Luke returned to 236 Copper Mulberry Avenue in the carriage.

There were not many people on the roads of the Imperial Capital at night. The street lights illuminated the smooth bluestone ground. Occasionally, a night-shift rail bus passed by in the middle of the road, and a police officer patrolled along the roadside with a sword. After a while, the sky began to fall.

It started to rain lightly, and the north wind blew the raindrops rattling on the glass of the carriage.

Luke stretched out his hand, and a ball of fire came out of his palm, and the heat dissipated the cold air that had entered.

His thoughts went back to what happened after arriving in the imperial capital today.

Queen Christina is capable and talented in handling government affairs, but she has too little understanding of the inside of the palace. She doesn't know how powerful the Cross Society is in the imperial palace, and she doesn't know how deeply the two princes are tied to them.

Regarding the sky-high purchase order, no one except Emperor Augustine has the strength to find out the details inside it.

And what is Augustine doing?

According to my understanding of the emperor, as long as his mind can still think, he will never give up power to others easily. This time he retreated behind closed doors and gave all the power to the queen. There must be some important matter that prevented him from doing so.

Don't do this.

Did he really fall ill from overwork?

Or is it because of other reasons?

Without clues and information, accurate judgment cannot be made.

So Luke thought about asking the eldest prince Fania to be a stepping stone. Fania's personality is that the more impatient he is when it comes to the last step. Moreover, the last attack on Dai Er proved that he has a gambler's mentality.

Family affection has long been worthless in his heart.

Therefore, Luke judged that Fania would not go to the Cross Society to discuss countermeasures after knowing the sky-high purchase price. And when the queen went to the north, she would definitely take a group of royal knights and palace guards with her.

The strength of the palace guards has been greatly reduced, and Fania is likely to take risks.

Let Fania test what Augustine is doing in hiding.

Luke clenched his fist to put out the fire, then knocked on the carriage: "Go to the Adrian Alchemy Factory in the Lower City."

The carriage turned around at the next intersection and headed toward the lower city.

Massive amounts of money invested in the lower city of St. Lun City have already yielded initial results.

Once people have hope, their positive side will burst out. The previously dirty streets were voluntarily cleaned up by residents living nearby, and the potholes were filled in.

The gang members organized patrol teams according to their respective territories. Even on rainy nights, they wore raincoats and carried weapons to patrol in a decent manner, and they were no less conscientious than the police officers in the uptown area.

Therefore, not long after Luke's carriage entered the lower city, it was stopped by a patrol.

It rained harder.

The gang members surrounded the carriage, and the heavy rain washed away their raincoats. Everyone held weapons and was on guard.

The carriage is very luxurious, which means that the people in the carriage are of high status.

According to common sense, a person of this status would not come to Xiacheng District on a rainy night, but since he came, there must be something important.

A leader stepped forward and knocked gently on the carriage door.

"This is the lower town of St. Lun City. It is very unsafe at night. Who are you? What are you doing in the lower town so late?"

The leader looked at the decoration of the carriage and the coachman's clothes, wondering if he could extort some money for the drink from the other party.

At this time, the window of the carriage opened a small gap.

"City of Raging Waves, Luke! Come find old Adrian."

The leader saw the profile of the person sitting inside through the gap in the window. After hearing the person inside reveal his identity, he immediately stepped back and bowed.

"Good evening Mr. Luke, I just offended you, please forgive me."

When the gang members heard that Mr. Luke was in the car, they immediately put away their weapons and saluted together.

"Good evening, Mr. Luke!"

Luke said calmly: "It is your duty to maintain law and order in the lower city at night. You have not offended me, so I naturally do not need to forgive you.

Take me to Adrian's alchemy factory, I don't want to have to stop every time I see a patrol."

"It is our honor to lead the way for Mr. Luke!"

The leader dragged over a fast-footed subordinate and asked him to go to Adrian's alchemy factory to report that Mr. Luke was here.

Then he led the other gang members and trotted forward in the rain, following the started carriage.

As more patrols were encountered on the road, more people were escorting the carriage. At the same time, the news that Luke was coming to the lower town quickly spread to the streets of the lower town. Those who had fallen asleep hurriedly got up and waited for the arrival from Asia.

News from the Derien Alchemy Factory.

