Chapter 1 The Prequel

Dozens of hunters surged toward Bill's Potions shop, only a dozen or so entering, the rest waiting outside.

Zhou Jing was pretending to read a ledger with only a single line of text. Seeing Jason arrive with a group of hunters, he immediately feigned surprise, his tone astonished:

"You're back again, and with so many people? Was there a problem with yesterday's potion?"

"No, your potions are extremely effective, even better than the mass-produced goods from the Imperial Workshop," Jason recited in a wooden tone.

"Really?" Zhou Jing asked, feigning delight.

"That's right. This is the best pain relief potion I've ever drunk. I came back to buy some more," Cole chimed in from the side, then looked at Zhou Jing with slight surprise.

He remembered this guy who had come to Jason to borrow money. Now, he couldn't help but look at him with new eyes. "I didn't expect you to have such skills."

"Of course. If I didn't know potion-making, how could I have saved Jess back then?" Zhou Jing replied fluently.

Jason nodded. "Yes, I realized he was a pretty good potion-maker back then, so I suggested he come to King's Landing."

They sang in harmony, rounding out the story.

"I see," Cole said, enlightened and believing it.

The other hunters in the shop looked around, curiously examining the potions on the shelves.

Yesterday, Jason had only bought one bottle of Hunter's Potion to share among a few hunters. Not everyone had tried it, and most of those who came today were skeptical of Zhou Jing's skills.

However, yesterday at the camp, Jason and the hunters who had drunk the potion praised it to the skies, recommending the potions here, and arranging to come back the next day for a big purchase.

Because Jason was so enthusiastically promoting it, many hunters were grudgingly convinced and decided to take a look, just to see what it was like... anyway, they were full of energy and usually had nothing to do, so they might as well take a stroll and take the King's Landing Guards for a walk.

With dozens of hunters in a group, King's Landing couldn't ignore them. Outside the door, a dozen King's Landing Guards were closely following them.

In King's Landing, Tarn City, the relationship between Imperial Hunters and the King's Landing Guards, royal guards, etc., wasn't too strained, unlike the intense conflict between hunters and lord's guards in White Plains City. This was determined by the nature of the Imperial Hunters, but they occasionally liked to tease each other.

Zhou Jing introduced the effects of the potions to everyone, showing off his skills.

Hunters were always generous with money. Since they had come, they intended to spend, and they bought pain relief potions one after another. Some even bought more than one bottle.

Some hunters even quietly bought a few bottles of Energy Potions.

These roughnecks naturally had no interest in shopping. When they went out, they had a goal. After buying the potions, the hunters didn't linger and scattered in all directions.

Some went to find women or men, some went to the tavern for a drink, some went to the gambling house to donate, each going off to enjoy themselves.

The King's Landing Guards who came to monitor them euphemistically called it splitting up to track them, but in reality, they were slacking off. Some went out a few streets and then appeared, hooking up with hunters they knew to go have fun.

The potion shop's shelves were swept clean, and the stock of Hunter's Potions was greatly reduced, but dozens of records were added to the ledger.

"This wave of income earned two hundred and forty-seven silver coins... Hunter's Potions are truly a high-profit business."

Zhou Jing shook the jingling money bag, full of interest.

General potions were for the masses, so the price wouldn't be too high, but hunters had extremely strong spending power. Ordinary Hunter's Potions sold for around three silver coins, while enhanced potions were usually three times the price of normal potions, far higher than the cost.

If it weren't for Jason, a "big shot" among the Imperial Hunters, it would have been much more difficult to open up the market.

He had deliberately had Jason come to buy a potion and share it with others to leverage Jason's connections and reputation, bringing in the first batch of hunter customers.

Once these hunters discovered the excellent effects of the potions, they would bring more customers, making his business explode in popularity and his name completely spread among the hunter community... Jason would need to continue to fuel this behind the scenes.

This wave of Jason's promotion allowed Zhou Jing to recover most of his initial investment in learning potion knowledge and preparing the potion shop. It was truly a windfall.

