Imperial Crown.

Chapter 10 Killing two birds with one stone: gaining prestige and winning hearts
Look at you, you look so ignorant!
In response to Eric's question, Raven smiled smugly in his heart, but his hands did not move in a disorderly manner at all.

What happened in the oil barrel was one of the most basic chemical reactions that almost all middle school students in the previous life would learn and which would be explained in detail in junior high school chemistry classes - the saponification reaction.

What settles at the bottom of the bucket is sodium stearate, the main ingredient in soap.

It's called basics, but Raven encountered many setbacks during this process.

At first, too much quicklime was added, which caused a clay pot to explode; then, heating was forgotten, resulting in insufficient reaction, so that the saponification process could not be completed; when caustic soda was finally prepared successfully, a cast iron pot was used in the final reaction step, causing sodium bicarbonate and iron to react, resulting in a pot of brown-yellow mixture of iron hydroxide and grease.

"A stick." When the reaction was almost over, Raven stretched out his hand to the side, and Poirot handed him a peeled willow branch.

When the branch was inserted into the oil, its originally tender green surface was soon covered with a layer of dry, hard burnt yellow. Seeing this, Raven quickly poured the vinegar he had prepared in advance into it. He only breathed a sigh of relief when the willow branch no longer changed color when inserted into it.

The previous failures were due to the fact that the caustic soda component was not completely neutralized.

This time, before he could give the order, Poirot had already brought a large wooden basin covered with a strainer cloth to the table.

"Have you washed it?" Raven asked.

Poirot exclaimed: "It has been washed and scrubbed three times with soap. It is definitely cleaner than my face!"

Looking at Polo's thick beard, Raven was speechless for a moment.

Eric took the initiative to do the hard work. He carried a large barrel full of oil and poured the contents into a large basin under Raven's command. Soon, a large lump of soap weighing nearly 20 kilograms was stuck on the filter cloth.

Poirot pulled up the filter cloth with ease, shook his hands, and threw the soap inside into the corner.

Eric was anxious to let Raven handle the matter, so he picked up the basin and went straight to the dirty bucket.

Raven yelled at the top of his lungs, "Stop! What are you doing!?"

"Ah?" Eric was stunned: "Help you pour this stuff out."

"If you dare to pour it over, I will fight you to death!" Raven stepped forward and grabbed the wooden basin in his hand: "I have been here for three days and failed more than ten times! What do you think I am doing this for!?"

“It’s all because of this!”

Raven brought the basin back to the table, took off his gloves, scooped a little with a spoon and put it on the tip of his tongue, and a satisfied smile immediately broke out on his face.

It is sticky, slightly sweet, and very similar to honey.

That’s right, it’s glycerin!
Although due to process problems, the glycerin is not pure enough and has a slight pork odor, it is enough for use!

Raven suppressed his excitement and said, "Bring some wine."

Poirot brought a jug of wine to Raven and three silver cups.

Looking at Eric, who was excited about drinking the wine, Poirot whispered, "I advise you not to have too high hopes."

Under Eric's surprised eyes, Raven opened the jar of wine, scooped a little glycerin into the wine with a wooden spoon, and stirred it.

Eric's eyes rang like bells - what a waste! Five silver coins plus seventy copper coins were enough to buy a jar of fine wine, but the adults actually mixed it with soap scraps! ?

Raven didn't care about his gaze at all. After stirring the wine for a while, he took a sip and then poured the wine into the glass with a smile on his face: "Try it."

Eric picked up the wine glass nervously, thinking about what to say so as not to hurt the Baron's face. However, as soon as the wine took a sip, he was stunned.

He put down the wine glass and looked at the purple-red liquid in it in disbelief. Then he took a sip carefully, put it down again, looked at it again, and raised it up to taste it. His eyes became brighter and brighter, and even his little eyes showed irrepressible surprise and satisfaction.

"Sir, this is truly amazing!" Eric said, "I have never tasted such sweet and smooth wine, only in my dreams... No! Even in my dreams, I have never seen it before!"

You are really good at flattering people. I didn't expect that you, a Nordic man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, can be so good at this.

Poirot complained in his heart, picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, then his hand loosened and the glass fell to the ground with a thud.

How can there be such delicious wine in the world?

There was not a trace of bitterness, and it was as smooth as silk and honey, but the flavor was largely preserved, even better than the best red wine he had imagined!
"My Lord... Is this magic?!"

