23: A thousandfold profit

Before he knew it, his cigarette had burned out. The high heat from his fingertips snapped Howard out of his wild fantasies.

After the initial excitement, his mind raced. His previous pricing proposal had been flatly rejected.

After a moment's thought, he spoke with determination, "Viscount, I am willing to purchase this batch at ten thousand pounds per kilogram.

Furthermore, we will split the net profits fifty-fifty."

There was no such thing as a free lunch, especially when it came to a goose that laid golden eggs; he had to secure it at any cost.

"A fifty-fifty profit split?" Lu Fan was momentarily stunned. This was a massive investment. "It seems you have a lot of confidence in this business."

"To be honest, I have some influence in Europe's aristocratic circles and am privy to certain secrets.

Therefore, I am very confident in this venture."

Howard was full of ambition; he had to cling to this powerful connection at all costs.

"We'll set the price at ten thousand pounds per kilogram; let's consider it a gesture of friendship.

However, I have one small request!"

Howard hurriedly interjected, "Please, Viscount, say the word. As long as it's within my power, I'll do it regardless of the cost!"

Lu Fan looked Howard straight in the eye and spoke unhurriedly, "If you're willing, help me collect Chinese antiques that have ended up overseas."

"No problem, no problem at all."

Howard breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the condition and readily agreed.

They were just Chinese antiques! In the peaceful years past, they might have been harder to come by—after all, antiques flourished in times of prosperity.

But things were different now. The prelude to war had begun, and all of Europe was in chaos.

These antiques were practically worthless; he had a pile of them at home.

"Then it's settled?"

"It's settled!"

Having reached a cooperative agreement, Howard immediately drafted a contract in black and white.

After all, it didn't matter who sold it.

Compared to the old-fashioned Reister, he preferred Howard.

With debts from several objectives and the War of Resistance about to break out, he needed money for many things.

Whoever paid more got the medicine; it was perfectly reasonable!

Once the signatures were finalized, both went their separate ways to prepare.

Leaving the Research Institute, a smile played on Lu Fan's lips.

He saw that Howard wanted to use penicillin to command influence and join the top ranks of Europe's elite.

So he secretly pushed things along, with only one goal: the Chinese cultural relics lost overseas.

Currently, domestic management of cultural relics was becoming increasingly strict.

Although he had the advantage of traveling between two worlds, if he mindlessly resold items, he would soon be behind bars.

His previous trip to Shanghai was the perfect example; if someone hadn't spoken up for him, he might have been thrown in jail.

So, he had to take it as a warning.

But dealing in foreign cultural relics was different; as long as there was a sales contract, things were simple.

On the other side, Reister stood by the window of his office.

Watching Lu Fan slowly depart, a smug smile appeared on his face.

"Father, I've gathered all the information."

Howard pushed the door open and entered, his face calm. He walked slowly to Reister's side and reported in a low voice.

"Sit down..." Reister withdrew his gaze and returned to his desk. "Tell me about it."

"Their current production is about twenty kilograms per week, and it can be increased to one hundred kilograms per week in a while."

Howard refilled Reister's hot coffee and recounted the details he had learned.

"That much?" Reister's brow furrowed slightly as he murmured thoughtfully.

He knew that penicillin was being mass-produced, but he hadn't expected the output to be so high.

Seeing his father deep in thought, Howard tested the waters, "Father, since they can mass-produce it..."

"...do we still need to conduct our own research and development?"

Hearing this, Reister's gaze turned sharp, and he countered sternly, "No, core technology must be in our own hands.

Not only must we develop it, but we must do so as quickly as possible at any cost and form a complete industrial chain."

"Father, R&D is fine. However, is there a need for such urgency? We just need to prioritize seizing the patent registration.

Once we have them by the throat with the patent, we can take our time with the rest."

Howard hit the nail on the head, looking at his father with confidence; clearly, he already had a plan.

Reister glanced at him and asked, "Go on. What is your plan?"

"I will first secure the patent registration and let penicillin serve the aristocratic and wealthy merchant circles.

Let the efficacy speak for itself and establish a firm reputation.

Then, we will recruit talent to set up a laboratory without needing to force the research process.

As long as we focus on accumulating wealth and connections, we can monopolize the sale and promotion of penicillin.

At the right time, we will propose a joint venture factory with Louis to expand production capacity.

With us controlling the patent and sales channels, are we afraid Louis won't comply?

Finally, once the factory is established, we'll just kick him out. Wouldn't that complete the plan?"

Howard spoke at length, making no secret of his intention to use another's resources for his own gain and then discard them.

"Good! We'll go with your idea!" Reister nodded repeatedly in approval as he listened.

Seeing the plan approved, Howard added, "Father, you must keep a close eye on Louis, our cash cow!"

Ma Jieli is a very cunning man."

Reister reviewed the plan meticulously and said, "I will stay in Shanghai for a while to keep an eye on Louis.

I will monopolize all of penicillin's production capacity immediately.

You must also be careful in Europe; the finished penicillin must not circulate on the market.

Especially in the France circles, you must handle things personally to prevent any drug leakage from ruining the entire plan.

Also, use a fictitious name for the patent application, just in case.

One last thing: when you go back this time, take my place in the Pharmaceutical Association and find an opportunity to elevate Louis's noble title again.

Spend more time with Louis during this period to build a good relationship.

Strive to tie him firmly to our family's chariot."

He was an old hand; while he might lack the boldness and decisiveness of youth, he was miles ahead of Howard when it came to thoroughness.

After lunch, the two completed the transaction in the VIP room of Huifeng Bank, witnessed by a lawyer.

Twenty kilograms of penicillin brought Lu Fan immense wealth.

After cashing the check and receiving two hundred thousand pounds, he had ascended into the ranks of Shanghai's wealthy elite.

Before the full outbreak of World War II, the pound was a global currency, directly pegged to gold.

200,000 pounds was equivalent to 800,000 US dollars or 1.3 tons of gold.

Compared to the cost, this wasn't just a tenfold profit; it was already a thousandfold profit.

Thinking about the system's evaluation upon mission completion, wouldn't the final reward be absolutely astronomical!

On the spot, Lu Fan asked Wang Tianxi to help coordinate the exchange for half a ton of gold and one hundred thousand silver dollars.

At modern gold prices, just bringing back that half-ton of gold would completely solve his debt problems.

The transaction went smoothly, and the resolution of his financial crisis was in sight.

However, there was still no response from the system mission, which meant he hadn't completed the first task yet.

Seeing that he had no point income and was about to miss out on the one-cubic-meter Space Expansion Rune...

That was a whole cubic meter of storage space; it could hold so much.

It was right there, yet out of reach.

He began to feel a bit anxious.

Just then, a news item in a newspaper in the VIP room caught Lu Fan's attention.