David took a few sips of water to clear his throat before speaking. "You mentioned how hard it is to find a skilled herbalist. Can we really expect them to charge a low price?"


    The assistant awkwardly scratched his head, saying, "But asking for a share in the herbal profits seems a bit much, doesn''t it?"


    The association dealt with a huge amount of herbs every year, and even a tiny fraction of the profits was significant.


    David set his cup down and gave the assistant a sideways nce. "If you could cultivate a rare variety yourself, I''d give you a share too. But do you have what it takes?"


    The assistant immediately looked down, avoiding eye contact.


    David shook his head. "You all just think too small."


    The assistant didn''t dare say anything else.


    David tapped his fingers on his knee, thinking for a moment. "Alright, set up a meeting with this herbalist for tomorrow. I''ll talk to him myself."


    The assistant looked up, surprised. "You''re going to speak with him personally?"


    "Yeah." David didn''t borate further. Then he remembered something and turned to his assistant. "Did we get a package this afternoon?"


    He recalled Mirabe saying she''d send a same-day delivery.


    "Yes," the assistant nodded. "I''ll fetch it for you right away."


    "Go on, hurry," David urged, which was unusual for him.


    The assistant quickly left the office to retrieve the package and soon returned with


    it.


    David used a small pair of scissors to open the box, pulling out a porcin jar, eager to see what was inside.


    As he caught a whiff of the contents, David''s eyes widened with surprise. Even though it wasbeled as a grade-S remedy, the intense, refined aroma was beyond the usual grade-S quality.


    He poured a pill into his palm.


    The assistant, rarely seeing David this excited, couldn''t help but look at the pill. "What is this, Mr. President?"


    David didn''t respond, just ced the pill back in the jar and sealed it, sighing, "Truly, the new waves push the old ones forward."


    A twenty-year-old master pharmacist, perhaps even more advanced than that.


    The assistant, not fully grasping what David meant, just watched him.


    "Put this jar in the treasure room and mark it as grade-S vitality pills," David instructed, handing the jar to the assistant.


    Upon hearing this, the assistant nearly fumbled the jar. "S-grade remedy?"


    "Yeah." David nced at the assistant. "Do you know who made this?"


    The assistant held the jar tightly, thinking for a moment. "Could it be Mr. Wheat?"


    There weren''t many master pharmacists in the association, and few could produce grade-S remedies. Even David had only achieved that in recent years, and apart from Devon, he couldn''t think of anyone else.


    David shook his head. "Not him."


    His apprentice had talent, but after seeing today''s remedy... his apprentice was just a novice inparison.


    The assistant was curious. "Then who?"


    David picked up his water cup again, took a sip, and replied slowly, "The new vice president."


    The assistant was initially stunned, then his eyes widened. "Vice President Howe??"


    David nodded. "Yes."


    The assistant looked at the porcin jar in his hands. Initially, when David mentioned the vice president, he thought they might be capable of producing grade-A remedies. But now... it turned out to be a master pharmacist who could make grade-S remedies.