Chen Mu was overjoyed to watch the amount of liquid extract in the reagent bottles continually increase . Xi Ping connected with a big seller for the extracts, so they weren't going to have any trouble with sales down the road .
In his investigations, Xi Ping had discovered only two establishments in the Pascal Region that could produce the purple and the blue extract of fluorescent purple . But it couldn't compare with the quality of that produced in the snow silkworm ravine . They couldn't even produce the other few rarer extracts . Only a few in the Heavenly Drum Village District could produce the best among them, the red extract of fluorescent purple .
The reason Stinger had so respected Xi Ping was mainly because the red extract was included .
So long as the mining of the purple fluorescent ore continued, Chen Mu didn't need to worry about funding issues . That didn't mean he relaxed, however . Since the profits from purple fluorescent ore mining were so high, many people would certainly be red-eyed with greed . He was afraid that when the time came, all manner of tricks would be deployed . Chen Mu specifically told Jiang Liang to be vigilant and to keep up his guard .
At the same time, Chen Mu could finally get all of that off his mind to do his own thing . Apart from his daily training, he was researching the purple fluorescent ore . The resources Xi Ping had provided said it was an outstanding material for card making, which was why the price was so high .
As a card master, how could Chen Mu remain indifferent to such an outstanding card making material? However, he didn't know anything definite about how it was used . Among the information Xi Ping had gotten, anything relating to how it was used was rather fuzzy .
In the field of card making, the higher the price was for materials, the more excellent their performance would generally be . Chen Mu had seldom encountered really high-priced materials like the liquid extracts from the purple fluorescent ore .
The purple extract was about 80,000 Oudi per gram, and the red extract could go as high as 3 million per gram . White sort of amazing performance might they have? Chen Mu was curious .
The identification of any material required expending a huge amount of one's energy . By that time, apart from specialized agencies, people would only rarely attempt such projects . Of course, Chen Mu had no way to do it, with just the analytical instruments alone requiring a huge outlay . He didn't have the spare change to do such things .
He didn't understand it, but someone did—Ru Qiu . Having been selected as the next dean of the Origins Academy card making division, how could she not know something about it?
Ru Qiu did have a rather good understanding about that sort of material, after all . "The liquid extracted from the purple fluorescent ore is a kind of natural card ink . It has many different colors, which also distinguish the different properties . For example, the purple extract is suited for making jet stream cards . Until now, it has been one of the card inks most suited for doing so . But the quantities required are rather shocking . To make a single jet stream card probably requires about 500 grams of the blue extract . What's the price like here for the blue extract, Boss?"
"It's 80,000 per gram," Chen Mu replied .
"That's a lot cheaper than in the ordinary residential districts . I seem to remember it being 140,000 per gram there . But even at 80,000 per gram, 500 grams would require 40 million . Forty million just to make a single jet stream card is really too expensive . That's why people are seldom likely to be so extravagant as to use the liquid extracts to make card ink; they are more likely to use them as additives .
"Another characteristic of the liquid extracted from the purple fluorescent ore is its compatibility . It can be fused with most materials, and that can increase the card ink's efficacy . The different colors produce completely different results . For example, the purple extract can increase the harmony between the ink and the card blank . Research into the results of adding the purple fluorescent extracted liquids has been one of the hottest topics for the last few years . " Ru Qiu was talking away nonstop about it when she suddenly asked a stupid question . "Why did you think of asking about the extracts from the purple fluorescent ore, Boss?"
Even Chen Mu didn't know how to answer that question . He could only say, "We can now produce the extracts . "
"Ah!" Ru Qiu covered her mouth in surprise and asked in a daze, "Since when have we been able to extract liquids from the purple fluorescent ore?"
"Don't you know?"
"I don't . I've been assisting sister Sue for the last few days, and I have been so busy my head is spinning . " Ru Qiu put on a look of suffering . But she was soon excited again . "Boss, does that mean we have a lot of the extract from the purple fluorescent ore?"
Taking a look at Ru Qiu, Chen Mu knew what she was thinking and had to straight-out destroy her fantasy . "We don't have much, and we have to sell what we do have . "
Ru Qiu's spirits abruptly wilted . She had just been thinking she might get the boss to give her some of the extract do to some research .
Seeing her expression and thinking about how hard she had been working for that period, Chen Mu couldn't quite stand it . He said, "Wait a little while until our production has increased, and I'll be able to put some aside for your research . "
Ru Qiu immediately raised her head, her face overjoyed . "Really? Boss…"
"Mmmm . "
Ru Qiu's introduction about the purple fluorescent extracts set Chen Mu's mind itching . Still, the thing he needed most at that time was a lot of money . He couldn't do anything but repress his curiosity .
Fortunately, it was a consumable product . That meant the market would be bigger . The thing Chen Mu most needed to be concerned with just then was how to increase production . The simplest way would be to get more equipment . But he'd had to throw out 150 million for just one piece of equipment . He didn't have the ability to squander the money for several .
His communications card sounded . He glanced to see that it was Qiao Fei! That rather surprised Chen Mu . Why would she call him? He had really formed a deep impression of that outlandish woman .
"Do you have extract from the purple fluorescent ore on your hands?" Qiao Fei appeared on the screen and broke right out with the question .