When the carriage arrived at the alchemy factory, Old Adrian had already brought his son and leaders to greet him outside the door. Lightning pierced the sky and heavy rain poured down. Everyone stood in the rain, speculating in their hearts... Mr. Luke came in such bad weather.

There must be something important going on in Xiacheng District.

The car door opens.

Old Adrian stepped forward and held up an umbrella to shield Luke from the heavy rain as he stepped out of the car.

"Mr. Luke, did something important happen?"

Luke stepped forward through the stagnant water, waving to the people who greeted him, and said to Old Adrian: "There is something important. Inform the major shareholders of Polaris to come to a meeting, and we will talk about it at the meeting. Ed

Are you here?"

Old Adrian thought that Mr. Luke blamed Ed for not coming to greet him, so he immediately explained: "Ed is in the alchemy laboratory. Ever since you taught him the recipe for the mysterious substance mixture, Mr. Luke, he has been obsessed with studying more advanced mixtures.

Due to the danger of the mysterious substance, I did not send anyone to inform him.

Please forgive me, sir."

"It's a good thing to like studying new mixed substances." Luke took the umbrella from Old Adrian: "You go prepare for the meeting, and I'll go see Ed."

"Yes, Mr. Luke."

Old Adrian sent someone to the alchemy laboratory first, asking the guards there to let Mr. Luke go immediately when they saw him.

Luke skillfully found the factory's alchemy laboratory.

The alchemy laboratory in the factory is much better than the alchemy room in the workshop next to the sewage reservoir. Old Adrian, who has money, purchased a batch of second-hand alchemy equipment, giving the entire alchemy laboratory a high-end feel.

The first generation of mysterious substance mixtures were prepared in a special studio, protected by guards around the clock.

When Luke saw Ed, he was on a workbench filled with various experimental utensils, carefully mixing experimental reagents for a mysterious mixture of species. He was wearing a protective mask, his expression was calm, his wrists were steady, and he already had a strong

confidence and experience.

Luke did not disturb Ed, but just watched quietly.

Ed didn't notice Luke's arrival, he was completely focused on the reagent mixture in his hand.

After an unknown amount of time, the originally stable reagent suddenly became unstable. The liquid evaporated, and the mysterious species turned into seven-colored gas and spurted out of the test tube.

Ed skillfully used a special suction machine to suck away all the mysterious substances, and then he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

"Failed again!"

"But it's one step closer to success."

"Lou...Mr. Luke!"

When Ed saw Luke, he immediately put down the test tube in his hand in a panic and saluted.

Ed, who used the first-generation mixture of mysterious species, was very strong, but he was still as shy as when he first met Luke.

Luke walked over, picked up the experimental notes from the table, then pointed to a few of them and said: "Adjust the measurement here to 12 ml. First heat it to 60 degrees, then lower it by 5 degrees every ten minutes, and maintain a constant temperature after reaching 40 degrees.

20 minutes.

Purple light needs to be used here for irradiation; stable quartz powder needs to be added here..."

Ed carefully recorded it. After Luke finished speaking, he not only asked: "Mr. Luke, this is an advanced potion I thought of based on the first-generation mysterious substance mixture. How do you know its correct formula and production process.

"

Luke put down the experimental notes and said with a smile: "I know many more recipes for the mysterious substance mixture. I asked you to pay attention to where the mysterious substance collected is?"

"They are all in the mysterious substance vault. Please follow me." Ed led Luke deeper into the studio and said at the same time: "Since Mr. asked me to pay attention to the special mysterious substances produced in the sewage reservoir, I will send

People are patrolling around the sewage reservoir. Once I find it, I will collect it immediately. I have a lot of it now.

It’s all here.”

Ed opened the safe and pulled out a large storage box. The box was filled with glass test tubes, some of which were empty, while the other contained mysterious substances of different colors.

Luke took out the test tubes one by one to observe the color and changes of the mysterious substances inside. He handed over to Ed what he needed and picked out seven special mysterious substances in a short while.

Then Luke took some regular mysterious supplies and left the vault with Ed.

"The quantity and types of special mysterious substances collected are pretty good. I will continue to pay attention to collecting them in the future. I will find them useful."

"Yes, Mr. Luke."

"I want to prepare a mixture of mysterious substances, and you will be my assistant. Old Adrian and the others are still waiting for my meeting, so let's hurry up."

