"Hey, have you guys heard? The NewHope Medical Hospital just released an all-new medical testing machine! They say it can replace every other kind of diagnostic device. That's seriously impressive."
In the bustling streets and narrow alleys of Rustboro City, people were talking animatedly about one thing—the brand-new examination machine that the NewHope Medical Hospital had recently launched.
Movies, dramas, and entertainment didn't attract as much attention—after all, not everyone had the time or energy to sit down and watch films. But when it came to medical care, everyone paid attention. These days, no one could guarantee they'd go through life without falling ill at least once, so medical issues were something everyone cared deeply about.
"It must be expensive though, right? Still, the doctors at the NewHope Medical Hospital are top-notch, and that machine…" one man said with a somewhat worried look. He was a passionate supporter of the NewHope Medical Hospital. After all, medical expenses had become ridiculously high in recent years but ever since the NewHope Medical Hospital appeared, it had been squeezing the life out of other hospitals.
Of course, the ones being squeezed were mostly private hospitals. The public ones under the League's management were fine—in fact, doctors from Pokémon Centers sometimes recommended that patients from poorer families go to the NewHope Medical Hospital for treatment. After all, the care there really was cheap.
For example, a simple appendectomy that would cost over 700 pokedollars elsewhere was only a little more than 300 pokedollars at Edward's hospital. With prices like that, it was no wonder that even League doctors spoke highly of them.
But as everyone knew, once something both cheap and effective appeared, it was bound to sell out instantly and hospitals were no exception. After all, in this day and age, doctors and hospitals were referred to as medical resources, and anything called a "resource" was, by definition, in short supply.
The NewHope Medical Hospital was no different.
Even though the hospital strictly banned scalpers, there was no stopping people who would travel across cities just to get treated there. Every day, registration slots were limited—and once they were gone, they were gone. Beds were so tight that even five inpatient buildings weren't enough. Many patients even had to line up outside just to get in.
"Don't worry about the price. I checked the announcement—they said the test fee is standardized: 150 pokedollars per session," one patient said with a grin. The man froze for a second—150 per test? That sounded cheap, but in reality… it was insanely profitable!
He knew very well how expensive CT scans and MRIs were these days. The last time he went to the hospital for gastrointestinal problems, the doctor recommended both a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy—or, alternatively, swallowing a small capsule camera that would record images from inside the body before being discarded. That capsule test worked just as well and, most importantly, was completely painless.
But the traditional endoscopies were extremely uncomfortable. Compared to a painless option, everyone would know what to choose—except the capsule test cost thousands of yuan. So in the end, he had no choice but to go through the cheaper, more painful procedure.
And now, just 150 pokedollars for a test that could replace all those examinations? That was… unbelievable.
News of this spread not only across Rustboro but also to other cities with NewHope Affordable Hospitals. Discussions flooded the networks of those following the hospital's developments. The story even made it onto the League's official "Fifteen-Minute News" broadcast, where it was confirmed as true. The revelation caused a massive uproar especially among medical equipment companies, who were suddenly very, very nervous.
And soon enough, those fears were proven right.
The new diagnostic machine installed in the NewHope Hospitals turned out to be extremely expensive to manufacture—much more costly than most medical equipment, which was already expensive to begin with. Many suppliers initially breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the high cost meant their own products wouldn't be replaced. But once the machine's capabilities were revealed, every manufacturer fell silent.
Overnight, almost every company involved in diagnostic medical devices collapsed. Stock prices hit rock bottom, CEOs fled the country because this new machine was simply terrifying. It could detect nearly every kind of lesion in the human body, highlight affected areas automatically, operate with incredible speed, and even do so with almost no harm to the patient. Other devices couldn't even come close—some were far more hazardous in comparison.
Anyone with half a brain could tell what this meant.
For years, people had two main complaints about medical examinations: the high cost and the safety concerns. Most ct scanner devices didn't exactly inspire confidence. But the NewHope Medical Hospital's new invention eliminated both problems in one stroke. It was undeniably revolutionary—and naturally, most patients would choose it without hesitation.
Other companies had only two options: either apply to buy the machine or get swept away by the tide. The League, however, had already made its decision—it would equip every city's Pokémon Center with one of these machines.
That was no small investment, and it also meant Edward was about to make a fortune. After all, he wasn't supplying them at cost, he still needed to recover his development expenses.
Of course, all of that was pure profit but Edward wasn't about to tell anyone that. He understood perfectly well the saying: "Make your fortune quietly."
Those who achieved great things in this world were always the ones who could keep their mouths shut. They didn't go around bragging or exposing every secret they had—because no one could ever truly know what others would do with that information.
The phrase "Hell is other people" might sound extreme, but in many cases, it was absolutely true.
Edward had seen it firsthand. Back in school, one of his classmates had finally qualified for a scholarship but she couldn't keep her mouth shut and told her "best friend." The next thing she knew, she'd been anonymously reported, lost the scholarship, and cried her eyes out for days. It became the talk of the campus for weeks.
