CHAPTER 870: CHAPTER 581: THREE SHOVELFULS OF STRENGTH (2)

"Wait."

Doctor Medical Bee called out to him.

"Sorry. Alright?"

It said reluctantly.

"Alright."

He hadn’t expected Doctor Medical Bee to be very sincere anyway.

"Take a look at this."

Liu Zheng took out the nerve ganglion of the Erakos Sand Worm.

"This is... ’spice’!"

Doctor Medical Bee quickly recognized the orb and exclaimed excitedly.

"That’s right."

He nodded.

"My god, how did you get this thing?"

"I encountered it on my way to deliver takeout outside the city."

Liu Zheng briefly explained his encounter with the Erakos Sand Worm.

"Are you serious?"

Doctor Medical Bee said incredulously.

"Do I have any reason to lie to you? I even let the City Hall people recover the body."

"Then you’re really lucky."

Doctor Medical Bee was both envious and jealous.

It’s already fortunate to encounter the Erakos Sand Worm, let alone outside the Great Desert. The expression ’pie falling from the sky’ doesn’t quite cover it.

"I have always been lucky."

He admitted frankly.

"How many nerve ganglions did you get in total?"

Doctor Medical Bee asked.

"That’s not something you should be concerned about. Are you buying? If not, I’ll go find someone else."

Liu Zheng said.

"Buy. How about two million?"

Doctor Medical Bee offered a price.

"Are you joking, Doctor Medical Bee? Even those unknown origin ’spices’ cost more than this, let alone mine with a clear origin and City Hall endorsement."

"If you think I’m some country bumpkin who’s never seen the world, then you’re wrong. I’m not short of money; I’m selling it to you hoping you can do me a favor."

He took out all the money and casually tossed it onto the ground.

"Gulp!"

Seeing piles of hundred-dollar bills on the ground, Doctor Medical Bee swallowed.

"What favor?"

It asked cautiously.

Using ’spice’ to request help surely wouldn’t be a simple matter.

"My subordinate, the Minotaur who came to get medicine last time, accidentally ingested Sand Worm Blood; I want to ask if you have a solution."

Liu Zheng said.

"You’ve asked the right person."

Doctor Medical Bee breathed a sigh of relief and then said confidently.

"Oh?"

"I’ve recently developed a set of addiction treatment methodologies that can achieve a complete cure."

Doctor Medical Bee said.

"Are there any side effects?"

He asked.

In the Metropolis, it’s not unheard of for addiction to be cured at the expense of life.

"Yes, the side effect is the treatment is extremely expensive. The principle of this method is first making the patient addicted to another substance, and once the original addiction is fully covered, the addiction to this substance turns into aversion, thus curing the patient’s addiction."

Doctor Medical Bee explained its new treatment method.

"Using poison to counter poison, right?"

"Correct. The addiction from Erakos Sand Worm Blood is very strong, so the covering cycle will be long. The initial estimated cost is at least over two million."

Doctor Medical Bee calculated.

"Has your medication undergone clinical trials?"

Liu Zheng asked.

In real drug development processes, there are stages like target screening, compound optimization, synthesis process development, pharmacokinetics study, safety, and toxicology evaluation, phase 1 to 3 clinical trials, approval, and post-market monitoring.

He’s not expecting Doctor Medical Bee to follow all processes, just clinical trials would be quite rigorous.

"Of course, I’m not one of those who mix up some pills and dare to call them new medicine. I’ve conducted clinical trials with over a hundred subjects."

Doctor Medical Bee said proudly.

The standard number of subjects for phase one clinical trial is around 20 to 100.

"Last time, you asked me to introduce some sources; you weren’t planning to use them for clinical trials, were you?"

Liu Zheng frowned.

"Exactly."

Doctor Medical Bee admitted without hesitation.

"...Are you sure this medication is safe?"

After a moment of indecision, he decided to pretend not to hear it.

The Metropolis is notorious for disregarding human lives; he couldn’t control it or see that far.

"In my trials, there were no Minotaurs, so I can’t guarantee 100% safety; we’ll have to address issues as they arise."

