This press conference lasted for two hours before it concluded. As time passed, the crowd gathered outside the Umbrella Biotechnology Company branch building grew larger and larger, until the area around the building was completely packed.
"Hey, I'm Zayeff, a lecturer from Kosva University. My children and wife are currently in the quarantine zone, and I urgently need the Umbrella-A novel antibiotic. Can you sell it to me first…?"
"Seriously, I really, truly need it. Please, Umbrella!"
"I need it too! I can pay ten times the price!"
When Alvin and Mayor Robinson stepped out of the press conference venue together, the outside was packed with a massive crowd.
Dozens of security guards on-site, cooperating with the police, formed a circle around the plaza outside the building, barely managing to hold back the surging crowd.
Among these people were reporters from various countries around the world, but naturally, even more were local residents who had violated quarantine measures and run out on their own.
Given the excessive crowd, which could very likely cause the spread of the epidemic, the Patirus City Police Department dispatched a large number of police officers to disperse them and arrested some of the ringleaders.
"You can drop me off here, Mr. Alvin."
"Mr. Mayor, I hope that by this time next year, I will be able to call you Mr. President."
"Heh heh, I'll take that as a good omen."
The two exchanged a few casual pleasantries in front of a luxury sedan before Alvin escorted Mayor Robinson into the car. Five vehicles formed a motorcade, with the sedan carrying Mayor Robinson in the center, slowly driving away under the escort of multiple police cars ahead and behind.
Alvin stood there, watching the gradually receding motorcade, a slight smile playing on his lips. The reason Mayor Robinson personally came to the scene, besides showing his stance and gaining votes, was also due to the 500 million Jenny political donation from Umbrella Biotechnology Company.
"Mr. Alvin, what are your thoughts on the public's demands this time?"
"Mr. Alvin, many private organizations and individuals are now demanding that Umbrella Biotechnology Company publicly release the technical data for the new antibiotic. Do you have anything to say about this?"
Many reporters, unwilling to give up, pushed their way through numerous obstacles to get to Alvin, trying to obtain more useful information. But Alvin merely offered them a polite smile and turned to walk towards the company entrance.
Compared to these reporters, the public in various countries around the world was even more frantic, and online public opinion directly pushed Umbrella Biotechnology Company into the eye of the storm. Just as a reporter had said earlier, a new, targeted wave of public opinion was rapidly spreading online.
"Now is the most dangerous moment for all of human society. Umbrella Biotechnology Company should release the Umbrella-A research and development technical data, allowing pharmaceutical factories worldwide to produce it unconditionally. Otherwise, Umbrella Biotechnology Company will be responsible for all innocent deaths worldwide!"
"That's right. In the face of the greater good of maintaining human world order and peace, Umbrella Biotechnology Company should abandon its profits and prioritize the crisis facing humanity."
Such comments, as time passed, gradually formed a new trend of public opinion online, and Umbrella Biotechnology Company's public reputation grew increasingly unfavorable.
"Some people really can't hold back; they've already made their move."
At Umbrella Biotechnology Company headquarters, Illumi stood by the window, gently swirling a glass of red wine.
On the high-definition screen lowered from the ceiling, reporters from various countries conducted street interviews with citizens, and large numbers of people had united to organize protests, promoting their strong suggestions to Umbrella Biotechnology Company.
Illumi listened to the words and slogans of those people in the news, his heart completely unmoved.
He had long anticipated that after Umbrella Biotechnology Company publicly announced the therapeutic effects of the new antibiotic against the novel virus, such public opinion and incidents would inevitably be triggered.
Pharmaceutical giants from around the world would naturally be unwilling to let Umbrella Biotechnology Company monopolize such a large piece of the pie and would surely take corresponding measures.
In his previous life, in such a critical global pandemic, Umbrella Biotechnology Company might very well have been pressured by major giants and governments due to the influence of public opinion, forced to disclose permissions and hand over the production technical data of the new antibiotic to control and end the epidemic in the shortest possible time.
During this period, the major pharmaceutical giants would transform into hungry wolves, mercilessly tearing off chunks of Umbrella Biotechnology Company's flesh,
leaving "not a single scrap." But unfortunately, in the Hunter world, public opinion has no effect on maverick powerhouses. After all, they possess the strength to overturn the table at any moment.