Chen Mu didn't deny it and nodded . "Right . "
Qiao Fei's eyes were tightly locked on Chen Mu . "Did you produce it, or are you re-selling it?"
Chen Mu said calmly, "We produced it . What's the problem?"
Qiao Fei suddenly smiled, and her expression relaxed . "Boss Chen is pretty fierce, after all . You've actually gotten the technology to extract the purple fluorescent ore . That's quite a magical power! I've been longing after the snow silkworm ravine for a long time . Too bad I could never get the equipment, and it's still in the territory of that old demon Wen Zuofu . So, I haven't paid it much mind . I never thought you would get the benefits in the end, ha . But it's fine that you got it, so long as you don't let Wen Zuofu get off too easily . "
Chen Mu shuddered inwardly; his counterpart had long known about the snow silkworm ravine .
"What's the highest grade of extract you can produce now?" Qiao Fei asked, curious .
"The red extract . "
The expression on Qiao Fei's face became abruptly strange, her eyes looking as though she were itching to inspect Chen Mu's whole body .
Chen Mu frowned . "Is there a problem?"
"I've just found out you are getting more and more interesting, man! I've never been able to find out what's up with you . If you were to tell me you were from some large firm, I wouldn't be surprised . There are no more than five organizations in the whole Heavenly Drum Village District able to produce the red extract . " Qiao Fei was looking at Chen Mu as though he were from outer space .
Chen Mu didn't change his expression, though he'd inwardly raised his guard . Since Qiao Fei had found him out, what about the others? Could they be secretly investigating too?
Seeming to have discovered Chen Mu's guardedness, Qiao Fei said nonchalantly, "Stop worrying . If I didn't find out, that old demon Wen Zuofu certainly won't find out . Ha ha, if that old demon were to find out the entire snow silkworm ravine was full of purple fluorescent ore, I'm afraid his guts would turn green from regret . " After she finished laughing, her expression turned a little serious . "You'd still better be careful . Wen Zuofu's card artisan troops recently seem to be having frequent mobilizations . I reckon he has a mind to hit you . "
"Thank you very much!" Chen Mu's expression of thanks was sincere . The intelligence from Qiao Fei was important to him .
"No need to thank me . I'm helping myself by helping you . " Qiao Fei waved her hand as though it were nothing, and she proceeded to say seriously, "Right . Sell me some of the extract . I'll pay cash . "
Chen Mu didn't hesitate . "How much do you need?"
A bill of goods immediately appeared on the screen, on which were listed the quantities needed for each of the extracts . Doing some mental calculation, what Qiao Fei needed would cost about 500 million Oudi .
Given their current production, he didn't know how long it would take to produce that much extract . Chen Mu suddenly had an idea, and he said, "That much extract probably requires 500 million Oudi . I urgently need more machinery right now . If you could use the equipment as compensation, I'll add in another ten percent for free . "
Qiao Fei looked interested . "What kind of equipment do you need?"
Chen Mu scanned over the bill of goods he'd given Xi Ping, and he then heard Qiao Fei discussing it with someone in a low voice .
After a moment, Qiao Fei raised her head again and readily said, "Ok, no problem! We'll send over the equipment tomorrow . Five hundred million buys a little more than three sets, but not quite four . I'll just send over four, which comes out to 600 million . You can wait until we get the goods . "
Chen Mu nodded . "Ok . "
Closing his communications card, Chen Mu hadn't thought the problem that had been giving him such a headache would be so easily solved . But when he thought of the intelligence Qiao Fei had presented him with, he became abruptly cautious . He called Jiang Liang over .
"Boss . " Jiang Liang saluted with perfect seriousness . With his perception restored, Jiang Liang looked especially sharp that day . His eyes shone with a chill gaze, and the manner of his every gesture was as though he were a completely different person from before . What hadn't changed, however, was his style of getting things done . He was meticulous and extremely serious .
Chen Mu repeated the intelligence Qiao Fei had just provided him . Jiang Liang showed no surprise, his expression as normal .
"Understood!" Jiang Liang's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like nothing could impress him .
Seeing Jiang Liang in front of him, Chen Mu suddenly thought of Bogner . The two of them looked alike at certain times . It was just that Bogner wasn't ordinarily so proper, but Jiang Liang always had his eyes straight ahead and no expression . But once any fighting started, both men's demeanors and gazes became very similar .
Having given Jiang Liang that information, Chen Mu could relax . He was certain Jiang Liang would arrange everything properly . His ability in that regard by himself could top several other people combined .
The next day, the equipment Qiao Fei had spoken of was sent to the ravine . Chen Mu immediately started to do the intense work of assembly . With his prior experience, the work of assembly that time advanced smoothly . Chen Mu assembled four separators after spending only half a day . That meant their daily output would increase five times over .
Yet another issue to cause headaches, however, was the mountain of unneeded parts . The equipment Qiao Fei had sent over cost 600 million . Adding to that the 150 million Xi Ping had spent, it would be 750 million altogether . From that 750 million, not quite 20 percent of the parts had been used to assemble the separators .
In other words, Chen Mu had now piled up 600 million worth of parts, which made him quite anxious .
Chapter end
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