Chapter 3

 3

Axel sat at his desk, listening to a news broadcast about Maurer's pharmaceutical group releasing a new pain relief medication called Razqa80, touted as able to eliminate pain within minutes. This was the same drug that had been involved in legal issues and delayed for years.

"Maurer really has no heart, repackaging this banned drug under a different name. He's determined to market this hardcore medication that will claim more lives." Axel turned off the TV, massaging his throbbing temples.

"I need to work with a great lawyer to sue Maurer's pharmaceutical group. This damn Razqa80 drug contains substances that activate tumor cells in the body. That's why my uncle Marco has a brain tumor."

Axel scrolled through his phone, opening the case file on Maurer's pharmaceutical company that a prominent lawyer had unsuccessfully sued two years ago. Rumor had it that lawyer would be released from prison next week.

"One more week and I'll meet Mrs. Le Yuna," the lawyer who previously prosecuted Maurer's company but was jailed for two years on defamation charges.

Meanwhile, Maurer and his associates were at the pharmaceutical plant manufacturing Razqa80, the new pain medication.

"Glad to be working with you, sir," Maurer said to a Colombian man, one of his investors with an illegal drug business back home.

The Colombian signed the partnership agreement and invested in Maurer's company. "I'm pleased to work with you as well, sir."

Daniel left the room and oversaw the drug manufacturing, mixing pharmaceuticals with narcotics the Colombian had supplied.

In another area, the research lab, a pharmaceutical doctor examined a bodyguard who had failed to protect Aurel. The man lay on a stretcher with stab wounds to his arm and face, grimacing in pain.

Daniel barged in and pried open the man's mouth, forcing him to ingest one of the Razqa80 pain pills. "Mmmpphh! Let me go!"

"Swallow it, idiot! It won't kill you." Daniel clamped the bodyguard's jaw shut until he swallowed the pill.

Within three minutes, the drug took effect, dulling the man's pain. He stopped struggling and calmed down.

The doctor and Daniel smiled as the Colombian investor and Maurer entered to inspect the trial.

"The drug works incredibly fast. He's no longer in pain and feels calm. The sedative mix prevents panic, eliminating the pain sensation within minutes," the pharmaceutical researcher explained.

"Excellent. This will skyrocket my pharmaceutical empire, and we'll supply these drugs to major hospitals across Europe," Maurer declared with a devilish grin.

Back to Axel, who was in the autopsy room examining a deceased patient—standard procedure to determine cause of death.

To his shock, he found tumor cells had spread to the patient's brain. This time, the victim was only around ten years old.

"I need to speak with the parents," Axel said after reviewing the child's file. He sutured the organs back into the small body.

"Of course, Doctor."

Axel shook his head sadly and escorted the weeping mother into his office.

"Good evening, ma'am," he greeted her.

The woman took a seat across from him. "What happened to my child, Doctor? Was there anything suspicious about the cause of death?"

"Did your child take any medications?"

She nodded. "After an appendectomy, my child was prescribed pain medication by our regular doctor for frequent stomach pains."

"How long did your child take that medication?"

"About five months. After the surgery and pain meds, my child seemed healthy and active again. But last night, there was a sudden seizure and loss of consciousness."

"Did your child ever complain of headaches?"

"Yes, but I thought it was nothing serious. What's going on, Doctor?"

"Your child developed a malignant brain tumor, causing the seizure when the tumor cells spread to the brain stem."

The mother wept harder. "But there was no infection from the appendectomy incision?"

"No issues with the surgical site, ma'am. It was solely from taking that pain medication—the one that was previously sued over but the pharmaceutical owner stubbornly kept distributing, despite its dangers."

The explanation left the woman aghast. "Really, Doctor? That medicine did this to my child?"

"If you research the lawsuit from two years ago, you'll find your answers. That's all I can tell you. Please be more careful in the future. I'm very sorry for your loss." Axel ended the conversation.

His phone buzzed with a message from his informant containing several photo attachments.

The first showed Maurer shaking hands with the Colombian man. The second depicted the bodyguard from the mall incident being used as a guinea pig for Razqa80.

However, the third picture took a minute to d******d. When it appeared, Axel's eyes burned and his hands clenched the phone tightly as his chest heaved—he seemed overwhelmed with emotion.

"I will shatter you into shards of glass that can never be reassembled, Maurer. You are truly evil, a demon in human form."

Meanwhile, the mother of the medication victim had left Axel's office.