As Zhou Jing was calculating the accounts with great interest, the residents of King's Landing who had been watching outside saw the hunters leave and curiously entered the shop, eagerly asking questions as soon as they entered.

"Boss, did those hunters come to buy potions from you?"

"Did they get sick from drinking them and come to cause trouble?"

Hearing this, Zhou Jing put on a smug expression and said loudly:

"Those esteemed hunters thought the potions I make are excellent and bought dozens of them from me. Didn't you see how happy they were when they left with the potions? Even the hunters say they're good. Do you want some?"

The crowd looked at each other, a little tempted.

These were potions personally certified by hunters. Even hunters came to the city to buy them, so they must be good. It seemed like they could rest assured...

With that in mind, many of the surrounding residents who had been watching decided to trust Zhou Jing's skills and buy a bottle of potion to try.

The arrival of dozens of hunters in the city had attracted attention along the way, and many people from other districts had followed out of curiosity. Seeing that the hunters were here to buy potions, they also entered Bill's Potions shop with interest and bought some potions.

Most people weren't sick at the moment, so they mainly sold Energy Potions.

General potions weren't expensive, but every little bit counts, and there was still a decent profit. Zhou Jing didn't refuse anyone.

Because of the hunter's ripple effect, the potion shop suddenly became lively, breaking the business-less situation of the previous few days.

In the following days, the rumors became more and more exaggerated.

At first, it was just the novelty of "dozens of hunters buying medicine together," but later it gradually went awry and became "Imperial Hunters officially certified Bill's Potions shop's products as excellent."

Many things happened in King's Landing every day, but this rumor had become a hot topic that had attracted attention recently. It wasn't just the residents' mentality of watching the fun, but also because Zhou Jing had secretly spent money to find children on the street to shout and promote the heat.

Zhou Jing knew the effect of advertising and even made a simple but memorable slogan, taught it to the children to spread it, and hyped up his "brand."

——"Bill's Potions shop, even the hunters say they're good!"

This somewhat magical phrase was known by more people, catchy and inexplicably remembered the name "Bill's Potions shop."

As things spread further and further, a large number of King's Landing residents came after hearing the news. The potion shop changed from its deserted state, and customers became endless.

The repeat customer effect also exploded, and customers who had bought potions before came back a second time.

These repeat customers were basically here for Energy Potions, which were the most popular potions.

There was nothing else to say, it was just addicting!

After all, appetite and lust were natural instincts. In this world that lacked entertainment, the exchange of human bodily fluids was the greatest source of pleasure.

And potions that could amplify this kind of sensory stimulation were like nuclear bombs.

Although the reputation was somewhat different from what Zhou Jing had envisioned, the potion shop's reputation was indeed being established among the people at an unprecedented speed.

In just over half a month, a consensus had formed in the hearts of the residents of King's Landing:

——This is King's Landing's number one aphrodisiac shop!

With an invincible momentum, it swept the entire King's Landing's aphrodisiac industry!

Zhou Jing didn't expect that Apostle No. 3's most troublesome life goal, "Establish a city-level monopoly industry," was the first to approach success.

This time, it was really an unforeseen path.

The business was booming, and a large number of customers came to ask for medicine every day. The threshold was about to be broken.

Not only commoners bought it, but also many tribal relatives and palace ministers heard the great name and quietly sent people to buy Energy Potions, and they also specifically told them not to say anything.

Because of the full flow of customers every day, a team of guards was specially patrolling nearby to maintain law and order.

Zhou Jing was very observant and gave the guards a few free Energy Potions. These guards were deeply moved and not only helped maintain order, but even helped him attract customers. Even more guards became loyal customers of the potion shop.

With a large number of demands every day, Zhou Jing couldn't keep up with the production by himself, and Energy Potions were out of stock every day.

In the high-intensity potion production, potion knowledge grew rapidly and soon reached the level of Lv5 instinct.

At this stage, he was already considered an elite potion-maker. Coupled with the [Apothecary] talent and the [Item Analysis function], his potion-making level was comparable to a master.

Apostle No. 3 Bill also became famous in King's Landing in a subtle way...

