episode_0082

Episode 82. Speaking skills rather than medicine (2)

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The Russian Imperial government monopolized the trade in vodka within the country for hundreds of years. You might think so, but how much of it was it?

It was a huge source of funds, with 30% of the imperial government’s income coming from vodka sales. Incidentally, this practice was abolished by Lenin and revived during Stalin’s time. It still remains.

This is a thought that suddenly occurred to me while I was explaining to high-ranking officials of this empire. I made a mistake.

When I brought up the topic of the monopoly on penicillin this time, I was thinking of it in terms of the relationship between modern pharmaceutical companies and governments.

There is something like that. Pharmaceutical companies negotiating drug prices with the government. Policies related to the complexly intertwined drug pricing system to protect both consumers’ right to health and the company’s drive for innovation.

But pre-modern people thought differently.

If I were thinking of a pharmaceutical company, what the prince and his bureaucrats were expecting would be something closer to the state-owned vodka companies of the Russian Empire, where the government monopolized essential financial resources and used them as a tool of rule.

A great opportunity to increase government revenue and exert influence. The imperial bureaucracy seemed to be indifferent to the question of what antibiotics were, although they showed only a little interest in it.

It was a good thing that I didn’t need to persuade him at all, but it left a bitter aftertaste. Of course, this might be better for me, right?

The citizens of the Empire have poured in 2.5 million gold, without even finding out what kind of company these people are… … .

anyway.

The prince continued speaking.

“If everything goes according to Professor Asterix’s plan, the new company can start working and recover its investment within a year?”

“Yes.”

“Aside from the medicine that brought us here this time, are you preparing to produce other medicines?”

I nodded. Judging by the technology, aspirin can be made here in the world. It’s much easier than penicillin.

Of course, it won’t save as many lives as penicillin, but aspirin may sell better than penicillin. It has more uses.

“Yes.”

“If by any chance the medicine fails, Professor Asterix can run a hospital or publish a book to control the losses.”

Sure, if the drug making fails this time, that might be the way to go. Maybe it would be a good idea to save up money and open a hospital later.

“Yes.”

“Then it’s decided.”

The prince raised his head, checked his surroundings, and began to speak, as if to conclude the meeting.

“Establish a pharmaceutical company with a royal license. Government agencies own 60% of the stock, private or external investors own 30%, and original technology providers own 10%.”

“1% is 1 million gold?”

“A total of 5 million, so 500,000. Earn the remaining half and invest it. Professor Asterix will join as an executive and science advisor.”

There was no one who particularly opposed it.

“Just a minute.”

Mint just raised her hand.

I thought she wasn’t thinking about anything because she was so quiet the whole time. Everyone’s eyes were focused on the princess, and Mint cleared her throat a bit before starting to speak.

“Please speak.”

“I know that the potion can be successful, but Professor Asterix has many other jobs.”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t Professor Asterix too busy to focus on the work of the Royal Charter Company, Status?”

I thought Mint would naturally take my side, but what is she trying to say?

“Let me try it first.”

Mint shook her head. It wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear. I looked at Mint.

“I wish Asterix would quit his professorship at the right time and focus on the work of the Royal Charter Company or the Royal Charter Company’s affiliated hospital.”

“Ah. When do you say it’s the right time? … … ?”

“About the year after next. When I graduate.”

Mint’s blue eyes were fixed on my face.

I thought about it for a while.

It didn’t seem like a lot to ask, but I don’t know. I looked at Manfred in the middle of the conference room. He just shrugged.

“That’s right. Can you do that?”

Let’s just say yes. I’ll have to think about it again in the next year, but it feels far away.

“Yes.”

There was a brief buzz in the conference room. Most people seemed relieved. Anyway, after a few years, you’ll be coming to my new company.

“The meeting is over. The professor worked hard too.”

I bowed my head and greeted him for the first time in a long time.

The government officials, including the prince, did not leave their seats even after the meeting was over. It seemed like there was something left to discuss without me… … .

I left the conference room like that.

