nagpurpolice Chapter 192: Micro-dust (8)
Chapter 192: Micro-dust (8)
Chapter 192: Micro-dust (8)
“What are you talking about? My punishment?” He Jiankui asked like he couldn’t believe it. “Are you sure you heard him correctly? Why would Doctor Ryu talk about that with the minister?”
“I’m just delivering what I heard. I don’t know the details,” said the entourage.
“... Oh.”
He Jiankui raised his finger like he had figured it out.
“I see. He’s going to ask you to not punish me. Haha.”
Frowning, the minister asked the entourage, “When does he want to see me?”
“Anytime within his visa period, but he would like to see you as soon as possible.”
The minister glanced at his watch. Uptodated from
“It’s eleven-thirty. What’s my next schedule?”
“You are scheduled to have a luncheon with the President,” they replied.
“Contact Doctor Ryu right now and set up a time. If he says yes, please tell the President that I have an emergency and won’t be able to make the luncheon today as politely as possible.”
“But it’s the President’s luncheon?” He Jiankui asked, shocked.
“I’ve served him for thirty years. He’ll understand. And it’s not that important either,” the minister said. “Besides, isn’t it actually urgent that I meet Doctor Ryu right now? It sounds like that ingenious scientist who is on another level is pointing a knife at you.”
“...”
“Don’t worry, I am on your side. You’re one of the great human resources amongst 1.3 billion people, right?” said the minister. “Anyways, I am trying to protect you, so stay put.”
* * *
Xin Mao, the minister of the State Administration for Market Regulation, was one of the most influential men in the State Council, and he was in-laws with the president. His responsibility in the administration right now was making laws and overseeing policies regarding industrial and commercial management. He practically had control over the domestic economy and was currently working on constructing a huge industrial zone along China’s eastern coastline. He was also a supporter of He Jiankui.
“Hello.”
Xin Mao greeted Young-Joon with a greasy smile.
“Nice to meet you,” Young-Joon replied.
He shook his hand and sat down.
“I came here without an interpreter because it was such a last-minute request. Well, it’s not like we’re going to sign a contract or anything, right? It’s just a simple discussion?” Xin Mao said.
“Yes. Don’t worry because I have prepared an interpreter.”
“But are you uncomfortable? You don’t look very well.”
“I’m fine.”
Xin Mao and Young-Joon stared at each other in silence. Alice wanted to go home. Xin Mao was one of the most influential people in a dictatorship that even the United States found difficult to deal with.
‘Sir, don’t you think you’re pushing it...’
Alice nudged Young-Joon.
“An opportunity...”
Xin Mio contemplated, stroking his chin.
Young-Joon said, “And because China is so big, the weather varies greatly by region, which changes the ecology of mosquitoes. As such, it would be difficult for Chinese scientists to do this project on their own without my help.”
“I understand what you mean, as well as the importance,” Xin Mao said. “There were countries fighting over something as useless as landing on the moon. With something like eliminating a species that kills a million people a year, it’s understandable that governments want to lead it. It would be great if we could do that, like you said.”
“That’s right.”
“So what is it that you want in return, Doctor Ryu?”
“The Chinese scientific community will grow if they lead it. But I’m someone who believes that ethics should be the foundation of technology in science,” Young-Joon said. “I’m going to announce an international moratorium on biomedical research ethics with the top biologists in the world. Please get the President to sign it and pass it as criminal law.”
“Ack...” Xin Mao looked bewildered.
Young-Joon said, “I will show you the items in the moratorium first. As a scientist, I cannot stand by and watch the unethical research that is happening in China right now.”
“W—What items are you going to put in?”
“The first will be about gene modification. I will put an ethics committee for gene editing research at A-Bio, which has full rights to Cas9. Anyone who wants to edit genes in human germ cells will have to be judged by the committee. If they fail, we will not give them the rights to use Cas9.”
“...”
“But the moratorium is only a recommendation. If someone like Doctor He Jiankui does research without permission to use Cas9, all we can do is file a civil lawsuit for copyright infringement. But I want a criminal penalty. Not just damages for copyright infringement, but I want that scientist to go to jail,” Young-Joon said. “So I’m asking the Chinese government to legislate that, so that we can give a strong sentence to someone like Doctor He Jiankui. It needs to have the name of the President so that no one can challenge it.”
“...”
Xin Mao wiped the sweat on the back of his neck.
“Wait, wait. Doctor Ryu, let’s calm down for a moment. It seems like you’re a little angry at Doctor He Jiankui...”
“Not just a little,” Young-Joon said as he stared at Xin Mao. “And to be honest, I think the Chinese government, the university director, and his fellow scientists are also to blame for allowing this kind of research to go on.”
“... Doctor Ryu,” Xin Mao said in a soft voice to calm him down. “Doctor He Jiankui is quite friendly towards you. Do you know what he said to me? He wanted me to reconsider the factories being built on the eastern coast, saying that we need to stop the micro-dust that’s going to Korea.”
“Thank you, but you don’t need to worry about that. Develop as much aluminum as you want. You can make more factories if you want,” Young-Joon said. “Send all your micro-dust to Korea. I don’t care.”
Xin Mao was flustered again at Young-Joon’s unexpected response.
“Um, and Doctor Ryu, Doctor He Jiankui told the Chinese government to support you a lot from now on. In fact, we can do things for you that you can’t do in America...”
“I don’t need that either,” Young-Joon said firmly. “I have an idea of what that support is. It’s obvious what a lunatic who treats his people like lab mice for his research would come up with, especially if it’s something the U.S can’t offer me. Please don’t be specific about it because the only thing I am outraged about right now is He Jiankui.”