Chapter 172: Sky-high Price
Aisha did not go into a long explanation about anything; she simply, as the host of the reception, politely bowed to everyone and exchanged some pleasantries.
The music continued, with men and women in the dance floor twisting their bodies freely, releasing excess hormones from within.
After coming down, Aisha naturally walked to Chen Yang’s side.
After all, the purpose of her hosting this reception was to help Chen Yang get to know some upper-class people.
To help him achieve a class leap.
This was also what Chen Yang needed most at present; getting to know these upper-class figures from various countries would not only help his business in China, but more importantly, directly affect his future layout.
“Dear Your Highness.” British Consul General in Shanghai Sir Carl Abbott was the first to approach holding a wine cup.
He was nearing sixty, with gray-white hair impeccably combed, an exquisite tailcoat with an Empire medal pinned to the front lapel, exuding a mixture of top-grade Scotch whiskey and cologne.
“Oh, Mr. Carl, hello.” Aisha politely raised the wine cup in her hand and clinked it with his.
“Your Highness,” he deliberately closed the distance to make his words seem more intimate, “please allow me to once again express the British Empire’s respect to the Dutch Royal Family.”
“I received the telegram; you seem very interested in the penicillin from the University of Sheffield laboratory.”
“Forgive my bluntness, this medicine has been researched continuously for ten years without breaking through the shackles of mass production.”
“Sir Fleming’s so-called inflammation killer has not been proven, and this drug hasn’t even entered clinical trials. I think your investment is far too risky.”
“Her Majesty the Queen would not agree to you making such a hasty decision.” Carl gently swirled the amber liquid in his cup, the ice cubes clinking crisply against the glass.
“Carl, are you questioning Princess Aisha’s judgment?” From not far away, Shell Oil Asia Director General Manager, the Scotsman Mr. Medillen, like a mountain of flesh wrapped in an expensive fine-spun wool suit, slowly moved toward the group.
He held a wine cup in one hand and a thick Havana cigar in the other, thick smoke swirling around him, blurring his somewhat rugged features.
It seemed deliberate for those around to hear his voice: “Your Highness is not your British Royal Scientific Academy.”
“As early as three years ago, Professor Flori wanted to cooperate with you, but you kept making excuses about processes and delayed him for three years.”
“Now that they’ve found a suitable partner, you’re planning to intervene.”
“Mr. Carl, you seem to lack a bit of noble demeanor.”
Carl shrugged and said: “Mr. Medillen, you seem to be overthinking; we don’t care about penicillin at all.”
“If the Royal Scientific Academy were really interested in this medicine, we would have made a move long ago.”
“In fact, we’ve studied reports on this medicine more than once, but most people’s opinion is still that its value isn’t worth large-scale investment.”
“Because a drug that can’t be mass-produced, no matter how valuable, cannot bring substantial revenue.”
“Mr. Medillen, you should be clear that a country’s scientific research fund is limited; we can’t cover everything and can only invest in valuable projects.”
“No wonder you British are so stupid, completely failing to understand the true value of penicillin.”
At that moment, a mocking voice slowly rang out. Hearing this voice, Princess Aisha’s hand holding the champagne glass tightened imperceptibly.
The group’s gazes followed the direction of the voice.
The owner of the voice was none other than the counselor to the German Consul General in Shanghai, Dr. Otto von Fellman.
He was tall and thin, wearing a black diplomat’s uniform with nearly rigid tailoring, his gaze toward the group as cold as a scalpel.
Fellman took a sip of champagne, casually picked up a silver soup spoon from the table, and unhurriedly tapped it against the wall of the crystal champagne glass he held high.
“Ding ding ding,” the crisp sound seemed to have a strange magic; in an instant, all conversation and music in Peacock Hall paused under the tapping of the silver spoon.
Even the band conductor put down his baton and looked stunned at this German diplomat.
Fellman was very satisfied with this deliberately created moment of silence.
He looked at no one, striding with precise steps through the crowd, heading straight for Princess Aisha at the center.
He stopped three steps from the princess.
Without any small talk, without any extra movements, he expressionlessly pulled a neatly folded document from the inner pocket of his uniform.
At the top of the document, a bold black swastika symbol gleamed under the brilliant crystal lights, exuding a chilling aura of authority.
Below the symbol were equally cold and clear printed words: 《Penicillin Patent Immediate Procurement Offer》.
“Your Highness,” Fellman said slowly, “the German Empire government, based on its high regard for scientific progress and humanitarian causes, formally presents you with this legally binding immediate procurement offer.”
“The price is double your acquisition price, that is, two hundred thousand pound sterling.”
“Cash payment, immediately honored, in the Empire Bank’s vaults or your designated Swiss bank account, ready at any time.”
He leaned forward slightly, exuding an extreme sense of pressure, “Berlin hopes that with the Dutch Royal Family’s wisdom, you can make the correct choice most in line with the trend of the times.”
It had to be said that Fellman’s tone carried a hint of arrogance from beginning to end.
He wasn’t negotiating with the other party but simply informing them what to do!
Aisha was pressured by his presence, her hand gripping the wine cup turning somewhat pale from the force.
At that moment, Chen Yang stepped forward and grasped Aisha’s left hand with his right.
For some reason, feeling the warmth from Chen Yang’s palm, Aisha’s original tension vanished instantly.
Standing before her was the German consul general, who in a sense represented Germany.
But Aisha showed no fear at all, lifting her gaze to meet his directly.
“Mr. Fellman, thank you very much for attending this evening’s reception.”
“Originally, I didn’t want to talk business on an occasion like this.”
“However, since you’re interested in the penicillin patent, I’ll reluctantly discuss it with you.”
“You’re right; researching penicillin is indeed related to progress in humanitarian causes, as well as progress in social sciences and medicine research.”
“This glory should belong to all humanity. If you insist on measuring it with money, then the value of this patent is certainly not as cheap as two hundred thousand pound sterling.”
Fellman seemed to have anticipated that Aisha wouldn’t easily yield: “No problem, Your Highness.”
“The price is still negotiable; why don’t you name a price.”
Aisha glanced at Chen Yang and, seeing the affirming look in his eyes, turned resolutely to Fellman and said word by word: “One hundred million, pound sterling.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
