"Ms. Zhuo Xiao Yi. We are guests you explicitly invited, and now we wish to attend your auction. Why won't your staff let us in?" one person from the group questioned. They turned out to be more than a dozen company representatives who had collectively walked out earlier, including that obstinate middle-aged woman, though she remained silent this time.

"I apologize deeply, but the agency rights auction for 'Starlight Myopia Remedy' has just concluded. All regional distributors have been finalized," Li Zhi explained.

"This is unfair! You invited us to this auction, but you secretly held it while we were leaving! I deem your agency rights auction procedurally flawed, and we refuse to acknowledge it!" the middle-aged woman exclaimed sharply.

In truth, this group had already arrived at Hong Kong International Airport, preparing to fly out of the city. However, they learned about the miraculous properties of the medicine from a television screen at the airport. Realizing they had made a colossal mistake, they rushed back to the convention center, only to discover the auction was over and all primary regional agents had been confirmed. The crushing disappointment of losing such an opportunity had driven them to near hysteria.

"Madam, have you forgotten what you said just moments ago? You announced your withdrawal from this auction right here, and you followed through—you withdrew. What you said wasn't just heard by me, but also by our friends from other companies here and the members of the press. I'm sure they have photographic evidence of you speaking; shall we ask them to play it back?" Li Zhi stated.

The media reporters were greatly energized. They hadn't expected such a dramatic turn of events right as the auction was concluding. Coming to this venue today had proven to be an inspired decision. If they secured so much firsthand material, would their bosses give them a raise?

Faced with microphones being thrust towards her, the middle-aged woman finally felt overwhelming shame. She covered her face and fled the venue. The company representatives who had stood by her choice regretted their short-sightedness immensely, but they could only follow her out of the auction center. They had to bear responsibility for their lack of foresight; upon returning to their companies, they likely faced their bosses' wrath and perhaps even letters of resignation.

Seeing those troublemakers gone, Li Zhi announced, "I now declare the Starlight Group New Drug Agency Rights Auction officially closed. To thank all our friends for attending today, Starlight Group is hosting a banquet at the Peninsula Hotel. All attending guests, including our wonderful media friends, may take the transport provided on the ground floor to dine."

At the banquet, not only were the representatives of the winning companies eagerly toasting and exchanging pleasantries with Liu Hui, but even those whose bids had failed crowded around him, hoping to secure a secondary, regional agency license. If they couldn't get a secondary role, building a good relationship with Liu Hui still offered hope for future new drugs. After all, the man who produced drugs to treat AIDS and myopia could reasonably be expected to create another earth-shattering new medicine.

It wasn't until five in the evening that Liu Hui finally managed to extricate himself from the hopeful persistence of the company representatives. He declined interviews with the press and was driven back to the Starlight Pharmaceutical factory compound by Zhou Tengyun.

"Boss, I have a few things to discuss with you." Zhou Tengyun had not been seen around Liu Hui for a long time; it seemed he had something important he needed to share.

"Old Third, let's talk by the seaside!" Liu Hui was ecstatic today. He had successfully launched the new drug globally and secured the recognition of numerous agents.

Thus, Liu Hui and Zhou Tengyun left the factory grounds and headed to the ocean shore.

"Boss, I've had people investigating during this time, but I still haven't found any trace of Liang Jingyue and her family. They seem to have vanished into thin air," Zhou Tengyun reported.

"What about Liang Bo's 'Ju Wei Xuan'?" Liu Hui asked, his heart sinking halfway.

"Liang Bo's Ju Wei Xuan was sold off during the Spring Festival. The current owner is no longer Liang Bo. I found the new proprietor, who said he contacted Liang Bo through an intermediary and bought Ju Wei Xuan at an extremely low price. I examined all the documentation he provided; everything was legitimate, with no signs of forgery," Zhou Tengyun explained.

"Did you find that intermediary?"

"I did. That intermediary used to be a friend of Liang Bo's. This time, Liang Bo authorized him online and sent him all the documents, giving him full authority to handle the transaction. After the transfer was complete, he wired all the money to an overseas bank account," Zhou Tengyun said.

Liu Hui remained silent for a long moment. Finally, he sighed, "What reason could there be for cutting off contact with me so completely? Or perhaps you simply never wanted to see me again?"

"Boss, please accept my condolences," Zhou Tengyun offered.

"I know. What's the situation with Guo Jia? Have you found any connection between him and Liang Bo? Their intelligence capabilities are far beyond ours, after all," Liu Hui inquired.

"Guo Jia has no contact with Liang Bo's family either. As far as I know, Guo Jia is also mobilizing his people to search for Liang Bo's family, but there is still no news whatsoever."

"This is so strange? Even Guo Jia’s resources can’t locate Liang Jingyue’s family? Did they just disappear inexplicably?" Liu Hui murmured, puzzled.

