Chapter 184: The Right Time

A news projection flashed, showing the latest news.

“A new functional drug among S-Ranks has appeared in the middle of the international tournament. The explosive increase in strength and its consequences are terrifying.”

Emperor Victor switched channels.

“According to the authorities, the student Xu Long, who was affected by this drug, is in a good condition, but the situation was broadcast to the entire world and it is noticed that the consequences are greater than they seem. Is the South American Empire lying to cover up the seriousness of the matter?”

Again, he changed the channel.

“At the international tournament, Emperor Victor assured that everything would be fine. How did it get to this point where a student was affected? This is the responsibility of Emperor Victor and the entire Empire! They should have kept the students safe!”

He switched channels again.

“According to experts, drugs that can affect high-ranking individuals are rare and more so when it comes to ‘magical’ drugs that can affect a psionic. As it is known, magical energy and psionic energy repel each other. How is this possible? According to some specialists, Emperor Victor researched these drugs, and the students were his experimental subjects.”

Emperor Victor’s expression turned completely cold and all the spectators in the throne room became silent.

“Your Majesty, please stop watching sensationalist media,” Ersin asked with a professional expression and upon receiving the gaze of some of the most powerful people in the world, she gave a serious look and announced. “It’s time to deal with the consequences.”

Only she stood before the terrifying aura of an enraged calamity sweeping through the throne room.

Even Elder Harris and Director Vincent had tough expressions.

“Yes, the consequences... Now my image has plummeted. No, it is deep in the abyss and will surely go even deeper,” Emperor Victor said and, looking at the various individuals present, he asked. “But have you done anything to prevent it?”

He looked down from the high throne and below him, were members in charge of the tournament, the video editors, and those broadcasting, but they all just lowered their heads and knelt down trembling.

Now Emperor Victor looked like an enraged beast... An extremely dangerous one.

Due to the recordings that were broadcast to all the official channels of the international tournament, everything was broadcast and it was now an international furor.

Everyone saw how Xu Long took drugs and, worse, everyone saw the consequences.

That happened before the eyes of Emperor Victor, one of the most powerful men in the world.

“You can’t blame them. What happened was so shocking that even I was shocked and forgot to react,” Director Vincent said in support of those present.

“The foreign media exaggerate the situation. How can you be attentive to this situation? It was impossible to know that Xu Long would use that drug that would cause harm to his body,” Elder Harris pointed out.

Two powerful individuals were interceding in defense of those present and Emperor Victor let out a snort before sitting on the throne.

“You may stand down now,” Ersin ordered, waving her hand and disappearing everyone.

When they disappeared, Emperor Victor let out a silent sigh and looked at Ersin.

“How is Xu Long?” He asked in a low tone.

In the throne room, only Director Vincent, Elder Harris, and Ersin, who were acting as his secretary, remained.

“Good. The drug was potent and damaged his organs, but kept his mind intact. He will recover in a few days, but he can no longer take part in the international tournament because of the recovery of his injuries,” Ersin replied and with a serious look, she reported. “The drug used is being investigated by our research teams. However, so far, we have discovered that it is a drug made through technology and not magic.”

If the mind had been damaged, a psionic would undoubtedly suffer and could be affected for life.

Very similar if a fighter was affected in the body or a mage with his sense to perceive magical energy.

However, the last words came as a surprise.

“Being of technological origin, there was no conflict when taken by a psionic like Xu Long. However, unlike what we could see, this drug does not have such severe consequences, at least not instantly. It is believed that whoever offered it to him convinced him by using these new drugs in their most perfect state and giving them experimental drugs in between,” Ersin added, passing a cursory report to the three individuals.

Elder Harris and Director Vincent frowned as they read about the old man who had given drugs to a student.

“This is the cartel’s revenge? Attacking my reputation?” Emperor Victor hesitated and, looking at Ersin, asked. “Where is that, old man?”

Revenge... They still remembered the rumor that the cartel would take revenge, and this was an excellent way to take revenge.

They attacked his reputation, that which he was trying to improve with the international tournament, but now in most of the international media, they were paying attention to this matter and blaming him.

The international media were so extreme with their comments and reports that one could see the puppet master’s strings in the background.

In that sense, they struck with precision and lethality.

“He has disappeared. Our intelligence department has arranged the resources to find him, but his preparations were meticulous. It is possible that he may have left Elelin City,” Ersin reported, keeping everything quiet.

The preparations for this plan were, in itself, flawless.

They did not attack excessively and were silent in their actions.

Emperor Victor tapped the armrest of his throne.

The perfect drug generated addiction and permanent damage to the body and mind that was very difficult to cure, even for an archmage.

It also had some mental and instability effects, but the specialists needed to research it further.

Still, it redoubled strength and ability, making it possible for those desperate to use it.

Militiamen, lunatics, and even individuals who had no other choice.

