Part 14: Temptation

That's not a comforting chapter title





You wanted to see me, Chief?
Yes, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is President Mayuzumi of Acropolis Pharmaceutical.



I've heard you're quite the renowned doctor.



I'm Derek. Nice to meet you too.
I didn't expect that the world-famous super doctor would be so young and charming...
Hahaha... You think? You look pretty young yourself, Ms. Mayuzumi.
Thank you, but I'll bet I'm older than you.
R-Really? You don't look a day over twenty...
*blush* Why, thank you. It's always nice to hear that you look younger than you really are.
Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you...

At least he didn't asked her outright how old she is.

Dr. Stiles, Acropolis and Caduceus have signed a business agreement. From this point on, we'll be partnering to develop new medicines.
I see...
What we're anticipating most form our cooperative research is medication to treat PGS. But, that's not all we'll be depending on Acropolis for. They'll also be mass producing the medicine.
I believe we've created a wonderful strategic alliance here. And I'm looking forward to your contributions as well, Dr. Stiles.
I'll do my best.



Huh...? Me?
I know Victor is probably better suited to a task like this but, unfortunately, he's tied up with the research on PGS.

I think you know what this means.

I understand. So, what kind of medicine are we talking about here?
It's a vaccine for a new type of canine influenza that caused an outbreak in Asia last year. We'll be creating the antivirus by rewriting the DNA of the existing virus. When the antivirus and the influenza begin to exchange their genes both of them will be wiped out.
Sounds simple enough. I'd be happy to help.
I'm glad to hear that, Dr. Stiles. Shall we get going then?
Y-Yes, ma'am.
Director Hoffman, Chief Kasal, please excuse us.

*Reina and Derek leave*

...Are you sure about this, Director? Shouldn't Derek's first priority be treating PGS...?
This decision was made by the board before it even reached me, so I can't very well object... Nor can I ignore the generous research grant Acropolis has offered us...
......



Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Kasal... Both of them are topnotch. And of course, you're certainly included as well, Dr. Stiles.
I'm just lucky to have had some great teachers, really.
Oh, don't be so modest. You acquired the Healing Touch because you had the potential to begin with, right?
Th-That may be, but...
You're very humble, but that's not the way to get ahead in life, Derek. Can I call you Derek? Those with great talent achieve their successes by accepting the praise they deserve. You're a successful man--you just need to start thinking and acting like one.

American Japanese humility means that Derek's attitude is expected there. Also, Angie won't be too happy with Derek receiving that many praise.

You mean like, acting more confident?
Yes, I've always done just that. It's what got me where I am today. It's also just a good state of mind to have. If you believe you'll produce results, then you will. So... How about it, Derek? Would you be interested in coming to Acropolis?
...What do you mean...?
I'm asking if you'd like to work exclusively for my company. If you're interested, I could pull some strings, and maybe even get you into a director's seat. ...What do you think?
Um... Is this a serious offer?
I'm very serious, Derek. I want you...
U-Um... You're getting a little too close, Ms. Mayuzumi...
Trust me, you won't regret it...
Um, listen, this is uh, all very sudden.



Angie!?
The preparations for the experimental treatment are ready. Please head to the O.R.
Alright. Well, let's get going, Ms. Mayuzumi.
Let's. We'll talk more about this later.
O-OK...

"Operation" Video


It's time for a puzzle "operation". It's been a series tradition. UtK/SO has the hexagon blocks, NB has the non-crossing lines, and TT has a labyrinth.

We'll need this data to help us succeed in recombining the virus's DNA.
(Oh no, not another one of these... I'm not good at solving puzzles.)
Try to connect all the amino acids together. If you can do that, then we should be able to produce the antibody. Good luck, Dr. Stiles.