"Based on the intelligence gathered so far, Liang Bo... vanished suddenly that night. No one can find them," Zhou Tengyun concluded.

"What a pity. If I hadn't suddenly fallen unconscious that night, I should have been able to see Liang Jingyue and clear up all those needless misunderstandings," Liu Hui sighed.

"Boss, you can't blame yourself for that. It was just a series of unfortunate coincidences between you two," Zhou Tengyun consoled him.

"How is the Han Tang Hospital operating now?" Liu Hui abruptly changed the subject.

"Since they raised the price to five million US dollars per patient, business hasn't been as brisk as before. Only two or three patients come in for treatment daily," Zhou Tengyun reported.

'If that's the case, those resources should last at least another two or three months. By then, my own strength will have greatly increased, and I'll have more room to maneuver,' Liu Hui thought to himself.

"Right, what about the staff at Han Tang Hospital?" Liu Hui still cared about the fate of his first batch of employees.

"Aside from those specifically responsible for treatment, almost everyone else has been dismissed. I hear the people working in the hospital now are all relatives of the leadership, and their salaries are even higher than what you used to pay the original staff. What's more absurd is that the hospital now employs three times the number of people we had before—all this staff just to handle two or three patients a day. Furthermore, those luxury wards you renovated have been designated as fixed beds for those leaders. Han Tang Hospital is now rife with corruption and decay," Zhou Tengyun said indignantly.

"Old Third, how is the recruitment of your personnel going?" Liu Hui shifted the topic again.

"I have found several retired military officers; they all have extensive combat experience, but they are still hesitant and haven't decided to join me in Africa yet. However, the lower-level combat personnel recruitment is over two hundred people strong, which should be enough to form a small mercenary team," Zhou Tengyun stated.

"I will go with you to persuade those few retired officers, alleviate their concerns, and try to bring these experienced veterans to Africa. By the way, how is the contact for arms acquisition coming along?" Liu Hui asked.

"I have made contact with Colonel Viktor Anatolievich Butcher, a renowned underground arms dealer. His organization is holding a product demonstration in Yemen in twenty days, and they have invited me to attend and observe," Zhou Tengyun reported.

"Is that organization reliable?" Liu Hui inquired.

"That organization is an established international underground arms dealer with an excellent reputation. Very few people have ever heard of them breaking their word. Moreover, their arsenal is incredibly comprehensive; they can procure active-duty weapons from nearly any country," Zhou Tengyun explained.

"Do they know your identity?" Liu Hui asked.

"I used disguises during contact with them; they wouldn't recognize me. Besides, they are shrewd businesspeople and wouldn't intentionally pry into a client's privacy," Zhou Tengyun clarified.

"I will go with you to Yemen to see things for myself," Liu Hui decided.

"Boss, Yemen is a chaotic, war-torn place. What about your safety if you go?" Zhou Tengyun expressed his difficulty.

"We'll decide then. We still have twenty days, don't we?" Liu Hui replied.

"Boss, there's been some progress on the matter you asked me to look into last time," Zhou Tengyun suddenly announced.

"Which matter?" Liu Hui had discussed many things; he wasn't sure which one Zhou Tengyun was referring to.

"The issue of the drug source for the Hong Kong triads," Zhou Tengyun said quietly.

"I've traced it. The largest source of drugs in Hong Kong is Brother Quan of Tung Sing. Virtually all drugs in Hong Kong flow from him. His supply line runs through the Red Flower Triad in Thailand, and they have a major transaction scheduled for next weekend. Boss, should we intercept that shipment?" Zhou Tengyun asked.

"Old Third, I wasn't investigating their drug source just to seize that shipment. I want to establish a direct connection with the Thai side. I need a massive supply of narcotics, and to ensure a stable source, I must deal directly with those major drug lords," Liu Hui explained.

"I understand. I will wait until after their transaction, then tail the Thai personnel directly to their masterminds," Zhou Tengyun promised.

"We'll go together then. But Old Third, aren't you curious why I need the drugs?" Liu Hui asked.

"Since you aren't planning to sell them, why should I need to know your purpose?" Zhou Tengyun countered.

The two fell silent on that topic, standing on a large reef, jointly enjoying the damp, salty sea breeze.

The sky was beginning to darken when Liu Hui, feeling the sea wind, suddenly felt a sharp jolt in his heart—a baseless warning alarm.

Not daring to delay, Liu Hui grabbed Zhou Tengyun, flashed away from the large reef, and ducked behind it. Just then, a bullet slammed into the spot where they had been standing, blasting a huge crater into the hard reef, from which wisps of white smoke curled upward.

Thanks to the reader: You Diu Huai, for the two update votes. Qian Yu Chu Hai guarantees mission completion!