Doctor Medical Bee asked cautiously.

"Then, please wait a moment."

Liu Zheng returned to the carriage.

"Colonel, what do you think?"

He asked.

"Its approach sounds more scientific. The method I know can eradicate too but causes significant physical and mental harm to those treated, and those who don’t survive die. Of course, the cost is much lower."

The Driver replied.

"Then I should try this one."

Liu Zheng said.

At least, for his first and only henchman, the treatment should be as good as possible.

"I forgot to make one thing clear to you earlier."

Returning to the front door, he informed Doctor Medical Bee that the nerve ganglion might produce less ’spice’ than expected.

"I have two plans, see which one you can accept."

"First plan, this nerve ganglion is priced at three million; deduct two million for the treatment cost of my subordinate, and you pay me one million."

"Second plan, I directly pay you two million for the treatment cost, and I sell the nerve ganglion elsewhere."

Liu Zheng said.

"I knew no one’s luck would be that good."

Strangely, Doctor Medical Bee seemed a bit happy hearing this outcome.

"But even though you told me this nerve ganglion has issues, selling it to me for three million is a bit excessive, don’t you think?"

Despite being happy, bargaining was still necessary.

"Three million is the price Doctor Nile asked me to sell it for on his behalf; you could easily sell it for five million in the market."

Liu Zheng said.

"That’s what you say, but there’s always risk involved."

Doctor Medical Bee emphasized.

If the final ’spice’ amount produced is too low, buyers will surely trouble it.

"With plan one, you can earn at least three million; if you aren’t willing to take on this risk, I can take it instead."

Liu Zheng said calmly.

"...Alright, for the sake of that old Mummy, I’ll take a hit and choose plan one."

After a brief silence, Doctor Medical Bee compromised as expected.

"Let’s sign a contract then."

For situations affecting someone’s life safety, signing a contract is more secure.

Liu Zheng took out a pen and paper, quickly drafting two contracts.

He studied law in college, interned at a law firm too, so simple contracts were within his skillset.

Doctor Medical Bee didn’t refuse either; it extended one forelimb through the door gap to take the contract.

"Okay, no problem."

After verifying the contents, it signed its name, returning one copy to Liu Zheng.

"When does the treatment start?"

After exchanging money and goods, Liu Zheng asked.

"I need to do a physical evaluation for the Minotaur first to customize the treatment plan."

Doctor Medical Bee replied.

"Alright, I’ll have it come over."

He nodded.

So far, Doctor Medical Bee seemed relatively trustworthy.

He’d done everything he could; now it’s up to Niu Daji’s luck.

Leaving the alley, Liu Zheng headed to Academic Residence.

Making a call, the deputy director soon brought out the nightingale and the others.

"Aren’t you sick? Why come down personally? You’re way too polite."

He looked at the faltering deputy director and complained.

"No worries, I happen to be on my way to visit the Clinic Liu mentioned. Li Ziming, quickly greet Mr. Liu."

The deputy director said to his son.

"Hello, Mr. Liu!"

The boy, looking robust and tiger-headed, wearing a sports uniform, shouted loudly.

Behind him, four students in suit-like uniforms followed, three boys and a girl, seemingly all human.

At this moment, they were sizing up Liu Zheng, their eyes filled with curiosity.

"Alright, let me lay down the rules before we set off: listen to nightingale teacher in all things. If anyone dares to be naughty, considering Li Ziming’s father’s position, execution is off the table but punishment is not.

If someone wants to feed the fish, I’ll let them feed the fish; if they want to eat poop, I’ll let them eat poop; if they want nothing, I’ll let them go for a grand slam. Trust me, that experience won’t be much better than death."

"Don’t think you’re some big shot at school or your parents are almighty."

"Even people way mightier than them, I’ve killed as routinely as turning the page."

"If you don’t believe me, you can ask Li Ziming’s father."

"Nightingale, take them away."

Liu Zheng said with a stern face.

"Yes, Master."

Nightingale complied, then took a shivering group of rich kids to the underground parking garage.