Hearing that Luke was going to prepare a new type of mysterious substance mixture and allowed himself to be his assistant, Ed happily said: "Thank you, Mr. Luke!"

Luke placed the selected mysterious substances on the medicine shelf on the experimental table, then labeled each one, and then took out the beaker and alcohol lamp to start making the mixture.

"I'll only do it once, it's up to you whether you can learn it or not."

"I will study hard, Mr. Luke."

"Go, mix the No. 4 and No. 5 mixture into the 60-degree wine at a ratio of 1:3, and place it in a zero-degree incubator."

"Yes, Mr. Luke."

Ed followed the instructions and started making the ingredients for the mysterious substance mixture. Luke picked up the No. 1 mysterious substance and poured it into the beaker, then lit the alcohol stove to heat the flask.

The two were busy in the laboratory. Apart from brief experimental exchanges, there was only the sound of bottles and cans clinking in the room.

At the same time, the news that Mr. Luke was going to convene a meeting of Polaris' major shareholders spread from the Adrian Alchemy Factory to the entire downtown area. The gang bosses who received the notice immediately set off. Although there was serious water outside due to heavy rain, they

Don't dare to have any delay.

The north wind blew even more fiercely, washing the entire city with cold rain.

In the laboratory, Luke worked quickly, and with Ed's assistance, the entire mixture making process was greatly shortened.

The eight mysterious species were refined, concentrated, mixed, and modulated, and finally turned into a small square crystal. Each side of the crystal showed a different color, and the internal lines of the crystal formed countless cross-sections, with a burning in the middle.

Fire point.

The light emitted by the fire point is refracted by the cross section and emits a brilliance brighter than a diamond.

"Bring over the refrigerated wine."

"Yes, Mr. Luke."

Ed took the wine he prepared at the beginning of the experiment out of the thermostat and placed it on the table in front of Luke.

Luke picked up the square crystal with tweezers and placed it on top of the wine glass.

"At this step, you should pay attention to adjusting the height of the crystal. The light in the crystal will focus on the surface of the wine. When the wine is ignited, you can put the crystal into the wine glass."

As he spoke, Luke adjusted the height of the crystal, and a fire spot appeared on the surface of the wine. The wine made with the mysterious substance was ignited, and blue flames shot up. Luke released the tweezers, and the crystal fell into the wine, and when it came into contact

The wine melted in an instant.

Then the upward burning fire head turned into downward burning, and the inside of the entire glass of wine was filled with blue fire balls.

Luke picked up the wine glass and said to Ed: "This belongs to the second generation of mysterious substance mixtures, and its name is 'Passionate Burning Wine Mix'. Not everyone is suitable for this mysterious substance mixture, it is only suitable for people with an affinity for fire.

It has a beneficial effect on the body, but people with other physical constitutions will suffer the opposite effects when using it.

How to use it is..."

Luke raised his head and drank the entire glass of soju in one gulp. The burning wine came out of his throat, reflecting the traces of the swallowed wine. Immediately afterwards, the odor of burning wine overflowed from the pores of Luke's body, forming an explosive expansion line.

air pressure.

At this moment, Luke felt like he was bathed in flames both inside and outside. The lava stone demon's bloodline was inspired by the strong fire attribute ability. More powerful flames erupted outwards, mixed with flowing lightning.

Feeling that the energy in his body was about to get out of control, Luke immediately activated the Thunder Fire Boy. The random current was controlled and concentrated in one place, turning into an electric chain that circled Luke, and then gradually disappeared. The burst of fire was also controlled by

Press it down forcefully and then retract it into your body.

The Thunder Falling Fire Boy burst out with intense light, and his entire right eye was filled with compressed energy.

As Luke gradually mastered the control of the violent energy, the vision quickly disappeared and his right eye returned to normal.

The stunned Ed finally dared to ask: "Mr. Luke, are you okay?"

"No..." Luke opened his mouth, and a mouthful of fire almost burned Eddie. Luke immediately closed his mouth, and after regaining control of his energy, he tried again before saying: "I'm fine, this 'passionate burning wine'"

The adjustment was too big for me and almost got out of control.

It seems like your place needs to be renovated."

Luke looked around. His energy went wild in a short period of time, leaving the laboratory in a mess. The instrument rack was twisted and fell, and broken glass was scattered all over the floor.