As class president at the time, Edward knew all the details. He felt bad for her—she wasn't a bad person, just too trusting. Thankfully, she hadn't told him about it, or he might've been blamed too.
That was the day Edward learned an important lesson: some things are better left unsaid. Especially when money or profit is involved. Wait until it's securely in your pocket—then you can talk.
"Boss, a lot of companies have been coming to ask about that new machine lately," Zoroark said, hurrying into the office and handing Edward a stack of papers. Edward glanced over them calmly and nodded—this was all within his expectations.
That machine was revolutionary. It had dealt a devastating blow to the entire medical diagnostics industry. Edward knew very well that other companies had only two choices—adapt, or die. Competing on price or safety wouldn't be enough. Even if they could compete, the cost would be unbearable.
"This is normal," Edward said calmly. "If anyone asks to place an order, just tell them the price is fixed—no negotiations. If they buy in bulk, give them a 20% discount."
Everything beyond manufacturing costs was pure profit anyway—and those profits could fund more NewHope Medical Hospitals. Still, Edward knew this would make the pharmaceutical industry wary, and the League would never allow Devon Corporation to monopolize the entire medical sector. Competition was inevitable.
But that didn't bother him. He never intended to control people's hearts or dominate the industry—he just wanted to do something good. If the League wanted to take a share, Edward was even willing to let them run the hospitals entirely. That would prevent problems in the long run. After all, he knew the old saying: the tallest tree catches the wind.
"Understood, boss. There's also something about Tomie," Zoroark said, jotting a note before setting the papers aside. Edward, holding Q in his arms, looked puzzled. "Tomie? What about her?"
She'd been perfectly obedient lately—what could be the issue?
"We've received several brand endorsement offers. A lot of companies want Miss Tomie to represent their products. How do you want to handle it?" Zoroark asked, clearing his throat.
Edward blinked, then suddenly understood.
They must have heard he'd cast Tomie in a movie and wanted to cash in on the hype before the film's release. Once the movie aired, her endorsement fees would skyrocket. Still, the thought of Tomie: Unlimited and its chaotic, eerie special effects made Edward's lips twitch.
He could only hope those brands would still feel confident after seeing the movie. But after some thought, he decided to politely decline.
"Tell them to wait until after the movie premieres before making any decisions," Edward said with a wave. He wasn't trying to scam anyone and besides, he was confident in Tomie's looks. She had a few truly stunning highlight scenes in the film where her beauty was at full power.
Well, only one scene was at full power—the rest were slightly toned down. But even then, Tomie's beauty was breathtaking. During filming, when she fully unleashed her charm, the entire crew was stunned. Some of the men even blushed and tried to confess their love on the spot.
Edward ended up turning that moment into an outdoor scene, setting it in a school where Tomie appeared and instantly won everyone's admiration.
"Got it, boss," Zoroark nodded. Though he doubted the film would attract that many viewers, he went off to make the arrangements anyway.
Soon, filming for Tomie: Unlimited was complete, and Ghost Films released the teaser trailer. Given the film's special nature, Edward personally handled the editing himself.
"Hey everyone, welcome back to the channel—huh? Ghost Films just dropped a new trailer? They're that productive now?"
On the video site PokéPokéTV, a streamer known as LouieCritics was live when a notification popped up. His eyes instantly lit up.
As a veteran film commentator and critic, Louie was well-known across the industry. The movie world had become incredibly competitive lately—if you wanted to make a living, you had to react fast.
Without hesitation, he clicked on the new trailer and was instantly struck by its unique, refreshing style.
"Huh… this color tone and lighting—it feels like one of those high school coming-of-age films… wait, who is that girl? She's gorgeous! How have I never heard of this actress before?" Louie murmured in awe, staring at the screen.
He'd seen plenty of beautiful actresses in his career, but someone this beautiful—this effortlessly captivating—was rare beyond words.
[She's so beautiful I can feel my heart racing even through the screen!]
[That's Tomie! Miss Tomie! I didn't expect her to look even more stunning now!]
[Introducing the one and only Miss Tomie! Welcome to her fan club!]
[Tomie! Tomie! Tomie! I can't live without you, Tomie!]
The live chat exploded with messages, but Louie ignored them completely—he couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. The girl's presence was magnetic. He didn't even blink.
Then came the final scene.
"Huh?"
Tomie turned her back to the camera—then spun around with a bright smile, playfully sticking out her tongue.
The screen went black, followed by a few crimson words dripping like blood:
[Tomie: Unlimited ]
Coming Soon.
For a few seconds, the entire chat froze.
Then—
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!" Louie screamed, covering his face and rolling on the floor.
[I declare it—Miss Tomie is my new goddess!]
[That smile! That final smile! It's too perfect!]
[My heart! I think I'm dying! Goodbye everyone!]
The chat window exploded with messages once again. Meanwhile, the film's editing staff quietly sipped their tea, watching reactions roll in.
"That scene… it still doesn't capture even one percent of Miss Tomie's real beauty," one editor sighed regretfully.
He couldn't help but think—no matter how good his editing was, the camera would never truly capture what they saw on set.
(End of Chapter)