37th of Ash, 117th Year of the Age of Steel
Location: City of Rheimanc, Duchy of Arlais
The carriage came to a halt in front of the Misty Sip Café. Leon took out his pocket watch and ensured he wasn't too early. A familiar whistle followed by a head popping out from the alley near the Misty Sip Café.
"Oy," Billy grinned as he called out.
Leon jogged toward the alleyway.
"Right on time. Good to know you haven't lost your touch." Billy snickered as he lightly jabbed Leon's shoulder. "Nobody's tailing you?" he questioned.
"Who do you take me for?" Leon replied as he quickly scanned his surroundings, "I picked up a few tricks in the army."
Billy then motioned Leon to follow him through the winding but familiar back alleys of Rheimanc. Traversing the winding alleys reminds him of his rebellious teenage years. The mischief and illicit activities that he and Billy did. Billy then stops to catch his breath.
"Yo, Leon. Remember that fat bastard Gustav and old man Dragnov?
"Yeah, whatever happen to those two?"
Billy stopped, rolled up his shirt's sleeves, stretched his arms, and smirked. Leon chuckled and raised his hand for a fist-bump, "Look at you, five years in and you're running your own operation."
Billy bowed as if he was bowing to an audience after a spectacular theatrical performance before he returned Leon's fist-bump, "It would have taken faster if you haven't ran off to join the ranks of the Imperials," he replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Leon looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on their conversation. "Fuck it Billy, you don't want them knocking on your doorstep."
Billy spitted on the ground. "Though as much as I hated that geezer, I should have listened to him and stop you from enlisting."
He grabbed Billy by the collar and shoved him up against the wall. "For fuck's sake Billy, even that monster couldn't stop the annexation, what made you think any of us can, huh?!" he half-shouted.
Billy shoved him back and adjusted his collar, "At least some of us are trying." He scoffed. The two stood in silence, glaring at each other.
Finally, after what seemed like quite a while, Leon sighed, breaking the silence. "At least do it properly," His remark was met with a raised brow. "Still running with the old crew right?" knowing what Leon meant, Billy nodded. "Let's talk there." Leon spat on his hand and held it out for a shake. Billy returned the gesture. The two continued making their way along the back alleys until they exited into one of the busiest marketplaces in the city.
"Hiding in plain sight, huh?" Leon chuckled. Passing several stalls, a group of street kids rushed past them. As if by instinct, Billy grabbed the collar of a kid.
"Hey! Let go of me, you old pervert!" the little girl shouted.
"Give it back Alice, I'm not in the mood to play nice," Billy said sternly.
"I don't know what you are talking about! Hey, watch where you're touching!" Alice being the great actor she was, began shouting.
Billy kneeled close enough and whispered in her ear loud enough for Leon to hear, "I'll slam your head to that wall if you don't give it back you little shit."
"Meanie," Alice pouted while handing Leon back his gun. Billy stood up and snickered, "Looks like you've lost your touch brother. Come on; we're almost there." Billy led Leon inside a noodle shop, passing through the kitchen and another door and another. Billy stopped in front of the metal door and smiled.
"This is where the magic happens." Billy grinned as he pushed open the door to his lab.
Inside was a long table with four people packaging and weighing white powders into glass vials and other various containers.
"Damn brother, that's a nice operation you got here." Leon patted him on the shoulder.
Billy looked up at the office on the second floor and saw that the lights were still off. "Yo, mind giving me a hand? We got a new batch to process and the others haven't return from their run."
"Sure thing."
The pair made their way to the storage room and rolled out two new fifty-five-gallon LAF drums. Leon followed him to a small outdoor area.
