Volume 1: Raging Waves City Chapter 33: Investing in the Black Potion
The moment Luke revealed his identity, the momentum of the four people who were blocking his way all wilted.
They are just a dark potion workshop and have no ability to fight against the ferocious Imperial Secret Service.
The old man quickly saluted Luke and said, "Hello, Inspector Meteorite. I'm Ralph, and these three are my sons.
I know that we have violated the laws of the Empire by illegally making potions, and we accept the punishment."
Ralph spoke the words of admitting the punishment very skillfully. It seemed that their place was visited by the Secret Service many times, and perhaps people from the Public Security Bureau also came here frequently.
As long as the fine is paid, the black potion can be produced as usual.
But Ralph had no idea that this time it was the detective of the Secret Service who came to his door in person. He wondered how much money he would need to send him away.
Thinking of this, Ralph's expression turned very bad.
It seems that this time I not only have to cut the flesh, but also bleed!
Luke smiled and said, "Old Ralph, I'm not here to fine you. I'm here to discuss business with you."
Talking about business?!
Ralph was puzzled.
I'm a dark potion workshop that specializes in aphrodisiacs.
What business can you, a detective of the Imperial Secret Service, discuss with me?
"Sir, please don't joke with me."
"I have nothing to joke with you about. This is not the place to discuss business. Find a place to discuss it."
Ralph didn't know what the Secret Service detective was trying to do, so he could only invite him to his office.
Also serves as a medicine preparation room.
On the test bench, curved glass tubes connected different vessels, and some green liquid was boiling in a hemispherical glass pot.
Ralph came in and first took away the oil lamp from under the glass pot, asked his son to bring a chair, and then drove them all out.
“Sir Inspector… We, the merchants dealing in dark potions, seem to be making money, but the profit margins are actually very thin.
After purchasing raw materials, hiring workers, transportation, and other various arrangements, we don't get much money.
If we really could make money, we wouldn't still be living in Black Medicine Lane.
Sir, please sit down, please sit down..."
Luke didn't sit down, but walked around the small pharmacy mixing room and looked at the instruments here.
"Old Ralph, other potion workshops probably don't have such professional potion mixing equipment as yours."
Talking about these equipments, Ralph couldn't help but say proudly, "Sir, most of the potion workshops here make potions according to existing formulas. They are safe, but not competitive.
I just like to tweak potion recipes a bit to make them more potent.
We make an improved aphrodisiac, which is in great demand in wealthy areas.”
"But...someone died."
Ralph immediately denied it: "No, no, no, the deceased master didn't drink the potion we made. Before we finalize the formula of the potion we made, I personally tasted it.
If anyone has to die, I will die first."
"Why don't you try it yourself?" Luke looked at Ralph, who was so old that he could hardly walk, and expressed his disbelief.
"If you don't believe me, Detective, I'll drink a bottle right now."
"No, no..." Luke stopped Ralph.
If a lord in the wealthy area really died from drinking the black potion, someone would have come to his door long ago.
This rumor was most likely fabricated by jealous colleagues.
It is also possible that the master's death made many people satisfied, and the beneficiaries did not want to create any more trouble.
But whatever the truth is, it has nothing to do with why Luke is here.
Luke sat down and Kalina stood behind her, still holding the magic wand in her hand.
"Please sit down..." Luke asked Ralph to sit down, and then said, "I want to invest in your potion workshop."
ah!
Ralph was shocked: "Inspector, did I hear you correctly? You want to invest in my potion workshop?"
Luke said, "You heard it right. You don't need to ask for the specific reason. You invest in the potion workshop with your shares, and the profits... you get 20% and I get 80%.
I can provide you with shelter and sales channels. The potions produced here in the future can obtain special item approvals from the Cape District Secret Service, and leave the port under the escort of Imperial spies and be sold all over the world. "
Luke's words immediately made Ralph excited.
A special item approval from the Secret Service was enough to make Ralph's family prosperous, not to mention that the Secret Service also took the initiative to send people to escort them.
This is the kind of gold bars that the empire's royal spy is trying to force into your arms, and you have no choice but to refuse.
But Ralph still asked in disbelief: "Inspector, is it okay to do this? We are a dark potion workshop, it is illegal..."
"I'm here to make you legal, right? With the Cape District Secret Service and me backing you up, what do you have to be afraid of?
Give me a definite answer whether you will do it or not. If you are afraid of taking risks, I can go to another company."
"Dry!"
That’s right…the detective of the Secret Service is leading the production of the dark potion, so why should I be afraid?
"It's great!" Luke pointed at the green potion that Ralph had just taken and asked, "Is this the main aphrodisiac you sell here?"
"Yes..." Ralph quickly took the reagent bottle and said proudly, "This aphrodisiac is fast-acting and strong, and does not put too much burden on the body. Its effect is better than all similar products on the market.
The gentlemen in the wealthy areas all like it. If we can promote it to the world... we will definitely make a lot of money!"
Luke took the reagent bottle and shook it in front of him, then handed it to Ralph.
"Follow your previous recipe and use the ingredients I told you to make another bottle of potion. Reduce the amount of plantain powder by 10 grams, increase the amount of whale fat by 5 grams, and add 8 grams of cottonseed to the slime before stirring it and bake it over the fire until it becomes a pudding state.
After the original drug is prepared, heat it on the fire until the color turns... the same blue as my secretary's eyes, then put it in a freezer at a constant temperature of minus 5 degrees for half an hour . "
Ralph was surprised and asked, "Inspector, you know my formula? Impossible, I am the only one who knows the formula of this potion, not even my son knows it!"
Luke said mysteriously, "You don't need to worry about where I got the formula from. Just make a bottle of potion according to what I said, and then evaluate its efficacy."
Ralph didn't dare to ask more questions, and immediately made the potion on the spot according to the steps and improved methods of the aphrodisiac potion.
Kylena whispered to Luke and reminded him carefully: "Inspector, as a senior official of the Empire, you personally participated in the production, transportation, and sale of illegal drugs...
Once, once exposed, it will definitely affect your work experience.”
Luke said to Kylena: “You should know that I came to the Cape District Secret Intelligence Bureau with an important mission, and everything I did was to complete the task assigned to me by His Highness.
I brought you here because I trust you."
Kylena suddenly realized.
The inspector was taken care of by the princess as soon as he took office, so what he did must have a deep meaning.
As the inspector's confidential secretary, all I have to do is consider how to assist the inspector.
