The Fortress of Secrets
The headquarters of NovaGen Therapeutics stood like a gleaming blade against the skyline. Obsidian glass walls reflected both city lights and the invisible ripple of hidden power. On the surface, it was the crown jewel of biotech innovation. Beneath that glittering surface? It was a fortress of secrets. Some scientific, some... well, supernatural.
Han Chen stood on one of the upper floors, watching sunrise spill over the city. The view never got old, somehow.
Behind him, Yue Lan sat in her office, tablet in hand, heels clicking softly against marble flooring. Even dressed in clinical white and pale blue, she radiated this quiet authority. Hair pulled back today in that professional style she favored.
"The third-phase enhancement serum for cultivators passed live compatibility tests," she said without looking up. "No rejection. Full integration."
Han Chen turned to face her. "And the side effects?"
"Minimal. Some fatigue for those untrained in internal energy manipulation. But the gains in strength, resilience, and neural agility? Fully quantifiable." She passed the tablet to him. "We're not selling a dream of advancement anymore. We're selling certainty. But taking away the realm limitation... was it necessary this early?"
He took a look at the holographic display ~ pulsing charts, genome overlays, qi flow diagrams, comparative metrics swirling in the air like some kind of digital constellation. "I've sensed that the government is moving forward with some nationalism plan regarding this company soon. The opposition is coming mainly from cultivation families and the newly established international academia on martial arts and warrior training. Well... we're giving them a little push."
"Besides," he continued, "AI research on similar enhancers from various parts of the globe is also succeeding. Initial variants are being secretly tested. I could create infinitely powerful ASI researchers for the company, or do the job myself, but questions would be raised about our rapid rollout. Even as big as we are, we don't have the infrastructure for that kind of development speed. The government may facilitate it, connecting us to special economic zones for AI and computing power of an entire nation in return for nationalizing the company."
He paused, studying the data streams. "I've cleared my traces. No problem selling the shares and IP back to the company. I won't be a silent investor anymore. My mind is full of cultivation, both of you, and playing with my little sister Ruo Xi. I have enough wealth for multiple mortal lifetimes already."
She felt emotional hearing it from him. The amount of success this single company had gained over the years was... well, it was staggering. As a corporate giant now, specializing in many fields apart from the human enhancement series ~ something she'd pushed him to deliver ~ she'd worded it as repaying debts to the society that had facilitated their existence.
"Hmm, anyway, I'll still be here for a few more years," she replied, both reminiscing and slightly annoyed at the thought of him stepping back.
"About the treatment protocol," Yue Lan continued, "we've begun rolling out the customization interface. Each patient will receive enhancements adjusted to their core constitution. Civilian, martial cultivator, soldier, previously enhanced ~ doesn't matter."
Han Chen gave a small nod. "Good. If possible, just open source the earliest version before the government takeover."
The door buzzed softly. Their assistant peeked in with that apologetic expression they'd all come to recognize.
"Mr. Han, Miss Yue ~ representatives from the Eastern Hidden Clan are requesting an early meeting. They're insisting on direct licensing negotiation."
Han Chen didn't even flinch. "Which branch?"
"Jadebone Hall. Their inner circle."
Yue Lan's eyes narrowed slightly. "They didn't even go through the licensing protocol."
"They tried," Hye Won said flatly as she came in. "Twice. When they were refused, they started bribing staff. Two of our clinical researchers were offered triple salaries. One of them already disappeared a day ago, leaving only a resignation letter and no contact information."
Han Chen's silence was... well, it was the kind of silence that made the air feel heavier. "I'll handle it. Both the escapee and the sect." His spiritual will simply did the work, targeting the guy from his information just like many others who'd gone missing before ~ people who took a leap of faith. The wrong one.
By afternoon, the conference room was dimmed to that professional lighting that made everyone look slightly more serious. Across the table sat three men and one woman, all dressed in civilian business suits. But the way they held themselves ~ the posture, the subtle pressure in the air ~ revealed them for what they truly were.
Martial Cultivators.
The oldest among them, a man with silver at his temples and veins that pulsed faintly gave this slow smile. "We respect your genius, Ms. Yue. Truly. But surely you understand that something this powerful should be shared ~ preserved ~ by those with heritage. Surely you must understand pressure from other sides keep increasing? you need allies now. Powerful ones."
