Due to the actions of the great families, the market for the Pill of Life Exchange was affected.
Some men disguised themselves as thugs to kick up a fuss at the pharmacies to scare away customers.
Meanwhile, others secretly ambushed the pill’s supply lines. In addition, the more ruthless would go so far as to buy up the entire inventory of pills from pharmacies. Nonetheless, the pills’ market growth had been stymied by various schemes and tricks.
Soon after, Master Levi made his move, and his initial action was to make a public announcement.
“The Pill of Life Exchange is not a miracle cure. It provides temporary health by stimulating the body’s potential in exchange for short-term health, and as a result, the pill irreparably harms the body. Therefore, we strongly advise residents of the South to stay away from this medicine.”
Then, he signed his name as “Master Levi, King of the South” because he was the most revered public figure in the Six Southern States.
As soon as the announcement was posted, sales and popularity for the Pill of Life Exchange plummeted.
“Scumbag merchants! You ruined my health, so refund my money!”
“Damn it! I will have my friends trash your store if anything bad happens to my wife because of your pill!”
“What are we waiting for? We should do something right now! I don’t want a refund anymore, and all I want to do is destroy their store!”
The terrified owner trembled at the sight of the irate men swarming the pharmacy’s entrance. Nonetheless, he musters the courage to confront them to protect his store.
“Everyone, please calm down and listen to me. Before I sold it to you, I told you explicitly that the pill was solely intended for terminally ill patients. Don’t you think your behavior is unreasonable?”
As soon as the crowd heard that, their rage began to dissipate. The pharmacy owner was right and they had been cautioned, but none paid attention to the warnings.
When the owner noticed that the crowd had calmed down, he secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
‘I’m a smart and quick-witted man…’
He felt pretty good about himself for how he handled the situation, but behind him in the crowd stood a stunningly beautiful young lady still seething with rage.
As soon as she raised her hand, a six-foot-tall burly man standing next to her immediately bowed down, and she pulled his ear.
“Are you waiting for me to experience the adverse effects? So you can roll in the hay with another young person? I warn you that unless you resolve this issue immediately, you will never sleep in my bed again.”
“Ouch, Mercy, dear!” he cried out.
When the young lady finally released him, the burly man massaged his red, throbbing ear with a pout.
He quickly responded to her threats with a promise, “Don’t worry, my dear wife. I said I’d tear this place apart, and I will.”
Following that, he stepped forward and grabbed a large boulder that was more than three feet high from the side of the road.
”Let me through, boys. This shady vendor is trying to trick us with his smooth talk. Although the pill was intended for those with terminal illnesses, he never stated that healthy individuals could not take it or that there would be side effects. Don‘t fall for his lies!”
When the crowd had cleared his path, he hurled the large boulder at the store, which shattered the glass display case inside.
Soon, it appeared that his words also roused the other men, who had previously calmed down, to anger. Then, they looked over at their wives, who had gloomy expressions that made the men quake with fear.
“Let’s trash this place!”
As soon as the cry was yelled out, the crowd rushed into the store. Within five minutes, everything in the gigantic pharmacy was shattered to pieces.
“Let’s go, dear!”
When she noticed the other women were giving their husbands the cold shoulder, the young lady clutched the muscular arm of her burly man and strutted away from the crowd.
In numerous locations across the two states, a similar occurrence occurred. Consequently, any pharmacy that sold the Pill of Life Exchange would have its stores trashed.
***
Meanwhile, Aurelius’ face darkened as he listened to his assistant’s report on the situation. Although he had anticipated a move from Master Levi, he had not anticipated it would be so soon. Moreover, he was not expecting the Ten Greatest Families of Stonedale to go to such lengths for Rowan.
“Master Damron, l have bad news! All pharmacy owners have arrived, demanding compensation for their stores.”
‘These men are doing nothing but adding insult to injury!’
Soon, he could not resist the urge to let out an expletive when he heard that.
