Chapter 1481.2

The murmuring intensified at his words. Finally, some who couldn’t contain their doubt requested to speak.

Davey gave a nod. “Go ahead.”

“We appreciate your goodwill, but is the drug’s safety and stability assured?”

“You’ve already seen the case in South Africa.”

“That is true, but that still doesn’t make for enough case studies yet.”

Davey nodded. “You’re right. Since it’s a medicine that’s completely unfamiliar to Earth, both you and I probably can’t expect to force people to take it without knowing its side effects. But remember this...” The smile on his face vanished, an utterly solemn expression replacing it. “The Awakened disease is already a common illness in other worlds, including Tionis. There, it can be treated as routinely as a child’s fever.”

The man didn’t know what to say. “That is...”

“The people of Earth aren’t accustomed to mana yet. The need for this medicine will decrease with each generation, but it’s a necessity at this point. The disease is fatal, but it can be prevented.”

Davey rested his hand on the podium. “As I said, I will be providing help. However, since I also need funds to secure the medicinal ingredients, we’ll have to reach an agreement for pricing. Of course, since human lives are at stake, I won’t play games by charging more than a fair price.”

“But what about the side effects...”

“The people here on Earth may not be familiar with the cure, but it’s a medicine that has been used for hundreds of thousands of years in other worlds. I cannot say there are absolutely no side effects, but I can assure you that the probability is extremely low.”

“Can you... provide the large volume required for mass inoculation?"

“It admittedly won’t be easy to transport such a massive amount of supplies right away. Fortunately, the number of people affected isn’t very high yet, so I believe we should supply what’s needed for the afflicted first before gradually increasing the amount to those at risk and beyond.”

Some leaders looked contemplative, skeptical of the idea. However, a few seemed to think positively, having already recalled what Davey had done for Earth in the past.

Eventually, South Africa, the first to benefit, made its intentions clear. “We will gladly accept the Saint of Tionis’s proposal.”

South Korea and Japan followed, also expressing positive intent.

“Our country will also review it favorably.”

Most nations didn’t make an immediate decision, while others had recently learned firsthand that delaying their decision meant waiting even longer to secure the medicine they needed.

More than anything, the fact that the general outbreak was tailored to impacting Awakened individuals was a major problem. In the modern era, the Awakened were nothing short of national weapons. Therefore, the loss of those individuals would be a painful expenditure for any nation.

The murmuring grew louder as Davey finished his presentation and prepared to leave, but no one stopped him. They just hurried back to their own countries to resolve the issue.

It wasn’t long before most of the nations requested to purchase the vaccine through the Sacred Group. Davey quickly acquired the medicinal herbs and transferred them to the Sacred Group at a price that only left a moderate profit.

The Sacred Group then mixed the medicine according to the sequence he had provided and quickly began exporting it to various countries. Although it took a considerable amount of time, the effect rapidly became clear as those afflicted with the Awakened disease quickly got back on their feet.

The reason Davey had stepped in, despite initially telling them to handle it themselves, was simple. The medicinal herb they needed simply didn’t currently grow naturally on Earth.

While Willow could make it grow naturally on Earth, Davey stepped in because he didn’t know how many people would die in the meantime.

Of course, he personally treated those whose condition was too severe to be helped by medicine alone. From then on, with most people vaccinated, such a crisis wouldn’t happen again, but there were still those whose symptoms had already worsened before they could receive the vaccine and treatment.

Davey decided to treat them for free, without taking a single penny, and he was welcomed by many people wherever he went.

Illyna carefully captured his healing efforts using a camcorder and a digital camera.

Willow, who had manifested in the lower realm and was also watching her father, cautiously asked, “What are you recording?”

Illyna smiled faintly and said, “Footage of your father working so hard for others like that.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s the side of him that made me fall so deeply in love. He can be endlessly confident, righteous, and a little crazy, but always logical at heart.”

Willow didn’t know what to say.

“And because I want our Desiree, and all of you, to be just like him someday.”

Willow let out a soft chuckle. Then, she looked at the child her mother was instinctively protecting by blocking all access to. Though its form wasn’t yet complete in the womb, its soul had already begun to brilliantly shine.

’It would’ve been nice if I could’ve seen it from the start.’

Just then.

A fleeting fragment appeared in front of her, giving a vision. “Oh?”

It lasted for a mere instant. She let out a bewildered exclamation, as if looking at something blurry.

Illyna noticed something off with her. “Willow?”

“Oh. It’s nothing,” she muttered hesitantly, then stepped back.

It lasted only a brief moment. Yet, in that fragment, she saw the back of a small girl wearing the elegant, beautiful, and lightweight robe of a saintess.

With her long, bright blonde hair, the girl looked truly divine. If only she wasn’t holding a blood-stained book and a gigantic longsword in her hands.

Monsters lay eviscerated all around her, and she was quietly praying in front of their corpses.

She muttered to herself, unable to share what she had seen, “My... little sister?”

* * *

As Davey distributed the vaccine to various countries, the praise for him naturally grew. He earned widespread acclaim for his decision to provide the medicine at a low price despite the opportunity to make a fortune.

