Blue and Green Pills

"Based on the pill you provided, Dr. List and I have analyzed several properties, but only two can be synthesized and produced: one restores stamina, and the other staves off hunger.

Using those two properties, we ran experiments to find substitute materials and developed these two new drugs."

Dr. Smith explained as he handed a box to Li Chuan.

Li Chuan took the box, which contained one blue and one green pill: "How effective are they roughly?"

"After testing, the blue stamina-restoring pill can instantly recover half the stamina of an average adult male when fully exhausted, with a three-hour cooldown before the next dose.

The stronger the person, the weaker the effect; the weaker the person, the stronger the effect. But the stronger the person, the shorter the cooldown, and the weaker the person, the longer the cooldown."

Dr. Smith first pointed at the blue pill and explained.

Li Chuan nodded: "So you mean someone like a fit gym-goer who's exhausted might not recover half—maybe only a third or a quarter—but can take it again before three hours are up.

While someone frail, like an old man or a child, might recover more than half instantly, or even fully, but would need to wait five or six hours for the next dose. That's about it, right?"

"Correct. We'll continue testing and provide a detailed, complete data sheet later."

Dr. Smith picked up the green pill and continued: "This green hunger-resisting pill lets a normal adult male skip eating for a full day with one dose, up to three pills at once.

Again, there'll be slight variations based on the user's build."

"Good. What's the approximate cost per pill?"

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

The pill's cost would determine the profit margin for sales. If it was too high to be profitable, there was no point in producing it.

Dr. Smith raised his head smugly: "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 unit to produce, and the green pill is even cheaper—half a Soren."

"Excellent. That's much lower than the Power Pill's cost!"

Hearing the cost, Li Chuan broke into a smile.

The Soren was Sokovia's currency, roughly equivalent to one yuan back home, while the Power Pill had cost five Sorens per pill to produce.

But the Power Pill targeted the high-end market, selling for a thousand Sorens each, with hefty profits.

A thousand-per-pill price tag sounded steep, but the world never lacked for the wealthy. To regain their vigor or maintain their health, they'd pay not just a thousand but even ten thousand without hesitation.

And it wasn't just the rich—middle and lower-class folks could occasionally splurge a couple thousand for two pills and still afford it.

That two-hundred-fold profit margin had lifted the Li Group from third-rate back to first-rate.

"The Power Pill boosts physical strength with long-term use and uses much better ingredients. The blue and green pills only work temporarily, so their ingredients are far inferior," Dr. Smith explained in one sentence.

"The blue pill can be paired with the Power Pill. I'll price it at five hundred. The green pill will sell cheap—just one Soren—not for profit, mainly to quickly build the Li Group's reputation."

Looking at the two small pills on the table, Li Chuan had a rough plan in mind.

The Power Pill combined with the blue pill would continue on the high-end track—strength plus endurance. Middle-aged and elderly company bosses would love it.

As for the green hunger-resisting pill, there was no need to sell it at a high price. This wasn't wartime; most people lived decently and weren't starving.

The green pill was only needed by the truly impoverished. Selling it cheap was an act of charity, further cementing his image as a philanthropist.

Don't underestimate that image. As long as he had an excellent reputation in the public eye, the government would have to think twice before moving against him, weighing his influence.

One Soren for a full day's food—how many poor people could that save?

And if the volume picked up, it could still turn a small profit. Many low-income folks saving up might occasionally use this method to tighten their belts for a while.

The specifics would be handed off to Jack, who handled marketing and sales. The idea was sound, but professional matters were best left to professionals.

"Good work, Dr. Smith. If you need anything, you can ask Uncle Li. The Hydra organization that kidnapped you is massive. Until I've dealt with them, you can't leave the base or move freely for now."

According to Dr. List's testimony, the one who wanted the Power Pill formula was a Hydra leader named John Garrett, publicly a high-ranking Level 8 agent at S.H.I.E.L.D.

With the Sokovia Hydra base blown up, Hydra would investigate. If Dr. Smith, who'd been tied up there, returned home safely and went back to work at the Li Group, Hydra agents would likely come knocking again soon.

So three days after the Sokovia base was destroyed, he'd reported Dr. Smith missing to the Sokovia police and made a show of using all his connections to search for him.

Creating the illusion that he had no idea Dr. Smith had been taken by Hydra.

Of course, that John Garrett, still wanting the Power Pill formula, would eventually cause trouble for him. But at least in his eyes, Li Chuan was just an ordinary wealthy businessman.

And it wasn't all of Hydra after the formula—just John Garrett's faction.

"I understand. No problem. If you hadn't rescued me, I might be dead by now. Besides, I actually like this undisturbed research life."

Dr. Smith waved his hand, clearly unbothered by being unable to go out.

"One more thing—keep an eye on Dr. List for me. Don't let him cause any trouble."

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

Dr. List had been forced to join him and was surely resentful. He couldn't let his guard down.

But he wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D., and he wouldn't treat Dr. List like Zola. Dr. List had no freedom here and wasn't a trusted member.

He was a prisoner, plain and simple. Li Chuan just needed his research skills, so he gave him better food and lodging than a typical inmate.

Maybe one day, when Dr. List was no longer useful or a threat, he'd consider letting him go.