Chapter 184: Taking Advantage of the Max Family?

Chapter 184

Taking Advantage of the Max Family?

"If that’s the case, we shouldn’t keep everyone waiting any longer. Let us welcome the head of the Max family to introduce the next auction item," the auctioneer gestured behind him. Shortly, an elderly man, a powerful figure in the Gaia Kingdom, walked out slowly. His face bore traces of pride. Who would have thought that after meeting Lord Aman and Lady Ellie that day, it would take him several months to achieve success? Fortunately, this success came just in time, otherwise, they might have had to plan the launch of this new product for a long time.

"Greetings, everyone. I am the current head of the Max family. My name is “Jetrick Max.” I thank the Setter family for allowing me to bring an item to this auction. In fact, the item I am presenting today is not intended for profit alone; it also serves another hidden purpose." As soon as the Max family head said this, many people looked at each other in confusion.

Initially, a group of people who heard the rumors wondered why the Setter family allowed the Max family to participate in the auction. Previously, rumors had circulated that the Max family was preparing to face the wrath of the Setter family. Those familiar with Lady Kara’s temperament in the Gaia Kingdom even speculated that the Max family would soon be dethroned from being the kingdom’s top nobility. That’s because the status of the Setter family had changed dramatically. Once they had the Miracle Young Lord, the Setter family was viewed as a power on par with the 7 Associations.

The conflict between the Max and Setter families was the true reason that could potentially destroy the Max family. Everyone believed that even in the Gaia Kingdom, people might turn a blind eye and pretend not to see the fingers that had been cut off.

However, everyone’s thoughts were dismissed as soon as they saw the head of the Max family standing on the Setter family’s stage. The only question was, why?

"Previously, many of you might have been aware of the conflict between the Max and Setter families in Gaia City, right? I’ve seen some families in Gaia Kingdom celebrating our mistakes."

"Of course, I do not deny it. As the head of the Max family, we indeed wronged the Setter family. Because of this...the Max family accepts our mistakes and takes responsibility for our actions that displeased the Setter family. Therefore...we are here today because of the proposal to take responsibility towards the Setter family."

"Previously, our Max family has been conducting continuous experiments on growing various herbs and has developed significant expertise in potion concocting. We believe that our knowledge and abilities will be beneficial to the Setter family, to some extent. The next item up for auction is a product that we will sell to the Setter family at 90% of our total production. Of course, we promise to produce this product and sell it for a profit margin of just 5%. If any other family wants to purchase this product, they should contact the Setter family directly."

The head of the Max family spoke about this seemingly unprofitable trade amidst the crowd’s gazes. He acted as if he was completely submitting to the Setter family, while in reality, they were still making a 5% profit. This was because all their knowledge of cultivation and even the potion formulas had been obtained from Lady Ellie and Second Young Lord Aman.

The claim that they spent decades studying was utter nonsense! All the Max family gains was a 5% profit, and it provided jobs and sustenance for the villagers under their care, preventing starvation. How could this be considered taking responsibility for their mistakes!?

No one knew about this. To the public, it seemed like the Setter family was taking undue advantage. If someone made a mistake, wasn’t it enough to make a small compensation? Why did they have to seize the other party’s assets to the point of destruction?

People in the Gaia Kingdom understood what was happening, but those from other kingdoms were clueless. They immediately ordered their people to investigate the peculiar relationship between the two families. This wasn’t difficult since the matter had never been a secret.

The conflict between Lady Kara and Lady Ellie, the beloved of Eldest Young Lord Owen, took only 2-3 minutes to uncover. Naturally, those in the Fernal family room and other aristocrats had also heard the news.

"Heh, heh, heh, that girl really fell into a gold mine."

"The Setter family values her greatly. I heard it’s due to an old favor. But why do I feel that girl will bring trouble to the Setter family in the future?"

"Having problems with a high-born lady of the Gaia Kingdom, she must think she’s one of the elites now. But it’s not so bad. The Setter family will have a new lady of the house with a “grand” demeanor." Many people spoke about this with glee; they didn’t know the whole truth, knowing only that the peasant girl, who suddenly became the future lady of the Setter family, had clashed with Lady Kara. They believed the newly elevated girl was causing trouble.

Given their worldly experiences, they assumed women from lower classes had certain behaviors. Nowadays, many women sought to change their status by pleasing men. Any man swayed by fleeting beauty would be seen merely as a victim. The perceptive ones viewed such women as mere playthings.

Even so...the Setter family allowed the eldest young lord, who had just regained his senses, to spend time with that low-born woman. It’s not surprising that in the future...he might be deceived to death!

This was the thought of those who were ignorant of the situation. It wasn’t strange that no one tried to obstruct the romance between the eldest young lord and that country girl. Most of them were waiting to see how this pathetic love story would end and how far the eldest young lord of the Setter family would lead his family to ruin.

"I truly pity the Setter family for allowing such a low-class woman to tarnish their honor. Even though the Max family complies today, in the future...when the Setter family is vulnerable to being overthrown, do you think they will remain passive? This grudge will surely be held onto!"

The head of the Fernal family spoke with an air of wisdom, his gaze like one looking at a rival heading to their demise because of a foolish troublemaking woman. Little did he know that the family to be overthrown first would not be the Setter family, as he believed, but his own Fernal family!!

Even if the Setter family faced severe crises in the future, the Max family would never betray them. The profits from working with the Setter family were quite substantial. They didn’t have to do much to improve the living conditions of the impoverished areas. By cultivating the Sapphire Dragon Scale herbs, they could live comfortably. Moreover, they earned a 5% profit from the Setter family, which they used to further develop their area. It was a blessing that they hadn’t yet built statues of the Setter family for their descendants to worship!