Known as the Aphrodisiac Master!

Zhou Jing didn't mind at all. It didn't matter if the path was wild. A crooked name was still a name.

However, he also heard some bad rumors. It seemed that some peers quite despised him as a guy who made "aphrodisiacs" and expressed disdain on many occasions.

It would be difficult to enter the Imperial Workshop with this kind of reputation.

But Zhou Jing didn't care. What he was really betting on was Hunter's Potions. The hunter community was the real authoritative reputation. He was just waiting for someone to see through the surface and see his amazing inner self that improved the formula and potion-making level.

The potion shop was making money every day, and Zhou Jing was making a lot of money, but it also brought trouble. Many King's Landing merchants were jealous of this profitable potion and came to seek cooperation, and some even wanted to buy the formula.

Zhou Jing refused them all. He wasn't really trying to make money.

Although he had a reputation, the ethereal and unsavory reputation of "Aphrodisiac Master" wasn't enough to be a talisman.

Wealth was tempting, and as a "foreigner," he was naturally targeted.

...

At night, in a dark alley, five masked men leaned in the shadows, talking softly.

"I've already found out that Bill, who makes aphrodisiacs, takes this road home every day. When he comes, we'll kidnap him and ask for the formula for that potion." The leader played with a dagger, his tone sinister.

Someone was worried: "What if Bill's Energy Potion is not a change in the formula, but simply well-made?"

"Impossible, I asked the pharmacist, he must have changed the formula." The leader replied firmly, thought for a while, and said coldly: "But it doesn't matter, we'll take him away, go to a farther city, and let him make potions for us to make a fortune!"

Everyone nodded excitedly.

They were a local gang of street punks in King's Landing, living in the slums, usually running around the city doing petty cases, such as stealing things, burglary, robbing passers-by, and often struggling on the breadline.

This time, they risked sneaking into the well-secured Fire District to commit this big crime.

Bill's Potions shop was so popular, and the boss was just a foreigner and a weak pharmacist...

They felt that not doing it was simply wasting the opportunity to live a worry-free life for the rest of their lives.

"I heard that this Bill has a good relationship with a hunter, will there be a problem?" Someone thought of this and couldn't help asking.

"What are you afraid of? After we're done, we'll go out to avoid the limelight. It doesn't matter who he knows."

The leader didn't care at all.

At this moment, a figure came from the distance of the street, with a dog beside him. It was Zhou Jing.

"Here he comes!"

The small gang perked up and immediately held their breath, waiting for the target to approach.

One step, two steps, one step, two steps... Zhou Jing gradually approached the alley.

"Go!"

The leader's eyes flashed and he pulled out his dagger and rushed out.

Without saying a word, he reached out to cover Zhou Jing's mouth and put the dagger to Zhou Jing's neck.

"Be honest, don't... Puff!"

The leader hadn't finished speaking when a fist appeared in front of him.

Bang!

The nose broke instantly, as if a sauce shop had opened, and the sour, spicy, and bitter flavors exploded in the skull cavity.

"Ah!" The leader screamed in pain, squatting down, covering his bloody nose.

However, in the next moment, his eyes met with Blackie No. 1.

Blackie No. 1 tilted its head, and its eyes fell on the man's crotch, and fell into contemplation.

Squatting down with your legs so wide open, isn't that a welcome to taste?

Frontal Assault!

"Ahhh—"

The screams tore through the night sky!

The accomplices who followed behind had just rushed out of the alley and saw the tragic scene.

The leader's nose was broken, covered in blood, fell to the ground, and a hyena was biting his crotch tightly and tearing hard, blood splattering everywhere, and half a ham with eggs was pulled down.

"Hiss—"

Several accomplices took a breath of cold air subconsciously, feeling the same pain, and their lower bodies also ached slightly.

At this moment, there was a sudden dense sound of footsteps in the surrounding alleys. A dozen guards rushed out and without saying a word, they pinned the accomplices who were still stunned to the ground and skillfully tied them up.

The squad leader of the guards walked to Zhou Jing, glanced at the kidnapper who was still screaming and covering his crotch, and couldn't help shivering.

