Chapter 42: The Unscrupulous Merchant, Mo Lan

Chapter 42: The Profiteer Moran

"Then how are you so good at business?" Lilith said in disbelief. "The Apprentice-level Witch Book and Golden Pen Art only cost 5 Mana! How dare you charge 50 Mana?"

"Senior, don't misread it! The Witch Book and Golden Pen Art require a permanent payment of 5 Mana, which means you lose your mana capacity. My method only requires a one-time payment of 50 Mana without reducing your mana capacity, allowing you to own a Character Card permanently. Isn't that a better deal than Witchcraft?"

Moran had considered this carefully.

If she charged permanent mana like the Witch Book, who would have enough mana to buy all the cards she planned to develop in the future?

It was better to charge a one-time mana fee per card and sell them in high volume with small profits.

This would solve her mana depletion problem while leaving room for her future Witch Magic.

She had already thought of two names for her future Witch Magic.

*Gacha Magic*: Designed specifically for gamblers. Pay permanent mana to unlock a corresponding card pool with specific drop rates, then pay one-time mana to draw cards.

*Card Album Magic*: Designed for the "whales" who can't gamble and just want a guaranteed way to get what they want. Pay permanent mana to unlock a card album of a corresponding level, then spend one-time mana to buy the desired cards.

In short, she was guaranteed not to lose out.

Lilith took another look and still felt it was expensive, mainly because her mana was extremely tight; just a little research into the *Sanguine Needle* had drained her. Therefore, she had to haggle

"You just said it only takes 10 Mana to make a {Character Card}. Doubling the price is a huge profit, but five times is just too much! For the sake of your senior, can't you make it a bit cheaper?"

"Senior! I've already given you a discount!" Moran pulled out another contract. "Look, I charge this price to everyone else!"

"What? In the future, when upgrading cards, we have to pay you 50% of the upgrade cost as a one-time fee?" Lilith felt her vision go dark.

"These are upgradable cards that can be used all the way to the Peak level! I'm not like Lady Tracy and the others, who sell their Witch Magic once per level. Just charging a little 'upgrade interest' is already quite generous.

Besides, since you don't need it—and out of respect for our shared status as witches—I won't take the upgrade kickbacks for these three cards.

But don't mention that 10 Mana thing again; it ruins my sales!"

Moran said with a beaming smile

"Thank you for your previous guidance, Senior Lilith. Being close to fellow witches, keeping accounts clear, and engaging in equal transactions allows everyone to be burden-free while solving my immediate crisis. It's simply wonderful!"

Lilith: "..."

*Was that what I taught her?*

*This is taking it a bit too far!*

Just a moment ago, she was acting like a fool, offering to give away cards and even making grand proclamations about giving cards to all the little witches in school.

How had she turned into a profiteer even more unscrupulous than a goblin?

She had thought she was a soft little rice ball, only to realize she was a black sesame filling—dark on the inside.

She suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the previous Moran.

Looking at the other two juniors, they were watching the spectacle as if it had nothing to do with them, with smiles suppressed at the corners of their mouths. Lilith couldn't help but say

"Aren't you two going to haggle? You can actually accept such a high price?"

"It's fine! It's only 50 Mana; we can make it up with a few skewers of Breadfruit. Moran, if you run low on mana in the future, you can come to me, and we'll sign a contract to lend you some," Vasida said.

"I think it's fine too. After all, it's just a one-time mana consumption; it'll recover in a few days," Sylph added.

Lilith looked at them. One had an energy aura so bright it was blinding, and while the other's was dimmer, it was still much brighter than hers.

No wonder they were so generous!

With her two juniors acting like this, Lilith had nothing left to say

"Fine, fine! I'll let it slide this time. But if you sell them this expensively next time, I'll have to reconsider!"

At least she knew Moran wasn't truly foolish; once she turned her wits on, she was more cunning than a goblin.

Moran knew her senior would agree. Although Lilith's energy aura was dim, she could certainly produce 50 Mana.

Lilith didn't forget to warn Vasida and Sylph

"You two, you can't just buy things without haggling in the future just because you're rich.

No matter how much wealth you have, you can't squander it like this!

Even at the Witch Market, if you aren't familiar with the market rates and don't know how to bargain, you'll end up paying more than everyone else.

Once you go out into the wilderness, if you are this extravagant, people will just treat you like suckers and scam you without hesitation!"

"Understood, Senior!" Vasida and Sylph nodded obediently.

Moran happily handed the contracts to them.

By spending 30 Mana, she had gained 150 Mana. Her mana reserves jumped from 180 to 330, making her instantly much wealthier.

"Pleasure doing business! When new cards are released, I'll definitely be the first to tell you!" Moran said with a radiant face.

"By the way, Senior Lilith, could you help me spread the word among the second-year seniors?"

Lilith lifted her chin. "That will be a different price!"

"I'm planning to make Breadfruit Juice tonight. How about I bring a large pitcher to you, Senior?" Moran suggested.

Originally, she had been in urgent need of Breadfruit Juice, but now that she had mana income from selling cards, the urgency had faded.

Lilith, who had yet to master using cooking magic to juice and could only do it manually, felt a shameful flutter of excitement. However, still feeling annoyed by this little profiteer witch, she said irritably

"I know, I know! Just go! The other little witches have probably already climbed halfway up the mountain, and you're still loitering at the entrance!"

Having lost 50 Mana just by being curious and taking a peek, she was now full of resentment.

Her remaining mana wasn't even enough to upgrade this {Character Card} to the Intermediate level.

Forget breakfast; she'd just have to drink Breadfruit Juice and gnaw on Breadfruit!

At the thought of the taste of Breadfruit, Lilith's face twisted in agony.

"Goodbye, Senior!"

They had indeed stayed here too long; the first-year witches had already set out.

Moran took the lead, running toward the academy castle.

Vasida and Sylph followed closely behind.

"Moran, slow down! We left early today, so we won't be late even if we're delayed a bit! Don't worry!" Sylph shouted while running.

"I have to catch up to them and try to sell a few more {Character Cards} before class starts!" Moran shouted back. "Take your time, I'll wait for you up ahead!"

At this moment, Moran seemed to possess infinite strength, making Sylph and Vasida feel inadequate by comparison.

They resigned themselves to slowing down.

"Senior Lilith is really something! How could someone like Moran be scammed by outsiders? It'll be a miracle if she doesn't scam others!"

"Yeah! Moran has a real talent for business!"

"And she's a little money-grubber too!"

"We should all learn from her. We'll have to rely on selling Witch Magic to earn mana in the future!"

"Mhm!"

...

(End of Chapter)