****

Professor Asterix left, and Mint and the others also left the chaotic conference room. The president hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“This time, I’m buying stocks in this company. It’s going to cost about 2.5 million gold from the government, right? So that I can use it as the initial investment cost for the company.”

“The conclusion is like that.”

“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you about this matter, even if it is rude.”

“What is it?”

“Just one person. What are you trusting that you’re handing over such a large sum of money? If the current plan is followed, wouldn’t you have just given 500,000 gold before the company even opened, let alone the money you invested?”

Manfred shook his head.

“If it doesn’t succeed anyway, it’s just a piece of paper. Until the company that the professor mentioned is established and the drug is successfully sold, not a single penny goes to him. It’s a non-tangible amount anyway.”

“That’s true. But was it really necessary to give 10% of the company to one person?”

The prince didn’t think so.

“Mr. Violet boasted. She said that there were six fights in the academy hall because of Professor Asterix. Was it seven? Anyway.”

The prince was not an expert, but Violet, who was an expert, said that Asterix was always right in his academic views.

“Do the old people in the society do that too?”

“They said they would. If they could sell 10 million gold worth of medicine every year, what’s the problem? If it’s sales from a government-run company, isn’t it essentially tax revenue? It’s an opportunity you can’t miss.”

“Isn’t that literally a pharmacist?”

“Well, that’s right. If you keep him close, he’ll give you one more life. If he keeps making things like this, a company will go bankrupt, and it’s not a bad idea to keep him close by with debt. There will be people who lose money, though.”

In the end, you have to keep him nearby by any means necessary. You never know when that professor might save your life. There were many people at the Academy who came back from the brink of death thanks to Asterix.

“You looked three steps ahead.”

“The right words. It’s common sense.”

The bank governor nodded.

“But, Your Highness. What kind of medicine was that professor selling earlier?”

“I don’t know either. I’ll figure it out.”

It’s not that I didn’t hear the explanation. There were a few reports and papers. However, it wasn’t something that the imperial bureaucrats could easily understand.

Even among experts, aren’t there currently arguments over the content?

It was fortunate that Violet, the royal healer, had joined the process early and brought important information. At least, that was what the prince thought.

Because I started almost from the beginning.

“Mr. Violet. Could you explain again what kind of medicine that professor makes?”

“Oh, yes.”

Violet took out the paper one by one.

“To put it simply, it’s like this. There are microscopic particles that cause decay. These are bacteria. On the other hand, blue mold, when observed under a microscope, has a very small plant-like structure.”

“Yeah.”

“When the blue mold takes root, if the bacteria eat all the nutrients in the food, wouldn’t the blue mold starve to death? That’s why we spray a substance that kills bacteria around it.”

“That’s amazing.”

“By extracting this ingredient, you can treat diseases caused by this bacteria in the human body, such as gangrene and puerperal fever.”

“As expected. It was worth investing in research funds.”

The two men gave a vague exclamation, and Violet nodded with a serious expression.

****

Escape the conference room.

The graduate students were playing in the reception room in the corner of the palace. I was going to get the graduate students to say something. Sorry.

“Oh, the professor is here.”

Istina and Amy are sipping coffee. Where did you get that?

“Sorry. I didn’t know they would do that.”

“What happened?”

“Um… … . It wasn’t the place we had in mind when we were preparing. They didn’t ask about the content and just talked about other things.”

“Did you succeed?”

“Success.”

“Are we getting a lot of research funding now?”

I nodded. It’s not just about getting research funds. It’s about creating a company.

“That’s right. As promised, I’ll pay your tuition. I’ll double your teaching assistant salary.”

Istina and Amy looked at me with big eyes as if they had forgotten to breathe.

“Thank you… … !”

“Oh my, thank you… … !”

Istina bowed her head. Amy repeated her thanks. It’s a festive atmosphere.

Twice the salary of a graduate student is not that much. Of course, if you add it to the money you earn from working in the ward, it would add up to quite a lot.

“Should we now look into the process of mass producing penicillin? Or… … ?”

“First, a company needs to be created.”

How soon can we start producing penicillin? It will take time to perfect the specific process.