Seeing that no one left, Lucas said with satisfaction, "Very good, very good. Someone just told me that the Security Bureau is trying to win you over, but it seems I worried too much.
When we are out here hustling, we must value loyalty and think about sticking together in tough times rather than jumping ship to save ourselves."
...
The meeting was very quiet. No one responded, making Lucas feel a bit awkward.
'Let's get straight to the point.'
"I know what you are worried about. Black Mamba, distribute the items from the bag to everyone."
"Yes, Inspector."
Shelley placed the bag on the table and opened it. Inside were blue potions without any markings. She didn't ask questions and quickly distributed one bottle to each person.
While the sponsors held the potions, unsure of what was inside, Lucas took out a bottle from the bag and said to everyone, "These are highly potent berserk potions that I privately acquired from the Imperial Pharmacists Association through personal connections.
They take effect quickly, peak rapidly, and maintain a certain level of self-awareness. The peak effect lasts for fifteen minutes, followed by a half-hour decline period. The smooth decline reduces the physical burden, minimizing side effects.
I plan to give these potent berserk potions to you to sell, and you can experience their effects yourselves."
After hearing Lucas's introduction, the sponsors' views on the potions changed.
Berserk potions can significantly enhance a person's potential, allowing for a burst of power in a short time, making them lifesaving in critical moments.
However, ordinary berserk potions also have significant side effects, causing loss of reason and severe fatigue after the effects wear off.
Those with weaker constitutions could even die from the strain.
The potent berserk potions developed by the Imperial Pharmacists Association greatly mitigate these side effects.
Therefore, even though the Empire sets a very high price for these potions, they are still hard to come by.
The fact that Inspector Meteor managed to get these potent berserk potions through personal connections to the Seawall District shows his significant influence.
'More importantly... Inspector Meteor intends to give us these potent berserk potions to sell. This is like pressing gold bars into our hands.'
While some suspicious people wondered if these were poison, others, more reckless, uncorked their bottles and downed the entire potion in one gulp.
This stopped Lucas from trying the potion himself. Everyone in the room looked at the two who drank the potion.
"Wow... this... this feeling is incredible." The two stood up, their bodies surging with power. Their skin reddened quickly, muscles swelling, expressions extremely excited but not completely muddled:
"Strength, this is a feeling of strength I've never experienced before, and it's very stable and sustained. My mind is a bit chaotic, but far from out of control."
"This is definitely the best berserk state!
Although I don't know the aftereffects yet, just for this controllable berserk state, these potions will sell like hotcakes."
After hearing the evaluation, the other sponsors also drank their potent berserk potions.
The effects came quickly, and the surge of power made everyone roar.
If not for Inspector Meteor sitting there, with Black Mamba's hand always on his gun, they would have likely torn the meeting room apart to release their power.
But this also proved the controllability of the berserk state.
The sponsors could only vent their powerful feelings by shouting, making the agents outside look at each other in confusion.
They had no idea what the inspector was doing to the sponsors.
After fifteen minutes, the peak effects of the potion subsided, and the berserk state gradually diminished.
After another half hour, the berserk state was completely gone. The smooth decline greatly reduced the physical burden, leaving only a certain degree of fatigue, far from incapacitating.
Now, when the sponsors looked at Lucas, it was no longer with the eyes of debt collectors.
He was more like a benevolent benefactor!
The quick-witted sponsors scrambled to occupy the seats closest to Lucas, eagerly asking, "Inspector, how much of this potent berserk potion do we have? What's the price?"
Lucas leaned back in his chair and said, "It's too early to discuss prices and quantities. If we lose control of the docks, do you think our enemies will let us smuggle in these potent berserk potions?"
Someone slammed the table hard. "Anyone who dares to take our docks, I'll kill them!"
Encouraged by the potential huge profits, the others quickly lost their earlier hesitation about jumping ship, rolling up their sleeves and shouting about taking back the docks.
"What if the Security Bureau steps in to take the docks from us?"
Lucas's question immediately silenced the excited crowd; they really didn't have the courage to confront the Security Bureau head-on.
Seeing their reactions, Lucas smiled and said, "Relax... If the Security Bureau steps in, don't we have the Intelligence Bureau on our side? But if we want to smuggle and sell these potent berserk potions, we must truly unite and form a powerful force to protect the wealth we create.
If we remain as we are... with the Berserker Party being bullied and us still debating whether to help and to what extent, this business will only lead to quicker deaths for all of you. Do you understand?"
The crowd, now calmed down, seriously considered Lucas's words.
The fact that they were sitting here meant they were the "successful" ones in the Seawall District; those who weren't successful... most were dead.
The value of the potent berserk potions was immeasurable.
Not only could they themselves be exchanged for vast wealth, but having access to this supply could also bring huge benefits.
Once the smuggled potent berserk potions began circulating in the Seawall District, their value would undoubtedly attract many eyes.
Could they hold onto it? As things stood, it seemed unlikely.
Now that Jumu was dead, and Hansel was also dead, none of the remaining people had the charisma to unite everyone. No, there was one!
"Inspector! For the sake of the potent berserk potions, we are willing to give our all and unite to hold the docks. Please lead us."
"Inspector!! We understand that, given your status, you wouldn't want too deep a connection with us. But we all know our own capabilities; without you stepping in, there's no way we could hold onto this business."
"Inspector, please lead us!"
Previously, the relationship between the Intelligence Bureau and the sponsors was one of money-for-protection, with the Inspector, as a high-ranking Imperial official, not having deep ties with these gangs.
But now, the only one who could unite this scattered group was the ruthless and omnipotent Inspector Meteor.