"Tell that document forger to get lost immediately!" Nick cursed angrily.
Weren't the benefits and salary within the Bureau good enough? They were still earning side income.
And they didn't even cut me in on the money—that was going too far.
This is all my money!
Hill nodded, just about to speak when Nick's phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the caller ID—the President's private line.
He motioned for Hill to stop and began talking with the President.
However, as the conversation continued, alarm bells started ringing in Nick's mind.
"This is bad. Aaron is coming for me!"
Putting down the phone, Nick's face was darker than charcoal, his remaining eye gleaming with sharp light.
Hill remained silent throughout. "Director, the President's orders..."
Nick issued an urgent order, "Have people gather up our belongings. Those items must be moved immediately. These mysterious objects absolutely cannot fall into Aaron's hands."
Hill hesitated. "But what about the President, sir..."
Nick was silent. "Those dangerous items absolutely cannot fall into the hands of someone whose origins are unknown. Just give him something else to placate him."
Even Nick did not have the authority to defy the President's orders.
Following this, Nick received several more calls. All of them were big shots he couldn't afford to offend.
At this moment, he realized that what he was about to face might not just be Aaron. It was all the high-level politicians hoping to live longer and regain their health.
That bunch of short-sighted bastards would never listen to his explanation. In their eyes, he and S.H.I.E.L.D. were merely bargaining chips to use in a transaction with Aaron.
"Motherf*cker!"
He picked up the phone, his face grim.
"Barbara, find out Aaron's background and the secrets of Osborn Industries for me as quickly as possible, no matter the cost. Do you understand?"
On the other side, Barbara was playing with a blonde doll. The doll was wearing a small suit and black stockings, was only about the size of her arm, and looked almost exactly like her outfit that day.
Hearing Nick's words, Barbara rolled her eyes and gave a soft hum. However, she didn't take this mission to heart at all.
I already delivered myself to his bed, what more price could I pay?
She had lost all her chips during their first meeting.
What could she do? She was desperate too.
But... he is too powerful.
Barbara unconsciously played with the doll, hugging it, constantly shaking it up and down, and occasionally tossing it into the air and letting it drop. Her movements were practically savage. In Barbara's hands, the doll was contorted into various poses.
Yes, just like this.
Too brutal.
But I love it...
Barbara felt her body becoming abnormal.
Although it had only been one day since they last met, she already wanted to find Aaron for a spar.
She wanted to be like this doll... light and soft... brutally abused.
Barbara twitched for a while, pursed her lips, and couldn't help but make a call.
"Hello, I've gotten stronger again. I want to challenge you. Yes, armed combat, only sticks allowed."
"Alright then, come to room XXX at the Edison Hotel in two hours."
"I will come see you."
At the Madison Hotel, Aaron put down his phone and looked at Helen walking out of the bathroom, immediately feeling a surge of appetite.
"Are you busy right now? I thought I heard a phone call just now." Helen shyly clutched the bath towel tightly, her heart filled with anxiety.
"It's nothing. It was a genetics researcher from the Corporation calling to ask a question. Let's focus on the main business first, we can talk about the rest later."
"Genetics? Then I must have a good discussion with them."
Helen's occupational habit kicked in again. Whenever genetics was mentioned, she became full of energy. Her body was no longer tense.
Aaron smiled mysteriously. "There will be a chance. When the time comes, I will definitely let you have a good discussion... mutual technical exchange..."
Half an hour later,
Barbara arrived at the Edison Hotel with lightning speed, rushing to the room number Aaron had given her.
After bathing, she had deliberately dressed up. She lied down in the bedroom, and adjusted the lighting to a warm color.
She checked the time, there was still half an hour until the agreed time.
Barbara felt increasingly nervous. Her ear twitched slightly, the sounds next door had stopped.
'That was too fast.' Barbara thought disdainfully.
Then she heard the sound of the door opening next door.
And then, she heard the sound of her own room door opening.
Her expression changed slightly.
Soon, Aaron walked in.
Barbara's expression was off. "I'm sorry, maybe I came at a bad time?"
"No, you came at exactly the right time."
The appetizer is finished, now we begin the second round.
The next day.
Aaron arrived at Osborn Industries as usual.
Just as he sat down, Norman, who had spent the entire night failing to figure out the final missing component of the Green Goblin serum and now sported dark circles under his eyes, came to report to Aaron.
"Boss, I have distributed the invitations to all the important people as you requested. However, I anticipate that the Osborn Expo will be an unprecedentedly massive event."
Aaron wasn't concerned about this. He waved his hand. "I leave it all to you. If you don't have enough manpower, contact those people. I believe they will be very willing to lend a hand."
He glanced at Norman, seeing him hesitate, and knew exactly what he wanted to ask.
"Don't ask. What I said yesterday was complete nonsense. You didn't actually believe it, did you? Seriously?"
Norman opened his mouth, wanting to cry but having no tears.
You should have said so earlier. I even went back and specifically analyzed the components all night.
Norman shook his head with a wry smile, "How could I possibly believe it? I was just... just considering the upcoming Exposition."
"At that time, besides major technology companies and high-ranking government officials, high-level personnel from other countries might also attend."
Aaron still didn't care.
Seeing this, Norman quickly brought up another matter, "Boss, Killian, the CEO of A.I.M., wants to meet up with you to discuss potential cooperation in biological research."
"Tell him to get lost."
Aaron remained uninterested. "Don't report this kind of thing to me again."
"Hiss... Fantastic."
Seeing Norman's confused look, Aaron said, "What are you looking at? I wasn't talking about you. Continue."
Aaron squinted his eyes in enjoyment.
Norman was confused, but then he looked at the desk and instantly understood.
He cleared his throat and said, "Dr. Otto asked me to give this to you."
Norman took out a specialized USB drive. "This is the artificial intelligence program you requested. Dr. Otto said he further refined it based on the previous AI he created."
"Its level of intelligence surpasses almost all of the well-known artificial intelligences currently on the market, though it still falls short when compared to Tony's achievements."
Aaron finally showed some interest.
Norman dared not approach. Aaron beckoned, and an invisible force lifted the USB drive, making it fly into his hand.
Norman's pupils contracted. "Boss, this is..."
"This is the power of electromagnetism."
Aaron wasn't worried about exposing his superhuman abilities.
While others were researching who he was a few days ago, he was getting stronger every day and acquiring new abilities daily. No matter how much they researched, they would only be following behind him, breathing his exhaust fumes.
Information is time-sensitive.
Their efforts were destined to be wasted.
Norman didn't press the matter, suppressing his curiosity.
Norman started agonizing over the Green Goblin serum again.
Maybe, just maybe, it really was missing that final neutralizing agent?
Norman left, heavy with thought.