"Think of it like cooking," Billy said as he turned on a faucet and placed a container to hold the water underneath. While waiting, Billy instructed Leon to grab several bricks and place them on the ground in the marked location. After placing the bricks layers, he began placing wood, followed by papers and other combustible trashes. Leon and Billy then hauled the empty fifty-five-gallon drum and placed it on top of the bricks, which was about a foot above the ground. Making sure that the gallon is secured in place and not wobbly. Billy then took the filled container and handed it to Leon, which Leon poured inside the first fifty-five-gallon LAF drum. They continued the process until both drums were filled with about thirty gallons of water.
"After the cooking pots, now comes the cooking tools."
Billy then grabbed the pair of leather aprons hanging nearby and handed one to Leon, as well as a pair of leather gloves and a knock-off version of the military gas mask. He then took out cloth rice sacks and more pieces of cloth from a nearby chest and placed them on a nearby table. Billy then squatted in front of the drum and lit the fire underneath it, tossing the pack of matches to Leon, who was squatting in front of the other drum.
"So…." Billy stood up, took out his box of cigarettes, took out a piece of cigarette and lit it before offering one to Leon.
"Since when do you care about the Cause, huh?" Leon exclaimed, cutting him off.
Billy smirked, "Since my brother and best friend went and became a soldatz."
"Better be a soldatz than be six feet under," Leon replied as he lit the cigarette. Puffing up a cloud of smoke before speaking, "Don't you think it's time to stop believing in such nonsense? It was a lost cause from the beginning." He sighed, "Even that monster of a geezer couldn't stop them."
Billy puffs another cloud of smoke before checking on the water in the drums. "So, have you stopped believing too?"
Leon took a long drag. He didn't reply to his best friend's question. Instead, he just stood there silently.
"Figures," Billy exclaimed.
The pair stood in silence, watching small bubbles break the water's surface. The two then dragged two sacks from behind the door and poured the content of the sack.
"Thirty-three pound for each drum. Boiling water." Billy explained.
"So what kind of plants are those?"
"Raw opium, poppy."
"Isn't that the one usually used for decoration?"
Billy chuckled. "And a cheap substitute for pain relief", he added and handed a wooden ladle to Leon. "Just think of it like cooking soup. Occasional stirring." The two began stirring, taking occasional breaks and a puff or two. They continued stirring until the raw opium eventually dissolved, leaving the soil, leaves, twigs and other non-soluble materials floating.
"Now time for the good stuff." Billy exclaimed as he changed into the leather apron and leather gloves. Leon followed along, and then Billy took a smaller container and began scooping the non-soluble materials out of the dark brown liquid opium solution. He then turned toward Leon and, with a serious face, instructed him to follow him step by step. He wrapped a piece of cloth around his head, covered his nose and mouth, wore the knock-off gas mask and grabbed a glass container filled with white powders.
"This baby right here is one of the magic powders. They called it the lime juice. First, yes it came from limestone. And no, don't ask how they got it." Billy explained.
"Time for some lime juice", he snickered and poured the 'lime juice into the solution. After stirring it for another few minutes, he grabbed a container of sand and used it to douse the fire and wait for the solution to cool. He then took off his gas mask and took a deep breath.
"What the- no I don't want to know." Leon said out loud. "So what's next?" he asked.
"We sit down, light a cigarette or three and talk nonsense until the solution cooled down", Billy snickered.
"For how long?"
"Usually an hour or two for the first part, then we begin the straining process using the cloth rice sack over another container then scoop the solution from the drum to the cloth rice sack covered container which will filter out the solution. Could add another liquid solution to help facilitate filtering. Then poured the morphine-rich solution into large cooking pots and reheated it, but don't bring it to a boil. Then add another powder, mix, wait for it to cool then filter it. The solid morphine base chunks will be wrapped and squeezed in cloth and dried in the sun."
Leon made sure to make a mental note of the process as best as he could. "That's a lot of waiting and filtering, just like brewing spirits and alcohol."
"Well, that's just the basics. Wouldn't want you to be running me out of business, huh?" Billy laughed.
A familiar head popped in between the door. "You done, Billy? They waiting in the office." Turning to Leon, "Heh, good to see you still alive and kick'n, soldatz."
