The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 111: Clinical Trial (2)

The demographic cliff caused by mana invasion.

The first method humanity chose to overcome this was integration.

To maintain and prosper a social community, the most important factor is population—you need people to accomplish anything.

So whether through warfare using military force or through peaceful negotiation, they secured minimum population through integration between nations.

The remaining task.

They needed to strengthen national power through population growth.

The major policies of early integrated nations focused on increasing birth rates.

All kinds of birth incentive policies were implemented.

If you had children, you received benefits for employment, promotion, and salary increases, free housing, educational support…

As a result, the average marriage age that had soared to mid-thirties in the past dropped dramatically to early-to-mid twenties, and each household raised at least three or more children.

But there was a problem that remained unsolved even after 200 years.

That was the mana rejecters.

They were surplus humans.

Treated worse than criminals, abandoned or treated as non-existent.

Despite not being a genetic problem, they couldn’t even dream of marriage.

They had no intention of marrying anyway.

Countless talented individuals were shunned simply for being mana rejecters.

If they were born into good families, at least they could live comfortably in their twenties before dying.

But what about mana rejection children from poor families?

Naturally, they couldn’t just be left alone.

Countries around the world had been making steady efforts to find solutions.

Of course, there were no results.

For 200 years, the medical and scientific communities had devoted all their efforts to treating mana rejection syndrome, and now they found a way to solve it?

“We’ve completed the first and second clinical trials. We administered the treatment to 20 severe patients, and as a result, they’re all living normal lives just like ordinary people. Isn’t this a success?”

– Uh, uh, uh…

The Emperor on the other end of the phone couldn’t continue speaking.

He seemed breathless.

“We’re about to enter the third clinical trial. The treatment isn’t perfect yet, so we need a broad sample—half men, half women, from infants to adolescents, various races, at least 500 people…”

– W-wait a moment.

Murmuring could be faintly heard through the phone—a conversation between Secretary Geum Su-ho and the Emperor, and even an exclamation of surprise.

Soon after.

– Ahem, you’ve done something tremendous for the prosperity of the Empire. No, this is an achievement that will be remembered throughout Earth’s history. This is truly something to be grateful for. The world will thank you.

The Emperor spoke stammering, seemingly extremely excited.

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

Even if the Emperor bowed a hundred times, it wouldn’t be enough for this.

A mana rejection treatment would turn the world upside down.

If the Nobel Prize still existed, and if multiple awards were possible, this would be an achievement worthy of sweeping the Medicine, Chemistry, and Peace prizes single-handedly.

– However, I have a request…

“What is it?”

– Please leave the recruitment and procedures for the third clinical trial subjects to the Imperial government. We’ll prepare with utmost care.

Government supervision… that’s not impossible.

“The selection must be fair.”

– Don’t worry. We’ll block any external interference. And 500 people is too few. Can’t we increase the number? To about 1,000.

“That’s possible.”

We have plenty of materials.

– Oh! Thank you, thank you.

Actually, Tae-ju had hoped for this too.

It would be much more convenient if the state stepped in rather than private entities.

– And would it be alright if the Imperial Palace Secretariat’s publicity team comes down to Gurye? We’d like to do some interviews…

“Interviews?”

– Rumors are already spreading that you’re making a treatment. People must be desperately waiting. Give them hope. Tell them not to die and to wait.

Hope for the mana rejecters.

That’s a good idea.

“Yes, you may do that. Come to Taehong Orphanage. The patients who have been completely cured are currently under follow-up observation.”

– Oh! You’ll sell the treatment to the American Republic too, right?

“I have to sell it. There’s no reason the people of that country should die because of a few scammers.”

– I thought so. But… I’m thinking of scaring them a little, what do you think?

“…What are you planning to do now?”

– Well, I got a little angry, because of Billy Pittman, that bastard, and Whiteblack too.

“Ah…”

What an impressive Emperor.

They must have had a big fight.

How old is he anyway.

It seemed like conflict arose between them because of the copycat drug dispute.

“Do as you please. But I will sell the treatment.”

– Hehe, understood. Don’t think about anything else and just focus on research.

Thus, the government took charge of preparing the third clinical trial.

Since I don’t need to worry about that part, let’s continue with treatment research.

The next day.

Publicity staff and secretaries from the Imperial Palace all came down to Gurye.

I don’t know what kind of video they were filming, but they brought tons of filming equipment and interviewed every single first and second clinical trial subject before returning.

Articles about the great success of the clinical trials poured out the day after that.

* * *

New Seoul, Samhan Empire.

Jo In-cheol, 20 years old this year, secretly snuck onto a building rooftop with a backpack.

The building was 25 stories high.

This should be enough.

The moment his head hits the ground, it’ll be crushed and he won’t even feel pain.

Jo In-cheol was a mana rejecter.

They knew as soon as he was born.

Still, his parents didn’t abandon him.

