CHAPTER 694: CHAPTER 694: THE OUTCOME IS DECIDED

The director and the high-ranking officials frowned instantly upon hearing the words. The sacrifices needed for rejuvenation... are just too great.

Lewis Hale didn’t see any issue with it, and with a rather self-satisfied tone, he said, "No matter how beautiful the flowers or how exquisite the ceramics, they all rely on daily maintenance and care. Being able to reverse aging is already an exceedingly difficult task. Isn’t this the fairest equivalent exchange?"

Equivalent exchange, my ass!

When the same words were spoken by Cyrus Hawthorne, even if Ann Vaughn wanted to deny and refute them, upon deeper thought, she would helplessly realize that he was merely stating a sad truth.

But when those words came from Lewis Hale’s mouth, they only caused revulsion.

What does he take human lives for?!

Ann Vaughn held back the anger in her heart and was about to retort Lewis Hale, when a doctor from J Country interrupted her unpleasantly.

"Dr. Vaughn, if you have any issues, please wait until the outcome of the competition is decided before speaking. Doing it now would give us the impression that you are deliberately causing trouble."

"The professors are almost here, and the live broadcast is still ongoing. They won’t let you keep speaking." Sherry reminded Ann in a lowered voice.

She understood Ann Vaughn, knowing that she must have discovered something to question Lewis Hale like this.

But others might not know and might think she was doing it deliberately to smear J Country and influence the competition’s assessment.

Ann Vaughn was aware of this but could not agree with Lewis Hale’s attitude of using life as an exchange for beauty, so she impulsively questioned it.

But upon calming down, since Lewis Hale and the others had the old lady sign a waiver, it implied that the old lady herself was willing.

Given this, what more was there to say?

To ensure fairness, the final result of the competition was left to the most authoritative three professors from K Country’s medical organization, so authoritative that even the most argumentative Lewis Hale couldn’t question their justice and professionalism.

After a long discussion lasting two hours by these professors, the ultimate result was finally revealed.

"Through our observation of this couple, we discovered something very interesting." The leading elegant and capable female professor said with interest, "Mrs. Halloway has regained youth in her appearance and skin condition, but internally, she remains an elderly person."

The female professor paused, and Ann Vaughn looked up, noticing she was looking right at her, with a gaze that seemed to carry excitement and appreciation.

"As for Mr. Halloway, his youth is reflected in his spirit and inner state. In other words, although Mr. Halloway’s appearance hasn’t changed, the series of changes within his body restore not just the mobility and senses he had long lost."

"We have examined him. With Mr. Halloway’s current constitution, living another decade would not be an issue. But as for Mrs. Halloway..." The female professor frowned, "Without the medication, she might not live for more than a year and a half."

What!?

Everyone present except for those from J Country looked at the female professor in shock.

The information showed the old lady was seven years younger than the old man and could live for a long time!

But now she only has a year and a half left...

"As long as she continues to take our medication, she can maintain her youth and beauty, and her lifespan won’t be affected!" Hearing disapproval in the female professor’s words, Lewis Hale defended anxiously.

"Is the medication provided by you for free?" The female professor pushed up her glasses and asked sharply.

Lewis Hale lifted his chin high, "Of course, it’s with additional costs!"

"What about you, Dr. Vaughn?" The female professor looked at the composed Ann Vaughn, "Does Mr. Halloway need to constantly use your medication to maintain his current physique?"

Ann Vaughn shook her head slightly, "As long as Mr. Halloway exercises regularly and takes care of his health, he will maintain it."

She favored a one-time solution, which could be seen as a way to cut corners.

The look of appreciation deepened in the female professor’s eyes, "You have opened my eyes. My professor colleagues and I are all eager to discuss your surgical insights."

The moment these words came out, Lewis Hale’s face changed abruptly, "Professor Delaney!"

They could not lose!

Yet, Professor Delaney’s words were filled with undisguised admiration and fondness for Ann Vaughn.

It was obvious to any keen observer that the outcome of this competition was already set in stone.

At once, the bright faces from The Imperial Capital Medical Research Institute contrasted starkly with the disappointed expressions from J Country.

The atmosphere in the live broadcast was also pushed to a climax, as domestic viewers could not even pause to banter with J Country viewers; they held their breath, waiting for the final outcome.

—Even though they all saw that J Country had already lost.

"Lewis, stay calm." Delaney turned her head displeased and whispered a few words with the other two professors before speaking, "We have confirmed that the result of this competition, the winning side..."

At this point, Delaney’s gaze paused for a full two seconds before she continued her words.

"Both sides have their merits, and the outcome is hard to distinguish. Therefore, I declare this competition—a draw!"

A draw?!

The live broadcast room immediately exploded, akin to firecrackers in a pot of oil, with viewers spamming the bullet screen, questioning if the result was a mistake.

Exchanging life for youth, and needing to take medicine continuously to maintain it, unless absolutely necessary, who would do that?

Even for those of us who don’t understand medicine, it’s clear that Ann Vaughn had a higher chance of winning.

But this...

The live broadcast ended abruptly at this moment, silently announcing its conclusion.

The confusion of those online viewers was noticed by the astute ones present.

Just before Delaney was about to announce the final result, Ann Vaughn quietly made a gesture to her.

In K Country, the victorious party is entitled to a say over the defeated.

This was why Delaney changed her statement.

Lewis Hale had never expected Ann Vaughn to do such a thing; everyone could see she had won.

She could proudly walk up to them and flaunt her victory.

Knowing that before all this, they hadn’t shied away from humiliating and questioning her right in her face.

—Yet she used this method to save face for them and J Country in front of billions of worldwide viewers.

This act, more humiliating than the scorn of a victor, made Lewis Hale feel ashamed and too embarrassed to meet Ann Vaughn’s eyes, his face flushed red.

"You are very special." Delaney approached Ann Vaughn, opened her arms, and hugged her, "The international acclaim you have received is not undeserved."

Undeniably, J Country’s age-reversal surgery indeed has its merits. Although the side effects are significant, if improved in the future, it may well become flawless.

It’s just unfortunate that they encountered this remarkable doctor lady.

"You praise me too much." Ann Vaughn pressed her lips into a faint smile and hugged her back.