Volume 2: Empire Chapter 19: The Great Battle
The meeting room still bore traces of last night's battle, with gaps and blackened bloodstains on the walls. A small square table that had been brought from somewhere was placed in the middle, with Old Adrian sitting at the other end of the table, and the leaders who had surrendered to him standing behind him.
After Luke walked in, Old Adrian's bloodshot eyes kept staring at him. He didn't say a word until Luke sat down opposite him.
Luke took a briefcase from the fast leg, took out a contract from it, pushed it in front of old Adrian and said: "I have decided to invest in your alchemy factory! A total of 150 million Reichsmarks will be used to upgrade the equipment of the alchemy factory, improve the treatment of workers, and there will also be a collective housing construction plan and road reconstruction plan.
Sign it, and I will immediately give you a check for 20 million Reichsmarks. You should be in urgent need of money to provide compensation for the casualties and to win over your people. "
When Luke announced the investment amount he was going to give, the expressions of those leaders and thugs who were pretending to be fierce immediately relaxed.
How much is 150 million?
They didn't know, they only knew that it was a lot of money, enough to make them completely forget what happened last night.
Boss Neil?
Who is Neil!
In the meeting room, everyone stared at the contract in front of old Adrian, wishing they could grab the pen and sign on it.
But old Adrian didn't touch the contract.
"I only have three sons. Sainsbury died here last night. He didn't have to die, and many people didn't have to die." Old Adrian stared at Luke, his tone full of sadness: "Mr. Luke... I want to know what your purpose is in coming to the downtown area?
How many more people do you want me to kill? How many more people do you want us to die?"
Luke also stared at old Adrian: "You chose the path, I didn't force you. You could have given the first generation of mysterious substance mixture to Neil in exchange for a stable life, but you chose to take the position yourself.
Since you have chosen the path, don't regret it. Keep going and create a new world for future generations. Then Sainsbury and those who died will not have died in vain.
Ed should have told you what I wanted to do in the downtown area. I had no intention of provoking a dispute, but some people just thought I was easy to bully and wanted to get something for nothing. I want to protect my investment in the downtown area, and I need a group of people I can trust. Neil is a warning to outsiders, and also a test for you.
Sign your name and give your people peace of mind.”
There was a hint of intimidation in Luke's words.
Old Adrian knew that his foundation was extremely unstable. Now his sons and confidants were either dead or injured. If he did not sign, there were many people who would sign on his behalf.
Since I decided to kill Neil yesterday, I have no choice.
Old Adrian picked up a pen and signed his name on the contract, and Luke took out a check and paid the first investment amount on the spot.
Everyone was very happy.
Old Adrian took the check and looked at the string of zeros on it. The slight resistance in his heart quickly dissipated.
Now that we are on this ship, no matter where it goes, just follow the captain.
"Mr. Luke, the Adrian Alchemy Factory is the most solid support for all your actions in the lower city of Saint Lun. Your enemies are our enemies, and your friends are our friends."
"Very good, old Adrian, you are a man who can do great things." After Luke praised old Adrian, he said, "You can produce the first generation of mysterious substance mixture by yourself. However, the mysterious energy fog in the sewage reservoir has its own circulation system, so don't collect it excessively. If you find that the production of mysterious energy fog has decreased significantly, stop production immediately.
Then... a civil war was breaking out in the Rio Republic, and the Restoration Army of the Lookout Organization was in urgent need of a group of mercenaries, offering very high rewards.
I plan to use the first generation of mysterious substance mixture to set up a mercenary group here to specifically undertake the outsourced military missions of the Rio Restoration Army."
As Baron Jeff of Brilliant Island began to cause trouble for Rio's navy and merchant ships at sea, Pan ordered the Watcher to launch a war of restoration in Rio. However, the Rio Republican Army was too strong, and the Watcher's Restoration Army was trapped in the mountains and could not make any breakthroughs, and it was difficult to get additional troops.
Now that Pan had obtained the City of Raging Tides as a trading port for the Lookout, he had money but nowhere to spend it. So he expressed his desire to pay mercenaries to enter Rio to fight for the Restoration Army through Viscount Iscolan, who had been secretly in contact with the Lookout.