“They beat me up and used me to promote their drug. It’s in the experimental stage now, but the increase in strength is remarkable. When they reveal the perfect drug, then they will have a big business,” Emperor Victor muttered, analyzing the situation.

The consequences would drive away people who wanted to try it, but once they started saying that it was in a perfect state, then the sale would increase.

Currently, the drugs still had a place on the black market, even though there were more harmless things like using illusion mages to have ‘psychedelic trips’ or simply using some kind of magical plant for relaxation.

However, these ‘enhancer’ drugs had an extremely huge and profitable market.

After all, high-ranking individuals always had more money than normal people.

“If those bastards think they can use me, I’ll prove them wrong,” Emperor Victor announced and looking at Ersin, he ordered. “Start the procedures to initiate the cleansing plan. We will begin tonight.”

Ersin nodded obediently as the gaze of Director Vincent and Elder Harris turned serious.

Emperor Victor didn’t mind and looked at the two individuals.

“Do you want to take part or will you stay out of this?” Victor asked seriously.

“I’ve been in for a while now. That question is unnecessary,” Elder Harris replied.

“They hurt a student. I will participate,” Director Vincent replied.

Emperor Victor nodded and waved his hand for them to go get ready.

Left alone on his throne, he gave a small chuckle and then, unable to contain himself, he began to laugh out loud, making his laughter echo throughout the throne room.

Was what happened today surprising?

Unexpected?

They secretly let a student pass to participate in a tournament and then approached the opponent to support the plan.

All for a small world show.

Now his reputation was on the floor and surely those officials who were present before would come out and say he was angry and in a difficult situation.

Until the evening, his name would be stoned by his political opponents, enemies, and rivals who would join in trying to add fuel to the fire.

His reputation and image would fall into the depths of the abyss.

However, Victor laughed in solitude.

After all, the lower he fell, the higher he could climb.

This meant waiting for the right moment.

******

In a hotel room, Aurora listened to the news narration.

“According to the latest reports from the authorities in charge of the tournament. Student Xu Long is in perfect condition with no serious consequences, recovering from his injuries.”

“The drug shows harmful effects on the body. Experts assume that the empire had to dedicate several professionals to eliminate the after-effects.”

Aurora sighed as she listened to all the news and finally turned off the TV.

“It’s a perfect time to release a drug,” Alice said and as she met Aurora’s gaze, she analyzed. “The abyssal portals are getting closer and uncertainty is high. Some people will use it as a trump card in the face of the unexpected.”

Aurora agreed with that analysis.

Die or take that drug to increase their strength and live on?

It was a question that set many into a deep debate, though for others, the answer was simple.

“Emperor Victor’s reputation has fallen through the floor. On the internet, the ‘hashtag’ #TrashEmperor has gone viral,” Alice pointed out, and looking at the networks, she commented. “It feels like someone has been forcing it.”

Her comment came from the fact that there were hundreds of thousands of accounts constantly attacking, giving false information, and exaggerating everything, creating all kinds of theories.

“It doesn’t matter if the emperor released drug information. It’s still problematic,” Aurora muttered helplessly.

What if that drug was in the hands of a lunatic?

What if that lunatic had other lunatics under him?

Basically, it would have been a disaster if someone gave these drugs to the ‘Somali Terror’ and his men.

They would surely buy it in bulk.

It wasn’t that there were no magic drugs, but the difference in ‘magic’ drugs was that specific plants were needed and sometimes could not be grown on a large scale.

A drug made through technology did not have that deficiency and could be mass-produced if someone had the recipe, the capacity, and the resources.

“So far, it seems experimental. At least from what happened to Xu Long, it has too many consequences. His emotions seemed unstable and the damage to his body was great. True, Xu Long used it excessively, but that lets you see to what level he was affected,” Alice analyzed with a simple tone and commented. “Those who use it will damage their body and maybe even die. In that form, a Terra nova ‘maddening’ concoction is preferable.”

In the world, there were techniques and concoctions to get explosive strength enhancement, but there were always flaws.

One example was the ‘berserk’ concoctions used by some tribes in Terra nova to enter the mythical ‘berserk’ state.

An explosive increase in defense and attack by reducing the sense of pain at the expense of rationality.

“The point is that these individuals can cause significant damage before they end up dead,” Aurora said solemnly.

She didn’t care if those lunatics took these drugs and died on their own.

The problem was the period between death and by using the drug, a lunatic could harm innocents or cause great disasters.

Being strong was a unique and addictive feeling; getting lost in that state was not very difficult.

“I think Emperor Victor will take care of this, though. No one mocks an SSS-Rank and comes out victorious,” Alice muttered, and meeting her gaze, explained. “Powerful people are scary, but someone who has unified half a continent is even scarier.”

Someone strong was scary, but someone who had strength and intelligence was terrifying.

Emperor Victor conquering half a continent with no one being able to say anything made his strength and intelligence evident... Now those two qualities were supported with an overwhelming amount of resources.

“These few days of the tournament will be a storm,” Aurora muttered helplessly.