The Secret Ingredient

Episode 6 of The Common Man Chronicles, “The Secret Ingredient,” peels back the glossy label of Buzz-Free to reveal something far more sinister beneath. With suspicions mounting, The Common Man and Boogie bring a confiscated bean to Plain Jane’s old friend — Mr. Bexley, a retired science teacher with a cluttered lab and a mind still sharp as a scalpel.

Under flickering bulbs and bubbling beakers, the truth is uncovered: Buzz-Free isn’t just bad coffee — it’s chemically engineered sabotage. A compound called Caffnil-X has been stripping caffeine and flavor oils straight from the source. It's not decaf. It’s a weapon.

And just when they think they’ve cracked the case, in bursts Fancy Pants with his own analysis — and ego. Despite scoffing at their methods, he confirms the finding. For the first time, the rival critic and the carpenter lock eyes… and see the same threat.

A bitter alliance begins to form. Because this isn’t just about beans anymore. It’s about control.

Next week, the crew sets their sights on Buzz-Free HQ. And what they find inside might be bigger than any of them imagined.