NOVEL NEXT chapter 27
27 – 27. Naming
In the end, she was exposed.
“I endured for this long.”
Anais, who received reports of people loitering around the syrup factory, let out a wry smile.
She had acquired the syrup factory right after resigning.
In an era where even the middle class could occasionally taste sugar, it was one of the many factories that flourished.
The original owner, a noble who thought he could earn a fortune and established the factory, ended up with losses and a broken spirit. Anais could acquire ownership relatively cheaply.
It wasn’t for making ordinary syrup.
Right after the acquisition, Anais halted all processes and prepared new products. She even deployed a magician to give remote instructions.
The progress went smoothly.
Originally, it wasn’t a difficult task at all. Just mix something with syrup, and it’s done. Even a child could do it.
She just mixed something different instead of strawberry juice or chocolate.
“Your Highness, due to the morphine, several herbalists who used to supply the military hospital with the necessary quantities are now staring into empty space. We easily secured the required ingredients.”
“Um… During the manufacturing process, one employee briefly fainted due to the smell. It seems they excessively added belladonna, not realizing it gets concentrated when boiled. The finished product should be ready soon. Would you like to see it yourself?”
The addition was none other than herbal medicine.
It wasn’t just one type.
Firstly, they added op*ium, the traditional powerhouse. To be precise, it was op*ium extract evaporated and concentrated into powder. It was a remedy that was known as a friend of the military until morphine appeared.
If they could add morphine, that would be the best, but it was monopolized by Medoff. Stealing it was akin to self-harm, so they had to settle for this.
Of course, op*ium alone wasn’t enough.
So, they added hemlock.
It was a medicinal herb with unpleasant memories for Anais. The reason she fell into the trap of Siena was precisely because of hemlock.
But for the sake of a grand goal, she boldly added hemlock. Despite its toxicity, it was known for its definite analgesic, anesthetic, and calming effects.
“Even with this, it’s not enough.”
So, finally, they mixed in one more thing.
In the homeland of Queen Yeonhwa, the mother of Anais, there was an herb that high-ranking officials and courtesans often used as a “weight loss medicine.”
It made the heart beat faster, cleared the eyes, and caused sweat when consumed.
It was also present in the Britannian Empire, but it was not widely used. Anais only knew about its existence thanks to the maid (who left her hometown to serve Yeonhwa) who served her mother.
As a result, a combination of three herbs was made. They also added a little soda and alcohol made from seaweed.
Anais couldn’t predict what effects would arise.
“How would I know? I never studied pharmacy or anything.”
She could only speculate that combining potent ingredients with distinct effects might somehow amplify the efficacy.
The only concern was taste and smell.
Even that problem could be easily solved thanks to syrup. Sweet and sticky – syrup was something almost everyone liked.
“Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”
Syrup. It was a simple enough method that made me chuckle.
I couldn’t help but wonder why no one had thought of it until now.
“You’re truly amazing! How did you come up with such an idea?”
The few remaining attendants by Anais’s side trembled even down to their palms as they flattered her. It didn’t particularly please her.
“It’s a simple matter.”
“It may be simple, but there’s also a great idea behind it, right? I heard from the lower ranks that the juice from the master herbalist was so bitter. But even so, you managed to find a way to make it easier to swallow…!”
“I thought of it while watching Sienna. She had a medicine that she dedicated to that extraordinary person… She started mixing it with orange at some point, and it was said to be more palatable that way. Thanks to that, I learned the importance of flavor.”
“Still, it’s truly amazing!”
“That’s enough.”
“Oh, yes.”
The only ones left by Anais’s side now were these… nobles.
Those who had the ability to change sides had long ago attached themselves to her sisters. There were even humans who had gone into hiding while causing trouble.
“My situation is truly pitiful.”
Anais’s face showed no signs of frustration as she lamented.
Instead, she smiled as she looked at the completed product in her hand, the small syrup bottle. From now on, if she could create a turning point with this, it would be enough.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t given it a name yet.”
Upon reflection, naming was also very important.
Perhaps even more so than hiding the bitter taste of op*ium and belladonna with syrup.
She needed a name that could approach people intimately, a name that would allow them to spoon it up without any aversion to the unfamiliar medicine.
First and foremost, she needed to succeed commercially so that she could provoke Sienna and induce her to make a mistake. The strength to fight against her would also come from that success.
What would be a good name?
In Anais’ mind, the face of an old maid serving her came to mind. Her name was Dorothy Chandler. She had a humble impression and a kind personality. As Anais contemplated, a quite plausible name came to mind.
“Mrs. Chandler’s syrup… No, health syrup.”
Mrs. Chandler’s health syrup.
That was it.