Seeing the reactions of the two, Raven was very proud and relieved. He smiled mysteriously and said, "This is the secret."

The reason why red wine is bitter is that a large amount of tannin is produced during the brewing process, and glycerol is the best substance to neutralize tannin.

He picked up the wine glass and took another sip. In his opinion, this red wine was not top quality. It was not even as good as the ones that cost dozens of dollars a bottle in supermarkets in his previous life. If he tasted it carefully, he could even taste a hint of lard.

But this is already far beyond the world's average.

This is the power of knowledge, the power of nine years of compulsory education!

At this moment, Eric's eyes suddenly turned red and tears dripped down.

Raven was shocked. "Is this wine really that good? If you like it, I'll give you the whole jar."

"No, sir." Eric said, "I just thought that Simon might never be able to drink such good wine again, so I felt a little, a little..."

"Simon!?" Raven was shocked. "What happened to him? Did he have an accident during training?"

"No..." Eric sighed and told the whole story without any exaggeration.

Raven listened, his face gloomy: "Where is Visdon?"

Eric replied, "In the courtyard."

"Okay." Raven took off his chef's uniform and strode out the door: "Follow me!"

As soon as he walked into the hall, Raven saw Denise sitting at a table, and Weston was lying on the table, crying heartbreakingly.

Seeing Raven coming, Denise stood up and said sharply: "Raven, I want you to give me an explanation!"

Raven asked coldly, "What do you mean?"

"Wesdon, he is your brother, a member of the Griffith family!" Denise said confidently, "And your men actually dared to imprison Wesdon without your order. This is a crime of insubordination and unforgivable!"

She pointed her finger at Goyle, "I demand that you punish this guard immediately!"

Following his finger, Raven saw Link, who was dejected, and his newly recruited private soldiers were gathered at the door, watching what was happening in the hall with their eyes shrinking.

Raven's heart sank, and he immediately made a decision: "Okay, since my aunt wants an explanation, I'll give it to you!"

He walked past Denise, grabbed Weston by the collar, and walked out!
Although Visdon weighs 200 kilograms, Raven is more than half a head taller than him. The physique he has developed from hanging out in the dangerous underground world is not comparable to that of a weak fat man.

“Ah!!!” Weisdon screamed: “Raven, what are you doing!? Mom, mom, save me——”

Denise was almost frightened by this scene. She screamed and wanted to rush forward, but was blocked by Eric who was dressed in iron armor.

"Raven, he's your brother!"

Raven dragged Visdon out of the hall with a cold face, and the private soldiers surrounding him made way.

Visdon yelled, "Raven! What are you going to do? I just injured a pariah. Are you going to punish me for this?!" With a thud, Raven kicked him in the knee, making him fall straight to the ground. His knees collided with the hard steps, causing Visdon to let out a wailing sound that was not like a human voice.

The latter wanted to continue shouting and cursing, but he heard the sound of a sharp blade being unsheathed, and then the cold blade of the rapier was placed on his neck.

Weisdon's scream stopped abruptly.

Raven glanced at the private soldiers and said loudly: "I think you all know him, Vesdon Griffith, my brother, and the culprit who seriously injured Simon!"

"I know what you are thinking - I am a noble, and he is my brother, so I will naturally favor him. Simon's injury was in vain!"

The private soldiers lowered their heads one after another, because that was exactly what they thought.

Raven took a deep breath and said, "I tell you, this idea is totally wrong!"

"He is indeed my brother, but you, as my soldiers, are even closer to me than my family and my children!"

"I, Raven Ota Griffith, swear an oath to the Lord of Light!"

"If anything happens to Simon, Weisdon will be buried with him!"

At this moment, Visdon's body trembled and he wanted to scream, but he was so frightened by the sword blade that was pressed tightly against his flesh that he dared not move. Only turbid tears flowed from his eyes.

Raven was serious, he really wanted to kill himself!
Denise's face was equally ugly, but not just because of Visdon's safety - she saw Lux go to treat Simon, and it had been a while, Simon's injuries would definitely not be fatal, and Visdon's life would be guaranteed.

What really frightened her was Raymond's wrist.

The business world is like a battlefield. Having been in the business world for many years, she could see that Raven was just killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

The purpose is to tell her not to do anything behind her back. If he dares to kill Weston, he will not show mercy to Denise either!

In addition, Raven had another purpose, which was to use this incident to win the hearts of the people - now the fanatical eyes of those private soldiers looking at Raven were full of admiration, gratitude and respect, as if they were looking up to a god.