Location: City of Rheimanc, Duchy of Arlais
The carriage came to a halt in front of the Misty Sip Café. Leon took out his pocket watch and ensured he wasn't too early. A familiar whistle followed by a head popping out from the alley near the Misty Sip Café.
"Oy," Billy grinned as he called out.
Leon jogged toward the alleyway.
"Right on time. Good to know you haven't lost your touch." Billy snickered as he lightly jabbed Leon's shoulder. "Nobody's tailing you?" he questioned.
"Who do you take me for?" Leon replied as he quickly scanned his surroundings, "I picked up a few tricks in the army."
Billy then motioned Leon to follow him through the winding but familiar back alleys of Rheimanc. Traversing the winding alleys reminds him of his rebellious teenage years. The mischief and illicit activities that he and Billy did. Billy then stops to catch his breath.
"Yo, Leon. Remember that fat bastard Gustav and old man Dragnov?
"Yeah, whatever happen to those two?"
Billy stopped, rolled up his shirt's sleeves, stretched his arms, and smirked. Leon chuckled and raised his hand for a fist-bump, "Look at you, five years in and you're running your own operation."
Billy bowed as if he was bowing to an audience after a spectacular theatrical performance before he returned Leon's fist-bump, "It would have taken faster if you haven't ran off to join the ranks of the Imperials," he replied with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Leon looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on their conversation. "Fuck it Billy, you don't want them knocking on your doorstep."
Billy spitted on the ground. "Though as much as I hated that geezer, I should have listened to him and stop you from enlisting."
He grabbed Billy by the collar and shoved him up against the wall. "For fuck's sake Billy, even that monster couldn't stop the annexation, what made you think any of us can, huh?!" he half-shouted.
Billy shoved him back and adjusted his collar, "At least some of us are trying." He scoffed. The two stood in silence, glaring at each other.
Finally, after what seemed like quite a while, Leon sighed, breaking the silence. "At least do it properly," His remark was met with a raised brow. "Still running with the old crew right?" knowing what Leon meant, Billy nodded. "Let's talk there." Leon spat on his hand and held it out for a shake. Billy returned the gesture. The two continued making their way along the back alleys until they exited into one of the busiest marketplaces in the city.
"Hiding in plain sight, huh?" Leon chuckled. Passing several stalls, a group of street kids rushed past them. As if by instinct, Billy grabbed the collar of a kid.
"Hey! Let go of me, you old pervert!" the little girl shouted.
"Give it back Alice, I'm not in the mood to play nice," Billy said sternly.
"I don't know what you are talking about! Hey, watch where you're touching!" Alice being the great actor she was, began shouting.
Billy kneeled close enough and whispered in her ear loud enough for Leon to hear, "I'll slam your head to that wall if you don't give it back you little shit."
"Meanie," Alice pouted while handing Leon back his gun. Billy stood up and snickered, "Looks like you've lost your touch brother. Come on; we're almost there." Billy led Leon inside a noodle shop, passing through the kitchen and another door and another. Billy stopped in front of the metal door and smiled.
"This is where the magic happens." Billy grinned as he pushed open the door to his lab.
Inside was a long table with four people packaging and weighing white powders into glass vials and other various containers.
"Damn brother, that's a nice operation you got here." Leon patted him on the shoulder.
Billy looked up at the office on the second floor and saw that the lights were still off. "Yo, mind giving me a hand? We got a new batch to process and the others haven't return from their run."
"Sure thing."
The pair made their way to the storage room and rolled out two new fifty-five-gallon LAF drums. Leon followed him to a small outdoor area.
"Think of it like cooking," Billy said as he turned on a faucet and placed a container to hold the water underneath. While waiting, Billy instructed Leon to grab several bricks and place them on the ground in the marked location. After placing the bricks layers, he began placing wood, followed by papers and other combustible trashes. Leon and Billy then hauled the empty fifty-five-gallon drum and placed it on top of the bricks, which was about a foot above the ground. Making sure that the gallon is secured in place and not wobbly. Billy then took the filled container and handed it to Leon, which Leon poured inside the first fifty-five-gallon LAF drum. They continued the process until both drums were filled with about thirty gallons of water.
