Free Web NovelChapter 5767: Chapter 4790: X Royal Family: Rebirth (End)
Despite this, the mutants did not make excessive demands. Mainly because the other party really had nothing worth showing off. Besides lifting sanctions and establishing formal diplomatic relations, they only asked for some resources, and didn’t even dare ask for people, fearing sabotage.
However, being able to make the world’s dominant power bow down indeed vented the mutants’ frustration, and boosted their morale. After Charles cleared out the moles, the whole Clarkia Island became more united.
The nearly infinite maritime rights brought many benefits. Besides maritime trade, more merchant ships chose to pass by here. The seas around Clarkia Island are absolutely safe zones. Mutants themselves do not act as pirates, so naturally, they do not allow other pirates to cause trouble. There is no risk of merchant ships being hijacked, and due to the mutants’ neutral tendencies, even warships can come here to resupply.
Clarkia Island itself is picturesque, and Erik led the mutants in building a series of supporting facilities, including numerous accommodations, bars, and casinos. Just as they had planned, this place became a paradise for sailors.
No one would be foolish enough to cause trouble on mutant territory. Even those who are drunk can be easily subdued. As expected, this place became a safe zone for some shady transactions.
These shady transactions certainly don’t include drugs or human trafficking, as these things won’t be allowed on the island. Mainly, it’s business discussions among mercenaries and middlemen, along with commercial spies without nationality, smugglers, and fugitives from various countries.
This actually has pros and cons. Although these aren’t exactly good people, once on the island, they can’t run away. Clarkia has no obligation to provide shelter but can use them as bargaining chips in negotiations with countries. For example, when two Chinese fugitives ran here, Charles exchanged them with SWORD for considerable goodies.
These people aren’t forced to come here either. Most are chased to the point of no return, looking for a place far enough away from civilization to avoid capture, choosing to take a gamble by coming here. Those of value are sold by Clarkia, while those without value are simply left alone, knowing their bodies won’t let them stay too long.
Additionally, the tax-free policy is well implemented here, making it Earth’s largest tax-free trade site. Many companies are willing to trade here, and some even specially fly over to shop. Although they cannot reside permanently, making one or two trips a year can earn a considerable amount.
Another major breakthrough is the successful research of Clarkia Flower extract. It’s no longer just the basic herbal form but transformed into a medicinal component known as "Clarkia Glycoside."
The drug testing concluded quicker than expected. When the first batch of product was completed, Stark was still on Clarkia Island. Thus, he became the first person to benefit from the drug, as although he wasn’t sick during this time, he remained somewhat weak, proving the island still had an impact on him.
Stark looked at the small bottle in Shiller’s hand with some doubt, saying, "Why is it an oral solution?"
"The ingredient pairs best with alcohol," Shiller replied. "Various experiments show that an alcohol solution is more effective. There’s also an alcohol-free anti-allergy version, which is a children’s concoction. Do you want that?"
"No need." Stark waved his hand, "I’m not incapable of drinking alcohol. Go ahead."
Shiller handed the small brown bottle to Stark. Stark took it, glanced at it, but unable to read the Chinese which lists the ingredients, he just opened the cap and prepared to drink.
Shiller’s hand stopped in mid-air, as Stark had directly pulled off the rubber cap and was pouring it into his mouth. There was not much liquid in the bottle, and it entered his mouth within a second.
"Puff!!!!!!!"
Within half a second, the liquid was sprayed out.
Stark’s expression was as if he’d been punched, or perhaps kicked in a sensitive area, with his facial features moving quite flexibly. After bouncing around like billiards, they completely gathered together.
"Ugh—!!!!"
Stark truly vomited, ejecting his lunch. He staggered to the bathroom, rinsed his mouth and washed his face, and even didn’t care about using raw water, drinking his fill.
When he returned, Shiller had just cleaned up the floor outside. Stark collapsed on the sofa weakly: "How can this stuff... how is it so hard to drink..."
"Stop being so shocked," Shiller said, "isn’t it just the taste of Chinese medicine?"
Stark no longer had the strength to argue with him, looking like he had received some mental stimulus causing his brain to blank out. After a while, he waved his hand.
Shiller brought a pack of liquid and tried to pass it to Stark. Stark asked seriously, "Have you drunk any yourself?"
Shiller shook his head: "I’m not affected by the island, why would I drink it?"
"You drink." Stark said concisely.
Shiller snorted coldly. It seemed if he didn’t drink, Stark wouldn’t drink either. So, he grabbed a bottle, removed the metal on top, inserted a straw into the rubber soft cap, and sucked hard.
"Puff!!! Cough cough cough cough!!!!"
Shiller also sprayed the medicine out. Luckily, he didn’t vomit, probably suppressed by the gray mist, but his brain went blank for a moment, causing the whole High Tower to bounce once in place.
"What’s going on?" Complaints echoed in the High Tower, "Greed, what are you doing now, can you stop constantly challenging the mental limits?!"
They thought Greed was up to some big act again, crashing into something in the Psychic_Battlefield. Superego quickly intervened but, after checking memories, said somewhat helplessly: "He just drank a bottle of medicine."
This also fully demonstrates that this bottle of oral liquid is so unpalatable that it can impact the mental barriers of the High Tower, as if there was a Superman dissolved in it!
