192: Hug the thigh

The person called Old Wang was a local cultivator who had been stuck at the Planetary Level Tier 2 for nearly ten years.

He stood on his tiptoes and looked into the distance, where ten dense lines of people stretched on endlessly: "I dragged you here the moment I saw the news, but I didn't expect us to still be a step too slow."

A young man with a buzz cut in the back row chimed in: "I live right nearby. I only missed the first wave because I was busy scraping together the money, but I heard they're releasing a full one hundred million sets in the first batch. We should be able to buy some, right?"

A balding middle-aged man in the front row complained: "I work in logistics. Just a moment ago, the ships at the interstellar port were struggling to find docking bays. These gene enhancement potions can't possibly be fake."

"They definitely aren't fake. The scalper group I'm in is about to explode; everyone is organizing people to line up and snap them up."

"As detestable as scalpers are, you have to admire their foresight."

The first batch of gene enhancement potions released into the market by Xinghai Biology seemed like a drop in the bucket compared to this buying frenzy.

Demand far exceeded supply, which led to prices skyrocketing.

But this wasn't the official price; it was the scalper price for those who had already managed to purchase the gene enhancement potions.

One hundred million sets of the primary version of the gene enhancement potion were wiped out within three days of being made available at major online and offline points of sale.

Fifty million sets of the intermediate version of the gene enhancement potion lasted only one day before going out of stock.

Interstellar scalpers moved at the first scent of profit, even sparing no expense to rent Space Warp-class spaceships to reach the Luol Star System, set up star gates, and bring in manpower, all to get a slice of the pie in this feast.

On the black market, the price of the primary version of the gene enhancement potion had been hyped up by scalpers to three times the official price set by Xinghai Biology, and the ultimate version had even quintupled, yet the market response remained one of insatiable demand.

Star Sea Headquarters.

Bai Qianqian and Su Jin sat in the top-floor office with a fully simulated landscape, virtual projection screens updating in real-time floating before them, displaying sales data, capital inflows, and black market price fluctuation charts.

The profits were in the trillions.

Even Bai Qianqian and Su Jin, who had seen their fair share of storms, couldn't help but click their tongues in amazement.

Su Jin: "The gene enhancement potions the Boss provided us with are simply a cornucopia; this is even faster than printing money."

Bai Qianqian smiled and said: "After deducting basic costs, as well as transportation and losses, our net profit remains stable at over 900%."

Su Jin gazed at the ships coming and going beneath her feet, her eyes shining, her face flushed, and looking radiant.

She was one of the founding members who had joined Xinghai in the earliest batch.

Thinking back to her past self, she had given up a high-paying job abroad to return to the country just to get a chance to work on Academician Chen Guoyuan's project, and she had successfully joined Xinghai.

And this made Su Jin incredibly grateful for just how wise her decision back then had been.

Interstellar trade, and at the very top tier of the Milky Way Galaxy, no less.

When she had first joined Xinghai, how could she have ever imagined this?

Xinghai had become number one on Blue Star in just a few short years, and now, with the entry into the interstellar era, Su Jin's ambitions were constantly expanding.

To make Xinghai an interstellar giant, standing at the peak of the Milky Way Galaxy, and as a core participant, she was destined to go down in history.

Bai Qianqian looked at Su Jin's expression and knew exactly what she was thinking.

But unlike Su Jin, Bai Qianqian's ambitions were even greater.

From the moment she stepped into the Luol Star System, she knew that as long as she followed behind the Ghost, the Lord of the Star Sea, and the Human Emperor, the peak of the Milky Way Galaxy would be nothing more than a starting point.

The office phone suddenly rang.

"President Bai, President Su, the representatives from the Guangming Chamber of Commerce and the Luol Chamber of Commerce are waiting in the reception room."

"Let them in."

"Understood."

Before long, Katie and Luo Xing entered the office.

