Damian Prescott held the Soul Nourishnt Pill between his thumb and forefinger, examining it against the light streaming through his office window. The amber pill with its delicate golden swirls seed ordinary, yet it had turned Havenwood City upside down in just a matter of days.
"It's definitely the sa one," I confird, watching his face carefully. "The exact formulation Liam Knight showed ."
Damian's expression tightened. "And you rejected his partnership offer."
I winced at the reminder. "A mistake I'll be paying for the rest of my career."
Mayor Lee chuckled from his seat across the room. "Don't be so dramatic, Alec. You're hardly the only one suffering from Knight-related regrets these days."
The other businessn in Damian's luxurious office nodded in agreent. We'd gathered here – the so-called pillars of Havenwood's economy – all of us suddenly finding ourselves scrambling to adapt to a market revolution none of us had anticipated.
"I heard Roman Volkov bought himself a penthouse yesterday," Councilman Wilson said, swirling his brandy. "Cash purchase. No mortgage."
Mayor Lee snorted. "At this rate, he'll surpass you as the city's wealthiest man within a month, Damian."
Damian's eye twitched slightly. "Let's not exaggerate."
"I'm not sure it is an exaggeration," I said. "The lines outside his office grow longer every day. People are flying in from neighboring cities just to purchase these pills."
Damian carefully returned the pill to its jade container. "What I can't understand is why Knight would choose soone like Volkov as his distributor. The man was practically a nobody before this."
"Perhaps that was precisely the point," Mayor Lee mused. "Soone with no previous connections, no obligations to Havenwood's establishnt."
The implication hung heavy in the air. Liam Knight had deliberately bypassed all of us – the city's traditional power brokers.
"Well," Damian said, rising from his chair, "I've arranged a eting with Roman tomorrow. Perhaps money can still solve this problem."
I didn't share his optimism. Sothing told Liam Knight wasn't motivated by money alone.
---
Across town, Roman Volkov's previously modest office now buzzed with activity. Security guards controlled the flow of people entering the building while a line of luxury cars stretched down the block. Inside, his newly hired assistants struggled to manage the crowd of wealthy individuals all desperate for the sa thing.
I sat behind my impressive new mahogany desk, enjoying the transformation of my status. Just last week, these sa people wouldn't have given the ti of day. Now they practically begged for my attention.
"Mr. Volkov, Senator Williams is offering double your asking price for priority access," my assistant whispered.
I smiled politely. "Please inform the Senator that the price remains the sa for everyone. Three hundred dollars per pill, one per custor, no exceptions."
The woman's eyes widened slightly. "He says he'll donate fifty thousand to your favorite charity."
"My position remains unchanged," I replied firmly, rembering Liam's strict instructions about maintaining equal pricing.
As my assistant retreated, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. People who had once looked down on now waited hours for the privilege of spending three minutes in my presence.
"Mr. Howard, thank you for your patience," I called out to the next custor, a financial district executive whose hands trembled slightly as I handed over the small jade container.
"Is it true these pills increase absorption rates by thirty percent?" he asked.
"The exact effects vary by individual," I answered smoothly, using the script Liam had prepared. "But many users report significant improvents."
After completing the transaction, I glanced at my watch. Nearly noon – I'd been at this since seven this morning. The stack of bills in my safe grew by the hour.
"Sir," my security guard interrupted, looking uncomfortable. "There are two gentlen here who insist on seeing you imdiately. They won't wait in line."
Before I could respond, the door burst open. Two n strode in – one tall and imposing with cold, calculating eyes, the other slighter but with a nervous energy that set my teeth on edge.
"Roman Volkov?" the taller man asked, though it clearly wasn't a question.
My security guards moved forward, but with a casual flick of his wrist, the man sent them flying against the wall with a burst of cultivation energy.
My blood ran cold. These weren't ordinary businessn – they were trained cultivators.