"However, there are some people who need to be dealt with. I was too busy with other matters before, but now it's time to make him quiet."
Illumi's tone was cold, but everyone present understood the meaning behind his words.
Ever since Illumina Biotechnology Company, through bounties, led people in the dark world to discover that Umbrella Biotechnology Company was the reason for the stolen new vitamin samples and new antibiotic research data,
they had continuously increased the bounty amount, causing various forces in the dark world to eagerly make their moves. Illumi had to keep Pride stationed at the company headquarters, unable to spare his hands for a long time.
"Although it is indeed our fault, secrets should be kept well."
"A secret that cannot be hidden must be protected with strength. And a secret that cannot be protected is no longer your secret."
Illumi was referring to Hubert Hamilton, the Director and CEO of Illumina Biotechnology Company. This man had been secretly obstructing Umbrella Biotechnology Company's development,
seizing opportunities to find its weaknesses, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. Through Ikshamape and Raleigh's investigation, this recent wave of public opinion was secretly instigated by Hubert Hamilton.
The next day, just as Illumi was preparing to depart for the United States of Edimei to deal with Illumina Biotechnology Company's CEO, a communication from the main gate of the headquarters' industrial park was received in the office.
"Boss, I think we have trouble."
Raleigh's young, vibrant, yet confident and steady voice suddenly echoed in the office.
"What happened?"
Illumi asked, simultaneously raising the red wine in his hand and taking a small sip.
"On the highway leading from Sgorn City to the company headquarters, massive crowds are surging towards the industrial park."
As Raleigh spoke, a 27-inch high-definition screen appeared on the ceiling. Raleigh controlled it, connecting it to the highway surveillance system.
"Trouble? That's just great."
Greed immediately perked up, a flicker of crimson in his eyes, his expression arrogant. King Bradley and Pride still maintained an indifferent demeanor, exuding a convincing aura of calm. Lust was dressed in a black evening gown,
her skin fair, her face cold and beautiful, possessing a noble, aristocratic temperament. For some reason, no matter when, she would always wear glamorous, fashionable dresses.
While building this highway, Umbrella Biotechnology Company also established a highway surveillance system, aiming for comprehensive monitoring and control of the road. With a flicker of the screen, the real-time footage captured by the highway surveillance system appeared before everyone's eyes. I
n the surveillance feed, countless people formed a massive crowd on the highway leading to Umbrella Biotechnology Company headquarters, a vast, dark expanse, like an ant migration. Looking ahead, it stretched as far as the eye could see.
And as the surveillance system's cameras continuously switched, they also saw the signs held by those people. "Strongly demand that Umbrella Biotechnology Company publicly disclose manufacturing processes and open Umbrella-A production rights!" "The greater good comes first, profit comes second!"
Countless such GG signs were present. People held up GG signs and advanced step by step. Not only that, some even stood on top of cars, holding up GG signs to attract attention. There were even people who rented airships slowly flying in the sky, with GG banners on them advocating for Umbrella Biotechnology Company to release its manufacturing processes.
People of different genders, age groups, skin colors, races, and nationalities were present. Some wore masks, some wore isolation gowns, and some wore nothing at all. These people gathered together, completely blocking the entire highway.
Umbrella Biotechnology Company's logistics trucks couldn't pass, and the truck from headquarters preparing to transport the new antibiotic dared not set out after receiving notification. Initial estimates placed the number of protestors at over ten thousand.
Illumi's face was cold. He noticed a common characteristic on the faces of these people: anger and excitement! Anger because Umbrella Biotechnology Company ignored their demands and remained aloof. Excitement because so many of them had gathered to pressure Umbrella, believing that the drug's manufacturing processes and permissions would soon be opened, and they would all be saved.
"We need treatment!" "Release manufacturing processes, open production rights!" "Our families need treatment, our friends need treatment, our compatriots need treatment!"
Tens of thousands of people holding GG signs walked step by step towards Umbrella Biotechnology Company headquarters. It was a good thing they were in a state of euphoria at the moment; otherwise, a distance of fifty kilometers,
equivalent to a marathon, would have been enough to make most of them retreat. After walking for about thirty kilometers, some organized the protestors to rest, set up tents, and make dinner in the surrounding area. The next morning, after leaving a dense trail of trash in the plains and forests along both sides of the highway, they continued forward.
