Novel Full Chapter 373: Promote New Products
Chapter 373: Promote New Products
Before he even reached them, Phield caught the mixed scent of sweat and heavy perfume.
The sour, overpowering odor nearly made his vision go dark.
It was the middle of summer, and they were still on a battlefield. Wrapped in thick noble gowns under the sweltering heat, many of the women suffered from unpleasant body odors or feminine health issues. A little movement was enough for the smell to build up.
To cover it, they had no choice but to douse themselves in expensive perfume. Even though perfume cost a fortune, demand still far exceeded supply.
"Soap? Or do you mean lye soap or soap pods?"
Soap pods grew on trees and were affordable even for commoners.
Lye soap referred to traditional handmade soap, a crude and primitive product rendered from boiled animal fat. Even so, only a small portion of the nobility could afford to use it regularly.
"Good evening, Baron."
Although the women had mocked him behind his back, they politely lifted their skirts in greeting when they met him face to face.
"So what exactly is this treasure called soap?"
The question came from a petite noblewoman whose eyes immediately sparkled with excitement the moment she heard the word "treasure."
"It’s a new product from my territory, created from a rare magical plant. It possesses the power to wash away the world’s impurities and reveal true beauty beneath. I believe this miracle is a blessing bestowed by the Goddess."
"We had to fight a brutal battle against a third tier Corrupted Divine Chosen just to obtain this extraordinary magical plant."
"As for those crude old fashioned soaps you’re talking about, I’m afraid they aren’t even in the same league."
Phield wore the expression of someone reminiscing about the horrors of war.
In reality, he was making the whole story up.
Ever since Nightfall Domain learned how to make soap, it had never sold the product outside its borders. Instead, it had spent considerable effort improving it.
The first improvement was production.
After discovering limestone, Nightfall Domain replaced wood ash with limestone, dramatically increasing soap production.
Adding the abundant salt produced within Nightfall Domain to the uncured soap removed excess alkali while allowing it to harden into solid bars instead of remaining as soft, shapeless paste.
Milk, spices, or crushed flower petals transformed it into genuine scented soap.
Natural pigments such as powdered flowers, herbs, and mineral dust could also change the soap’s color.
Traditional lye soap and scented soap were completely different products.
Once their appearance, hardness, fragrance, and overall quality changed, no ordinary person would ever mistake the dull gray, mushy handmade soap for the refined product before them.
They belonged to entirely different classes.
Besides, salt, spices, and natural pigments were luxuries beyond the reach of ordinary people.
This was exactly what Phield meant when he said industry was an entire system.
The women were completely taken in.
Their curiosity grew instantly.
"Really?"
"You’re not teasing us, are you, dear Baron?"
The women gathered around him.
Phield produced an elegant sandalwood box decorated with sparkling gemstone dust.
When he opened it, a frost white bar of soap marbled with pale crimson rested quietly upon red silk.
It was only about the size of an eraser.
Its surface bore an elegant engraved logo.
A Sea of Stars.
"That’s soap."
Phield had already researched the market thoroughly.
There were almost no effective cleansing products available.
Soap would utterly dominate everything currently on the market.
"Simply rub a little onto your hands or body while washing, and your skin will become perfectly clean while retaining a delicate fragrance."
"I firmly believe it’s a gift from the Goddess of Beauty."
Phield patted his chest confidently.
"It really is different."
"It’s beautiful."
"It almost looks like a polished gemstone."
"May I try it?"
Women naturally loved beautiful things.
The moment they heard it was supposedly a blessing from the Goddess of Beauty, they all wanted to experience it.
A mature Divine Chosen with long flowing hair curiously extended her hand toward Phield as gracefully as if inviting a gentleman’s hand kiss.
You reached your hand out.
Was I supposed to wash it for you?
Every Divine Chosen here had been contracted already.
Who knew whose wife or daughter-in-law she was?
She certainly had some nerve.
I’m not that kind of man.
Shameless.
"Hmm? Isn’t washing my hand enough? I could take off my outer coat."
The mature beauty smiled mischievously as she teased him.
"That would probably be best. Otherwise your clothes will get wet."
Phield silently gave her a thumbs up.
Fine.
If she wanted him to wash it himself, then so be it.
What was the big deal?
Kayly casually slipped off her outer coat and handed it to a nearby maid before gracefully exposing her snow white shoulder and arm.
"Very well."
Using a dining knife, Phield sliced off a tiny piece of soap and carefully spread it across her arm and between every finger as meticulously as someone applying sunscreen.
Soft.
Smooth.
Fragrant.
The description referred to the soap, of course.
Warm water was poured over it.
Immediately, dense white foam blossomed across her skin.
"Oh?"
"It actually produces this much foam!"
The women had originally approached the demonstration as nothing more than amusement.
The moment they saw the rich lather, every one of them became serious.
After rinsing away the foam, Kayly’s arm appeared several shades fairer than before.
The contrast between the washed skin and the untouched portion was astonishing.
She couldn’t stop rubbing her arm in disbelief, captivated by its silky smooth texture.
"It smells wonderful."
A fresh and elegant fragrance drifted through the air.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of any unpleasant odor.
The scent wasn’t overpowering either.
It simply left people feeling refreshed and comfortable.
"Naturally."
Phield smiled mysteriously.
"If it comes from Nightfall Domain, you can expect only the finest quality."
He had even designed a proper brand name for the product.
From now on, every product manufactured by Nightfall Domain would carry its own label as he aggressively entered the luxury market.
Once industrial production caught up, he would aggressively expand into the mass market as well.
The women crowded around Kayly, carefully examining her arm while repeatedly breathing in the elegant fragrance.
The attention completely satisfied Kayly’s vanity.
She proudly displayed herself like a peacock showing off its feathers.
Completely unaware that she had already become Phield’s perfect model.
"Lord Phield, let me try it too!"
"Please help me apply some."
"Can it be used elsewhere on the body? Will it irritate the skin?"
Their enthusiasm was so overwhelming that even Phield felt slightly embarrassed.
"One at a time. Don’t rush."
Before long, he was completely overwhelmed.
The spectacle drew envious looks from the other nobles.
"Tsk. Quite improper."
The older nobles couldn’t bear to watch.
"That young man certainly has remarkable luck with women."
"I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the ladies invited him to admire the moon together tonight."
"Still, that soap looks rather impressive. It removes unpleasant odors. I should buy a few bars for my wife. I’ve had enough of living with that awful smell."
Once everyone finished trying the soap, business orders immediately began pouring in.
Kayly was thoroughly impressed by its performance and immediately placed an order for two hundred bars in the name of her territory.
Swaro ordered five hundred bars to take back to Twilight Province.
More and more orders continued arriving.
Even after Phield raised the price to one gold coin and eighty five silver coins per bar, the nobles’ eagerness to try the new product remained completely undiminished.