Overlord: Start from the Goblin Lair.

Chapter 114 Waiting for investigation
"Here, this set of alchemical equipment was specially used for his last experiment. It looks like this."

"This powder is his third-step intermediate product. It's red powdery crystals with a faint fragrance - don't just lean over and inhale it! Smell it like this!"

Ron grabbed the curious goblin and demonstrated the laboratory operation specifications on the spot: "The last and most important point is that this needs to be added to the synthesis process. Do you see what's in the test tube? Remember it well."

"Why do you ask him to remember these?" Ivy looked at Ron busy at the lab table in confusion. "Why don't you let me remember them? I'm sure I'll remember them better than him."

"Do you think you're more suitable for sneaking into other spice workshops?" Ron glanced at her. "This kind of thing should be done by Driver."

"You don't really think it has anything to do with Fernando's family, do you?" Ivy said, "Let me tell you, if we get caught, we'll all be in big trouble!"

"You are underestimating me!" Driver protested, "Look, Rondo, trust me, I will complete the task quietly, just wait and see!"

"Stop talking nonsense," Ron said, pulling Driver's head back. "You'd better remember this. If you make a mistake, you may get into a lot of trouble."

"If you're ready, let's go talk to Hendrix and see if he has any other clues."

When Ron and others handed the cursed bottle and Jill's body to Hendrix, the spice merchant was so angry that he gained weight.

"How ridiculous! How ridiculous!" He paced back and forth in the living room. "It must be them! Their family obviously wants Fernando, the second-generation ancestor, to continue his noble title, and I am developing new spices just like them."

"This is a great opportunity to apply for a noble title. Of course they won't let me get there first! It must be them, these despicable people!"

"So they gave Jill a cursed bottle, which prevented us from continuing our research," Constance sat aside, fiddling with the long-necked flask that was now harmless, "but why did they give Jill another set of experimental plans?"

"You are still planning to follow this experiment to find evidence - are they that stupid?"

"No, you are wrong, Miss Constance/Connie." Ron and Hendrix spoke at the same time, and after looking at each other, Hendrix explained the problem to his adopted daughter.

"They are not stupid, but they have no choice. As an alchemist who has been engaged in this industry for half his life, Jill has considerable professional vision and knowledge. If you don't come up with an equally professional experimental plan, he will never take the bait even if he is desperate."

"An experiment is usually a rigorous, continuous and interrelated activity. It only takes a small part of the details, such as data or experimental conditions, to be replaced. No one can know what went wrong before the actual operation," Ron continued. "Obviously, they chose to tamper with it at the last step."

"Gill did not encounter any problems during the preliminary experiments, and theoretically he could indeed reach the last step, so he would definitely follow the process he got to carry out the last step, which is to open the flask and release a large number of ghosts."

"You had no time to deal with it in such a hurry, so you had no choice but to seal off the workshop. Mr. Hendricks was very hostile to the major churches, so the work could not proceed, and there was no strong competitor for their noble title." "It seems that Mr. Ron is also quite knowledgeable about alchemy," Hendricks glanced at Ron, "Is this the conclusion you drew from the experimental records?"

"That's the theory," Ron nodded. "From the recorded data and description, your competitor is taking a risky move."

"If Mr. Gill had been alert enough, and if he had really stopped in time at the last step and turned to seek another path, they would have been making wedding clothes for you, working in vain, and handing over all their hard work and achievements to you - it was very dangerous, no doubt."

"You mean, now that the haunting is over, I can have my men continue to research along this path?" Hendricks opened his eyes wide, "Are you sure, Mr. Ron?"

"You'll have to ask your men about this," Ron shrugged. "After all, all my information comes from Jill's experimental records."

"If you really want me to confirm it, why not ask Victoria - divination can at least give an estimate of good or bad luck."

"Well answered, Mr. Ron. You are indeed very reliable," Hendricks nodded with satisfaction. "Then it seems that I can safely hand this matter over to you."

He has been in the spice business for nearly forty years, and has become a good doctor after suffering from illness for a long time. Even if he doesn't understand the specific knowledge, he can still tell whether Ron's words are true or not.

"By the way, you agreed to help me solve the haunting problem. Now that the matter has come to an end, what kind of reward do you think I should prepare?"

"It's better to wait until everything is over before discussing the compensation," Ron smiled, "otherwise I'm afraid you'll regret it halfway through. After all, our expectation is that you need to influence the decision-making of some people."

"I see," Hendricks said seriously, "Then your concerns are justified."

His words already carry considerable weight in Rose City, but he also has to influence the decisions of other people - this is definitely not a small matter.

In order to avoid possible surveillance and alert Fernando's family or other potential competitors, Ron and his companions did not even leave the spice merchant's house. Only Driver sneaked out from the second floor of the house after it got dark, using the green plants in the backyard. As for Ron and his companions, they stayed and waited for news from the goblins.

"You are really agile," Hendequeiros touched the big gold ring on his hand with emotion as he watched Driver climb over the wall. "If I were 40 or 50 years younger, I would definitely lose weight and join your team."

"But now I am too old to offer anything but a little help here—what can I get out of this?"

Businessmen pursue profits, and one thing is another. He is not doing charity. Moreover, he is not a businessman like Su Lina, who will not invest at the risk of losing all his money. He must see a return first.

(End of this chapter)