Denise believed that from today on, even if Raven asked these people to die, they would never retreat!
Poor people who were manipulated, they will never know until they die that the outcome of the matter was already predicted by Raven. This was just a performance, a big show!

And the one who set the stage for him was none other than his own good-for-nothing son!

Hit by accident?

No, it wouldn't. Raven's approach was so mature and so organized, just like the most astute politician!
This lowly thug from an orphanage actually had such clear judgment and such sophisticated skills, it was as if he had lived two lives.

He is really only twenty years old! ?
"Baron Raven." The appearance of Lux interrupted Denise's thoughts: "I have treated Simon."

Raven asked, "How's the situation?"

"Although the injury is serious, it's not serious." Lux said, "Simon has a very good physique, and the leather helmet you provided has effectively blocked the impact force, so it didn't cause fatal injuries. After my treatment, he only needs to rest for two days to recover."

"Thank you for your help." Raven touched his chest with his hand. "I will send someone to deliver the medical fee to the church."

Lux nodded in return, glanced at Vesdon on the ground, and turned away without saying a word.

On the way here, Lux understood the whole cause and effect. Although she had a kind heart, she would not use it on such a person.

"Let me go..." Weisdong's body went limp: "That bastard... Simon is not dead!"

"You can escape the death penalty, but you can't escape the punishment of life." Raven said coldly: "You left a wound on Simon's head, so I will give you a wound too!"

Before Visdon could figure out what was happening, he felt a chill on his scalp, and half of his head suddenly became hot and wet. Then, a large piece of scalp covered with hair and blood was lifted to the ground!

The private soldiers' breathing became heavier.

On the ground, the bright red blood from that scalp seeped into the soil, just as Raven's kindness was deeply imprinted in their hearts.

From then on, they knew that they were not worthless pariahs, but Lord Raven's private soldiers, and Lord Raven would protect them as if they were his own children.

Even if the other party is a noble!
"Long live Lord Raven—"

I don't know who started it first, but the private soldiers all shouted:

"Long live Lord Raven—"

Weston rolled and crawled into the hall, snuggled in Denise's arms, and cried loudly: "Mom!!!"

Denise's hand touched Weston's wound, blood soaked her chest, and a surge of anger rose from the bottom of her heart: "Raven!"

"Since you dare to hurt Visdon for the sake of the untouchables, from now on, don't even think about getting a penny of funding from me!"

Raven turned around, shook his wrist, and the blood on the sword's blade fell to the ground. He sheathed the sword and asked coldly, "And then?"

"Donald's funeral will be held in twenty days!" Denise sneered, "Where are the decoration of the hall, your dress, and all the ceremonial objects and gifts for the guests?"

Raven sneered, "I don't need your concern about this, Aunt."

"Okay, then you can continue to be stubborn." Denise said, "Three days. I will only give you three days. I want you to publicly apologize to Weston."

"Otherwise, you will just have to watch Donald's funeral and your inauguration ceremony become a joke!"

After saying that, she pulled Weisdong up and turned to leave.

Eric walked up to Raven and whispered, "This crazy woman doesn't know your methods, sir. Once the red wine made with the new method is sold, it will definitely make a lot of money!"

Raven smiled and responded, "No, now is not the time."

Eric hesitated and said, "In that case, the money..."

"Money is not a problem. Just because she says she won't give it to me doesn't mean I can't take it." Raven said, leaving Eric with a confused look on his face and turned to his private soldiers.

They all heard the conversation just now, and now their faces were filled with guilt. They all thought that they had implicated Raven and caused him to lose a huge source of income.

"Well, this is my family affair, and it has nothing to do with you!" Raven said loudly, "If you really feel sorry for me, then train yourself well and behave like a human being!"

"Yes!" Gore was the first to answer loudly, and then shouted: "Class one, get ready, formation practice!"

Link followed closely behind: "Class 2, follow me, don't fall behind!"

"There are still three shifts—" Simon, with a bandage on his head, walked out from the corner of the corridor: "Line up, assemble!"

"You kid..." Raven walked up to Simon and patted him on the shoulder gently: "Return to the team, don't force yourself."

"Yes!" Simon stood up straight and walked out of the hall in small steps.

Old Gordon walked behind Raven and said, "Sir, you are really amazing. In just ten days, they can already be called death warriors."

"The army is motivated." Raven smiled.
"Next, we have to work hard for money!"

……

(End of this chapter)