Lone Cultivator In Another World

The next day, Michael encouraged Anna to visit her mother again and check if she got upgraded to a VIP suite. The girl was in an uplifted mood all day and made the trip right after classes. That gave Michael an opportunity to talk to Old Zhao alone.

He considered his arrangement with Zhao a secret that could hurt the girl's feelings if she found out. He hated to manipulate Anna like that but consoled himself that seeing her mother in a better environment could be beneficial for her.

Michael passed the guard with no problems, and when Zhao habitually opened the door to his study, instead of a pretty girl he saw a smirking boy.

"Ah, you!"

"Hello, sir," Michael let himself in, "I doubt Anna will come today."

"Her mother again? Fine. What do you want?"

"I came by to talk to you about the work you've done on my formula. And to fulfill my part of our deal."

Zhao's eyes sparked with jealousy, "Your formula?"

"Didn't Anna tell you? Yes, the medicine you've developed is based on my ideas."

"How did you come up with it?"

"Sorry," denied Michael, "Not before I patent it. Anna trusts you, but I don't."

Zhao's glare proved the cultivator right. As a disgraced scientist, the one thing he wanted most was to become respected again, to be accepted into the community. His ideas were too radical, but the old Chinese man believed in them. To get another chance to fight for his goals, he would do anything.

"But look, I come in peace. Now that I have this formula, I'm moving on to step two."

"Step two?"

"Can you just let me finish? Thank you!" exploded Michael. The man's barking manner of speaking grated on his nerves. "As you might have guessed, I'm developing a medicine. What you've done was the first part. Now, I need to devise a way to target a specific gene with it. And you seem to be one of the foremost experts on this in the world."

Old Zhao specialized in gene therapy, the delivery of a certain gene to specific cells in the human body. It was a field that combined genetics and medicine, and required a cutting-edge research facility.

In another world, Anna followed in her mentor's footsteps and made groundbreaking discoveries in gene therapy and later gene editing. She even fulfilled his wild dream, the reason he got ostracized – she cloned a human. The Chinese man wished to go further and create new human beings from elements on the periodic table, but Anna drew the line for herself and refused to cross it.

"You want me to work for you?"

"I sure expect you to, if you want to get the rest of your money," Michael grinned like a villain from a Disney movie.

"What money? Anna tells me, you made a game. Is this your money? You had nothing when you promised me millions!"

"Why are you kicking up a fuss? Give me an account number, I'll transfer five million to you right now."

"We agreed on ten!" Old Zhao protested.

"And I will have the rest in a month. As soon as more people buy my game, all right?"

Zhao dictated a number and soon he was staring at his screen, unable to believe that the boy had come through.

"With this, you can buy the equipment you lack. I have to warn you though, I have to move forward with or without you. In the following days, I will contact the best research teams in the world and promise them a grant of ten million for the medicine."

"What should it do again?"

"I need it to deliver the formula you've developed to a specific gene. Here are the details," Michael handed Anna's mentor a paper with his scribbles. Zhao studied it for a minute and gave Michael a once-over.

"You're targeting tumors! This is cancer medication!"

"No, it's a plan to complete a part of the medication. The finished product of step two won't be of much help."

"Step three?"

"None of your business. So, what do you say? Would you like to prove yourself again? Call yourself the one who developed a cure for cancer? That kind of fame, it could destroy any bad publicity."

"I know," Zhao's brows furrowed in thought.

In Michael's past life, the discoveries of steps one and two were accidental. Only the researcher who developed the ready cure was known by the whole world. However, now that Michael jumpstarted the process, the cure could be developed at least ten years earlier. Turned out, the only thing scientists lacked was a world traveler.

"And Anna?" asked Zhao.

"What about her? She only has good things to say about you. I wanted to get your attention back then, which is why I dangled ten million in front of your face. But can you see now what a good protégé she is?"

"Anna is great! Almost as good as my daughter!"

The daughter again. Michael knew there was something important about Zhao's family, but he never had the time or the energy to find out. He remembered that it changed nothing, so there was no rush.

"I also appreciate that you give her meaningful work to do. Like the formula, it's in her handwriting. Did she help you somehow?"

"I talked. She listened."

"Good enough!" Michael laughed. "Anyway. I'll get you the rest of that money soon. As for the research grant, you can choose to pursue it or to give it up. But believe me, it's a huge opportunity. For yourself and your legacy."

Zhao simply nodded, already figuring out his chances.

Michael left him to consider, unaware of just how great a campaign Zhao would manage to launch.

The next issue was one of the toughest for the young cultivator. There were significant obstacles for a minor starting their own company. For example, the four friends could only set up a bank account with the school's help. There were limits on signing contracts, getting credit from the banks, paying taxes. Even copyrighting had its specifics.

Fortunately, there was a way to circ.u.mvent all of that.

When Michael came home, he asked his parents to sit down and talk. His mom got nervous while his father displayed a mild interest. Sometimes, Vladimir Severniy felt like his son had changed a lot in the time they hadn't seen each other. He demonstrated sound logic, m.a.t.u.r.e attitude and wisdom he didn't possess before. Also, he socialized with his classmates easily. This was not the boy Vladimir once felt couldn't survive in the real world, but a better version of his son all around.

"Guys, you know I've earned some money, right?"

His parents nodded.

"My friends and I dropped by the bank. Here," Michael handed his dad a debit card, "are two million dollars. Do with it what you will. This is my thank you for wasting your best years on me."

"Oh, Misha, what best years. You were such a late child, our youth was long behind us," chimed in Nadezhda.

"Right. I've been thinking what the best course for me might be… Of course, I'll stay in school and keep my advanced subjects. But I want more, and there is only one way I can do that."

"Can you speak more clearly? I don't understand."

"Listen, woman," grumbled Vladimir. "Our son is trying to tell us he's not a child anymore."

"I want to establish a company. We'll start with something easy like games. Then, entertainment, medicine, applications, technology. Anything, really. I believe I've proven myself already, and I'd like to have free reign over my affairs."

Michael's dad was slowly nodding, as if making a pros and cons list in his mind. His mom, on the other hand, was still confused.

"Misha, speak your mind. What can we help you with?"

"Mom," he sighed, "I want to be emancipated. To legally become an a.d.u.l.t."

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