"Service level?"
Reyn was somewhat puzzled. Wasn't the Soul Transformation Ritual just a simple potion injection? What difference could there be?
Viola remained silent. Taroni, standing beside her, spoke up on her behalf:
"Lord Reyn, the standard Soul Transformation Ritual is indeed simple—just a potion injection. But in the 'Violet House,' we approach it differently. Out of concern for our clients' safety and to increase the ritual's success rate, we offer various service packages."
Reyn grew interested. He had never heard of such things before.
Taroni explained:
"First, the effectiveness of the Soul Devouring Potion. Although the main ingredient in all such potions is Soul Devouring Grass, the 'Violet House' has a unique formula. Our brewed potion works better than ordinary ones, slightly dulls the pain, and allows the client to endure longer."
"Of course, our potion is somewhat more expensive than the usual."
"How much more?" Reyn asked.
"One dose costs thirty gold shields," Taroni replied.
Reyn nodded slightly, but deep down, he stuck to his opinion.
A typical dose of Soul Devouring Potion usually cost around five gold shields. This price was clearly inflated.
No matter how much they refined the Soul Devouring Potion formula, its core effect remained unchanged: under the influence of excruciating pain, a person's soul gained the ability to merge with other souls.
Taroni's claim that their potion allowed one to endure longer held little weight.
After all, physical condition and willpower varied among people, so the same potion affected different individuals differently. Even the same person undergoing the ritual at different times with the identical potion could get varying results.
Without clear evaluation criteria, it was impossible to prove which potion was more effective.
Perhaps the 'Violet House' potion did dull the pain, but it could just as easily be psychological suggestion—neither provable nor disprovable.
However, many were probably willing to pay those thirty gold shields for the 'Violet House's' promised effect.
After all, the Soul Transformation Ritual was too important!
Failure meant losing ten years of life and weakening the soul for three to five years.
Due to the Curse of the Bloody Soul, people rarely lived past seventy even without illnesses or misfortunes chasing them. By the time the soul recovered and they risked another attempt, a new failure would leave them with just a few years left.
Thus, everyone had only one or two chances in life to become a Superhuman. With money to spare, people were ready to give up their entire fortune just to boost their odds a little.
Even gifted individuals, if they could afford higher-quality potions to endure longer in the ritual and achieve a more complete transformation, gladly spent on them.
Reyn believed his chances were already high enough, and with music that greatly eased the pain, passing the ritual was practically guaranteed. Naturally, he had no intention of wasting money.
But he didn't refuse outright.
Taroni continued:
"In addition to the improved potion, we also offer a vial of vigor potion, a Mental Protection Scroll created by a Psionic, and a specially equipped runic altar for performing the Soul Transformation Ritual."
"The vigor potion is drunk before the ritual begins. You must know that the Soul Transformation Ritual can last nearly an hour. In such a state, the intense pain drains a lot of strength, but the vigor potion will help you conserve it and endure to the end."
"Mental Protection is a third-circle spell. It will help you resist part of the Dark Lord's Whisper and prevent the Curse of the Bloody Soul from exploiting your soul's moment of weakness."
Hearing this, Reyn felt a chill inside.
During the Soul Transformation Ritual, the unbearable pain tortured the soul, emotions flared—this was the perfect moment for the Curse of the Bloody Soul.
In modern times, those dying during the ritual most often perished not from soul torment but from the curse's effects, becoming fallen.
This was the most dangerous aspect of the Soul Transformation Ritual.
Reyn had already endured one outbreak of the Curse of the Bloody Soul right at the start of his arrival in this world, but he wasn't sure if the phone could protect him during the ritual too.
If the Mental Protection Scroll was truly effective, it was worth buying.
"How much does this Mental Protection Scroll cost?" Reyn suddenly asked.
"Fifty gold shields," Taroni replied. "Since it's a third-circle spell, the materials alone cost half that amount. Plus, only Psionics can create it, so it's sold at a premium."
Reyn nodded. The price was fair enough.
Psionics were one of the mage specializations, part of the four main disciplines of the School of Law Seals, and extremely rare.
In all of Longsand, there might not be more than a handful of mage-Psionic. Moreover, Mental Protection was a third-circle spell, and crafting a scroll for it involved certain complexity, so the higher price at the 'Violet House' made sense.
Taroni also described the runic altar for soul transformation.
According to her, this altar was crafted by a rune master and equipped with an injector. Performing the ritual on it was safe and reliable; it also aided the transformation process, enhanced merging effects, and even had a small chance to boost affinity with certain elements.
