Chapter 80: Stunned, Right?

  Meining University, multifunctional conference hall. On the podium stood two aluminum-alloy lockboxes. Their owners had yet to arrive, but both sides of the hall were already filled with guests, waiting quietly for a historic moment to begin.

  At nine sharp, the hall was packed. The ceremony host, Li Guozhi, assistant to the president of Meining University, briefly introduced the day’s agenda. Then, under the guidance of Professor Ding Pengshan, the invited guests who had the privilege to observe the experiment changed clothes, underwent simple disinfection, and followed Professor Ding one by one into Meining University’s Molecular Cell Research Lab.

  The number of guests invited to observe was limited, including Dr. Hill, chairman of UICC; Dr. Parker, UICC secretary-general; senior UICC oncology experts Dr. Sean and Dr. Fujita Jiro; Academician Hao, UICC’s Huaxia regional director; Zhao Guoqing, Party Secretary of Meining City; Deputy Mayor Xia Guoqing; and Wang Ding, commissioner of the Huaxia Food and Drug Administration.

  The remaining UICC experts, officials, and corporate representatives were left waiting in the conference hall.

  Inside the lab, all members of the “Dragonborn” Project team were present. At 9:30 sharp, Professor Shangguan Hong carefully opened the aluminum lockbox before him, revealing a portable refrigerated case. Lifting the cooling lid, beneath a layer of square ice blocks, two small vials filled with light-blue liquid shimmered like tiny blue sprites.

  Professor Shangguan carefully took out the two vials and said, “Everyone, this is the result of a month of effort by the entire ‘Dragonborn’ Project team—the first sample of Nanxing One reagent.”

  Instantly, every gaze in the room locked onto his hands. Those two little vials of blue liquid—were they really the embodiment of humanity’s hope to cure cancer?

  “Professor Shangguan, pardon the interruption, but before you proceed with the experiment, may we take a photo of it?” Dr. Sean asked, his voice filled with excitement.

  Shangguan Hong paused for a moment, then smiled lightly. “Of course.”

  Everyone buzzed with excitement. Even Fujita, whose face was usually expressionless, instinctively reached for his phone—only to put it back down, smirking as if waiting for a show.

  “Gentlemen, let us begin.” Professor Shangguan gestured toward Qiao Xier and Liu Zixuan, who were already prepared.

  The experiment commenced. Thirty mice implanted with cancer cells were brought out, each clearly labeled. They carried various types of cancer antigens, covering almost all major human malignant tumor types.

  “Wait, Professor Shangguan, I don’t mean to offend, but wasn’t the number of test subjects supposed to be fifty?” Dr. Hill asked curiously, glancing at his documents.

  Shangguan looked at Secretary Zhao, who shared the same puzzled expression, and at the eager Fujita before calmly replying, “Yes, we still have fifteen milliliters of reagent, but we decided to use it for another confidential trial. Once results are available, we’ll announce them.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Is that so? Professor Shangguan, as far as I know, ten milliliters of your reagent were already used in a live human trial, weren’t they?” Fujita Jiro, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke slowly.

  “A live trial? Is that true?” Dr. Hill’s expression shifted.

  Fujita waved his phone triumphantly. “Of course it’s true. The patient is at Meining University Zhongshan Hospital right now—his name is Xu Maogen. I have his photo here. Chairman, Professor Shangguan, performing an unverified human trial—shouldn’t that be condemned by UICC? And doesn’t that also violate your country’s laws?”

  “Professor Shangguan, is what Dr. Fujita said true?” Dr. Hill’s tone grew stern. Although the choice of testing method wasn’t technically UICC’s concern, his Western mindset made him instinctively question it.

  Professor Shangguan glanced at Dr. Hill, then sighed and nodded. “Yes, as Dr. Fujita, who’s been keeping a close eye on Nanxing One, said, ten milliliters were used for a clinical trial on a human subject.”

  “Professor Shangguan, do you realize such an action…” Dr. Hill hesitated, carefully choosing his words. Though he found it unforgivable, if Nanxing One truly cured malignant tumors, being too harsh could jeopardize future cooperation—something he didn’t want.

