Chapter 693 - Focus of Attention

Translator: Thyaeria

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

“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 turning grim.

Amaki Hamasaki’s countenance was unsightly. Although the Seto Clan hired him, he has still yet to sign the contract till today. The Imperial Physician Institute seems 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 had 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 as that would mean that the entire institute is 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. No wonder Su Tao wasn’t afraid, so it turns out that the latter already knew that he was under more pressure.

Suddenly, a commotion came from the entrance as the committee representative went over. When he did, his countenance changed drastically. 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 arrived.

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

Normally speaking, this is 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 had expected that Crown Prince Tomohito and Princess Yuko would turn up.

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

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

The royal clan has 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 snatched it over to confiscate it temporarily.

“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 sighed inwardly. Her uncle’s method of buying the hearts of people is 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 has 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 is a phase in the Book of History: Yu the Great, those who are good at politics can benefit the welfare of citizens. Hence, one can tell how much Japan had 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 had 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 as the special education from Seto Clan flowed deep in his body that 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 as he 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 surrounding, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince himself. After all, half of the people here are 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 2, the Royal Clan was still the spiritual pillar of every Japanese. So much so that many Japanese committed disembowel to show their remorse for the Heavenly Emperor after the war.

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

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

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 turns 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 as he did not think that Tomohito’s arrival was an honour to him.

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

Sire Shui had just told him that there’s a group in the National Healer Specialist Team intends to make an article out of his meeting with the Seto Clan. Now that Tomohito is 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 as there were many with all kinds of temperament. 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 out a question.

“He can now get down the bed to resume his normal activities after taking the medicine that you’ve prescribed.” Tomohito praised incessantly as he continued, “Everyone in the Imperial Physician Institute was curious 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 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 try the medicine recklessly, 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 sighed inwardly.

“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 it.” Tomohito smiled.

Shaking his head, Su Tao replied, “To me, 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 as he never expected that Su Tao would lecture him. It has 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 light 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 by the side. No one was focusing on them as everyone had their attention focused on Su Tao.

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

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.”