Han Chen tilted his head. "You mean hoarded by those with lineage?"
Yue Lan added. " Thanks but we aren't really interested."
The air cooled noticeably.
The man didn't flinch. "We are prepared to offer full protection," the woman added in that practiced diplomatic tone. "And a high-tier essence beast farm as tribute."
"You can keep it. Money and License can wait for proper Protocol. It will be followed, and we don't need any assistance or alliance. Surely this isn't the first time you've sent covert agents? You know our policy very well." Han Chen said flatly.
"You could still be part of the tradition," the other man scoffed and replied...
"We're not interested in being remembered or being part of." Han Chen's voice was perfectly flat.
There was a flicker in the air ~ a faint pulse. Someone was testing him, subtly probing his defenses. He let it go for a moment. Then his gaze sharpened slightly, and he spoke one syllable, infused with silent power: "Out."
The pulse of his spiritual will crushed the air for a heartbeat. Their faces paled instantly. Almost coughing blood from the pressure. He'd suppressed himself to 99%, and it was still too much for them.
Outside, security was already waiting. Clearly not the first time this kind of thing had happened.
The Launch
Two days later, the enhanced third-revision product launched publicly. Tailored for individual qi constitutions, it was more than just a drug ~ it was metamorphosis.
The results were gradual, but responses followed immediately. Online, early testers ~ wealthy civilians, martial artists, even celebrities ~ posted videos of their transformations. Crying, laughing, some nearly hysterical with joy. Incurable diseases healed overnight. Eyes sharpened to superhuman clarity. Reaction speeds multiplied. Muscles toned themselves without exercise. Moreover it was backwards compatible.
For cultivators above Master level, their cultivation advanced significantly. Even a sense of spiritual perception began to stir awaken in the most sensitive recipients at grandmaster realm peak.
Money flowed in like a tide. So did unwanted attention. Not just from cultivation sects now, but from governments. From military and intelligence agencies. From those who knew that something beyond their level of science had just been sold to the world.
The Silent War
Time passed... well, quietly on the surface. Beneath? There were so many investigations and false cases that he prevented ~ Han Chen had lost track long ago. He wasn't some mild protagonist from those stories, the type who tries to reason with everyone. No, he was... let's say extreme in establishing a peaceful and positive outlook for the company's success in the public eye. No matter what kinds of plagues tried to bring it down.
From mind manipulation to memory changing, outright erasing cultivators to dealing with bad actors within the company itself ~ he did his job. Thoroughly.
Yue Lan was aware of it too, obviously. She knew how easily this kind of hot potato would've been snatched from her hands by Yue Tianzhen and his group if she didn't have Han Chen's support. Hell, she didn't even think they could've swallowed it whole even then.
Recently, some cultivation sects ~ mostly the well-hidden ones embedded within bureaucratic structures ~ had come up with these bizarre claims. Something about how enhancements were "against the sacredness of martial arts" and "unethical," or how they were "killing babies" or... well, whatever bizarre nonsense the jobless general public could easily pick up on as propaganda.
It was unconventional for them because, um, most of the people who went there with the idea of secretly destabilizing or gaining control often returned as strong advocates of the company itself. They couldn't sit with the supernatural incidents that had happened previously and began to test their luck by constantly annoying everyone with all sorts of nonsense.
Well, Han Chen intervened as usual. Within a week, people involved had... let's call them "emergencies" and more important things to take care of. Momentum lost, both online and offline.
Then the pressure from nationalization began. The people making contact were really from the upper echelons of ruling parties. Even though Han Chen was capable of silencing the opposition by coming forward and showcasing his power and authority... what good would it do? It would only create more problems, more attention he didn't want to deal with.
He don't have any interest in benefiting man kind or making money. His ladies were interested and he too will support them. That's it. Recently they too are agreeing with the lack of initial enthusiasm in running this...whatever it is.
So unlike what the government expected, the company was actually agreeing to nationalization while gradually diluting its own private ownership and shares. But they demanded a gradual takeover ~ on their terms.
They were met with angry outbursts and... well, zero intelligence propaganda mixed with threats. Not from everyone, but from many of the officials involved trying to further step interests down, considering the easy acceptance.
Well, Han Chen visited their homes silently before the next meeting. Some tweaks and adjustments later, the next meeting had everyone effectively agreeing to peaceful interchange and proceeding according to the company's policy and regulatory policies..