Pepper, would you say we're friends?" Victor asked.
"Of course!" Pepper replied, her voice firm and decisive.
"OK, then as a friend, I can save your boyfriend, but I have one condition," Victor said, holding up his index finger.
"That's perfectly understandable, Mr. Victor. Please, tell me," Pepper said, still respectful and polite.
"Hey, that's not how friends talk to each other," Victor reminded her.
"Alright, Victor, tell me your terms," Pepper complied readily.
Victor nodded, satisfied, and then explained the functions of the two serums.
"...Those are the main effects. These are finished samples from my private research institution, products whose technology is already quite mature. But do you know why I haven't released them to the public?"
Pepper didn't answer immediately. She lowered her head and thought for a few seconds. While Felicia was still deep in thought, Pepper had already keenly grasped the key point.
"Is there a problem with preventing technology leakage?"
"Bingo!" Victor snapped his fingers. "Pepper, why didn't you apply to work for me back then?"
Pepper smiled without speaking, then changed the subject and said firmly, "Mr. Vic... Victor, I promise you, these two serums will not leave my sight until they are officially injected into Tony, except for a tiny dose for testing. Unless I'm dead!"
"Ha, don't be so serious," Victor waved his hand dismissively. "If someone really tries to steal them, just let them have it. But as compensation, keep your life and come work for my company to make up for the losses you caused."
"Of course! That's no problem!" This time, Pepper agreed with unusual decisiveness.
With that said, the conversation was essentially over.
Victor extracted the "Pufferfish Virus" and "Self-Healing Virus" from his [Inventory], and they appeared out of thin air in his hands behind his back. Then he handed the two palm-sized injection guns to Pepper.
"The darker one is the 'Pufferfish Virus,' and the lighter one is the 'Self-Healing Virus.' But it doesn't really matter, you'll be injecting them together anyway. Remember, the 'Self-Healing Virus' only has an effect for 10 minutes."
Pepper carefully took the injection guns with both hands, clutching them gently to her chest, and didn't forget to cast a grateful look at Victor.
"I'm sure you're eager to verify them. Go on, I still want to sunbathe," Victor waved his hand.
"Thank you so much! I promise I won't let them out of my sight!" Pepper reaffirmed her solemn pledge before carefully leaving the beach, not even bothering with her high heels.
Felicia, after getting Victor's permission, picked up the high heels and chased after her.
As for where these two injection guns were hidden before, neither woman was foolish enough to ask.
Felicia, due to her job responsibilities, wouldn't ask what she shouldn't.
Pepper, on the other hand, had self-awareness.
Did she really think Victor was treating her like a good friend? Or that he had fallen for her? And was willing to give such precious samples for free because of it?
That was simply impossible.
Victor's investment was in Pepper herself.
Although Pepper didn't understand why Victor thought so highly of her, she couldn't dwell on it anymore. As long as she could save Tony, she would even leave him if necessary.
Victor lay back down on the beach chair, closing his eyes contentedly.
Today's matters were resolved.
The reason for investing in Pepper? Does that even need to be asked?
Don't forget, her man is the future Iron Man.
The power of a woman's influence needs no further elaboration.
Now Pepper was overflowing with gratitude towards him. Believe it or not, in the future, if he and Tony had a disagreement, as long as his reasoning was sound, Pepper would side with him.
Furthermore.
She was also the future CEO of Stark Industries. With today's favor, given Pepper's personality, she would undoubtedly be Victor's loyal ally in the future.
Moreover.
In the unreleased Avengers 4 script, Pepper even had her own suit of armor, forming an Iron Trio with Tony and Rhodey.
Her combat power should not be underestimated!
Besides.
Victor had indeed saved Tony's life this time; the debt of gratitude was something he couldn't push away.
Killing three birds with one stone, why not?
What? Pepper's virginity?
What did Pepper's virginity have to do with Victor? He just thought of it in a tangential way.
As mentioned before.
Pepper was too "plain" and not Victor's type. Women like Wanda, who were "duan~ daun~" were his type.
Lost in thought, Victor drifted off to sleep.
He closed his eyes, and then opened them.
It was already sunset.
Victor sat up punctually, stretched, and let out a satisfied sigh.
Oh my, when will this lazy, sun-bathing life end!
He still had so many things to do.
Instead of walking, he used his telekinesis to form a platform that lifted him up, and he floated like an immortal back to the master bedroom balcony, very gracefully.
After days of nurturing by his Superman bloodline, his telekinesis had grown explosively. He could now use it freely for daily tasks, and the more he used it, the slower its recovery speed increased.
He believed it wouldn't be long before he could soar through the sky like in the movies.
He wasn't sure if this speed was considered fast.
The kids in "Chronicle" seemed to have taken quite a long time to be able to fly.
Too lazy to even take a step, he floated 10 centimeters off the ground with an air of sophistication, drifting from the master bedroom to the kitchen. Sure enough, a table full of delicious dishes awaited him.
Of course, Wanda and her brother were also there. After four days of living together, they had long figured out Victor's schedule.
The dishes on the table made Victor involuntarily swallow.
Sweet and sour pork ribs, Coke chicken wings, mapo tofu... all were Chinese home-style dishes. Seeing Wanda's "praise me" expression, he guessed they were her masterpiece again.
The little girl was quite something, to know so many Chinese dishes.
He had just sat down.
Felicia hurried in from the living room. She had planned to greet Victor on time but had just missed him when he decided to fly.
Upon seeing Victor, she slowed her steps, glanced at Wanda and her brother, and then stood silently to the side.
Victor understood her concerns and raised a hand: "Sit down and eat first. We can talk about work after dinner."
Felicia nodded obediently and sat down, as always, ready to serve Victor food.
But she quickly realized that this job might not be needed from her.
Victor used telekinesis to control his chopsticks. Without the radius limit of his arms, his chopsticks could reach wherever his eyes looked. The only problem was controlling the portion size; sometimes, with one chop, the altar wood chopsticks would break.
Fortunately, Wanda was prepared this time, with many chopsticks ready by the table, so Felicia didn't need to get up to fetch more.
She ate quietly, but in her mind, she made a note to order several pairs of pure silver chopsticks later—don't ask why not pure gold; that stuff was too soft and lacked the ability to detect poison.
The strange sight of chopsticks serving themselves made Wanda very curious. Her eyes secretly followed the chopsticks as they moved, looking very cute.
When Victor noticed, he mischievously controlled the chopsticks to quickly swing left and right. Because the movement was fast and wide, Wanda's little head also swayed along, like a kitten, making one want to pet her.
When the little girl realized what was happening and saw Victor's teasing gaze, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Comparing her to the future Scarlet Witch, the contrast was simply adorable.
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PS: Yo, I heard someone wants to S Pepper? Tsk tsk, that's doable, giving Tony a colorful hat... it just depends on whether your recommendation votes come through.