109: Chapter 109 The Rules of the Protective Umbrella

The scent of blood from the Colombian rainforest had not yet fully dissipated, and Chen Feng had already returned to the Umbrella Building in Los Angeles.

He sat on a leather swivel chair on the top floor, with a giant screen in front of him playing footage from the South American branch.

In the footage, Dr. Park had shed his original, somewhat dull white lab coat and changed into a well-tailored dark gray suit. He stood on the terrace of The Federation's headquarters, with General Reyes and a group of former cold-blooded drug lords standing behind him.

The wild ferocity was gone from their eyes, replaced by a near-religious fanaticism and deadness.

"Boss, the ranch here in South America has basically taken shape."

Dr. Park's voice came through, sounding exceptionally calm.

"The main channels within Colombia have all completed the Placa parasitization. The current Federation is essentially one of our production lines. The flow of every gram of goods and the commission from every transaction will be remitted to the headquarters' offshore accounts on time."

Chen Feng took a sip of whiskey on the rocks.

"Dr. Park, the way you look now doesn't resemble an academic researcher at all."

Dr. Park pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone calm.

"After witnessing the great power of the Hive Mind, so-called academic ethics seem far too insignificant. Here, I can see the end of evolution. Boss, thank you for giving me this opportunity to complete all this personally."

Chen Feng put down his glass, his knuckles tapping lightly on the desk.

"Very good. From today, you are officially promoted to Director of the Umbrella South American Branch. Aside from monthly progress reports, I am giving you the highest level of autonomy. You can grow wildly; as long as you don't bring that fire into the U Federation, South America is your laboratory."

"Understood. Thank you for your trust."

Dr. Park bowed slightly, and the screen cut off.

Chen Feng turned his head to look at Sarah, who was standing nearby.

Her current outfit was extremely sharp; a black tactical shirt outlined her explosive curves, and the M500 Magnum at her waist was particularly conspicuous.

"Boss, the setup in South America is ready. Isn't it time for our business here to make a move as well?"

Sarah placed a document on the table; it was the market launch plan for the three drugs: ruisu, healing factor, and Neo-Genesis.

Chen Feng flipped open the document and glanced at the pricing and distribution channels.

"Any movement from United Shield Health Insurance?"

"They're going crazy."

Sarah pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing her long legs.

"Since we leaked word that we're going to promote these three drugs across the board, United Shield Health Insurance's stock price has dropped 12% in three days. Their CEO, Oliver Stone, has sent no fewer than twenty meeting requests to the company and even used connections with two senators to try and invite you to dinner."

Chen Feng let out a scoff.

"Forget dinner. Tell the media that next Monday, Umbrella Pharmaceuticals will officially launch these three drugs across the entire U Federation. Oh, and add a statement."

"What statement?"

"ruisu and Neo-Genesis will be strictly limited to the civilian medical field. Any military institution, private security company, or mercenary group wishing to purchase in bulk must go through my personal approval. Furthermore, the price will be ten times that of the civilian rate."

Sarah was stunned for a moment, somewhat puzzled.

"Boss, Clark probably won't be happy. They've always wanted to list healing factor and ruisu as strategic reserve materials. If we limit military use, it's like throwing away money that's already in our hands."

"It's called leverage."

Chen Feng stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

"Those people in the military, if you give them too much, they'll take it for granted. I want them to understand that these drugs are life-saving straws, and I'm the one who decides how long those straws are. As for the health insurance group..."

Before he could finish, the intercom on the desk rang.

"Boss, Mr. Oliver, the Vice President of United Shield Health Insurance, is already in the downstairs lobby and says he wants to see you."

The receptionist's voice sounded a bit nervous.

Chen Feng raised an eyebrow and checked his watch.

"Let them come up. It just so happens I want to see what kind of look these old guys—who have controlled the lifeblood of the U Federation's healthcare for decades—have when they're begging for a favor."

Five minutes later, the office door was pushed open.

A middle-aged man with graying hair and a sharp suit walked in angrily, followed by four expressionless lawyers.

