The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King - Chapter 112
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 112: Preparations for Mass Production of the Treatment
The American Republic and the Samhan Empire are long-standing allies.
So the news of exclusion from the third phase clinical trials for the mana rejection syndrome treatment came as a huge shock to the Republic’s citizens.
The American ambassador to Samhan entered the Imperial Palace and requested a meeting with the Foreign Minister, but couldn’t even get an audience.
The situation had completely reversed from before.
Follow-up coverage by reporters continued.
Inquiries poured into the Imperial Palace Public Relations Office.
Eventually, another press conference was held.
Foreign correspondents packed the Imperial Palace Public Relations Hall.
They started by questioning the safety of the treatment first.
“Are there no side effects to the treatment?”
“There are and there aren’t.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“The treatment contains a large amount of substances we know as poisons.”
“Poison? What kind of components?”
“Mainly poisons containing components that eliminate mana. So it could be toxic to Aptitude holders and Awakened Guards. It’s harmless to mana rejecters though. It will be administered as injections only to mana rejecters in coordination with hospitals.”
It was a simple explanation.
Poison to Awakened Guards and Aptitude holders, but medicine to mana rejecters.
A reporter from the American Republic raised his hand and spoke.
“What is the reason for the American Republic’s exclusion from the third phase clinical trials? Please state the exact reason.”
The Imperial Palace Public Relations Office spokesperson answered.
“This is a treatment that hasn’t completed development yet. For completeness, we absolutely had to prevent illegal copying.”
The American reporter shot back with a sharp tone.
“Are you saying we would illegally replicate the treatment?”
“There’s already a precedent. You might secretly steal the treatment under the pretext of participating in third phase trials and attempt to copy it.”
“What?”
“Take the fatigue recovery drink for example. Despite being a copy drug inferior to the original, isn’t it being sold at a higher price?”
“…That, that’s…”
“Also, as I mentioned earlier, this is a treatment whose main component is poison. If you attempt replication without understanding and release a shoddy copy drug, people’s lives could be in danger.”
At the spokesperson’s firm words, the questioning reporter shut his mouth tight like a mute who had eaten honey.
Another reporter raised his hand.
“Then when a complete treatment is available in the future, will it be officially released in the American Republic as well?”
“Well, since development isn’t complete yet…”
“I mean, when development is completed.”
“Selecting export countries isn’t within my authority. There will be a separate announcement later. That concludes this press conference.”
“W-wait a moment! The American Republic also has tens of millions of mana rejecters…”
The press conference ended.
Now it was time for the articles to explode.
All newspapers and media in the American Republic poured out content about the mana rejection syndrome treatment.
【Mana Rejection Syndrome Treatment Development Success! Humanity’s Great Step Forward, But What About the American Republic?】
【American Republic Definitely Excluded from Third Phase Clinical Trials】
【The Feared Event Has Finally Happened. Unclear Whether Complete Treatment Will Be Supplied to America】
【Samhan Spokesperson’s Words Weren’t Excuses. Actual Treatment Full of Toxic Components. Could Be Very Dangerous if Illegally Copied】
【Where Did All the Parrots Who Said Treatment Development Was Impossible Go?】
The reaction of American citizens was:
└ They really made it? It’s not a lie?
└ It’s not a lie. A friend in the Samhan Empire told me. The patients in the interviews were actual severe mana rejecters, and they’re living normal lives easily.
└ …Sigh, my younger sibling has mana rejection syndrome. Is there no way to be included in the third phase trials?
└ We’re an excluded country, and the treatment might never be exported to us.
└ There is a way.
└ What is it?
└ Naturalize to another country.
Criticism erupted simultaneously.
【Illegal Copying Was the Problem. Public Opinion Against Whiteblack Pharmaceuticals Boiling Over】
【What’s Whiteblack CEO Fred Miller’s Position? Currently Not Making Any Comments】
【The Government Also Bears Responsibility. Showing Ambiguous Attitude Despite Clear Illegal Copying Was a Mistake】
【Mana Rejecters and Their Families Flock to White House for Protests】
【Police Estimate 10,000, Rally Organizers Estimate 500,000 Protesters Demand Arrest Investigation of Copy Case Participants】
└ This is all because of that bastard Fred Miller.
└ A bastard with no technology just selling copy drugs.
└ I tried the real thing, you know? There’s no comparison. The price is cheaper too.
└ Whiteblack should go bankrupt. Then the real fatigue recovery drink will come in, and the mana rejection syndrome treatment will come in too.
