El General Todopoderoso de Dragón

Confronted by the warm invitation of the young man known as “Hector”, Anne responded with enthusiasm, grinning, “Well, in that
case, we won’t stand on ceremony with you!”
Hector chuckled, “No need for formalities! We’re all kindred spirits from across the land. Looking out for one another is just part
of our tight-knit bond.”
Curiosity sparking, he inquired, “So, my friend, what might your name be?”
As Anne began to answer, Maria interjected with a teasing smile, “My dear here is named Clark, Robert Clark to be precise. You
can call him Bobby for short.” Keeping a low profile was essential, and using her real name, Maria, would certainly ring bells.
But Anne was taken aback by her choice of pseudonym. He mused, “Bobby? Makes me sound like a local barber.”
Maria, eager to introduce herself, spoke up, “I go by Kathrine Boneng, or just Kate for close friends.”
Acknowledging the introduction, Hector beamed, “Bobby, Kate, welcome to our little troupe of ‘Southern Yunnan Wanderers’. We
began our journey as strangers, bonding over our shared love for hiking, and now, here we stand as one.”
Taking a deep breath, he continued, “For formalities, my real name is Blythe. It translates to ‘happy’, but it does sound a tad
effeminate. So, most just call me Hector.” He then affectionately wrapped an arm around a young woman beside him, “This
radiant lady here is my girlfriend, Shiann. A brilliant mind from Tsinghua University. Our paths crossed during a hike, and the rest,
as they say, is history.”
Once introductions had been exchanged, Hector generously offered, “Bobby, you seem new to this hiking and camping deal.
Need a hand setting up your tent?”
Anne waved him off politely, “Appreciate the offer, but I’ll manage. Thank you.”
Hector looked at him intently, “No need to be shy, we’re here to help!”
Gratitude and a hint of guilt filled Anderson. For while these kind souls saw him as a new friend, he needed them for cover, a fact
that didn’t sit well with his conscience.
The group, enthusiastic and outgoing, embraced Anne and Maria with open arms, quickly breaking the ice.
Hector, an unmistakable leader of the group, drew Anne’s curiosity. “Hector, are you still in school or have you begun your
professional journey?”

Hector smiled, “Still a student, actually. Spent some time in the US. Since it’s summer break, I felt the pull of China’s breathtaking
landscapes.”
He added, “Most of us here are students. Some from the US, a few from Tsinghua University, and others from renowned
institutions across the UK and Canada. How about the two of you?”
Anne responded, playfully exaggerated, “High school sweethearts we were, too busy with romance and not with books. So, we
ended up in an obscure college in Eastcliff, never quite making a mark.”
Maria gave Anne a look that was a mix of faux resentment and amusement. Inside her mind, she couldn’t help but think, “Oh, the
stories you come up with! Decades of our family’s education, tossed aside so casually.”
Anne’s intent was simple. By downplaying their educational background, they would divert any prolonged university discussions
and potential slip-ups.
As he’d anticipated, the group steered clear of academic queries, showing understanding and tact.
Wanting to ease any lingering discomfort, Hector said, “Ultimately, the university’s name doesn’t define us. It’s about living a
fulfilled life.”
Shiann, nodding in agreement, shared, “Academics can be tedious. All my life, my parents groomed me for Tsinghua, with
dreams of Harvard post-graduation. Just as I secured a spot at Harvard, life threw a curveball. I was diagnosed with a glioma,
inoperable due to its location.”
Stunned, Maria whispered, “You have a glioma?”
Shiann responded calmly, “Rare as it is, fate had it in store for me.”
With a smile tinged with sorrow, Hector added, “Our tales align. Diagnosed with advanced small cell lung cancer despite leading
a clean life. With no viable treatments, I’ve chosen to embrace life’s beauty.”
Maria spoke with a soft determination in her voice, her words brimming with empathy. “Advanced small cell lung cancer doesn’t
spell the end. With radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Coupled with targeted drugs, one can experience significant improvement.
You mustn’t lose hope.”
A smile touched Hector’s lips, his eyes sparkling with humor. “Lose hope? Far from it! I’ve come all the way from the United
States to China, driven by the potential promise of the Oracle Healing Salve Pill. It’s reputed to work wonders on nearly every

kind of cancer. My doctors encouraged me to take part in Oracle Pharmaceutical’s clinical trial. Though, to be honest,” he added
with a wry twist to his smile, “it’s not as simple as it sounds. Even James Smith, the ex-director of the US FDA, couldn’t secure a
spot for his son. How could I, an ordinary person?”
Shiann, listening from the side, chimed in with a note of disagreement. “It’s not about fame or fortune, you know. Oracle
Pharmaceutical’s quota allocation focuses on who needs the treatment most urgently. Every candidate for the clinical trials is a
cancer patient, with at least 30% given less than six months to live. Just consider the hundreds of advanced pancreatic cancer
patients, including children. Securing a quota is almost impossible.”
Anne looked at her, curiosity etched on his face. “Shiann, did you also attempt to join the clinical trial of Oracle Pharmaceutical?”
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I did, but I wasn’t selected. Oracle Pharmaceutical’s evaluation is more a comparison of
desperation than anything else. They weigh factors like the severity of illness, age, financial situation, and family responsibility.
They use a point system; the worse off you are, the higher your score. The selection is made from those with the highest points,
akin to points settlement logic. Sadly, I was brushed off in the first round.”
Anne was obviously unsurprised by this revelation as he came up with the guidelines himself. It makes sense. After all, the
essence of Oracle Healing Salve Pill is actually a diluted form of the Life Saving Pill. This unique concoction requires a reiki
refinement process, rendering mass production an impossibility. Yet, it serves as a stepping stone for FDA approval.
He sighed, a philosophical glimmer in his eye as he thought. ‘I know I’m neither a deity nor a saint. The world is brimming with
cancer patients I can’t possibly save. My aim is to reach out to those in the most dire circumstances, not those with means.’
One of the group of friends said indignantly, “The boss of Oracle Pharmaceutical doesn’t know what he is doing. Why doesn’t he
give priority to saving talents like you who are useful to society?”
Shiann laughed yet it was tinged with self-deprecation. “I only read more books than most people. Reading more books doesn’t
necessarily make us more useful to society. It’s a doctor’s duty to save the most desperate cases first. You can’t expect me to cut
the line just because I have an education.”
Hector’s smile was knowing and agreeable. “I understand them completely. James Smith of the FDA resigned and has devoted
himself to charity work in Aurous Hill, even putting his fortune into it. He hasn’t given up on his son, nor on the other more
seriously ill children. It’s a difficult decision for him, especially since he initially doubted the scientific basis of Chinese medicines
like Oracle’s.”

A collective gasp went up as someone inquired, astonished, “The head of the US FDA resigned to go to Aurous Hill for charity?”
“Yes,” Hector affirmed, nodding gravely. “I spoke to the man himself, and he’s faced some tough times. He once dismissed
Oracle when they were seeking entry into the American market, even when they offered some for his ailing son. Now, with his
son’s health worsening, he has come to Aurous Hill, driven by desperation and hope.”
His voice trailed off, tinged with a profound sadness as he sighed, “There’s nothing left but to try. After all, sincerity can move
mountains... even those made of gold and stone.”
Update of The Charismatic Charlie Wade