Physician’s Odyssey - Chapter 693 - Focus of Attention
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Chapter 693 - Focus of Attention

“Hamasaki, I’m afraid that you’ve gotten it wrong.” Su Tao helplessly shook his head.

“What did I get wrong about?” Amaki Hamasaki looked at Su Tao in perplexion.

“You should think of your retreat route on what you will be facing when you get defeated by me.” Su Tao gave pressure to Amaki Hamasaki.

“I won’t lose!” Amaki Hamasaki declared, cold and aloof.

“This is your home ground, so if you lose, won’t you become the laughing stock of Iwata Chinese Medicine Research Facility? Oh, I also heard that you’ve just joined the Seto Clan’s Imperial Physician Institute. If you lose, won’t you humiliate the Imperial Physician Institute as well? It only proves that the Seto Clan’s Imperial Physician Institute is incomparable to China’s National Healer Specialist Team!” Su Tao continued as he watched Amaki Hamasaki’s face turn grim.

Amaki Hamasaki’s countenance was unsightly. Although the Seto Clan hired him, he still has yet to sign the contract till today. The Imperial Physician Institute seemed to be delaying it on purpose. Could it be that they’re waiting for the outcome of his competition with Su Tao?

With his intelligence and Su Tao’s reminder, he soon figured it out.

The Seto Clan only invited him because Su Tao has treated an important figure, causing Crown Prince Tomohito to see the worth in TCM. But since they couldn’t invite his master, Mamoru Onizuka, they settled with the best alternative.

At the same time, it was also because Su Tao had suppressed everyone in the Imperial Physician Institute, so it’s impossible for them to allow someone who was defeated by Su Tao into the institute since that would mean that the entire institute was still inferior to Su Tao.

After sorting it all out, beads of sweat started to form on the bridge of Amaki Hamasaki’s nose. When he looked at Su Tao once more, he wore a complicated expression. It was no wonder why Su Tao wasn’t afraid, it turned out that the latter already knew that he was under more pressure.

Suddenly, a commotion came from the entrance, so the committee representative went over. When he did, his countenance drastically changed. In the end, even Amaki Hamasaki had to give up on provoking Su Tao to head over.

Su Tao couldn’t hear what the people in the surroundings were talking about, but he knew that someone important had just arrived.

When Kim Jung-ho eavesdropped on the surrounding conversations, he lowered his voice and said, “How surprising, even the Crown Prince and his consort has arrived.”

Normally speaking, this was an ordinary discussion that even Kyoto’s Mayor couldn’t be bothered to attend. Thus, he arranged the Vice-Mayor to go through the process.

However, no one expected that Crown Prince Tomohito and Princess Yuko would turn up.

Although Japan’s royal clan did not have any substantial authority, they had a noble status in the hearts of every Japanese. Hence, their appearance instantly elevated the level of this discussion.

Even the reporters who were there to earn the transportation fees caught onto a piece of headline news and started snapping photos.

The royal clan had always been a mysterious existence, and for the reporters present, it’s probably impossible for them to find traces of the royal clan. Hence, they naturally wouldn’t give up this opportunity.

However, it’s a pity that Tomohito had a team of bodyguards, forbidding anyone from approaching. When they noticed the reporters snapping photos, they even tried to snatch their cameras to temporarily confiscate them.

“Let them take it!” Crown Prince Tomohito wore an amicable expression as he instructed the bodyguards, “I will give an explanation to the Inner Palace Department.”

Receiving Tomohito’s instructions, the bodyguards returned the cameras to the reporters.

As for Kiko, who was following behind the Crown Prince, she inwardly sighed. Her uncle’s method of buying the hearts of people was getting better without any flaws.

“Your highness, why are you here today?” The representative of the committee, Tetsuto Kobashi, who was sixty-five years old this year. He previously took a post in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, so he had some prestige in Japan’s medical industry. He had a good relationship with the royal clan and he even met the Crown Prince, Tomohito, several times.

There was a phrase in the Book of History: Yu the Great, those who are good at politics can benefit the welfare of citizens. Hence, one could tell how much Japan has been influenced by their previous suzerain.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was equivalent to China’s National Health Bureau, responsible for medical treatment, hygiene, and social security.

The Chinese Medicine Discussion might be insignificant to the commoners, but it’s a major event in Japan’s medical industry. Hence, there’s a standard for the representative of the committee.

However, the arrival of Crown Prince Tomohito has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“I heard from Princess Kiko that there’s an interesting competition today, so I came to take a look. I hope that my arrival did not pose any troubles to you.” Tomohito replied with elegance. The special education from Seto Clan flowed deep within his body and he could apply a peculiar pressure to ordinary people.

