“It looks like tonight will be a sleepless night.”
Flynn hung up the phone and spoke to Rose.
Three hundred thousand boxes of Break Alliance Pill were in the warehouse. Energence Pharmaceuticals had to load the medicine onto trucks and ship it nationwide tonight. They also needed to invite journalists for a press conference and clear out the research department for the National Traditional Medicine Clinic to inspect the safety of Break Alliance Pill.
Energence Pharmaceuticals was brightly lit. Everyone was busy, but their faces were filled with joy and tirelessness because today was a day of harvest.
Meanwhile, the Swanson’s Group was in turmoil. All its subsidiary companies were sealed off, and all personnel were controlled, unable to enter. Especially Swanson’s Pharmaceuticals, which was surrounded by people-returning merchants, partners, patients’ families, and many others who had just heard the news and were gathering in Niarak. They came with anger and determination, demanding an explanation.
The Swanson family had already arrived in Niarak and was currently on the top floor of the Swanson’s Group building discussing countermeasures. The Medical Authority and related departments were also present to control the situation and prevent any Swanson family members from escaping.
News kept coming in, and the crowd’s anger grew more intense. Over ten thousand people rioted, smashing properties of Swanson’s Group subsidiaries. Braiden’s estate in Niarak wasn’t spared either; its gates were broken down, items smashed to pieces, and pig manure was splashed around. The total loss was conservatively estimated at over a billion dollars.
Swanson’s Pharmaceuticals had incited public outrage. People cursed the Swanson family for making money without regard for people’s lives. Once high and mighty, Swanson’s Pharmaceuticals fell from grace in just one day, becoming despised by all.
Braiden went from being a promising young man to a ruthless profiteer willing to do anything for money. His reputation was utterly ruined. Fortunately, Braiden was protected by the Medical Authority upon his return; otherwise, he would have been beaten to death by the angry mob.
“Get Braiden out here! You heartless scum! Come out and apologize with your life!”
“A company that makes dirty money has no place in Ostrad!”
“Return my advance payment! Return my investment!”
The crowd downstairs roared violently, throwing eggs, rotten cabbages, and bricks at the company. The Swanson family members on the top floor were pale with fear. These pampered individuals had never seen such a scene before. If it were just one family cursing them, they wouldn’t care, but this was tens of thousands of desperate people!
Even the head of a super powerful family like Eahta would be on edge in such a situation, fearing that the crowd might break through and tear him apart.
“Smack!”
Pablo Swanson, head of the Swanson family, slapped Braiden across the face in fury, his body trembling with anger.
Everyone in the meeting room flinched.
“You beast! You worthless piece of trash! You’ve ruined your grandfather’s hard-earned legacy!”
“Three hundred thousand people! If they all die, our entire family’s lives won’t be enough to compensate!”
“The Swanson family will be nailed to the pillar of shame for eternity!”
“Contact journalists immediately and hold a press conference to apologize! Apologize with utmost sincerity!”
Pablo raged furiously. The only option now was to seek public forgiveness. Even if they went bankrupt, they had to compensate for people’s losses; otherwise, they couldn’t guarantee their own safety.
Braiden dialed a number lifelessly like a walking corpse. All senior executives of Swanson’s Pharmaceuticals had fled, leaving only Milo and himself behind. As the person in charge, he couldn’t escape responsibility. The pressure was immense; sweat soaked his entire body. He no longer had any semblance of his former self-confidence and was as lost as a stray dog.
Soon, journalists from over a dozen major websites arrived with dozens of cameras pointed at the stage.
Mr. Swanson took full responsibility without any excuses. He admitted that there were management issues within the company that failed to detect Acebegron Clear Relief’s potential side effects. He acknowledged that he alone caused the current situation. Mr. Swanson intended to sacrifice himself to protect his family and expressed willingness to accept any punishment or compensation.
However, society did not accept this. The health of three hundred thousand people had been harmed; mere apologies couldn’t resolve this issue.
The riotous noise downstairs grew louder.
Mr. Swanson looked desperate as he ended the press conference by kneeling before the cameras along with all members of the Swanson family, pleading for skilled doctors in Ostrad to come forward with a cure. He promised ten billion dollars for anyone who could develop an effective treatment.
The Swanson family members cried bitterly; Braiden’s mother fainted seven or eight times from crying.
…
Energence Pharmaceuticals.
Flynn and Rose sat in an office where a live broadcast played on a wall-mounted LCD TV.
“Ms. Sharp, Mr. Clark! The pharmacological tests led by National Traditional Medicine Clinic are complete! Break Alliance Pill is 100% effective against Acebegron Clear Relief’s aftereffects!”
“Journalists are here too; they’re waiting in the conference room.”
Harriet entered excitedly.
Flynn nodded and said to Rose: “Since the Swanson family has spoken out, let’s begin as well.”
This result didn’t surprise him since Trusova had conducted three pharmacological tests confirming Break Alliance Pill’s safety. Having National Traditional Medicine Clinic conduct another test was merely to reassure the public because many opportunists spread false remedies amidst Swanson’s Pharmaceuticals’ crisis; people no longer trusted so-called miracle cures.
“Would you like to host?” Rose asked.
Flynn shook his head: “You’re Energence Pharmaceuticals’ owner; you should host it along with Mr. Price and Mr. Bailey.”
Rose didn’t argue further; she got up and went to the conference room.
Flynn remained seated on the sofa sipping tea when Scarlet called him.
“Mr. Clark! This crisis is terrifying-tens of thousands critically ill! Are you sure Break Alliance Pill can treat them?” Scarlet asked in shock.
News about Acebegron Clear Relief’s crisis had spread nationwide making headlines everywhere; even Scarlet was startled when she heard about it-three hundred thousand people injected with Acebegron Clear Relief resulting in tens of thousands critically ill-a major disaster in medical history that scared even unrelated bystanders due to its sheer scale.
“Acebegron Clear Relief’s side effects mainly damage liver and kidneys; once those are healed other symptoms will disappear,” Flynn explained patiently though Scarlet wasn’t well-versed in medicine so she only half-understood but trusted Flynn nonetheless smiling:
“The situation is so severe; even if not destroyed completely-the Swanson’s Group will be crippled.”
“The alliance between three companies weakens significantly now giving Ms. Sharp high chances of winning!”
“High chances?” Flynn smirked: “Rose is bound to win!”
“I’ll be home late tonight-don’t wait up.”
“Pfft!” Scarlet stuck out her tongue rolling her eyes: “Stop being smug-I wasn’t planning on waiting up anyway-I called because I’m worried about those critically ill patients.”
“After all-they’re innocent.”
“Alright-I’m home now-my throat hurts-I need rest!”
Flynn frowned: “Caught a cold?”
“A cold? No way! It’s because of you! If you carry me around our room again-I’ll definitely beat you up!” Scarlet retorted fiercely.
“Your throat hurts due to dehydration-drink more water before bed!” Flynn teased mischievously remembering damp sheets causing Scarlet’s face flush red as she cursed biting her lip:
“You jerk! If you drive again-I’ll remove your steering wheel! Beast!”
With that she hung up abruptly leaving Flynn chuckling while pocketing his phone muttering: “Caring about you drinking water-how can she be upset?”