**
After Siena, even her younger sister wanted to become a dru*g dealer. I never expected that.
Of course, even if I had known in advance, there was no way to stop it except for burning down the factory. What could I do when she wanted to buy the factory with her own money and make sweet syrup? The concept of dru*gs itself doesn’t exist in reality.
“Even if I appeared in the world tomorrow, it wouldn’t be strange.”
Even if I think about how to deal with it now, it’s not enough.
But on top of that, in the midst of this mess, an accident occurred at my company.
“Mr. Allen, there was an attempted theft.”
It was a report from Bono, who was in charge of security at Medipro. He said that this time they caught the thief.
“Attempted theft?”
“Yes. How about personally confirming it?”
Accepting Bono’s proposal with a bewildered expression, I called for the thief.
The culprit was one of my employees. One of the recently hired employees for morphine production.
His job was to measure the morphine I made, mix it with starch, and then manually press it into pills.
The guy said he took a little bit of what he made, whether he went crazy from making dru*gs or not. He was caught during the personal belongings inspection after finishing his work.
“Doing business, I end up experiencing this kind of thing.”
Of course, I couldn’t just let it slide.
When engaging in this kind of business, the utmost caution was required to prevent internal theft.
Even my previous life’s younger brother had complained about it. He had retaliated against a crook who had conveniently forgotten to deliver the narcotics he was supposed to provide to customers, citing a lame excuse. In the end, he suffered significant losses by taking matters into his own hands.
A little later, the thief kneeled in front of me. Other employees who had been dragged along stretched out like a folding screen.
“Why did you do such a thing?”
“Well… I didn’t really intend to steal.”
“If you didn’t steal, did the morphine magically find its way into your pocket? Since the truth has already come out, just be honest.”
“…”
“Why did you steal?”
“Well, my younger brother has a headache! He keeps whining about it, and I thought, maybe if he takes one of these, it’ll get better!”
The excuse about the younger brother.
There was a possibility of a lie. It was hard to believe that he stole 40 morphine doses just because of his brother.
Administering it for a mere headache would be suitable for turning someone into an addict. Even if it wasn’t a lie, it wouldn’t change anything.
“Is it really because of your younger brother?”
“He… really has a severe headache.”
“Unless it’s a patient with extremely severe pain, the side effects of morphine outweigh the pain relief effects. Is the headache so severe that you had to resort to stealing and endure those side effects?”
“…”
“This is your last chance. Be honest.”
The cornered thief looked at me as if pleading for salvation, even sending pitiful glances towards the employees who had been watching. Of course, there was no one willing to help the thief, let alone make eye contact. Eventually, his spirit was completely broken.
“Because it seemed like it could be profitable, I, without realizing it, reached out my hand… I did. It’s not only the sick who are in the military, you know.”
“So?”
“I tried to quietly sell it to sick people. Please show mercy since I honestly admitted it…! Please…!”
Mercy was awkward. Leaving the impression that even embezzling morphine could be forgiven was risky. Once a precedent was set, other employees might do the same.
“It’s too late. And even if you had admitted guilt from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been mercy. The fact of theft itself doesn’t just disappear.”
“No, in terms of money, it’s probably just a bit over $600.”
“The amount is not the issue. The fact that you stole what’s mine is the problem.”
With a resolute heart, I slowly rose to my feet.
If I handed him over to the military police like this, he would probably face Taehyung’s wrath and that would be the end of it. Of course, dealing with Taehyung alone would be a headache, but then I wouldn’t be able to set an example for the other employees. Considering my notorious reputation, it was practically the same as turning a blind eye.
A more decisive measure was needed in this situation.
As soon as I made up my mind, I swung my fist towards his face.
“Boss, wai…!”
Thud! A dull sound accompanied the sensation of something breaking and crumbling.
“Shut up!”
The thief who received a beating from me collapsed on the floor, seemingly on the verge of death.
At most, it was just one punch. While it might be fortunate for the party directly involved if it ended there, the real punishment was yet to come.
“Lady Sienna possesses a single warship.”
“What!?”
“I’ll send you to the bottom ranks of that place. Of course, you can’t quit as a doctor.”
“How did this come to such a mess…!”
The thief convulsed as blood spilled, seemingly unjustly.
Having fallen from being a money-fetching errand boy to a sailor, it was indeed a bitter turn of events. Sailors often resorted to using beggars and gamblers as crew members, given the harsh nature of maritime work.
“Please!!”
Even desperate cries went unanswered. It wasn’t the time for leniency, especially with an imminent mud pit brawl on the horizon.
Ultimately, it proved to be the right judgment.
The next day, makeshift stalls selling “Health Elixir” appeared all over the city.