I Became the Progenitor Vampire

Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Verna’s Mysterious Store
 

When Lide returned to Green City from Dawn City, it was already three o’clock in the afternoon.

The atmosphere of Green City in spring was as oppressively dreary as ever, completely lacking the hopeful ambiance of Dawn City.

On the streets, shivering beggars stared blankly at passersby, while in the sewers, several soldiers were fishing out bodies—some unfortunate souls had starved to death as spring neared.

The air was still thick with a peculiar stench.

“Good day, Lord Lide.”

“Lord Lide, you’ve returned.”

“Lord Lide…”

Back at the Crimson Mage Tower, a group of apprentices greeted him with broad smiles.

After a winter, the Crimson Mage Tower had undergone significant changes.

Firstly, the area: all the residential districts around the Crimson Mage Tower had been bought up, and a newly built expansive wall now encircled the entire area.

Now one could only enter the Crimson Mage Tower via the small square at the front entrance, unless they dared to scale the wall at the risk of triggering magic arrays and alchemy traps.

“Mm, go fetch Vina for me.”

“Yes,”

Lide waved his hand, allowing the apprentice to go and pass the message, while he comfortably took a seat on a bench in the lobby.

Before long, rapid footsteps thundered on the stairs, and Vina’s graceful figure appeared before Lide.

She was still in the familiar blue mage’s robe, her face, beautiful and delicate, beamed with a broad smile.

She stepped forward and greeted him respectfully.

“Good day, Lord Lide.”

Lide felt inexplicably happier looking at his little maid.

“Vina, give me a status report on the Crimson Mage Tower.”

Vina was accustomed to Lide’s way of doing things, reporting on the developments during his times away.

Her sapphire-like eyes gazed at him twinkling with amusement, her voice as melodious as a nightingale’s song echoed through the Mage Tower.

“Lord Lide, during this period, we’ve recruited a batch of apprentices, now the Crimson Mage Tower has 150 apprentices and 22 official mages, totaling 172 people.

After the construction during Frost Month, the zone around the Crimson Mage Tower is entirely under our control.

It can currently accommodate 500 residents.

The Magic Factory is now fully producing magic scrolls as you’ve instructed.

Our total stockpile has reached 5,000 scrolls.”

As Vina reported this apparently joyous data, her expression turned somewhat odd.

“Due to the purchase of magic materials, we have incurred a debt of 10,000 Gold Pucks with the White Tower.

The White Tower’s steward has already made some remarks about this.”

The production over Frost Month had amassed a staggering 5,000 magic scrolls at the Crimson Mage Tower.

The figures were astonishing.@@novelbin@@

The modernized production methods, when implemented in this world, resulted in an efficiency so high it was almost beyond belief.

Even Vina, overseeing the Magic Factory daily, was still trembling at the sheer quantity.

The cost of one magic scroll was roughly 3 Gold Pucks, while the selling price was around 10 to 12 Gold Pucks. The value of the magic scrolls in the possession of the Crimson Mage Tower far exceeded 50,000 Gold Pucks.

Even after repaying the White Tower’s debt of 10,000 Gold Pucks, there remained 40,000.

It was a fortune that could send one’s blood pressure soaring. As long as these magic scrolls sold well, the financial woes facing Dawn City would be easily solved.

Lide was extremely satisfied.

If not for the fact that the supply of magic materials could not keep up in the later stages, the stock of magic scrolls might have been even greater.

Yet, even so, the numbers were fearsome enough.

He had to thank his inexpensive mentor, Lord Spark, for his unwavering support—just the magic materials alone had put him in debt of 10,000 Gold Pucks.

He could not forget this kindness.

The reason Dawn City was lacking development funds was that he had invested half of the Bloodline’s funds into the Crimson Mage Tower, leading to the predicament where the City Hall had less than two thousand Gold Pucks remaining.

“Lord Lide, are we going to sell these magic scrolls now?”

Vena’s eyes held a hint of inquiry, the pressing financial crisis had put great pressure on the girl managing the Crimson Mage Tower during this period.

“Of course, spring has already begun, and those mercenaries and adventurers must be getting impatient, right?”

Lide’s lips curved into a meaningful smile.

“Is the store you were told to build complete?”

“It’s done, right beside the Mage Tower Square. Following your instruction, I asked Isa to invite Lord Spark over. The store has a magic array personally set up by Lord Spark, ensuring absolute safety.”

“Very well, from tomorrow we shall start selling the magic scrolls officially. Have Laurent contact the local Underground Forces and spread the word.”

“Yes, Lord Lide, what shall we call our store?”

Lide showed a meaningful smile.

“Let’s call it Akali’s Black Shop… no, Vena’s Mysterious Store.”

Vena’s Mysterious Store?

The girl’s beautiful eyes sparkled like rippling water as she gazed at Lide’s handsome face, her cheeks slowly blushing as she quietly lowered her head.

“Vena, you will manage the Mysterious Store from now on, and in the future, we plan to expand the stores across the entire Nolan Empire…”

Magic Scrolls were big business, and with the Magic Factory, Lide was definitely capable of producing even more magic scrolls.

When that time came, even Green City with its population of a million might not be able to absorb them all.

Lide had carefully observed this period; his little maid didn’t possess particularly strong Magic Talent, but her business and management skills were surprisingly outstanding.

In his absence, Vena had kept the Crimson Mage Tower well-organized without a single mistake.

This was also why he could leave confidently for ten days to half a month at a time.

Vena’s role at the Crimson Mage Tower was more akin to a chief steward, taking care of all his concerns at the rear.

So although Vena might not be powerful, Lide regarded her role as no less significant than that of Emi, a Level 15 talent.

High-level combat capabilities are indeed precious, but advanced-level management talent is even more so.

Whenever he had the chance, Lide would instill modern management ideas in Vena, and this girl grew rapidly throughout the process.

In Lide’s plan, the Crimson Mage Tower would have two key commercial divisions in the future.

The first one was Golden Wheat Commerce.

The importance of Golden Wheat Commerce was beyond doubt; it was essential for Dawn City’s rapid development recently due to its large-scale procurement of supplies. However, Golden Wheat Commerce was more involved in basic industries, which limited its scope.

The second was the Mysterious Store, specializing in magic scrolls, an industry with much higher potential and almost unlimited prospects.

Of course, there might be other magic industries added in the future, aiming for the high-end market.

Golden Wheat Commerce and the Mysterious Store complemented each other’s shortcomings.

Laurent was in charge of Golden Wheat Commerce, while Vena would be the head of the Mysterious Store.

Talent was diverse, and not only those with strong combat abilities counted as talent. At least for the current Crimson Mage Tower, the one Lide trusted the most was Vena, not just for loyalty but also personal capabilities.

“Yes, Lord Lide, I will arrange it immediately.

Isa is still studying magic with Lord Spark, what about her…”

“Bring Isa back.”

Lide smiled lightly, stretching out his hand to gently ruffle Vena’s little head. He was very fond of his little maid’s long, slightly curly blonde hair.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Vena’s eyes softened in an instant, her eyelids forming crescent moons.