Eddie immediately said: "Compared with the potion formulas you taught me, sir, these are nothing to mention. I would like to express my gratitude to you again. I have learned another precious and mysterious substance mixture manufacturing process."

"You can learn it in one go, which means you have good talent. Leave it to you to take care of it. I'm going to chair the Polaris shareholders meeting.

In the future, the use of the first-generation mysterious substance mixture will increase, so please make more reserves."

"Don't worry, Mr. Luke."

Luke said goodbye to Eddie and left the alchemy laboratory. The guard outside told him that all the major shareholders of Polaris were present and waiting for Mr. Luke's arrival in the conference room.

Luke took out his pocket watch and found that it took three hours to make the potion.

…

As the night progressed, the wind shook the windows of the conference room wildly, and the rain hit the glass with a heavy slapping sound.

Both sides of the long conference table were filled with gang bosses who came for the meeting. The chandelier on the ceiling was swayed by the airflow, and the swaying light illuminated different faces.

No one spoke, everyone was quietly waiting for the person on the main seat to arrive.

The door of the conference room was pushed open, and the gang bosses all stood up immediately when they saw the people coming in.

"Hello Mr. Luke!"

"Hello everyone, please sit down!" Luke strode to the main seat and sat down, and then asked the old Adrian next to him: "The Polaris Commodity Production Company has been established for some time. I have something to do recently.

If you are not paying attention here, please report to me your current business conditions."

"Yes, Mr. Luke!"

The prepared old Adrian took out a book of information and read according to what was recorded on it...

Everyone listened quietly.

The production of small commodities does not require large-scale equipment. Small production tools such as sewing machines can be produced and imported in large quantities in Nutao City, and then transported to St. Lun City by rail, and then distributed to the family production units in Xiacheng District.

It can be produced after simple training.

As long as the supply of raw materials and the sale of finished products are guaranteed, you will soon see a return on your investment.

Nutao City is a large market that connects both the interior of the empire and the world. In this era of rapid economic growth in the world, demand has no upper limit. As long as there are channels, there is no need to worry about not being able to sell the goods after they are produced.

Therefore, with the continuous supply of equipment and endless orders in Nutao City, family-based production has spread rapidly in Xiacheng District. Although the profit is very thin, it is better than the previous life of having one meal and no next meal.

Stable income is so valuable.

In the lower town, everyone knows who gave this meal, and everyone respects Mr. Luke.

Xiacheng District, which now has a bit of money, is preparing to raise funds to rebuild roads in the city and dig drainage pipes. In bad weather like today, it is difficult for people to get in and out, let alone vehicles transporting goods.

If you want to be rich, you must first build roads.

Old Adrian is also thinking about laying a set of electrified lines and purchasing some large steam engines. If the energy supply in the lower city is abundant, the production speed can also be increased.

After listening to Old Adrian's report, Luke asked Alice about the use of investments and the revenue status of Polaris Company.

Then he talked to Malcolm about how extraordinary pets are sought after by the upper class in Raging Waves City.

Finally, he made a concluding speech: "Actually, from everyone's attitudes and expressions, I can see that the current development momentum of Xiacheng District is very good, and everyone can feel that it will be even better in the future.

Today you are considering building roads and laying out power grids; in a few days you may consider demolishing all those low-rise houses and building high-rise buildings or opera houses."

Luke's words elicited light laughter from everyone.

The future is really bright!

"But... have you thought about how to keep the wealth you have now and will have in the future?"

Luke's next words made the laughter stop abruptly, and everyone's faces changed from amiable to fierce, as if they would fight for whoever dared to rob them of their wealth.

The true nature of the villain is revealed.

Old Adrian asked Luke in a low voice: "Sir, is it your investment income in the lower city that has attracted the covetousness of the imperial officials?"

"Have the Imperial officials given you any trouble?"

Old Adrian answered without thinking: "No."

Malcolm said in confusion: "This is very strange! In the past, there was no oil and water in Xiacheng District, and those imperial officials didn't care about it at all. Now there are so many goods coming in and out of Xiacheng District through St. Lun City Railway Station, and the imperial officials didn't make things difficult for us and paid the taxes.

It was released smoothly.

This is not common sense.”

