Closer to Revealing My True Self-Chapter 811 - 519: Looking Forward to Success

Feng Yi didn’t precisely place the bait at the location of that particular factory, but rather at a place some distance away.

In the materials he had obtained, there were more than ten companies and factories under suspicion and currently under investigation.

The location Feng Yi chose was between three of these enterprises, not exactly in the center, and slightly off, but it didn’t matter as long as the goal was achieved, to attract attention from various parties.

Once the decision was made, Feng Yi didn’t need to arrange the details, Yue Gongyang would take care of everything related.

After finishing the call with Yue Gongyang, Feng Yi picked up the document marked with the "eye" icon again.

"Schroder Pharmaceuticals."

——

Across the ocean.

In a city near a certain coast, the headquarters of Schroder Pharmaceuticals with decades of history in factory establishment was located here.

Its size was neither big nor small, lacking prominent achievements and influence, only considered mediocre in the industry but it had survived several market crises.

It was now evening, and most of the employees had left for the day, with only a few overtime workers still busy, leaving few lights on.

The actual controller, Norman Schroder, arrived at the factory at this time, returning from a trip without his assistant and entering his office through a private passage.

He turned on his computer to check his emails, which had been sorted by his assistant during his absence.

Most of them were business-related, but there was also a suggestion from a certain councilman.

Having received complaints about the company’s logo from the public, the councilman made a symbolic inquiry and suggested to him:

Perhaps he could consider changing the odd eye logo to something else, like a logo with the letter S, representing both the company and the founder Schroder, with a positive connotation too.

For example, the logo of the pharmaceutical giant, Ancestral Factory, also features an "S."

Norman Schroder stared at the email with its words radiating greed and ambition, his face twisting with mockery.

Of all things to mention, why bring up Ancestral Factory!

He closed the email and was about to get up when he suddenly received a text message on his phone, which made him sit down again.

He typed a URL into his browser, which opened a page with only a dialog box, entered a password to verify his identity, and then received a message.

The message was short, displayed only for ten seconds, and then automatically deleted.

The brief message excited Norman Schroder unusually.

It informed him that a suspected tolerant individual had been found, someone who had been taking the drug for a long time without showing severe adverse drug reactions, and further observation would continue.

Schroder’s breathing quickened, his complexion reddening with excitement.

Ever since the drug spread in the market, he had people watch those who took the drug, ready to abandon the tailing of the "experiment subject" once the drug rebound occurred. At the same time, if anyone could withstand the rebound, sustained the drug for a long time with minor reactions, or endured for a significant period, they must inform him immediately!

Tolerant individuals had the probability of only one in ten million, or even lower in the general population, a chance difficult to find within the scope of lab studies.

Hence, he used the vast market to search among different races, ages, physiques, and lifestyles... within a larger and more complex group.

The electronic information age made monitoring and searching simpler, and though some were still missed, most of the bodily changes could be detected.

From taking the drug to the rebound occurring, it took time, and he needed to make sufficient preparations to evade investigation.

A heartfelt thanks to his allies!

Schroder exhaled a deep breath, calming his emotions.

Finally, a potential tolerant individual had been discovered, bringing him one step closer to developing the stabilizer; it was indeed exciting. However, confirmation was still necessary.

And was this tolerant individual a real existence? Or bait from the investigation group?

He sat in his chair, deep in thought.

After a moment, a prompt on his phone indicated that it was getting quite late.

He shut down the computer, hurriedly got up, turned off the lights and windows in the room but did not leave. Instead, he approached a floor-to-ceiling bookcase and operated it in a way that the whole bookcase swung open like a revolving door.

He walked in, opened another concealed door, and proceeded down the steps.

Below was a secret lounge, and at this time, all the lights were on, and a middle-aged man sat on the sofa.

"You’re late, Norman Schroder." The man said discontentedly.

"I’m terribly sorry, Councilman Eli, but please allow me to explain. Perhaps after hearing it, you’ll forgive my impertinence."

"Alright, sit first, have a glass of this red wine I brought. Trust me, its flavor and taste will intoxicate you!" Councilman Eli wasn’t in a hurry to hear the explanation.

Sipping the wine, Councilman Eli remembered something and asked, "Norman, did you see the email I sent you? You really should seriously consider your company’s logo, change that strange eye, or maybe take my suggestion, choose a representative ’S’ or a word with an ’S.’ Such a wonderful letter it is! It bears a resemblance to currency, just looking at it is delightful!"

Schroder felt as if the councilman’s eyes were almost flashing with dollar signs.

However, the saying goes, a change was out of the question; it was a matter of belief!