* * *
President Billy Pittman was conducting an emergency White House staff meeting.
He had deployed intelligence agents to investigate in advance.
The treatment was real.
It was practically complete.
The third phase trials were merely work to improve the drug’s completeness and reduce the number of doses.
Public opinion had reversed in an instant.
The media had also turned their backs.
His plummeting approval ratings were a bonus.
Even now, the protesters’ chants could be heard from outside.
“They’ll distribute it as injections?”
“Yes, they plan to administer the treatment under strict management in coordination with hospitals.”
“Then indirect imports would be difficult.”
“We could try, but there’s a high possibility of insufficient supply to begin with… We must be included among the export target countries.”
“Phew.”
Billy Pittman let out a deep sigh of regret.
If he had known this would happen, he would have resolved the copy drug incident quickly no matter what.
The current atmosphere was serious.
He was being attacked even by members of his own party.
However, the political side was rather mild in comparison.
Human lives were at stake.
Billy Pittman was well aware of that seriousness.
What if the mana rejection syndrome treatment wasn’t supplied?
His daughter Rachel.
He was confident he could save her.
He could obtain the treatment by any means necessary.
But what about other citizens?
The American President ignoring his citizens and obtaining treatment only for his daughter?
Re-election would be out of the question.
Political retirement, no, social death – his life could be completely ruined.
For his daughter’s sake and for the sake of American Republic citizens, he absolutely had to secure the mana rejection syndrome treatment.
So he had also attempted direct contact with Taehong Bio.
But all he got back was a response to inquire with the Empire government.
There was no choice.
Billy Pittman steeled himself and called the Emperor of the Samhan Empire on the hotline.
Wondering if perhaps the call wouldn’t go through.
Ring, ring, ring…
But fortunately.
Click.
He answered the phone.
“This is Billy Pittman.”
– Hmm? Why did you call?
Billy Pittman decided to lower his stance.
“It’s all my fault. Please forgive me generously.”
– What are you talking about?
“I’m talking about dismissing the legitimate demands regarding the illegal copycat drug issue. I sincerely apologize.”
It was essentially a declaration of surrender.
– Haha, well now! I don’t know why you’re apologizing to me – I’m not even the party involved, and there’s someone else who should be receiving the apology.
“Please convey to Chairman Kim Tae-ju on my behalf that I’ll accept any demands. If he supplies treatment to the American Republic, I’ll never forget this favor.”
– That’s not difficult. It’s a matter of human lives… But your side should also show some sincerity.
“Sincerity?”
– Whiteblack, Fred Miller. Are you just going to leave them be?
“Absolutely not. We plan to handle them strictly according to Republic law.”
– Then do it. I’ll be watching.
“Yes, I’ll show you. You’ll be very satisfied.”
The Emperor of Samhan’s words that he would decide based on the level of punishment.
In fact, he had no intention of dragging this out either.
After all, exports to the American Republic needed to happen too.
– Ah! And I need subspace items – do you happen to have any spare ones? I’ll pay the proper price.
“I’ll prepare them right away and send them over.”
Now the ball was in President Billy Pittman’s court.
* * *
Whiteblack CEO Fred Miller was trembling with anxiety over this unexpected bolt from the blue.
The mana rejection treatment was real?
And the American Republic was excluded from Phase 3 trials.
The blame for this was placed squarely on Whiteblack.
Public opinion had completely turned against them.
“Damn it!”
As soon as the success of the mana rejection treatment became known, stock prices began to plummet.
Shareholders came forward demanding he take responsibility for this situation.
“Damn bastards!”
After the fatigue recovery drink launch, when stock prices soared endlessly, they were so happy.
Fred Miller decided to lay low.
He would avoid appearing in public for the time being and just wait for this storm to pass.
A mana rejection treatment?
They could just replicate the damn thing.
What’s so impossible about that?
He actually decided to do just that.
If successful, he’d become a hero of the American Republic.
But Fred Miller’s thinking was nothing more than delusion.
【President Billy Pittman activates emergency executive order against Whiteblack.】
【Orders seizure of Whiteblack pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, factories, and warehouses.】
Recovery measures for profits gained through illegal copying, with maximum penalties also imposed.
【American Republic Bureau of Investigation RBI scheduled to search and seize Whiteblack headquarters.】
“Fucking hell!”
It seemed best to get out of there first.
Just as he was hurrying to leave.
Bang!
People in black suits burst through his office door.
“Fred Miller?”
“Wh-who are you?”
