Building The Strongest Family

Chapter 399: Debate And Doubt

The dining hall of Dominion Sanctum was bathed in a gentle glow, as the last bits of sunlight faded behind the broad glass walls.

In the middle of the space, a long, dark table made of obsidian took center stage, elegantly set with silverware and immaculate dishes.

There was only, Arthur, Emily, Philip,Ashley, Nathaniel and Julian sitting around the dining table as for the rest, they are currently quite busy, taking care of some matters.

A subtle hint of roasted herbs lingered in the air, but surprisingly, no one seemed eager to eat.

Arthur sat at the head of the table, calm and composed, not uttering a word.

Evolon floated above the table, encircled by numerous holographic screens displaying streams of data that sparkled on the gleaming surface.

The holograms danced in the eyes of everyone present, graphs, production schedules, hospital data, the irrefutable proof that a cure for cancer was at hand.

Evolon’s voice sliced through the quiet, clear and almost methodical. "Clinical validation is complete. Trials have shown a one hundred percent recovery rate for all types of cancer, with no adverse reactions aside from typical fatigue. Our distribution network is ready to go; we can launch within ten days hours as soon as we get the green light."

His words echoed in the room, steady and unwavering. Even the soft hum of the ventilation system seemed to hold its breath.

Arthur leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping a gentle rhythm on the table. "What’s the plan for public disclosure?"

"Ready to go," Evolon replied swiftly. "We’ll issue a press release simultaneously through all Osborn Media channels and trusted third parties. The Foundation will frame it from a humanitarian angle, focusing on hope rather than profit."

Julian nodded slowly, taking it all in. "And how’s our production capacity looking?"

This was Philip’s opportunity to speak. He cleared his throat and leaned in. "We can currently produce eight million doses a day. Our plants in Varenya and Noctis are set to ramp up operations. If we activate the expansion option, we could double that output in two weeks."

Richard jumped in next: "Our transportation logistics are polished,drones, carriers, convoys, all routes mapped across major regions. Once Evolon calibrates them through Hivemind, we’ll have an edge that no competitor can rival."

Arthur carefully surveyed the faces around him, maintaining a neutral expression. "What’s the outlook on our finances?"

Philip hesitated for a moment but then spoke thoughtfully. "At this price point, which matches ONCURA, our profit margins will be tight. But..."

A small smile crept onto his face. "Brand equity could be incredibly valuable."

The pragmatic voices at the table began to engage more enthusiastically, their discussions intertwined like gears working together.

Richard was the first to speak again. "We need to secure global patents before going public. If our formula gets out, it could be catastrophic, we could see a flood of counterfeit products."

Philip nodded in agreement. "Once the cure is known, governments will push us for free licensing. We can’t let that happen. We need to find leverage,maybe framing it as part of a humanitarian initiative to maintain control."

Emily raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "So, we’re basically using compassion as a front?"

Richard shrugged. "It’s just a label. Control is still control."

Nathaniel finally looked up from his tablet, his voice calm yet firm. "If we hesitate, someone else will seize the opportunity. The political sharks are already circling. Competitors could roll out ’partial cures’ and portray us as the ones denying hope. If we don’t control the narrative, we could lose everything."

Arthur listened in silence.

Julian frowned. "Is this really a war?"

Nathaniel’s gaze shifted toward him. "Everything is a battle,supply chains, patents, influence; it’s all a form of conflict, albeit one with cleaner hands."

Emily let out a soft sigh. "If we lets this moment slip away, the world will fill the silence with chaos. We have to either take charge of the story or risk being overwhelmed by it."

Julian’s voice cut through the charged atmosphere, gentle yet assertive. "What if we decide to do neither? What if we simply let it go, no strings attached?"

Everyone looked at him, clearly taken aback.

Without wavering, Julian held their gaze. "We’re discussing healing the world. Why turn this into another transaction?"

Richard let out a scoff. "Because people don’t grasp the concept of gifts; they only get ownership."

Julian ignored the comment and turned his attention to Arthur. "You mentioned that this cure has the potential to change everything. But if we turn it into just another tool for control, we might as well be the same as those we’ve replaced."