Luke didn't want the people from Raging Waves City to get involved in this mess, so he set his sights on the lower city area of Saint Lun City.
Some people here are willing to risk their lives just to make money.
Simply exporting cannon fodder not only makes little money, but also damages the brand. Fortunately, there is a treasure trove of sewage in the lower city. The first generation of mysterious substance mixture can quickly create powerful mercenaries. Sending them to Rio to fight can make money for yourself continuously.
The greater benefit is to train a reliable military unit outside the empire.
Old Adrian thought that Mr. Luke's money-making point was the first-generation mysterious substance mixture, but he didn't expect the topic to jump directly to the Rio Republic far overseas.
The span is a bit large.
"Mr. Luke, I can't quite follow your train of thought... You want to send mercenaries to the civil war in the Rio Republic. How much money can you make?"
"Originally, I couldn't tell you this kind of commercial secret, but I'm sincere." Luke said with a smile: "I plan to price the first generation of the mysterious substance mixture at 500,000 Reichsmarks per injection.
Those who have no money but want to gain power can sign a ten-year employment agreement with me and become my mercenaries in advance.
For mercenaries willing to go to Rio to fight, the lookout offers a daily wage of 2,000 Reichsmarks per elite soldier , and I'll take half of it. Listen carefully, it's a daily wage! Regardless of whether there is a combat mission or not, the lookout must pay. "
Is there such a good thing?
Everyone in the meeting room was silently calculating how much wealth this generous commission would represent.
If you earn 1,000 Reichsmarks a day, that's more than 300,000 Reichsmarks a year. If you're lucky enough to live for ten years, that's more than 3 million Reichsmarks.
Although I don’t know if Rio’s civil war can last for ten years, three to five years is no problem, and this is also a very considerable income!
Everyone in the room was itching to go to Rio to join the battle.
Old Adrian asked rationally, "Mr. Luke, are the Lookout really willing to pay so much? Including your commission, the Lookout has to pay 700,000 Reichsmarks for an elite soldier a year, not to mention the equipment and supplies consumed during the war."
Luke replied: "The Lookouts are in urgent need of troops, so they are asking a very high price for elite soldiers. Moreover, the territory they control is very small, and the material consumption of raising a group of cannon fodder is not as good as hiring an elite soldier at a high price.
In fact, even if a single mercenary goes to Rio and gets a full daily salary of 2,000 Reichsmarks, it is difficult to make a long-term profit. But if they go in an organized group, and have connections, the mortality rate of mercenaries is not high. After all, if my mercenaries die too quickly, I will be losing money.
My mercenaries will undergo strict military training before heading to Rio. At the same time, I will provide my mercenaries with the most suitable equipment, as well as military doctors and medical supplies. The officers leading the team have very rich war experience and will refuse military missions that are not suitable for their difficulty. "
Everyone in the room felt very tempted.
Mr. Luke couldn't really take his mercenaries to Rio to make money. Fighting in the lower city was fighting, and fighting in Rio was also fighting, and there was a high reward.
More importantly, you can get a shot of the first generation of mysterious substance mixture without spending any money. In this world, strength is the capital to survive.
This is a win-win situation for all parties.
Old Adrian immediately said, "Mr. Luke, you have really done a great deed for our Lower City. I fully support your establishment of a mercenary group here, and I promise to introduce you to a group of brave men who dare to fight and kill and have seen blood."
Others were also clamoring, wanting to get a spot for their relatives and friends in this mercenary group that had not yet been established.
Seeing that his mercenary group had received such enthusiastic support, Luke struck while the iron was hot and said to Old Adrian: "I will name this mercenary group 'North Star' and recruit 1,000 elite mercenaries in the first batch. Prepare the first generation of the mysterious substance mixture as soon as possible, and I will give you 200 more places. You can select the qualified mercenaries I want."
"Only 200?"
Old Adrian felt that 200 was a bit too few, not even enough to share among his own gang.
Luke said, "You took 150 million from me, and you have the first generation of mysterious substance mixture, so don't be too greedy... Let others have some meat to eat."
Old Adrian couldn't help but blush at what Luke said.
It is true that I am too greedy.