While the Fernal family head viewed the Setter family as harboring a venomous snake, the Max family head smiled and clapped his hands as a signal to bring out the auction items.

“Today, the Max family has been authorized by the Setter family to sell the first batch of products under the Max family name. After this, everyone can purchase them from the Setter family as usual. So, today, the Max family will present 5 sets of products, each set containing 10 bottles. These potions are highly sought after by all hunters.” Jetrick stepped aside, revealing 5 sets of potions in well-sealed boxes, leaving the contents a mystery to the audience.

In the Setter family room, the family head, who was still unaware of the exploitative contract that Aman had managed to arrange, felt a bit uneasy. Why did he have a foreboding sense that was even worse than if the Setter family had signed a slave contract with the Max family due to their disputes, tarnishing the Setter family’s reputation!?

If it were just ordinary potions, it wouldn’t be a big deal. The Setter family wasn’t afraid of criticism. People could say what they want. However...if there were problems with that potions...

Aman laughed gleefully. He noticed that many families had already sent people to investigate the events. Naturally, Ellie would be seen as a troublemaker, but that was only for now...

Once everyone knew what kind of potion it was, a 5% profit wouldn’t be seen as a loss at all. The 5% profit had already been deducted from the total cost. When both the cost and the profit were covered, did they think this profit and cost were small amounts?

This potion was exorbitantly priced because, until now, only one family could produce it! Even a 1% profit wouldn’t raise any objections! The Fernal family knew this very well. They had been selling this product at a high price despite the low production cost because they were the sole producers. If the Setter family became another seller, the market share would be halved. The Setter family wouldn’t lose anything; instead, they would gain half of what Fernal used to get!

The Fernal family had been reaping massive profits from this potion alone, which had allowed them to compete with the Setter family. But what would happen after this...

"I think everyone is curious about what kind of potion this is. So, I will invite the appraisers to come and inspect and provide information. Otherwise, everyone might not believe it,"

The head of the Max family said with a hint of mischief. Shortly, 2 or 3 appraisers came up. In fact, they were there at the invitation of the Setter family to help evaluate items that were causing curiosity. Thus, when invited by the Max family, some of them came up, while others were less interested.

An elderly man, renowned for his expertise in potion concocting, another who was an herbal expert with some knowledge of potion concocting, and the third, though not a specialist in this field, had enough knowledge as an appraiser to handle this item. He didn’t think this auction item would be too challenging, considering it was only the 2nd item in the auction.

Jetrick Max observed the three before slowly opening the lid and taking out a potion bottle. The red potion inside was somewhat familiar yet unfamiliar. There were many red potions in this world, but the one who seemed the most uneasy upon seeing it was the noble in the private room, the person most familiar with this potion!

The elderly head of the Fernal family jumped up from his chair as he saw the familiar liquid inside. His hands trembled with disbelief, but his intuition told him that what he was thinking was undoubtedly true.

Other families might still be half-skeptical, but if this potion was presented at the Setter family’s auction, there was more than an 80% chance it was the real deal.

“What’s happening, Lord of the Fernal family?”

“Exactly, do you recognize that potion?” Many were curious about his sudden reaction. It was hard to seem normal when someone suddenly jumped up like that, though many began to have their own speculations.

Initially, they thought the potion’s color looked familiar, but the different bottle made the image hazy. However, seeing the Fernal family head’s reaction, they now felt more confident about what the potion was likely to be.

Below the stage, the appraisers were very interested in this potion. All three opened the lid to sniff the scent, which didn’t take long. This potion had clear properties and was very expensive. Many families had tried to find Sapphire Dragon Scale herbs and cultivate them to gain a share of the market, but it was no easy task.

While the Sapphire Dragon Scale herb was indeed rare, it wasn’t impossibly so. The most challenging part was the method of caring for and cultivating them.

This herb had peculiar requirements. It didn’t grow with normal cultivation methods, nor with heat or cold. No one knew how to properly cultivate it. As a result, many families had been fumbling around trying to find the right method. Although many had given up, several families persisted because they knew that being one of the producers of this potion would bring them immense profits.

“Is this...for real?” One of the appraisers gasped, while another looked up at the head of the Max family in disbelief.

“Yes, the Max family has discovered the way to cultivate it.”

“N-No, that’s impossible!! Lies! The cultivation method is in a secret manual that only exists in our Fernal family. You Max family members are lying. These aren’t Sapphire Dragon Scale herbs; they’re fakes!!”

Before the appraisers could reveal what the potion was, the head of the Fernal family shouted angrily from his room. Many still didn’t know what the potion was or why the appraisers were so shocked, but seeing the Fernal family head’s outburst, they immediately understood.

“What!? Don’t tell me that’s the “Invincibility Potion” that only the Fernal family can produce!”

"It’s red, too. Even the appraisers’ faces show disbelief. Has the day finally come when someone else can produce this potion!?"

"Ha! I don’t know whether to feel sorry or delighted. The Fernal family hasn’t sold us the potion for 2 years now. They claimed that our daughters tarnished the Fernal family’s reputation. We had to fight and risk our lives, and if we could’ve bought the Invincibility Potion, it would have saved many in my family."

"The Fernal family has reached its end! I can’t believe that as soon as the eldest young lord recovered, they could almost immediately defeat their enemies like this!"

"Calm down, everyone. It might not have the same properties. Even if it’s the same potion, the Fernal family obtained the concocting method from a secret manual."

"That’s true, but if it can make one invincible for even 20 seconds compared to the Fernal family’s 40 seconds, it’s still very good."

"This time, the Fernal family is definitely facing its end!"

There were many voices and opinions, but the most shocked person wasn’t the head of the Fernal family or the attendees; it was the head of the Setter family, who was sitting in front of Aman!!