The day after Kite departed, Bisky also prepared to leave. She'd chosen the early morning hour deliberately.
Kevin, Bisky, and Mori sat in the garden courtyard, leisurely drinking tea together.
Kevin produced a small box and handed it to Bisky. "Master, a small token of appreciation."
Bisky accepted it, opening it for a cursory glance—several different potions inside, along with a black card—then closed the box. This black card was something Kevin had asked Bisky to help arrange for design and production. While its specifications couldn't compare to a hunter license, the craftsmanship was still top-notch.
"Regarding your planned potion shop," Bisky asked before leaving, "in what form do you intend to sell?"
Kevin had thoroughly considered this. "A physical store, combined with online sales through internet channels and mail delivery."
He'd conceived this idea upon first seeing the Hunter information website. While computers in this world remained mostly bulky, the network software was surprisingly advanced. When creating the Member card, Kevin had borrowed design specifications from the hunter license, incorporating relevant barcodes. The technological content inside the Member card still fell far short of a hunter license, but according to his design requirements, the card could be directly identified and used to access the internal website when online. The internal website wasn't fully built yet—only two Member cards had been distributed so far.
Kevin shifted the subject. "However, I don't know any professionals in this area. At this stage, there are simply too few IT personnel who understand network security and website construction."
He'd tried recruiting, but couldn't find the talent he needed—mostly recent graduates lacking refined skills. In this world, while the internet showed initial signs of development, it remained far from its peak. Moreover, learning that many skilled hackers operated online, Kevin decided to seek someone with genuine hacking expertise to help design the website. In this world, when a need involved Hunters, asking a Hunter for help was usually the right choice.
Bisky nodded casually. "Then post a request directly through the Hunter Association, or through the [Thousand Ears Society]. I recall there are Hacker Hunters, though they seem quite low-key—I've only heard the name."
Kevin nodded in response. "No problem. I was planning that anyway."
After discussing this matter, Kevin produced another box, this time handing it to Mori.
Mori opened it—inside was his payment. The card within wasn't black, but light gold, the colors carefully designed. Apart from the red stone pattern in the center, the overall appearance was exquisitely crafted.
This was Kevin's Member system design, simply divided into three tiers: Black Card, Gold Card, and Silver Card.
With Kevin's return, Mori's task concluded; the request completed, he naturally had to leave. This wasn't a long-term assignment—impossible for Mori to accept such extended work. His coming had been somewhat in the nature of helping out.
The two said their goodbyes. Kevin saw them to the door and waved farewell.
The manor, bustling just days ago, had unexpectedly fallen quiet.
Now only Menchi and Buhara remained.
Kevin had already drafted relevant contracts and invited the two to the reception room for discussion. After finalizing matters, they too might depart shortly.
Inside the reception room, Kevin placed the prepared contracts and two cards on the table.
"According to my plan," he began, "I intend to use a membership system for potion sales. Non-Members can purchase only two potions from me annually. Members will have different purchase quotas based on their tier. I'll also set varying restrictions on certain potions according to Member level."
He produced three different cards: Black Card, Gold Card, and Silver Card, lining them up in sequence.
The base color of each card used materials corresponding to their names, all featuring the irregular red stone pattern in the center. The card faces were outlined with the next tier's color, and the backs similarly featured the next tier's color for the V. The Black Card was outlined with gold stripes, the Gold Card with silver, the Silver Card with black.
Kevin continued. "The potions all require personal crafting. Without restrictions, production would consume excessive time and energy. Besides, scarcity increases value."
Menchi nodded. She'd anticipated Kevin would impose sales limits—a perfectly reasonable rule. Priorities shouldn't become reversed.
Next, Kevin handed the two cards he had just prepared to Menchi and Buhara respectively.
Menchi took her card and examined it carefully, noting that its appearance was distinctly different from a regular Member card. It resembled a Black Card, but the pattern differed slightly. The front still bore the irregular red stone design, but the back featured a hunting knife pattern instead of the standard V.
"This is a card I specifically designed for [Supplier]s," Kevin explained. "Holding this card grants different potion purchase quotas and access to different potion products. When you use this card, each potion comes with a corresponding discount. In terms of pure benefits, this card slightly exceeds the highest-level Black Card Member privileges."
Standard benefits—nothing particularly remarkable.
