Gunshots rang out in rapid succession.
Bang— Bang—Bang— Bang— Bang—
The man kept pulling the trigger,firing relentlesslyuntil every bullet in the magazine was spent.
"Drop the gun—now!"
Bang— Bang—
The bodyguards returned fire.
The man was struck several times—in the thigh and shoulder—and collapsed to the ground.
The company's security team rushed out in panic,aiming their weapons at the fallen manas they ran toward Chairman White.
But it was already too late.
Chairman White lay sprawled helplessly on the ground.
More than ten 9mm lead bullets, fired at a speed of over 350 meters per second,had pierced his body in the blink of an eye.
His body lay twisted on the pavement like a discarded rag,blood spreading rapidly across the ground beneath him.
Even while bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds,the man who had attacked Chairman White screamed at the top of his lungs:
"This is judgment—for the thousands of Americans you killed with your schemes,and for my father!You bastard!"
The man's name was Carter.
He was a young manwho had recently lost his father,a terminal pancreatic cancer patient.
***
Not long ago, I received devastating news.
A young man who had lost his father to pancreatic cancer,driven by hatred toward Big Pharma for delaying Elixir's approval,had attacked and killed Chairman White of WhiteLily,the central figure behind those efforts.
I already knew that countless patients in the United Stateswere dying needlesslydespite the existence of a cure—simply because Elixir's approval was being delayed.
But learning that someone close to my own agehad abandoned his entire lifeto choose revengemade that tragedy feel painfully real.
I looked deeper into Carter's story.
His father had raised him alone from childhood,working tirelessly to give him a proper upbringing.
Then, just as Carter became an adultand began his life in society,his father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.
While planning one final trip with his father—a last memory together—news of Elixir's development reached the United States.
He clung to that fragile hope.
But in the end,because of obstruction by the National Pharmaceutical Alliance,emergency approval never came.
His father passed awaywithout ever receiving Elixir treatment.
As I read his story,memories of my own pastand my own fatheroverlapped painfully in my mind.
If I had never obtained the quantum computerand the Akashic Records,I would have lost my father too—just like Carter.
Thankfully, Elixir had stabilized my father's condition.
But Carter hadn't been so fortunate.
Even though a cure existed in this world.
I said this to CTO Kang Joo-tae during our discussion:
"Director Kang… to be honest,I want to personally cover Carter's medical billsand his legal defense fees.What happened to him is just too tragic."
Kang nodded slowly.
He, too, had lost his mother to illness when he was young.
"CEO… I understand how you feel.But in our current situation,if Luktic's CEO were to provide him with large financial support,it could create unnecessary misunderstandings."
"I know…"
"It could be interpreted as Luktic supporting the murder—or worse, as if we had orchestrated the assassination.That wouldn't be good for you,for Carter,for Luktic,or for Target."
I understood exactly what Kang meant.
If I provided Carter with large financial support,public suspicion would inevitably arise.
Seeing my conflicted expression, Kang added calmly:
"Don't worry, CEO.The entire United States is already in upheaval over this incident.America has a deeply rooted culture of donations and fundraising.Support funds for Carter will soon be raised nationwide."
Kang had earned his master's and doctorate degrees in the U.S.with the support of Shinjeon Pharmaceutical's former chairman.
Having lived in America for many years,I chose to trust his judgment.
"I see…That does ease my mind a little."
Still, a burning, unpleasant feeling churned inside my chest.
Shinjeon Chemical—which had discarded my father after he collapsed from chemical exposure.
And now,global pharmaceutical corporationsdeliberately blocking Elixir's approvalwhile thousands died in agony.
Why was the worldso crueland so filthy?
Lately, I had been thinking.
What was it that I truly needed to achieveby building a business using the knowledge of the Akashic Records?
Of course, my immediate goalwas to awaken my father from his coma.
But once that goal was achieved—what then?
What would I dowith a corporation like Luktic,which was clearly destined to grow into a global giant?
That question sometimes left me feeling hollow.
But after learning about Carter's story,I felt as though one possible answerhad finally come into view.
The quantum computer had once told me:
First, use the knowledge of the Akashic Records to benefit the world.
Now, I felt like I finally understood those words.
I wanted to create a worldwhere others would not sufferthe same tragediesthat my father and I had endured.
Of course, achieving something like thatwould require immense wealth, power,and global influence.
But considering everything that had happened so far—
I felt that it might actually be possible.
As long as there was still more knowledgeto be unlocked from the Akashic Records.
I made a decision.
From this point forward,I would build Lukticinto a multinational corporate giantcapable of exerting global influence.
And I would become someonefar more powerfulthan those who committed injustice for profit—like Shinjeon Group,or the Big Pharma conglomerates we faced now.
***
After Carter's attack on Chairman White,American society erupted.
By then, Target—following my plan—had already planted the perceptionthat Big Pharma was maliciously delaying Elixir's approval.
Just as public dissatisfaction was beginning to boil over,a young man who lost his father—a patient who could have been treated with Elixir—killed the chairman of WhiteLily,America's largest pharmaceutical corporation.
The impact was explosive.
Some argued that violence and murdercould never be justified.
