With the support of sufficient manpower and material resources, the alchemy factory at the edge of the town was finally completed. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gwen, for the first time, allowed Rebecca to throw a few large fireballs into the sky from a safe distance to liven things up. The magic flames that exploded in the sky were not only a celebration, but also a message to the people. Soon, the people in this land would know that their survival was further guaranteed. They did not lack food, clothes, firewood for heating, and now, they would not lack medicine.
Most people did not understand the principle of the new "alchemy factory", nor did they understand the connection between the metal pipes and jars that were transported into the factory and the magic art of alchemy. But the announcement posted in the central square of the town clearly told them that with this new facility, all the medicine and Druil potions needed for farming would no longer be in short supply. The new alchemy shop on Trade Street would sell all kinds of medicine at a low price, so low that even the poorest people could afford it. This was undoubtedly particularly exciting news for everyone.
In the workshop of the alchemy factory, Gwen was inspecting the first batch of rejuvenation potions produced.
These potions were packed in finger-sized artificial crystal bottles, neatly stacked in wooden square boxes with many lattices. The bottles were also filled with loose wood chips to prevent collision and damage during transportation. According to Gwen's request, these potions were neatly packaged and labeled. Each crystal bottle had a small piece of paper with the name, effect, production date, and expiration date of the potion. It was also printed with the emblem of Cecil.
This standardized label was particularly novel to many people, especially the label of "expiration date" because traditional alchemy potions actually did not consider the issue of "expiration date". Alchemy potions were hand-made by extraordinary professionals, and the production was very limited, always in a state of insufficient supply. Their users were usually nobles of all sizes or extraordinary people who needed to go to the battlefield. The former naturally had their own trusted aides or magic advisers in charge of the potions in the treasury, and they did not have to worry about the expiration date. The latter, on the other hand, often did not keep the potions in their hands until the expiration date. Therefore, those traditional alchemists would at most put a name on the bottle after making the potion, and as for the expiration date … it was up to the "user" to care about.
But of course, the products produced in the factory were not like this. Gwen had to instill a standardized ideology in the people of his territory from the beginning.
Now that everything was in the initial stage, the content on the label was, of course, very simple. But even so, the neat labels and pleasing packaging of the mass-produced potions still left a deep impression on the people present. Rebecca's eyes widened as she looked at the potions neatly stacked on the table. She could not help but scratch her head. "It's so strange … Looking at these bottles neatly placed together, there's an inexplicable joy …"
"You're satisfied with your obsessive-compulsive disorder," Amber, who was standing by the side, explained with a look of understanding. She then pointed at Gwen and said, "I didn't say you're crazy. These are your ancestors' words."
"This is the first time I've seen precious alchemy potions stacked together in such a way …" Heti said with some emotion. "I suddenly feel that they're worthless."
"In fact, compared with ordinary alchemy potions, they are indeed 'worthless', madam," Pitman said proudly, standing by the table. "The biggest cost of alchemy potions is the spellcaster, but now the reaction tank and its supporting magic device have replaced the spellcaster's position. And the amount of potion produced by this big guy is not comparable to a few flasks or test tubes on a small alchemy table. In fact, the most valuable part of these potions is not the liquid inside, but something you may not have thought of."
"The most valuable part?" Rebecca blinked. "If the potion itself is worthless, what's valuable?"
"The bottle." Pitman spread out his hands. "The cost of these crystal bottles is even higher than the liquid inside. If a bottle of potion is sold for 30 copper coins, at least 15 copper coins are actually spent on the bottle."
Amber was startled. "The bottle is so expensive?!"
"The bottle is not expensive, it's just that the production cost of the potion is too low." Rebecca had already reacted. She looked at Gwen thoughtfully. "Ancestor, I remember you mentioned before that there's a kind of artificial crystal called 'glass' that will be cheaper than all the artificial crystals now …"
Gwen coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, glass … Don't think about it for the time being. I haven't found an alternative production material."
It was said that the three treasures of the transmigrators were paper, glass, and gunpowder. But Gwen did not have any of these three things. This world already had the technology of making paper. Although there was some room for improvement, it was already a mature technology. It was not his turn to "invent" it again. Gunpowder was a failed project in the early days of the territory's construction. As for glass …
There was a special technology of "artificial crystal" in this world. According to Gwen's judgment, the most common artificial crystal, "white crystal", was actually the "glass" that could be realized in this world. The main materials of this artificial crystal were quartz sand and colorless crystal rock, and these two things … were magic materials.
