Chapter 197: Battle between Abagnon and Shylock

This chapter is dedicated to "Xuanzong" with generous rewards.

"The lord, the response to Flower Soap has been very strong. Many nobles have already expressed interest in purchasing it."

Sherlock frequently traveled between North Valley City and Flower Town. As one of Liszt's merchants, he had risen to prominence along with the birth of the Thorn Sprites, becoming a significant figure in North Valley City's business community.

Upon receiving feedback, he reported back to Liszt immediately.

Merchants were adept at reading people's intentions, and Sherlock knew that this young lord might not be enthusiastic about power or mundane affairs. However, he enjoyed being informed and disliked being kept in the dark. Therefore, Sherlock always found opportunities to report to Liszt.

"It seems that Flower Soap has made a promising start. Go ahead and do your best. I look forward to seeing Flower Soap dominate the soap market on Coral Island."

"As you wish, my lord!" Sherlock replied loudly. "Sherlock will dedicate all his efforts to fulfilling your wishes!"

Liszt, looking at Sherlock, who seemed eager to flatter, felt quite pleased: "Don't disappoint me, Mr. Sherlock."

Hearing the respectful suffix "Mr.," Sherlock was even more excited: "Rest assured, my lord!"

After leaving the castle, he was filled with ambition.

Knowing that he would soon gain a status equal to Harpagon in the lord's eyes, perhaps even rivaling old Grandet.

"I need help spreading the word! We must make the reputation of Flower Soap known throughout the six cities on Coral Island and every small town beneath them. First, we need to let the soap-selling caravans understand that Flower Soap is cheaper but of better quality. For every piece sold, they can earn more profit."

Flower Soap could not be given away for free in large quantities. Eager to spread its reputation and dominate the market, Sherlock decided to lower the selling price.

No advertising effect could match making salespeople earn more money.

"What? Better than regular soap, and only one silver coin plus fifty copper coins?" an itinerant merchant exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, when you buy soap from Baron Henderson, it costs one silver coin plus eighty copper coins, and you can only earn twenty copper coins by reselling. But with Flower Soap, you'll earn fifty copper coins, which is equivalent to selling two and a half pieces of regular soap. You can do the math yourself."

"But is Flower Soap really that good?"

"Nobles in North Valley City have already used it, and everyone praises it. You can check for yourself. Additionally, I have a used piece of Flower Soap here, which you can try."

The itinerant merchant, of course, wouldn't blindly believe Sherlock. He fetched some water and tried the Flower Soap.

The abundant foam, smooth texture, cleansing effect, and the skin-tightening experience after use convinced the merchant that Flower Soap was indeed superior to regular soap.

Replacing regular soap with Flower Soap would undoubtedly succeed.

Sherlock added confidently: "If you want to place an order, you should decide quickly. The soap workshop in Flower Town has limited production. Once nobles start competing for Flower Soap, we might raise the price."

The potential price increase broke the merchant's last hesitation.

He nodded decisively: "Then, Captain Sherlock, I'll order five... no, ten pieces of Flower Soap!"

With a snap of his fingers, Sherlock recorded the order on thick parchment: "A wise decision." He then collected the deposit and agreed to deliver in three days.

Rising to leave, he tightly held the parchment, which now contained seven orders from seven itinerant merchants in North Valley City, who mainly operated routes around the surrounding towns.

These seven merchants ordered a total of fifty-eight pieces of Flower Soap.

Many nobles also placed direct orders, such as Gaierta's steward, who ordered eight pieces of Flower Soap.

"Captain Sherlock, we've had a perfect start. Flower Soap will become a luxury item for nobles! They won't be able to live without it!" an assistant said enthusiastically.

Sherlock smiled modestly: "Based on soap usage, North Valley City sells about three hundred pieces of soap per month. Snake Spear City, Broken Stone City, Elmwood City, and Birch City sell roughly the same amount, totaling fifteen hundred pieces. Coral City, with the most nobles, barons, knights, and wealthy freemen, uses at least two thousand pieces of soap per month."

In other words, if Flower Soap dominated the soap market, it could sell three thousand five hundred pieces per month on Coral Island. Adding another three hundred pieces from Beer Island and Flower Town's own consumption, the monthly output would approach four thousand pieces.

"Four thousand pieces of Flower Soap!" Sherlock couldn't contain his excitement, grinning widely. "One piece of Flower Soap for one silver coin plus fifty copper coins, which totals..."

He couldn't calculate it mentally.

So he counted on his fingers, ultimately determining that the monthly revenue would be six thousand silver coins. The cost of Flower Soap was only forty copper coins, meaning a net profit of four thousand four hundred silver coins per month.

Once Flower Soap dominated the market, the price could be raised to one silver coin plus eighty copper coins, the original wholesale price of regular soap.

And the cost could be further reduced by squeezing Baron Henderson and lowering the price of soap ingredients, potentially compressing it to thirty copper coins.

This would mean a net profit of one silver coin plus fifty copper coins per piece, totaling sixty gold coins per month.

Two gold coins per day.

"Compared to the peak of the seafood business, which earned nearly four gold coins per day, Flower Soap is slightly less profitable, but the labor and material costs are lower... Moreover, I am in charge of this business! Both the Thorn Caravan and the Flower Caravan must cooperate with me!"

With this confidence, Sherlock met with Harpagon, who had come from Coral City, to discuss how to dominate the Coral Island market.

But Sherlock never expected that Harpagon was prepared.

This old acquaintance from Papa Island looked at him sideways: "Sherlock, your vision is too narrow. Dominating the Coral Island market isn't much of an achievement. With the advantages of Flower Soap, it will naturally replace regular soap over time. I think we should focus on the outer islands and commoners!"

"Outer islands? Commoners?" Sherlock was taken aback.

"Flower Soap can become a specialty of Coral Island, using the channels of Tulip Castle and Beer Castle to export to the outer islands. Also, I consulted Bounie, and Flower Soap uses ample materials. By reducing the ingredients, we can produce a less effective regular soap at a lower cost for commoners."

Harpagon smiled smugly, giving Sherlock a challenging look: "I have already reported this plan to the lord, and he supports my ideas!"

A direct hit!

Sherlock was momentarily stunned.