Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 166: Safety Concerns?

At the PSE Tower, BGC. December 3rd, 2026.

Dr. Villanueva was being escorted by the receptionist toward Michael's office. Arriving at his office, the receptionist faced him.

"Wait here, I'll inform Mr. Reyes to see you now," the receptionist said with a polite nod before disappearing behind the sleek, glass door.

Dr. Villanueva took the opportunity to look around. The waiting area was minimalist, with modern art pieces adorning the walls and a view of the bustling cityscape of Bonifacio Global City through floor-to-ceiling windows.

After a few minutes, the door opened again, and the receptionist came out.

"Mr. Reyes will see you now, Dr. Villanueva," she said, gesturing for him to follow her. Dr. Villanueva walked through the doorway into Michael's office, a large, elegantly furnished space that reflected the company's focus on cutting-edge technology and modern design.

Michael was standing by his desk, which was cluttered with various reports and electronic devices. He greeted Dr. Villanueva with a firm handshake. "Dr. Villanueva, good to see you again. Please, have a seat," he invited, pointing to a contemporary chair across from his desk.

Dr. Villanueva sat down, placing his briefcase beside the chair. "Thank you, Mr. Reyes. It's good to be here."

Michael sat down across from him and leaned forward, his expression serious. "I've been looking forward to hearing about the results. How is the patient doing after the treatment?"

"The initial results are very promising," Dr. Villanueva replied, pulling out his tablet to show some data. "Marian showed significant improvement shortly after the treatment. The tumor has responded well to the Medipod therapy, and her overall condition is stable."

Michael nodded, his eyes scanning the data. "This is exactly what we need to see."

"It was like a work of god, Mr. Reyes. We have never been this close to curing the most aggressive forms of cancer with such precision and minimal side effects," Dr. Villanueva added. "How were you able to create such a technology? It is so advanced."

"Well, I wish I could tell you, but unfortunately, it's classified. If you want to know, you will have to open up my skull and take a peek at the brain itself," Michael joked with a slight grin, lightening the mood.

Dr. Villanueva chuckled in response, appreciating the attempt at humor in the midst of such groundbreaking work. "I'll take your word for it then," he replied, still smiling. "But seriously, it's revolutionary what you're doing here. But I'm concerned about your safety."

"Safety? Why?"

"Because someone might go after you," Villanueva said, his tone turning serious. "With the kind of breakthrough we're seeing, there are bound to be entities that feel threatened—pharmaceutical companies, competitors, even political interests might see this as disruptive to their profits or agendas."

Michael leaned back in his chair, considering this. "I appreciate your concern, Dr. Villanueva, and you're not wrong. In fact, I am experiencing it currently in my photovoltaic enterprise. I don't know when the oil companies are going to start making my life miserable but they are expected."

"You are not worried at all, Mr. Reyes," Villanueva noted.

"You are wrong, I am worried when they are after me. Introducing this kind of technology to the world carries a huge risk. But this is a risk that I am willing to take," Michael stated firmly. "It's about progress and the potential to drastically improve quality of life. We can't let fear of opposition stop us from doing what's right."

Dr. Villanueva nodded in agreement. "That's a brave stance. And it's the right one. With your security measures and transparency, you're building a strong case for your technologies. The more successful treatments we have, like Marian's, the harder it will be for anyone to discredit or attack what you're doing without facing public scrutiny."

"Exactly," Michael said, his expression resolute. "We have to keep pushing forward. The benefits to humanity are just too significant. We're on the edge of a new frontier in medical science, and there's no turning back now."

Dr. Villanueva stood up, ready to leave. "Well, I better head back. There's a lot more work to do, and I'm looking forward to seeing how far we can take this."

Michael rose as well, extending his hand. "Thank you, Doctor. Let's keep the lines of communication open. I rely on your expertise and updates to navigate these waters."

"Will do, Mr. Reyes. And remember, you're not in this alone," Dr. Villanueva reassured him as they shook hands.

***

One week passed and Dr. Villanueva monitored Marian's progress closely. The follow-up results were even more encouraging than the initial ones. Marian's health continued to improve, and the residual tumor markers had decreased significantly, indicating a successful response to the Medipod treatment.

Back at his office at the Benavides Cancer Institute, Dr. Villanueva reviewed the latest medical images and data. The scans showed a clear reduction in tumor size, and the previously aggressive cancer seemed to be retreating.

"It's almost miraculous," Dr. Villanueva murmured as he annotated the images for his next presentation. The success of this case would provide a significant boost to further clinical trials, potentially leading to wider acceptance and use of the Medipod technology.

Meanwhile, Michael was preparing for a crucial upcoming meeting with investors and stakeholders. The success story of Marian's treatment had sparked considerable interest, and Michael's team had been fielding calls and emails from around the world. News of the breakthrough was spreading, and the potential for global impact was immense.

In his office at the PSE Tower, Michael reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting. Which was being read by Juliet.

"At eleven o'clock in the morning, you will have an interview from ABS-CBN, GMA, and CNN Philippines about the breakthrough with the Medipod," Juliet read from the schedule. "Then at two, there's a strategic meeting with your core research team."

Michael nodded, jotting down some notes.

"After that, at four, you're meeting with the board of investors. They're eager to discuss the expansion plans and further funding for the next phase of clinical trials."

Juliet paused, flipping through her notes. "And lastly, there's a dinner engagement with potential partners from Europe who flew in just to meet with you. That's at eight p.m. at The Peninsula."

"Thanks, Juliet," Michael said, reviewing the packed schedule. "Make sure we have all the latest data and visuals ready for these presentations. I want to clearly show how effective the Medipod treatment has been and what our next steps are."

"Of course, Mr. Reyes. I'll coordinate with Dr. Villanueva's team to get the updated reports and ensure everything is prepped for your meetings."

"Also, check if the security details are arranged for tomorrow's meetings. With the kind of attention we're getting, it's better to be cautious," Michael added, considering Dr. Villanueva's earlier concerns about potential threats.

Juliet nodded. "I've already instructed the security team to be on high alert and all venues have been double-checked. Your safety is our top priority."

"Perfect. Let's keep everything on track. This is a critical time for us, and we need to maintain momentum," Michael said