  He glanced sideways at Fujita, frustration flashing in his eyes. Damn it, even if it’s true, couldn’t you keep it to yourself? Did you have to put me on the spot?

  “Ahem… Professor Shangguan, I mean no offense, but if your country’s laws strictly prohibit such acts…”

  “Don’t worry, Dr. Hill.” Shangguan smiled faintly, glancing at Secretary Zhao. “Our laws clearly forbid any unauthorized human experimentation. I’m well aware of that.”

  “Then…”

  “It’s simple.” Shangguan smiled faintly, his eyes briefly meeting Zhang Yang’s in the crowd before turning back to Fujita. “Perhaps Dr. Fujita can tell us how he obtained this information first?”

  “That…” Fujita hesitated.

  “Dr. Fujita, please explain how you learned this. After all, accusing someone of unauthorized human trials is a serious charge. If it’s false, I believe you owe us an explanation.” Dr. Hill’s voice carried a hint of irritation. The whole experiment was being derailed by Fujita’s meddling.

  “Fine, I’ll say it clearly.” Under the pressure of countless stares, Fujita began to falter. He cursed himself for being too hasty—he should’ve saved this for the press conference.

  “Our company, Shitō Pharmaceuticals, has a good relationship with your Bai Group. A doctor affiliated with Bai Pharmaceuticals participated in your illegal live test last night. That’s how we learned of it. I mean no disrespect, but I must remind the chairman that this drug carries a stain—it blatantly violates human rights. It’s unethical.”

  Fujita poured out everything he had, then stared at Shangguan smugly. Let’s see how you talk your way out now.

  Shangguan gave him a sidelong glance and smiled casually. “Well said, Dr. Fujita. If only your ancestors in Unit 731 had shown such moral integrity, I might answer you. But before that, may I ask you one question?”

  Fujita nodded awkwardly. Seeing Shangguan’s calm demeanor, he sensed something was wrong, but could only nod silently.

  “Do you know the difference between prescription drugs and health supplements?” Shangguan asked, his tone playful, like a cat toying with a mouse.

  Fujita hesitated. “Of course I do. One is for therapeutic use, and the other for regulating bodily functions…”

  “And?”

  “And?” Fujita pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping nonexistent sweat. “Please, Professor Shangguan, elaborate.”

  “You don’t know that non-prescription health supplements don’t require extensive clinical trials before being sold? Whether to test or not depends on the manufacturer. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—Nanxing One is merely a health supplement. So, is there still a problem?”

  “A health supplement?” Fujita’s eyes widened, and even Dr. Hill shook his head repeatedly. What the hell did this have to do with supplements? A drug that cures cancer—and you dare call it a supplement? That’s outrageous.

  “We can confirm it’s a supplement because all its ingredients are extracted from common plants, harmless to humans. Its main function is to enhance immunity, thereby eliminating cancer cells. How is that different from a health supplement?”

  “We can even disclose its formula—if necessary, though perhaps ten or twenty years later.” Shangguan glanced at Fujita and continued, “Now then, tell me, if a patient injected with our so-called health supplement has, within…” he checked his watch, smirking, “…within nine hours, completely cleared all tumor cells—would you still call that an illegal human trial?”

  Everyone was stunned—not by the legal technicalities, but by what he said: nine hours to completely eliminate malignant tumor cells!

  Holy shit, that’s a miracle. Who cares if it’s a supplement or a prescription drug? Call it Viagra for all anyone cares—it works! And it works in nine hours? That’s divine, for fuck’s sake!

  “Professor Shangguan, is that true?” Dr. Hill’s lips trembled as his blue eyes, magnified behind thick lenses, locked onto Shangguan, waiting for confirmation. Clearly, they wouldn’t have made such a claim without absolute proof. As the Huaxia saying goes, they never fight unprepared battles.

  They must have already confirmed its success before deciding to announce it today.

  He cast a sideways glance at Fujita, brimming with irritation. Damn Chrysanthemum bastard, stirring shit up like that. If this ruins UICC’s relationship with them, I wouldn’t mind having you offer your own chrysanthemum as tribute!

  “Of course it’s true. If you wish, you may observe our experiment right now.” Shangguan smiled faintly.