Chapter 326 Town Hall

’I understand. Is there anything else you need?’

’Not for now.’

The man sitting across from Ian smiled brightly and gathered the documents on the desk.

The long conversation that had continued since morning finally came to an end in the afternoon.

The person sitting in front of Ian was a representative from a merchant group introduced by Leona.

From now on, they were scheduled to take over the production, distribution, and delivery of the Crisis Detection Potion on his behalf.

Although Ian had decided to directly supply the Defense Army’s materials, Louise couldn’t possibly produce those massive quantities herself.

Even if they hired staff and set up a large-scale workshop, Ian would probably have to retire as a mercenary and start a merchant guild to handle that work personally.

While outsourcing would reduce direct profits, it was a business of too large a scale for Ian to manage directly.

The man from the merchant group, having checked the documents Ian handed over, spoke up.

’The recipe isn’t very complex.’

’Others will figure it out soon enough.’

’Don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of it ourselves.’

Above all, this potion had the problem of its recipe being easy to reverse-engineer.

With mass production on this scale, anyone could deduce the ingredients of the potion through the materials being purchased.

Within a few months, various alchemists would likely find the recipe, and imitations would soon flood the market.

Since the recipe would be known soon anyway, Ian decided to simply go public with it.

He had registered a patent with City Hall.

The concept of patents existed here as well.

Of course, whether it was strictly followed was another matter entirely.

Usually, they weren’t well-observed, and the awareness of the need to follow them was thin.

However, in certain situations, they were conversely followed very strictly.

It was decided based on who held the patent.

In short, while the patent of a small workshop with no power or connections could be easily ignored.

No one would be bold enough to manufacture and sell fakes of military supplies delivered by a major merchant group.

Considering they came via Leona’s introduction, they likely had connections with the Defense Army as well.

If they managed it, others would have no choice but to quietly pay the recipe usage fees.

’Thank you. If there’s anything you want, please call us anytime.’

Since it was a matter that had been discussed for some time, the outsourcing contract was concluded smoothly without major issues.

With the long discussion over, the two men took their respective copies of the contract and rose from their seats.

’Is it finished?’

Louise, who had been sitting beside them with a somewhat bored expression, also stood up.

Louise actually had nothing to do or say while sitting in on the meeting, but since she was the developer of the potion, she had been sitting there as a matter of formality.

It was tedious work, but since it was something an alchemist had to do once in a while, it couldn’t be helped.

Having thought that, Louise stretched her body wide.

Ian checked the time for a moment.

It was an awkward time to end the day’s schedule.

Since he had cleared the whole day for the contract, there was nothing specific left to do.

Just then, Ian suddenly thought of something and made a suggestion to Louise.

’Then, Louise. Shall we go see the shop now?’

’The shop?’

Louise, who briefly pondered what shop Ian was talking about, belatedly realized he was referring to her own shop.

The prime spot on the first floor of the Clock Tower Plaza, her own shop.

He must be talking about that shop that had been appearing in her dreams about once a day lately.

Vitality returned to Louise’s body, which had been exhausted from spending time in the boring meeting, and her eyes sparkled.

’My shop?’

’Yes, since we decided to visit sometime... Let’s go and look around now. I’ve left the first floor of the shop to be handled appropriately, but you’ll need to see the laboratory yourself to make decisions.’

’Great! Let’s go right away!’

Ian smiled seeing Louise’s excitement.

However, the man from the merchant group who had been watching them muttered with a slightly worried face.

’If it’s the shop... are you talking about the one at the Clock Tower Plaza?’

’Oh, did you know about it?’

’Yes. Rumors are already circulating that the Louise Workshop is moving in there....’

’Rumors?’

Both Ian and Louise tilted their heads in unison.

Of course, opening a shop there wasn’t exactly a huge secret.

But it was strange that rumors were circulating about a shop that hadn’t even opened yet.

The man, after some thought, cautiously advised Ian and Louise.

’It might be better if you don’t go there right now....’

’Pardon? Is there a problem with the shop?’

’It’s not so much a problem as... it’s just that the place has become too famous now.’

’...?’

Ian and Louise still looked at each other with faces that didn’t quite understand.

＊ ＊ ＊

’How long will the construction take?’

’The shop can probably open within a month.’

Ian and Louise talked as they walked down the street together.

