About an hour later, we both walk out of the restaurant, all smiles.
He puts out his hand, and I shake it gladly, but also pull him in for a hug.
It’s easy to see we are both in a good mood.
“It will take a couple days to get the paperwork together.
I’ll let you know when we can sign the papers.
Meet up with the metal dealer I sent you and sell these alloys, money talks, not metal.
Once Gus gets back to me I’ll set up a meeting for you both, hopefully tomorrow afternoon if he’s around.
If he’s off on a job then too bad, so sad.
You will just have to wait for him to contact you.
I think he’s around though, hopefully he’ll get back to me quickly.” Since I’m not meeting up with my sister till after she gets off work, I decide to check out the metal dealer since I’m already in the area.
It’s only a few minutes away.
Right before Uncle Lin walks away, I remember something, calling out to him to hold on as I reach into my backpack.
Pulling out a Nutripack, I hand it to him, smiling along the way.
I almost forgot my secret weapon: I can make Nutripacks, expensive Nutripacks, quite easily.
If I could make 15 or so at level 1 and I’m level 4 now, then I should be able to make 60 or so Nutripacks a day.
I’ve never actually used ALL of my daily powers on making nutripacks; I never needed that many and had to save some for other stuff.
If making expensive ones, then the value can add up quickly.
Most varieties are cheap or slightly more, but the ‘Dessert Series’ is a quite popular midrange set of flavors selling for around 1500 credits each.
EACH.
My favorite nutripack, by far, Cheesecake, is part of this series.
Along with Chocolate Cake, Ice Cream Cake, Tiramisu, and more, all the flavors are quite popular.
Except for Chocolate Pudding, don’t get that one, too poopy looking.
It has since been discontinued but a few are floating out there.
Previously, I had eaten half the Cheesecake nutripack and was desperate to make more.
After I copied the half eaten nutripack, I was able to focus on the nutrient solution inside the packet and keep filling the newly made nutripack until full.
Long story short, I could now make full nutripacks from partially eaten nutripacks.
It was quite a different story to just copying a half eaten nutripack.
Focusing on the nutrient solution as they were copied, It was as simple as calling more of the nutrient solution, after the exterior packaging was made.
Basically I copied the partially eaten one, then focused on the nutrient solution, till the new one was full and not half full.
There was a Tiramisu nutripack underneath all the others, almost completely eaten with just a tiny bit inside and I was able to make a full one from it after some practice on the Cheesecake.
I had managed to make a handful of each of the ‘dessert series’: Cheesecake, Ice Cream Cake, and Tiramisu.
It was no difference to me when making cheap or expensive nutripacks.
I could make the same amount of each, per day, so why not make expensive ones… The nutripack I handed Uncle Lin was my favorite, Cheesecake, but then I fished out a Tiramisu and Chocolate Cake for him, giving him one of each.
His quizzical look said it all.
“Why are you giving me these?
I mean, thanks, but I mainly eat real food nowadays, being so close to the farms and stuff.” “I’ve gotten my hands on a number of these and am looking to sell them.
I don’t have time or patience for it and wouldn’t mind sharing the profits with the right person if they can get rid of them for me.
So basically, how’d you like to sell these for me?
It would definitely be worth your while.
Honestly, 1000 each and I’d be happy, any more than that and you can keep it.” His eyes instantly sparkle, it seems like easy money.
There are online markets that sell these as well as middle men for long-duration flights’ supplies, and Uncle Lin knows most of them.
His clout and network would make selling them much easier than me trying to convince people to try them, especially since they are much more expensive than the cheap ones.
Someone might be willing to risk a few credits, but much less likely to risk 1000.
“You can get these tested to prove their viability and quality.
I’ve a little over 20 of each of these, but can get more.
It would be a help to me if you would be the seller, and you can make some extra credits with a small amount of labor.
Maybe as a part time, post retirement gig.
It’s nice to not have to live off your savings and have a little income, right?” I close with “these are free, of course.” Who doesn’t want free stuff?
He agrees to get them tested and see if he can get rid of them, but no promises.
The bait is out, now we just wait for a bite.
It totally skipped my mind that I could help pay with nutripacks.
It actually seems faster than mining.
If I can make 50-60 of these a day, selling for 1000 each, that’s what I used to make in a month mining with Bessie, and without all of the expenses of a ship and machinery.
It’s a fun idea, but I don’t want to be a glorified nutripack factory forever.
For right now, for a short period of time, it might work.
Just to help pay for the Amadeus and take off some of the financial pressure of the next couple months.
I could easily make 100 of these in only a couple days and that would pay for a quarter of the Amadeus.
That would be huge.
After we part ways, I’m floating on cloud 9 thanks to him selling the Amadeus to me, but also because the nutripack venture feels so profitable.
It might pay to stay in town for a few more days than planned.
Damn, if I could pay for the Amadeus before leaving that would be AMAZING.
It might be impossible to sell them all in just a few days but if we can get some channels open and sell them consistently over time, that would be even better over the long run.
If I could swap Bessie for the nutripacks as collateral for the loan that would be best.
I hate risking the ship my parents left us.
Even if it is 99.99% safe, it feels awkward.
And my sister has to agree and sign off on it as well, so round 2 is tonight with her.
She’s known Uncle Lin almost her whole life and has seen the Amadeus plenty of times, knowing full well I’ve been infatuated with it since we were kids.
A few boxes of nutripacks would make convincing her this is the right move, easier.
So much to do, so little time.
Not only restocking the ship, but also selling the metals to this new metal dealer, and finding raw materials to make the nutripacks.
All this before I meet up with her in 3 hours.
Nothing like self made, slightly unrealistic deadlines to get you motivated.
The metal dealer is only a few blocks away so that’s the next stop.
I had estimated what my metals were worth, but it’s time to really find out.
No matter how certain I am of their worth, it would be a lie to say I’m not even a tiny bit anxious about it.
Just a few minutes later I’m standing in a small, second floor office, just a desk and table, with a few chairs and a couch.
A little underwhelming, if I must admit.
I’m pretty sure he’s sleeping on the couch and living here.
Ugh why does this feel like a cheap private investigators office?