Malcolm had worked in the Empire's Extraordinary Creatures Cultivation Center and knew what the Empire officials were like. When they saw the big businessman of Raging Wave City in the Lower City, they should pounce on him to get some benefits.

Nothing is being done now, it doesn't seem like their style.

Others also felt it was strange, as if there was some kind of power protecting them.

Luke looked at the meeting place where the discussion was gradually starting to take place, his eyes swept across everyone's faces, and then said: "The eldest princess said that there are people among you who work for the Secret Service, please come forward!"

Princess! Secret Intelligence Bureau!

There was silence in the venue for a moment. No one expected that there was an informant from the Secret Intelligence Service here. Everyone looked at the people in the venue with vigilance, thinking of finding out the culprit and then executing them.

A man sitting at the end of the conference table stood up.

When everyone was about to get up and yell at the mole, the man showed a helpless expression and said: "It's me... Governor Meteor. I work for the Secret Service, but at that time I didn't know it was you.

Her Royal Highness the Princess asked me to fully cooperate with your work in Xiacheng District and protect your safety."

Meteor Governor!

Everyone in the venue was confused. Meteor, that is the most popular big shot in the empire right now. Could it be that Mr. Luke is...

Facing the gaze that came over him, Luke said to the secret service informant: "We all work for the secret service, you are just doing your job to complete your task. Since you know who I am, just for my identity

Let’s do a confirmation.”

"Yes, Lord Governor." The informant first saluted Luke, and then introduced to everyone present: "Mr. Luke, who funded and saved our homeland, is a Viscount of the Empire, an Honorary Royal Knight, and a Special Six of the Imperial Secret Service.

Director of the Department, Councilor of Nutau City, Meteor Governor of Nutau City."

Following the informant's introduction, everyone in the conference room's mouths grew bigger and bigger, and then they all stood up involuntarily.

The informant breathed a sigh of relief after introducing Luke. Keeping this secret put too much pressure on him.

Old Adrian said excitedly: "General...Governor-General."

The mystery just now has been solved, it is Mr. Luke who saves the Lower City...it is the Meteor Governor who protects the Lower City.

"Everyone, sit down!" Luke pressed his hand: "Don't stand, sit down! If there is no urgent matter that forces me to reveal my identity, I would prefer to communicate with you as Mr. Luke."

Everyone sat down again at Luke's command.

Old Adrian said: "Sir Governor, the entire lower city belongs to you. If you want us to do anything, please feel free to give us your orders."

"Let's start with the new position I just got." Luke paused, and seeing everyone listening attentively, he continued: "Now I am the newly appointed special cabinet minister, responsible for the special transportation of supplies to the north.

office."

Seeing that everyone was about to stand up and salute again, Luke immediately stopped them: "It's too late today, I have to go back to Raging Waves City early tomorrow morning, so I'll save some etiquette things first.

I want to tell you at this meeting that the northern border of the empire is about to face a full-scale attack by the Yate County Alliance. The situation is extremely unfavorable to our side. Even the Queen of the Empire has to personally march on behalf of her majesty to boost the morale of the Northern Army.

If the Yate County Alliance's legions break through the northern fortress group, the entire empire will fall into turmoil."

The information Luke revealed was too shocking to the gang bosses in the conference room.

During the war, the empire's internal propaganda was to report good news but not bad news. The attack on the Tedega Hills on the southern front was not going well. The people heard that the imperial army was singing and advancing to kill the barbarian army, which was defeated, as if they were capturing the Celts alive.

Dukes are just around the corner.

Although there is publicity about the crisis in the North, the powerful Northern Army is even more heavily exaggerated. It only talks about the "brilliant record" that the Northern Army played against Art County United in the past, and never mentions that the Northern Army was defeated.

Half of the troops were deployed to the southern front, and it is not to say that the Yate County Alliance came in full force this time. The scale of the war was not on the same scale as the previous border skirmishes.

The Crisis in the West didn't even have any publicity.

In short, the people of the empire maintained a very optimistic attitude towards the war, and their daily lives were hardly affected.

Now when Luke said that the North was so dangerous that even the Queen had to go to the North to supervise the war, these gang bosses realized that the war was so close to them.

Old Adrian asked: "Mr. Governor, what do you need us to do?"

"I want to recruit troops in the Lower City!"

