Two days later, the sun had barely begun to illuminate the streets of Orchid City when the Vesper Squad moved into action.
Positions were occupied with precision. From the highest rooftops to the back alleys, the Vespers deployed in groups of two or three, aware of how often to report and how to react if something went wrong. They had rehearsed dozens of times.
The two assault wagons were pulled into position at the front and rear of the restaurant. Their tarps were discreetly removed, revealing Maxim machine guns, partially concealed behind improvised barriers made from empty merchandise crates. Though they appeared to be simple loading stations, each was ready to open fire within seconds.
A block away, V-12 had already taken position on a raised vantage point. With his Mauser rifle, he had a direct line of sight to the restaurant's second floor.
Ethan adjusted the sleeves of his white robe, inspecting the room one last time. The warm light of dawn filtered through the window, casting soft shadows on the walls. Beside him, the Hu brothers waited.
"Everything is ready, Master," reported Hu Zhan.
Ethan nodded.
As they reached the restaurant door, an employee greeted them with a slight nod. He opened the door without a word.
The private room on the second floor had been prepared.
A long table of dark wood dominated the center of the room. On either side, high-backed carved chairs awaited their occupants.
A few minutes later, while Ethan waited, the creak of steps announced the arrival of the guests. The Hu brothers opened the door. Two figures entered the room: a refined-looking middle-aged man in a dark blue robe embroidered with silver threads, and a serene-faced young woman with a piercing gaze and hair pinned up with a jade hairpin.
Lan Tianhua, manager of the Blue Lotus Chamber of Commerce, paused upon seeing Ethan. Beside him, his daughter Lan Yueqing gave a slight nod, maintaining proper decorum.
"Sir," Lan Tianhua greeted with a diplomatic smile. "I appreciate you accepting this meeting on such short notice."
Ethan rose from his seat and returned the gesture with a faint smile.
Though his face was covered, his eyes still conveyed his demeanor.
"The pleasure is mine, Manager Lan. And please, call me Nova. I'm glad we could finally meet again."
His tone was cordial. He gestured toward the chairs in front of him.
"Please, take a seat. Would you like some tea?"
The young Yueqing sat down silently, though her gaze briefly shifted toward the window. Ethan noticed the gesture but didn't comment.
"Gladly, thank you," said Lan Tianhua, nodding as he settled into his seat.
After brief courtesies, the conversation began.
"To speak frankly, your liquor has been an unexpected success," the manager said, interlacing his fingers. "I tried it myself. Its flavor is exquisite… but it has no effects. As a cultivator, I usually prefer drinks with spiritual energy."
Ethan watched him silently.
"I believe that with the right ingredients, we could elevate it. Transform Dragon's Breath into a true spiritual liquor—suitable even for Foundation-stage cultivators... perhaps even Golden Core." Lan Tianhua continued.
"Our interest isn't just in buying more batches," he went on, placing his palm gently on the table. "We want to collaborate. You have the formula. We have the spiritual ingredients… and a distribution network that spans the entire Yun Dynasty."
Ethan interlaced his fingers. Outside, a bird's song marked the serene pace of morning—but the tension in the air was palpable, only thinly masked by politeness.
"I'd like to know," he said, looking at both of them, "what kind of ingredients you have in mind. And more importantly… what you expect in return."
Lan Tianhua smiled slowly. A measured smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"A lasting alliance, Mr. Nova. And, if you'll allow me to be direct… exclusivity."
He kept smiling, but his eyes studied every nuance of Ethan's face.
"On our farmland in Qinghe Mountain, we cultivate a unique variety of spiritual rice. It's called Dragonblood Rice. It's nourished with the blood of spiritual python-type beasts."
Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn't respond immediately. The name was unfamiliar.
"That rice, along with spiritual fruits and a few select herbs... could completely change the nature of your liquor," the manager continued.
"Dragon's Breath is already a delicacy. With the right ingredients, we could turn it into a refining aid for cultivators. A preparatory step before meditation. A way to accelerate Qi circulation."
"Sounds like an interesting proposal," Ethan said calmly. "But none of this is charity."
Lan Tianhua laced his hands and rested his elbows on the table, adopting an almost confessional tone.
"Of course not. We're offering you a partnership. You share the base formula, but we won't produce it. You'll oversee the manufacturing. We'll provide the spiritual ingredients, resources, and distribution. Profits will be shared... as long as the final product remains exclusive to us."
"For how long?" Ethan asked.
"One hundred years of exclusivity. After that, you're free to do as you wish. But during that period, every drop must be sold through our Chamber of Commerce and flow only through our routes. In return, you'll gain priority access to our spiritual crops and a clean thirty percent share."
Ethan didn't reply immediately. AION projected a cost-benefit breakdown, but he was already calculating on his own.
"An ambitious proposal," he murmured.
"Only because we trust our Chamber of Commerce," Lan Tianhua replied, tilting his head slightly.
Lan Yueqing remained silent, though her eyes studied him attentively.
Ethan stayed quiet. Then, his voice cut across the table like a sharp blade.
"One hundred years of exclusivity… for ingredients I haven't even seen."
Lan Tianhua raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn't expected such direct resistance.
"Dragonblood Rice is unique. It only blooms under specific conditions. It requires spiritual python blood weekly. Its yield is low. Its flavor, unmistakable. And that's not even mentioning its effects."
Ethan interrupted him.
"In exchange for handing over, for a full century, the only distillation technique in the entire continent. A formula no one has managed to replicate. A product whose demand has already surpassed my production capacity."
He leaned back.
"I don't need your ingredients to keep growing. You, on the other hand, can't produce a single drop of Dragon's Breath without me. And in the meantime, your competitors are already making offers, even if they don't understand what they're offering."
Lan Tianhua clenched his jaw but said nothing.
"So here's my proposal," Ethan continued. "We'll work together, yes. But the formula isn't shared. Production stays under my direct supervision. Your ingredients are raw material, not a key to the secret."
"You're free to refuse, of course. But in that case, I'll simply continue producing on a small scale. It may take years, but eventually I'll secure spiritual ingredients on my own… and by then, you'll no longer have a seat at the table."
Lan Tianhua remained silent for a few seconds. Then he sighed, as if acknowledging Ethan's position of strength.
"And what percentage do you propose?"
"Forty for you, per batch sold. Sixty for me."
Lan Tianhua glanced at his daughter for a moment. Then looked back at Ethan.
"And what if someone tries to copy your liquor? They've tried before."
"And they failed," Ethan replied. "Because it's not just about the ingredients, it's about the process. And that process is protected."
A heavy silence followed.
Finally, Lan Tianhua smiled. This time, with a genuine glimmer of respect.
"I expected nothing less from you."
He stood up.
"We'll send the first ingredient batches in three days. You'll produce an initial sample, and if the quality meets expectations, we'll formalize the agreement… under your terms."
Ethan stood as well, offering a slight nod.
"I'll be waiting for the ingredients."
Once the Lans had left, Hu Zhan gently closed the door behind them.
"Are you sure you didn't push them too hard, Master?"
Ethan smiled faintly without replying.