As Adam incredulously stared at the bag containing a thousand platinum coins, Viktor waved his hand nonchalantly. "Don't worry about it. Besides, I know brewing wine is a long and tedious process. So I hope this can motivate you, even if it's only a little bit."
He paused for a moment and then continued, "Tomorrow, I'll send one of my men over to your place. Hand him the list of ingredients you'll need. You still have that crystal card I gave you, yes? You may use it to buy the ingredients. It'll save you a lot of money."
Adam was still in a state of shock as he gazed at the shining platinum pieces within the pouch. A thousand platinum coins were equivalent to ten thousand gold coins.
He involuntarily gulped seeing such a large amount of money. This was easily the greatest transaction he'd ever made. Plus, he'd never expected Viktor to just give him so much money upfront in the first place.
The youth looked at Viktor and muttered sheepishly, "Uncle, you could have just given me the money after I'd delivered the goods…"
Viktor smiled. "Don't worry, kiddo. I trust you. Besides, when the transaction volume is so big, it's only right that I give you a form of advance payment."
Adam nodded as he put away the money bag. "Rest assured, Uncle. I'll try my hardest and brew as many barrels as I possibly can."
"Good!" Viktor nodded in gratification. He then looked at the barrel that the youth had just taken out and confidently said, "I'll sell wine from this barrel in intervals. Eventually, the scarcity of the product will cause the price to shoot through the roof."
He then glanced at the youth and smirked. "By the time your first batch of wine is ready in a year, I'm sure the selling price will have already exceeded 20 gold pieces a gourd."
Thinking of all the money he would make in the future, Adam rubbed his hands and started to laugh like he'd been possessed by an evil spirit. "Uehehehe~"
Viktor's eyebrow twitched seeing Adam's smile. What in the world?
"Ahem!" Adam reverted to his usual self and then innocently smiled at Viktor. "Thank you for this opportunity, Uncle Viktor."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"It's your skills in wine-making that have allowed you to grasp this opportunity. Honestly, I still can't believe that you could come up with something so... divine. I must commend you for that." Viktor sincerely praised.
"Hehe." Adam bashfully laughed. But inwardly he scoffed, As if I could come up with something so good! It's all thanks to the memories of the Herbalist expert.
The two of them got up from their seats after finalizing their deal. Viktor personally walked the youth out of the manor.
On the way, he spoke with great expectation, "I'm looking forward to our partnership."
"Hehe, me too, me too!" Adam was also very happy about it. With so much at stake, he could make tens of barrels by the end of the year. Money was truly one of the greatest motivators.
Suddenly, he thought of something and hesitated whether to ask Viktor about it. He'd been thinking about this for a while now and felt this was the right time to ask.
Viktor astutely noticed this and asked, "Go ahead, what do you wish to know?"
Still, Adam was very hesitant about this. In the end, he finally gathered the courage and asked, "Uncle Viktor… it's about Edward's mother. Is it okay if I ask what has happened to her?"
Hearing the youth, Viktor sighed. After a brief pause, he replied, "I do not know."
"Huh?" Adam was perplexed.
Viktor shook his head with a bitter smile. "I still don't know what has caused Elia to fall sick. Even after so many years have passed."
Adam frowned. "But doesn't old man make potions for her? How could he not know?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"That's the problem," Viktor replied, "even someone as skilled as him wasn't able to diagnose her illness."
The youth stopped in his steps, an incredulous look engulfing his face. "Even old man couldn't diagnose it?!"
Viktor nodded. "The root cause of her illness has still not been neutralized. That is why, for over a decade now, all Old Berger could do was brew potions to extend Elia's life."
Adam was stunned that even Berger was unable to help. He'd been with the old gnome for all this while and knew that he was a Rank 3 Magus. Moreover, he also thought that the gnome's attainments in Herbalism were not bad.
The reason he gave such a low evaluation was because he was comparing Berger to the powerhouse whose memories he had first absorbed!
But even then he couldn't diagnose it? Adam wondered with a pensive look. Could it be because of his lack of knowledge?
He felt that this was most likely the case. After all, Berger's knowledge couldn't compare to the one that he had absorbed. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
Suddenly, he looked at Viktor and solemnly asked, "Uncle Viktor, can you let me take a look at Edward's mother?"
Viktor was taken aback. "You… want to diagnose her?"
Adam nodded with a serious expression.
Viktor couldn't help but wonder if the youth had gone mad or if he was overestimating his own abilities. Something that even a Rank 3 Herbalist couldn't do, how could a mere Bone Stage Magus do it?
He shook his head. "I understand you mean well, but I cannot allow it. Elia is in a very precarious situation right now."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"But uncle, please!" Adam insisted. "I am very confident in my abilities. I'm sure I can help—"
"Adam!" Viktor sternly reproached him. "I will not allow it!"
The youth retreated a step after being suddenly scolded. Then, he lowered his head. "Forgive me, I overstepped."
"Hmm." Viktor simply nodded. Then he instructed one of his servants to fetch the youth a carriage. He saw Adam get into the carriage and then leave the compound.
As he stood at the main door of his manor, he looked up at the twin moons in the night sky and shook his head dejectedly. He thought to himself, A hairless brat trying to accomplish what even an old and experienced Herbalist couldn't. The young sure are daring.
But suddenly, another thought popped into his head. His palms balled into fits as he wondered, But… he is Old Berger's apprentice after all.
Viktor had an abundance of wealth, but none of it could help him save his wife. He had even hired famous Herbalists from the Empire but even they failed.
At this point, Viktor was truly desperate.
He finally made up his mind. It doesn't hurt to give him a shot. Worst-case scenario, Adam would fail in his diagnosis.
Viktor turned around and headed back inside. Tomorrow, he would speak to Berger about this. He had already suffered setbacks so many times.
But so what?
What's one more setback compared to the regret of not having tried at all?
