Ralph was a highly skilled alchemist capable of performing multiple potion-making steps simultaneously, greatly reducing the time required to concoct a potion.
After about an hour of waiting, Ralph retrieved a sky-blue potion from the icebox.
He looked at the blue liquid in the glass vessel and asked Lucas, "Inspector, judging by the color and clarity of the potion, it seems to be a successful concoction. But I wonder about its potency... Could it be better than the stimulant I made?"
Lucas smiled and said, "Why don't you try it and find out?"
"Try it? Here? A small sip shouldn't be a problem."
Ralph mentally reviewed the potion's ingredients and extraction process, concluding that a small sip wouldn't overwhelm him.
With a spirit of self-sacrifice, Ralph took a tiny sip of the blue potion.
"The taste is much smoother... the effects are quick... I can feel a fire igniting in my lower abdomen..." Ralph carefully observed the changes in his body brought about by the potion: "This feels... slightly better than the stimulant I made, just a bit... but it seems a little different..."
Sensing the potion's unique effects, Ralph gulped down the entire bottle of the potion.
His skin quickly turned a rosy hue.
"Ah... Ah..." Ralph exclaimed, "This feels amazing, I feel like I'm back in my prime, this strength isn't an illusion!"
Ralph effortlessly lifted the icebox used for the experiment, something he struggled to do even to open the door before drinking the potion.
"This is definitely not a stimulant!" Ralph put down the icebox and questioned Lucas.
His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, neck muscles tense and twitching with excitement.
"I never said it was a stimulant. You better suppress the potion's effects quickly; with your age and physique, you can't handle such berserk power."
Upon hearing Lucas's words, Ralph immediately rummaged through the reagent cabinet for a neutralizing potion, his hands trembling and knocking over several vials.
Once he found the neutralizing potion, he quickly drank it.
After about two minutes, his condition gradually stabilized.
The physical exertion left Ralph collapsed in a chair, panting heavily, yet his eyes were full of excitement.
Lucas asked him, "How do you feel?"
"I, I..." Ralph took a deep breath before he could speak: "I never thought that the stimulant I made, with such slight modifications, could become such a powerful berserk potion.
It works fast, reaches peak performance quickly, and the most important part is that it allows some rationality even in the berserk state. Although it also consumes a lot of stamina, because of my age, I can't accurately gauge the fatigue after its effects wear off, so I can't judge its aftereffects accurately.
Based on my experience, a regular potion with the same effect could sell for about 20,000 Imperial Marks per bottle, while the stimulant we made only fetches 1,000..."
Lucas didn't expect Ralph to still be thinking about his stimulant.
"Your stimulant will continue production. We'll set up a separate production line for the berserk potion, and I'll handle all the sales. You've been in the black market long enough to know that this berserk potion is enough to get you and your sons fed to the fishes."
Lucas wasn't trying to scare Ralph.
According to the progression of events, Ralph would accidentally create this potent berserk potion in an experiment a few months later. Soon, his entire family would die in a maritime accident, and his invention would become a money-making machine for others.
Ralph, being experienced and shrewd, knew well that the value of this potent berserk potion far surpassed that of his stimulant.
Especially in the Seawall District, too many people had met untimely deaths because they possessed things they shouldn't have.
"I know what to do, Inspector. I won't tell anyone about the existence of this berserk potion. Whatever amount is produced will be handed over to you."
"It's good that you understand. This lady is my confidential secretary, Karina. She will fully handle your accounting, procurement, production, and sales on my behalf.
Additionally, I will arrange a safer production site for you. Our products cannot be limited to just the berserk potion and the stimulant. You need a larger, more advanced potion laboratory, proper management, and new potion production machinery."
Ralph gratefully said to Lucas, "Thank you, Inspector. I will never forget the kindness you've shown to the Ralph family."
Lucas said, "Now, make me twenty bottles of this potent berserk potion, and produce 500 bottles to be delivered to the Secret Intelligence Bureau before nightfall... Can you handle that?"
Ralph considered the capacity of his workshop.
"No problem. The potent berserk potion only requires slight modifications to the stimulant's ingredients and process. 500 bottles can definitely be delivered to the Secret Intelligence Bureau before nightfall. I'll start making the potion for you right now."
The potion lab had ready ingredients for the stimulant. After recovering, Ralph skillfully produced twenty bottles of the potent berserk potion in one go.
The potions were measured and placed into cylindrical bottles that could be easily held in one hand, convenient for carrying and drinking.
With the potions in hand, Lucas instructed Karina to check and audit the accounts of this potion workshop, recording all supply and distribution channels, and arrange for the Secret Intelligence Bureau to investigate them.
The workers here also needed to have their identities verified and be invited to the Secret Intelligence Bureau for "interviews."
The goal was to completely control this potion workshop.
Although professionally qualified, Karina was busy until noon finishing the main tasks. Remaining minor details could be coordinated later.
Lucas and Karina left the Illegal Potion Alley and returned to the Secret Intelligence Bureau by 2:30 PM.
Some sponsors who had been invited to a meeting had already arrived early.
Lucas and Karina grabbed some food from the cafeteria to fill their stomachs and hurried back to their office.
Shelley, who had been anxiously waiting for Lucas all morning, immediately approached upon hearing his return.
"Inspector..." Shelley entered and immediately noticed the change in Lucas: "You look very different. Not in appearance, but... you've become stronger."
"Really? That's good. Tell me about the situation with the Mad Axe Gang. Can they hold out?" Lucas didn't explain his change to Shelley.
Seeing Lucas remain silent, Shelley didn't dare ask further.
She sat down opposite his desk and said, "Without a heavyweight warrior like Jumu, the Mad Axe Gang is struggling. If not for the strong castle and its complete defenses, they wouldn't have lasted a night.
Lambert hopes we can find more mercenaries for them, but...
Our sponsors have received warnings from the Security Bureau, and some are wavering."
{Sorry, I scheduled wrong chapters for release yesterday, here are the edited chapters. to comprensate, i will post 4 chaps tomorrow}