"After the cooking pots, now comes the cooking tools."
Billy then grabbed the pair of leather aprons hanging nearby and handed one to Leon, as well as a pair of leather gloves and a knock-off version of the military gas mask. He then took out cloth rice sacks and more pieces of cloth from a nearby chest and placed them on a nearby table. Billy then squatted in front of the drum and lit the fire underneath it, tossing the pack of matches to Leon, who was squatting in front of the other drum.
"So…." Billy stood up, took out his box of cigarettes, took out a piece of cigarette and lit it before offering one to Leon.
"Since when do you care about the Cause, huh?" Leon exclaimed, cutting him off.
Billy smirked, "Since my brother and best friend went and became a soldatz."
"Better be a soldatz than be six feet under," Leon replied as he lit the cigarette. Puffing up a cloud of smoke before speaking, "Don't you think it's time to stop believing in such nonsense? It was a lost cause from the beginning." He sighed, "Even that monster of a geezer couldn't stop them."
Billy puffs another cloud of smoke before checking on the water in the drums. "So, have you stopped believing too?"
Leon took a long drag. He didn't reply to his best friend's question. Instead, he just stood there silently.
"Figures," Billy exclaimed.
The pair stood in silence, watching small bubbles break the water's surface. The two then dragged two sacks from behind the door and poured the content of the sack.
"Thirty-three pound for each drum. Boiling water." Billy explained.
"So what kind of plants are those?"
"Raw opium, poppy."
"Isn't that the one usually used for decoration?"
Billy chuckled. "And a cheap substitute for pain relief", he added and handed a wooden ladle to Leon. "Just think of it like cooking soup. Occasional stirring." The two began stirring, taking occasional breaks and a puff or two. They continued stirring until the raw opium eventually dissolved, leaving the soil, leaves, twigs and other non-soluble materials floating.
"Now time for the good stuff." Billy exclaimed as he changed into the leather apron and leather gloves. Leon followed along, and then Billy took a smaller container and began scooping the non-soluble materials out of the dark brown liquid opium solution. He then turned toward Leon and, with a serious face, instructed him to follow him step by step. He wrapped a piece of cloth around his head, covered his nose and mouth, wore the knock-off gas mask and grabbed a glass container filled with white powders.
"This baby right here is one of the magic powders. They called it the lime juice. First, yes it came from limestone. And no, don't ask how they got it." Billy explained.
"Time for some lime juice", he snickered and poured the 'lime juice into the solution. After stirring it for another few minutes, he grabbed a container of sand and used it to douse the fire and wait for the solution to cool. He then took off his gas mask and took a deep breath.
"What the- no I don't want to know." Leon said out loud. "So what's next?" he asked.
"We sit down, light a cigarette or three and talk nonsense until the solution cooled down", Billy snickered.
"For how long?"
"Usually an hour or two for the first part, then we begin the straining process using the cloth rice sack over another container then scoop the solution from the drum to the cloth rice sack covered container which will filter out the solution. Could add another liquid solution to help facilitate filtering. Then poured the morphine-rich solution into large cooking pots and reheated it, but don't bring it to a boil. Then add another powder, mix, wait for it to cool then filter it. The solid morphine base chunks will be wrapped and squeezed in cloth and dried in the sun."
Leon made sure to make a mental note of the process as best as he could. "That's a lot of waiting and filtering, just like brewing spirits and alcohol."
"Well, that's just the basics. Wouldn't want you to be running me out of business, huh?" Billy laughed.
A familiar head popped in between the door. "You done, Billy? They waiting in the office." Turning to Leon, "Heh, good to see you still alive and kick'n, soldatz."
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