"We will definitely recruit as many people as you need."

The gang bosses did not hesitate at all. Whether it was to prevent the Art County Alliance from holding on to the good life they had just gained, or to repay Governor Meteor, they were willing to risk their lives.

"5,000 people!" Luke said about the troops he predicted might be recruited in the Lower City: "The soldiers from the Lower City went to Raging Waves City in the name of labor to reorganize and receive at least three months of military training.

When the situation in the Northern Territory is in crisis, Raging Wave City will send troops to support the Northern Territory."

On the train, Luke received a lot of news from Raging Waves City, including the formation of the city militia.

Viscount Yinskelan has expanded the urban militia of Nutao City to 2,000 people. And because the residents of Nutao City are generally well-educated, Viscount Yinskelan suggested equipping the urban militia with large quantities of war machinery, alchemy puppets, and magic projection cannons.

Small reconnaissance airships and armored trucks form an armored assault division, accompanying the war fortress into the northern border to fight.

At the same time, Viscount Yin Kelan also expressed his own difficulties. Since he could not trigger panic among the city's citizens, he could not recruit large-scale troops within the city. Before Raging Waves City entered a state of war, the size of the city's militia could only reach 4,000 to 5,000 people.

This number is slightly insufficient for a purely armored assault division.

Armored assault divisions are the strongest and most expensive main combat force for any country.

The reason why the Empire's Northern Army is strong is because it has thirteen armored assault divisions that the Empire has devoted all its efforts to build.

Each armored assault division is equipped with: ten offensive and defensive war fortresses; sixteen logistical war fortresses; 1,000 to 1,500 war machines; 3,000 alchemy puppets with various functions; 800 operational and strategic magic projection cannons; small

20 reconnaissance airships; 3,000 vehicles of various types.

The troop strength ranges from 10,000 to 15,000.

It can be said that the attack of an armored assault division is like a torrent of steel, and the garrison is like a steel fortress.

The combat effectiveness is astonishing and the cost is astonishing.

At the same time, if you want to form an armored assault division, you need a large number of high-quality soldiers. Precisely because of its special economic status, Raging Wave City has a lot of high-quality soldiers. Even the gangsters at the port can play with machinery and drive cars.

The soldiers recruited in Raging Waves City can be placed in the technical positions of the armored assault division to build up the skeleton. In addition, light infantry needs to be filled to cooperate with the war machine attack and protect expensive weapons such as magic projectile cannons.

So Luke thought about downtown.

For the people here, if you ask them to drive war machines, they will definitely fall into trouble with each step, but if you give them a knife and ask them to fight with all their strength, they will definitely rush up screaming. With such fierce light infantry around, the technical soldiers can drive war machines and

The war fortress carries out attack and defense with confidence and boldness.

Old Adrian had some exchanges with other gang bosses and felt that there was not much pressure to recruit 5,000 soldiers from Xiacheng District in a short period of time. Moreover, the development of Xiacheng District and a large number of low-tech jobs have begun to have a negative impact on the slums and areas of the Imperial Capital Circle.

A siphon phenomenon has occurred in rural areas, and many relatives and friends of residents have come here with their families.

If you want to settle in Xiacheng District, then send a man to fight.

Old Adrian asked Luke in a low voice: "Sir, are 5,000 soldiers enough?"

Luke asked: "Can there be more?"

Old Adrian replied: "I guarantee that all these five thousand soldiers will be sent to Raging Wave City to report within half a month. Give me another two months, and I should be able to recruit another 5,000 soldiers."

Luke was overjoyed: "Very good! All families that have boys must be given better treatment. Raging Wave City will allocate a batch of highly profitable orders to military families, and Xiacheng District will also take special care of their lives. Everything

Welfare must be distributed first.”

10,000 people is the minimum number of personnel for an armored assault division. If 10,000 soldiers can be recruited from Xiacheng District, the Nutao City Armored Assault Division can be fully staffed.

Only when such an armored assault division with complete combat capabilities is brought to the northern border can it play its due role.

The harvest in Xiacheng District this time was greater than expected.

Luke discussed with the gang bosses the details of the recruitment and the method of sending them to Raging Waves City. When he left the alchemy factory, the rain outside had stopped.

The dark clouds dispersed, and a full moon hung high in the sky.
Chapter completed!