While the two examined their cards intently, Kevin continued. "Now I'll explain the Supplier system in detail." He handed each of them a contract. "First, you can provide me with materials. I'll classify and price them based on value. After determining the price, I'll pay you in [Currency]. The use of Currency is straightforward: you can purchase potions at more favorable rates, exchange it directly for equivalent cash, or use it to acquire special potions available only through Currency exchange."
This system represented Kevin's true strategic advantage—the mechanism driving his actual goal.
The two read their contracts while absorbing Kevin's explanation. His design wasn't complicated; it was easy to grasp.
Simply put, his potion customers divided into two groups: [Member]s and [Supplier]s. The potions themselves would likely fall into three tiers based on efficacy: [Regular Sale], [Member Restricted Purchase], and [Currency Exchange].
Menchi and Buhara understood clearly that Kevin's primary purpose in building this sales system was establishing a stable material supply "channel." The expansion of contacts and sales revenue were merely valuable byproducts of this core objective. This wasn't difficult to comprehend—anyone understanding Kevin's Nen ability could easily trace this logic.
Once this point registered, all of Kevin's system settings made sense.
Kevin didn't want potion production consuming excessive time, lest he lose sight of his main objectives. Hence the purchase quotas and consumption limits. The number of Members able to purchase potions would be deliberately restricted. Even Black Card Members faced quantity limitations.
Members provided Kevin with "connections" and "wealth"—additional gains. But Suppliers represented what Kevin truly needed: the material sources for potion creation. Therefore, Suppliers enjoyed greater special benefits than Members.
The most basic potions—available to everyone but quantity-restricted—would undoubtedly be the easiest ones Kevin could produce. These were the Regular Sale potions. According to Kevin, everything they'd seen so far fell into this category.
Potions with more specialized effects, accessible only to different Member tiers, would be rarer and more powerful. Non-Members lacked even the qualification to purchase them. These required more time and effort to produce, hence their Member Restricted Purchase classification.
The final tier—top-tier potions requiring Currency for purchase—represented Kevin's key mechanism for achieving his goal. The best way to incentivize Suppliers was providing sufficient benefits. These premium potions served as that incentive: the most useful, most effective products, things people would yearn for and actively seek to obtain. Bait.
"So the Currency we receive for materials can be freely traded?" Buhara asked, identifying the key point while examining his contract.
Kevin nodded without hesitation. This was originally one of the benefits enjoyed by the Supplier group. Arguably, it was also a benefit for Members—they couldn't obtain Currency directly but could acquire it from Suppliers. Win-win. If Kevin also won, then triple win.
Menchi nodded with satisfaction. "I have to say, becoming a Supplier and partnering with you is a tempting opportunity with benefits like these."
From this system, it was easy to discern Kevin's genuine needs. Other buyers wishing to purchase Kevin's Currency Exchange level potions would need to acquire Currency from Suppliers.
This would inevitably require paying above-market prices to obtain them. From this perspective, Suppliers appeared to be the most privileged Members.
However, Kevin had also established an annual basic material supply quota for each Supplier. Failure to meet this minimum quota gave Kevin the right to revoke Supplier status. But given Kevin's selectivity in choosing Suppliers, this quota rarely caused concern.
"For this system to truly function, you definitely need to produce a potion worth purchasing with Currency, right?" Menchi added, staring intently at Kevin.
This was the most fundamental requirement. Since Kevin had created such a classification, he must have already conceived the specifications and effects of this top-tier potion. If the effects weren't compelling enough, attracting people to work toward it would prove difficult.
Meeting their gazes, Kevin revealed a confident smile. He produced a specially designed small box from his belongings, containing a single potion.
"This is a new potion I developed recently while designing the treatment plan. I believe it will definitely meet your expectations."
The two examined the potion closely, rotating the small box. The liquid inside appeared quite ordinary—translucent, light red, with some silvery, seemingly residual objects floating within.
"I named it Restoration Potion. As the name suggests, its function is bodily restoration." Kevin extended a finger for emphasis. "The restoration I'm referring to applies when the body is damaged but the limb isn't completely severed. In such situations, if the severed limb is reattached and this potion is consumed, restoration can be achieved. More simply—it enables limb reattachment."
He continued, "I had it tested by a specialist. Perfect reattachment is possible, though it requires some time—approximately three days of adaptation after reattachment, after which recovery is complete." The most powerful aspect: within fifteen minutes of reattaching a severed limb, a single potion completed the process.
