Disode Magic Academy, Chapter 38: The Deadliest Thing Is Making Things Up in Your Own Head (Please Vote for Me!)

"New plants?"

Jasper froze, then instinctively glanced around. Sure enough, five orange-red, spherical flowers had appeared on the grid shelf by the entrance.

Then he noticed the price list on the wall. Besides the Nether Orchid, another plant had indeed been added.

"Golden Red Chrysanthemum, 30 gold coins..." Jasper silently repeated to himself.

It was a very ordinary name.

But it was so expensive...

"The Glorious Mercenary Group has far more warriors than mages, so I thought the Golden Red Chrysanthemum might be more suitable for you," Ron explained with a smile. "Its fragrance can slightly improve the flow of Battle Qi. Its leaves and petals can be brewed into tea, and drinking it can invigorate the Battle Qi in your body. It's like a mild version of berserk mode, and greatly benefits Battle Qi training."

"Also, the petals can be eaten directly. They're extremely helpful for forming a Battle Qi Vortex, and they have the same effects I just mentioned, only much stronger."

"Jasper, what do you think?" After his brief introduction, Ron looked at Jasper. "You can buy one to try first. Once you've confirmed how well it works, we can discuss a partnership."

Jasper sat in his chair, still a little stunned.

Invigorate Battle Qi...

Help form a Battle Qi Vortex...

Potions with effects like these did exist.

But unlike Meditation Potions, alchemists rarely researched anything related to Battle Qi.

As a result, most potions that could invigorate Battle Qi had only mediocre effects.

Of course, this was also because the magical world lacked materials related to Battle Qi.

Most potions that benefited warriors actually worked on the body, not on Battle Qi itself.

Even potions that helped form a Battle Qi Vortex did so by strengthening the warrior's body and improving their constitution, indirectly raising their chances of success.

So when Jasper heard Ron describe the Golden Red Chrysanthemum's effects, he was immediately stunned.

Disode Magic Academy had not only developed the Nether Orchid, a plant with powerful effects for mages, but now it had a plant that targeted Battle Qi too?

These were practically two ultimate weapons!

The Nether Orchid alone had not had quite such a sweeping impact, given the small number of mages. But the Golden Red Chrysanthemum was an absolute trump card!

Even so, Jasper still had doubts about its effects.

Perhaps it worked, but not as dramatically as the Nether Orchid?

Jasper wondered to himself, then carefully said aloud, "Then I'll do as you suggest, Your Highness Ron. I'll buy one to try first."

Ron smiled and nodded. He got up, fetched a Castrated Golden Red Chrysanthemum, and took 30 gold coins from Jasper.

Jasper accepted the flower, then suddenly remembered something and said to Ron, "Your Highness Ron, I didn't think things through before and let those thugs get in. I'll send someone over tomorrow to take charge of your security. Would that be all right?"

When Ron had first been brought to Chaos City, the mercenary group leader, Webster, had wanted to arrange a villa for him and hire professional butlers, maids, and guards.

But after Ron's arrangements, the flower shop turned out to be too small, and the whole plan had fallen through.

Jasper had originally assumed Ron would soon give up the shop because he couldn't run it profitably. But now that the Magic Academy was supporting him behind the scenes, there was no way the shop would close.

So Jasper wanted to assign guards to the shop. They could protect Ron while also helping the mercenary group gather information.

Ron felt the flower shop was fairly safe, especially now that he had received a supplier's badge from the Magic Academy.

Eckley Street, where the shop was located, was already under close watch by the patrols. Aside from low-level ruffians like those thugs, anyone powerful enough would usually draw the patrols' attention as soon as they entered Chaos City.

Unless an expert with a special purpose deliberately concealed their aura to sneak into Chaos City, Ron's area shouldn't be in any danger.

Besides, Ron knew there were plenty of suspicious things about his flower shop. If someone watched closely for long enough, they would eventually notice something was off.

So Ron wasn't particularly keen on accepting Jasper's offer.

But outright refusing would seem strange.

"I'm not very comfortable with people following me around. If possible, just have your people occasionally make a few rounds near the shop."

Jasper immediately understood. He had expected Ron to respond this way.

The Magic Academy was behind Ron's flower shop. It would have been astonishing if Jasper could so easily place someone inside.

So Jasper readily nodded. "As you wish, Your Highness Ron. Besides that, I'll speak with the patrols and ask them to keep a closer eye on your area. Would that be all right?"

"Yeah, that'll do." Ron nodded. "Sorry for the trouble."

Jasper smiled and shook his head. "It's what I should do."

With the conversation over, Jasper had more or less achieved what he had come for. He got up, said his goodbyes, and left in his carriage.

"Quest progress: 1/500."

Ron opened the System Panel and saw the notification.

He had sold one Golden Red Chrysanthemum on its very first day. It was a good start.

If selling the Nether Orchid had been a little complicated, selling the Golden Red Chrysanthemum was easier now that the flower shop had built up some reputation.

Besides, while selling the Nether Orchid, Ron had realized that the best way to complete his main quest as quickly as possible was to work with major forces and sell plants in batches.

With yesterday's deal with the Magic Academy and today's with the Glorious Mercenary Group, he had already arranged the sale of 300 Nether Orchids worth 6,000 gold coins in a single month.

Once Jasper returned and confirmed the Golden Red Chrysanthemum's effects, the main quest requirement of selling 500 Golden Red Chrysanthemums might soon be met as well.

As for the customers who came into the shop during business hours, Ron had begun to feel that they weren't worth the trouble, but he couldn't quite bring himself to turn them away.

They added up to a respectable income, but he had to spend four hours every day keeping the shop open. It felt like a bit of a waste.

That made him all the more eager to find a shop assistant so he could get to the Magic Academy and start studying sooner.

The easiest solution would be to ask the Magic Academy or the Glorious Mercenary Group for help.

But both sides would inevitably have their own motives. If someone stayed in the flower shop too long and discovered its loopholes, Ron would be worse off.

Before anyone started seriously questioning the shop's supply chain, he had to redeem [Miracle of the Goddess of Harvest].

Then he could blame all the shop's strange happenings on the goddess.

It was all the goddess's will and arrangements. What did any of it have to do with him, Ron?

Thinking this, Ron closed the shop and went to the neighboring Barbecue Shop to get dinner.

Sob, sob. Another day without a contract. I could cry...