A man's pain, too much resonance.

"Brother Bill, we'll take care of these people."

"Thank you everyone, go to my shop tomorrow, and I'll treat everyone to a batch of Energy Potions as thanks."

"Hehe." The squad leader rubbed his hands with a smile.

Zhou Jing then kicked Blackie No. 1 to stop it from chewing, it looked so painful.

He glanced at the enemies and rolled his eyes secretly.

This was already the sixth wave of kidnappers he had encountered recently. There were too many people who wanted to catch him to make a fortune.

Zhou Jing deliberately got along well with the guards, and every time he went home, he pulled them to **** him. The reward was Energy Potions, and he would occasionally invite them to dinner. The guards naturally didn't mind earning some extra money before the curfew patrol.

After all, he was now a weak pharmacist and was embarrassed to kill all the kidnappers.

"I am now considered an unknown person and have not been recognized. When I enter the Imperial Workshop and have an official status as a talisman, this situation should not happen again." Zhou Jing secretly calculated.

...

Imperial Hunter Camp, Workshop.

A routine meeting was being held, with participants including the heads of various departments of the workshop, reporting on recent output and consumption.

The workshop executives looked at the ledger list and soon discovered an abnormality, somewhat puzzled: "Why have so many pain relief potions been hoarded recently? Isn't this a commonly used potion? Why don't hunters come to get it?"

Speaking, everyone looked at the head of the hunter potion department.

The person in charge shook his head helplessly: "I asked, and the hunters have recently gone to a potion shop in King's Landing to buy this kind of potion. No one wants what our workshop produces."

"Is there such a thing?" The workshop executives were a little stunned.

They were a workshop dedicated to Imperial Hunters. In principle, all the supplies used by the hunters were provided by them, and the quality has always been guaranteed.

Especially hunter potions, their elites were gathered here, the products were excellent, and the hunters didn't need to purchase them elsewhere.

Now the hunters chose others but not their own workshop, as if they had been compared down. Didn't this make the workshop dereliction of duty?

The workshop executives were a little embarrassed and said in a deep voice:

"Tell me about the situation."

The person in charge had already expected it and replied:

"Some time ago, a pharmacist named Bill appeared in King's Landing and opened a shop, selling only three kinds of potions, one of which was a pain relief potion. The hunters said it was good after using it.

But he mainly sells an aphrodisiac, which is a modified formula of Energy Potion, which makes people's senses more sensitive. I use... cough, I have studied it, and the effect is very good, so it is very popular in King's Landing, and the business is quite good."

"Making aphrodisiacs?" The workshop director twitched the corner of his mouth.

Good fellow, their professional hunter workshop, the imperial research institute, was actually compared down by someone who made aphrodisiacs?

This wasn't slapping him in the face, this was slapping the royal family's ass!

His expression was complicated: "Then his pain relief potion, have you studied it?"

The person in charge suddenly became excited and nodded:

"His pain relief potion has also been improved in the formula, and the production level is very high. I personally went to his potion shop and found that there are many powerful potions in his shop. He may have very superb potion-making skills."

"So this is a powerful pharmacist." The workshop executives eyes lit up, thought about it, and said: "In this way, send someone to investigate again to see his level. If possible, invite him to join the Imperial Workshop."

The others who didn't speak were stunned.

"But he is an aphrodisiac maker, his reputation..." Someone couldn't help questioning.

The workshop executive waved his hand and smiled:

"Making aphrodisiacs is not important, this is just the business that people choose. The fact proves that it is indeed profitable. Don't be blinded by this kind of appearance.

What is really important is that he can improve the hunter potion formula and get the hunters' recognition... The hunters have drunk countless potions in their lives, and a pharmacist who can be praised by the hunters must be very skilled. This kind of talent cannot be let go!"

The crowd looked at each other. Although they felt a little awkward, they didn't object.

The workshop executives nodded and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

...Being compared by a folk aphrodisiac maker was really too embarrassing. It was better to "recruit" this person as much as possible and turn him into "one of their own."