In Japan, Dragon Horn Powder was a product with exceptionally stable sales.

Every pharmacy ordered a predictable amount.

Based on their previous ordering schedule and sales data, Matsumoto Pharmacy should have already placed its order for the new quarter.

’Did something go wrong?’

’Or... had something happened that he didn’t know about?’

A sense of foreboding washed over Fujimoto.

"Secretary!" he pressed the button for the intercom, his voice filled with unease.

A capable-looking female secretary quickly walked in.

"Find out immediately! What the hell is going on with Matsumoto Pharmacy? Why haven’t they placed an order with us this quarter!"

"Yes, sir!"

The secretary didn’t dare to hesitate and immediately went to carry out his order.

Several hours later, the secretary returned to the office holding an investigation report, a strange expression on her face.

"President, we’ve... figured it out," she reported cautiously. "Matsumoto Pharmacy... they’ve found a new supplier. They’re importing a product called ’Dragon Bone Powder’ from Dragon Country, so they aren’t as focused on selling our Dragon Horn Powder anymore."

"What? Dragon Bone Powder?"

Fujimoto looked up, completely baffled.

"Yes," the secretary continued. "According to our inside sources at Matsumoto Pharmacy, sales of this ’Dragon Bone Powder’ are excellent. It’s not just tourists from Dragon Country buying it; even many local Japanese customers have stopped buying our Dragon Horn Powder and switched to this new product after trying it. Rumor has it... its effects are even better than ours."

Fujimoto was completely stunned.

’What the hell is going on?’

’Dragon Bone Powder?’

’Just from the name, it’s obviously a knock-off of our Dragon Horn Powder!’

’How could a copycat from Dragon Country possibly be more effective than the original?’

’And it’s even stealing our market share?’

’This is absolutely ridiculous!’

A fire of rage ignited in his chest.

"Outrageous!" he ordered his secretary, his face dark. "Send someone to a Matsumoto Pharmacy immediately and buy some of that... ’Dragon Bone Powder’! I want to see for myself what this thing is all about!"

At the same time, he picked up his phone and dialed President Matsumoto’s cell directly.

The two of them were on good personal terms, and he wanted to confront the man and demand a clear explanation.

"Hello, Mr. Matsumoto!" Fujimoto demanded bluntly the moment the call connected. "I want to know what the hell is going on. We’ve been partners for years. Why are you selling Dragon Bone Powder, some shady knock-off of our product?!"

Matsumoto, on the other end of the line, just chuckled calmly.

"Mr. Fujimoto, business is business, and our friendship is a separate matter," Matsumoto’s tone was strictly professional. "We’re businessmen; we chase profits. The fact is, Dragon Bone Powder is genuinely more effective than your Dragon Horn Powder. Plus, it sells for a higher price, which means a bigger profit margin for us. Most importantly, the customers love it. You tell me, what reason do I have to keep selling your Dragon Horn Powder?"

"You..." Fujimoto was so choked with anger he was speechless.

"Mr. Fujimoto, business is war. All I can say is that you’ve run into a terrifying opponent. I’ve said my piece." With that, Matsumoto hung up.

Fujimoto, trembling with rage, slammed his phone down on the desk.

Just then, his secretary knocked and entered, placing a few boxes of the newly purchased "Dragon Bone Powder" on his desk.

Fujimoto grabbed a box and violently tore open the packaging.

He was going to see for himself just what was so special about this so-called "Divine Medicine."

He poured a packet of the medicinal powder into his mouth.

He didn’t actually have a sore throat, but the moment the powder touched his tongue, he clearly felt an intense, soothing coolness instantly flood his mouth.

He had never felt anything like it. It was far more pleasant than his own company’s Dragon Horn Powder!

He then took a closer look at the manufacturer information on the back of the box: Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory, Feng City, Dragon Country.

’Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory...’

’Why does that name sound so familiar?’

Fujimoto frowned, racking his brain.

He had a nagging feeling he’d heard that name somewhere before.

Suddenly, it hit him like a bolt of lightning.

He remembered!

He rushed to his desk and flipped open the investigation report on Watermelon Frost that Yoshida had sent back from Dragon Country.

There on the report, printed in black and white, was the information: Ding’s Watermelon Frost, manufactured by Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory, Feng City, Dragon Country!

’It’s them!’

’It’s them again!’

’First Watermelon Frost, now Dragon Bone Powder!’ 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’This Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory was like a specter, haunting them, relentlessly releasing one blockbuster product after another, each one capable of challenging their market dominance!’

’This was definitely not a coincidence!’

"Yoshida! Get Yoshida in here, now!"

Fujimoto roared at the empty space outside his office door.

Soon, Yoshida, who had only recently returned to Tokyo from Dragon Country, came jogging into the president’s office.

"President, you were looking for me?"

Fujimoto slammed the box of "Dragon Bone Powder" down on the desk in front of Yoshida.

"Yoshida! Look at this!"

Yoshida picked up the box. When he saw the words "Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory," his pupils constricted.

"When you went to Dragon Country, besides investigating Watermelon Frost, I also had you pay a courtesy visit to our general agent, Mr. Sun Qingshuang," Fujimoto said, staring intently at Yoshida. "While you were with him, did you hear anything? Notice anything out of the ordinary?"

Yoshida tried his best to remember.

Suddenly, a detail from his time in the hospital room surfaced in his mind.

He remembered!

When Sun Qingshuang was assuring him that he would continue promoting "Dragon Horn Powder," he had made a distinct slip of the tongue!

"President!" Yoshida’s expression turned incredibly grave. "I remember now! That day, when Mr. Sun was talking about our product, he... he accidentally said ’Dragon Bone Powder’!"

"You idiot!"

An enraged roar echoed through the office.

Fujimoto’s face turned livid with rage. He pointed at the bowing Yoshida, spittle flying from his mouth as he yelled.

"Yoshida! Where was your awareness? Your professionalism? The man said the words ’Dragon Bone Powder’ right to your face! He basically handed you the most critical piece of intelligence on a silver platter! And you... you dismissed it as a meaningless slip of the tongue?!"

He trembled with fury, pacing back and forth around his desk like a caged beast.

"I sent you to Dragon Country to gather intelligence, to uncover problems! And what happened? You came back all cheerful and told me everything was fine! But in less than two weeks since you’ve been back, our market—our very foundation—has been undermined from within! Your trip was a complete and utter failure! You’re a fool!"

Fujimoto’s criticism was merciless. Every word landed like a sharp slap across Yoshida’s face.