"Mr. Chen, your arrogance is destroying this country!"

Oliver slammed the table as soon as he entered, spit flying.

"The price of ruisu is only half that of similar painkillers on the market, yet its effectiveness is twenty times greater! You are engaging in malicious competition! You are destroying the ecological balance of the entire industry!"

Chen Feng didn't even look up, continuing to flip through the reports in his hand.

"Mr. Oliver, have you mistaken something? I am selling medicine, not doing charity. My costs are low and my medicine is effective, so I sell it cheap. That's free market competition, isn't it?"

"Free market? Bullshit!"

Oliver was flushed with anger, no longer caring about his composure.

"United Shield Health Insurance is connected to thousands of community hospitals and pharmacies. If you insist on this pricing strategy, we will unite with the Pharmacists' Guilds across the entire Federation to boycott all Umbrella products! Not a single box of your medicine will make it through a hospital's doors!"

Chen Feng finally looked up, revealing a playful smile.

"Boycott? Oliver, have you been sitting in that seat for so long that your brain has rusted?"

He snapped his fingers, and Sarah, understanding his intent, turned on the large screen on the wall.

A list appeared on the screen, densely packed with hundreds of names, each followed by a detailed medical history.

"Look at these names. Do they look familiar?"

Chen Feng pointed at the screen.

"Supreme Court Justice Thomas's stage three lung cancer, the House Majority Leader's spinal injury, and your biggest backer, the old patriarch of the Maclean Family. They all took our company's Neo-Genesis and ruisu through informal channels two weeks ago."

Oliver's face instantly turned pale, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"You... you actually dare to investigate the privacy of these people?"

"No, these are merely our clients' medical records."

Chen Feng stood up and walked step by step toward Oliver, his presence imposing.

"Your so-called boycott is essentially asking these big shots—who can decide your life or death—to go back to enduring the fear of pain and death. Guess what they'll do to you if they find out it's because United Shield Health Insurance wanted to make a few more filthy bucks that they can't get their medicine?"

Oliver opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The four lawyers also looked at each other, their briefcases suddenly feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds.

"Listen, Oliver."

Chen Feng patted his shoulder, his voice turning gentle, yet so cold it chilled one to the bone.

"I'm not negotiating with you. If I want to launch a product, you have to make room for me. If I set a price, you have to lower yours accordingly. If you feel uncomfortable, you can sue me in court or lobby in Congress."

"But I guarantee that before your subpoena is even issued, the board of directors of United Shield Health Insurance will hang you from the flagpole of the company building first. After all, no one is going to mess with their own life."

Oliver's body swayed, and he steadied himself against the corner of the desk.

He had originally thought Umbrella was just an upstart company rising on some dark technology, something he could easily handle using industry rules and political pressure.

But he was wrong.

"What... what exactly do you want?"

Oliver's voice was hoarse, no longer possessing any of his previous arrogance.

"It's simple."

Chen Feng sat back in his seat and casually threw out an agreement.

"All of United Shield Health Insurance's offline channels across The Federation must unconditionally give the green light to Umbrella's products. Not only that, you will also bear the promotion costs for ruisu and Neo-Genesis in impoverished communities. In return, I will leave you with a 5% agency profit."

"5%? That's not even enough to cover labor costs!"

Oliver cried out in alarm.

"That's your problem, not mine."

Chen Feng waved his hand, gesturing for Sarah to see them out.

"You can refuse. But I heard that 'Blue Cross' insurance company next door already contacted me yesterday; they said they'd be willing to take the agency rights even if they had to pay out of pocket. Oliver, you only have one chance."

Oliver stood there, his expression shifting between light and dark.

After a full three minutes, he finally deflated like a punctured ball and picked up the agreement with a trembling hand.

"I will submit this to the board... and get back to you as soon as possible."

"Smart."

Chen Feng watched their dejected figures leave, then turned to Sarah and said:

"Have Samantha speed up the progress over there and push the civilian spray version of healing factor to the market as well. I want our Red-and-White Umbrella Logo to be printed on every home medicine cabinet in the entire U Federation."