BXBX NOVEL Chapter 21 - Free Lunch
A person\'s body contains cells, each adult bodies have around 30 to 40 trillion cells. All of these cells have specific roles for the bodies, in today\'s world, the scientists called it the blood cells. The current medical technology manages to harvest the cell that was not used by the body, normally from the bone marrow, the brain or from the umbilical cords of a newborn baby. The amount that can be harvested is as many as 100-150 cells every year, although multiple harvests are very dangerous to a human body.
Blood cells generally these days were being used to save lives by generating body tissues organ or most commonly be separated into a small cell and sold publicly as a sure way to make skin ageless.
The medical science did many research and tests on these cells, the best medical science has practiced in reprogramming the genetic cell to create a stronger cell. But later through the Doomsday Pillar, they realized that they had not yet even touched the surface of the secret of the body cells. The Doomsday Pillar called this the Body Essence.. All living things have them when the mutation affects the bodies, the higher or stronger the mutation, the more refined this essence will be. Some of this excess essence are also usually formed in the brain or bone marrow, and once this essence with enough mutation it would condense and solidify into what the Doomsday Pillar defines as the spirit stone.
In a private room of a fancy Chinese restaurant, a person sits by himself in a big table, he seems to be waiting for someone, this person has normally done lots of meetings with country leaders but the meeting this time make him a little bit nervous. This person is James Randal, he just got a call to meet by Alex this morning, James instantly clears all his business schedule and set up the meeting.
Yesterday, he already got the research report from his scientist, his top scientist can relate this with the origin of blood cells. The small crystal stone has the potency of at least a million blood cells. The current human technology could not recreate this cell not even in the next 100 years but the stone is ancient and dated at least 10.000 years. The report has its final conclusion as "out of this world".
Also, the fact that James ate one of them, and it wasn\'t harmful to him it even made his body stronger, it made James wonder about the person he will soon meet.
A moment later, James assistant let that person in, he then sits down in the big table facing James.
"Hello Mr. James, I appreciate the time you have spared to meet me, I\'m sure you\'re a very busy man."
"Mr Alex, thank you for coming."
Alex smiled and said, "Should we order something? This is a nice restaurant after all.."
Alex called the waitress and ordered, Peking duck, Steamed Fish, 5 Spices Pork, Chili Crab...
James was puzzled. Normally in Indonesia and most of Asian countries, many businesses are settled during lunch, but with today\'s current agenda, James is surprised by how casual Alex looks. As for Alex, he had experienced 11 years of hunger and eating mutated animals without any spices or taste, so thinking about the future that will be repeating, he would not waste such an opportunity to a feast sumptuously.
While waiting for food, James started the conversation.
"Tell me, Mr. Alex, why would a family man like you suddenly sell your companies and move to Bali? The money you spent, the things you bought, it really puzzles me."
"Impressive Mr. James, as one of the 9 Dragons Family it really is not just a title, only 2 days and you have already figured out my identity, you really are more resourceful than the police."
"So please tell me, Mr. Alex, I\'m not used to this, I normally can understand other people easily, it\'s my gift, but I can\'t understand you, and I don\'t really like a mystery."
Alex replied, "Would you believe me if I said I know the secret of the future?"
"Please tell me you are not, I really don\'t want to describe you as the delusional sort."
"Probably you should Mr. James, else this meeting will not go smoothly without it..."
James thinking for a while... he\'s not sure what this man is planning, but thinking about the stone he\'s willing to just play along with it.
Alex continued, "I believe a huge disaster is coming Mr. James. It will be the biggest the world ever had, and it will come at the end of this year."
"You are very imaginative Mr. Alex, maybe you should write a fantasy novel instead."
"Yes if the disaster didn\'t come, maybe I should. But I assure you, Mr. James, it would come."
"I already told you my reason, hence my move to Bali, it would be best if you believed me and start preparing as well, but if you don\'t let us just talk about the stone."
"Yes, the stone, how did you acquire it?"
"Mr. James, I don\'t really mind telling you how to get it, but again you won\'t believe it. Let\'s just talk about what you can believe. First, I think your scientist by now should have studied the stone and you should know and believe that it\'s a precious stone. Second, since you ate the first stone you should believe by now that the stone is useful for you. Third, you believe you need more stone and I have more with me."
Alex takes out a small bag, pull it out and there is 4 white crystal stone come out. James staring at the stone, and he wants it. If just one of the stone could make his body stronger, then what about 4 of them?
"I have more with me, but this is all I can spare to give, do you want it, Mr. James?"
James Randal wanted it, for him, money and power are useless compared to his life, he really wants it. While James was lost in thought for a while, the food started coming. Alex took back all the stones he put out and started eating.
While eating, Alex continued, "There is a famous saying, no such thing as free lunch."
James answered, "What do you want to trade it with?"
"I believe you will need all 6 to turn your body back into its full strength, you won\'t have to be worried about being in a wheelchair or using a walking stick anymore. Each stone will make you stronger, you should consume the one that has been researched for yourself. Consider the first two as my gift of sincerity into becoming your friend. Although for each extra stone I will need a favor from you, don\'t you worry it won\'t cost much from someone such as you."
Alex trades the first stone for James to send a group of doctor and medical expertise to be sent to his base in Bali, They will be sent to work for quite some time so the families will be coming with them as well. Alex also requested for a fully functional medical research center. These requests are easy for James to fulfill as he has thousands of them, there are some who owes him a lot of favors, so it\'s easy to move them right away. James accepted the first trade, a group of 100 people consisting of doctors, nurses, and medical researchers along with their family totaling of 300 people will be arriving in Bali within a week.
Alex traded the second stone for a simple letter. This letter is actually a bit harder for James to consider, but in the end, he still writes it. The letter is written for a retired Indonesian Military Army General. Alex took the letter and carefully keep it.
For the third and the fourth stone, Alex kept it and will come back for another trade as soon as his preparation is complete. Alex then leaves the restaurant with a full stomach, but minus 2 spirit stones.