Chapter 26: Kyushu Tower

Ruxley watched as Sherise hurriedly left, a thoughtful expression on his face. He recalled that Theoleon had mentioned her company was facing some issues recently. Could it be related? With this in mind, Ruxley pulled out his phone and dialed Theoleon. "Look into Sherise's company and find out what's been going on." "Yes, Lord!" came the swift response. Just then, Carmelia approached him, holding his hand and looking up with concern. "Ruxley, is Sherise okay? Did she run into some bad guys?" Her face was full of worry. After spending the last few days with Sherise, the little girl had grown quite attached, now fully treating her as an older sister. Ruxley smiled and gently patted her head. "Don't worry. Sherise didn't run into any bad guys. She just has some things to take care of." "That's a relief!" Carmelia sighed, patting her chest in her usual adorable manner. Ruxley chuckled, taking her hand. "Let's get going! It's already 7:30, and we'll be late for school if we don't leave now." "Ah! Let's hurry!" Carmelia exclaimed, quickly grabbing his hand and rushing out. She didn't want to be late on her first day of school. With a soft smile, Ruxley swiftly took her to Brightwood Academy. After dropping her off, he lingered outside her classroom for a while, making sure she was adjusting well before finally leaving. Brightwood Academy had a cafeteria where students ate lunch under the supervision of teachers, so Ruxley only needed to pick her up after school. As he left the school grounds, his phone rang. It was Lixen. "Lord, almost all the medicinal ingredients you requested have been gathered. Would you like to come and take a look?" Ruxley's eyes lit up. "I'll be there soon." He had thought it would take Lixen and his team longer to collect the ingredients, but they had managed it sooner than expected. After hanging up, Ruxley turned to the young man in black seated in the driver's seat. "Fafnian, head to Kyushu Tower." "Yes, sir!" Fafnian nodded and started the car. Fafnian, the youngest Tormented of Shura Palace, was only in his early twenties but already trusted with important tasks. Theoleon and the others were usually busy, so they had assigned Fafnian to follow Ruxley. Ruxley held him in high regard—he was talented, quick-witted, and full of potential. With proper training, he could one day become the ninth Shura. Kyushu Tower, located in the high-tech district of Shiphay City, stood 33 stories high, a grand landmark of the city. At the tower's entrance, Lixen stood with several senior executives of the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce, awaiting Ruxley's arrival. They had never met him in person, only hearing about him through Lixen, and were curious to see what the legendary boss looked like. A car pulled up, and a young man stepped out—it was Ruxley. The executives frowned, puzzled by his casual attire and youthful appearance. They couldn't connect this young man with the powerful figure behind the Kyushu Chamber of Commerce. One executive was about to step forward to chase him away when he froze in shock. Lixen had already walked up to Ruxley, bowing respectfully. "Lord, you've arrived!" The executives were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. They had never imagined their mysterious boss would be so young. The executive who had almost intervened went pale, wiping cold sweat from his brow. If he had acted, he would have been in serious trouble. "Lord, the ingredients you requested are ready. Please follow me," Lixen said, gesturing toward the tower. Ruxley nodded and followed Lixen inside. They took the elevator to the top floor, where the storage room was located. As soon as the door opened, a strong scent of medicinal herbs filled the air. Inside were over a hundred exquisite wooden boxes, each containing a different ingredient. "Lord, we gathered these from across the country as you instructed. Do they meet your requirements?" Lixen asked. Ruxley examined the herbs, frowning. "Aren't there any over a hundred years old?" While the quantity of ingredients was impressive, most were only 40 or 50 years old, with only a few exceeding a century. Lixen smiled wryly. "Nearly all high-grade ingredients over a hundred years old are monopolized by powerful factions. Even with a 50% premium, no one was willing to sell them to us." In recent years, high-grade ingredients had become scarce, quickly snapped up by influential groups. They were nearly impossible to buy. "Is there no other way?" Ruxley asked, still frowning. These ingredients could be used to refine the Blood Spirit Pill, but their efficacy would be much lower. "There's one more option," Lixen said. "The day after tomorrow, the Olympus Auction House will hold an auction here in Shiphay City. It's said they'll have several high-grade ingredients over a hundred years old, including a thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ganoderma." "Oh?" Ruxley's eyes lit up. The thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ganoderma would be perfect for refining high-quality Blood Spirit Pills. If he could obtain it, he could produce a batch of top-tier pills. "Prepare the funds," Ruxley ordered. "I'll go check it out myself." "Yes, sir!" Lixen responded. After inspecting the herbs, Ruxley instructed Lixen to have them sent to his villa. As they left the storage room, Lixen and the executives updated him on the association's current affairs. As Ruxley passed by an office, a familiar voice suddenly called out from nearby.