The moment Lucas revealed his identity, the intimidating aura of the four men blocking his way vanished completely.
They were merely an illegal potion workshop and had no power to stand against the formidable Imperial Secret Intelligence Bureau.
The old man hurriedly bowed to Lucas. "Inspector Meteor, hello. I am Ralph, and these three are my sons.
I know that our illegal production of potions violates imperial law. We accept our punishment."
Ralph spoke about accepting punishment with practiced ease, indicating that their workshop had frequent visits from the Secret Intelligence Bureau and likely from the Security Bureau as well.
As long as they paid the fines, the illegal potion production continued.
However, Ralph couldn't fathom why this time the Inspector himself had come. He had no idea how much it would take to get rid of this official.
Thinking of this, Ralph's expression turned grim. It seemed this time he would have to make a substantial payment.
But Lucas smiled and said, "Old Ralph, I'm not here to fine you. I'm here to talk business."
Business?! Ralph was puzzled.
He ran an illegal potion workshop specializing in stimulants.
What business could an Imperial Secret Intelligence Bureau Inspector possibly have with him?
"Inspector, please don't joke with me."
"I have no reason to joke with you. This isn't the place for business talks; find a proper spot."
Ralph, unsure of the Inspector's intentions, could only invite him to his office.
Which also served as his potion mixing room.
On the workbench, curved glass tubes connected various containers, with a hemispherical glass pot boiling some green liquid.
Ralph first removed the oil lamp from under the pot and had his sons bring in chairs, then sent them all out.
"Inspector... we, the illegal potion merchants, may seem profitable, but our margins are very thin.
Purchasing raw materials, hiring workers, transportation, and bribing officials leaves us with little money in hand.
If we truly made money, we wouldn't still be living in Illegal Potion Alley.
Please, have a seat..."
Lucas didn't sit down. Instead, he walked around the small mixing room, examining the equipment.
"Old Ralph, other potion workshops likely don't have equipment as professional as yours."
Proud of his equipment, Ralph replied, "Sir, most potion workshops here follow existing recipes. They are safe, but lack competitiveness.
I enjoy tweaking potion formulas to make them more potent.
Our enhanced stimulants are highly sought after in the wealthy district."
"But... someone died."
Ralph immediately denied it. "No, no, no. The deceased noble did not drink a potion made by us. Every potion we make is tested by me personally before finalizing the formula.
If anyone were to die, it would be me first."
"You personally test them?" Lucas looked skeptically at Ralph, who seemed too old to walk steadily.
"If you don't believe me, Inspector, I can drink a bottle right now."
"No need, no need..." Lucas stopped Ralph.
If a noble from the wealthy district had indeed died from drinking an illegal potion, someone would have come knocking long ago.
This rumor was likely fabricated out of jealousy by competitors.
Or it could be that the noble's death pleased many, and those who benefited didn't want to stir up trouble.
But whatever the truth, it had nothing to do with Lucas's purpose here.
Lucas sat down, with Karina standing slightly behind him, still clutching her magic wand.
"Please sit…" Lucas motioned for Ralph to sit down, then said, "I want to invest in your potion workshop."
"What?!"
Ralph was utterly shocked. "Inspector, did I hear you right? You want to invest in my potion workshop?"
"You heard correctly, and you don't need to ask why. You'll invest your workshop as a share, and the profits will be split: twenty percent for you, eighty percent for me.
I can provide you with protection and distribution channels. The potions produced here can get special permits from the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau and be escorted by imperial agents out of the port, sold worldwide."
Lucas's words made Ralph excited.
A special permit from the Secret Intelligence Bureau alone could make Ralph's family prosper, not to mention the bureau offering to escort their goods.
This was like the Imperial Secret Intelligence Bureau shoving gold bars into your arms—impossible to refuse.
But Ralph still asked cautiously, "Inspector, is this really okay? We're an illegal potion workshop, this is against the law…"
"My presence here is to make you legal. With the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau and me backing you, what are you afraid of?
Are you in or out? If you're too scared of the risk, I can find another workshop."
"In!"
That's right... If the Inspector of the Secret Intelligence Bureau is leading the production of illegal potions, what's there to fear!
"Good!" Lucas pointed at the green potion Ralph had set aside earlier. "This is your primary stimulant, correct?"
"Yes…" Ralph hurriedly brought the vial over, proudly saying, "This stimulant acts quickly, is potent, and doesn't put too much strain on the body. It outperforms all similar products on the market.
The nobles in the wealthy district love it. If we can market it worldwide... we're guaranteed to make a fortune!"
Lucas took the vial, shook it in front of him, and then handed it back to Ralph.
"Follow your original formula, but make a new batch with the ingredients I specify. Reduce the plantain powder by 10 grams, increase the whale fat by 5 grams, add 8 grams of firethorn to the slime extract before stirring, and bake it into a pudding.
After preparing the base potion, heat it until it turns the same blue as my secretary's eyes, then place it in a refrigerated cabinet at minus five degrees for half an hour."
Ralph was astonished. "Inspector, you know my formula? That's impossible. Only I know the formula, not even my sons."
Lucas replied mysteriously, "Don't worry about how I got the formula. Just make the potion as I instructed and then evaluate its effectiveness."
Ralph dared not ask further and immediately began to prepare the potion following the new steps on the spot.
Karina softly reminded Lucas, "Inspector, as a senior imperial official, personally involving yourself in the production, transportation, and sale of illegal potions...
If this gets exposed, it will definitely affect your career."
Lucas responded, "You should know I've come to the Seawall District Secret Intelligence Bureau with a significant mission. Everything I do is to complete the task assigned by Her Highness.
I brought you because I trust you."
Karina suddenly understood.
The fact that the Inspector was being so closely monitored by the Princess meant his actions had deeper implications.
As the Inspector's confidential secretary, she only needed to focus on how best to support the Inspector.