Chapter 353: Only a Villain Can Defeat a Hero

The Healthy People Foundation is a private foundation aimed at strengthening the physical health of the federation’s citizens.

There are countless such foundations in Eminence. With so many members of Congress, even if each were tied to only two foundations, there would still be thousands.

But no congressman is involved with just two; some hold shares in more than a dozen foundations. Saying two is an insult to their influence.

The situation is very complex. Before Truman acted, he didn’t expect to be stumped—he had the backing of the current president, military support, and close ties to powerful capitalists.

Yet he underestimated this foundation and the people connected to it, becoming complacent.

This was a harsh lesson for his recent arrogance—a punch to the face.

Starting that afternoon, he was bombarded with calls asking about his investigation into the Healthy People Foundation, probing deeper.

He assumed it was just a reaction from Congressman Wales, sensing danger, but he was wrong.

For years, the federation’s medical industry has pushed to commercialize health insurance, promoting private insurance as more efficient than social insurance, even misleading the public on the role of drugs, especially synthetic medicines, in treating illnesses.

They claim cheap drugs lack value or effectiveness, and only expensive, non-covered medicines truly help patients recover.

The government blocks truly effective drugs from insurance coverage to avoid high costs, unwilling to bear the financial burden.

Their famous slogan: No one cares for you more than yourself—not even the federal government!

Through TV ads, newspapers, and activists, they push for the complete withdrawal of health insurance from social coverage—and they’re making steady progress.

Although Congress has yet to pass the reform, resistance has softened. Many who once opposed it outright now say maybe, some have even sided with the medical industry.

This is closely tied to the lobbying groups and their channels of influence.

No one knows how much money they’ve spent, but most lobbyists and brokers in Eminence have done well over the years.

Among the shareholders of the Healthy People Foundation, besides Wales, several congressmen—either lobbying for or already aligned with the medical industry—hold stakes.

In other words, Truman’s investigation has alarmed the medical industry, striking fear in them.

If exposed, their years of effort would vanish instantly.

Under intense public pressure, the federal government would be forced to investigate.

Though they could sacrifice scapegoats to divert attention, their long-term plans would be ruined—they can’t allow that.

Increasingly prominent figures called Truman, questioning his motives, warning him to drop the investigation. This wasn’t a routine matter that even a top White House official could handle alone.

The calls kept coming, pressure mounting. When the Minister of Scientific Development called, Truman realized he had to clarify or face worse consequences.

This wasn’t a simple political ripple; he was up against a far larger and more terrifying interest group, with billions in annual profits, willing to take huge risks.

Then the president himself called.

“Before calling, I debated whether I should…” The president’s tone was unchanged but carried a subtle fatigue.

Whether due to Congressman Wales’s influence in Congress and the media or today’s crisis, his mind felt overwhelmed.

He chuckled wryly, filled with helplessness. “I wanted to be a hero and tell you, Truman, to go ahead—no challenge can stop us…”

“But I’m not a hero.”

“I’m just a failed president. Today’s events discouraged me. Even as president, we can’t act as we wish.”

“But I’ll pull myself together, and I hope you will too. Today’s failure shows we’re still weak. We’re no match for them yet.”

“We’ll grow stronger. One day we’ll face them like true heroes and defeat them.”

“…”

“Sorry to disappoint you. I couldn’t bear the pressure.”

Truman was silent for a long time—four or five minutes, maybe more—holding the receiver to his ear; neither side spoke, only breathing was heard.

Finally, Truman spoke, his voice hoarse: “I must apologize too, Mr. President. My arrogance caused me to overlook key issues.”

“My mistakes put us on the defensive; we could have done better.”

“But today also made me see a new problem: We don’t just have enemies outside, but hidden enemies within, ones we never imagined.”

“They’ve also been careless. They’ve revealed themselves, and what we face now is only a temporary retreat. We have time, and we will win!”

The next morning, Truman, head of the Office for International Affairs and Policy, offered to resign, feeling unable to fulfill the role, but the president declined.

Soon after, a mid-level official from the Federal National Security Council was arrested for dereliction of duty, and the investigation into the Healthy People Foundation was officially closed with a report satisfying all parties.

The foundation’s finances complied fully with federal charters and laws; all operations and beneficiaries were legal. The investigation was over.

No news outlet dared report this; regardless of party—Progressive, Conservative, or Socialist—no one would touch this sensitive topic.

It was yet another major victory for the capitalists, forcing even the president to bow.

Truman was granted three days’ leave to regroup. Upon returning home, he saw a truck parked outside.

Due to the job’s sensitivity, Truman instinctively put his hands in his pockets. Passing the truck, he saw his wife and child handing off a clipboard to two workers in blue vests.

The current recession wasn’t all bad—at least now companies were considering consumers’ feelings.

Previously, freight companies were harsh and careless, often dumping goods anywhere without notice. Now they required customers to fill out forms.

They were gentler, more considerate, and careful—because a single bad review could cost them income or even their jobs.This might be one of the few silver linings in the economic downturn.

“What are these?” Truman asked as he approached.

His wife immediately explained, “Some new things—didn’t you have them sent over?” Her face was full of smiles. “What a wonderful surprise. Were you trying to keep it from me?”

She mistook these as a gift from Truman, but she didn’t know that at this moment, the man before her felt nothing but surprise without any joy.

Just as Truman was about to say something, the phone rang.

He glanced toward the door, patted his wife’s hand, and walked into the room.

When he answered, a slightly familiar voice spoke. He should have heard it yesterday, but with so many calls, he had forgotten who it was.

“I apologize, Mr. Truman. I’ve learned more details, and I want to apologize for our overreaction yesterday. What you saw was my intention. I hope you can accept it.”

Truman frowned. “What if I don’t?”

The man on the other end laughed loudly. “You’d better accept it!”

There was no direct threat, not even a real menace, but Truman sensed a confident kind of warning in those words.

He glanced back at his wife and child saying goodbye to the delivery workers by the door. “Your name?”

The voice on the phone wasn’t that of a hero—unsurprising, since those who defeat heroes are often villains. “When we need to meet, we will. Then you’ll know who I am.”

“But not now…”

Staring at the disconnected receiver, a quiet but growing power of anger stirred inside Truman. He knew one thing for sure: he had gained a new opponent.