Time flew by.
Three days later, the National Exhibition of Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities began at the Monterrey Convention Center.
On the first floor of the venue, hundreds of entrepreneurs—many of them people with disabilities—promoted their products and technologies.
Representatives from hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, municipal governments, and NGOs roamed the halls, looking for the most innovative devices for their social programs.
Among all the brands present, the most recognized was Autobock International, the American company that dominated the sector.
Autobock was a high-tech company specializing in cutting-edge prosthetics. Its prestige and patents had made it the benchmark in the physical assistance market.
Its flagship product, the XY441 neural prosthesis, promised total mental control, with high precision and durability.
Its motto was clear: to restore normal life to those who had lost it.
In front of his showroom, a presenter was doing a live broadcast for his specialized channel.
—Dear followers, I'm your old friend Wilmer Durán, and I'm at the most important expo of products for people with disabilities in the entire continent.
—Here are the best brands, the most advanced, the newest. If you're looking for quality, stay tuned for this broadcast.
Wilmer raised his phone to record Autobock's entrance and smiled confidently:
—Look, here's the star of the event. The Autobock showroom, the Apple of prosthetics. The highest technology in the world.
—Maybe you've never tried one, but if you know anything about it, you know no one beats them.
—Today we're going to analyze the newest product: the XY441 neural prosthesis. Let's see if it really delivers on its promise.
He had barely finished speaking when comments began flooding his stream:
"Wilmer isn't lying. Autobock is the best. I bought one and it's like magic."
"I have an Autobock too. Nothing like Mexican prosthetics. They're on another level."
"If you want prosthetics, buy American. They're expensive, but worth it."
Wilmer smiled with satisfaction. The livestream room already had over 30,000 people online, many of them people with disabilities or family members looking for reliable options.
"As you know, we won't be able to test the XY441 until later. So for now, we're going to take a look at other halls," Wilmer said, turning the camera.
First, he visited the hall of a Dutch company.
"This is decent technology. If you can't afford American technology, European technology is also an acceptable option," he commented condescendingly.
Then he stopped in front of a room with a red sign, and his expression changed to one of disdain.
"This expo has brought together all the world's major brands... and yes, Mexican companies came too."
"But, with all due respect... do they have anything to compete with?"
"The quality of national brands is, let's say, questionable. Far below international standards."
"Friends, if you're thinking about buying prosthetics, don't buy Mexican ones. They're expensive, cheap, and dangerous."
The comments erupted:
"I confirm. I bought a national one and it weighed about ten kilos."
"I used it for three days and my skin turned purple. It was a horrible reaction."
"The worst was one from a certain Neotex. A total rip-off. Poor quality, inflated price."
Among the brands mentioned mockingly was Neotex Norte, Elías Mendoza's company.
Seeing the growing wave of negative comments, Teodoro Barrientos rushed over to Elías.
"Mr. Mendoza, we have a problem."
"A critic on social media, Wilmer Durán, is defaming our products. He's saying our prostheses are garbage, that no one should buy them."
"I'm sure the Americans paid for it. They want to tarnish our reputation before the main event."
"What do we do? Do we report him? Do we remove him?"
Elías didn't even flinch.
"Leave it alone. It's not worth fighting with clowns," he replied calmly. "Let them talk. We have the results."
"Sir, with all due respect," Teodoro said, "people are already creating a prejudice. And once that idea takes root... it's hard to get rid of it."
"If we let this continue, no one will want to come near our showroom."
Elías looked at him with a half-smile.
"Then we'll go straight to see them."
He left the room and headed to the area where Wilmer Durán was still filming. He found him surrounded by cameras, fans, and curious attendees.
"Good afternoon," Elías said, extending his hand. "I'm Elías Mendoza, president of Neotex Norte."
Wilmer tensed. He hadn't expected the CEO to appear in person.
As a professional critic, he was used to selling positive reviews to those who paid... and destroying the reputations of those who didn't.
In this case, Autobock had paid him in advance to promote its products and attack the competition, especially local brands.
Now, the target of their mockery was right in front of him.
He tried to maintain his composure.
"Well?" he said arrogantly. "Have you come to complain about something?" I say what I think, Mr. Mendoza. And what I think is that your products are mediocre. I take legal responsibility for what I say.
Elías didn't flinch.
"I didn't come to argue or threaten. I just wanted to tell you one thing."
Wilmer raised an eyebrow.
"Our company doesn't need paid advertising," Elías said. "We have something the others don't have."
"Real results."
"And today... you're going to see what it truly means to have the best prosthetic technology in the world."
Elías turned and left.
Wilmer smiled tightly, but deep down... he broke out in a cold sweat.
Because deep down, he knew not all domestic products were garbage.
And something in Elías Mendoza's eyes... told him he was about to witness something that would change the game forever.