Chapter 251: Business Is About Meeting Needs

“Unfortunately, my strength is still too weak.”

Charlot Mecklenburg gave up on his attempt. After lingering in the mirror world reflected in the shop window for a while, he managed to recover about 30-40% of his blood energy before stepping out of the window.

Charlot checked the Withered Rose. As before, the bullets transformed by killing the Mirror Spirits in the mirror world disappeared upon leaving it. Even if he reentered the mirror world, the bullets would not reappear.

However, these bullets weren’t particularly valuable—not like the anti-magic armor-piercing rounds. Losing them wasn’t a big deal.

Charlot retraced his steps and found the carriage still parked by the street. Once inside, he didn’t immediately instruct Mrs. Nancy to return to 58 Elysée Avenue. Instead, he pondered for a moment, pulled out the baron-grade blood core, and extracted the Blood Rose from the blood vortex in his left arm. Turning to Mrs. Nancy, he said, “Go to the largest shop nearby and ask if they can enhance the quality of this vampiric rapier.”

Mrs. Nancy carefully took the Blood Rose and the baron-grade blood core, then left the carriage.

After a while, she returned with the two items in hand and said softly, “I asked at five shops, and all of them said it couldn’t be done.”

Charlot took back the Blood Rose and then retrieved the Withered Rose. “Try five more shops,” he instructed.

Mrs. Nancy followed his orders and left again. Before long, she returned and said, “Three shops said they could do it, but the prices they quoted were all high. The lowest was 1,500 écus.”

Charlot was silent for a moment before saying, “Got it.”

He retrieved the Withered Rose. This extraordinary weapon had cost him 200 gold pounds—a currency with slightly more purchasing power than écus. The baron-grade blood core’s value was harder to estimate but likely no less than 1,000 écus. Spending another 1,500 écus to forge a new weapon would bring the total cost to nearly 3,000 écus.

This price was reasonable. After all, Baron Feller had spent 3,600 écus to acquire the Dark Luxury, which wasn’t even an extraordinary weapon but merely a luxury item. If Charlot could obtain a high-grade vampiric weapon for just 3,000 écus, it would be a good deal.

But Charlot couldn’t calculate the value this way. The Withered Rose had been sold to him at a friendship price by Julian Arsilo, far below its true worth. The baron-grade blood core was priceless and extremely rare. If sold under the right conditions, it could fetch two or three times its base value of 1,000 écus.

Charlot concluded that selling the baron-grade blood core outright and using the proceeds to buy a vampiric weapon might save him the Withered Rose and the processing costs.

He couldn’t help but lament how profitable alchemists were. A single transaction like this could earn them one or two thousand écus, while Charlot’s salary alone might never allow him to save up that much in his lifetime.

Just as Charlot was about to instruct Mrs. Nancy to drive back to 58 Elysée Avenue, he heard a voice outside the carriage.

“Sir, I am Sean Connor from the Blue Magpie Workshop in the Stellar District. I heard you have a baron-grade blood core in your possession. Might you be willing to sell it?”

The Stellar Workshop owned all the workshops and shops in this district.

Charlot realized that sending Mrs. Nancy to inquire at shops in the Stellar District about enhancing vampiric weapons must have attracted the attention of interested parties. He responded in a low voice, “What’s your offer?”

Sean Connor’s voice came through the carriage door. “1,500 écus.”

Without hesitation, Charlot replied, “That’s a fair price, but I’m not in need of money. I’ll only part with it for something of higher value.”

Sean Connor’s voice quickly followed. “Might I invite you to discuss this further at my workshop?”

Charlot responded, “Let’s find a café instead.”

“The Stellar District is known for its alchemical products, but its cafés leave much to be desired.”

Charlot pushed open the carriage door. Sean Connor was a middle-aged man with a firm and clean appearance, though his face bore faint traces of weariness. Calmly, he boarded the carriage and sat opposite Charlot, scrutinizing the young stranger.

Charlot gave a brief instruction, and Mrs. Nancy drove the carriage out of the district. After turning onto another street, they soon arrived at an area with numerous cafés. Charlot randomly picked one, disembarked with Sean Connor, and entered. He ordered the house specialty coffee, while Sean Connor chose a classic bitter coffee resembling an American-style brew.

Sean Connor was the first to speak. “You visited several shops asking to enhance the quality of two vampiric weapons but didn’t place an order. I take it you aren’t entirely satisfied with either weapon.”

Charlot smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.

The Withered Rose did lack some power, but it was still quite functional.

The Blood Rose, on the other hand, was his primary weapon, without equal.

Charlot found the vampiric rapier perfectly suited to his Arsilo Swordsmanship. It even fit into the blood vortex, making it an unparalleled choice.

Seeing Charlot’s lack of objection, Sean Connor assumed he had guessed correctly and continued, “I’m unsure whether you seek to enhance these weapons for yourself or for a friend.”

“But as you know, outside Byron, vampiric weapons are relatively inexpensive among extraordinary weapons.”

“Even within Byron, due to differences among clans, the adaptability of vampiric weapons is rather limited.”

“However, a baron-grade blood core, due to its broader applicability, can either be used to forge a brand-new, customized vampiric weapon or to upgrade an existing one. While its value might be moderate in human empires, it can fetch astronomical prices in Byron.”

Charlot interjected at the right moment. “When flour costs more than bread.”

Sean Connor chuckled, clearly finding the analogy apt. “Exactly.”

“Business is about meeting needs.”

“You have two less-than-ideal vampiric weapons and a baron-grade blood core.”

“I, on the other hand, have two high-grade vampiric weapons but lack willing buyers.”

“I wonder if the two high-grade vampiric weapons in my possession might interest you. If so, we can continue this discussion.”

Sean Connor produced two short-barreled pistols. It was clear they had been crafted by the same alchemist; aside from minor differences in color and a few components, their main structures and dimensions were nearly identical. These pistols were elegantly designed yet practical, their contours reminiscent of the “Rattlesnake” series from Sig Sauer. Even Charlot, a military novice, could appreciate their beauty.

After a moment’s contemplation, Charlot glanced at the workshop owner. Though Sean Connor spoke with confidence, his fatigue was evident in his expression. Charlot said lightly, “I’d wager that creating these two vampiric weapons drained your entire fortune… am I correct?”

Sean Connor’s bitter smile deepened.

It was the taste of life itself.

The dominant flavor was always bitter, with only an occasional hint of sweetness.

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