While others wouldn’t even send their children to school, they supported and raised him through elementary, middle, and high school.

Jo In-cheol also lived up to his parents’ expectations.

Forgetting that he was a mana rejecter, he studied hard and finally got accepted to New Seoul University’s Law Department.

But the joy was brief.

At a family gathering to celebrate his university acceptance, his first seizure came.

Pain as if his heart would burst.

Only then did Jo In-cheol realize his situation.

A mana rejecter.

A life with limited time anyway.

What’s the point of getting into university?

He’s going to die anyway.

He’d lie in bed unable to control his body, be a burden to his family, and die in despair and pain.

Jo In-cheol agonized all night and then left home without a word.

Thus began his life in hiding.

He only went to places where there weren’t many people.

He had no interest in TV, news, or the internet.

He threw away his smartphone too.

But his parents didn’t give up.

One day, a flyer he found on the street.

There, listed as missing persons, were his own name and photo prominently displayed.

‘Ah! They’re still looking for me.’

Tears came to his eyes.

He was so grateful.

To think they wouldn’t give up on a mana-rejecting surplus human until the very end.

So he decided to help them give up.

Let’s put an end to this life.

‘I just need to disappear.’

Am I their only child?

Though they would grieve, once time passed and his existence was forgotten, the remaining family would be happy.

Jo In-cheol climbed over the railing on the rooftop of a 25-story building.

“Whew,”

He took a deep breath.

Now that he was about to end his life, he was terrified.

Before jumping, Jo In-cheol looked around.

To remember the world he had lived in one last time.

On a large electronic billboard visible from the building across, breaking news was flowing with the caption 【Breaking News】.

Come to think of it, it had been quite a while since he’d watched the news.

Well, he had cut off TV, internet, and smartphone.

What’s the point of news when you’re about to die.

‘Let’s jump.’

Jo In-cheol extended one foot from the railing.

But right at that moment!

“…Huh?”

News subtitles emphasized loudly in large red letters.

Even though he tried not to pay attention, it caught his eye.

“What the hell is this…?”

He doubted his eyes.

Is that content really true?

Could he be seeing hallucinations from being consumed by fear?

‘Even if I’m going to die anyway…’

Let me check before I die.

Jo In-cheol came down from the rooftop and went outside the building.

News was spreading everywhere.

On TV, in newspapers distributed as breaking news, and in people’s conversations.

The news was real.

Tears poured from Jo In-cheol’s eyes.

‘Can I live?’

* * *

Breaking news that burst simultaneously from all media companies and broadcasters in the Samhan Empire.

【Taehong Biopharma Chairman Kim Tae-ju has done it again.】

【20 terminal mana rejection patients in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials – great success. All got up and returned to daily life.】

【A miracle has finally occurred, we are witnessing humanity’s great achievement simultaneously.】

【Palace Spokesman announces imminent mass production of mana rejection treatment.】

【Selecting volunteers for Phase 3 clinical trials, all procedures and execution to be handled by the Empire’s Ministry of Health and Welfare.】

【Inquiries flooding in from across the Empire to be included in Phase 3 clinical trials.】

【Hope is coming. Survive by any means!】

【Those who endure until the treatment is released are the winners.】

└ Come on, that’s total nonsense. How can they cure that disease?

└ Nonsense my ass! Does the Palace Spokesman have nothing better to do than hold press conferences?

└ If it’s Taehong Bio Chairman Kim Tae-ju, maybe he can do it.

└ Right. Look at all the medicines he’s made so far. Everyone thought they were impossible.

└ Hehehe, I’m proud. That’s a lethal dose of national pride.

└ Bartender! Pull down the shutters!

└ At this rate, won’t a hair loss treatment come out too?

And interviews that appeared simultaneously on news and YouTube.

– At first I was skeptical. There was some effect, but after a day it was just so-so. But suddenly the drug’s effectiveness dramatically…

– How was the drug’s effect? I spent a whole year just lying down. But now? Should I try jumping once more?

– I’ll live the rest of my life for that person. I love you!

– That person? He’s just light itself. I don’t need to say the name, you know who, right?

– Fellow mana rejection patients nationwide! Hold on until the end. A better world is coming soon.

The reaction was explosive.

And naturally, the news spread to the American Republic as well.

President Billy Pittman and his staff continued staring at the TV with expressions of utter disbelief.

“Is all that true?”

“…We’ve already confirmed it. The test subjects who appeared on Samhan broadcasts were all previously severe patients.”

“Severe?”

“Yes, most were people who couldn’t even get up from bed, relying on oxygen respirators.”

“…”

Billy Pittman knew well too.

If they couldn’t even breathe on their own, they were critically ill, terminal, practically dead.

But they look perfectly fine like that?

Suddenly!

“Mr. President!”

“Huh? What is it?”

“The Palace Spokesman of the Samhan Empire is scheduled to hold a press conference soon.”