One thousand injections of the first generation of the mysterious substance mixture would bring in 500 million yuan in revenue. Even if it was given to Mr. Luke, he would still get at least 200 to 300 million yuan. Add to that the 150 million yuan investment that had just been signed, and other parties would be jealous.
If he continued to covet the mercenary position, Neil's old path would become his future.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Luke. The grand future you gave us has made me a little dizzy. I will prepare a thousand injections of the first generation of the mysterious substance mixture as soon as possible, and I will also personally select these 200 mercenaries."
"Good, very good! Today's discussion went as smoothly as I expected. You are more suitable for this position than the dead Neil. If there is nothing else, I will go back."
After finishing everything he wanted to do, Luke prepared to leave.
Old Adrian asked at this time: “Mr. Luke, are you going to the other four alchemy factories?
The investment you have now is lower than the expected value of the other four alchemy factories. I will send someone to protect you."
"No, I won't go there. You should sort out your affairs first. I will go to the upper city to do some work in the next few days. Please communicate with the other four alchemy factories on my behalf.
Let them understand the benefits of making money together in harmony.
When I come back, you will be responsible for hosting a banquet, and we will do the rest together."
Old Adrian stood up and saluted Luke with his men: "Please rest assured, Mr. Luke, we will make sure everyone in the Lower City understands your meaning."
When Luke left the Adrian Alchemy Factory, Old Adrian took out the check and the signed contract to recruit all of Neil's former men to his own side. He also bought weapons everywhere and recruited small and medium-sized gangs and powerful small groups.
Ed worked overtime to create the first generation of the mysterious substance mixture.
Melken also sent a group of people and used his influence to secretly support old Adrian.
As the contents of the contract signed by Luke and Old Adrian were leaked, the remaining investment amount of only 300 million was unbearable for the other four alchemy factories. They sent people to break into Luke's home in the downtown area, but were immediately stopped by people arranged by Old Adrian.
The fuse was lit and the battle broke out.
All the emotions that were suppressed by Luke's 500 million investment were vented at once, and the entire downtown area of Saint Lun City was involved.
At this time, Luke had already left the downtown area with Kuai Tui and Dale, away from this chaotic place.
After security check, the forged documents of the Secret Service allowed the vehicle to pass through the checkpoint smoothly and enter the upper town area of Saint Lun City.
There are two completely different scenes inside and outside the city wall.
The fast driver finally let down his guard and asked Luke, "Chief Inspector, do you think Old Adrian can win this fight? He is outnumbered four, and the other four alchemy factories are all very strong."
"Who knows? The money I gave him and the first generation of mysterious substance mixture are enough for him to quickly improve his strength." Luke glanced at Dale beside him. She had been looking out the window since entering the city , and she was in a very low mood. Luke shifted his attention and continued, "It would be the best outcome if he wins. Even if he loses, I can negotiate cooperation with the winner again, and the cost they negotiate with me will be much smaller than it is now."
"Everything is under your control, Chief Inspector."
"The Lower City is a small matter, let them fight it out first. What gives me the most headache is the Imperial Court. They are the opponents both openly and covertly, and are much more difficult to deal with than the gangs in the Lower City." Luke remembered something and said to Fast Legs, "Let's not go to Copper Mulberry Avenue first, let's go to Miss Clear Sky's museum."
The car turned onto another road.
Dai Er asked in confusion: "Why go to Miss Qingkong? "
Luke explained, “I have too many people watching over there, and I don’t know how long I need to keep you. If someone recognizes you, you’ll get into big trouble, and it’s possible that a civil war in the Empire will be triggered.
Miss Qingkong's place is a branch of Oulu College, and all the students and faculty of the Department of Mystic Arts have arrived. You are hiding there as a student of the Department of Mystic Arts, and outsiders would never think that you are hiding under the noses of the Royal Knights.
And even if you are recognized, Miss Qingkong can explain that she is doing it to protect you. Her special identity will minimize the impact of your exposure. "
Dai Er knew this was the best solution: "S-should I really go back to the palace this time? I don't know when I will come back next time."
Luke returned the jasmine scented magic wand to Dale: "Please believe me, one day I will take you out of the palace and give you back your world."
