Connecticut, USA, City of Groton.
In the new millennium, Pfizer unveiled the world's largest medicine research center here. With the world's most advanced facilities, it employed more than 700 researchers and it also owned the world's most advanced manufacturing and testing facilities. However, the company had been hit hard by generic drugs. Since last year, the world's largest pharmaceutical company experienced negative growth and had a 57% drop in net profits. Not only did its stock price drop, it was also experiencing severe cash flow issues.
Under such circumstances, CEO Steele set aside all his tasks to look for new sources of income. Issuing new corporate bonds was only one of these sources. Of course, due to decline performance, their ability to find financing was also shrinking.
When he heard that Huang Xuan had already raised $1.2 billion USD, Steele was amazed. He originally thought that it would take Huang Xuan at least a few months. Once he received confirmation from Citibank, he immediately went to inform the board. In the last quarter, the board had been putting a lot of pressure on him over these funding issues.
Connecticut is the third largest state in the United States, yet most people have never heard of it. Apart from its insurance and nuclear submarine industries, the state was not known for much else. Yale University was the exception. The three most recent presidents of the United States were alumni's of Yale.
Groton was even less known. When Huang Xuan was connecting via New York, there was only one flight headed there.
Despite all of this, Pfizer's research center was still impressive. Huang Xuan was relived after Rolin confirmed this fact.
When Huang Xuan read through a summary of Pfizer on the energy screen, an idea popped up in his head. "Rolin, what do you think about selling medical formula's to Pfizer?"
"All temporal and spatial activities that take place in your own plane will deplete the energy in the buffer zone."
"So what? We'll only have to replenish the energy."
Rolin hesitated before answering, "In fact, our time travelling has depleted the buffer zone's energy. Even though we used up less than expected, apart from killing Napoleon, we just broke even in the other planes. If we carry on intentionally depleting the buffer zone's energy, we might have difficulty defending ourselves when other time travellers come again."
Something in Huang Xuan's brain clicked. He responded, "If we find a way to add a significant amount of energy to the buffer zone, can we sell medical formulas?"
"Theoretically, there isn't a problem with what you say, but in certain cases, introducing advanced technology ahead of time may result in a sustained reduction in energy in the buffer zone. Also, all estimates of buffer energy consumption is limited."
"Got it." Huang Xuan didn't actually understand it, he then anxiously asked, "How much energy is required to sell the formula of a best-selling drug?" Only drugs which could make over $1 billion USD in revenue were considered "best-selling", for example, Viagra.
"At least 200,000 units of energy." Rolin quickly estimated: "We'll lose 1200 units initially. Afterwards, we'll gradually lose 200,000 units, perhaps even more."
"How much energy did we gain when we killed Napoleon?
"4,000 units."
Huang Xuan hesitated upon hearing the big difference in number. Finally, he spoke, "Why's there such a huge difference? How would producing Viagra have such a significant impact on the buffer zone?"
"Medicine changes living conditions, it will be hard to predict the consequences. Best-selling drugs are usually direct, they're usually special medicine that are efficient and have a defined function." After explaining this, Rolin continued, "Moreover, when we killed Napoleon, we only gained a portion of the energy lost on that plane. The remaining energy lost by P129 is irrecoverable. On the other hand, we have to account for all the losses we incur in this plane. Bit by bit, the differences add up."
Disappointed, Huang Xuan asked, "So we can't use it?"
"Not quite." Rolin truthfully replied. "For example, the change made by computer programs isn't significant. Whether people use Windows or Linux, it doesn't really affect the development of the plane. Similarly, increasing work productivity by just a few percent won't use up too much energy from the buffer zone."
Huang Xuan rejoiced at this and said, "Then how much energy will be consumed if you give me a system more advanced than Windows?"
"If I search and only hand it to you, it'll only consume a few units of energy. But if you completely replace Windows with it, it'll consume about 50,000 units of energy." Rolin seriously calculated.
Huang swallowed a bit, if killing Napoleon 10 times would make him $200 billion USD, it just might be worth it. At this time, they had already reached the exit. He could already see his name on a big sign, but he was unable to control himself and asked, "What technologies would consume small amounts of energy?"
"Plenty." Rolin confirmed with a short and direct answer.
Huang Xuan swallowed again.
Before he could say much else, Pfizer's representative, Bob saw Huang Xuan. He surveyed the 5 Israelite bodyguards beside Huang Xuan. Pointing at the sign, he spoke in loose Mandarin, "Mr. Huang Xuan?"
