11: Chapter 11 Sheriff's Wife: Mr. Chen, can we talk privately tonight?

The wealthy district of San Verde is located on the hillside to the north, appearing as if it were a parallel world to the city district at the foot of the mountain, which is filled with sin and poverty.

There is no pungent smell of gunpowder here, only the scent of fresh grass from neatly manicured lawns and the faint fragrance of expensive perfume drifting in the air.

A black Lincoln stretch limousine slowly pulled up to the entrance of the Anderson manor.

The car door opened, and Chen Yuan stepped out.

Tonight, he had changed into a meticulously tailored handmade suit, the dark blue fabric shimmering with a low-key, luxurious luster under the lights. His hair was combed impeccably, and his mouth held that distant yet polite smile, making him look exactly like an elite aristocrat who had just graduated from an Ivy League school.

Alice took his arm.

She was wearing a wine-red backless evening gown tonight, like a burning flame. Her perfect S-shaped curves and those breathtakingly long legs instantly drew the gaze of every man present, and made every woman seem dull in comparison.

"Who is that?"

"Haven't seen her before, is she a newcomer from Hollywood?"

"That guy looks a bit familiar... God, isn't that the Chinese kid who sells veterinary drugs?"

Whispers spread through the crowd.

The guests, holding champagne and considering themselves high-society figures, looked at Chen Yuan with complex emotions. There was curiosity, jealousy, and, more than anything, a sense of high-and-mighty disdain.

In their eyes, Chen Yuan was nothing more than an upstart who had gotten lucky, reeking of the stench of money from that dirty Pharmaceutical Factory.

"Chen! You finally arrived!"

A voice, enthusiastic to the point of exaggeration, broke the awkwardness.

Mary Anderson floated over like a colorful butterfly.

This sheriff's wife, nearly forty but still possessing an alluring charm, had clearly dressed with great care tonight. Her low-cut lace gown was a bit tight, but it showcased her proud assets just right. She completely ignored Alice next to him, affectionately taking Chen Yuan's other arm, her full curves pressing against him without the slightest hesitation.

"Everyone is waiting for you."

Mary's voice was as sweet and cloying as a spoonful of melted honey. "I heard you caused quite a stir over there last night? That deadbeat Carlos came back terrified, saying you're a ruthless character."

"I just took care of some unnecessary trash."

Chen Yuan calmly withdrew his arm and took two glasses of champagne, handing one to her. "I didn't expect Mrs. Anderson to be so well-informed."

"In this circle, there are no secrets."

Mary took the glass but didn't drink. Instead, using the opportunity to clink glasses, she pressed her body closer and lowered her voice, her eyes filled with a trace of desire and anxiety:

"Chen, forget about those stinking men. I have serious business to discuss with you."

She pulled Chen Yuan to a semi-open balcony in the corner of the banquet hall. The lighting here was dim, perfect for avoiding the prying eyes in the main hall.

"I heard from that little vixen Sophia... that you have a certain medicine."

Mary gripped her skirt nervously, her eyes flickering. "Not only can it make men... you know, but it can also make a woman's skin return to being twenty years old?"

Chen Yuan looked at the woman before him, a woman in her prime who was past her youth, with fine lines already appearing on her face, and sneered inwardly.

As expected.

Regardless of their social class, a woman's desire for youth outweighs her pursuit of money.

"Sophia exaggerated."

Chen Yuan swirled his glass, his tone flat. "That is just a... cell activity activator that our laboratory is still developing. It is currently in the clinical trial stage and has not been released to the public."

"Clinical trials?"

Mary's eyes lit up as if she had grasped a lifeline. "So you have it? Chen, you know my status in this circle. If you let me try it... I can help introduce you to the mayor's wife, or even the governor's daughter."

She extended her hand, adorned with a diamond ring, and rested it lightly on the back of Chen Yuan's hand, her fingertips stroking it suggestively. "And, as long as you satisfy me... Carlos is working overtime at the police station tonight, and here in this manor, I am the one who calls the shots."

Chen Yuan smiled.

This wasn't just a transaction; this was an entry ticket to power delivered right to his doorstep.

"Since you have asked, Madam, I naturally cannot refuse."

He pulled an exquisite little porcelain bottle from his pocket, which contained a capsule with a faint pink luster. It was the [Primary Beauty Pill] exchanged from the system, which was actually just a high-purity detox and beauty agent mixed with a trace amount of hallucinogenic ingredients, enough to make a person feel radiant.

