The Tycoon's Odyssey

"We'll let the demand grow insatiable," Evan had said coldly. "Raise the price. Turn it into a luxury. When the Federation or anyone else tries to rein us in, we'll have the upper hand."

Daniel had hesitated. His instincts rebelling against the idea, but Evan's foresight was rarely wrong.

Though reluctant, he could only comply.

While the world grappled with limited supplies of vaccines, one nation stood out: Indra.

Thanks to Next Gen Pharmaceuticals' indirect involvement, Indra experienced no shortage of vaccines. This unexpected abundance turned Indra into a beacon of global hope.

Desperate patients from all over the globe flocked to Indra, willing to bet their fortunes for seeking treatment and health benefits. Tourists poured in, bolstering the nation's economy and putting a strain on embassies who struggled to manage the influx of visa applications.

Health tourism soon became a booming industry, with medical facilities in Indra working around the clock to accommodate the influx.

Those who had money and were on the verge of death were willing to bet their entire fortune on it.

Even if the cure turned out to be defective and there were prospects of fatal side effects, no one hesitated—it was better to try it and see if it worked while worrying that something worse could happen.

They were already on the verge of death. The side effects might just kill them a few days earlier at most.

As demand soared, another storm broke out. Next Gen Pharmaceuticals filed a lawsuit against MicroBiotech Pharmaceuticals, accusing them of stealing the formula for the cure. The charges were explosive: claiming intellectual property theft and unauthorized replication of the cure.

Shockingly, this MicroBiotech was owned by none other than Daniel himself.

MicroBiotech retaliated fiercely, countering that it was Next Gen who had stolen their research. The legal battle erupted into a full-blown corporate war, spilling into public view, and igniting a fiery debate.

Analysts and journalists dissected every claim, while the corporate world watched with bated breath.

What began as a courtroom dispute quickly escalated into corporate chaos. Espionage, smear campaigns, and sabotage rumors spread like wildfire. The battle extended beyond the legal arena, threatening to destabilize the fragile equilibrium of the pharmaceutical world.

_____

Meanwhile, in Federation Headquarters.

In a high-rise office overlooking the sprawling city, Walter scanned a report with a deepening frown. With a frustrated sigh, he tossed it onto the desk and leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"The world had been quite peaceful," he muttered, "but ever since Evan entered the spotlight, he's been causing chaos and trouble everywhere he goes."

Looking up at his secretary, Walter asked sharply. "And who is this Daniel again?"

The secretary straightened. "Daniel is the CEO of a pharmaceutical company in Indra. He's partnering with others to transport the cure."

Walter's gaze sharpened. "How did he get his hands on it? The formula isn't easy to produce, and I don't buy that he's some kind of genius. Is he Evan's right-hand man, operating in the shadows?"

The secretary hesitated before responding. "We can't confirm that yet, but our team has conducted an investigation."

Walter leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Oh? And what did they find?"

"Daniel's father had a long-standing history with Evan—a hostile one. When Evan's tea business became a success, Daniel's father attempted to force him into a buyout. It escalated and led to a confrontation, during which Evan allegedly hacked into Daniel's father's computer and used the information to blackmail him."

Walter raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. And how does this tie back to the vaccine?"

"Daniel's company had a tie-up with Evan's VR project. Using this opportunity, he likely gained access to Next Gen's people, coaxed some of them into defecting, and possibly acquired the formula through them."

Walter's secretary hesitated before asking, "What should we do now, sir?"

Walter leaned back in his chair, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "What can we do except accept the situation?"

The secretary's startled expression caught his attention.

Walter raised an eyebrow. "What? Do you expect me to ban vaccines and stand before the world to declare that a hidden team is pulling the strings behind the scenes?"

"Of course not!" the secretary replied, shaking his head quickly.
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Walter gave a slight nod and began tapping the edge of the boardroom table with his finger. The sound echoed in the room, the only noise breaking the silence.

After a long moment of deep contemplation, he finally spoke. "Call that guy, Daniel. I want to have a pleasant chat with him."

"Daniel…? Not Evan?" the secretary asked cautiously.

Walter's glare froze him in place. His face went pale as sweat beaded on his temple. Lowering his head in fear, the secretary stammered, "Yes, sir. I'll arrange it as soon as possible."

_____

Meanwhile, in Indra, the conflict reached the courtroom.

In Indra, the courtroom drama surrounding the case between Next-Gen Pharmaceuticals and MicroBiotech reached new heights.

Daniel made a rare public appearance on behalf of MicroBiotech, while Aria, accompanied by Reynolds, represented Next-Gen Pharmaceuticals.

The courtroom proceedings were intense. Legal teams presented conflicting evidence, and lawyers hurled sharp arguments back and forth.

Next-Gen accused MicroBiotech of outright theft, presenting documentation they claimed was hacked from their servers while MicroBiotech countered by suggesting that Next-Gen had bribed insiders to sabotage their research.

The judge finally intervened, calling for order. After deliberating over the arguments, the hearing was adjourned for a later date.

As the parties left the courthouse, the tension spilled into the public sphere. Reporters swarmed, microphones were thrust forward, and a cacophony of shouted questions filled the air. Security guards soon intervened, escorting both the parties to a secluded area.

Away from the cameras, Aria exhaled deeply, her formal demeanor melting in an instant. "It's so exhausting to pretend like that," she muttered.

Reynolds, standing beside her, chuckled. "What? Acting like a trouble-creating shrew?"

Aria shot him a glare and pinched his arm.

"Ouch!" Reynolds yelped, rubbing the spot.

Daniel, watching their banter from behind, laughed lightly. "How long is this drama going to drag on?"

Aria shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Who knows?"

Reynolds stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Knowing Evan, it wouldn't surprise me if the entire judiciary is already in his pocket."

"Yeah, that might be possible," Daniel added, his tone a mix of sarcasm and resignation.

The brief exchange ended with polite nods before they parted ways.

Daniel climbed into his car and leaned back in his seat, preparing to unwind. But his relaxation was short-lived as he noticed his secretary's pale face.

"What's wrong?" Daniel asked, his tone sharp.

The secretary swallowed hard. "We received a message."

"From whom?"

"Someone claiming to represent the Federation," the secretary replied nervously.

Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief. "The Federation? Is it real? What did they say?"

The secretary handed him a printed note. "They want to know if we're available for a meeting."

Daniel sat back and stared out the window, his mind racing, the note trembling in his hands. The stakes had just been raised.