“That’s right, there’s definitely a puppet master behind this.”
Shayla sighed, “Spectrum Pharmaceuticals isn’t some unknown health supplement company. Their products aren’t sold directly to consumers. All medications go through proper channels.”
“If they want to protest, they should follow legal procedures. They should report to the drug regulatory agency or expose it to the media. Why would they come here to demonstrate?”
Darnell gave her a thumbs-up. “That’s a very insightful analysis. Next time, I’ll treat you to some carrots.”
Shayla’s cheeks flushed as she playfully scolded, “You scoundrel.”
Judith cleared her throat lightly, signaling Darnell not to go too far since she was his temporary girlfriend now. She then tapped her fingers on the steering wheel and said, “Someone is clearly trying to smear Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. Areli wants to talk to the representatives of the protesters, but they refuse to negotiate and just keep chanting their slogans.”
“They want the government to intervene and investigate Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, while also demanding one billion in compensation and Areli to resign in disgrace.”
She rubbed her temples. “But who could be behind this?”
Shayla sighed deeply, “Who else could it be but Pioneer Properties?”
Judith chuckled lightly, glancing over at the worried trio. “Don’t worry. The police will arrive soon.”
“This kind of commotion is considered a collective incident. The police will definitely take it seriously.”
“What good will that do?”
Darnell took a sip of his tea. “You should just charge in and fire a warning shot in the air to scare them all away.”
Judith shot him a glare. “Do you think I’m crazy? Shooting in the air at the crowd? Not only do I lack the guts, but even the mayor wouldn’t dare do that.”
“I know their gathering is damaging Spectrum Pharmaceuticals’ reputation, but until we have proof, this is a legitimate demand.”
Darnell looked at Judith meaningfully. “Proof?”
Judith understood what Darnell meant and replied curtly, “You can’t use the same methods to deal with the Apex and with them.”
Darnell sighed and didn’t say anything further.
“Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are frauds! Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are heartless! Get out of Whiteville!”
“Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are harming people! Having their medicines will make minor illnesses turn into major ones and major ones turn critical!”
Despite the security personnel’s best efforts to block them and the higher-ups trying to calm the situation, over two hundred people with medicine boxes were still shouting furiously.
This not only drew attention but also slowed down passing vehicles, making it impossible for the police to arrive promptly.
Casey appeared worried. “If we don’t get them to leave soon, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals’ reputation will suffer.”
Shayla bit her lip. “Yeah, with so many people gathered, rumors will start spreading quickly.”
“And even if the police later vindicate Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, it won’t matter.”
As long as the protesters didn’t do anything extreme, the police couldn’t take action against them. After all, citizens have the freedom of speech.
The three women were anxious about the future of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, their eyes fixed on the unfolding situation.
“I’ll go take a look.”
Judith, feeling the pressure on Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, especially since she was close friends with Areli, decided to do something. “Maybe I can calm them down.”
“They came prepared. How could you easily suppress them?”
Darnell stretched lazily. “Let me handle it and drive them away.”
The three women looked at him in disbelief. “You’re going to drive them away?”
This was a crowd of over two hundred people causing a ruckus, and even security and management were at a loss. How could he handle it easily?
Judith teased lightly, “You’re not a police officer, and you’re all alone without a weapon. What will you use to drive them away?”
“Are you planning to take them all down? Over two hundred people-do you have the strength for that? And fighting will only escalate the situation, leaving Spectrum Pharmaceuticals in a worse position.”
Casey and the others nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Mr. Halford, no fighting.”
“Who says I’m going to resort to violence?”
Darnell tapped his head. “I rely on my looks and wisdom.”
The three women rolled their eyes in unison.
Judith shot Darnell a glance. “Stop showing off. You stay in the car while I handle this. The worst that can happen is I take off this police uniform.”
“It should be you staying put. This situation is something I can easily take care of.”
Darnell put on Judith’s sunglasses. “If I can break the deadlock, shouldn’t you reward me with a kiss?”
The three women scoffed in unison, “So immature.”
Judith smiled playfully. “If you really can resolve this without violence or breaking the law, I won’t mind doubling the earlier promise.”
Darnell’s eyes lit up. The earlier reward was a touch, a hug, a kiss, and a ten-minute pole dance…
Doubling that sounded amazing.
With that thought, Darnell hopped out of the car, energized, and even borrowed a lipstick from Casey to write two big characters on a white bedsheet.
Then, he wrapped a white towel around his head and pushed up his sunglasses.
Darnell also casually grabbed Shayla’s large backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and walked toward the crowd.
Judith and the other two women’s eyes widened, unsure of what Darnell was planning.
“Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are frauds! Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are heartless!”
Darnell ignored the shouts of the two hundred people and the rising tide of anger, striding confidently forward, parting the crowd like the Red Sea.
Those pushed aside or knocked over were furious but, upon seeing Darnell’s outfit, their anger quickly faded, and they retreated, bewildered.
“He, he, he-”
Those who wanted to speak found their words failing them, panic constraining their mouths.
Soon, this retreat spread like a contagion, and many people in the crowd began to back away, slowly dispersing, their chants growing weaker.
Darnell attracted more and more attention, and the originally crowded space opened up as if he were a monster ready to devour them.
Several women waving their fists and shouting slogans almost stumbled to the ground in fear.
“Spectrum Pharmaceuticals are frauds-”
Before long, Darnell reached the front, where a middle-aged man was shouting into a megaphone. The man instantly froze, his body stiffening.
He seemed astonished. What was this weirdo up to?
The crowd fell silent, all eyes on Darnell, breath held in suspense.
Darnell unfolded the bedsheet, revealing a few characters written in lipstick.
“I have a bomb!”
The middle-aged man instinctively yelled, “A bomb?”
Whoosh!
Darnell shoved the backpack into the man’s hands and turned to run.
The middle-aged man jumped in shock, letting out a wild scream as he threw the backpack away.
“A bomb!”
“Run! It’s going to blow up!”
“Run-”
Upon witnessing Darnell’s actions, the crowd of over two hundred people erupted in panic, scattering in all directions as if they had sprouted four legs.
In less than thirty seconds, the crowd of over two hundred vanished without a trace.
Security personnel and onlookers also fled, and until the police arrived, there would be no one gathering at the entrance.
Darnell swaggered back, picking up the backpack. “So timid! Dropping a backpack scared them away.”
Judith, Casey, and the other two women were dumbfounded as they watched the scene unfold.