Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"why?"

"Although this place is a mixed bag, it's mostly small-time thugs, and nobody dares to use tanks or attack helicopters."

"Is that right?"

“That’s basically it… but I guess the ‘Moscow Hotel’ will come back to buy your products,” Dutch said. “These are the vehicles you’re talking about?”

"Pretty much. I can just drive any car out to run errands," Isaac laughed.

He secretly memorized the name 'Moscow Hotel'.

"Please do not drive this kind of thing into the city."

Levi walked over to Datch and snatched the keys from his hand: "I'll take Isaac to Roanapur first, and you and Benny will take care of things here."

"it is good."

George also got off the boat, walked up to the two of them and said with a smile, "You two go and have fun. Mr. Dutch and I will take care of things here."

"Okay, I'll go first."

Without saying a word, Levi took Isaac's arm and walked outside.

After they left, only George, his employees, and two men from the Black Lagoon remained.

“It’s been a while, Dutch.”

“I thought you had forgotten me.” Dutch looked at George and laughed. “Back then, we hardly ever spoke to each other.”

Dutch was a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, while George was a member of the Rangers; the two were comrades-in-arms in the Vietnam War.

However, after being retired, Dutch left the United States to find work, while George lived a miserable life in a dilapidated house in the slums.

"You seem to be doing quite well, becoming the head of the world's largest military company," Dutch laughed. "Unlike me, I have to go out to sea to rob ships just to earn some money for drinks."

"After I retired, I wasted several years in the slums, and then I was arrested by the police and detained. If it weren't for my boss's help, I'd probably be in a worse situation than you now," George laughed.

"By the way, what's the relationship between Revy and your boss? I've heard her mention that kid named Isaac before, but in her description, he's supposed to be a well-behaved and obedient child."

“I don’t know what the boss was like before, but the current boss is extremely capable,” George said. “As for their relationship… I’m pretty sure they’re boyfriend and girlfriend.”

"...I really did save an extraordinary person back then."

Chapter 584: The Three Major Forces

Roanapura is a small island on the Thai border, located in a coastal area, where you can occasionally hear the cries of seagulls while walking down the street.

In terms of appearance, the city is very harmonious. Although it is somewhat dilapidated and backward, people walk or set up stalls on the streets without any regard for appearances.

Of course, such places inevitably have brothels.

Levi drove Isaac along the roads of Roanapur, looking around at the many scantily clad prostitutes on the streets.

Where are you going to take me for a stroll?

“Where do you want to go? I’ve been here for two years, I know this place very well,” Levi said with a smile.

When she saw Isaac again, she smiled much more than usual.

Originally, it was thought that the two would never cross paths again. She was a hoodlum who had been involved in the dark side of society for a long time, while Isaac was a person with a bright future. Logically speaking, it was already lucky that these two kinds of people could meet. Once they missed each other, it would be difficult to meet again.

And perhaps he was just incredibly lucky today, because he managed to rob a merchant ship at sea, recoup his investment, and then meet the person he had been longing for.

Looking at Isaac's familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar profile, her thoughts drifted back to the moment they first met.

“It’s rare for us to see each other, let’s find a place to celebrate,” Isaac said with a smile.

He was in a very good mood, and it was indeed a pleasant thing to see his old friend again after four years.

“Sure, Boss Zhang owns a big hotel in the city center. We can go there to celebrate tonight.”

"Haha, it's really nice to have Chinese food to eat."

Levi was driving along the road with her hands on the steering wheel. Pedestrians were constantly crossing the road, so the car was moving exceptionally slowly.

Seemingly craving a cigarette, she reached for the cigarettes in her pocket, but only halfway through did she realize that Isaac was beside her.

I just don't think it's appropriate to smoke next to him.

"Levi, do you smoke?"

Isaac handed her his cigarette case.

"Huh? Oh."

She put the cigarette in Isaac's hand into her mouth, and Isaac took out a lighter to light it for her, and then lit one for himself as well.

The two of them exhaled a smoke ring at the same time.

"By the way, Isaac, I've already told you my story from the past four years, so tell me yours too."

“My story is rather boring. I killed a lot of people on my way to do business, picked up two incredibly mischievous sisters (Hansel and Greta) and a maid who couldn’t cook (Robert), and also helped reshuffle the political cards of a country,” Isaac said. “Including playing rugby at school, it’s all just trivial stuff.”

"I always felt that this was already a very significant thing."

"It's nothing. I've done many things before, except for good deeds."

Levi paused for a moment, then continued to focus on driving ahead.

