Chapter 160: Cooperation

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Cooperation

Seraphina Sinclair felt a bit resigned. She hadn’t wanted any further contact with this person, but if a partnership was truly possible, she wouldn’t turn her back on the potential benefits.

[Blacktiger Ford]: Send me the names of the potions you can make, their effects, and how long it takes you to craft them.

The other party seemed a little indignant.

[Pretty Guardian]: Why should I send it first?

Seraphina Sinclair had no interest in explaining things to her.

If the other woman sent the information over and Seraphina deemed it suitable, they would cooperate.

If she didn’t send it, then so be it. After all, to Seraphina Sinclair, this partnership was merely a nice bonus, but for Pretty Guardian, it was a lifeline.

After all, the immense destructive power of the runes in Seraphina Sinclair’s hands was something they had all witnessed.

Pretty Guardian was no fool. When the other party didn’t reply, she realized she had misspoken and quickly tried to salvage the situation:

[Pretty Guardian]: My apologies, I was out of line. I can currently craft six types of potions with consistent results: E-level and F-level Healing Potions, Energy Potions, and Enhancement Potions that temporarily boost either Strength or Speed. My success rate for crafting E-level potions is about seventy percent, and I can only make one per day. Those Healing Potions I gave you took me a long time to save up. The success rate for F-level is higher, around ninety percent, and I can make one bottle every fifteen minutes.

From this "confession," Seraphina Sinclair could deduce that the other woman’s skill was only at a basic level, and moreover...

’Is it because our skills are different?’

’Fifteen minutes to craft a single potion? Isn’t that a bit too slow?’

’A crafting speed like that isn’t good enough for a partnership with me.’

Though that’s what Seraphina thought, she didn’t reject Pretty Guardian outright. To be cautious, she asked the other woman to send over the descriptions for all her finished products.

There wasn’t much to say about the Healing Potion; Seraphina Sinclair had already seen it in her starter pack.

This Energy Potion, however, was rather interesting.

[Energy Potion (F-level)]

[Description: Upon consumption, slightly alleviates mental fatigue and restores a small amount of Spirit, allowing you to hold on a little longer when exhausted. The effect is mild and diminishes with consecutive use. Pulling an all-nighter to meet a deadline? Cramming at the last minute? It tastes a bit like watered-down bitter coffee, but at least it will keep you from falling asleep immediately.]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’Got it. It’s just coffee.’

’Wasn’t being a corporate drone enough in my old life? I have to come here and crack the whip on myself too?’

Despite her complaints, Seraphina Sinclair had actually already decided to trade for ten bottles from Pretty Guardian.

That was the F-level Potion. As for the E-level one...

"Stronger and more bitter than the F-level version—like a triple-concentrated cold brew. The stimulating effect is significant, but you might feel your heart beat a little faster after drinking it."

’They’re not even trying to hide it anymore.’

For Seraphina Sinclair, the F-level version was good enough.

Next up were the Enhancement Potions that Pretty Guardian had mentioned.

Although she called them Enhancement Potions, they were actually two different kinds of potions. The one that increased Strength was called Bull’s Strength Potion, while the one that increased Speed was the Cheetah Soul Potion.

’I don’t know how effective they are, but the names are certainly flashy.’

Seraphina Sinclair opened the description:

[Bull’s Strength Potion (E-level)]

[Description: Upon consumption, provides a minor boost to muscle power and explosive strength for 5 minutes, making you feel like you could punch through a wall (it’s an illusion, but you are definitely stronger, granting +2 Strength!). After the effect ends, depending on your Constitution, you will experience 10-15 minutes of mild muscle soreness and fatigue. Tastes like chewing raw rust mixed with expired protein powder, but for that critical burst of power, just plug your nose and chug! Don’t get greedy, unless you want to experience what it feels like to turn into a useless puddle afterward.]

[Cheetah Soul Potion (E-level)]

[Description: Upon consumption, provides a minor boost to neural reaction speed and physical agility for 5 minutes. Movement and attacks will feel lighter and swifter, granting +2 Speed! After the effect ends, you may experience a brief lapse in concentration and slightly dulled reactions. It has the mouthfeel of mint-laced metal shavings; it goes down with a cooling sensation in the throat that jolts you awake. Suitable for dodging fatal attacks or launching a surprise assault, but don’t expect it to turn you into The Flash.]

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’These potions all have some serious side effects.’

’To put it bluntly, how can this stuff even be mentioned in the same breath as my runes?’

[Blacktiger Ford]: Your potions have significant side effects and short durations. My runes, on the other hand, have stable, instantaneous effects with no lingering drawbacks.

She didn’t mince words, pointing out the disparity directly.

[Blacktiger Ford]: How many of my Heavenly Light Runes do you think one Bull’s Strength Potion is worth? Or how many Fire Drawing Runes? ℴ

The Pretty Guardian on the other end seemed to be left speechless by the blunt question. The "typing..." indicator flickered for a long while before a reply finally came through.

[Pretty Guardian]: What you’re saying is true, but my potions have their merits, right? Your runes can’t give you attribute points, even temporarily.

Before Seraphina Sinclair could reply, she sent another message.

[Pretty Guardian]: Besides, aren’t critical moments what truly decide a battle? A seasoned warrior like you must know the perfect time to drink a potion, right? This stuff has to be useful to you. Even if we don’t have a long-term partnership, we can at least trade a few items. We can’t let the profiteers in this godforsaken place get the better of us, can we?

She couldn’t deny it.

In fact, that was exactly what Seraphina Sinclair was thinking.

But hearing someone else voice her thoughts felt a bit strange. ’As expected of the person who invested an Unknown Seed in me,’ she thought. ’She’s got guts, and she’s smart.’

Although these arguments didn’t change the fact that the potions themselves weren’t very cost-effective, her fighting spirit and her perspective on the matter made Seraphina Sinclair regard her a little more highly.

[Blacktiger Ford]: You’ve convinced me. But only on one point.

[Blacktiger Ford]: This won’t be a long-term partnership. However, for now, I can trade some of my spare runes—ones that might be useful to you at your current stage—for some of your F-level Energy Potions and a small number of E-level Enhancement Potions. The specific types and quantities will depend on what I have and what you need.

[Blacktiger Ford]: If you can upgrade your skill in the future and create potions with better effects and fewer side effects, then perhaps we can talk again.

Pretty Guardian’s eyes lit up. Although the other woman had rejected her request for a long-term partnership, she had clearly left the door open for future cooperation!

And... skills could actually be upgraded!

For her, this news was like a shot in the arm.

Although Pretty Guardian wouldn’t admit defeat, she had secretly wondered: ’Why are runes so destructive and effective? Why is my skill just making support-type potions?’

Now it seemed it wasn’t that her skill was weak, but that her skill Level simply wasn’t high enough!

’The main character always gets their power-up later in the story!’

Pretty Guardian was quite optimistic. As she thought about this, her hands never stopped moving.