“No way!” Tetsuto Kobashi immediately replied, “Your arrival will bring more attention to this discussion, and it’s practically a free advertisement. I will represent everyone from the Chinese medicine industry to express their gratitude to you.”

When he finished, he immediately gave a bow.

Tomohito immediately supported Tetsuto Kobashi up and smiled. “You’re too courteous. Oh, right. Let me emphasise it once more; I’m only here to watch the competition.”

As Tomohito walked at the front, his bodyguards opened up a path. There were many people in the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince himself. After all, half of the people here were Japanese, and they had only seen the Crown Prince on television. So they couldn’t conceal their excitement to see him in person.

Although the Seto Clan was weakened with Japan’s defeat in World War II, the Royal Clan was still the spiritual pillar of every Japanese. It was so much so that many Japanese committed disembowelments to show their remorse for the Heavenly Emperor after the war.

When Tomohito saw Su Tao amongst the crowd, he walked over and smiled then said in Mandarin, “Mr. Su, we meet again!”

Seeing that Tomohito had initiated a greeting to Su Tao, everyone was stunned.

Did their eyes mess with them?

The Crown Prince, Tomohito, actually took the initiative to greet Su Tao?

Wouldn’t that mean that Crown Prince Tomohito came because of Su Tao? Those who sneered at Su Tao for being someone nameless all felt ashamed at this moment as reality had given them a slap. So it turned out that Su Tao wasn’t someone nameless and without foundation.

Even the Seto Clan had personally come to cheer him on!

However, Su Tao remained composed. He did not think that Tomohito’s arrival was an honour to him.

On the other contrary, it made him feel speechless instead.

Sire Shui had just told him that there’s a group in the National Healer Specialist Team intending to make an article out of his meeting with the Seto Clan. Now that Tomohito was behaving so friendly with him, wouldn’t that give those people more reasons?

Furthermore, he’s also a National Healer, and he had interacted with many people of high positions. He’s required to be flexible to changes since there were many with all kinds of temperaments. Since Su Tao could remain calm with them, he could naturally remain calm with Tomohito, who did not have much relationship with him.

“How is Mr. Sugiyama fairing?” Su Tao knew that he had to deal with Tomohito, so he asked a question.

“He can now get out of the bed to resume his normal activities after taking the medicine that you’ve prescribed.” Tomohito incessantly praised before he continued, “Everyone in the Imperial Physician Institute was curious about how you did it!”

“I believe that they must be researching the medicine that I’ve provided, thinking that the secret lies there.” Su Tao smiled.

Tomohito was briefly stunned upon hearing Su Tao’s words and sighed, “You’ve guessed it correctly, but they did not obtain a defined answer.”

“It’s reasonable that they couldn’t find out the reason. A physician will prescribe different herbs based on the patient’s condition, and if the medicine meant for Mr. Sugiyama was used on someone else with the same condition, it might have a different effect instead. Let me warn you not to recklessly try the medicine, or the consequences will be dire.” Su Tao gave a reminder despite knowing that it was already too late.

The Crown Prince Tomohito had also received news from the Imperial Physician Institute that they’ve tried testing the medicine prescription given by Su Tao. They fed the medicine to several guinea pigs, but all of them ended up dead. Now that he had gotten an answer, he inwardly sighed.

“We’re here to cheer for you!” Princess Kiko jumped out, revealing her canine teeth with her smile to cover up Tomohito’s awkwardness.

“Mr. Su, you’re like a magician when you treat patients, and anyone can sense the charm in that.” Tomohito smiled.

Shaking his head, Su Tao replied, “To me, a treatment is not a plaything, nor is there anything to see. Facing diseases, I have always held revere in my heart.”

Tomohito recovered after a long time. He never expected that Su Tao would lecture him. It had been a long time since people lectured him for being disrespectful. But even despite the fact that he was lectured by Su Tao, he held Su Tao at a higher level and smiled. “Mr. Su, your spirit is respectable.”

Tomohito had met a fair share of Chinese, and undoubtedly, Su Tao made him feel especially ‘real’ compared to the rest.

On the other hand, Amaki Hamasaki felt neglected as he stood to the side. No one was focusing on him since everyone had their attention focused on Su Tao.

Shouldn’t he be the protagonist of this competition? This was his home ground, so why was Su Tao suddenly the one receiving the attention?

Hiding the rage in his gaze, he walked over and introduced himself, “Your highness, nice to meet you. My name is Amaki Hamasaki!”

Sweeping a glance at him, Tomohito replied, “I know you. You must be Mamoru Onizuka’s disciple, right? I heard that you would be joining the Imperial Physician Institute soon, so I’m looking forward to your competition with Su Tao. I hope that you can do your best and bring out your best. Don’t embarrass our medical studies.”