Chapter 36: Ruthlessness and Connections

Seeing that no one was leaving, Luke expressed his satisfaction. "Very good, very good. Someone just informed me that the Security Bureau is trying to lure you over. It seems I worried too much."

"When we're in this line of work, loyalty and solidarity should be our guiding principles. In times of difficulty, we should think about standing together instead of abandoning ship for self-preservation."

...

The meeting room fell silent.

No one spoke, leaving Luke feeling somewhat awkward.

Let's get straight to the point.

"I understand your concerns. Black Mamba, distribute the contents of the bag to everyone."

"Yes, Detective."

Shelley placed the bag on the table and opened it. Inside, she found blue vials of unidentified potions. Without asking further questions, she swiftly distributed one bottle to each sponsor.

As the sponsors held the vials, not knowing what was inside, Luke took out a bottle from the bag and said, "These are a batch of high-potency Berserker Rage potions that I privately acquired through personal connections with the Imperial Alchemists Association."

"They take effect quickly, reaching peak potency rapidly, while maintaining a certain level of self-awareness. The peak effect lasts for fifteen minutes, followed by a half-hour decay period. The decline is smooth, minimizing physical strain and reducing side effects to a minimum."

"My plan is to entrust you all with the task of selling these high-potency Berserker Rage potions. You can experience the effects for yourselves."

After hearing Luke's explanation, the sponsors looked at the potions in their hands with renewed interest.

Berserker Rage potions could greatly unleash one's potential and provide a burst of power in critical moments. They were truly miraculous elixirs that could determine life and death.

However, regular Berserker Rage potions also came with significant side effects, often leading to loss of rationality, and there would be a period of severe fatigue after the effects wore off. Those with weak constitutions could even die from the strain.

The high-potency Berserker Rage potions developed by the Imperial Alchemists Association significantly reduced the side effects of the berserk state. Despite the exorbitant prices set by the Empire, the potions remained extremely sought after.

For Detective Luke to bring these high-potency Berserker Rage potions to the Cape District through personal connections... the power of those connections must be extraordinary!

More importantly... Detective Luke wanted to sell these potent potions to them.

It was like he was putting gold bars in their hands.

Although some suspicious individuals doubted if they were poison, there were also daring ones who immediately uncorked the vials and downed the entire contents in one gulp.

Their actions made Luke pause, his hand frozen in the act of taking a sip.

Everyone in the room turned to look at the two who had consumed the potion.

"Wow... this... this feeling is absolutely amazing!" The two individuals stood up, their bodies in a state of exertion. Their skin rapidly reddened, muscles swelled, and their expressions were filled with extreme excitement, yet their eyes remained clear. "Strength, this is a sensation of power that we have never experienced before, and it's incredibly stable. My mind is a bit clouded, but far from losing control."

"This is truly the ideal state of berserkness!"

"I don't know what the aftermath will be like once the effects wear off, but with this controllable berserk state, these potions are going to be highly sought after, no matter the price."

After hearing their evaluation, the other sponsors quickly consumed the high-potency Berserker Rage potions in their hands.

The effects of the potions quickly kicked in, and the explosive power they felt made everyone unable to resist shouting.

If Detective Luke wasn't present, along with Black Mamba, who kept her hand on the gun at all times, they would have probably demolished the meeting room to vent their newfound power.

However, this also proved the controllability of the berserk state.

The sponsors could only release their surging power through roaring, making the undercover spies outside exchange bewildered glances.

They had no idea what the detective was doing with the sponsors.

After fifteen minutes, the peak effect of the potion subsided, and the berserk state gradually diminished in intensity. After another half hour, the effects completely faded away, leaving them with a slight sense of fatigue that didn't hinder their movement.

Now, when the sponsors looked at Luke, they no longer regarded him with the eyes of a debt collector.

He was like a dear father to them!

One clever sponsor quickly seized the seat closest to Luke and anxiously asked, "Detective, how many of these high-potency potions do you have? And at what price?"

Luke leaned back in his chair and said, "It's too early to discuss the price and quantity now. If we lose control of the dockyard, do you think our enemies will allow us to smuggle in these high-potency potions?"

Someone pounded the table emphatically.

"Anyone who dares to fight us for the dockyard, I'll kill them!"

The others, stimulated by the prospect of enormous profits, no longer displayed the cowardice they had shown earlier. They rolled up their sleeves, shouting that they would reclaim the dockyard.

"But what if the Security Bureau personally gets involved in a battle for the dockyard?" Luke's question immediately silenced the excited crowd. They truly didn't have the courage to confront the Security Bureau head-on.

Seeing their reactions, Luke smiled and said, "Rest assured... if the Security Bureau gets involved, don't we have our Bureau of Secret Affairs?"

"But in order to smuggle and sell these high-potency Berserker Rage potions, we must truly form a powerful and united front to safeguard our future wealth."

"In our current state... with the Berserkers being bullied like that, do we really need to consider if we should help, and to what extent? This business will only make you die a little faster."

"I believe you all understand that, right?"

The crowd, now calm after the initial excitement, carefully pondered Luke's words.

They were here in this room because they represented the "successful ones" in the Cape District. Most of those who hadn't succeeded... had died.

The value of the high-potency Berserker Rage potions was immeasurable.

Not only could they bring immense wealth on their own, but having a source of supply would also generate enormous profits.

Once the smuggled high-potency Berserker Rage potions circulated in the Cape District, they would certainly catch the attention of many individuals.

Could they hold on to it?

Currently, it seemed unlikely.

With Jumok dead and Hansen Hamilton also deceased, there was no one left with the power to unite everyone.

No, there was one!

"Detective Luke! We are willing to go all out for the high-potency Berserker Rage potions and unite as one to safeguard the dockyard."

"Please lead us, Detective."

"Detective Luke! We know that, with your position, you won't want deep involvement with us. But we all know our capabilities, and without you taking the lead... we won't be able to hold onto this business."

"Please lead us, Detective."

Previously, the Bureau of Secret Affairs and the sponsors had a relationship based on exchanging money to solve problems, without delving too deep into each other's affairs. As a senior official of

the Empire, Detective Luke wouldn't have extensive interactions with these underworld figures.

But now, the only one who could unite this scattered sand into a strong fist was Detective Luke, who had unparalleled connections and was ruthless in his actions.