58 Ch58. On the right track.

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This chapter will contain quite a bit of information about drugs, so those who can't handle these things, beware.

On another note, I could use some feedback on how I proceeded with the following chapters, would you preferer I start speeding up a bit, finishing this arc(Academy) or would you rather I expand some more and dive deeper into the actual Academy life, while expanding more on the initial business stages?

I still have a lot planned for this Volume and it just seems to me that this particular arc is looking like it will take quite a while to finish if I continue at my current pace.

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After arriving at the Lab, I notified a few of the students, who are still working on a few of the projects I have assigned them, and told them to bring out what they have managed to create so far. They are currently only working on three main projects, but have only made any real progress with Blaze.

The first product they brought out was the Blaze, they brought out all of the variations, both failures and partial successes, everything was laid out on the table as Oga suddenly became extraordinarily serious and started examining the various strains using some of the available Rune Devices. He then started writing down things on one of the readily available pads of paper, he then proceeded to taste the various results and then continued his small experiments for the next half hour or so and them he nodded, handed the pad of paper to the students who have been patiently as he was conducting his tests.

He then said in a tone that would suggest he had been working here, bossing these students around for years already, "So Stupid, this is a method to use the RockSucker vine to solve the plants inherent toxin as well as some processing methods to have the strains take on slightly different effects and this will also create a difference between the strength of the products. I have other ideas to expand on this greatly but first get me some finished products, now go and sort this out! So Stupid!"

I laughed as I saw that and then said, using the rare chance that Oga was still silent, I started talking, "Nice work little dude, It looks like Blaze is too simple for you, come look over here at some of the other projects I have been trying to get sorted out."

I then pointed at a clear white powder and explained, "This here is something I have had created using a few ingredients needed in the construction of basic and intermediate stamina potions. My idea regarding this is for it to give people a sudden boost of energy as well as induce a type of partial euphoria. I want to create three basic different types of effects using this..."

"Firstly I want to create a fine crystalline powder that is consumed through the nose to give a stable 'energy high', I need this to only affect the user for around 30min up until an hour, and then another dose will be needed to continue the effect. It cant have any side effects besides maybe slightly addictive after a sufficiently large enough amount has been consumed. This must be able to be produced cheaply as well as be easily mass produced using one method while extremely difficult for others to reproduce using only the final product..."

"The second type that I want to create is to somehow solidify this powder into a solid pill form that can be swallowed whole using water or alcohol. The reason for this is so that this pill can produce a similar but more concentrated and indirect effect, it must have a prolonged effect that will make the user want to constantly jump up and down and party all night. An ideal situation that would be beneficial, is that if it could slightly inhibited peoples sense of enjoyment and pleasure so that they will love everyone and everything while they are 'high'..."

"The last one is a combination of the previous two, it's just that it lasts much longer, is much cheaper and can be taking different ways and then it ultimately has a much greater form of inducing addiction, this is something I don't mind as this particular product is only for the poor and ... well you don't need to know much more that."

I saw that Oga was grinning and was about to pounce on the table to start examining these products but I quickly cut in by holding him up by the head as he wailed about, I then continued, "Hold on Oga, I am not done, you can spend the rest of the day here when I have finished my explanations."

I then pointed at two more tables that each had completely different things on them, one had an artificial miniature pond containing a few tadpoles and frogs while the other had a type of moss locked away in an airtight container.

I continued by saying, "These are frogs that I have found called Hallucinogenic Frogs, the poison coating their skin, when consumed causes the person to experience certain hallucinations. They see things that aren't there and I intend to harness this effect into a way that anyone can easily experience and enjoy."

"I want to make the poison otherwise harmless and these visions to be a type of visual enhancement that can make the user truly be amazed at the greatness of the world. This is rather important to me, so I hope you will be able to quickly find a solution. I know that there are certain species of mushroom that have a similar effect when consumed but I have yet been able to find or acquire any."

I then pointed towards the last table and continued, "Lastly is the one that I find truly dangerous! This moss emits a scent that causes people to pass out and indulge in a type of dream, in this dream they can accomplish all their greatest desires. The danger in this is that, it is very difficult to extricate oneself from this dream and even if they manage to, they will immediately want to return."

"I want this 'product' to be absolutely perfect, so the scent needs to be completely suppressed and enter the body in another means so that it won't unintentionally affect anyone else, I suggest finding a way to liquidity the product and find a way to give an injection into the bloodstream to activate the effect. It also needs to have a very specific time limit that, when over, will forcibly remove the user from the dream and they will have to secure another dose, should they wish to enter again. I am in no rush with regard to this product so you need not worry too much about it."

Oga had a Grin plastered over his whole face, he then started mumbling to himself and he then 'pushed' me outside slammed the door and went to work. 'It looks like I won't see him again for a while, hopefully he can get some initial products done for me within a month or so, that would be perfect.'

Now that I have hopefully solved my major issue, I need to start preparing to create a few more Runes, I have been delaying the process to better understand my current circle and my current Runes. I also wanted to make sure that I was 100% certain on what Runes will be the best for me, in the meantime I have been just stocking up on Magical Energy so that when I am ready, I will be able to create a few Runes in succession.

I believe that it will soon be time to create a few more and then, assuming my preparations and plan goes according to my plans, I will hopefully be able to step into a Circle 2 Mage within the next 6 months. I have noticed a slight difference when creating my second level Runes, and although my first two weren't so bad, I could definitely feel the difference in the time taken to create the Runes. I believe that it will progressively get harder and harder after each Rune I create.

While I tell myself these excuses, the truth is that I have been extremely busy with so many business ventures lately that I have been slightly neglecting my own power, I fully intend to focus on my Magic as soon as I have stabilized my position as a true territory boss. In order to accomplish this, I need three things, namely status, power and money.

I am currently working on status as I continue to influence some young nobles and those of the powerful families. With regard to power, I will need to become at least a third Circle Mage, this will take a while but with my minions from the Academy, this part can wait a while and then lastly, Money, I have plenty of this and as soon as I complete my drug business, money will flow in, that will be when I contact the 'Bank of All' and solidify my position of wealth and hopefully that is when I can truly start my conquest.

In the meantime, I will just continue to learn as much as possible about Runes and Magic, while I continue to boost the strength of my clan members.