A one-time grant of 2,000 Han-yuan for those earning less than 1,500?
A 1,000 Han-yuan payout for those earning between 1,500 and 2,500?
The Social Welfare Ministry's announcement at the press conference swept across Shinhan like wildfire, sparking discussions in every corner of the nation.
On average, the grant equaled a full month's salary.
How could the common people not be thrilled?
It was free money.
Countless eligible citizens flocked to their local district offices to claim their royal subsidy.
After receiving the funds, many expressed their gratitude to the royal family.
Though the amounts weren't astronomical, the very act of proactively disbursing 10 billion Han-yuan to support the lower-income populace moved the hearts of ordinary people. Praise for King Shō Kōkei echoed far and wide—he was hailed as a benevolent monarch.
After all, how many developing nations, apart from high-income welfare states, would dare to hand out money so freely?
Within two days, the news had reached Ryūgoku's internet forums.
It sparked a massive wave of commentary.
"A 2,000 Han-yuan grant? Anyone know what that converts to in our currency?"
"Replying up top—1 Han-yuan is roughly 2 yuan."
"1 Han-yuan equals 2 yuan? So the grant is 4,000 yuan?"
"Holy crap, my monthly salary is only 2,500. I'm beyond jealous—those Shinhan folks are getting paid to do nothing!"
"God, I bust my ass every month for 3,000, and they just lie back and collect 4,000. Unbelievable."
"This has to be fake. Ten billion Han-yuan? That's nearly 20 billion in our money. No way Shinhan's royal family would hand out that kind of cash."
"It's not fake. I'm working in Shinhan right now. My friend here went to the Welfare Department this morning and really did get 2,000 Han-yuan."
"Damn bro, you're working in Shinhan? How is it? The jobs there pay well?"
"Not bad! About 50% higher than here. Cost of living's a bit lower too. And the seafood? Insanely cheap. I bought a 2-kilo lobster for just 70-something yuan."
"No freaking way!"
"That's crazy. Over here a single kilo costs more than 100, and that's if you can even find it."
"Brother, I want to work in Shinhan. Can you help me get in?"
"Yeah man, take me with you. I can cook, and I've done construction work too."
...
The royal grant program in Shinhan exploded in popularity across Ryūgoku's online circles.
On top of that, news spread about how dirt-cheap Shinhan's seafood was. Many netizens were tempted to visit for a food tour—eat enough lobster, and the flight would practically pay for itself.
Especially now that the government had rolled out a one-month visa waiver for tourism, business, and family visits, people all over Ryūgoku were eager to travel to Shinhan.
The visa-free policy was a huge draw for those who didn't speak English.
Back in Shinhan, Shō Unkai had no idea his financial stimulus had triggered a tourism frenzy from their powerful neighbor.
He was currently at Tower 5 of the former "Henglong Chang'an Center," now renamed "Seikan Chang'an Center"—the tallest building in the complex—inspecting progress at the Institute of Biomedical Research.
They had just completed development of a weight-loss pill.
After a month of intense work, armed with the formula and preparation methods awarded by the system, the research team had successfully recreated the slimming capsule.
Unkai held one in his hand.
"How effective is it?" he asked. "Have there been human trials?"
"Yes, Your Highness," said Zhao Gentei, handing over a data sheet. "We selected several test subjects for clinical trials. Each showed results. On average, they lost half a pound per day."
"For those with higher body fat, the effects were even better. One subject, addicted to soda and fried foods, lost 0.8 pounds on day one, 0.7 pounds on day two, and over the course of a week, shed 5 full pounds."
Unkai nodded. "Any side effects?"
"There are a few. Liver function takes a bit more strain, and some users experience an accelerated heart rate. But overall, it's non-toxic. The most common side effect is diarrhea."
Unkai wasn't surprised.
Weight loss inevitably taxed liver function. After all, the liver detoxifies the body and regulates metabolism. An effective fat-burning pill would naturally heighten the workload.
As for diarrhea, that was practically expected.
Shedding fat meant flushing it out somehow.
"We also developed a topical cream. It can be applied to fatty areas to accelerate fat burning. When combined with the capsules, the results improve significantly."
Unkai accepted the small jar Zhao handed him, opened it, and took a whiff. It had a subtle floral scent.
Putting the bottle down, he asked, "One thing—can the oral pill kill anyone?"
"As long as users follow dosage instructions and contraindications, there is zero risk of death," Zhao replied with confidence.
Unkai gave a satisfied nod.
That was good enough.
Realistically, no medication could guarantee zero fatalities. Patients didn't always follow directions.
"How's the breast enhancement formula coming along?" he asked.
While weight loss was a massive market, so was breast augmentation—especially one that worked without surgery. If it delivered even modest results, he could charge a fortune and still find eager buyers.
Many women made a living off their appearance.
A fuller figure meant more opportunities.
And this solution was completely natural.
"It's still in clinical testing. Unlike the slimming pill, this one takes longer to show results."
Unkai nodded again.
They'd launch the slimming product first.
And he had no intention of filing for a patent.
Patent applications would require revealing the formula—and he wasn't about to hand it over to India, where copycat pharma was legendary.
No, he'd protect the secret. After all, the real magic wasn't just the ingredients. It was the exact ratios and the process behind them.
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