"Do you remember what I told you four years ago? We were supposed to be from two different worlds. Over the past four years, the gap between us seems to have widened."

Now Isaac is the leader of a large organization, while she remains a hoodlum roaming the underworld. She's always been the same. She'll steal and rob to survive.

“No, we’re the same now,” Isaac laughed. “We’re all part of this rabble, no different from anyone else. Just like you, just like everyone in Roanapur.”

"...Is that so?"

Levi's lips unconsciously curled upwards.

"You probably don't have anywhere to stay in Roanapur yet, do you?"

"Of course, I just got here."

"How about staying at my place? I happen to have a spare room," Levi asked.

"Won't this be too much trouble for you?"

No.

"Alright then, I'll leave the next few days to you."

"Hahaha, good!"

Levi laughed loudly and slammed on the gas pedal. Isaac felt a sudden surge of power behind him, and the car began to speed wildly down the road. Pedestrians on the road scrambled to get behind the car, yelling and cursing.

------------

There was still time before dinner, and Dutch had given Levi the day off, so they could wander around Roanapur as they pleased.

“Let me tell you, there are currently three major powers in Roanapur. If you want to do business here, you need to remember their names.” Levi said, holding up three fingers.

"Currently, the most powerful force is the Hong Kong Triads under Boss Zhang. They control almost 40% of the illicit business here."

"Also Chinese?"

“Yes, there are still a lot of Chinese people in Roanapur,” Levi continued. “The second is what Dutch mentioned before, a place called ‘Moscow Hotel’, which is run by a woman named Balalaika. They used to be special forces in the Soviet Union, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they became the mafia.”

"Oh, so Dutch said I can sell them tanks?"

"That depends on whether they have the money to buy it. By the way, does your company also produce tanks?"

“Our company does produce tanks, but not this model,” Isaac laughed. “This old but still quite durable tank was acquired from Ukraine and Belarus back in the day.”

Levi said somewhat embarrassedly, "I have a feeling that even selling just a few of these weapons could disrupt the current balance in Roanapur."

"That's great! When one organization buys our weapons and starts wreaking havoc, other organizations will also come to me to buy weapons in order to counter them. That way, an arms race can be formed, and I can make some money."

For Infinity Wars right now, buying a few tanks would only mean making a tiny bit of money.

"You still haven't told me what the third organization is."

"The third largest organization is the Italian Mafia. Those arrogant bastards can only rank third, far inferior to Boss Zhang and Sister Balalaika."

"Are three forces dividing Roanapura?"

"Yes, just like in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu were divided into three, forming a tripartite balance of power."

Levi joked, then turned around and saw Isaac deep in thought, not responding.

"Hey, we're all Chinese, don't tell me you haven't heard the story of the Three Kingdoms."

“Of course I’ve heard the story of the Three Kingdoms, but I personally don’t read it much.” Isaac finished speaking, interlacing his fingers and pressing them against the bridge of his nose. “Aside from the Three Kingdoms, there’s a story I quite like.”

"what?"

"The story of Qin Shi Huang unifying the six kingdoms."

This statement clearly reveals his ambition.

Chapter 585: Balalaika

We drove to the city center and parked in front of a restaurant.

The city center of Roanapur is much more vibrant than other areas, and you can see all sorts of people from different ethnic backgrounds.

As previously known, unlike Yelkastum where gangs are composed of locals, this city is a gathering place for thugs from all over the world, a veritable den of hooligans and a city of crime.

To them, a boy like Isaac, who looked to be sixteen or seventeen, was like a lamb to the slaughter.

After he got out of the car, everyone stared at him menacingly, but when Levi walked up to Isaac, they stopped their desire to rob him.

"Hey, Two-hand, is this kid the rich kid you dropped? No wonder you've never had a boyfriend, do you like the delicate, fair-skinned type?"

A passerby wearing a floral shirt, who seemed to know Revy well, came over and teased her.

"Do you have a problem with that? He's under my protection. If you don't want your heads to be smashed, then you'd better stop with your little schemes." Levi's eyes instantly turned fierce.

"I know, I was just asking," he quickly replied with a forced laugh.

Two-hand was Revy's nickname in Roanapur, given to her by others because she usually used two guns to kill people.

She herself is also quite famous in the city for her fierce fighting ability.

Many people here fear her, and many want to kill her.

"Was that person your friend?" Isaac asked, pointing to the departing man in the floral shirt.

“Not really, everyone here knows each other. One second they’re greeting you, the next they’re pulling out a gun and blowing your head off. That’s the norm in Roanapur,” Levi said.