Chapter 220: Milking the System

The initial shock faded quickly, and Duanmu Qing found that the revelation didn't feel wrong in the slightest. She had spent time guessing Pride's identity after seeing the news, and now that she knew it was Su Mu, it simply made sense.

Only someone as formidable as Mr. Su could build such a powerful organization.

Knowing Su Mu's true identity filled Duanmu Qing with absolute confidence in their escape. "Mr. Su," she asked eagerly, "how do we get out of here? What do you need me to do?"

A mysterious smile touched Su Mu's lips. "Why would we leave?"

Duanmu Qing blinked in surprise. "We aren't leaving? But..."

"Don't you think this is a golden opportunity to fleece the Federal Pharmaceutical Company?"

Duanmu Qing stared at him in bewilderment, completely missing his point.

"They captured you to brew Transcendent Potions," Su Mu explained. "Doesn't that mean they'll have to provide you with the raw materials for free?"

"You mean...?" Duanmu Qing's eyes went wide as realization struck.

"Exactly. Tomorrow, you will agree to brew for them. The Federal Pharmaceutical Company certainly didn't capture you to make common trash, but to craft incredibly difficult and rare potions. That means the raw materials they supply will be exceptionally precious.

"They'll be materials you can't even buy on the open market. Furthermore, the rare potions you produce definitely won't be sold publicly. They will contact powerful clients, and even nobles, to purchase them.

"Just imagine it. Once those major clients pay their deposits, I'll swap the potions out. What do you think will happen when the Federal Pharmaceutical Company tries to deliver fakes at the deadline?"

Duanmu Qing's eyes lit up. She utterly despised the Federal Pharmaceutical Company. The chance to trip them up and scam them out of a massive pile of transcendent materials was something she was more than happy to do.

As for whether Su Mu could actually slip the finished Transcendent Potions right out of the company's hands, she wasn't worried in the slightest.

...

...

The next day.

Chu Shang returned to Duanmu Qing's cell. Unlike his previous empty-handed visit, he now held a vial of pale pink liquid.

His cold eyes peered through the bars of the silver alloy door. "Have you thought it through? If you're going to remain stubborn, I'll have to resort to chemical control..."

"I agree."

Chu Shang paused, staring hard at Duanmu Qing's expressionless face.

"You agree?"

"Yes. I agree to work for the company."

Chu Shang frowned. Something felt off. Why would the fiercely stubborn Duanmu Qing suddenly change her tune? He hadn't even unleashed his harsher methods yet, and she was already submitting?

"Don't try playing any tricks. This base is heavily guarded; you can't escape. Someone will be watching your every move during the brewing process. If you try to craft any forbidden potions..."

"Chu Shang, I know I'm never leaving this place, so I've accepted my fate. I'll brew your potions, but I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"During my time working for you, I want the finest material luxuries this world has to offer. I might have lost my freedom, but I intend to live comfortably."

Chu Shang let out a sudden laugh. "It seems you've finally seen reason. That's the right attitude. Why make life harder for yourself? If the rest of the Duanmu Family had reached this realization sooner, they wouldn't have ended up like they did."

Duanmu Qing's eyes turned instantly glacial, a piercing killing intent swirling within them. "I have a second condition: get the hell out of my sight. I don't want to see an animal like you while I work. In fact, I never want to see you again. Stay out of my sight forever.

"If you can't meet these two conditions, I'd rather die fighting than work for you."

Feeling Duanmu Qing's pure, seething disgust, Chu Shang only smiled in amusement. He couldn't care less what she thought of him, as long as she brought in money. Compared to her sheer value, these two conditions were utterly insignificant.

"Fine, I agree. Get ready to work."

Chu Shang turned and left, and true to his word, he didn't show his face again.

Two staff members in white hazmat suits arrived and escorted Duanmu Qing to a sealed laboratory.

The head of the laboratory was a gray-haired old man. He clearly already knew who Duanmu Qing was; offering a curt nod, he pointed coldly at the workstation. "We are currently synthesizing the Divine Healing Potion invented by your Duanmu Family. Although the company already possesses the formula, the process of fusing the transcendent materials is highly complex.

"Without the aid of the Breath of the Wood Spirit, the success rate is less than one percent. Since you're here, start by brewing a batch of Divine Healing Potions to bring that rate up."

Duanmu Qing gave him a flat stare, making no attempt to hide the disgust in her eyes. Without a single word, she stepped up to the workstation and began.

Inside the surveillance room.

Chu Shang smiled at the camera feeds, nodding in satisfaction. "With Duanmu Qing on board, the success rate for the Divine Healing Potion will skyrocket. This will save the company an enormous amount of money."

A female secretary standing nearby chuckled. "Mr. Chu, it's all thanks to you bringing Duanmu Qing in. With her here, our branch's profit margins are guaranteed to soar. You might even secure a seat on the board of directors next year."

"Hahaha..." Chu Shang laughed heartily, though the sinister chill never left his eyes. "True enough. But make absolutely sure someone keeps a tight watch on that brat. I know her—she's been a stubborn mule since she was a kid. Who knows if she's actually given up or if she's secretly plotting some kind of sabotage."

"Don't worry, Mr. Chu. This base is fully staffed with our people. A single Duanmu Qing won't be making any waves."

After a long day of work, Duanmu Qing successfully produced a single vial of the Divine Healing Potion. The entire laboratory staff was ecstatic; beyond their base salaries, they earned hefty commissions for every finished product.

As a miraculous medicine coveted even by Gold-tier experts, the Divine Healing Potion was practically priceless. The commission from this one vial alone would equal several years of their standard wages.

Dragging her exhausted body, Duanmu Qing returned to her room to find it completely transformed. The cold silver walls were now covered in pink teddy bear wallpaper. Her thin slab of a bed had been fitted with a plush mattress, and a brown stuffed bear had been thoughtfully placed beside her pillow.

The table beside the bed was loaded with gourmet food delivered straight from a high-end restaurant—savory dishes, fresh juices, cakes, and ice cream.

All these cute things used to be her absolute favorites, but now, they only filled her with overwhelming revulsion.

If Su Mu hadn't told her to do it, she never would have made such a request to her enemies.