Despite the merchant’s advice, the two eventually decided to visit the shop today.

They had to stop by the shop at some point anyway.

If possible, now, when there was free time after the invasion, was the best time.

Ian and Louise slowly made their way toward the Clock Tower Plaza.

Louise turned her head and looked around the city, which had a somewhat restless atmosphere. In the Labyrinth, restoration work was busy proceeding right after the monster invasion.

Ian also scanned the streets following Louise’s gaze.

Normally, there would be a festival-like atmosphere right after an invasion ended, but perhaps because of what happened this time, a strange tension still remained.

Walking through such streets, Ian shared a brief conversation with Louise.

This was the first time Louise had experienced an invasion as well.

It must have been difficult for someone who just arrived in the Labyrinth to adjust easily.

’Did anything happen during the invasion?’

’I only heard about it, but it was more incredible than I thought....’

Among alchemists, the Labyrinth was so famous that there was no one who didn’t know it.

The city where you could obtain the widest variety of monster materials at a cheap price. But that also meant it was the city where the most monsters appeared.

In fact, most alchemists only remember ’various materials’ and ’cheap price’; stories about monster invasions didn’t exactly register in their ears. It was a story that didn’t feel very real to outsiders.

So, there were quite a few alchemists who came to the Labyrinth only to leave again because they felt anxious after experiencing a single invasion.

Louise also felt a bit chilled after experiencing the monster invasion for the first time.

She wasn’t in a role that participated in the battle, so she remained at the base, but she could sufficiently feel the commotion of the battle even there. It was truly a war.

’To think the potion developed then would be used for something like this....’

’Thanks to it, we settled things well without major damage.’

’I’m glad the potion was helpful, at least.’

A sigh escaped Louise belatedly after hearing the news that the potion she developed recently had suddenly been designated as military supplies.

A moment later, Ian and Louise arrived at the Clock Tower Plaza.

A considerable crowd was gathered in the plaza.

’There are so many people?’

’I didn’t hear anything about an event being held today....’

It was normal for there to be many people in the plaza, but today was especially severe. It was to the point where they couldn’t pass because the road was blocked with people.

It wasn’t just a crowd passing through; it felt like they were gathered waiting for something.

The problem was that the crowd was blocking the way to Louise’s shop.

’Excuse me. We’re passing through.’

The two, pushing through the crowd to go forward, realized people were gathered in front of a certain building.

’It’s here... why are people swarming here?’

’Eh? Is it here?’

Louise was horrified to see the crowd gathered in front of her shop. Louise reflexively cried out.

’Don’t tell me something happened to my shop?’

At the moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward Louise.

Receiving the gazes of the massive crowd gathered nearby all at once, Louise flinched and clung to Ian’s side.

’My shop?’

’By any chance, are you Louise-ssi?’

The crowd gathered in front of the shop moved in a circle and surrounded Louise and Ian.

People right nearby cautiously spoke to Louise.

’Excuse me, are you Louise from the Louise Workshop?’

’The person who made that potion?’

’Ye, yes... I’m the one who made it, but that’s....’

Before Louise’s answer could even finish, small cheers erupted from the surroundings.

Immediately, a barrage of questions began to pour toward Louise.

’When does the shop open?’

’When can we start buying that potion?’

’If you have any spares right now, please sell them! I’ll buy them for three times the price!’

’W-wait a minute... what on earth is happening....’

Louise flailed as she was surrounded by people, panicking.

Ian, listening to the barrage of questions, realized these were people who had swarmed to buy the Crisis Detection Potion.

The rumor that invisible monsters had entered the city must have already spread throughout the entire city.

The City Hall and the Defense Army announced that all monsters had been wiped out, but could that completely suppress people’s anxiety?

When there was a potion that could let you see them, anyone would naturally want to have one for emergencies.

It seemed like every citizen in this vicinity had swarmed out.

’Louise! We’re from the Claire Workshop....’

’Eastern Alchemists Association! For the next academic conference, Louise....’

’If you would entrust the distribution to our merchant group!’

...It wasn’t just citizens; it seemed everyone was swarming out from everywhere.

In the end, it was only after the sun had set that the two were able to enter the shop.

’Please get more employees....’

’...I should probably do that.’

Louise realized belatedly that the real challenge would begin the moment the shop opened.