Richard Robb's home was a mess, but it didn't affect Bruce in the slightest.
To his surprise, the first good news came from Incyte Pharmaceuticals, located in the Central Valley's Bakersfield. He had to pull himself away from leisurely days, rushing to this modestly-sized city at the southern end of California with Gus and the others in tow.
With a population of only a few hundred thousand, Bakersfield had grown rapidly since the discovery of a major oil field in the Kern River area in 1899, becoming a trading hub for the extraction of oil, natural gas, and subtropical irrigated agriculture.
The Incyte company was situated on a large tract of land in the suburbs of Bakersfield, with office spaces and labs all centralized. Bruce was quite satisfied seeing the ample space available for constructing a new research base. He secured the acquisition for 86 million dollars, a pleasing figure for all involved, making the handover process rather pleasant.
The CEO, John Dawson, was a typical middle-aged white man with fluffy hair and a potbelly. After gathering all the employees he was selling off, he briefly introduced the new boss and then coolly left, seeming to have made up his mind to take the money and run.
Fortunately, none of this affected the bigger picture; the company's infrastructure was still intact. However, seeing the youthful Bruce, the employees were naturally anxious and full of speculation, some worrying about job security, as it was not uncommon for new capitalist owners to make sweeping layoffs.
Of course, the former boss John would have made promises, though it's doubtful how much trust he garnered.
This simple meet-and-greet took place in the company's first-floor lobby. The headcount, security guards included, was just over three hundred—just enough to fit inside.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Most of you probably know me, or at least you've heard of me, given that I'm somewhat a colleague. Still, allow me to introduce myself, your new boss—Bruce Lee."
Bruce stood on a makeshift stage with a microphone for his opening speech. After introducing himself, he paused deliberately. The seated employees mostly watched with detachment, only a few instinctively started to clap but then awkwardly stopped, noticing the reactions around them.
"There should be applause here." Faced with the slightly embarrassing silence, Bruce wasn't the least bit uncomfortable, he just lightly gestured to the crowd.
There was some rustling among the seated employees, and finally, someone couldn't help but laugh.
"That's better, now everyone seems more engaged. This warmth is what I expected to feel from this company," Bruce said as he lightly clapped his hands. The mood was like that, once a few took the lead, the atmosphere livened up.
"Mr. Lee, will there be layoffs? Will you cut salaries?" someone took the chance to ask.
"What? Are you joking? I'm Bruce Lee. Is this how you treat your new boss? No, I won't lay off anyone. I wish I could raise your salaries right now because that would mean you're helping me make money!" Bruce looked surprised, as if he'd heard something unbelievable.
This assurance acted like a sedative, and the crowd clapped to welcome their new boss, with the more audacious ones even whistling and young ladies blowing kisses. Americans are quite open, it seemed—they were just trying to figure out the new boss and had kept silent due to their worries.
"Keep it up, this energy is perfect. To the lady who blew a kiss, good job, though sadly there's no bonus," Bruce laughed, pretending to regret as he spread his hands.
The young lady played along shouting, "I don't mind!" and sent a flirtatious wink his way.
With the mood lightened, Bruce continued, "We're in the business of creativity. I don't expect rigidity at all times, and you can even call me Bruce in private. I believe a harmonious atmosphere fosters efficiency, as long as we avoid mistakes. Now tell me, has anyone made unforgivable errors?"
No one took the bait on such a topic, but Bruce didn't mind. "Even if there were mistakes, I don't care about those before my time. I'm fair and generous. Good work gets rewarded—accordingly, mistakes get punished. So, be careful from now on. Don't give me a reason to trouble you, but feel free to take as much bonus from my pocket as you can."
"You won't have that chance, Bruce."
"Get ready to hand out bonuses!" a bold employee shouted.
Bruce pointed at them and said, "I hope you will do as you say. Now, let's talk about what everyone is most concerned about. It's likely that you won't be employees of Incyte much longer. That's right, acquiring Incyte is just my first step. When the other companies fall into place, they will merge into a new entity, and at that time, you will all be part of this new company. This place will become the Bakersfield branch or a laboratory.
"Every employee will be able to stay with the new company, and there will be many more joining this new collective. It will be a completely different and fresh start. I assure you, as long as you work hard, your income will definitely be higher than it is now. So, I'll say it again, don't give me reasons to trouble you. I hope when you come to me, it's to receive a bonus." With that, he dismissed the meeting.
The applause this time was finally the most enthusiastic. Many thought this young new boss seemed quite good. Of course, there were still those who were skeptical and watched with a cold eye.
In truth, Bruce wasn't too concerned; he was merely appeasing them for now. With money, there was no shortage of people. And for those employees who wanted to slack off or were of little value, there were a hundred ways to 'encourage' them.
In the soon-to-be-historical Incyte CEO's office, Bruce met with Ray Stein. Marcus had brought him all the way to Los Angeles, following in Bruce's footsteps to Bakersfield.
"We meet again. It seems you're not doing so well in this world." Bruce leaned back in the spacious executive chair, propping his legs on the desk, feeling quite content.
Ray Stein's condition was as Bruce had expected. A low-ranking demon struggled to increase its power in this world. The frail human physique meant that even the power gained from devouring others was minuscule. And besides, there was the need to avoid the eyes and ears of police and military.
"Yes, my lord, this world is not comfortable for me." Ray, who had thought of escaping in Marcus's presence, became docile as a mouse after seeing Bruce. The abyss-like authority of the other party made him realize—he was in the presence of a real power. It was best to put away any cunning thoughts.
"But you're in luck. I am in need of people to do tasks, and your abilities fit the bill." Bruce nodded. He needed manpower to capture those nascent demons, to expand his demon legion.
"Your wish is my command." Ray bowed his head in submission, allowing Bruce to complete the soul ritual. From that moment, a new subordinate was under Bruce's command, and all his actions would be controlled by Bruce.
"In the human world, there are certain rules not to be broken lightly. So act discreetly, expand the team in the shadows. I want to see results soon. If you need any resources, or encounter a being beyond your abilities, contact Marcus. Remember—try not to attract too much attention."
The soul ritual allowed the lower demon to share in the master's power, which for Ray, was a comprehensive enhancement and should be sufficient for most situations.
"As you command, my lord." Ray bowed respectfully and left the office. In a busy company, his arrival and departure went unnoticed.
For Bruce, this was a seed he had planted. The demons continuously appearing around the world were the nutrients being supplied incessantly.
He wondered if his old acquaintances had also come to this world.
"You've done well, Marcus," Bruce said, turning his head to look at Marcus, who stood respectfully to one side. After spending some time together, this demon in heavy armor finally learned to restrain his nature, at least not causing uncontrollable chaos if let loose.
"Honor to you, my lord," Marcus responded with his head bowed.
"Good, now you can handle things on your own. For a long time, we've been understaffed, so I expect you to take charge of the newly established security company. After the new company is formed, all laboratories must be entirely under our control. I've had Archibald arrange for assistance for you. Can you handle this?" Bruce's tone was calm but carried an air of absolute command.
"For the lord!" Marcus knelt on one knee, his eyes aflame with fervor. The nature of a lower demon is violent and fierce, and to him, this was the first step of Lord Mephisto's expansion in this world.