Chapter 90
While it was true that this was safer than existing suppressants that caused various side effects, it wasn’t entirely without drawbacks. Tolerance was one such issue. Tae-geon’s lips twisted as he saw through their intentions in the act of selectively turning only dominant alpha pheromones into antigens among all alphas.
This wasn’t a drug with humanitarian purposes. Their ultimate goal was to increase dependence on the drug by making it impossible to end heat cycles through physical relations with ordinary alphas due to tolerance.
It was also advantageous for continuously growing sales, as the effectiveness would dull with repeated use, leading to increased consumption.
Even Tae-geon didn’t know how the accumulated drug tolerance over a long period would cause fatal side effects on the body later.
Tae-geon, rubbing his forehead and organizing his thoughts, spoke:
“How long does the drug remain in the body until the tolerance reaction completely disappears?”
-Before that, there’s something else I need to tell you.
“What is it?”
-Opioid substances were additionally detected in the components.
Tae-geon raised an eyebrow. Opioids act on dopamine circuits. If there was a reason to mix an addictive substance that causes withdrawal symptoms when discontinued with a drug that already has high dependency due to tolerance…
Tae-geon’s eyes widened as he quickly put the pieces together.
“Don’t tell me.”
-…
“…It doesn’t develop tolerance?”
-As expected, you understand immediately. That’s right, Director.
“…”
-It’s a perfect suppressant like no other in the world, with no tolerance and no side effects.
Dr. Jung’s trembling voice was reminiscent of Archimedes just before shouting “Eureka.”
-Director, I’ve obtained additional information that Biobak has been desperately developing adsorbents for the past two years. It’s clear that during the process of capping eluted dominant alpha pheromones with adsorbents, the tolerance effect is being lost, contrary to their intentions. They’re focusing all their efforts on developing adsorbents to improve this.
“But since they keep failing, they tried to increase dependence on the drug by synthesizing addictive opioid substances.”
A hot thrill ran through Tae-geon’s mind.
“Dr. Jung. We need to release that drug from Taeryeong.”
Dr. Jung gasped in surprise.
“There’s a suppressant that Taeryeong has independently developed and patented. Please proceed quickly with an improved patent by changing only the mechanism of action. I’ll cooperate with providing the pheromones needed for the antigen.”
-…The process of extracting pheromones won’t be easy for you at all. Are you sure…
“I’m fine.”
-But…
Tae-geon continued in a clear tone to the hesitating Jung Ui-hyeon.
“I believe that you will support me at this crucial juncture of meaningful historical progress for humanity.”
-Of course.
“…”
-I will fulfill my calling as a researcher according to your wishes, Director.
After ending the call with Dr. Jung’s commitment, Tae-geon immediately made another call.
*
Late at night, Congressman Kim Chang-sik, who was just about to go to bed, checked the caller ID with a puzzled face and his eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected ringing of his personal phone.
“Well, who do we have here!”
A polite, pleasant voice greeted the congressman, who burst into hearty laughter and showed delight.
-Have you been well? This is Choi Tae-geon from Taeryeong Group.
This young new director of Taeryeong Group was currently the center of attention and the biggest topic of interest among key figures in politics and business.
“I was very grateful for your help last time.”
The congressman’s voice was pleased. Following Tae-geon’s advice to be cautious about internal confidentiality leaks, he had weeded out some people to tighten security and discovered a mole planted by Lee Se-jin.
Just as he was racking his brain over how to handle the exposure of not only his ties with Taeryeong but all his illegal activities, Se-jin suddenly died. And in a way that was advantageous to Congressman Kim.
Dying during intimacy with an extramarital partner. Moreover, he heard that illegal drugs were detected in the autopsy results. The desperate expression of Minister Lee, who was busy trying to hide his son’s disgraceful behavior that brought humiliation even in death, was still vivid in Congressman Kim’s mind.