Shiller sat across from Stark. After hesitating for a while, he began to judge the taste. When he was young, summers were very hot, and some kids would suffer from heatstroke. At that time, nurses would distribute a medicine called Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, which could cure or prevent heatstroke.
When Shiller grew up, he realized that Huoxiang Zhengqi Water had two versions. In some areas, it was called Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid, while in others, the name wasn’t differentiated, and both were called Huoxiang Zhengqi Water. The difference between the two was that the older version contained alcohol.
Huoxiang itself tasted bitter, and when alcohol was added, it became both bitter and spicy, a taste that was simply indescribable. Once, out of curiosity, Shiller tried a bottle, and from then on, he kept his distance from any oral liquid, fearing them almost as much as broccoli.
This particular medicine was probably more than twenty times as unpalatable as the older version of Huoxiang Zhengqi Water. Somehow, the kick of the alcohol was completely removed, so it couldn’t even be used to dull the mind, but the spiciness was perfectly preserved, just enough to stimulate the nerves and make one more alert.
Then came the main event, an indescribable bitterness. It had already surpassed the limit of human bitterness perception, giving one the feeling that taking a sip would atone for all one’s sins in this life, even if driven by greed.
More frightening was that there was a hint of sweetness in the taste, but it didn’t play any positive role and was more like the industrial alcohol taste of high-concentration vodka. This sweet taste induced a vomiting reflex and activated the brain’s protective mechanism.
Shiller sat in the chair, somewhat despairing. He knew Chinese. When he saw the character "Omin," he should have been wary—Chinese people love to endow names with beautiful wishes. Generally, if a medicine is named "fragrant," "sweet," or "tasty," it’s hopeless in terms of taste.
Evidently, this character also reflects the romantic sentiment of the Chinese nation, embodying great hope. As for why such hope is needed, don’t ask.
"I won’t bother convincing you to drink it," Shiller said, "Anyway, the island construction is almost finished, and we’re about to leave, so just don’t drink it."
"It wouldn’t have helped if you did," Stark said weakly, "It’s not that I don’t want to drink it, I just can’t get it down. This thing triggers a total rejection reaction in my body, even the energy flow in the Ark Reactor was a bit disturbed."
At this moment, Strange arrived. He was also keeping up with the progress in China, so when he saw that row of oral liquids, he knew the medicine had arrived. He took out a bottle, ready to drink.
"Wait!" Stark called out to him. Perhaps this was a case of "a dying man speaks kindly." If something is generally unpalatable, it can easily be used to prank your buddies; but if it’s so unpalatable that it seems like the end of the world, you start worrying if your good buddy might just die here.
But Strange was quick; he stuck in a straw, placed it in his mouth, and drank. Unsurprisingly, he also threw up.
After a while, Strange also collapsed on the sofa. He also cares about his image, usually standing and sitting with proper posture, even on a soft sofa. This time, he truly looked a bit dead.
Then Steve came in. Seeing the scene, he thought they were acting again. He also grabbed a bottle of oral liquid, and the three of them hurried to stop him.
"Don’t drink it, please don’t!" Stark said, "Uncle Rogers, I’m begging you!"
Steve was a bit surprised. He looked at the small bottle of oral liquid and said, "Tony, I know your taste buds are sensitive, and you don’t often take medicine, but it’s really not that exaggerated... Pluh!!!!"
Two minutes later, Steve sat on the sofa, puzzled. The way he was holding the medicine bottle was no different from holding a grenade. From his expression, it was clear that he thought this thing was somehow more powerful than a grenade.
Next came Bucky, who also wanted to take the medicine. This time, even Stark stepped in to stop him. Bucky was stunned: How could something taste so bad that it made Stark put aside old grievances and stop him? Could he really die from this?
Very wisely, Bucky didn’t drink it, and neither did Natasha. They both managed to escape disaster. Then the Main Universe Spider Man came to say goodbye since they were leaving. Hearing the new medicine was ready, he wanted to try a bottle.
This time, however, no one stopped him because Spider Man had a very powerful ability called "Spider-sense." Sure enough, he didn’t react much when he picked up the medicine bottle, but just as he was about to pour it into his mouth, the Spider-sense went "buzz" and Spider Man instinctively threw the bottle away.
A cheer erupted. Everyone had never envied Spider Man’s superpower this much.
"Isn’t this poison?" Spider Man asked suspiciously.
"No, it’s just horribly unpalatable," Shiller replied, "I advise against trying it."
"No, I have to bring it to my aunt, I have to try it," Spider Man said.
Having said that, he bravely took a sip; he was surprisingly the only one among them who didn’t spit it out, he even swallowed it. Everyone was shocked.
"It really is awful... cough, cough!" Spider Man said, his voice a little choked, "But actually, it’s okay, cough, cough... better than... better than going to the hospital..."
Everyone remained silent. Stark squeezed the bottle, realizing, like everyone else, that while the taste might not have been intentionally concocted, it was likely left unmodified on purpose so the medicine could reach those who truly needed it.
"Take them all," Stark said, handing the whole pack of medicine to him, "I wish you all good health." freeweɓnøvel.com
"Thank you, and to you too."
