Chapter 36: Forcing the Cure. 18th September 2021.

Pierre Beaumont was sitting in his office studying the molecule model he had built to cure the Hei Bai virus. With the help of the enhanced intelligence from his Zetan monocle, Pierre had made a great discovery. Pierre had found that a high dosage of a proprietary molecule of Ammonium Molybdate Tetrahydrate could draw the dormant Hei Bai virus out of healthy cells and kill it. The problem was that the cure was much more dangerous than the disease. The Hei Bai virus lay dormant in the body unless someone had a very high selenium intake. Ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate, on the other hand, could cause liver failure and infertility in high doses. To kill the Hei Bai virus, one had to take a large dose of the drug.

Pierre had a trump on hand. The corrupt GHA director Theodore Ahmadi was looking for a new hand to feed him, now that the bribes had dried up after Jing Xi's demise.

Theodore entered Pierre's office, and Pierre met him cordially:

- Welcome, Theodore. It's so good to see you. I hope my tokens of appreciation for your hard work reached your family.

Theodore:

- Thank you, Pierre. Yes, my family loved your gifts.

Pierre:

- Glad to hear that. I am happy to keep providing for your family if you can help me spread public health awareness. I have come up with a great breakthrough.

Theodore:

- Promoting public health is the basis for my entire organisation. Please share your findings with me, Pierre.

Pierre:

- Estimates based on serological testing infer that billions of people are infected by dormant Hei Bai Virus.

Theodore:

- Yes, I saw those studies. The same study also showed that one has to eat a lot of selenium to activate the virus. That's never going to happen unless there is a new bioweapon attack.

Pierre:

- But what if I showed you, that dormant Hei Bai virus can break out without an excessive selenium intake?

Theodore:

- It can't. We haven't had any cases where a high selenium intake wasn't involved.

Pierre:

- Correct. But what if I pay some scientists to publish a fake study claiming that? Meanwhile, I'll fill all media with terrifying imagery from the New York and Xuwan outbreaks.

- Furthermore, I want you and the GHA to release terrifying statements about the new findings.

Theodore:

- Why would you benefit from this?

Pierre:

- Because I have released a new drug to cure the Hei Bai virus. A proprietary molecule of Ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate. The drug will contain the equivalent of 1mg of Molybdenum.

Having said this, Pierre handed Theodore a document. Theodore read the document for a while and replied:

- That's five times the upper limit for daily molybdenum intake. Such high levels could cause liver damage and infertility.

Pierre:

- But it does cure the Hei Bai Virus.

Theodore:

- Yes. But considering how easy it is to not trigger a dormant Hei Bai virus infection, this cure is a lot worse than the disease.

Pierre:

- Exactly and that's the purpose of any drug.

- If a drug has dangerous side effects, which another drug can reduce, one has created an endless spiral of drug use. That's great for business!

Theodore:

- That's very cynical.

Pierre:

- Funny that the man who covered up the first case of Hei Bai virus, is criticising morals. I know what you did, Theodore.

Theodore:

- There is a nice mansion in your neighbourhood that is up for sale…

Pierre:

- I can organise that.

- But you must be starving. Let's head to a nice restaurant and celebrate Global Health efforts!

Having said this, Pierre led Theodore out of his office. Pierre felt excited about the new evil plan that would make him even wealthier and his malicious grin couldn't leave his ugly face!