"Who are you?" Seeing a suspicious person clothed in black entering their nightclub, Manager Doug was alerted. He felt the person came to cause trouble, considering the person was concealing their identity.
"It's me."
"Ahh, Boss, you are finally here." Manager Doug instantly recognize his voice.
Leon had stop by some stores and bought himself some new black outfit and bamboo hat to hide his identity. The color also blends well into the night. However, walking around in the open like he was doing, even if his identity was hidden, he stood out like a sore thumb. They moved to the underground floor to talk.
"How has my arrangements been progressing?"
"There were a lot of resistance when we decided to cut off all our good source of money. A lot of the outer members have left the gang to join the other gangs. Our gang has weaken as a result, while our rival gangs have grown stronger."
"Let them leave. I don't need people who have forsaken their conscience for profits. Sooner or later, the other gangs will fall into my hands as well. If they do not know how to repent at that point, then they can all go to hell." The results were as he had expected. "Has the things I ordered to you to fetch arrive yet?"
"Yes, they are all stored in the vault below."
On the 2nd underground floor was the treasure vault, where the gang store all their collective valuables. Among the miscellaneous goods stored, there was a pill cauldron, some herbs and a set of acupuncture needles like the one Lynne has.
"Good." The pill cauldron was something Leon wanted for convenience. He did not want to bother the Cromwell family every time he needed to refine pills. It was better that he had his own. He also wanted to open his own pill store, which would become the main source of revenue for the gang. He retrieved the three items into his world space, while manager Doug waited outside.
"It seems you weren't able to procure much herbs."
"Yes, boss. Most of the herbs in the hands of the merchant guilds. We were only able to purchase a limited number of herbs. The merchants sell most of their herbs to the noble alchemists. Unless we can establish a good relationship with the merchants, it would be difficult to increase our purchase quota. As their attention are mainly focused on nobles, they deign to do business with commoners."
"I see. You don't need to worry about this problem for now and can go attend to your own business. I will figure something out."
"Yes, boss."
The underground floor had barely started on its renovation. Leon found himself a seat and started tapping on the table with his finger, while he was thinking.
He wasn't worried that once his pill store open, his pills wouldn't be able to sell. His pills would be better than what is currently on the market. When news about their pill's excellent quality and effect spread throughout the capital, they would be selling like hot cakes. What was important was establishing a stable supply chain of raw ingredients. The ordinary herbs require a full day in his world space to upgrade to tier 1 spirit herbs. Maybe he should forgo the low-end market and focus on the high-end using hunger marketing? In any case, he would still need to pay a visit to one of the merchant guilds and persuade them to enter a deal with him.
Leon took out the pill cauldron and started concocting some more True Awakening pills. It was at this point that he realized how convenient it was to awaken as a fire user. He had absolute control over his fire, and it was much easier than searching for an earth-fire to tame. 15 minutes later, 12 high-quality tier 1 pills were successfully refined. The amount and quality of his pill concoction had improve by a huge leap.
He divided the 12 pills evenly and stored it in two different bottles. He would send one bottle to the old man later. He could rely on the Cromwell's connection for his supply of raw ingredients, but it would put a strain on their liquidity if he wants to purchase large volumes of rare herbs through them. The Cromwell family is rich, but they wouldn't be making any money out of this deal. The pill he supplies them are used to strengthen themselves and weren't sold outside. So, they are taking money out of their pockets to purchase the herbs. Taking out too much would affect their own businesses.
It was better to depend on himself in dealing with the merchants. Once the money starts rolling in, he could rely on the Cromwell's connection then to establish another supply chain for his pill store. He wasn't planning to refine every single pill the store would sell. It would tire him out and he didn't have that much free time. He plans to train some people who would do the refining, when he finds some suitable candidates.
"Boss, miss Aria is here again." Manager Doug came back and reported.
"Alright, I'll go see her."
The underground floor was restricted to gang members and related matters. It wasn't a suitable place to receive guests. Leon headed back to the ground floor.
"You're here, come." Leon smiled, seeing the familiar person with her face covered. He took upstairs into the same room they met last night. The door has already been fixed.
Aria blushed underneath her cover as her thoughts starts to run wild. Why did he take her to this room again? Did he want to do… that with her? She had a mixture of uneasiness and anticipation. Since others had seen her face, it was better give her first time to someone she liked than someone she didn't.
"This going to hurt a bit. You can close your eyes if you are scared." Leon took off his bamboo hat and laid her on the bed. She did as he said and closed her eyes as her face started growing red like a tomato and her heart beating rapidly.
Leon took out his new set of acupuncture needles and prepared to perform treatment on her. He couldn't read her expression under the cover of her hair, but she was bound to be disappointed in some sense.
The first needle pricked the skin on her throat and the slight pain startled her awake. She realized she had misunderstood his intentions and couldn't help feeling embarrassed at herself for thinking in such a way. She remembered that he said he could treat her voice problem. Her mind wasn't as innocent and pure as she thought. She feared that Leon would see through her thoughts and tried to cover her face with more hair.
"Don't move." Leon frowned at her movements. It would be counterproductive if his needles were misplaced due to her careless movements, maybe even life threatening. The art of acupuncture isn't to be taken lightly. Aria's movements froze at Leon's strict words.
"Good girl. Stay still." Leon started picking up speed and inserted another 8 needles around her vocal cord area and gave light flicks. He was using the 9-pulsating needle technique to fix her vocal cord deformity. Luckily, the problem wasn't innate but caused during childbirth. His hands would have been tied if she was born with the disability to talk.
The treatment process ended shortly and seemed very simple but, it was not. Leon removed the needles and fed her an All-Purpose Healing pill to reinforce the readjustment.
"Done. You can open your eyes and try talking." He helped her sat up.
"Ahh…uhm…awuu..." Aria tried to speak but she wasn't unable to form any words. She was akin to a baby learning how to speak for the first time.
"No rush. Take your time." Leon smiled. Sound was coming out of her mouth meaning her vocal cords were working. She couldn't speak yet, but her voice was soothing and very angelic. It was very pleasant to here.
Aria was surprised at her own voice.
'So…this is what I sound like…' She felt very touched as tears began trailing down her face unknowingly. She can finally talk. She pulls Leon onto the bed with her and cling onto him tightly.
'Thank you.'
With Leon's strength, there no way he could have been pulled by Aria if he wanted to resist, he just let her pull him. She seemed very emotional, so he gave her some gentle head rub.
"Do you want to become strong so no one can bully you?" Leon whispered into her ears.
"Awuwuu." Aria nodded her head repeatedly when she couldn't convey her answer through speech. Her answer was very cute.
"Alright. Swallow this." Leon pop a True Awakening pill into her mouth.
The effects of the pill varied from person to person. Some awaken shortly, while some awaken later, but there was no doubt that it would happen within the day. Aria unwittingly fell asleep in his arms after swallowing the pill. He wanted to get up but realized that she was still holding onto him tightly even when she is asleep.
Leon laid back down and continue enjoying the warm cuddle. It wasn't bad having a beauty lay in his arms. He wouldn't go out of his way to pursue a beauty, but if they want to be his women whilst understanding that he may not be able to give them the love they wish then he would not reject them.. He decided to put away his work and silently cultivate in his current position with his eyes closed.