What I'd like to have you do is a simulation of the amino acid formation. The disk represents an amino acid. The small, colored circles are a simplified form of a basic amino acid structure. When you complete it, it will form the amino acid arrangement of the antibodies in the paratope area. Place the amino acids from the data base into the open carbon atom slots. After that, rotate them so you can connect the same colored circles next to them. Connect all the circles next to the amino acids and you're done. When carrying the amino acids, make sure to grasp its center with the forceps. But the ones that are already set in place cannot be moved, so keep that in mind. You can rotate the amino acids by grasping the small circles with the forceps as well. It would be ideal if you could connect them as quickly as possible... I'm sorry, I shouldn't even have to say that to a doctor of your caliber... Please forgive me.
...Doctor, please treat this like any other operation, and work as quickly as possible!



Basically, we need to rotate all these amino acids such that the adjacent circles are the same colors. Existing ones can't be moved. Can you figure it out?

If we take too long to complete this puzzle, people will start dunking on Derek.

(What's taking him so long...? Maybe his superior abilities were just a rumor...)
What's the holdup, Derek? Want me to do it for you? Haha!
Don't worry, Dr. Stiles! I know it's taking more time than you expected, but keep at it.
(He's really struggling... Don't tell me he can't complete something as simple as this...)

Eventually, if we took more than 3.5 minutes to solve this, the game will give us a hint.

On every disk, each of the small circles has a different color... That means... If I can rotate the immobile disks so no same-colored circles point to an open slot...!



This puzzle is simple enough. We only have two choices for the adjacent circles on the leftmost disks: blue and red. Connecting the reds and then trying to solve the lower one will quickly prove to be impossible, so blue it is.

We're faced with a similar choice on the middle circles. Connecting the blues will and then trying to solve the upper left disk will also prove to be impossible, so red it is. The rest should be trivial.



...That concludes the first experiment.
(I'm really not very good at this kind of stuff...)
Dr. Stiles, are you OK? You don't look well...
Ready for the next one, Doctor?



The bad news is that this puzzle is more daunting. The good news is that there's more dunking to be had.

You haven't gotten very far... Are you feeling ill, Dr. Stiles?
Doctor, please calm down. You still have time!
What's taking so long, Derek? Your reputation as a master surgeon is at stake!
(This isn't going according to plan... If he's this useless...)

And the hint:

Hey, wait a minute... There are only two types of disks in the data base! So if I figure out which color to match on the immobile disks in the middle, the rest will be easy!



Connecting the reds and then trying to solve the lower right or upper left will quickly prove to be impossible, so blue it is!



I think this one is actually easier, personally.

Wow! Amazing, Doctor!
(Not bad at all. The rumors said he was skilled, but, this...)



Ominous

But forget that! We have some alternate dialogue!




Like all other puzzles operations (except maybe TT), we can easily get max rank by memorizing the solution.



It looks like the vaccine research will go quite smoothly, thanks to you. And about our talk earlier... Give it some thought.
A-Alright... I will...
In fact, we can discuss it over inner some time. How does that sound? Are you busy?
N-Not really. The PGS research seems to be going well... Er... but... Oh! I've... uh, got other things I need to attend to, and--
Well, I'd be happy to work my schedule around yours. We should definitely get together. Anyway, I'll be in touch. See you soon. *leave*
Ha... Hahaha, what am I gonna do?
Dr. Stiles... That woman... I can tell you for sure, she's a lot older than she looks.
Wow, you can tell? That's amazing, Angie.
Of course I can tell! I'm a girl too, you know!
What's the matter, Angie? You sound angry...
You're just... so indecisive!



A-Angie!? E-Eavesdropping is a bad habit of yours...
The research on PGS has only just begun! And you're thinking about leaving Caduceus, now of all times!?
No, of course not... It's just that... nobody has ever made that kind of offer to me before, so--
And what's more, you're all infatuated with someone like... HER!
...Angie... You're not... jealous, are you?
Good heavens, NO! Geez! *storms off*
Hey-- Man, she's really angry...

Fuck you too, Angie