CHAPTER 270: THE BOUNDARIES OF GREED

The tension in the room had long since faded into a contemplative atmosphere, yet the fire still danced in the eyes of every researcher and executive present.

Just moments ago, laughter had rippled through the air, but now a heavy truth loomed over them.

Arthur had just announced a groundbreaking cure,a genuine solution for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

The implications were nothing short of world-altering.

As Old Henry settled back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck and exhaling a weary sigh, a hand rose slowly from the far end of the long conference table.

It belonged to President Garrick Thorne, head of Osborn Pharmaceutical & Biotech Group.

Known for his calm demeanor and analytical approach, Garrick rarely spoke unless he had thoroughly examined every angle of an issue.

His neatly trimmed silver hair and sharp features conveyed both wisdom and caution.

"Sir," Garrick began respectfully, his voice steady, "forgive me for interjecting at such this moment, but... might we consider dividing the cure into specialized categories rather than releasing it as a singular treatment?"

Several executives subtly straightened in their chairs; some nodded slowly while exchanging quick glances. One leaned forward eagerly.

"If we segment the release into treatments for liver cancer, lung cancer, brain tumors,you name it,we could create tailored formulas that ensure precise application and... let’s be honest here, generate hundreds of trillions of Unicreds annually."

Murmurs filled the room,not with greed but with calculated logic.

"Typical businessmen!" Old Henry shot back at Garrick with indignation in his voice.

"You’re talking about profits when this cure was created to alleviate suffering! You want to profit off others’ misery? How greedy can you get?"

Garrick met Old Henry’s glare with an unflinching stare. "I’m merely stating facts! If we don’t capitalize on this opportunity, how will we fund your research? Do you think money grows on trees?"

Old Henry was so furious he struggled to find words; he turned helplessly toward Arthur.

Arthur sat quietly, wine glass in hand catching a sliver of sunlight,glowing crimson like blood.

He gently set it down on the table; the soft clink brought an unexpected stillness to the room.

With a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, Arthur let his fingers linger on the glass as if trying to steady an internal storm before finally speaking.

"Your proposal is clever, and undeniably tempting," he said calmly.

He leaned back thoughtfully before continuing. "But do you really think I haven’t considered that? I once made myself a promise,I vowed never to profit from pain or suffering."

His gaze swept across all those present, scientists, business leaders,pioneers in their fields.

"We all come from somewhere," he continued softly. "I remember growing up watching neighbors waste away while my parents struggled to afford treatment. News reports showed families selling their homes just to pay for one treatment".

He continued softly, "I remember... the look in a child’s eyes when their mother stopped answering."

A heavy stillness settled over the room, thicker than any silence they had experienced before. No one blinked; no one moved.

"So, yes," Arthur said, nodding slowly. "I could sell pieces of this cure,break it up into fragments. We could become richer than kings, monopolizing every hospital, every pharmacy, even some governments. But if we did that, we’d be no different from those who let millions die slowly for profit."

His voice dropped to a near whisper. "This cure will not be carved into pieces. It will be whole and it will be given."

Across the room, Old Henry studied Arthur intently, stroking his beard as he huffed through his nose with a short exasperated breath.

"Kid..." he muttered kindly. "I didn’t know you had that kind of principle left in you."

Arthur cracked a small smile, his eyes still distant. "You think I’m not greedy?" he said with a quiet chuckle. "Old man, in this room, there’s no one greedier than me."

The statement hung in the air like an unexpected thunderclap.

Arthur leaned forward slightly, tapping a finger against the table as if emphasizing each word.

"But my greed has boundaries."

The weight of that sentence sank into the atmosphere around them.

He spoke not as someone boasting but rather confessing,a revelation that left an impact on everyone present.

His eyes narrowed slightly not out of arrogance but with the intensity of someone who had fought battles none here could fathom.

Internally, Arthur reflected: "I’ve lost pieces of myself already,pieces I didn’t think mattered. A percentage of my emotions burned away by decisions and necessity... But I will not lose my soul".

He turned to Garrick Thorne now; his smile softened into something more human.

"Greed isn’t evil," he asserted confidently. "It’s human,one of the seven deadly sins? Yes! But it’s also a survival instinct! It’s what drives progress and fuels innovation! Every person here is greedy; we wouldn’t even be sitting in this room if we weren’t!"

Standing up slowly, he walked toward the screen that once displayed the blueprint for the cure.

As he passed each person in the room, he made sure to meet their gaze directly.

"But unchecked greed becomes poison,the kind that builds empires on corpses and castles built on lies."

He paused for effect before continuing with conviction: "If you let your greed dictate your humanity... then you’re not leading; you’re just a monster in a suit."

Stopping by the window where Varenya’s skyline shimmered beyond the glass, his voice softened but retained its gravity.

"I want our name, Osborn, to symbolize something far greater than mere wealth. Imagine children in slums whispering it with hope instead of hatred.

Picture men and women who have never had a voice remembering that someone with power chose not to exploit them when he easily could."

Old Henry folded his arms, nodding slowly as if weighing Arthur’s words.

"You’ve really grown, Arthur," he said thoughtfully.

Arthur turned, raising an eyebrow. "I had to."

Henry sighed deeply. "Well, I won’t stop you, but let me remind you: don’t underestimate what you’re stepping into. The world won’t thank you for providing this cure; they might even resent you for shattering their control."

Arthur nodded resolutely. "I understand that."

Henry scanned the room before locking eyes with Arthur again. "Just promise me you’ll protect the researchers and their families."

A genuine smile spread across Arthur’s face not the polished grin of a politician but one that was quiet, firm, and warm.

"I already have."

Turning back to the group gathered around him, he continued passionately, "Each of you has devoted your life to saving others. I won’t allow your hard work or your loved ones to be used against you.

As I mentioned earlier, maximum security protocols are already in place: stealth guards, AI-encrypted barriers, dynamic surveillance no one will lay a finger on you."

A wave of reassurance washed over the room as heads nodded in agreement.

Arthur glanced out at the skyline one last time before declaring emphatically,"This cure belongs to the world. But the legacy... that legacy will belong to all of us."

In that moment, no one questioned him not because he was at the helm of the Osborn Dynasty or held sway over their lives or salaries but because they saw sincerity in his eyes; they knew he meant every word.

He returned to his seat and picked up his wine glass.

It had grown cold but he took a sip anyway,because in a world driven by profit, he had chosen principle.

In a room filled with power players, he had chosen humanity.

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Author’s Note:

Arthur is one of the greediest characters in the novel but he knows where to draw the line.

This Chapter wasn’t about flexing power,it was about choosing what kind of legacy to leave behind. In a world where everyone is chasing profits, the rarest move is walking away from it for something greater.

What would you do in his shoes?

Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to power up this Chapter if it hit you deep.