224: Chapter 224 The Only Weakness

This statement drew knowing smiles from many present. For wealthy families like theirs, problems solvable with money were never truly problems.

Lin Fang then began advertising his company, saying, 'Civilization Science City also boasts the most advanced medical and recuperation technologies. If any family elders require convalescent care, you are most welcome to send them to us.'

Some people showed signs of being tempted.

'Excellent! I'll send my father over right away.'

'My mother-in-law needs it too...'

At that moment, a middle-aged man among the ordinary members spoke up, 'Mr. Chairman, since the Council possesses the inhibitor, shouldn't we consider the ordinary people outside? After all... this concerns the lives of hundreds of millions.'

The meeting hall fell into an eerie silence. All eyes focused on this member who dared voice dissent, even the Seat Members around the round table glanced over slightly.

Lin Fang, however, smiled. 'Mr. Curtis, are you suggesting I make my research findings publicly available for free?'

Within the Council, lower-level members cannot view the information of higher-level members, while the opposite is true.

'N-no, that's not it. I... I just think, without those ordinary people, how do we accumulate wealth?'

Exposed, Curtis steeled himself and replied, 'After all, labor is the foundation of wealth.'

This answer made many present exchange meaningful glances, as if what he said indeed held some truth.

Curtis?

A few people, hearing the name from Lin Fang's mouth, showed thoughtful expressions in their eyes. This seemed to be the new wealthy magnate from the Americas; they hadn't expected him to have joined the Council.

Unexpectedly, Lin Fang actually agreed with his words quite readily, then added with a tone of regret:

'Mr. Curtis makes a very valid point. I, too, once considered releasing the data on the virus inhibitor for free. But it's currently unsuitable. The treatment cost for a single dose of the inhibitor is 3 million US dollars, making it entirely unfit for large-scale distribution.'

'Even if released, it would only plunge the world into a more chaotic scramble for resources. Countless infected individuals unable to receive treatment would then incite riots. If there were a method as inexpensive as the measles vaccine, I would naturally release it without you having to ask.'

Curtis sat back down, somewhat deflated. 'So that's how it is...'

Lin Fang glanced at him, his virtual avatar suddenly wearing an inscrutable smile. 'Mr. Curtis's words have also reminded me. I will urge the R&D team to expedite their results.'

'After all, it's not just the Council, or Third-Party Technology, or the various forces you all represent—all of us depend on human civilization for our existence. If human civilization were to vanish, then all these would lose their meaning.'

Among the Seat Members, someone applauded in admiration. 'Well said, Mr. Chairman. There's an ancient saying from Zhongzhou:

(With the skin gone, where can the hair attach?). We truly should contribute our part to the continuation of human civilization.'

'If you require funding, Mr. Chairman, I will provide a substantial sum free of charge.'

'I am the same.'

As the first applause broke out, the meeting hall was soon Submerged in enthusiastic clapping. Curtis, who had spoken earlier, was also among those applauding.

Looking at the young man at the round table, then at the others in the hall, Curtis outwardly joined in the applause with everyone, but inwardly, his mind was already in turmoil.

Had he not been highly trained, the intense neural fluctuations just now would have nearly gotten him forcibly disconnected by the consciousness helmet.

On the surface, Curtis was a newly wealthy magnate from the Americas. In reality, he was an infiltrator from an American intelligence organization. His purpose in coming here was to investigate the Bright Council, this increasingly vast secret organization. To reach this point, everything had been planned starting a year ago, beginning with creating a false identity.

And he had only obtained membership qualifications after navigating through layers of connections.

Curtis didn't know if others present were also probes from other national forces, but at this moment, he was utterly Shock by the sheer scale of this organization and the true identity of the person behind it.

To quietly gather so many of the world's top power elites, to the extent that even the CIA could only grasp superficial details—the influence of this Council was beyond his imagination.

Especially this 'Chairman.' Curtis hadn't raised the question earlier out of genuine concern for ordinary people, but to probe whether this young man truly matched his suspicions. The answer was now clear.

Someone who held such high authority within Third-Party Technology—his identity was practically an open secret.

Lin Fang!

The very young man his own country had scrutinized countless times in their files, the one they even dreamed of secretly arresting—it was actually him.

Curtis had too much he wanted to say in his heart, at the same time wanting to Make complaints if this guy was cheating somehow.

So young, yet already controlling such a vast technological empire, and now he was even the Chairman of this organization, which seemed even more powerful than the Freemasons. This couldn't simply be described as genius anymore.

Thinking this, Curtis felt that after the meeting ended, he absolutely had to report this intelligence truthfully to his superiors.

If what the young man said was true, and this company even had a solution for the Petrification Virus threatening the world outside... then it was really... it was really...

Curtis let out a deep sigh. The rise of this company was now unstoppable. It wouldn't matter who tried.

Perhaps its only weakness... was military force...