However, some were bound to have other ideas.

An elderly gentleman introduced himself, offering a business card, saying, “Pleased to meet you. I’m Tom Valencia, representing Lefale Pharmaceuticals.”

“I am Grand Duke Davey O’Rowane from Tionis. It is an honor to meet such a distinguished CEO.”

Lefale Pharmaceuticals. It was a pharmaceutical company with a large share of the global market. It also held considerable power thanks to its contribution of providing large quantities of vaccines during a previous pandemic.

“Frankly, I didn’t have high expectations that anything would come of my request,” Tom told him. “I appreciate you agreeing to meet with me.”

“Since you’re already lending us a hand, it’s only right that I come to express my gratitude.”

“Was it tough deciding to interfere with something happening on Earth?”

“Regardless of the world, human lives are important,” Davey said with a smile.

Seeing that, Tom Valencia looked at him with a strange expression. Tionis was different from Earth, from history to ideology. That was why it was difficult for the people of Earth to pin down the way Davey thought from time to time.

Even if one considered the common historical perspective of the medieval era, with knights and chivalry, it wouldn’t be easy to accept that such a person could exist.

“Actually, I’ve brought a good proposition,” Davey told him, presenting a document.

“What is this?”

“The Sacred Group lacks the capacity to supply a large volume of vaccines in a short period.”

That much wasn’t wrong. The Sacred Group generally focused on supporting the Awakened, manufacturing equipment, and, more recently, the virtual reality sector. However, its medical infrastructure was lacking.

That was the very reason Davey had accepted Tom Valencia’s request for a private meeting. While the Sacred Group could establish an efficient infrastructure given enough time, Davey couldn’t predict how many afflicted people would die in the interim.

The sudden surge in the previously quiet incidence rate didn’t help with the situation.

“We can supply the desired volume of vaccines on time, according to the contract the Saint desires,” Tom told him.

He smiled back. “That’s good to hear.”

Tom then continued, “However... following our internal review, we were wondering if we could adjust a few clauses. Specifically, this part.”

What he proposed changing was none other than the unit price.

“It’s not that we’re losing money,” he began, “But this barely lets us break even. There’s almost no profit margin.”

Davey didn't show any change in expression. “Hmm. So then, what are you suggesting?”

“How about we raise the unit price to this level first?” Tom said before presenting the new price.

Seeing the amount, a flash of murderous intent momentarily appeared and then vanished from Davey’s smiling face.

Oblivious, Tom continued, “I believe it will be beneficial to sign a contract with our company entirely, and not the Sacred Group. We can cut out unnecessary complications and keep the price reasonable. People won’t skimp when their lives are at stake, after all. Even at this price, they’ll still pay, and it won’t be a burden on their end either.”

Still smiling, Davey quietly nodded. “Please continue.”

“Besides that, we can also sign a contract with nations to supply the medicine at a specific price—”

“Chairman,” Davey interrupted. “If we proceed like this, I would be breaking my original promise. And a vaccine monopoly is not likely to lead to good results.”

“Hoh. You see the world through rose-tinted glasses. In corporate matters like this, I believe I am a bit more experienced.” He laughed and looked him in the eyes. “This vaccine is currently a goose that lays golden eggs. Isn’t it a massive loss to hand it over at such a cheap price?”

Davey shot back, “Most of them are ordinary people. Are you suggesting we charge them a high price for life-saving medicine? What about countries where people have to pay high medical costs out of pocket because they don’t have adequate health insurance?”

Tom chuckled at the question. “Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary. We need to look at the bigger picture and achieve meaningful results. Do you think they’ll even be grateful if we just hand over the medicine for cheap? Before long, they’ll start taking it for granted and treating it as something they’re entitled to.”

He continued to try to persuade Davey, arguing, “With your power, the rights and interests of this world are yours for the taking. I understand your intentions, but distributing the vaccine at this price...”

Tom Valencia once again emphasized that he controlled the distribution infrastructure. He’d help as much as possible if they could reach a reasonable agreement that benefited both sides. But if not, he had no reason to help.

That was the stance he expressed openly, but beneath it lay a deep contempt for the weak.

“We’re businessmen, not philanthropists. So trust us and leave it to us. You won’t regret it. In fact, if we keep the actual production cost under wraps, we can use the profit margin to—”

“Chairman Tom Valencia,” Davey finally interrupted again. He gave a wide smile, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his legs. “How do you plan to handle the backlash?”

“As you said, they’re mostly ordinary people anyway.”

“Being ordinary doesn’t mean their voices don’t matter,” Davey shot back.

“That’s right, sure, but we can suppress most of them. It’s simple. If we just turn them against each other, they’ll tear each other apart, and that’ll be the end of it. After all, the public is quick to get riled up, and just as quick to lose interest.”

His plan was to turn people against each other, put the necessary policies and infrastructure in place, and then rake in the money.

That was what he was proposing to Davey, the Saint of Tionis.

“It sounds like you need funding. With this method—”

Davey called out to him again with a smile, “Chairman.”

Tom could sense something off in his smile.