Edward arrived at his newly acquired plot of land, only to freeze the moment his eyes caught sight of what stood before him.
Fifty men were lined up, staring at him expectantly. But that wasn't what shocked him — not even close.
Right in the middle of the land stood a massive, state-of-the-art laboratory.
He blinked several times, thinking his mind was playing tricks on him. "What… the hell is this?" he muttered, his voice low but filled with disbelief. The structure shimmered in the sunlight, built with polished metal, wide glass panels, and what looked like the latest scientific equipment inside. People were already moving about efficiently, as if they had been stationed there for months.
He approached one of the workers, raising a brow. "Who's behind this?"
A man stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said with respect, "Princess Yvonne arranged everything."
(+_+)
Edward's expression froze.
Yvonne again.
It wasn't like he didn't appreciate her help — she had already gone above and beyond by securing men, resources, and even capital for him — but this? This was on another level entirely. She'd practically set up an empire for him overnight.
He rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply. "She's really something," he murmured to himself. Just what was that girl thinking?
Before he could think too much about it, another group of men arrived, carrying construction materials and several crates of equipment.
"Hello, sir," one of them greeted politely. "We're here to construct a large extension beside the lab — under Princess Yvonne's direct orders."
(+_+)
Edward just stood there, speechless again. For the second time that day, he felt utterly dumbfounded.
He had clearly underestimated Yvonne's generosity — or maybe her emotions for him. Whatever the reason, her support had gone far beyond what he could have ever expected.
He turned to the workers and asked, "Alright, how much do you all want for your labor?"
The leader of the group smiled broadly. "No payment required, sir. Her Highness has already compensated us — enough to last a lifetime."
(+_+)
Edward's jaw dropped slightly. He didn't even know what to say anymore. She'd paid them, funded the resources, and now even built the laboratory and its expansion — what else could she possibly have done?
He sighed again and muttered under his breath, "Yvonne, you're going to spoil me at this rate."
Shaking his head, he walked toward the lab's entrance.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes widened once more.
The lab was enormous. Every corner gleamed with new equipment, walls lined with high-tech devices, shelves stacked with various rare materials. The floor was spotless, and the air smelled faintly of chemicals and fresh metal. Everything a scientist could ever need was right there.
He exhaled softly and whispered, "Alright then… let's get to work."
Three Years Later
"AAAHHHHHHH!"
A piercing scream ripped through the laboratory.
"Calm down," said a young man who appeared nineteen, his voice cold but steady. "It won't hurt for much longer."
Two minutes later—
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted, flames licking the walls as smoke filled the room. When the chaos settled, the only figure left standing amidst the wreckage was the same young man — Thanos.
Creating nanobots wasn't the problem; he had mastered the structure. The issue lay in compatibility. The nanobots he engineered rejected most blood types. Those who survived the injections went mad from pain before dying within minutes.
Thanos clenched his jaw, looking down at the scorched floor. "This won't work," he muttered. "I need a new business."
He tossed a bundle of blueprints and notes onto a table. "Keep researching," he told his team flatly.
As he walked out of the lab, his mind was already miles ahead, shaping a new plan.
By the time he reached the palace gates, his resolve had returned. A smirk tugged at his lips as he whispered,
"Oh right… the reason I still look nineteen is because I used one of the time artifacts to rewind my face to that age."