Ashley leaned in, propping her chin on her hand, her sharp gaze fixed on Julian. "Idealism won’t feed ten billion people, Uncle Julian, money will. Structure will. If we give it away freely, governments could use it as a weapon and companies could make fake versions. People could die from counterfeit doses! Are you really suggesting we could create chaos with good intentions?"

Julian’s reply was soft, carrying a hint of sadness. "Maybe so, but at least it wouldn’t be intentional."

An uneasy silence fell over the group, broken only by the gentle hum of the holographic projectors.

Arthur finally spoke, his tone steady and firm. "Evolon,the Foundation’s communication plan?"

Evolon responded promptly. "It’s already in draft form. Kaia and Billy will spearhead a public campaign highlighting humanitarian efforts and appealing to emotions to present this as Osborn’s gift to the world."

Ashley offered a faint smile at this. "A gift that brings in great PR benefits."

Arthur chose to overlook her remark and addressed Philip and Richard. "Make sure the initial distribution goes through our hospitals,every vial needs to bear the Osborn crest."

Richard nodded in agreement. "Got it."

Julian let out a sharp breath, frustration evident in his voice. "So what’s the plan? We’re just turning hope into a product again?"

Arthur met his gaze with calm determination. "Hope has always been a product; we’re just polishing it."

Julian’s expression darkened as he pressed on, "Do you hear what you’re saying?"

Arthur remained unresponsive.

Nathaniel cleared his throat to ease the tension. "We need to prepare for public reaction. Expect riots, protests, and conspiracy theories. ONCURA caused global panic when it launched; this will be even worse."

Emily nodded in understanding. "We can flood the media with stories about unity, emotional clips, personal testimonials, all aimed at expressing gratitude. If we keep people focused on thanking us, they won’t have time to question our motives."

Philip smirked. "Using goodwill as a means of control,that’s the cleanest way to keep a hold on them."

Ashley chimed in, her sharp wit slicing through the heaviness. "If we’re going to do this, let’s do it in style. We need campaigns that evoke a sense of salvation,through music, visuals, and design. Let them cry watching our ads; if they’re emotional, they’ll be loyal."

Julian groaned at her comment. "You’re making this sound like we’re marketing perfumes."

Ashley brushed off his remark with a smile. "We’re selling belief, Uncle. And belief brings in more profit."

A light laugh fluttered through the room, easing the tension for a moment,even Arthur’s lips twitched slightly, though his eyes remained distant.

As laughter faded, Arthur slowly scanned the room from one end to the other.

"If we save millions," he said calmly, "but lose everything tomorrow,would you still consider that wrong?"

His words landed with the weight of thunder.

Silence fell over the group; even the gentle hum from Evolon seemed to hush.

Julian leaned back in his chair, his eyes heavy with contemplation. "That depends on what you mean by ’everything.’"

Arthur stood, buttoning his suit jacket with intention. "Our wealth? Our influence? The safety of our family? The empire we’ve built? If all of that vanished but the world endured, would it still be wrong?"

Julian gazed down at his plate, which remained completely untouched, as if he hoped to find some clarity there among the remnants of dinner.

"If you need to ask that question, Arthur... then deep down, you already know the answer."

Arthur remained silent.

Dinner ended in a quiet atmosphere; plates sat idle as the flickering candles cast shadows in the stillness of the room.

Family members drifted away one by one,some with a calm demeanor, while others seemed burdened by unspoken worries.

Once the room was steeped in silence, Arthur headed toward the balcony. The glass doors opened with a soft whoosh, letting the cool night air flow in.

Below him, Dominion Sanctum buzzed with life, the heart of a world now lying within his reach. Hovercars zipped through the sky like gold veins.

Behind him, echoes of family discussions hung in the air: arguments about ethics and figures mingled with hopes and dreams, all slowly fading into a distant memory.

Leaning against the railing, Arthur felt the gentle breeze tousle his hair. His reflection stared back at him from the glass,calm, inscrutable, and solitary.

He raised his wine glass, swirling the deep crimson liquid. It caught the city lights, sparkling like blood against the dark backdrop.

"Right or wrong," he whispered to himself, "it all comes down to who gets to tell the tale."

The estate’s lights twinkled below like scattered stars across a boundless sky.

Taking a sip, the sharp taste ignited his senses. With quiet determination, he turned away and walked into the dim corridors of Dominion Sanctum.