For potions providing continuous status effects, fifteen minutes often seemed insufficient. But for healing effects, fifteen minutes was almost exaggerated.
Surprise flickered in Menchi and Buhara's eyes.
"Such a magical potion exists? If it truly has this effect, countless people will scramble for it."
This wasn't exaggeration. In this world, the ability to achieve limb restoration was extremely rare. Some individuals possessed such Nen abilities, but most people didn't know someone with this capability—and even if they did, they couldn't guarantee timely help when needed. Accidents were always sudden and unpredictable.
Moreover, Hunters and Nen users were extremely prone to injury during missions or battles. Limb loss wasn't uncommon—from missing fingers to entire limbs. Wild Nen users outside the Hunter group experienced such situations frequently, their disabilities often originating from the "Opening Nen" stage, injuries caused by forced blows.
With this potion, when limb loss occurred, one only needed to bring the severed limb, drink the potion, and achieve reattachment after connection. No assistance needed, no long wait required. If the severed limb was missing? Nothing could be done—unless Kevin someday created a potion for direct limb regeneration.
No one could guarantee avoiding such misfortune. Menchi believed that every customer would keep one on hand. Consumption might not match regularly sold potions, but for every customer, it represented a dream to possess. That was enough.
"Alright. It seems we'll become your loyal Suppliers after all." Menchi smiled. Resistance was futile—Kevin offered too much.
Beside her, Buhara nodded and smiled in agreement. Facing such generous benefits, who would easily give up? Moreover, they already understood Kevin's material needs—first-mover advantage.
"Then, happy cooperation!"
The three exchanged smiles, shook hands, and signed their names.
"Next, I'll settle your Currency."
Kevin produced a small bag he'd prepared earlier, pouring the contents onto the table. A crisp sound accompanied the spill—specially made hard currency. Each coin's appearance had been clearly carefully designed.
The coins featured three colors overall: platinum edges, pure gold-plated centers, and a central red area inlaid with specially carved red stone. The number "1" was engraved on the back, representing the coin's face value.
Three denominations lay on the table: 1, 5, and 10.
"You can exchange Currency and jenny at equivalent rates—10 million jenny equals 1 Currency." Kevin distributed six 1-value Currency coins. "The materials you provided this time, I purchased at 60 million jenny."
Menchi accepted the six coins, turning them over appreciatively. Exquisite design, she had to admit.
"How much Currency does your Restoration Potion cost?" Buhara asked, more concerned with this question.
Kevin extended his palm, making a "5" gesture.
"Only fifty million?" Menchi asked, surprised.
Kevin smiled without responding.
The two instantly understood. "500 million?"
Kevin's smile widened as he nodded.
"So dark." The shared sentiment escaped them both simultaneously. Though they understood the potion's value, they couldn't help complaining about Kevin's "shrewd businessman" tactics.
"What? That's 50 Currency! How long would that take to accumulate?" Menchi looked up at the ceiling helplessly, then fixed Kevin with a fierce glare. "You shrewd businessman!"
Kevin shrugged helplessly, still smiling. "Tell me—is this potion worth the price? Definitely worth it, right?"
Buhara nodded beside her. "Definitely worth it. Even outside, achieving the perfect limb restoration he described would cost far more than 500 million." Nen users with such abilities charged extremely high prices. So in some sense, this represented the special benefit Suppliers enjoyed. No joke.
"Alright, don't look so troubled. You brought many materials this time—though only a little over one-third met my needs. With this experience, next time more than half will likely qualify. Won't take long to accumulate enough Currency. You don't need to specifically hunt for it—just something done along the way, earning extra money. Why not?" Kevin comforted them with a smile.
The Restoration Potion was definitely the highest-level potion Kevin was willing to sell externally at this stage—top tier of C-level potions. While not the first potion he'd made reaching this level, it was the first that could be consistently produced. The materials for this potion could be stably obtained on the market. Unlike Essence Sensing Potion and Iron Wall Potion, whose production materials were difficult to obtain—some even unique, gone once used—these clearly weren't suitable for large-scale sale.
"However, if you want to purchase potions normally, it'll be about two months from now when the store officially opens. I'll notify you by email." Still in preparation stage; sales hadn't officially begun.
The two nodded—no problem.
"Since the transaction is complete and cooperation successfully established, it's time for us to say goodbye."
"See you next time."
Kevin escorted them to the manor entrance, watching their car disappear.
At this point, the manor fell completely quiet.