Chapter 415: Raw Materials Are Everywhere, Practically Lying Around
Compared to all the other girls with their countless demands, Gavial was actually the easiest one to talk to. Steven barely explained the idea to her before she nodded and agreed.
The whole "Texas Chainsaw Killer Croc" concept did sound… odd. But since it came from him, she didn't feel even a hint of surprise. And considering she still owed him a bit of a favor, agreeing to this felt like the natural thing to do. She didn't even bother to ask for compensation.
"Let me say this up front—don't expect any kind of professional acting from me. And you're sure you're serious about that character setting?"
After confirming he wasn't making fun of her again, Gavial stated her concerns plainly.
"It's fine, it's fine. Just act like your normal self. Actually, tone it down a bit—even you shouldn't be going full throttle. We're not doing the real thing, so try not to accidentally kill someone."
Steven lowered his gaze to the still-unconscious dog girl on the bed and sighed helplessly.
Just this little crocodile alone was already perfect for the role he envisioned. There wasn't much he even needed her to act. The character setting? Honestly, it fit her too perfectly. Steven felt he was already being merciful for not adding something like "mad medical maniac" to her description.
"So that's really all? I thought you'd have something more meaningful to ask."
Gavial shrugged. She clearly didn't believe Steven would come all the way here just for something this simple. It didn't match what she knew about him. With his personality, getting him to voluntarily seek her out was harder than climbing a mountain.
"Well… maybe there is something else. Something that's… barely important." Steven rubbed his chin, then continued, "In the Medical Department, you're basically the only doctor I trust who's also reliable. Kal'tsit is too old, and Warfarin… well, she's a bit too unreliable."
The moment he said that, Warfarin's muffled voice drifted out from inside her lab.
"I'm researching, not deaf! You don't have to say it that bluntly, you know!"
But Steven ignored her completely. Instead, he stepped forward and grabbed Gavial's shoulders—stronger and more athletic than most girls—and said something that nearly made Warfarin drop the precious vial of his blood she had been studying.
"How about it? Interested in researching a universal cure for Oripathy?"
Gavial froze. Steven's serious gaze locked onto her, and for a moment she wondered if she'd fallen asleep somewhere. Otherwise, why would the Steven who normally guarded his secrets like they were national treasures suddenly dump something she didn't even dare dream about onto her lap?
"You… do you even know what you're saying?"
"Of course. I'm perfectly awake. And I'm ready to back it up with action."
Steven nodded, then reached into his inventory. From inside, he took out a small piece of the crude candy he'd once made while stranded on the snowy plains—holding it up and waving it in front of Gavial's face.
"This is my sincerity."
Steven held the white candy between his fingers. "The question now is—are you willing to work with me? Because this thing… if we pull it off, it'll shake the entire world. Whether we do it or not depends on you."
Since Rhodes Island was already, in name, part of his assets, Steven didn't need to tiptoe around them anymore. And after living here for some time and doing some on-site checks, he'd gotten a pretty good understanding of this so-called medical company.
Sure, the operators here acted more like international mercenaries, but that didn't erase the effort the medical staff put into treating the Infected.
At the very least, an organization like Rhodes Island was hard to categorize as anything but "good."
And for him, that was enough. He didn't care what Rhodes Island used to be. Now that he'd invested, the only thing that mattered was what came after.
As for Gavial… she wasn't even thinking in terms of "agree or disagree." She was the type who'd volunteer herself as a lab rat if it meant advancing Oripathy treatment. The "big consequences" Steven mentioned were nothing to her. Nothing was more important than curing the disease that tormented her and her people.
"I'm absolutely willing to take that responsibility," Gavial said without hesitation. "But why are you doing this? You, who runs from medical staff's questions like we're plague carriers?"
As if terrified he might change his mind, she snatched the strange white candy from his hand. She didn't doubt it for a second—this unremarkable little thing could very well be a miracle cure. After all… it came from Steven. And he never lied about things like this.
"My reason?" Steven shrugged. "If we're talking business terms—massive profit for my industries. If you want a nobler answer… then let's say I also want to improve the Infected's situation, same as you guys."
For him, that was all there was to it. Rhodes Island couldn't survive on his donations alone; it needed a high-yield product. And after seeing so many Infected tragedies, Steven felt that—even if not for himself—he could at least do a little something for Talulah.
"The candy's effect should be strong enough to directly cure someone at your infection level," Steven continued. "The problem is, eating it whole will probably kill the patient on the spot. Their body just can't handle that kind of potency."
"So your research direction should be how to dilute it. You won't get a full cure that way, but it should work way better than all the slow-acting suppressants on the market."
He gave her that much guidance—enough to prevent her from thinking she'd instantly mastered the cure to Oripathy—then tapped the table, signaling she could ask her questions now.
"…What about the cost?" Gavial asked seriously. "If we want to mass-produce it, will it require enormous resources? If only the rich can afford it, then it won't change anything."
She wasn't wrong. The cost question was crucial. If the cure cost as much as existing suppressants, then its miracle effect wouldn't matter.
Steven blinked. Then—
"If you're worried about cost… let me ask you first. Rhodes Island has those cow operators, right?"
"…Can you not call it like that? They're called Forte."
"Sorry, what I meant to say is, as long as they can produce milk, everything will be fine."
"Huh?"
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M[1]
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