Chapter 232 Unfair Rules
James had no idea Harmony was mentally labeling him a coward as he practically fled the scene. It was only after he'd shut himself in the men's restroom, heart hammering against his ribs, that he finally allowed himself to breathe.
The memory of pinning Harmony against the wall, the feel of her curves pressed against him, sent a jolt of something hot and restless through him.
The fact that he'd seen Harmony's body before only intensified the unexpected surge of desire.
And she was Jennifer's friend. The thought of that connection, the sense of betrayal it evoked, should have filled him with shame. Instead, it added a thrillingly illicit edge to the whole situation.
"Damn it!" he muttered, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to douse the unwelcome heat.
He had a competition to focus on.
The final round was upon them: live patient diagnosis and treatment.
The rules were simple, brutal, and clearly designed to favor modern medicine. Audience members who believed themselves to be unwell would volunteer to be examined. Those with odd-numbered tokens would be seen by the traditional medicine practitioners, while those with even numbers went to the modern side. If either side deemed a patient's condition beyond their expertise, they could pass it on to their counterparts.
The round would last five grueling hours. The side that successfully treated the most patients would be declared the victor.
The announcement of these rules sparked outrage among the audience. With only fifteen practitioners on the traditional side and a staggering one hundred and two on the modern, the odds were undeniably stacked against them.
"Traditional medicine is doomed!" someone shouted.
"It doesn't matter if their medicine is better. They'll never overcome those numbers."
"This is rigged!"
James's performance in the previous round had won over a portion of the audience, and many voiced their support for traditional medicine, decrying the blatant disadvantage.
"I object!" a voice boomed from the traditional medicine side.
It was Dr. Murphy, the oldest practitioner present besides Edwin. His white hair shook with indignation as he bellowed. "These rules are a travesty! They're nothing like previous years!"
Behind him, a chorus of agreement rose from the other veteran practitioners. The rules were clearly biased, designed to ensure a modern medicine victory.
James frowned. Dr. Wheeler had warned him about potential rule changes, but this was beyond the pale.
An organizer hurried forward, his expression tight. "These rules were carefully considered and approved by the judging panel. Protests will not be entertained."
"In previous years, both sides had thirty practitioners each!" Dr. Murphy roared. "Now we're outnumbered seven to one! How can you call this fair?"
"This is outrageous! A blatant attempt to sabotage us!"
"What's the point of this exchange if you're going to rig the results?"
"We protest! We vehemently protest!"
The traditional medicine practitioners were a united front of indignation. In stark contrast, the modern side practically vibrated with smug satisfaction. The organizers were clearly biased towards them, and this entire event reeked of an elaborate setup.
Nathaniel, in particular, seemed to relish their outrage. He stood with his arms crossed, a triumphant smirk on his face, his eyes boring into James as if to say, "Let's see you talk your way out of this one."
Edwin, seated in the audience, scowled. He'd already approached the organizers during the break, only to be met with dismissive platitudes and thinly veiled contempt.
"The rules are perfectly fair and just," the organizers had insisted.
Now, a representative from the modern side stepped forward, his arrogance radiating off him in waves. "If you feel the rules are unfair," he drawled, "you're welcome to bring in more practitioners. Two hundred, three hundred, we don't mind."
Another modern doctor chimed in, his tone dripping with condescension. "Let's talk about fairness. True fairness reflects the reality of the situation. You simply have fewer practitioners than we do. Should we handicap ourselves to accommodate your shortcomings?"
"Exactly! The original rules stipulated a minimum of thirty participants per side. You failed to meet that requirement. You broke the rules first, and now you have the audacity to complain?"
"Don't try to play the victim. If you can produce thirty practitioners, we'll happily adjust our numbers accordingly."
Outnumbered and outgunned, the veteran practitioners could only sputter in frustration as the modern side bombarded them with their twisted logic.
"James, say something!" one of them pleaded, turning to him with desperate hope. "Don't just stand there! We can't let them walk all over us!"
"You're good with words, James! Talk to the organizers! Fight for us!"
All eyes turned to James, their hopes hinging on his response.
He remained silent, letting their frustrations wash over him before finally speaking, his voice calm and measured. "I think the rules are fine."
A wave of disbelief rippled through the traditional medicine practitioners. Dr. Murphy, his face a mask of disbelief, sputtered, "James, what are you saying?"
"Exactly what I said," James replied, a faint smile playing on his lips. He held no particular respect for Dr. Murphy, and his tone reflected that.
As expected, his words ignited Dr. Murphy's temper. "Whose side are you on?" he roared. "This is about the survival of traditional medicine! How can you say such a thing?"
He launched into a tirade, his voice thick with betrayal and accusation.
James, normally respectful of his elders, found himself struggling to summon any respect for the blustering doctor. Men like him were part of the reason traditional medicine was dying a slow death.
He waited patiently for Dr. Murphy to wind down before speaking again, his voice reaching every corner of the stunned audience through the microphone. "Did our colleagues from the modern side say anything untrue?" he asked, his tone conversational. "We are, undeniably, fewer in number. Let's not even discuss fairness. Instead, I propose we consider this from a different perspective. If we, despite being so clearly outnumbered, still manage to triumph, wouldn't that be a more powerful testament to the efficacy of traditional medicine?"
His words, spoken with unwavering conviction, hung in the air. The audience, captivated by his quiet strength and determination, stared at him in stunned silence.
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