The Genius Evolution Store

Ellia scoffed. ”Figured.”

”...” Auric was quite startled. His father gave him a million to cover his expenses. He worked hard to make sure that Lindwurm remained well-fed.

Although he could see his wealth rising, it wasn’t as big as anyone expected. Of course, it was still bigger than what most people earned, but it was quite surprising to hear such a big number all of a sudden.

Auric immediately checked his phone, trying to see the sales. In total, there were about eight thousand copies that had been sold.

”There should be more. I just haven’t finished processing them.”

With the average price of sixteen thousand, he should indeed get about 128 million.

Even if he didn’t include the rest, it was still a number that he didn’t expect.

”This...” Auric scratched the back of his head. ”I know it will be profitable, but not to this extent.”

”This is just the beginning. If you expand, such as by selling rank 2 gathering techniques or higher, you will get more. In addition, if the people across the country buy it, if the government tries to license it, or if other countries also try to get a piece of this, the number will rise even higher.

”It may very well become one of the most profitable businesses in the world. But you need to stick your neck out right away.”

”...” Auric nodded in understanding. ”And I’m not prepared for that.”

Of course, this number didn’t take into account his Moon Store. The Moon Store had just been established, so like the Sun Store, it would take time before people noticed it.

”Well, just don’t forget to pay your taxes. It would have been great if you were a legitimate business, meaning I could use all kinds of things as expenses so that you don’t have to pay taxes. Or you could just do one thing or another to avoid taxes entirely.”

Auric felt that Ellia could do both easily. ”Well, I don’t mind paying taxes.”

”You will probably receive the highest tax bracket.” Ellia chuckled. ”How much have you earned as an evolution master?”

”About 12 million?” Auric looked up, recalling the number. He had to feed Lindwurm, and the expense for Lindwurm had increased quite a bit as he added more facilities into the store. So, a third of that number went into Lindwurm’s stomach.

But if he got this much money from the Sun Store, he thought he might be able to continue with his plan.

If he upgraded his store, he might have to feed Lindwurm half a million per day or even more. However, he could benefit a lot from the store. In addition, Lindwurm would be able to handle the energy from rank 2 humans.

Ellia pointed at Auric. ”That number must be slowing down now, right?”

”Well...” Auric couldn’t deny it.

”When you first started, a lot of people were coming to you to evolve. There are a few reasons, such as your looks. However, this city has a limited number of people who want to evolve. Once you get past the early rush, the number will slow down significantly until it reaches a stable level.”

”I know that. And when you become a gold-grade evolution master, the number of patients decreases even more. Most of your patients will be those who want to evolve to a juvenile-form avatar, not to an adult-form avatar or even to a mature-form avatar.” Auric nodded.

”Exactly. That’s why you will eventually hit a ceiling. However, it will be different for your store. If you focus on developing the Sun Store, you can reach even more people. The potential to earn money is practically limitless.” She smirked. ”If you develop it right, it can be one of the biggest companies in the world.”

”What? You sound like you have some kind of intention when you say it that way.” Auric smiled.

Ellia just smiled, not saying anything. She neither denied nor confirmed it.

”...” Auric let out a sigh. ”In any case, how do we deal with this money?”

”I can handle it for you. However, I will have to ensure the taxes are paid, so the number won’t be that high.”

”I understand that.” Auric nodded. ”Well, I just released the rank 2 gathering technique yesterday, so...”

”I know.” Ellia waved her hand. ”I’ve followed your store, so I get notifications about it. However, the increase in price is not as high as I had imagined.”

”Is it?” Auric raised his eyebrows. ”To help people evolve their avatar to the juvenile form, the average fee is around ten thousand to forty thousand, depending on their element rating, excess energy, and difficulty.”

Ellia agreed, ”Indeed. To help people evolve their avatar to the adult form, the average fee is about five times that number, so that means fifty thousand to two hundred thousand credits.”

”Yes. That’s why I plan to give an average price of eighty thousand for the rank 2 gathering techniques. Is it too low?” Auric asked.

”My heart is saying it’s too low. You can sell it for double that price, and people will probably not think much of it. However, you’re the boss, so you make that decision. Still, you mentioned that this is more beneficial to give you initial energy, correct?”

”Yes.” Auric nodded. ”That’s why people who are at a higher level will find this more beneficial.”

”Exactly. You have to hunt beasts to increase your energy, which makes it dangerous for you. If there’s a safe way to do it, people are willing to pay more. That will be more apparent once it reaches rank 3 or rank 4 gathering techniques.”

Auric couldn’t deny it. He had predicted it to this point, but he never really thought much about the price. ”Well, I think I will let it stay like this for the time being.”

”That’s up to you. You’re the owner of the store, so you set the price. However...” Ellia took out her tablet and showed a few stores. ”There are already people trying to imitate your techniques. They’re selling them at even lower prices.”