"Sebastian Hawthorne," the man introduced himself, straightening his immaculate suit. "And my associate, Gideon Blackwood."
The na Hawthorne hit like a punch to the gut. Everyone in business knew the Hawthorne family – pharmaceutical giants from Shiglance City, notorious for crushing competitors.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Hawthorne?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady.
Sebastian smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'll be direct. I want the formula for the Soul Nourishnt Pill."
"I'm afraid it's not for sale," I managed.
Sebastian laughed softly. "Everything has a price. I'm prepared to offer one hundred and sixty thousand dollars."
The amount was insultingly low for a formula worth millions. I almost laughed myself.
"I appreciate your interest, but—"
Before I could finish, Sebastian snapped his fingers. Two more n appeared from the hallway, moving with frightening speed to position themselves behind .
"Let be clearer," Sebastian continued. "This isn't a negotiation. You're going to give the formula, and in exchange, I don't cripple you."
Panic flooded my system. "I—I don't actually have the formula."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "Do you take for a fool? You're distributing the pills."
"As a middleman only!" I blurted out. "An old Chinese dicine doctor approached to handle distribution. He's the creator!"
Sebastian studied for a long mont. "And where can I find this... doctor?"
My mind raced frantically. I needed ti – ti to warn Liam. "He travels between cities. But he's scheduled to et again in three days."
"Three days," Sebastian repeated slowly. "Very well. You'll arrange a eting. If you're lying..." He made a small gesture, and one of his n gripped my shoulder painfully.
"I'm not lying," I gasped. "Three days, I swear."
"For your sake, I hope not," Sebastian said softly. "The Hawthorne family doesn't tolerate deception." Please read this chapter on its original platform—*.
After they left, I collapsed into my chair, shaking uncontrollably. The eager custors and newfound wealth suddenly seed aningless in the face of this danger.
Without bothering to explain to my confused staff, I grabbed my keys and rushed out the back door. Twenty minutes later, I burst into Liam's study, gasping for breath.
"Sebastian Hawthorne!" I managed between gulps of air. "He ca to my office. Threatened . Demanded the formula!"
I expected panic, perhaps even fear. Instead, Liam looked almost bored as he listened to my frantic recounting of the confrontation.
"And you told him an old Chinese dicine doctor would et with him in three days?" he asked when I'd finished.
I nodded miserably. "I didn't know what else to say. They would have hurt , Liam. These aren't ordinary businessn – they're dangerous cultivators."
To my astonishnt, Liam actually smiled. "You handled it perfectly."
"What?" I stared at him in disbelief. "They're going to kill when they discover I lied!"
"Who said anything about lying?" Liam replied calmly. "The Hawthorne family's involvent was inevitable. I've been expecting it."
I couldn't comprehend his composure. "You... you expected this?"
"Of course," Liam said, as if it were obvious. "The Soul Nourishnt Pill threatens their market dominance. Did you think they would simply ignore us?"
My mind struggled to keep up. "So what do we do?"
Liam's eyes glinted with sothing I couldn't quite place – determination, certainly, but also sothing darker, more calculated.
"Call Sebastian back," he instructed. "Tell him you've made arrangents with the doctor. But suggest a larger venue for the eting."
"Larger venue? Why?"
"Because," Liam said, his voice taking on a steely edge, "you're going to invite everyone who wants this formula – the Hawthornes, Damian Prescott, Mayor Lee, all of them. Tell them to co to the No. 1 Grand Mansion in three days."
"And then what?" I asked nervously.
Liam's smile turned predatory. "And then I'll choose a capable company to cooperate with."
I stared at him, suddenly understanding. This wasn't a crisis – it was an opportunity. Liam hadn't just anticipated the Hawthornes' move; he'd manipulated events to create precisely this situation.
What I'd feared was a disaster was actually an invitation to the lion's den – except in this scenario, Liam Knight was the lion, and Havenwood's elite were walking straight into his jaws.
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