American Medicine God: Starting by Inheriting a Pharmaceutical Company and Selling Medicine

"Having seen the scenery from the clouds, who would want to go back to the mud?"

Katie fell silent.

She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked at the dazzling diamond necklace, and at the meticulously decorated room.

A full minute later.

Katie took a deep breath. She stood up, walked to the vanity, picked up a powder puff, and skillfully and steadily touched up her makeup.

When she turned around again, the vulnerable, weeping little woman was gone. In her place stood the sales president of Water Pharmaceuticals, the future governor's wife.

Her eyes turned sharp and cold, sparkling like diamonds.

"Where's my bouquet?" she asked, her voice now steady.

Victor smiled and stretched out his arm: "At the door. All the bridesmaids are eager to grab it."

"Let's go, Godfather." Katie took his arm.

...

Wedding scene.

As Wagner's "Wedding March" played by the live orchestra, and Victor escorted Katie down the flower-strewn red carpet, hundreds of camera shutters clicked, their flashes turning the twilight into daylight.

The groom, Michael Bradley, stood before the altar, dressed in an Air Force uniform, looking as handsome as a movie star. His eyes were filled with amazement and adoration as he looked at Katie—as Victor had said, he loved this perfect illusion.

"Look at them, what a perfect couple," a senior senator said in a low voice to the Wall Street banker next to him, holding a glass of champagne.

"Are you referring to the bride and groom, or Walter Pharmaceuticals and the Republicans?" The banker smiled knowingly and clinked glasses lightly.

In front of the altar.

Victor placed Katie's hand in Michael's.

"Take good care of her, Michael," Victor said with a smile, his tone like that of a loving older brother. "She is our most precious asset."

"I will, Mr. Corleone. With my life," Michael solemnly promised, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning behind the word "assets."

The priest began to read the oath.

"Are you willing?"

"I do," Katie replied with a smile, her voice clear and firm, even carrying a hint of theatrical emotion.

At that moment, Victor stood aside and seemed to see countless gold coins flying in the air, turning into a huge, indestructible umbrella that covered Walter Pharmaceuticals' head.

With this "governor-to-be" son-in-law, New Jersey will become Vought Pharmaceuticals' independent kingdom. Any investigation into OxyContin will simply fizzle out in some committee of the state legislature.

The ceremony is complete.

A sky full of white doves was released, and thunderous applause erupted.

...

The banquet begins.

The lawn was filled with laughter and chatter. A jazz band played upbeat tunes, and waiters carried silver platters through the crowd, the platters containing truffles, foie gras, and opportunities for power deals.

Victor, holding a wine glass, moved gracefully among the guests.

"Senator, regarding the amendment to Bill 302..."

"Your Honor, are you satisfied with your vacation villa?... "

"Director, we need to expedite the new approval process..."

Every greeting is a probe; every toast is an exchange.

Just as he was about to walk toward a group of lobbyists from Washington, he suddenly felt an unfriendly gaze, like a needle pricking his back.

Instinctively, he stopped and turned around.

On the edge of the crowd, away from the bustling champagne tower, a few guests with Asian faces were gathered together.

They stood out from the relaxed, boisterous Americans around them. They wore dark double-breasted suits and even at outdoor lawn parties, they wore strict black ties and stood ramrod straight.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a buzz cut.

Victor recognized him as Tanaka, the CEO of Sakura Pharma, the same company that wanted to acquire Water Pharmaceuticals.

He did not receive an invitation.

But he still came. It was a demonstration, and also a declaration of war.

Behind him stood several attendants carrying briefcases; they were his legal team and M&A experts.

Victor squinted, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight into the field. The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly, and even the music seemed to quiet down.

"Mr. Tanaka," Victor stopped two meters away from him and said in an exaggeratedly hospitable tone, "I thought you'd rather be cutting your finger in a boardroom in Tokyo than attending a wedding in New Jersey."

Tanaka didn't laugh. His English had a heavy accent, but every word was crystal clear.

"Mr. Corleone. We Japanese believe that weddings, like funerals, are the best time to observe the rise and fall of a family."

Tanaka surveyed the lavish wedding venue, his gaze finally settling on the newlyweds cutting the cake.

"Grand displays. Expensive flowers. False promises. It's just like your American economy—prosperous on the surface, but empty at its core."

"We have acquired the holding companies of your three main plantations in Tasmania," Tanaka dropped a bombshell. "The agreement was just signed. Your 'backup grain reserves' are now ours."

Victor's pupils contracted slightly, but the smile on his face remained completely unchanged.

"So, you've come uninvited to tell me you've cut off my escape route?"

"I'm here to give you one last chance." Tanaka took a step forward, lowering his voice. "Accept the acquisition. Or watch your empire wither away due to a lack of raw materials. In Go, this is called the 'endgame.' You've already lost, Mr. Corleone."

"Yeah?"

Victor swirled his glass, gazing at the golden liquid within.

"Mr. Tanaka, you've made a mistake. You think you're playing Go, which is all about strategy and territory. But we're playing poker."

Victor pointed to the groom, Michael, who was chatting and laughing with a senator not far away, and then to Saul, who was handing out business cards.

"Here, in this country, the rules aren't written on paper. The rules are defined by these people. You bought the plantation? Great. But what if tomorrow the U.S. Congress passes a bill banning the import of agricultural products from Japanese-owned companies on the grounds of 'national security'?"

Tanaka's expression changed.

"You can't do that. It violates the free trade agreement..."

"Free trade?" Victor interrupted him, letting out a short, cold laugh. "There is no free trade in this world, only winner-takes-all."

"You think you can buy America just because you have money? No, you can only buy what we want to sell you. And the core of power is what is not for sale."

Tanaka stared intently at Victor, the fury in his eyes so intense it could burn down the entire manor if it were materialized.

A few seconds later, he regained that chilling calm.

He raised his glass in a gesture of homage to Victor. His lips moved, and he uttered a single Japanese word.

「さよなら（Goodbye）」

After saying that, he poured the wine from his glass onto the grass, turned around, and left with his team.

Victor watched his retreating figure, raised his glass, and gave a cold laugh in return.

"Welcome to America."