Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 274: Powder (Request for Monthly Votes)

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Powder (Request for Monthly Votes)

"Nice place, I think I’ll come back next time,"

Julie slowly savored the last of her Scorpio cocktail, slid a US Dollar under the glass, smiled at Zhong Shenxiu, and got up to leave the bar.

Watching the gazes of the men around him, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly felt that the business at his bar would improve by a good percentage.

’Julie, an interesting woman...’

He watched her retreating figure, his lips curling with an amused smile.

"Humph!"

This scene was witnessed by Angel and Alice, and suddenly they both felt that all men were pigs, a wave of acid washing over them.

...

After closing the bar, Zhong Shenxiu went to the second basement level, inspected the wine cellar, and then returned to his office.

"The last batch of drinks, refined, has been met with great satisfaction from our guests,"

Smith handed over the day’s earnings to Zhong Shenxiu while commenting on the customer feedback, "If the pharmacy continues to supply drinks of this quality, we will definitely make a fortune."

"Don’t worry, the quality of the drinks will only get better over time,"

Zhong Shenxiu nodded, pulled out a US Dollar and handed it to Smith, signaling him to leave.

Smith also knew that the boss wouldn’t let the bar staff get wind of the ’pharmacy’ news, so he tactfully exited the office, closing the door behind him.

"Boss, I checked the pharmacy yesterday, everything’s normal... The spicy restaurant next door has also started doing business, and the winter sales are very good,"

Scarface continued with his report.

"Good, our business is gradually getting on the right track. The next thing to consider is how to defend it..."

Zhong Shenxiu sat behind his desk, his fingers interlaced, "On one hand, the Notting Hill family has started to probe us, both overtly and covertly. On the other hand, there are the investigations by the prohibition agents..."

Scarface’s expression turned fierce and fervent, "Boss, just give me names, and I will clear all obstacles for you!"

His loyalty was such that it had surpassed the obligation for a life-saving debt—almost like that of a fanatic Believer.

Zhong Shenxiu felt a chill down his spine and waved his hand, "Violence cannot solve everything. Go down for now and gather all the information I asked you to investigate."

After sending everyone away, he moved to one side of the office and removed a painting.

Behind the painting, there was a secret door.

He opened the secret door and walked inside, arriving at a newly excavated secret chamber.

There wasn’t much inside, just a large table with various test tubes, beakers, alcohol burners... it looked like a college chemistry lab.

Besides that, there was a safe in the corner.

Zhong Shenxiu entered the combination and opened the safe, sighing at the sight of various gold pounds and US Dollars almost filling it up.

’Now I’m just like those with high daily cash flow who can’t deposit it in the bank, beginning to suffer the trouble of having too much money and nowhere to put it... The money laundering plan needs to go forward quickly.’

’It’s just a pity that it seems I have not yet met Mr. Li Wei’s obsession requirements... Such a greedy man, but even greed has its limits. Once I monopolize the private liquor business in Byron City, my wishes should be fulfilled...’

’Otherwise, his obsession must be to become the richest man in the world...’

Stuffing the wealth that many would envy into the safe like it was trash, Zhong Shenxiu opened another secret compartment and took out a test tube.

In the test tube was a black, ash-like powder.

It came from the leader of the Mo’er Gang, a poor fellow transformed into a monster by a mysterious power.

Lately, Zhong Shenxiu had been trying to analyze the remains left by the other party and make use of them.

’The latest discovery and achievement is that this powder, probably left by the burning of moths, has a strong hallucinogenic effect...’

’In fact, hallucinations are not necessarily just illusions; they could also be the true side of the world!’

"Under the influence of intense hallucinatory stimuli, a person’s spiritual power can undergo a qualitative transformation and enhancement... With this thought in mind, could I create some potions that enhance the spiritual power of the human body, or rather... enhance inspiration?"

"Even if it’s only temporary, it’s not useful for me, but Scarface and the others would be a perfect fit..."

Scarface was actually considered elite, and with sufficient firepower, ordinary flesh-and-blood monsters simply couldn’t withstand the power of bullets.

However, they often carry severe mental contamination.

Facing them, even the well-trained elite soldiers could fall into a variety of hallucinations, leading to paralysis of their limbs and leaving them helpless to the slaughter!

Therefore, a stimulant that can temporarily boost spiritual power would be extremely useful.

If equipped with these, even if they encountered the monster from before, Scarface and the others would be able to handle it calmly.

"But the side effects and sequelae can’t be guaranteed at all unless a large number of human experiments are conducted, along with follow-up observations..."

"If it’s those forces that treat ordinary soldiers as disposable goods, there’s actually no great need..."

Zhong Shenxiu paused in thought but still took a test tube to the alchemy table and began to attempt to create the potion.

...

Earl District, Merlin Avenue No.25.

At noon.

Zhong Shenxiu finally finished the experiment and returned home.

Typically, he would have lunch with his family, then sleep, waiting for the evening when the bars opened, living a nocturnal lifestyle.

"Mr. Li Wei!"

Upon entering the gate, he saw the hired butler, Ron, waiting there.

Zhong Shenxiu casually handed his coat to him and asked, "How are Jones and the others?"

"Mr. Jones has just returned, Carmela, and Jennifer have just finished their morning grammar lessons and are about to have lunch with their tutor."

Ron looked about sixty years old, with ample management experience and a very good reputation, and was hired by Zhong Shenxiu specifically to take care of the household.

"Very good!"

He went to the dining room and saw his younger brothers and sisters dining with a woman dressed in a black gauze gown.

In this era, norms ranged from conservative to liberal, but at least, to avoid scandals, upper-class families tended to employ tutors of the same gender for their children.

"Good afternoon, Lady Isabella."

Zhong Shenxiu nodded in greeting, sat down at his seat, and casually poured himself a glass of milk.

On the pristine white tablecloth, a woven fruit basket was filled with colorful fruits, accompanied by well-fried lamb chops and fried chicken, looking very sumptuous.

Carmela and Jennifer, the two little girls, had both gained a bit of weight recently.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Mojito!"

Lady Isabella returned the greeting properly.

"I’ve been reading about city geography recently and suddenly remembered a city name I’ve seen somewhere before, but now I can’t seem to find it... Lady Isabella seems to also be good at geography. Have you ever heard of it?"

Zhong Shenxiu cut himself a piece of steak, seemingly asking casually.

"Which city?" Isabella thought it was a test from her employer and looked serious.

"Emola!"

Zhong Shenxiu still had some interest in the Moth Lord but to no avail; despite probing indirectly and even looking through the limited books and materials he had collected, he had not found a trace of it.

Isabella tilted her head and thought for a moment, then answered with certainty, "There’s absolutely no city of that name within the Federation; such a strange pronunciation and style, perhaps it’s from some remote overseas colony..."