"They're coming!"
At the main gate of the headquarters' industrial park, hundreds of security guards, armed with batons, stood before the gate, gazing at the dense crowd not far away, their hearts filled with dread. This was over ten thousand people, and they only had a hundred.
Moreover, they couldn't kill anyone. How could they possibly stop them? Normally, they were armed with assault rifles and stun batons; if anyone invaded, they could shoot to kill directly. But at this moment, representing the company, they couldn't do anything illegal or harmful to people.
"Charge!!!"
When the crowd saw the main gate of the industrial park, someone immediately raised an arm and shouted, leading a large number of people to charge towards the industrial park's gate. "Stop them!" The security captain shouted loudly. However, facing a charge of thousands of people, even if they weren't ordinary people, the effect they could achieve was minimal.
Soon, large numbers of people bypassed them and rushed to the industrial park walls, forming human ladders with their feet and climbing towards the top of the walls. "Zzzzzzzz..." But unfortunately, the barbed wire on top of the walls wasn't just for show.
When the hands of those climbing reached the barbed wire, they immediately convulsed, and the people forming the human ladder beneath them also fell to the ground with a "thump."
"Bring ladders!"
At this moment, someone shouted. The security guards were startled to see someone in the crowd actually carrying a ladder towards the edge of the wall. This was a grave situation. The ladder was very long, far exceeding the height of the wall, making it easy to cross.
"Quick, stop them!" The security guards immediately abandoned their current targets and rushed towards the people holding ladders, intending to stop them in their tracks. After all, the security guards were strong and not ordinary people. They quickly gained control of the ladders, but the crowd surrounded them, helpless.
As time passed, the crowd grew increasingly angry, even picking up stones from the ground and throwing them at the security guards. The security guards used their batons to knock down the thrown stones one by one, occasionally counter-attacking those who rushed at them.
During the counter-attacks, they intentionally struck with heavy force, severely injuring those who attacked them with a single blow, rendering them unable to fight further.
Pride had informed them that if they encountered intentional attacks from the crowd during the obstruction, they could engage in self-defense, as long as no one died.
Legally speaking, it wouldn't constitute a crime. For a while, the security guards actually felt a bit more relaxed.
The people in the crowd also noticed this. These security guards struck with extreme force, breaking arms or legs, knocking out one person with each strike. Yet, their own projectiles couldn't hit the guards. They shifted their targets.
The crowd spread out around the industrial park's perimeter, heavily encircling it, and began throwing various debris into the park: glass bottles, aluminum cans, stones. Some even made Molotov cocktails and threw them into the park, causing damage.
"How much longer until the police arrive?"
Illumi asked, frowning as he looked at the surging crowd outside the park.
"The police are all blocked outside; they can't get in."
Raleigh replied, simultaneously displaying footage of the police cars and officers outside the crowd on the screen.
"Then notify the state government and have them send in the military. If these people destroy the production base and damage the antibiotics, don't blame us for not warning you."
"I understand." King Bradley replied; he had been thinking the same thing.
Illumi's face was grim. Bypassing the local government, he directly notified the state government. If they didn't dispatch troops to disperse the crowd, then they shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.
"Also, organize company employees to put out the fires." Illumi clearly saw with his own eyes that some areas inside the industrial park were already ablaze with raging fires, all thanks to those who threw Molotov cocktails.
"Ungrateful fools!"
Illumi's eyelids drooped. His human pupils instantly transformed into golden eagle eyes, simultaneously activating his Arrogance ability. Relying on the eagle's superior vision, he searched the crowd for those throwing Molotov cocktails, locked onto them, and his shadows swiftly shot out from beneath his feet.
"Hahahaha, told you not to release the manufacturing processes! Told you not to open up the rights!"
In the crowd, more than ten agitated men gathered, throwing their homemade Molotov cocktails into the industrial park, laughing heartily as they threw. "Thump!" "Thump, thump, thump, thump…" But for some unknown reason, they suddenly collapsed.
The citizens in the crowd, unaware of why they had fallen, continued to shout slogans and hold up their GG signs with earth-shattering roars. In front of the headquarters building's floor-to-ceiling window, Illumi retracted his ability, his eyes reverting to human pupils.
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