"Take it before bed tonight. You will see a miracle tomorrow morning."

Chen Yuan pressed the porcelain bottle into Mary's hand and took the opportunity to hold her fingertips. "However, this is not for sale. You must keep it a secret for me, Madam."

"Definitely! Definitely!"

Mary tucked the bottle into her bosom as if it were a precious treasure, looking at Chen Yuan as if he were God. "Chen, you are truly a gentleman. Don't leave later; I will take you to meet a few real 'big shots'."

The two had just returned to the hall from the balcony when a harsh voice rang out.

"Yo, isn't this our 'God of Medicine'?"

A fat man with a beer belly and a greasy face walked over, holding a wine glass. He was the owner of the largest local supermarket chain and the same guy who had been trying to acquire Chen Yuan's Pharmaceutical Factory.

"I heard you sold that stimulant used for breeding pigs to truck drivers?"

The fat man deliberately raised his volume, eliciting a burst of laughter from those around him. "What? You want to come here and peddle your pig feed now? Everyone here is a respectable person; we don't need that kind of low-class trash to liven things up."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Mary was about to speak up in his defense, but Chen Yuan stopped her.

Chen Yuan looked at the fat man, the smile on his face not only not disappearing, but becoming even brighter.

"Sir, I think you have misunderstood."

Chen Yuan took a step forward, instantly releasing the oppressive aura he had brought from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, causing the fat man to subconsciously take a step back. "My medicine does indeed provide energy, but it is not 'low-class trash'."

"On the contrary, it is humanity's pursuit of its limits."

He scanned the room, his voice not loud, but every word hitting home:

"In this fast-paced world, everyone is overdrawing their lives in exchange for money. And I, I am simply selling time."

"This bottle of 'Dali' can keep you clear-headed for two hours longer than your opponent at the negotiating table, allow you to create miracles before a project deadline, and even help you regain your dignity in bed... cough, in your family life."

Chen Yuan glanced contemptuously at the fat man's waistband, which could no longer be fastened. "Of course, for those who have completely lost their male function, it is indeed useless. After all, rotten wood cannot be carved."

"Pfft."

Someone in the crowd couldn't hold it back and let out a laugh.

The fat man's face instantly turned the color of liver, and his hand pointing at Chen Yuan was shaking. "You... you yellow-skinned monkey! I'm going to sue you for slander!"

"Please do."

Chen Yuan shrugged. "My legal team is at your disposal. But before that, I suggest you go see a urologist."

A farce was turned into a one-sided humiliation by Chen Yuan's sharp tongue.

Just as Chen Yuan turned to leave this boring circle, he felt a gaze.

That gaze was different from the frivolity or curiosity of the others; it was filled with wildness, danger, and a kind of greed, like a predator seeing its prey.

He turned his head.

In the darkest corner of the banquet hall sat a woman wearing black tight leather clothing.

She had thick black curly hair, and her dark brown skin radiated a wild beauty. She was toying with a butterfly knife in her hand, the blade dancing on her fingertips, moving so fast it was dazzling.

Rosa.

The biggest drug lord in San Verde, and the "Scorpion Queen" who controlled the entire underground smuggling network along the US-Mexico border.

She raised her glass and toasted Chen Yuan from a distance, her aggressive eyes slightly narrowed, and her red lips parted to form a silent shape:

"Long time no see."

Chen Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

In the memories of his predecessor, this woman was a total lunatic. She had killed more people than Chen Yuan had ever seen, and it was said she had a strange quirk—she liked to turn men she took a fancy to into specimens.

"Boss."

Alice leaned close to Chen Yuan's ear, her voice barely audible. "Extremely dangerous target detected. That woman has a gun, and... she has been staring at your carotid artery."

"Don't be nervous."

Chen Yuan licked his lips, a flame of excitement igniting in his eyes.

This was his real goal for tonight.

The sheriff's wife was just a stepping stone, while this Scorpion Queen was the key to helping him spread "Dali" throughout the entire underground world.

He adjusted his tie, ignored Mrs. Mary's attempt to hold him back, and walked straight toward that corner.

"Since Her Majesty the Queen has extended an invitation."

Chen Yuan looked at Rosa's dangerous eyes and muttered to himself:

"Then I'll go and see just how sharp her stingers are."