Auric furrowed his brow. He had expected it to reach this point, but they certainly moved quite fast.

”Do you want to sue them?”

”Is it even possible?”

”A few, yes. It’s impossible to destroy all of them. One down, another ten will appear.” She shrugged.

”Well, I guess that’s a no then. For now, I don’t think taking any action will be a good idea, right?”

”Indeed. It will put you in the spotlight, and there’s a chance your name will be there.”

”That’s what I’m thinking. Unless they’re attacking me personally, I guess I won’t do anything. Besides, I’m the only one who can produce higher-rank gathering techniques, so they end up having to rely on me.”

”I see what you’re trying to do. If you make a big mess once it reaches a certain point, you’re going to drive these people mad. They might start tearing down those stores. They can’t justify their actions anymore because you will have stopped them from having access to higher-rank techniques.”

”That’s kind of the idea. I don’t know if someone will be dumb enough to try to sue me or cancel me by using their imitation.”

”Oh, there are definitely people like that. In fact, I receive that kind of report daily.” Ellia chuckled.

”Is that so?” Auric chuckled.

”Anyway, you want me to set up a few more paper companies. Do you have another store?”

Auric thought for a moment. Since she was currently the one managing his money, while Maya was handling his Moon Store, it might be fine to let her know about it.

”Well, yes. The artificial heart methods.”

”I see. Are you going to link it to the Sun Store?”

”No, it’s in another country. I don’t plan to advertise it like the Sun Store. It will take time for it to gather its own customers, but once it does, I’m sure it will have the same reaction as the Sun Store.”

”Fair enough.” She could see that happening.

Auric looked at the numbers and asked, ”How are you doing all this?”

”Do you want to learn it? It will be quite hard to learn, you know? You can rely on me for everything.”

Auric smiled wryly. ”I have to learn everything. If I don’t even understand the process, I’ll be a failure.”

Ellia chuckled. ”You’re just worried that you may rely on me too much and it will be impossible for you to break away from me, aren’t you?”

”Your imagination is quite wild.” Auric closed his eyes.

Ellia whispered with a sly smile. ”Why don’t I give you another option? You just have to marry me. That way, I can take care of all your problems.”

”Oohhh!” Lindwurm, who had been silent all this time, couldn’t help but react. ”That’s a good idea. Look at her, Auric. She is pretty, good at cooking, family-oriented, rich, well-connected, talented, and doesn’t even mind staying in this kind of place. No, wait... this is troublesome.

”I can’t choose now. Your teacher is also good. The only downside is that she is your teacher.” Lindwurm clutched his head in frustration. ”I can’t make a decision.”

Auric felt like snapping at Lindwurm, but he chose to ignore it.

In his mind, Ellia was a kind of mentor to him. He learned a lot from her. The same could be said of Maya.

However, Auric wasn’t an insensitive person. He could feel Milinda’s feelings. Ellia was much more subtle, but from time to time, she would drop a bomb that made him speechless like this.

So, he gave a wry smile. ”A relationship at this stage will slow down the speed at which I draw my blade.”

”You don’t even use a blade, I do.” Ellia shook her head helplessly. ”In any case, the amount of money you will be dealing with will be higher from now on. On the other hand, your Night and Day store will become stable at some point. Unless you’re going to open a shop in another city or reveal your silver-grade badge.”

”I do have the intention to reveal my silver badge, but I’m thinking about doing it a month from now.”

”Why a month?” Ellia raised her eyebrows.

Auric didn’t know why he was saying all this. It might be the atmosphere. It might be because Ellia’s mind was quite sharp for business, so he wanted to hear what she had to say.

Nevertheless, his intention never changed. He raised his hand. ”I’m thinking about revealing my earth element as well by that time. Also, I want all of them to evolve first. Right now, I only have my plant and lightning elements evolved.”

Auric stopped at that point. He wasn’t going to tell her that his unique element and fire element were about to evolve.

Ellia only knew that he planned to evolve his wind and earth elements before revealing his silver badge.

”Hmmm...” Ellia asked, ”Then, I don’t have anything to say other than good luck. Just keep paying attention to your Sun Store right now. However, I’ve noticed that you don’t have many collections on light and dark elements. Also, when are you going to release the unique elements?”

Auric thought for a moment. ”I have my own plan for the unique elements. As for the light and dark elements, I’m doing my best.”

”Do you want my advice?”

”Oh? Let’s hear it.”

”Why don’t you register as a light or a dark evolution master first? Maybe you can work in the Evolution Association, or you can open a store in another city. You can probably open a flash store, which usually lasts for a week or two. Offer a cheap price to bring people in.”

”That’s... a good idea. I never thought of that.” Auric indeed didn’t consider opening a store in another city yet. After all, he couldn’t handle two stores at once.

But if he hid his identity and showed that he was a light or dark evolution master, the situation would change. He would be able to fill up the light and dark elements, which he hadn’t been able to do all this time.