The four sat facing each other, and after some pleasantries, Katie got straight to the point: "President Bai, as far as I know, the current market demand for gene enhancement potions far exceeds supply. The Guangming Chamber of Commerce owns several large-scale gene potion companies; we can provide contract manufacturing free of charge, hoping only to obtain a small portion of the agency sales channels."

Luo Xing: "Our Luol Chamber of Commerce's logistics system spans hundreds of star systems; we can unconditionally provide you with a much broader market."

Bai Qianqian and Su Jin exchanged glances, already knowing where they stood.

This was no different from the century-long plan the Boss had left behind; everything was developing in an orderly fashion according to the established trajectory.

"Cooperation is naturally no problem."

Bai Qianqian answered decisively.

"For the primary and intermediate potions, we can each concede 10% of our production capacity for your two firms to handle as sales agents."

"We do not need any contract manufacturing; we only require you to provide stable logistics channels and the supply of core raw materials."

Katie and Luo Xing exchanged glances, seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Both had expected to be gouged heavily, but they hadn't expected Bai Qianqian to agree so readily, and the conditions sounded very reasonable as well.

Katie immediately stated: "No problem, the Guangming Chamber of Commerce can provide long-term supply of core raw materials, sold at cost price."

Luo Xing: "Regarding logistics, the Luol Chamber of Commerce can provide services free of charge."

Katie and Luo Xing also agreed very readily.

Because the profits were simply too staggering.

Even if it were just a 10% sales agency right, as long as production capacity could be expanded, it would absolutely exceed the combined profits of the Chamber of Commerce's businesses; this was essentially picking up money with sacks.

Both of them also understood that Xinghai's concession this time was intended to bind the three major chambers of commerce of the Luol Star System onto the same chariot, to advance and retreat together.

It wasn't until evening that the three parties finally finalized the specific details of the cooperation.

Leaving the Star Sea Headquarters, Katie and Luo Xing rode in the same shuttle.

"President Luo, what do you think?"

Luo Xing's brows furrowed, his expression serious, as he toyed with an obsidian bracelet in his hand.

"The focus is on the advanced gene enhancement potion. If it can truly improve the cultivation aptitude of Stellar Levels, the local quality assets of the Luol Star System will skyrocket."

Katie nodded in agreement: "That was a well-played move. Once the efficacy is finally confirmed, those Stellar Levels stuck at their current level will certainly spare no cost in acquiring high-quality assets in the Luol Star System for the sake of the advanced potion."

"Land, mines, ports—everything will appreciate in value."

Luo Xing: "Sigh, these high-quality assets will ultimately fall into the hands of Xinghai."

"They already control 50% of the market share; with this move, they can harvest at least another 20%."

Katie: "What are your plans?"

Luo Xing: "Excluding necessary social obligations, the assets in the Luol Star System must be held onto, even if their prices skyrocket to the heavens."

Katie chuckled softly.

"It seems you believe in that ethereal promise."

Luo Xing: "I don't believe in their promise; I believe in their choice."

"Xinghai is putting so much effort into consolidating the assets of the Luol Star System; their goal is all too obvious."

Katie sighed: "Yes, Xinghai is using the advanced gene enhancement potion to forcibly raise the fundamental value of the Luol Star System's overall assets, tempting local chambers of commerce to sell, so they can then take over."

Luo Xing: "Not only that, as long as the advanced gene enhancement potion can actually be successfully implemented, Xinghai will essentially be cloaked in a halo of immunity."

Katie agreed: "Mhm, that is indeed the case. Since Xinghai can research advanced gene enhancement potions, in the future, they might be able to develop even more effective next-generation gene enhancement potions, and those Stellar Levels stuck at their current realms will become Xinghai's potential protectors."

"The Radiant Empire might also step in and offer Xinghai certain support policies; this is a great opportunity to boost national power."

Luo Xing's brows relaxed, and a smile gradually appeared on his face.

"Therefore, what we need to do now is hold tight to Xinghai's coattails; sooner or later, we will also be able to bask in the glory and soar to the sky along with them."