After addressing the company logo issue, they finally got to the main topic.

The councilman coming secretly at this time was not just for tasting wine or discussing minor matters like the company logo.

Councilman Eli spoke gravely, "The investigation group has already started to grow suspicious, no, they have long been suspicious! Norman, my dear friend, you need to produce results, give the investors confidence, or else it will be hard for me to persuade them to keep supporting you.

"You have to understand that investors know very well how many unsavory aspects there are in the development of this drug—in fact, even when it’s complete, it might never see the light of day on the legitimate market. But do you know why they chose to invest in you anyway? I believe you’re quite aware."

Norman Schroder was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Part of the reason investors are involved is for their own sake, but mostly, it’s for the money! And, as Schroder had put it, for the revolutionary blood therapy that could reverse the epigenetic clock!

The miraculous therapy that could rejuvenate the elderly and reinvigorate the worn-out mechanisms of physiological metabolism!

"This morning, an investor once again expressed his dissatisfaction to me," Councilman Eli continued.

He gave Schroder a "you know what I mean" look.

Schroder took a deep breath.

Although Councilman Eli didn’t mention the investor’s name, Schroder, after all this time, had his suspicions.

Andrei.

A man was adept at hastening his own death, so aged and frail he had to use a wheelchair and was constantly tethered to an oxygen tank.

He invested a large sum, hence his demands were numerous, and among the investors, he voiced his concerns the most.

Andrei once suggested Ancestral Factory could be more "bold," but they insisted on forbidding certain experiments.

So Andrei had no choice but to invest in other researchers, including those running legitimate operations as well as those that were not supposed to see the light of day.

Schroder’s lab was one among those funded.

Councilman Eli took a pause when he mentioned Andrei, as he really couldn’t stand Andrei’s temper. In their phone call that morning, he had once again received a straightforward greeting and politeness laced with mockery from him.

This compelled Councilman Eli to come in secret to urge Schroder to make some progress as soon as possible.

"That investor is having second thoughts. He feels he should have persuaded the more capable Ancestral Factory instead," said the councilman.

Schroder clenched his fists.

He felt insulted once again!

It was always Ancestral Factory!

"Ancestral Factory are thieves! They stole ’God’s genes’!" Schroder roared softly.

He had researched into Ancestral Factory’s founding and development and consistently believed they were thieves who, decades ago, had stolen the most precious experimental samples!

Councilman Eli had heard this more than once, shrugged his shoulders, and calmly said, "That’s just your side of the story. Besides, the investors are more concerned with results. Honestly, as the first investor, I really believed in you at first, I even dreamed of building a second ’Ancestral Factory’ empire!"

Schroder: "..."

He felt insulted yet again!

Why must it be the second Ancestral Factory empire? Why can’t I build my own Schroder empire?!

Councilman Eli, ignoring the dissatisfaction written on the other person’s face, continued with a stab, "But you have disappointed me so much. The ’S series’ from Ancestral Factory, the ’Y series’ from the last two years, and the super antidote nearly ruined all our investments.

"And now, although the Butterfly Project’s massive undertaking has attracted official attention, giving you some relaxation from surveillance—a perfect opportunity, your recent actions have been too impulsive. Most importantly, you have failed to achieve satisfactory results! Let me emphasize again..."

Schroder interrupted, "This is also what I have to say today, as there may already be a breakthrough."

Schroder explained the reason for his late arrival at the meeting. He had received information that a tolerant individual might have been found. With a tolerant individual, they could develop a stabilizer. With a stabilizer, they can deliver the drug’s effects without side effects for the blood therapy experiments!

And this blood therapy, if everything goes according to theory, to put it plainly, would allow people to return to their youth!

To grant a withered body new vigor!

Rejuvenation would no longer be just a legend!

That’s what most attracted the investors!

"We are one step closer to returning to youth!" Schroder said earnestly, "At this critical time, I need your support!"

When Councilman Eli heard of the new discovery, he was also intrigued. Though he had been somewhat indecisive, he was persuaded once more, yet he made no immediate promises.

The current situation made him more wary.

"Not confirmed yet?" he asked.

"It will be confirmed soon," Schroder replied.

"What if it’s bait from the investigative team?"

"It doesn’t seem like it."

Councilman Eli thought silently for a moment, then made a gesture.

Schroder smiled.

"Many thanks, my friend!"

With these allies, the investigative team would be delayed in their pursuit, granting Schroder time to safely evacuate.

Thereafter, everything would be destroyed, and it would be as if they had never met.

"The highest authority rests with you," Councilman Eli raised his glass, "Looking forward to success."