“What’s the content?”

“It’s about the Phase 3 clinical trials…”

What could the content be?

Billy Pittman couldn’t help but be curious.

His beloved daughter had been diagnosed as terminal and was battling the disease.

Soon after.

The Palace Spokesman appeared on the broadcast.

“I’d like to speak about the selection for Phase 3 clinical trials. The expected number is 1,000 people total, of which 600 will be centered on Samhan Empire citizens, and the remaining 400 will invite mana rejection patients from various countries worldwide in proportion to population.”

Billy Pittman and White House officials began to tense up.

They’re giving opportunities to overseas patients too?

The Samhan Empire has been an ally of the American Republic since its founding.

How many clinical subjects would they allocate?

“The countries to be included in this Phase 3 clinical trial are the European Empire, Moscow Kingdom, Saudi Federation, Uyghur Tibet Federation, Indian Mughal Empire, Malay Federation, Latin American Union, New Egypt, British Constitutional State, AustraliaNewZealand…”

Country names were being listed from the Palace Spokesman’s mouth.

However, the country name they were waiting for didn’t come up.

Even after the press conference ended.

They listened again in case they missed it.

‘…Ahhh.’

The American Republic’s name wasn’t there.

Heavy silence fell over the White House conference room.

Even if it was just exclusion from Phase 3 clinical trials, to Billy Pittman…

‘We won’t supply mana rejection treatment to the American Republic.’

That’s how it sounded to him.

* * *

The Immortal Realm.

An unprecedented strange phenomenon occurred.

Children’s laughter suddenly echoed through a place filled with elderly immortals.

“Everything here is so amazing.”

“Wow! What a tall building.”

“Can we go up?”

“Kyahahaha!”

Smiles never left the immortals’ faces.

“Now, now, don’t run or you’ll fall.”

“Would you like some candy?”

“Wow! Candy!”

“I like chocolate the best.”

“Come, come, have a cool drink too.”

They were all Cheonin.

Originally, children were the most numerous in Cheon-gye.

Innocent and pure, but children who died young.

Cheonin usually ascend to Cheon-gye in the same form as when they died.

Though they had actually lived for hundreds of years, they still retained the emotions of young children.

They all followed Haemak.

They came every single day without fail.

Of course, each carrying a sack full of Cheon-gye flower petals.

To Haemak, he had given subspace gourds and subspace bags.

She came back having filled them all by herself.

Then he’d receive them, put them in the Infinite Space, and give back the empty gourds and bags.

“Dok-seon sir! I filled them all up!”

“Already?”

“Please empty them quickly and give them back. I’ll go fill them one more time.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine. This is enough. It’s almost time for the delivery signal.”

“Hehe, is that so?”

“Don’t work and rest well. Watch a movie or something, isn’t there anything you want to eat?”

“…Um, can, can I eat something expensive?”

“As much as you want!”

“Ah, ice cream… I heard it’s called Natural…”

What was expensive about that?

“I’ll give you Häagen-Dazs too.”

“Wow!”

Danggumak took out an armful of ice cream from the refrigerator and handed it to Haemak.

“Kids! Come quickly, it’s something delicious. Let’s eat together.”

“Yay! It’s ice cream!”

“I want to eat some too.”

“Hurry hurry, it might melt.”

“Now, now, I told you not to run.”

He had already sent large quantities of Geumjeonghwa and Eumyanghwa once.

Even so, Cheon-gye flower petals were steadily accumulating.

The atmosphere in the Immortal Realm had also changed.

The immortals were delighted just watching the children play.

So their requests to Dok-seon also changed.

“Dok-seon, don’t you have any movies or dramas for children? Animations or puppet shows.”

“Instead of always showing things with lewd or violent scenes, let’s watch some pure movies.”

“Is it because you just ascended? Why do you only like stimulating things?”

“…”

Danggumak was dumbfounded.

Shameless immortals.

They were the ones who liked stimulating things.

When he occasionally showed high-quality artistic films, they’d complain it was boring, wouldn’t watch anything unless it was trashy, and had even been caught watching erotic films.

He had much to say but decided to hold back.

He couldn’t cause a commotion in front of the children.

But the real commotion happened in the 3rd Floor Game Room.

“This game really sucks! Huh? Does being Cheonin make you special?”

It was the Swordsman.

“Swordsman sir is angry.”

“It’s because you’re too good at it.”

“I’ll lose this round for you.”

“No, I was trying to lose…”

The most popular content for children in the multiplex was games.

Bringing flowers from Cheon-gye and playing in the game room for a while was the daily routine of the Cheonin children.

Originally, the Swordsman was the absolute champion of the game room.

But he was mercilessly defeated by a young Cheonin.

Especially the last match, which he lost with a perfect defeat.

The Swordsman trembled with shame.

“My, my hands got slippery, let’s, let’s play again!”

It was a cowardly excuse.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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