Chapter 48

New book uploaded, seeking recommendations and support.

Hearing Zhu Jishi's words, Ricardo D. Rodriguez's smile immediately faded from his face.

His Rodriguez Trading Company was involved in all kinds of businesses, including arms, textiles, opium, slaves... Of course, it also included ordinary medicines and chemicals. He was very familiar with the ins and outs of the pharmaceutical business. Besides raw materials like morphine hydrochloride, diethylmorphine, and berberine hydrochloride, there was another type of "patent medicine," which were finished products formulated by pharmacies using raw materials. Each pharmacy often had its own unique formula, and a slight change in the formula could create a new "patent medicine."

Therefore, very few pharmacies would purchase the production patents for such medicines. The Rodriguez Trading Company had no intention of buying the finished drug patents owned by Hero Pharmaceuticals. They only planned to obtain the exclusive distribution rights for morphine hydrochloride and diethylmorphine in Spain, Mexico, and Colombia. The idea of jointly developing cocaine-based drugs was just a fleeting thought of Ricardo Rodriguez.

"Sir, I think you are not very familiar with the current business model of the pharmaceutical industry..." Rodriguez carefully chose his words.

"Actually, I am familiar," Zhu Jishi smiled and glanced at Rodriguez, then suddenly intensified his tone, "But I believe this model is extremely irresponsible to patients' health! Therefore, I have decided to establish a new model for pharmaceutical operations. The drug market should be standardized, and drugs should not be abused, especially opium-based drugs... I think you understand my meaning, right?"

Rodriguez frowned and remained silent. Frank Hahn, standing beside him, smiled and explained, "Mr. Rodriguez, based on our human trials, we found that opium-based anesthetics have extremely strong addictive properties. Overuse can easily lead to addiction, just like opium users! Moreover, since the effects of morphine hydrochloride and diethylmorphine are several to dozens of times stronger than opium, their dosages need to be strictly controlled. Therefore, Hero Pharmaceuticals will require all distributors to purchase all opium-based finished drug patents and also suggest they buy berberine hydrochloride finished drug patents."

Rodriguez shook his head in disbelief, and Zhu Jishi smiled, "Don't believe it? Alright... Frank, go get an ounce of high-purity diethylmorphine for Mr. Rodriguez." He then smiled at Rodriguez, "Find someone to try it and you'll see how powerful diethylmorphine is... Just a small amount mixed into tobacco and smoked will give a divine feeling, and it can make someone addicted after just a few uses. But I advise you not to try it yourself, or you'll be hooked for life, willing to spend all your wealth on it!"

"Spending all your wealth on it?" A greedy expression appeared on Rodriguez's face as he took a small glass bottle containing white powder from Frank Hahn and examined it. "Sir, if this stuff is really that powerful, how much will it cost me to get the exclusive distribution rights in Spain, Mexico, and Colombia?"

Uh, from the look on his face, it's clear what he's thinking! However, Zhu Jishi believed that the other party was a believer in God and would not do anything that would send him to hell after death. So he smiled and said, "The exclusive distribution rights are free, but there are 50 patent licenses that need to be purchased, each at the same price. For major countries, it's 100 pounds, and for smaller countries, it's 50 pounds... Spain (including its colonies) is considered a major country, while Mexico and Colombia do not have patent laws, so no patent licenses are needed. Therefore, the total cost for 50 patents is 5000 pounds! Additionally, a commitment letter must be signed, ensuring that morphine hydrochloride and diethylmorphine are not sold to countries or regions outside of Spain (including its colonies), Mexico, and Colombia, nor to customers other than pharmacies and hospitals."

"What if the commitment is violated?" Rodriguez smiled faintly and asked.

Zhu Jishi blinked and thought for a moment, "I don't think that's a question a gentleman should ask, right? Mr. Rodriguez?"

...

"Jason, asking 5000 pounds for the distribution rights in three countries is too much, isn't it?"

As soon as Rodriguez left, Cosper William approached and said in a half-joking tone.

"Too much?" Zhu Jishi looked at him and smiled, "I think Mr. Rodriguez will accept this offer because he will definitely make many times 5000 pounds from morphine hydrochloride and diethylmorphine." He paused and added, "From now on, we will operate morphine hydrochloride and diethylmorphine using this method. Hero Pharmaceuticals will directly manage operations in the UK and France, while other regions will be handled by distributors."

"I don't believe he will keep his promise," Frank Hahn frowned and said, "This man is a notorious arms smuggler and slave trader."

"Isn't he a noble? His name includes 'Don,'" Zhu Jishi smiled at Frank Hahn, "I think I can trust a noble's promise."

Frank Hahn tilted his head and smiled, "Whatever, 5000 pounds is a lot of money! Jason, I want a small share of this, right?"

"I'll give you 1% of Jishi Holdings," Zhu Jishi looked at him with a smile, but his tone became serious, "Frank, how long will it take you to isolate cocaine?"

"Cocaine? Jason, didn't you say..."

"I lied to him!" Zhu Jishi laughed, "Cocaine is definitely a big business, and we need to monopolize it!"

"Alright, give me 500 pounds for funding, and I'll hire a few excellent chemists to help. I can get it done within six months."

"I'll give you 1000 pounds, and you must succeed within three months!" Zhu Jishi paused, "Also, hire more chemists and microbiologists. The Jason Laboratory must be established as soon as possible."

"Alright, I'll get on it."

After Frank Hahn left the meeting room, Zhu Jishi turned to Cosper William, "Send someone to the Patent Office in London to check if there is a patent for ammonium picrate. If it exists, try to buy it for me. If not, let me know immediately."

"Ammonium picrate?" Karl Blomstein took up the question, "What is it? A dye?"

"The chemical name should be ammonium trinitrophenolate," Zhu Jishi did not answer directly but said to Karl Blomstein, "Karl, this task is yours." Then he instructed Cosper William, "Buy some ammonium nitrate, not too much, just 10 pounds, and deliver it to my office. Also, get a few pounds of high-quality kerosene (petroleum). Oh, and a few ounces of mercury fulminate."

"Ammonium nitrate? Mercury fulminate?" Karl Blomstein looked at Zhu Jishi with some confusion, "Jason, what are you going to do with them?"

Zhu Jishi did not explain but smiled, "This is definitely a big business."

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