Wei'er was silent for a long moment, studying the pills like they might explode. "You need to understand something, Kai. The pharmaceutical industry in Haishi isn't just competitive—it's controlled. The major families have agreements. Territory divisions. If we try to enter this market, we're not just fighting Wang Zhou. We're challenging the entire established order."
"Good."
"Good?" Wei'er's voice rose slightly. "Do you have a death wish?"
Kai met her eyes. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life running? Hiding? Hoping Wang Zhou eventually forgets about you?"
"No, but—"
"Then we need power. Real power. Not connections or family names or inherited wealth. Something they can't take away." He picked up one of the pills. "This is power. Knowledge they don't have. Capability they ca
