Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere was completely different from the chaos outside. Hundreds of distinguished guests had gathered beneath the enormous chandeliers, dressed in expensive suits and elegant gowns as they moved between tables, exchanged greetings, and discussed the medical breakthroughs they had brought for the evening.For many of them, this banquet was far more than a social event. It was an opportunity to gain recognition from the National Medical Association and, more importantly, to impress Maxwell Biden, the association’s president. A successful presentation could attract investors, strengthen a family’s influence in the medical industry, and turn an unknown researcher into a name everyone wanted to know.Several groups had already begun competing with one another.“I’ve spent three years developing this formula,” a young researcher proudly announced as he displayed a small silver container. “It’s a next-generation antimalarial drug. With the proper dosage, it c

Darius had already entered the banquet hall by the time the commotion over Aaron’s drug began. He had initially paid little attention to the presentation, but the moment he heard the word Soulroot, his attention sharpened.Soulroot.That was the entire reason he had agreed to attend the gala in the first place. Maxwell had promised to search for it, but Darius knew how rare the medicinal root was. If someone in Bluewave City had actually managed to obtain it, this banquet was one of the few places where he might be able to find information about it.He immediately followed the sound of the crowd until his eyes landed on Aaron.Aaron stood in the middle of the hall, proudly holding up the transparent tube of green liquid while wealthy guests surrounded him and competed to invest in his supposed cancer treatment. Cassie stood beside him, looking more pleased than ever.Darius’s eyes narrowed.Aaron?He had not expected him to be the one who possessed Soulroot.His gaze shifted to the se

Meanwhile, the attention of the banquet hall was suddenly drawn toward the entrance as a group of people hurried inside.At the center of the group was a young man in an expensive suit, his expression tense and desperate. Behind him, four men carried an elderly man on a stretcher. The patient looked extremely weak, his face pale, his lips dry, and his breathing shallow.Several guests immediately recognized them.“That’s Brian Owen.”“The young lord of the Owen family?”“What happened to his father?”The Owen family was one of the most influential families in Bluewave City, known for its wealth, business connections, and reputation. Seeing Brian arrive at the banquet with his father in such a critical condition immediately attracted everyone’s attention.Brian ignored the curious looks and hurried directly toward Aaron.“Mr. Wade!”Aaron turned around.Brian stopped in front of him and looked at him desperately.“I need your drug to save my father.”The hall fell silent.Aaron stared

Naomi walked straight toward Darius, completely ignoring the confused crowd around her. The moment she stopped in front of him, the anger and authority she had displayed earlier disappeared, replaced by genuine concern.“Mr. Darius,” she said respectfully, lowering her voice, “my father’s condition has deteriorated. Please, can you save him?”Her words sent another wave of confusion through the banquet hall.Aaron’s smile disappeared. Cassie stared at Naomi as if she had just heard something impossible. Brian Owen and the other guests exchanged bewildered looks. Why was Naomi Wen, one of the most influential young women in Bluewave City, speaking to Darius with such respect? More importantly, what did she mean by asking him to save her father?Darius frowned. “How did his condition deteriorate? That shouldn’t have happened. Did you remove the needles?”Naomi’s expression immediately changed. She lowered her head, guilt appearing in her eyes.“It was Doctor Ryan from Central City,” she

Darius looked down at Brian, who was still kneeling before him.“Didn’t you want security to throw me out a moment ago?” Darius asked calmly. “Now you need my help?”Brian swallowed hard. Shame crossed his face as he lowered his head.“I was wrong. I listened to the wrong people, and I was deceived by Aaron and George Turner. Please, Mr. Darius, I’m begging you. Save my father.”Darius stared at him for a moment before looking toward Marlon, whose condition continued to deteriorate.“Get out of my way.”Brian immediately scrambled to his feet and stepped aside.Darius walked straight to the stretcher and began examining Marlon. The surrounding doctors instinctively moved closer, expecting him to request some sophisticated equipment or rare medicine. Instead, Darius looked around and began naming ordinary ingredients.“I need palm oil, honey, ginger, salt, and clean water.”The crowd stared at him.“Palm oil?”“That’s what he’s going to use to save him?”Several people exchanged skepti