Chapter 81: Investigation Preparations

Profits.

This was a topic that would never go out of style in any world.

Especially like right now, finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment, people were usually more willing to bind themselves mutually through profits.

Whether it was Lan Qingyou, Shang Chuan, Li Huai, Gu Xiaobei, or Professor Sam...

Although each of them harbored their own little calculations in their hearts.

It was precisely because mutual benefits could satisfy both themselves and the other party that this 'tacit understanding' of directly asking for what they wanted could form.

Even for Lan Qingyou, as long as the profits could be negotiated, she could even provide Shang Chuan with a batch of negative status magic potions.

Such as Sluggishness Potions, Weakness Potions, Petrification Potions, and the like.

After all, compared to others, a homebody like her who never left the house was extremely rare.

No matter how reluctant Lan Qingyou was, no matter how much she didn't want this kind of reliance, it was undeniably an objective fact.

Meanwhile, Shang Chuan was also pondering.

The problem he was pondering was relatively much more complex.

Distribution...

How should this be divided so that he didn't feel like he was losing out, yet still leaving both Lan Qingyou and Li Huai satisfied?

To be honest, this was a question that greatly tested his abilities as a merchant.

Even if these 'profits' might not actually exist, it was absolutely necessary to settle this matter before taking action.

Shang Chuan: "Four-three-three. I get four, you and Li Huai each get three. After all, my subordinates are the ones taking the risk of death."

In the end, Shang Chuan chose a relatively conservative distribution method.

Lan Qingyou raised an eyebrow: "Are you the kind of person who cares about the life and death of your subordinates?"

Shang Chuan: "Of course I care. Without subordinates, wouldn't I have to go chop trees myself? How much of my money-making time would that waste?"

That makes a lot of sense, next time don't say it.

Lan Qingyou: "Then I want half. As for how you negotiate the remaining half with Li Huai, that's your business."

After thinking for a moment, Lan Qingyou replied with this.

After all, she was the one expending time and energy, while both Shang Chuan and Li Huai only needed to make a single trip.

No matter how you looked at it, she was the one contributing the most in this deal, so naturally she had to fight for the maximum profit for herself.

Even if this so-called profit seemed illusory right now.

But one had to realize that since it was an artificially excavated place, no matter what was hidden inside, it would be extremely useful to them right now.

Just like those alchemical tools of Albert's that Lan Qingyou obtained.

Shang Chuan: "That's too much, four is the maximum I can give you."

As if fully prepared, just after Lan Qingyou stated her terms, Shang Chuan's message immediately followed.

Lan Qingyou: "Fine, four it is then."

Knowing that haggling with a professional merchant had little use, Lan Qingyou also replied immediately.

It was more accurate to say that forty percent was likely the absolute limit Shang Chuan could offer her. As for how he would discuss the remaining sixty percent with Li Huai, that was his problem.

Besides, she was going to have to brew potions anyway; now she was simply swapping the variety of potions she needed to brew each day.

Plus, during this period she basically had to follow Professor Sam to study chemistry.

Studying while brewing potions, and possibly earning a huge sum on the side—what was there to be dissatisfied about?

Of course.

It was also very possible that she wouldn't earn this money.

But couldn't she also use the newly acquired chemistry knowledge for some hands-on practice?

With Lan Qingyou leading the way, dealing with Li Huai was much simpler.

When Li Huai returned from hunting that night and saw the series of messages Shang Chuan left for him, he agreed without a second thought.

He didn't know about others.

But right now Li Huai clearly knew he had encountered a bottleneck; his level was stuck at Level 8 and simply couldn't go up.

Initially, he tried various methods, but seeing no results, he directly attributed the cause to the monsters being too weak.

After all, with the strongest monsters currently only at D-rank, and extremely rare at that, mostly consisting of E-rank monsters, he couldn't level up at all.

So if he wanted to level up, he definitely had to challenge higher-level ones.

In his view, it would be best to skip a level and find a C-rank one, so he wouldn't have to worry about monsters for a long time.

And now Shang Chuan suddenly mentioned the appearance of an unknown, artificially excavated cave; how could he not be interested?

Perfect timing.

If there was some powerful monster inside, he could also improve himself.

Regarding his sense of crisis, Li Huai was not one bit weaker than Lan Qingyou.

Upon receiving Li Huai's agreement, Shang Chuan finally sighed in relief.

After all, he actually couldn't be sure if he could get an S-rank talent bigshot to act as his enforcer.

Even if the other party stood to gain thirty percent.

Li Huai: "It's on the magic side."

Shang Chuan: "Just as I expected, then let's wait until this Mana Turbulence ends before going."

Li Huai: "Actually there's no need, I've already overcome this aspect."

...

Listen to this, is this human language?

You can even overcome a natural phenomenon like Mana Turbulence?

Should I call you bold because of your high skills, or are all you people with S-rank talents just perverts?

Shang Chuan: "It's fine, the Witch also needs time to craft potions anyway."

After sighing in amazement, Shang Chuan tossed the buck to Lan Qingyou.

With the major premise of having the support of both Lan Qingyou and Li Huai, Shang Chuan sought out Li Wufeng once again.

Shang Chuan: "Wufeng, the results are out on this end. You don't need to go out gathering for the next few days. We'll talk again after the Mana Turbulence ends."

Shang Chuan: "Also, have the subordinates in your crew with attack-type talent skills rest up well. Once the Witch finishes crafting her potions, you guys will go explore."

Li Wufeng: "Alright. I'll closely monitor the situation at the cave entrance these days. If the concealing vines are destroyed, I'll notify you immediately."

Shang Chuan: "Okay."

Over the next few days, Lan Qingyou crafted potions using various methods every day, while Li Wufeng went about his usual routine.

As for Shang Chuan, he frantically purchased numerous weapons like swords, armor, leather gear, and other such equipment during this period.

If one were to ask why everyone was so busy for something that might not even exist, there was only one reason.

It was because everyone was simply too free.

Lan Qingyou need not be mentioned.

As a homebody who stayed indoors all year round, simply being able to participate in an exploration like this was meaningful in itself.

And the same went for Shang Chuan.

Although he was a merchant, his ideology had always been to earn money and enjoy life.

A situation like now, where he had earned a lot but never once enjoyed it, had never happened before; it could be said he was bored to death long ago.

Coupled with his merchant's intuition telling him that whatever was inside was likely not simple.

That was why he made such a huge 'investment'.