Blue and Green Pills

"Based on the pill you provided, Dr. List and I have identified several properties. However, only two can be replicated and manufactured: one restores stamina, and the other wards off hunger.

Using the two properties we had already analyzed, we found substitute materials through experiments and developed these two new medicines."

As Dr. Smith explained, he handed a box to Li Chuan.

Li Chuan took the box. Inside were two pills, one blue and one green.

"How effective are they?"

"Tests showed that the new blue pill, which restores stamina, allowed a normal adult man to instantly recover half his stamina after becoming completely exhausted. He could take another one after a three-hour interval.

The stronger the person's body, the less effective it will be; the weaker the person, the better the effect. However, stronger people will also have a shorter interval before they can take another pill, while weaker people will have to wait longer."

Dr. Smith pointed to the blue pill as he introduced it.

Li Chuan nodded.

"So, if a physically strong fitness enthusiast exhausts himself, he might not recover half his stamina after taking it. Maybe only a third or a quarter. But he won't need to wait three hours before taking another one.

For someone in poor health, like an old man or a child, it might instantly restore more than half their stamina, perhaps even fully restore it. But they would have to wait five or six hours before taking another. Is that what you mean?"

"That's right. We'll continue testing it and produce a detailed, complete data sheet later."

Dr. Smith picked up the green pill and continued his introduction.

"A normal adult man can take one green anti-hunger pill and go an entire day without eating. At most, three can be taken at once.

Likewise, there will be minor variations depending on the user's build."

"Very good. Roughly how much does each pill cost to produce?"

Li Chuan closed the box and placed it on the table.

The production cost of the pills would affect their future sales profits. If the cost was too high to make a profit, there would be no need to manufacture them.

Dr. Smith proudly lifted his chin.

"Don't worry about that. If the cost were too high, I wouldn't have called the experiment a success. The blue pill costs an average of just one Soren per pill to produce, while the green pill costs even less—only half a Soren."

"Excellent. That's quite a bit cheaper than the Power Pill!"

A smile immediately appeared on Li Chuan's face when he heard Dr. Smith state the production costs.

Soren was Sokovia's currency. One Soren was roughly equivalent to one yuan back home, while the previous production cost of a Power Pill had been five Soren each.

However, the Power Pill followed a high-end strategy. Each pill sold for as much as one thousand Soren, yielding considerable profits.

A pill costing one thousand yuan sounded expensive, but there had never been a shortage of wealthy people in this world. To restore their virility or maintain their health, plenty of people would pay not just one thousand, but even ten thousand.

And it was not only the wealthy. People from the middle and lower-income classes could also afford to spend one or two thousand now and then to buy a couple of pills.

It was precisely the Power Pill's two-hundredfold profit margin that had allowed Li Group to rise from third-rate status back into the first tier.

"The Power Pill can improve physical strength with long-term use, so its ingredients are much better. The blue and green pills are only temporarily effective, so their ingredients are considerably inferior."

Dr. Smith explained the reason in a single sentence.

"The blue pill can be sold alongside the Power Pill. Raise its price to five hundred. The green pill, meanwhile, should be sold cheaply—just one yuan. It won't make much profit, but it will spread Li Group's name more quickly."

Looking at the two little pills on the table, Li Chuan had already formed a rough plan.

The Power Pill and blue pill would continue following the high-end route together. Strength plus endurance—those middle-aged and elderly company bosses would definitely love them.

The green anti-hunger pill did not need to be sold at a high price. This was not wartime, and most people had decent living standards. It was not as though they could not afford food.

Only those truly living in poverty would need the green pill. Selling it cheaply was meant as charity, further cementing his image as a philanthropist.

That image should not be underestimated. As long as he had an excellent reputation among the public, the government would have to weigh his influence carefully before making a move against him.

One yuan could keep someone fed for an entire day. How many impoverished people could that save?

And once sales volume picked up, it could still make some money. After all, when many low-income people needed to save money, using this method to cut expenses for a while was not uncommon.

The specifics would have to be left to Jack, who was in charge of publicity and sales. The basic idea was there, but professional matters were best left to professionals.

"You've worked hard, Dr. Smith. If you need anything, speak to Uncle Li. The Hydra organization that kidnapped you is enormous. Until I deal with them, you cannot leave the base and move about freely."

According to Dr. List's testimony, the one seeking the Power Pill formula was a Hydra leader named John Garrett, whose public identity was that of a highly influential Level Eight agent in S.H.I.E.L.D.

With Hydra Base in Sokovia destroyed, Hydra would definitely investigate. If Dr. Smith, who had originally been tied up in the base, safely returned home and continued working for Li Group,

then Hydra agents would surely come knocking on his door again before long.

So, three days after the Sokovia base was destroyed, Li Chuan reported Dr. Smith missing to the Sokovian police and put on a show of mobilizing every connection he had to search for Dr. Smith's whereabouts.

This created the illusion that he had no idea Smith had been taken by Hydra.

Of course, John Garrett would eventually cause him trouble over the Power Pill formula, but at least in Garrett's eyes, Li Chuan was merely an ordinary wealthy businessman.

Moreover, it was not all of Hydra that wanted the Power Pill formula, only John Garrett's faction.

"I understand. It's fine. If you hadn't come to save me, I might already be dead. Besides, I quite like doing research like this, without anyone bothering me."

Dr. Smith waved his hand, clearly unconcerned about being unable to go outside.

"I'll also need you to keep an eye on Dr. List. Don't let him cause any trouble."

As Dr. Smith prepared to leave, Li Chuan thought for a moment and added the reminder.

Dr. List had been forced to join them, so he was certainly unwilling. Li Chuan had to remain on guard.

However, he was not S.H.I.E.L.D. He would not treat Dr. List the way they had treated Zola. Dr. List had no freedom whatsoever here, nor was he someone worthy of trust.

He was simply a prisoner. Li Chuan only needed his research abilities, so he gave him better food and accommodations than an ordinary prisoner.

Perhaps only when Dr. List was no longer useful to him and no longer posed a threat would Li Chuan consider letting him go.