Minister Lee, who didn’t even hold a proper funeral and hastily finished a three-day mourning period, had come to him, repeatedly bowing his head and begging for help to quietly cover up the incident, promising any compensation.
Since there was nothing to gain by making a fuss about it, he had agreed and concluded the matter. Now Tae-geon was calling at this hour, suggesting to make the incident public.
As Congressman Kim remained silent in awkwardness, Tae-geon immediately got to the point.
-I understand you intend to run for the presidential election in two years.
“…”
-If you help me, I will surely deliver the results you desire.
“Well, since you’ve helped me before. I can’t help but be curious about what makes you so confident. Let me hear what you have to say.”
Intrigued, Congressman Kim listened to Tae-geon’s words.
-Taeryeong Pharmaceuticals plans to launch a new heat cycle suppressant within next year. Based on that, for the enactment of laws and campaign promises-
“I’m sorry, but.”
Congressman Kim firmly cut off Tae-geon’s words, as if he had heard enough.
“Omega suppressants are not particularly appealing as a business venture.”
-…
“I don’t want to do something foolish like turning all the important ruling forces into enemies just to gain the support of omegas, who make up only about 20% of the voters.”
For a moment, Congressman Kim thought he heard a sneer from the other end of the line and furrowed his brow, alert, when Tae-geon’s polite voice continued.
-Of course, Congressman. What help would policies for omegas be to your noble achievements? The suppressant that Taeryeong Pharmaceuticals will newly develop is not for omegas. It’s to protect the damaged dignity of alphas, the ruling class.
“…What do you mean by that?”
Are you saying that the dignity of alphas is being threatened? Only then did Congressman Kim start to focus on Tae-geon, intrigued by this comment.
-You must be aware that illegal suppressants were detected in Lee Se-jin’s blood after his death. They say it’s dozens of times more effective than commercial suppressants. Do you know what the main component of that suppressant is?
“…”
-It’s the pheromones of dominant alphas.
“…!”
Congressman Kim inhaled sharply in surprise. After a brief pause, Tae-geon continued his explanation.
-Their purpose was probably to solidify the suppressant cartel by using tolerance reactions. If it’s alphas, not omegas, who are being exploited in this process, do you still think the value of a new drug that would be the only means to prevent such unethical illegal acts is worth only 20% of the vote?
“…”
A long silence from Congressman Kim followed. He had heard about the cartel surrounding suppressants. There were numerous suspicions raised worldwide about the fatal side effects on omega bodies of the main components in suppressants supplied through Biobak, a giant pharmaceutical company, but none had been verified. This was not unrelated to the fact that 80% of the international accredited institutions verifying this were composed of people from Biobak.
Tae-geon was now fearlessly talking about breaking down their solid cartel. However, the reason this couldn’t be dismissed as the empty words of a reckless youngster was that the person uttering these words was the next heir of Taeryeong Group, who could more than realize this, carrying the fate of humanity at the crossroads of life and death.
-Congressman. Have you ever thought about how research on alphas and omegas is particularly slow compared to the pace of civilization’s development?
Tae-geon whispered in a secretive voice.
-There are certain forces that extremely limit information to humanity and secretly enjoy it.
At these words, Congressman Kim’s hair stood on end. He remembered when his only son, born late in life, suddenly manifested as a recessive alpha and fell ill with high fever.
He had felt a strange sense of discomfort when no one could give a definitive answer about the diagnosis and treatment, and now he felt like he was facing the reality of it.
Congressman Kim felt overwhelming fear along with confusion at Tae-geon’s plausible hypothesis that the reason why biological research on alphas and omegas still remains largely unknown is actually due to the control of certain forces.
It meant that there was another invisible force above the ruling class, including himself, who built and governed the social system from the top of the pyramid. As Congressman Kim calculated the immense power and political advantages that they would hold through the control and monopoly of information, a low voice spread sweetly to his ears.
-More achievements are realized in unexplored territories, after all.
It was a sweet and secretive voice, as if soothing a child.