“RBI Investigation Team. You’re under emergency arrest for illegal replication and tax evasion charges.”
It was already too late.
“…May I call a lawyer?”
“By all means, that’s your right. But do you even have money to call a lawyer?”
“What?”
“Don’t you know that as of today, your bank accounts and real estate have all been seized?”
“What the…”
“You’re finished now. But don’t worry about food. The prison will feed you for life.”
“…”
Fred’s eyes filled with despair.
Would there be a chance for a comeback?
Probably not.
* * *
Samhan Empire.
Currently, all broadcasts and media were talking only about the mana rejection treatment.
The economic effects when the drug would be released, interviews with patients who would benefit, how to be included in Phase 3 trials.
Severe mana rejection sufferers or their families from all over the Empire flocked to Gurye.
Pleading to be included in the clinical trials.
They even set up tents in front of Taehong Bio headquarters and began a sit-in protest.
For safety, the nearby Jiri Mountain Defense Unit was deployed to escort Taehong Bio employees.
Baek Seo-yeon personally stepped forward to mediate.
“All procedures and authority for Phase 3 trials have been delegated to the Imperial government. We’ve promised to select subjects through fair methods, so please trust us and wait.”
“We understand your feelings, but please stay strong and wait. Such actions will only hinder treatment production.”
Fortunately, it was resolved well.
The Imperial government also responded.
Patients with truly serious symptoms – those hooked up to life support systems who couldn’t guarantee tomorrow – were specially included as clinical trial subjects.
Severe mana rejection sufferers from overseas were also arriving by aircraft one after another.
Tae-ju was also working hard with researchers at the New Seoul Factory Research Center to produce treatments for clinical trials.
Mass production would take time to begin.
They needed to secure medicinal materials, set up equipment, and train factory workers.
They would finish Phase 3 trials within that period.
Phase 3 trials would be conducted at Newseoul General Hospital.
They planned to administer via injection while monitoring patient conditions.
So medical personnel like doctors and nurses would also participate.
Tae-ju called in researchers and veteran workers dispatched from Gurye.
Later, these would become the main workforce in charge of production.
“Wh-what kind of flower is this?”
“It’s a core ingredient for the mana rejection treatment. We can’t make it without this.”
“Ah… the flower fragrance is so wonderful. Just smelling it makes me feel energized.”
“Please handle it preciously. Don’t waste even a single petal.”
“Of course.”
First, methods to extract the Cheon-gye flower material efficiently without waste.
After several trials and errors, the component extraction work for Geumjeonghwa and Eumyanghwa was proceeding smoothly.
At the same time, they created optimized combination recipes mixing the extracted materials with toxins.
They tried to maximize the medicinal effects.
Thus, 10 different sample treatments created through different combinations.
They didn’t need to worry about materials.
Ding ding ding.
Like this, every 3 or 4 days, flower deliveries from the Heavenly Realm were being made.
Tae-ju opened the shared warehouse.
“Hahaha.”
Just looking at it made him feel good.
The shared warehouse was full of flower blossoms.
And also in the subspace bag and gourd bottle.
He had handed over both subspace items to Danggumak.
Since many flowers needed to come over from that side.
‘I wish there were a few more subspaces.’
He had asked the Emperor, so a response would come soon.
Hurriedly moving the items, completely emptying what was in the gourd bottle and subspace bag, quickly filling them with goods and sending them back.
Now to check the smartphone.
Tae-ju played the video that Danggumak had recently filmed.
Then.
– Uncle Tae-ju! Please save lots and lots of people with the flowers we sent!
He was startled.
Suddenly?
What were children doing in the Immortal Realm?
– The ice cream is so delicious. Thank you for letting us taste it.
– We should mention the chocolate too!
– Right! The jelly and candy too.
– Our Murap is better at games than the Swordsman!
– The Swordsman cried after losing to Murap.
– You brats! When did I ever!
– He even broke the game pad.
– These tattletales!
– Waah! Let’s run away!
The Swordsman made a special appearance too.
In the next video, he learned why the children appeared.
Danggumak came out directly and explained.
“Ah!”
They were Cheonin.
From a modern person’s perspective, angels.
Suddenly his eyes stung.
Even angels were stepping forward for Earth’s mana rejection patients.
Danggumak’s words continued.
– Is there any video content for children by chance? Games would be good, and snacks like sweets and drinks, children’s clothes and shoes, well, things like that.
Of course there were.
Even if there weren’t, he’d have to make some.
He’d have to prepare tons of the highest quality items.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————