{T/N: Your beloved Translator here is a little curious guys... Is this Translation so bad, that it forces y'all to withhold those Reviews?}
...
The morning light pierced through the clouds...
Despite the Professor's warm insistence for him to stay longer, Sean had to decline.
Yuriko had received a message from Harry. The young Osborn heir's trip to New Mexico seemed to have hit some snags.
<...This place is amazing!..>
Harry's voice came through the video call, his upper body clad in a rather flamboyant printed shirt, paired with beach shorts and flip-flops.
<...There are cliffs, deserts, cacti, tequila, and barbecues... See those hot chicks? Their warm hospitality will make you never want to leave!..>
Sean remained utterly unmoved by Harry's cheerful tone and cut straight to the point, "What trouble did you get into?"
Harry's expression froze momentarily before turning awkward. The young Osborn heir, who had originally gone on this trip to relax, had indeed run into some trouble... the kind that couldn't be solved just by throwing money around...
Hence, the call for help.
<...Is my acting that bad?..>
"The Harry Osborn who enjoys life wouldn't remember his old friend back in New York unless something went wrong." Sean smirked.
Ever since Oscorp got back on track, Harry had dumped nearly all responsibilities onto the family's long-serving butler, even delegating major decision-making authority to Sean himself. As a result, Sean often found himself attending board meetings on Harry's behalf.
"Is there anything you can't solve with a stack of Franklins?" Sean teased.
<...Remember those black-suited agents who took you away last time?..>
Harry sighed and recounted his recent misadventures.
<...I ran into a research team studying astronomical phenomena in New Mexico. There was this lively girl named Darcy, very adorable and charming... Ahem, but that's not the point. While they were collecting data, they bumped into some drunk Norwegian guy who assaulted a doctor and nearly got the cops called. Then, out of nowhere, a bunch of black-suited agents showed up and confiscated all of Darcy's research materials...>
"That has nothing to do with you." Sean feigned ignorance, though he knew full well the young Osborn heir must have boasted something in front of the girl.
"I punched one of those agents and almost got thrown in jail." Harry scratched his head, looking somewhat sheepish about constantly troubling his friend.
"Was the team led by Agent Coulson?" Sean asked softly.
He hadn't expected Harry's vacation to coincidentally intersect with the future girlfriend of Thor...
No doubt the Asgardian prince, stripped of his divine power and reduced to a mortal, was now desperately searching for his hammer while Odin, the All-Father, slumbered... leaving Loki temporarily seated on the throne.
"I'll head over soon. I'm curious to see what surprises New Mexico has in store." Sean ended the call with a smile...
The curtain was rising, and familiar figures would soon take the stage. It was time for the Sentinel to make his true presence known...
...
Returning to Umbrella by car, another surprise awaited him... the first-generation battle suit developed by Dr. Connors and Ivan Vanko was now complete...
Laboratory No. 3 had been cleared of unrelated personnel. The moment Sean entered, an excited Dr. Connors rushed over, while even the usually unflappable Ivan wore a solemn expression.
"I tried a new design approach," Connors began, speaking rapidly after steadying himself, "Using Dr. Helen Cho's regenerative cradle, we cultivated and multiplied the symbiote, then employed electromagnetic waves and sonic pulses to erase its consciousness while retaining its regenerative and shape-shifting properties. The surprise is that this self-repairing organic material also exhibits exceptional compatibility and adaptability..."
Ivan coughed twice, signaling Connors to wrap up the dry academic report. Their young employer was a pragmatist... only the final product mattered.
"However, there's one unresolved issue," the Russian interjected, frowning, "The new suit requires an immense energy source. Even the Arc Reactor can't sustain it for long."
"Moreover, due to the active cells in the suit's material, it has energy-absorption properties. Simply put, the more energy provided, the more durable it becomes, and the stronger its functions grow," Connors added.
Hearing this, Sean's eyes lit up. He laughed heartily, "No, Doctor, that's not a flaw at all. I can't wait to see it."
Connors walked to the wall, inputting fingerprint and iris verification.
A metal cabinet emerged, from which he retrieved a circular golden emblem that was black-edged with a golden base, resembling a black sun devouring all light... It exuded an aura of profound darkness.
Sean touched the palm-sized emblem and pressed it against his chest. Like a black sun igniting, it adhered tightly to his torso. In an instant, streams of light flowed across his body as the nanotech battle suit enveloped him completely.
"It's not equipped with an energy source yet–"
Before Ivan could finish, the pure-white suit erupted with radiant light, as if electrified. The initially soft material instantly became resilient and sturdy.
An endless stream of energy surged from Sean's body, dyeing the suit a deep golden hue with metallic luster. The faceplate retracted, revealing his youthful features.
"I'm very pleased with this creation," came the low, appreciative voice.
Dumbfounded, Connors and Ivan suddenly felt an overwhelming pressure. Instinctively averting their gazes, they bowed their heads slightly, as if unable to meet his eyes.
"You'll keep this little secret for me, won't you?" The young man took a step forward, the surging energy within him evoking a delusion of godlike supremacy.
The golden armor accentuated Sean's muscular frame. With limitless energy fueling it, he no longer had to hold back... the material was indestructible, its resilience beyond measure, it was capable of withstanding intense radiation and even surviving the harsh environment of outer space.
This was a flawless masterpiece!
"I just participated in a weapons R&D project. That's all I know," Ivan was the first to recover, shrugging nonchalantly. He couldn't care less about his employer's true nature.
A morally impeccable do-gooder would have made the Russian uncomfortable. Before joining Umbrella, Ivan had been part of the Russian mafia, mingling with gangs and warlords, even serving fifteen years in prison for trafficking hazardous materials.
As for Connors, he simply nodded repeatedly, and glanced at his newly regenerated arm... He had long been bound to Umbrella's chariot. No matter Sean's true identity, the middle-aged scientist was committed to this path.
Besides, this seemingly young and amiable man was no tyrannical dictator. On the contrary, he welcomed suggestions and never skimped on deserved rewards. He was far more generous than your average greedy capitalist.
Through the micro-earpiece, the Red Queen's calm voice spoke. After listening intently, the golden faceplate flowed shut like liquid, leaving only a pair of deep, glowing eyes visible.
"Time to test this suit's capabilities."
The imposing figure stepped onto the outdoor platform's elevator. Sean flexed his fingers, energy coursing through the suit's surface like intricate ancient runes flickering to life.
Clenching his fists, he exerted force... the sheer power made the entire metal elevator tremble precariously...
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