Chapter 47: Chapter 47 - Hostile Acquisition
Alec Williams scrutinized the medicine repeatedly, eventually confirming it was indeed the exact remedy Mason Raymond had given him earlier!
"Finished examining it, Brother Alec? Time to hand it back now," Mayor Nick reclaimed the Soul Nourishment Pill.
With a playful tone, Mayor Nick added, "Watch out, Brother Alec. Woods Walters might become River City’s new wealthiest man, knocking you off your pedestal."
The others joined in the teasing. "Brother Alec, your top spot’s in danger!"
Everyone erupted in laughter while Alec’s face reddened with embarrassment, unable to join their merriment.
In downtown River City, Woods Walters operated from a commercial shop that served as his office.
Lately, Woods’s workplace resembled a crowded marketplace, with countless affluent individuals clamoring for agency rights, many hoping to monopolize the Soul Nourishment Pill distribution.
This marked Woods’s first experience of being elevated to such importance by others.
"Brother Woods, Director Damon requests to see you."
"Brother Woods, Mr. Seth has been waiting outside for over an hour."
"Brother Woods..."
Woods dismissed them with an irritated wave. "No, no, I’m too busy!"
Previously, those self-important directors had looked down on him, but now they were desperately pleading at his doorstep.
"All thanks to this Soul Nourishment Pill," Woods remarked smugly.
Just then, the office door flew open abruptly.
"Didn’t I make myself clear? I’m not seeing anyone!" Woods snapped impatiently.
"Woods Walters, what a temper you’ve developed," a voice cut through his irritation.
Woods turned to find Carter Hill standing in the doorway, with Harvey Brown trailing close behind.
"Mr. Hill? What brings you here?" Woods’s expression shifted instantly as he hurried to greet his unexpected visitor.
Carter Hill merely grunted and took a seat directly on the sofa.
"Pour some water for Mr. Hill, would you?" Harvey Brown commanded with a glare.
Woods shot Harvey an annoyed look but obediently fetched water for Carter Hill.
"Mr. Hill, may I ask why you’ve come to see me?" Woods asked uneasily, sitting across from Carter.
Carter sipped his water calmly before speaking. "I hear you possess a medicine called Soul Nourishment Pill. Is that correct?"
Woods’s face fell as he thought to himself – this spells trouble.
"Mr. Hill, the Soul Nourishment Pill is indeed in my possession..." Woods admitted reluctantly.
Carter Hill gave a cold smile. "Hand over the formula for the Soul Nourishment Pill, and I’ll compensate you."
With that, Carter produced a bank card and placed it on the table between them.
"The card contains one hundred sixty thousand dollars. More than generous for your formula," Harvey Brown interjected arrogantly before Carter could continue.
Woods’s expression darkened. "One hundred sixty thousand? That’s insultingly low!"
"What distinguishes you from a common beggar anyway?" Carter sneered.
At this, Woods’s patience evaporated.
He glared at Carter and snapped, "Carter Hill, don’t overstep your bounds!"
"Overstep?" Carter’s face hardened. "You dare address me in that tone?"
With a quick hand gesture from Carter, several bodyguards burst into the office and swiftly pinned Woods to the floor!
Looking down at his captive, Carter said coldly, "Woods Walters, either surrender the formula or I’ll have you crippled. Your decision."
Woods’s face contorted with anger and fear, momentarily speechless.
"Nothing to say?" Carter nodded. "Break his legs."
"Yes, sir!" The bodyguards moved to comply immediately.
"Wait!" Woods shouted desperately.
Looking up at Carter, Woods forced a smile. "Mr. Hill, it’s not that I’m unwilling to share with you, but... I don’t actually possess the formula. Someone else sold me the Soul Nourishment Pill..."
"Someone else?" Carter frowned. "Who?"
Woods’s eyes darted nervously. "An elderly Chinese medicine practitioner! How about this – I’ll arrange a meeting with him three days from now. Would that work?"
Carter scrutinized Woods thoughtfully before giving a cold snort. "Fine. But consider yourself warned – if you’re playing games, you’ll regret it severely."
"I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare..." Woods assured with a forced smile.
Carter motioned to his entourage and departed from Woods’s office.
After they left, Woods spat on the floor in disgust.
"What garbage! Just you wait!" he cursed angrily.
Immediately afterward, Woods drove away from his office, heading straight for Dragon Rising Community.
In a spacious manor, I sat with my eyes lightly closed, breathing rhythmically in and out.
"Mr. Raymond!" Woods burst in, perspiration drenching his face, looking thoroughly alarmed.
I slowly opened my eyes and regarded him calmly.
"What’s happened to get you so worked up?" I asked evenly.
Woods wiped sweat from his brow and hurriedly explained, "Carter Hill came after me. He offered a hundred sixty thousand dollars for the formula."
My expression remained unchanged, unsurprised by this development.
I had anticipated the Hill family’s interest in this formula from the beginning.
"How did you respond?" I inquired steadily.
"I fabricated a story about receiving the formula from an elderly Chinese medicine doctor and promised to introduce them in three days." Woods replied cautiously.
"Please don’t be angry, Mr. Raymond. Carter threatened to break my legs. I had no choice but to employ this tactic!" Woods hastily added.
I remained quiet for a moment.
Leaning back, I gazed into the distance and said calmly, "You handled it well, Woods. Make the arrangements. Three days from now, bring everyone interested in the formula to the No. 1 Grand Mansion."
"I’ll select a suitable company for partnership then."