Quartz sand was one of the cheapest magic materials, but colorless crystal rock … Although it could not be said to be expensive, it was definitely more expensive than sand. Before a substitute could be found, crystal rock was the highest cost in the process of making artificial crystal.
"In fact, it's not bad. The smaller the volume of the artificial crystal, the easier it is to make. And the bottles of the potion are the cheapest crystal bottles, which is already very cheap," Pitman explained. "Our alchemy potion already has an unimaginable cost advantage. The bottles are a little more expensive … It doesn't matter much."
Heti nodded. "It makes sense. But I'm a little worried. The alchemy potion made with these metal jars and magic arrays … Can the effect really be as good as the potions made by Druil, alchemists, and mages? "
"You don't have to worry about this at all." Pitman suddenly laughed proudly. "In fact, in my opinion, the potions made in the alchemy factory are more reliable than those made on the alchemy bench. These reaction jars and magic arrays are precisely modulated. As long as there is no problem with the initial setup, the raw materials, and the reaction jars themselves are not faulty, no matter whether they produce one bottle or ten thousand bottles of potion, each bottle of potion can be guaranteed to be perfect. But traditional alchemists have different skills. Even the most brilliant alchemists sometimes make mistakes. Many of the so-called side effects of the alchemy potion actually come from this. I don't rule out the possibility that an excellent alchemist can make a potion that is better than the potion made in the factory under suitable conditions, but you can imagine, when they make a good potion, how many defective products will flow out from their colleagues' workshops? And during this process, how much quality potions can our factory produce? "
Pitman's face was flushed, and even his beard was standing up. Amber saw this and could not help but mutter, "That old fart … He's talking more and more like an old dumpling recently …"
Suddenly, everyone present who was not deaf looked at her, and a few voices said in unison, "What did you say?"
Amber's pointed ears suddenly tightened, and she jumped two to three meters away. "Are you elves or am I an elf?! Why are your ears so sharp?! "
Gwen glared at the half-elf who was full of nonsense, and then looked at Heti. "These potions will first satisfy the internal supply of the territory. In addition, the army will also need to distribute the potions to every soldier, and make sure that every soldier has three portions of Rejuvenation Potion and three portions of Dispelling Potion in reserve under any circumstances. You calculate, after meeting these requirements, keep an additional 50% of the potions in reserve, and pack the rest. These will be Cecil's first signature product."
Heti sighed from the bottom of her heart. "Just based on this, Cecil's army is probably the most extravagant army in the world."
Gawain smiled. "From the moment we handed out the enchanted equipment to everyone, they were already enchanted."
At this moment, the door of the workshop was suddenly opened, and an apprentice walked in quickly. He came to Gwen and the others and bowed respectfully. "My lords, the carriage from Kant's territory has crossed the bridge."
"It seems that Mr. Patrick has arrived." Gwen turned around and patted the box containing the potions. "Pack this batch of samples and send it to the Liege's Residence. I want to talk to the gentleman who was praised by Knight Philip personally."
While Cecil Territory's alchemy potion trade was being opened on this historic day, in the Tifeng Empire's territory, a special meeting was being held in a secret temple that no one knew of.
The secret sanctum was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere. A circle of chairs was placed in the center of the circular main hall. The surface of the chairs was engraved with the pattern of closed eyes, representing dreams. Part of the chairs was wriggling slightly in the dark, and a large number of nerve cables extended from the holes in the ground and walls, connecting with the biological parts of the chairs.
A dozen people in white or black robes stood around the chairs. Their faces were covered with smooth, strange masks, which made it impossible to determine the identity of each person from their face, and no one could see any changes in their expressions.
One of the white-robed people stood up and looked around. A low, androgynous voice came from under the mask. "Very well, everyone is here. Twenty-two, you will preside over this ceremony."
The white-robed people and the black-robed people each took their place in front of their own chairs. One of the black-robed people raised his hand. "Then, let's begin the seventeenth 'deep dive test'. Try to crack the memory fragments of Gwen Cecil. Nightmare Bishops, send a signal to your 'lower node group'. One minute later, the connection will begin.
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