Xin Hai'an looked at him in disbelief.
“Don't mess around, Xiaobai. You've never had any contact with the pharmaceutical industry before.”
“Just memorizing all the ingredients and their reactions would take at least half a year of study.”
Bai Xiaodu shook his head.
See, this was the pitfall of conventional thinking.
Who said that to help Xin Hai'an turn a profit, they had to produce better, superior, and cheaper medicine?
All they needed to do was ruthlessly slash costs. At this price point, while competitors would tell you to go drink piss, we can offer you piss mixed with lemonade.
Then everything would work out fine!
He briefly explained his idea. Xin Hai'an pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
“That won't work. Before going into official production, I designed the plan myself. I handed it over to the clan's people for discussion, and we replaced every ingredient we possibly could. We've already compressed the costs to the absolute limit.”
Bai Xiaodu grinned.
“I indeed know nothing about making potions, but I do know that labor, marketing, land, and environmental compliance make up a massive portion of the expenses. If I have a way to save all of that money, what would you think?”
Xin Hai'an's eyes lit up. She knew all too well what that would mean!
She immediately grabbed Bai Xiaodu, asking eagerly, “Quick, tell me!”
Bai Xiaodu brought her along, and the two quickly left the laboratory, arriving in front of the Secret Realm of the Silver Hero.
“There,” Bai Xiaodu pointed at the entrance gate and spoke. “Since building the factory in the High City will lead to endless red tape and bickering, let's change the location and choose this place instead. We'll pay the standard sales tax, but I'd like to see them try to collect environmental taxes inside a Secret Realm!”
“As for whether it's suitable, I can tell you with absolute confidence that I have completely explored this Secret Realm, and there's absolutely no problem. I can even alter the terrain to provide whatever water or power you need.”
Hearing his words, Xin Hai'an clenched her fists in excitement.
The reason they didn't just ship potions from the Blue Star headquarters to sell here, choosing instead to set up a local factory for processing, was because the shipping costs were too expensive and simply not cost-effective.
Product pricing was determined by the local economic conditions.
If things went as Bai Xiaodu suggested, the cost of producing potions in the Tiannan Star System would be completely comparable to the Blue Star headquarters—or perhaps even lower!
Selling at Blue Star costs in Tiannan Star, any competitors who dared to engage in a price war with them would absolutely lose their shirts!
It truly resolved a massive headache.
But soon, Xin Hai'an calmed down again.
“What about the workers? How do we solve the labor issue? Most people here do work related to the Secret Realm industry. It'll be hard to recruit if the wages are too low. And if I remember correctly, there's a limit on the number of people who can enter and exit a Secret Realm. We can't possibly run a factory with just two or three workers, right?”
“Why not?”
Bai Xiaodu grinned and led her into the Secret Realm.
As the vast landscape of the Demon Forest came into view, Xin Hai'an couldn't help but nod slightly.
Water source, flat ground, transportation lines—all the necessary elements were there.
This place was definitely much better than her setup in the High City!
Down below, a large pack of colorful slimes came bouncing toward them.
Xin Hai'an's expression shifted. She was about to draw her weapon when Bai Xiaodu stopped her.
With a gentle wave of his hand, he tossed Blueberry, who was still resting on his shoulder, down to the ground.
Blueberry was not only the Demon King but also the Slime King, capable of commanding and dominating her subordinates at will. This naturally included the option of imparting knowledge.
Even though the slimes were rather dim-witted, they were more than capable of handling simple tasks like carrying and packaging.
The latter condensed into a human form mid-air and hopped down with vibrant energy.
“Minions, get ready to work! Next, I'll take you to hunt and devour some weaklings to split into even more slimes!”
Just as she drew her blade to start the hunt, Bai Xiaodu reached out to stop her.
“Just stick to your regular diet. While you're at it, bring the man-eating plant clan over to me. Those fellows have plenty of vines. A single plant can do the work of six people, and we can just pay them in potions.”
In any case, his goal in helping Xin Hai'an build the factory was to get her to help him in return by setting up a production line specifically designed to supply the monsters and enhance the Secret Realm's overall strength. This way, the wages paid to the monsters would essentially be paid back to himself.
Furthermore, because they possessed intelligence, drinking the potions and gaining the chance to grow stronger would make them work with deep gratitude.
It was a perfect virtuous cycle.
“Don't kill any of the slightly smarter monsters either. They still have surplus value to be squeezed.”
Once he finished speaking, Blueberry gave Bai Xiaodu a big thumbs-up.
“As expected of Master. You treat humans like beasts of burden, and beasts like tools.”
Bai Xiaodu's expression remained flat.
“You still have a lot to learn.”
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Having been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Bai Xiaodu, the tax inspector was naturally beside herself with rage.
A mere commoner who had only managed to complete his ascension ceremony through sheer luck—how did he dare turn around and threaten her!
At the thought of this, the inspector furiously added oil to the fire, writing several hundred more words in her report.
She obviously didn't dare mention that Bai Xiaodu had threatened her with a recording.
She simply emphasized his terrible attitude and outright refusal to cooperate with the investigation.
Making a little extra on the side was an unspoken rule in the Federal Bureau of Taxation, and the higher-ups turned a blind eye to it. After all, everyone had to make a living.
They would squeeze less from students with powerful backgrounds and take more from those without.
This was the rule! How could Bai Xiaodu not follow the rules?
That wasn't how the game was played!
Gathering all her documents, she stood up and gently knocked on the office door.
“Come in. If it's a verbal report, wait a moment. If it's a written one, leave it on my desk.”
Inside the office, the inspector saw her beautiful Elven superior holding a cup of steaming water with green leaves floating in it.
She was standing respectfully to the side, chatting with an obsequious smile to a person sitting in her seat.
That woman had an indifferent expression, with exceptionally striking features, long silver hair, cyan-blue eyes, and a tall figure, dressed in a sharp, well-fitted suit.
A new boss?
The inspector felt a surge of joy.
It seemed someone was going to stand up for her!
Rate on N.U.
