Convincing Caesar to agree to O'Neill's proposal wasn't about participating in underground boxing for fun, but rather for competing over a share of the poppy quotas, not for ordinary material allocations, but for shares from Myanmar's notorious drug lord Pocha King's poppy fields.
According to Young Master Jiang, this military chief in Myanmar had a unique penchant for armed combat. Therefore, the poppy quotas produced in his territory were awarded through brutal combat competitions, allowing various contenders to fight for them. The more formidable and surviving the representative sent by each party, the larger the share they would receive.
The Jiang family of South Harbor initially made their fortune in the pharmaceutical industry before transitioning to electronics. However, the pharmaceutical business continued to thrive as insiders would understand that in the drug-making industry, one cannot avoid certain special auxiliary ingredients, poppy being one of them.
In essence, this wasn't considered smuggling since the Jiang family obtained the quotas through legal means. However, getting access to poppy isn't something that just anyone can manage. Especially for a large, prosperous family like the Jiang's, operating in the highly profitable pharmaceutical sector, their demand for poppy is particularly high. Yet, having a demand is one thing; whether or not you're allocated the quotas is another.
Hence, Pocha King cleverly devised the competition for poppy quotas under the guise of promoting martial prowess, thus avoiding offending any of his numerous major clients. Unfortunately for the Jiang family, although they previously employed some formidable individuals who ensured a supply that barely met their pharmaceutical needs, about two years ago, their ace was assassinated by a sniper. Consequently, their pharmaceutical endeavors have faced challenges over these last couple of years.
Of course, no matter how unfortunate the Jiang family was, it wasn't as urgent a matter for O'Neill, a third-generation rich heir.
After all, in some large and prosperous families with many members, individuals like O'Neill aren't typically the ones in line to inherit. Otherwise, the family wouldn't condone their extravagant and unruly lifestyles.
The reason families like the Jiang's allow someone like O'Neill to live in decadence is singular: they hope the luxurious life funded by wealth will keep these direct descendants placated, preventing them from intruding on the family’s predetermined line of succession. Ultimately, it's a tactic to maintain internal harmony within large families.
Thus, when Roselle caught a glimpse of O'Neill's rare serious expression, he decided to lend a helping hand to his brother. After all, O'Neill had proven to be someone worth befriending as he had helped Roselle out of many troubles in critical moments.
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"How many days until departure?" After another meal, Roselle, feeling the demand for green scales ease, asked.
"Three days. In three days, we'll head to Shanghai to first secure eligibility for the quota competition," O'Neill replied, shedding his usual casual demeanor for a more serious tone.
"Alright, I'll head back to prepare," Roselle responded without delay. Since he had promised to help, Roselle, being straightforward, would either not do it at all or do it to the best of his ability.
"What? Haha, boss, I love you. Shall I drive you?"
"Screw off, with your broken supercar, just two seats, who’s going to fit?" Roselle pretended to kick him before leaving with Caesar, avoiding letting anyone in on the secrets of his home.
...
Upon returning home, the first thing Roselle thought about was protecting the crystal fish mother. The secrets of his home must not be exposed, as the security at Yulong Garden could only deter ordinary people.
Thus, overnight, he planted flowers and grass in two steel-sealed balconies upstairs, and during this process, he also planted a "vine" in each.
These vines weren't ordinary Earth vines but were the "Drunk Moon Vines" acquired from the shopping world. Despite their seemingly romantic and harmless name, those who knew their details would not think so lightly of them.
The vine is not only exceedingly resilient compared to typical vines but also emits an enchanting, heady aroma. This scent isn't classified as toxic but can attract unsuspecting creatures, such as birds and insects. When prey enters the range of the Drunk Moon Vine's scent, they become ensnared, akin to consuming fine wine, gradually intoxicated until they're incapacitated. The vines' roots would then emerge from the ground to absorb the prey's blood, fueling their growth.
In short, it's an unseen, intoxicating, and bloodsucking vine. While it might not kill humans directly, if a person succumbs within its hunting area, a continuous blood drain over several days could lead to fatal consequences.
Roselle chose it for its silent allure and the five-day grace period it allowed, reducing immediate fatalities. After all, in a law-governed society, frequent deaths at home would pose a significant risk of exposure and legal trouble.
On one balcony facing the northern rear mountain of Yulong Garden and another facing east, Roselle also placed five Hercules ants, leaving them to fend for themselves. The small birds and insects attracted by the Drunk Moon Vine alone would suffice to sustain the ants' food needs, allowing Roselle to be less concerned about their feeding.
It's worth noting that the God Energy Feeding skill could expedite the maturity of juvenile pets but wouldn't substitute the need for regular sustenance. Even if it could, Roselle wouldn't waste precious Divine Energy on issues solvable with some money.
After spending 200 points to purchase two Drunk Moon Vines from the beast category and securing the balconies, Roselle then turned his attention to the divine array of the fish pond.
After browsing the market extensively, he ultimately decided to purchase a plant called "Lotus Snake" from the "Beast" category.
As the name suggests, this plant resembles a cross between a snake and a lotus. It thrives on low-temperature water surfaces, appearing externally as a simple lotus leaf floating in water. Yet, beneath the surface lies a snake-like biological structure as thick as a baby's arm, complete with a snake's body, head, and fangs. The snake's body boasts exceptional flexibility, allowing a mature Lotus Snake to extend up to 15 meters, sufficient to cover the entire apartment if placed centrally in the fish pond.