Reyn was skeptical about this.
After the Dark Lord's curse, human bodies had degenerated, racial talents vanished, and elemental affinity was nearly zero. Even a slight increase wouldn't help much.
Still, the runic altar was worth using—it was a basic item and cheap, just a few gold shields.
Additionally, Taroni mentioned a few more services.
For example, the Spirit Calming Scroll: after the ritual, regardless of success or failure, using it soothed the soul and avoided residual pain sensations.
Or hiring a mid-rank experienced mage to conduct the Soul Transformation Ritual and activate the runic altar; using higher-quality vigor potion, third-level or higher Mental Protection Scroll, and so on.
The 'Violet House' didn't push full packages but tactfully offered various combinations, letting clients choose.
Taroni pulled out a beautifully designed price list with combo packages and handed it to Reyn.
Looking at the price list and hearing Taroni's familiar words—"combo package," "discount," "promotion," "service," "membership price"—Reyn felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
"This is just plain upselling!"
"It feels like I walked into a massage parlor and got handed a price list for the 'Imperial Delight' package?"
Reyn's thoughts wandered far. He looked at Taroni a bit strangely, as if she weren't a Superhuman but a top-class masseuse.
And Viola sitting opposite, this otherworldly half-elf beauty, was the parlor owner and its star attraction...
"Lord Reyn?"
Taroni, mid-sentence, noticed the handsome young man seemed lost in thought, his gaze oddly strange, making her uneasy.
"Lord Reyn, have you decided?" she asked again.
"Oh, sorry! It's all so wonderful that it's hard to choose," Reyn snapped back, trying to cover his awkwardness with praise and banish his scattered thoughts.
Taroni smiled:
"If Lord Reyn likes everything and can't decide, just pick the best combo ritual including all services. Get a card and become a regular client—you'll get a ten percent discount on your first Soul Transformation Ritual."
"Regular client card..."
Reyn's head ached slightly at the words. He hadn't expected that even in another world, he couldn't escape such sales tactics.
He had already heard from Taroni that the 'Violet House' had several membership levels. The basic one cost ten gold shields per year.
The highest, VIP level, was three hundred gold shields a year!
Daylight robbery.
In truth, this wasn't unique to the 'Violet House.' Many trade guilds and shops used similar methods; the 'Violet House' just perfected them, nearly indistinguishable from Earth merchants.
No need to say it—it was undoubtedly the half-elf Viola's idea.
Reyn glanced at Viola. While Taroni pitched the services, she hadn't said a word; a smile played on her refined face as she watched him intently, creating considerable pressure.
Anyone else in his place, unfamiliar with such sales tactics and under this beauty's gaze, would likely have lost their head long ago, signed up for membership, and in euphoria bought the priciest combo ritual.
"Tricks, all tricks!"
Reyn smirked inwardly but feigned hesitation outwardly:
"I don't have that much money. I can get the card, but I can only afford this one, the fourth combo ritual. It comes with a club member discount too, right?"
The fourth combo ritual was one of the cheapest options. It included standard Soul Devouring Potion, third-circle Mental Protection Scroll, and basic runic altar—nothing else.
This package cost sixty gold shields, with fifty for the Mental Protection Scroll. Plus membership fee, that made seventy. With a discount, it would be a great deal.
Of course, if Reyn wanted, he could just buy the standard Soul Devouring Potion for five gold shields.
But that would be rude.
Taroni, after all, was a Superhuman, a Plant Shepherd with healing abilities. If Reyn lacked money, he wouldn't pretend, but since he had it, showing respect was in order.
Moreover, he really needed the Mental Protection Scroll just in case, and he might buy other things from the 'Violet House' in the future, so basic membership could come in handy.
Hearing Reyn's choice, Taroni couldn't hide her disappointment but didn't push.
"Discounts apply to all club members, but only on the first service. Lord Reyn, when do you plan to do the ritual?"
Reyn didn't hesitate:
"The sooner, the better."
"We need to prepare. Earliest is tomorrow. Tomorrow at noon work?" Taroni asked after thinking.
"Yes."
"Good," Taroni reminded. "Lord Reyn, please bring the money before tomorrow's ritual."
Reyn nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Viola, who had been silent for so long, spoke:
"Lord Reyn, with your talent, you'll undoubtedly pass the Soul Transformation Ritual successfully. Have you considered which Superhuman profession to choose? The 'Violet House' can provide consultation."
She paused and added with a light smile:
"Naturally, free of charge."