Ron said.

"One hundred is not a small number," Professor Hicks said with a smile. "Could we purchase these one hundred Nether Orchids for the Magic Academy first? Consider it a good start to our partnership?"

Ron raised an eyebrow, not expecting his main quest to be completed so easily.

"Of course," Ron nodded. "You can take this batch of Nether Orchids today."

"Then let this be our first transaction." Professor Hicks smiled and reached out. A silver light flickered across the embroidery on his sleeve, and a note from the Gold Depository appeared on the coffee table, along with a magic pen in his hand.

Ron found it fascinating and let his gaze linger on Professor Hicks' sleeve.

This must be a type of spatial embroidery, capable of storing a certain amount of items; it belonged to the category of enchanted clothing.

Ron had read similar descriptions in books, but this was his first time seeing it in person.

Something like Professor Hicks' was a high-end piece, directly inscribed onto the sleeve and integrated into the magic robe itself.

The magic robe was already a powerful enchanted item, so there was no need to worry about it being damaged.

Lower-end storage spaces were usually rings, necklaces, or bracelets.

Of course, there were also people with unique tastes who liked to customize storage spaces in the form of intimate apparel, which was both safe and discreet.

Professor Hicks wrote the number "2000" on the note and handed it to Ron without hesitation.

Ron looked at the note on the coffee table, then looked at Professor Hicks, smiling calmly. "It seems the Professor is very sincere."

"Although this is our first meeting, I feel very confident in doing business with Your Highness Ron," Hicks laughed. "Now, shall we discuss a long-term partnership?"

"I would be delighted."

On the first floor of the shop.

Mason took the 20 gold coins from his colleague, explaining why he was there while placing the coins into the counter.

Those who came here to buy Nether Orchids were basically all from the Magic Academy.

After Mason was promoted to a Tier 4 mage, he had written a promotion report in accordance with the academy's standard requirements.

The report detailed his insights on his promotion, the precautions to take during the process, and included a note about the Nether Orchid at the end.

Because this was a promotion report written after Mason had failed four times, it had attracted significant attention within the academy.

Especially those mages who were also stuck at the threshold, all hoping to find hope for advancement from others.

Consequently, the matter of the Nether Orchid spread throughout the academy.

The advancement report had been reviewed by the academy, so there was no possibility of it being issued incorrectly or by mistake; therefore, the mages who saw this report were immediately tempted and began to take action.

Especially the teaching assistants at the academy, who had a monthly reimbursement quota to fall back on, so they paid the 20 gold coins for the Nether Orchid quite readily, without feeling a hint of heartache.

As for those magic apprentices still studying at the academy, those with better family backgrounds also gritted their teeth and came to the Flower Shop to purchase the Nether Orchid.

As for those who couldn't afford it, most were simply filled with regret, while also looking forward to the possibility that the Magic Tower might open up rooms containing the Nether Orchid.

However, there were still some who harbored crooked ideas, such as the magic apprentice who had brought three thugs to steal flowers yesterday.

"Hm? Why are you here!?"

Mason had just said goodbye to a colleague when he heard a surprised and grating voice coming from the shop entrance, and he immediately looked toward the door.

"Yo? Isn't this the gatekeeper?" Mason raised an eyebrow, looking at Old White the goblin, who was hesitating at the shop entrance, his expression becoming quite colorful.

Old White stared at Mason with an ugly expression, unable to fathom why the other party was inside the shop.

After reading Mason's advancement report, he had hesitated for several seconds before gritting his teeth and taking his 20 gold coin savings out of the sock under his pillow, deciding to come and buy a Nether Orchid.

Yet, he had ended up running into this guy Mason at the Flower Shop!?

The moment he thought about how he had once mocked and ridiculed Mason, only to come scurrying over to buy a Nether Orchid today, a wave of burning shame washed over Old White's face.

Failure Diary: Recently, many big shots in the group have started new books and are all discussing their performance. I happened to start this book recently too, and I thought I had found common ground with the big shots, but unfortunately, I was wrong... sob sob sob... I don't want to say anything more...

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