Chapter 1992: Changing World

The announcement of Conjora’s Awakening Serum spread across Hyrron faster than almost any discovery in recent history.

Within days, every major nation was discussing the possibility that ordinary people could now gain powers of their own. News programs ran constant segments about the serum, scientists argued over what it meant for the future of awakened abilities, and countless people who had spent their entire lives powerless suddenly believed there was a chance for them to become something more.

The excitement quickly became a problem.

There was not enough serum to satisfy even a fraction of the demand, and the amount of research, Aullazire, specialized equipment, and security involved in producing each dose made the price far too high for most people to afford. Wealthy families and corporations rushed to place orders wherever they could, while governments began negotiating for access to larger supplies before the production lines were even capable of meeting Conjora’s own needs.

Attempts to steal shipments began almost immediately, followed by attacks on storage facilities, laboratories, and transportation routes whenever rumors spread that serum was being moved through an area.

That created another problem.

The people committing those crimes were not always ordinary criminals.

Some were awakened individuals who had stayed hidden for years, either because they wanted nothing to do with hero agencies or because they had been using their powers privately for less legal purposes. Others were people with enough money and influence to hire awakened mercenaries to steal doses for them.

Heroes became more necessary than ever.

Every single hero got back to work harder than ever, and still, even after a month passed, there was no slowing down the criminals. In fact, the temptation of the serum turned even ordinary but desperate people into criminals.

Even after a month passed, the chaos did not settle. After watching the situation worsen, Ning decided the current system would not work for much longer.

He went to see President Morstell again.

She looked even busier than the last time he had visited, with several screens displaying reports from different departments while stacks of documents covered most of the desk in front of her. The moment Ning entered, she gave him the tired look of someone who had already guessed why he was there.

"Please tell me you are not bringing me another international crisis."

"Not this time."

Ning took a seat across from her. "I think you should start making the serum available to the general public."

Her expression immediately became more cautious.

"That is a much larger decision than you make it sound."

"I know," Ning said. "But right now, almost everyone believes the serum is something only rich people, governments, heroes, and corporations can access. That’s not just bad for us, it’s bad for your ratings too."

Morstell folded her hands together. "And your solution is to sell it more widely?"

"Eventually. The price can still be high while production is limited, but people need to believe they have a legal path to getting one."

She considered that for a moment.

Ning continued. "I have a suggestion, if you don’t mind listening to it."

The President raised her arm in concession. "Give it to me."

"A lottery," Ning said. "Only for the poor."

Morstell raised an eyebrow. "A lottery, meaning the serum?"

"Yes. Maybe 10 serums a month given out freely to some of the many people who cannot afford it. With your production, 10 should be just enough to stay above margin. That way, you can calm the crowd."

The President didn’t immediately dismiss the idea.

Ning leaned forward slightly. "People need to see that this isn’t becoming a permanent divide where only wealthy families can buy powers. If ordinary people know there is at least a chance for them to receive the serum legally, some of the desperation will disappear."

"Some," Morstell repeated. "Not all."

"Nothing fixes everything."

That earned him a faint smile.

Morstell looked toward one of the reports on her desk before speaking again. "The larger problem is what happens after more people awaken. We already have difficulties regulating existing heroes, and now we may be deliberately creating thousands more awakened individuals over the next few years."

"That’s not even your biggest problem, actually," Ning said with a sigh. "Have there been any cases of people not awakening after taking the serum?"

The President narrowed her eyes. "Some, but it’s rare."

"Yeah, those rare ones are your problem," Ning said. "I won’t explain how I know this. It’s your and your scientists’ job to figure it out, but the ones who don’t awaken from the serum? Those are people with very strong powers. It will take a lot to awaken them, and conversely, when you do awaken them, they can be a massive danger to society. So you need to be careful."

The President stared at him with a strange look on her face. "How do you know all of this?"

"I said I won’t explain how I know that," Ning said. "Just know that this was partially on my mind when I thought of setting up the academy. People are going to become powerful soon, and not everyone is going to have a neat little power they can control. The academy is thus needed."

The President nodded more seriously than ever now. She considered everything very deeply.

The serum itself was changing as quickly as the laws around it.

Sharron had expanded production significantly since the first public demonstration, adding more research teams, larger facilities, and stricter manufacturing procedures to keep up with demand. Even with all of that, however, she was still far from satisfied with the formula.

Since some people didn’t awaken, she sought to improve it in any way she could to give it a 100% success rate.

Ning let her progress in her own way. The progress needed to be slow for a reason. The world needed time to adapt to a society where awakening was no longer left to chance.

For the moment, however, Ning had another matter demanding his attention.

Minhya’s campaign in Faedria was moving quickly, and the struggle over the throne was reaching its peak.

Her ascension was getting close.

It was time for Ning to return to Faedria.