But that view didn't align wellwith American values.
American culture is notably tolerantof personal retribution for family.
If you destroy someone's family,you must be preparedto be shot in return.
The majority of Americans sympathized with Carter.
The idea that Chairman Whitedeserved what happenedspread rapidly among ordinary citizens.
Given the long history of abuseby American healthcare and pharmaceutical corporations,Carter's act became the sparkthat ignited years of accumulated anger and resentment.
Protests erupted nationwide.
Target's hired online promotersquietly fanned the flamesacross SNS and internet communities.
Fundraising campaigns for Carterspread throughout the country.
In just one week,millions of dollars were raised—more than enough to coverhis hospital bills and legal fees.
Massive crowds gathered in Washington, D.C.
"Free Carter!""Free him!"
"America needs Elixir!""We do!"
"We need the hair-loss treatment too!""That's right!"
The chants were so loudthey echoed inside the Capitol building itself.
Such a massive demonstration in Washington—far from residential areas—was extremely rare.
It showed just how intensepublic anger had become.
***
Meanwhile, WhiteLily's board of directorswas in complete panic.
"How can people openly defend murder like this?!"
"What do we do now?Chairman White was personally leading all countermeasures!"
"Damn it—public opinion is spiraling out of control!The midterms are close,and our political lobbying is losing effectiveness!"
Just then, someone burst into the room.
"Emergency—this is an emergency!"
"What now?!"
"L-Look at this!The National Rifle Association released a video yesterday…!"
He played the video on a tablet.
A promotional video produced by the NRA.
[Firearms.They are a freedom guaranteed to Americans.]
A deep, solemn narration played over epic music.
[No entrenched elite can oppress Americans at will.If the people's rights are violated,Americans will rise with firearms.]
White text appeared against a dark screen.
[Firearms are a proud tradition and spiritthat safeguard the rights of the American people.]
The directors exploded in outrage.
"Are they insane?!"
"They're talking about the murder of Chairman White, aren't they?!These lunatics!"
The director holding the tablet spoke grimly.
"It's been less than a day,and it's already been shared over 10 million times on social media.Public opinion is completely out of control."
The NRA—one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States,on par with Big Pharma itself.
They had decided to exploit the incidentto oppose gun regulation.
The message was clear:
A powerless individual had been ableto "deliver justice"against the head of a massive interest groupbecause gun ownership was protected.
It was a familiar argumentoften used by gun manufacturersto block gun control legislation.
One director muttered quietly, clutching his head:
"…It seems we've gained another enemy.Luktic.Target.The American public.And now—even the NRA."
***
Something else terrifyingwas happening online in the United States.
Netizens began analyzingthe statements and voting recordsof U.S. congressmen.
They compiled and shared listsof lawmakers suspectedof acting on behalf of Big Pharmain relation to Luktic's drug approval.
Because lobbying records in the U.S. are public,lists of politicians who had received donationsfrom pharmaceutical companiesspread rapidly across SNS.
With the midterms approaching,this was politically devastating.
And in a country where firearms are legal,being placed on such a listmeant facing genuine threats to one's life.
Especially in the aftermathof Carter's attack,the atmosphere in American societywas dangerously volatile.
As a result, both Republicans and Democratswere forced to adopt a clear party stance.
They would not interfere negativelyin the FDA approval processfor Luktic's new drugs.
Some lawmakers even beganpublicly urging the FDAto grant rapid approval.
They wanted to demonstratethat unlike corrupt politicians,they stood with the people—and with Elixir.
Even the U.S. President—widely disliked internationallyfor his erratic behavior—finally spoke up.
With the midterms in mind,he posted the following on social media:
[Truie:Innovative new drugs capable of saving countless livesmust be approved for use without delay.If approval is unjustly delayed due to lobbying by special interest groups,it will not be tolerated.Pharmaceutical companies are among the most powerful lobbyists in America.If they use that power to obstruct—rather than strengthen—America,I will not stand by and watch.]
In truth, much of his anger stemmedfrom the fact that Big Pharmahad donated very little to his presidential campaign.
But regardless—
With the President speaking out,pharmaceutical lobbying lost much of its power.
Now, intense pressure was coming from all sidesto approve Luktic's drugs as quickly as possible.
The FDA's approval processfor Elixir and the Skin Regeneration Agentbegan accelerating rapidly.
***
I received a call from Howard at Target.
The FDA review was progressingat an astonishing speed.
[This is incredible!I never imagined we'd be able to overcome Big Pharma's lobbying this quickly.You're truly amazing, CEO Hyun Si-woo!]
He praised me enthusiastically through the interpreter.
Big Pharma companies—shocked by Chairman White's death—seemed unable to make any reckless moves.
In the end,Carter's tragedy had ironicallyhelped clear the path for approval.
The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Someday—when public memory of the incident fades—I wanted to offer Carter support and comfort in some way.
Though I knewnothing could truly heal what he had lost.
Then, another call came in.
This time, from the MFDS Vice Minister.
The hair-loss treatment had officially received approval for use.
I immediately began preparing an announcement.
Once sales began,the world would once againturn its attention toward Luktic.