Chapter 1304
The elder hadn’t even finished his sentence before a steel-like palm smashed viciously across his face, knocking out several teeth and distorting his cheek...
Wyatt Rodney sneered coldly, his eyes as icy and mechanical as an alchemical golem, instantly silencing everyone in the room.
"Fools. In our kind of alchemical business, influence comes from high-end alchemical products. Low-grade healing potions? Hundreds of shops sell those. No matter how much they produce, it’s pointless. In the alchemy market—especially the lucrative high-grade potion sector—the Rodney Family still holds the largest share!
Investigate and find out which key materials the Gilded Rose needs for its most profitable high-end potions. We don’t have to cut off every ingredient—just one or two critical ones, and the Gilded Rose can forget about making those top-tier potions.
And these potions—only our Rodney Family can produce them. That’s our absolute advantage!
With that kind of advantage, crushing the Gilded Rose? Hell, even a pig could do it!"
None of the elders dared to speak. The one who’d lost several teeth was so pale with pain he didn’t even dare to scream.
Several minutes passed before an elder finally spoke up, timidly.
"Lord Wyatt, we’ve identified one key ingredient called Platinumstone. It’s an essential catalyst in high-grade alchemical potions.
Without it, the Gilded Rose can’t manufacture any of its advanced potions. Even if they somehow manage to make one, it’ll cost them ten times as much—and they’ll have no profit left.
And most importantly, the Andalusia Kingdom doesn’t produce this material at all. Odin Kingdom only has a tiny output, just enough for a few minor alchemy shops—and demand far exceeds supply.
The largest source is Stoneland Kingdom. There’s one family in Odin Kingdom that deals in it, but they’re weak—only two Sky Rank Level 1 mages. If we buy up all the Platinumstone, the Gilded Rose won’t get any.
Wyatt’s cold gaze swept the room.
"So what are you waiting for? Notify that family— from now on, all Platinumstone must go to the Rodney Family. The Gilded Rose gets nothing.
Do I really have to spell it out for you? Threats. Bribes.
If I recall, we control a bandit who specializes in poison magic, right? Send him over. Threaten that little family—if they defy us, poison every last member.
If they obey and stop selling Platinumstone to the Gilded Rose, giving it all to us instead, raise the purchase price by ten percent.
I refuse to believe a weak family with just two Sky Rank Level 1 mages would dare defy us."
Three days later, Farrow from the Gilded Rose found Leon.
"Lord Merlin, we have a problem."
Leon put down the Spellbook of Ages, frowning as he looked at Farrow.
"Is it the Rodney Family causing trouble again?"
Farrow gave a bitter smile.
"On the surface, it has nothing to do with the Rodney Family, but anyone with half a brain can see it's their handiwork.
Word is, the Rodney Family has a new leader—a hidden prodigy named Wyatt Rodney. Thirty-five years old, already Sky Rank Level 4, ruthless and domineering. As soon as he took over, the Rodney elders couldn't even lift their heads.
This is definitely Wyatt's doing.
We've run into trouble with our Platinumstone supply from the Parkinson Family. Today, they notified us that from now on, they won't be providing Platinumstone to the Gilded Rose..."
A glimmer flashed in Leon's eyes.
"Platinumstone? The catalyst ingredient?"
Farrow nodded, his brow furrowed tightly.
The high-end potions we’re known for at the Gilded Rose all require three types of catalysts, but each one needs Platinumstone powder as a base ingredient.
The Andalusia Kingdom doesn’t produce Platinumstone at all. In the Furyflame Plane, there’s some, but it’s just a byproduct of other mines—output is tiny, nowhere near enough for the Gilded Rose.
If we lose those top-tier potions that even Sky Rank mages rely on, the Gilded Rose’s reputation and status will plummet. Our business will take a huge hit."
And the Parkinson Family didn’t give us a reason—just a notification. I sent someone to investigate and bribed one of their stewards for information.
Turns out, the Viper Bandit Group paid the Parkinson Family a visit, injured their patriarch, and threatened them not to sell Platinumstone to us. Otherwise, they’d poison every last Parkinson.
Right then, the Rodney Family stepped in, offering ten percent above market price to buy up all the Parkinson Family’s Platinumstone.
If the Platinumstone mines weren’t run by a fierce minority tribe in Stoneland Kingdom, who only recognize the Parkinson Family as agents, the Rodneys would’ve wiped out the Parkinsons completely—instead of just threats and bribes…"
Leon listened, finally understanding the situation, and put away the Spellbook of Ages.
"What’s this Viper Bandit Group?"
Farrow had clearly done his homework ahead of time.
"The Viper Bandit Group is just a gang of cutthroats. They’re ruthless—never leave witnesses. Every time they show up, they wipe out everyone, no exceptions.
Their leader goes by the nickname ‘Viper’—a poison mage, Sky Rank Level 2. He specializes in deadly toxins and venom magic, and once killed a Sky Rank Level 3 mage.
(This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!)
His most infamous act? He poisoned every member of a minor mage family—along with their beasts, livestock, servants, and even ordinary folk. Over a thousand dead in one go.
His methods are brutal. Everyone knows it was him, but that day he showed up somewhere else, proving it couldn’t have been him.
If Viper himself made the threat, with his reputation, the Parkinson Family would cave. After all, it doesn’t matter who they sell Platinumstone to..."
Leon fell silent for a moment.
"Give me the Parkinson Family’s coordinates, and organize all the intel for me."
Farrow was already prepared. Besides a set of coordinates, he handed Leon a crystal containing all the information he might need.
With the intel in hand, Leon left.
He left Neverwinter City, opened a portal, and crossed thousands of kilometers to appear in a northern city at the edge of Odin Kingdom.
It wasn’t actually that far from Neverwinter, and to the north lay the territory of Stoneland Kingdom. The Parkinson Family was based in a city called Birch City.
Leon stepped out of the portal. Birch City was still some distance away. He checked his notes, then started walking toward the city.
He quickly found the Parkinson Family’s estate—vast grounds, imposing buildings, easily the most powerful family in Birch City.
After all, Platinumstone is an essential catalyst in many advanced potions. At least for the Gilded Rose’s current top products, every catalyst requires Platinumstone.
So the Parkinson Family’s business is a monopoly. Nobody gives them much trouble. Even the Parkinsons themselves probably never expected the Rodney Family—who’d never bothered them before—to suddenly get so aggressive.
After wandering Birch City for a bit, Leon picked up plenty of rumors. The Parkinsons had run into trouble lately. Their magical beasts had all died mysteriously, bodies reeking, and several people who’d touched the corpses died too. Now everyone in Birch City was saying it was a plague.
And the Parkinson patriarch seemed ill too—possibly infected by the plague.
Leon frowned. The Rodney Family was beyond ruthless—dirty tricks, all the way. If the Parkinsons were wiped out, Platinumstone trade in Odin Kingdom would collapse. The meager local supply couldn’t possibly meet the Gilded Rose’s needs.