Chapter 37: Biotechnology Research and Development Base

"Recently, the Chairman of the Medicines Safety Committee, Philip Dixon, was investigated by London police for alleged bribery..."

"The stock prices of Weycon, Jelicon, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, and other companies continue to plummet following the Coffee Gate scandal, marking a week-long streak of hitting rock-bottom, with a total market value loss of approximately three hundred million pounds..."

"Due to the impact of the October stock market crash, the market has reacted strongly to the continuous fall in the stock prices of several companies. Experts interpret that this significant drop in medical stocks will not cause a chain reaction, urging investors not to panic..."

Murphy smirked, "Bad luck for them."

In October of this year, the world just experienced a major stock market crash. On October 19, 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by 508.32 points in a single day, a 22.6% drop. In just over six hours, the New York Stock Exchange lost five hundred billion dollars, equivalent to one-eighth of the entire US GDP at the time.

That day was known on Wall Street as Black Monday.

The terrifying panic quickly swept across the globe, with stock markets in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and other places plummeting.

By the end of October, the UK stock market had fallen by 26%, turning countless millionaires into paupers overnight.

Even though one or two months had passed, the terrible memory of the stock market crash still lingered in people's minds, turning many into jumpy birds.

These pharmaceutical companies, originally purely defamed by Murphy, causing a temporary dip in their stock prices, would have likely recovered quickly with proper PR and distancing in the past.

But this time, under the escalating public pressure, compounded by the biggest stock market crash in history, their stock prices hit rock-bottom, even significantly impacting the entire medical sector.

For this, Murphy could only clink glasses with Patrick in celebration, as a form of condolence.

It wasn't just schadenfreude. Their market devaluation also brought tangible benefits to Murphy, like Weycon's research institute, originally valued at over five million pounds, now practically begging Umbrella Corporation to buy it for a mere one million pounds.

Desperate for Umbrella's understanding, they were willing to agree to any terms, fearing the collapse of their own companies.

Murphy naturally didn't hesitate, having already acquired three research institutions. Had it been necessary, he would have even bought their pharmaceutical factories.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of Umbrella Corporation's soaring reputation, Murphy also carried out several rounds of financing, selling 8% of the shares for almost a hundred million pounds.

The only regret was that the stock market wasn't performing well. Otherwise, going public at this time would have catapulted him into the billionaire club.

However, Murphy wasn't greedy. It was enough. There was no need to rush; steady progress was key.

With the money secured, Murphy's research institute plan could finally take off.

Thanks to early preparations, issues such as approvals, land acquisition, and design were quickly resolved. In the spring of 1988, the Umbrella Corporation Biotechnology Research and Development Base officially began construction.

In Hertfordshire, Murphy met Patrick, wearing a safety helmet.

"How's the progress?"

"Come on, let me show you from the hill."

Patrick led Murphy up a slope. Below, in the midst of the wilderness, a construction site was bustling.

"A total of 970 acres, divided into six zones. We're currently building Zone One, which includes three main buildings. The largest is the White Medicine Plantation, seventeen floors, covering about 19 acres. The other two, as per our original plan, are the White Medicine Cultivation Optimization Base and the White Medicine Research Center."

Zone One was mainly for the cultivation and research of Yunshan White Medicine.

The plantation adopted Patrick's suggestion of a vertical farm design. One was built for testing, and if successful, three more would be constructed.

The Research Center aimed to isolate the core components of Bai Xianxiang Essence from White Medicine, clarify its molecular biological mechanisms, and research more efficient preparation methods.

It was a place capable of producing Nobel Prize-level achievements. Even before construction began, a dozen renowned scholars had expressed interest in joining.

The Cultivation Optimization Base intended to study Bai Xian from a botanical perspective, combining genetic editing, cell engineering, mutation induction, hybridization, and various breeding technologies to optimize Bai Xian's active ingredients and increase its yield.

Besides Zone One, Murphy had also allocated research areas for Beautification Potions, Skele-Gro, Blood-Replenishing Potions, and other magical potions. Each of these incredibly magical potions held potential for one or several Nobel Prize-level discoveries.

These were treasures Murphy wouldn't waste.

In his vision, the future also included a Magical Plant Cultivation Base to mass-produce various magical plants. He had already bought many seeds; once Bai Xian cultivation was on track and Umbrella had accumulated experience in magical plant cultivation, they could begin.

There would also be a Magical Creature Breeding Center. The magical creatures of the wizarding world, not only usable as potion ingredients, but also their magical abilities, were worth studying, another vast treasure trove.

Of course, a Spell Research Institute was necessary. However, there was less Muggle technological accumulation to leverage for this, and involving Muggle researchers would require deep cooperation with wizards, entailing significant risks. Murphy planned to start on a small scale and see how it went.

Thinking of the exciting projects waiting to be realized in the future, Murphy felt invigorated.

Wasn't this more interesting than replying to boring letters at the Pest Advisory Bureau?

"How long will it take to complete Zone One?" Murphy asked.

"Land leveling is almost done, foundation pouring takes about a month, the main structure three months, and plumbing and decoration two months. If fast, it should be operational in half a year."

Unlike ordinary simple factories, both the Research Center and the Vertical Plantation were complex high-rise structures, even exceeding the workload of typical residential and office buildings.

Half a year was actually quite fast, a result of Umbrella sparing no expense.

Still, Murphy felt it was a bit slow. He considered using magic to speed up the process, but with his magical power, its effect on such large-scale construction was limited.

"Half a year it is. Before that, let's rent some places and set up temporary sites. Those research institutes we bought, halt other less advanced researches and assign them to White Medicine research."

"Those scholars who expressed interest, and those on Rita's recommended list, vet them and hire the capable ones."

"Right, we also need to expand our administrative staff. Let's organize a large-scale recruitment," Patrick suggested.

"Go for it! Be bold, there's plenty of money. Pay well for those with talent. After spending this billion, I can always sell more shares if needed."

Patrick smiled, "You make it sound like our shares are cabbages."

"Paper if it can't be converted to cash, less valuable than cabbages," Murphy said nonchalantly.

"By the way, there's one more thing. Since we're involving researchers in White Medicine, what about confidentiality?"

Murphy frowned, "Indeed, that's a big issue."

It wasn't about leaking the secret composition of Bai Xianxiang Essence to Muggles, but rather the wizarding world.

"Let's start with a non-disclosure agreement that would bankrupt them if breached, and I'll tell you if I come up with a better solution."

For now, a confidentiality agreement would suffice for Bai Xianxiang Essence research. But in the long run, a magic-based secrecy solution would be safer.

He wondered if Wood had found any leads yet?