Huang Xuan's face lit up with a smile as he walked over. He looked no different from a high school tourist. No one would have guessed that he had spent $80,000,000 USD just to get there.
Although Citibank was managing the bonds, he could not return even a cent of interest less on the huge loan of $1.2 billion USD. Huang Xuan had already used up all of his cash on the last two trips alone. After pawning off a portion of the jewelry, he saved up the total amount of the loan. The interest earned on the Pfizer bonds was 6.8%, but he would still lose the difference of 3% interest each year, a total of $80,000,000 USD over the next two years. This Mr. Steele, who Huang Xuan had yet to meet, was already increasing the price by 4 times.
This type of situation, could only be done by mutual consent. So Huang Xuan had nothing to be upset about, after all, he was buying a life for $80,000,000 USD.
There was a total of 3 people welcoming them, but only Bob knew Mandarin, but he wasn't fluent at all. Huang Xuan couldn't help but converse with him in English instead, he took it as an opportunity to practice. Learning from the base, he had excellent at conversing, poor at reading, and as for writing, it seems the people who created the system didn't consider it at all.
"Mr. Huang, are you thinking of getting into the pharmaceutical industry in China?" Bob half guessed. This was how many large foreign companies earned money, as long as you bought their products, they would teach you how to manufacture and how to sell. For example, the additives industry was like this. A lot of foreign companies spent a lot of money on research for the formula. So one only had to buy these additives to be able to use those formula. This method greatly encouraged competition. It also reduced the overall cost of research by centralizing the resources for it and this method also reduced the risk for downstream manufacturers.
Naturally, Huang Xuan was unsure of the rules. However, his innate sharpness told him not to share his plans with others so easily. He chuckled and changed the topic to talk about Pfizer.
Bob had no choice but to talk about his own company. Huang Xuan did this intentionally. He has had no time to focus on these matters, and his mind has been in a whirl. It helped to have someone slowly explaining things to him.
Just like many large corporations, Pfizer had gained its strength after several successful mergers. After the merger with Warner-Lambert, Pfizer established the current medicine research center. A few years later, the merger with Wyeth cemented Pfizer's position as the largest pharmaceutical company in the world. However, troubles soon followed after it.
Its biggest problem was its shortage of funds.
Pfizer issued a total of $6 billion USD worth of short-term loan bonds, but Wall Street didn't take too fondly to this. Due to the board's objections, he couldn't use more attractive alternatives, such as convertible bonds (a type of bond that the holder can convert into a specified number of shares of common stock in the issuing company or cash of equal value). With only a fixed interest return on the bonds, the Pfizer bonds were undervalued in the market, and only naive children like Huang Xuan would have bought the bonds. At least, that was what Bob thought.
Steele wanted to see the little white wolf they had pulled here, so he waited with several board members at the center. Most importantly, they still had not received the money.
The car had only just arrived before several people went out to receive them. Huang Xuan was dressed differently today, he wore Louis Vuitton casual wear, specially picked for him by his mother. She thought the casual wear would better emphasize how unique Huang Xuan was. IZO's men gave off a completely different feeling. Five people who all stood nearly 2m tall, they exuded a domineering feeling.
"Mr Huang, it's nice to meet you. Your generosity has rejuvenated Pfizer." Steele clasped Huang Xuan's hand with both of his. His palms were the same size as Huang Xuan's. They were warm and dry, and didn't make Huang Xuan feel uncomfortable.
"Pfizer always had energy. All I did was increase its strength." Huang Xuan was not stingy with his praises, although he could not understand how a company, which priced certain medicines at U$12 billion USD, could land itself in such a financial state.
From the looks of it, Steele gladly accepted Huang Xuan's commendations of him. He released his right hand and introduced Huang Xuan to each of the board members, who had come to receive him. He kept his left hand on Huang Xuan's back, looking every bit the part of a benevolent elder. Yet, he did not treat Huang Xuan as a teenager in any way.
Huang Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly after he had been introduced to each of the board members. In a mock excited voice, he said, "Mr Steele, I would like to see the research laboratories now."
"But of course." Steele heard Huang Xuan's request, but he tugged at the person next to him and said, "Let Dr. Ginger bring you around. He's very familiar with the center's facilities."
Ginger was a plump Belgian and deputy director of the research center. Without hesitation, Huang Xuan shook his head and replied, "Mr Steele, I think it'll be best if you let me walk around on my own. Dr Ginger must be very busy."
Steele surveyed Huang Xuan's serious demeanor. Reluctantly, he nodded and said, "Ginger, listen to Mr Huang Xuan. Show him to our laboratories, just like I told you before."