LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 74: Chapter 74
(2/3)
After acquiring Noy Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Bardi made sweeping changes, starting with renaming the company to Universe Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
He cleared all of the company's debts and paid the employees' back wages in full, spending a total of $7 million in the process. Following this, he granted an interview to the Daily Planet, took out advertisements in its pages, and even bought airtime for commercials across TV networks.
Bardi then moved to acquire equipment from several biotechnology companies, including some older cell reactors, electrophysiology instruments, patch clamps, brain stereotaxic instruments, slicers, live animal imaging systems, culture mediums, immunodiagnostic tests, antibodies, neural detection machines, petri dishes, sterilization buckets for pipettes, refrigerated centrifuges, incubators, electrophoresis tanks, microplate readers, PCR equipment, liquid nitrogen containers, and DNA sequencing gene analyzers, a comprehensive list of both new and outdated biological lab tools.
Lastly, Bardi took Lex Luthor along to purchase an enormous quantity of computer components, using up all the money he had earned from his takeover of the Suicide Slum.
"We're down to $12,000," Lex said, his young face pale with disbelief. "From $23 million, you've burned through it all in one day, and we're still $5 million in debt! The company was mortgaged right after you bought it!"
Lex's voice trembled. He had never seen so much money before, let alone owed so much. Watching the funds vanish like water slipping through his fingers, he could barely breathe. Although he believed that Bardi must have a plan for all these purchases, he still found himself overwhelmed by anxiety.
For the first time, Lex who had grown up in poverty felt a deep, painful attachment to money.
Bardi paused and studied him, clearly surprised. The sight of this future magnate, who would one day wield unimaginable wealth, reduced to such a state was… quite amusing.
He laughed heartily. "What are you so afraid of? In one week, the entire Metropolis will know about Universe Biotechnology Co., Ltd. They'll know my name, Bardi Barmulodi. And they'll willingly throw their money at us."
Lex muttered, still uneasy, "But… the heart disease medication, the diabetes treatment, and even sildenafil haven't undergone clinical testing yet. It's too soon to rely on them."
Out of all diseases, diabetes was the most expensive to manage in the U.S., and more importantly, it was a chronic condition. Although Bardi could develop a complete cure, he had no intention of doing so. Instead, he planned to produce fast-acting drugs while releasing second and third-generation medications over time, ensuring sustained profits.
He wasn't here to save the world. The heart disease treatment might save lives, but the primary purpose of these future special medications, which he was releasing early, was to make a fortune and establish his reputation.
As for Sildenafil—commonly known as Viagra—Bardi intended to market it as his way of "caring" for the health of American men. Its effects would be bold, powerful, and fierce.
Grinning, Bardi grabbed Lex by the head, ruffled his hair roughly, and held his neck in a playful grip. Standing in the sunlight, he beamed.
"We won't fail."
His smile widened as the sun cast its rays on him.
The world would become far more interesting with his presence.
---
Bardi took Lex back to the Galaxy Hotel. As they walked in, Lex felt his heart sink. The last $12,000 was being used to host a dinner for two underworld bosses. Over the coming week, Lex couldn't shake the dread that he might end up surviving on scraps, just like in the Suicide Slum, where moldy sweet potatoes had been his staple diet.
Lex had dreamed of leaving that wretched place to live in luxury, to eat and drink well, and to become a wealthy man. Now, all he felt was bitterness. Life felt utterly unfair under Bardi's leadership.
What made it worse was Bardi's decision to book the most extravagant rooftop banquet hall in the hotel. Lex's head spun, he couldn't see how their remaining funds would even cover the deposit, let alone the full cost.
"Boss, we don't have enough money!" Lex stammered, handing over the $10,000 deposit with shaking hands.
He swore to himself that if he had to wash dishes to pay the bill, he'd run out of the hotel first.
The way Bardi threw money around was reckless, and Lex felt as if he'd been stretched beyond his limits.
"Relax," Bardi said, his lips curving into a confident smirk. "By the end of tonight, someone will join me, handing over everything they have. If I'm lucky, I'll walk away with both gangs under my control."
Lex froze. Did the boss actually have a plan?
---
That evening, from the upper floors of the Galaxy Hotel, one could see half of Metropolis illuminated in all its grandeur. Standing on the balcony, overlooking the city through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, one might feel as though they were gazing down upon the world, ready to conquer it.
It was an intoxicating sight, full of ambition and boundless possibilities.
Tobias Whale arrived, his heavy steps echoing like thunder. He was a colossus of a man, standing nearly two meters tall, with a body that seemed carved from stone. His pale skin gave him an eerie, corpse-like appearance, and his ferocious eyes burned with intensity. A group of black-suited men followed behind him, their presence radiating murderous intent. They looked as though they had just come from a battlefield.
There was little small talk. Tobias got straight to the point, his deep voice rumbling. "What do I get out of this?"
"Return to normalcy. Power. Invulnerable strength," Bardi replied evenly.
When Bardi had sent the invitation to Tobias's father, he had also included a letter meant specifically for Tobias.
Bardi had spent time analyzing every top gang leader in Metropolis, meticulously gathering information. He had a habit of standing by the window, basking in the sunlight as he organized his thoughts. Only after fully preparing did he act, striking at the decisive moment.
From Lex's perspective, Bardi always seemed full of confidence, like a man who had already foreseen every outcome. His confidence appeared unshakable, and failure seemed to be an impossibility. But the truth was, Bardi's meticulous planning was what enabled his success.
Whether buying lab equipment or advertising on TV, Bardi had managed to negotiate everything at prices far below market value.
Though Lex had watched in horror as Bardi burned through their funds, he couldn't deny the shrewdness of his actions. Even if they resold some of the purchases, the profit would be three or four times the original cost.
Tobias's breathing grew heavier. He craved strength, but above all, he craved power.
"If you refuse," Bardi said, his voice cold and sharp, "you won't survive for two months. In a month, I'll start clearing out the entire Metropolis. The underground world will have only one ruler—me."
"I know that last night, the Gambino Mafia was also destroyed by your 'Barmulodi," Tobias said, his expression heavy. His eyes flickered with thought before he silently stepped behind Bardi.
Unless he was prepared to leave Metropolis entirely, Tobias knew that as long as Bardi made a move, there would be no other outcome but death. He understood his position clearly and chose to surrender.
Metropolis was vast, and it needed people to manage it. By submitting early, he could remain a boss, albeit with an emperor above him. Once he had the power he sought, betrayal and rebellion could be planned later. Such matters were routine to him.
"From today onwards, you're my boss," Tobias said as he stood behind Bardi, already assuming the role of a subordinate.
The men Tobias had brought with him were stunned. It was unbelievable to see their leader, the man who had killed his own father and risen to power as one of the 100 key figures in the organization, now bowing to someone else so easily.
Their shock was palpable, but they felt only panic, unable to react in any meaningful way.
Bardi smiled, sitting casually at the dining table. Turning to Lex, he shrugged and spread his hands. "See? Now we have the money to pay the bill."
Lex held his breath, wide-eyed. They had just gained control over a major figure in Metropolis, a man who ruled over one-fifth of the city's underworld so easily?