That evening.
In a hidden underground bunker, a secret dinner was underway.
Hammer had finally achieved what he desired: a face-to-face meeting with the sitting President and Vice President.
This was not their first encounter; their last meeting had been two weeks prior.
The President had a deeply unfavorable impression of this arms dealer who "liked to tell deadpan jokes."
And because of that, Hammer had left a lasting mark in his mind.
When the 20-year-old Hammer appeared in the room, the President was utterly stunned.
He rose from the sofa, mouth slightly agape, pointing at the young man before him, unable to speak.
This President was now in his sixties.
Though his body was well-maintained, it could not resist the ravages of age and the accompanying suffering.
Men of such power and stature dreamed of reclaiming youth, even if it meant paying an exorbitant price just to extend their lives.
"You… you're Hammer?"
The President asked, bewildered, unable to trust his own eyes.
"Your Excellency, as you can see, I feel fantastic."
"Every inch of me is brimming with vigor—this feeling… it's incredible."
Seated, Hammer spoke with an air of intoxication, clearly reveling in the moment.
As a businessman, he had a sharp instinct.
He knew exactly what these two men truly desired:
Life.
Youth.
They were envious, jealous, and beside themselves with longing.
"Unbelievable… did you go to a plastic surgeon?"
The bald Vice President joked from the side.
Yet he could see no trace of surgery—everything appeared utterly natural.
What had happened during the half-day Hammer had been missing?
Access to this secure room required rigorous identity verification: fingerprints, iris scans, and a series of complex procedures.
Only after confirming the person's true identity could anyone meet the President.
Since this man had appeared here, his identity was unmistakably Justin Hammer.
Hammer was shrouded in mystery. The two presidents exchanged a glance.
They decided to abandon threats and try a gentler approach, hoping to learn the secret behind Hammer's rejuvenation.
But to their surprise, Hammer laughed lightly and offered the explanation himself.
"I injected myself with a reinforcement serum called 'Solar Ladder'."
"Not only has it enhanced my physical abilities, but it has also extended my lifespan."
"That's why this young face feels… so unfamiliar."
"After all, it has stripped away the maturity a middle-aged man should possess."
Hammer's otherwise dull deadpan humor had never been so captivating as it was in this moment.
The elderly President's frail fingers sank deep into the sofa's armrest.
Youth regained, life extended!
How many powerful men throughout history had dreamed of this? Could it really be achieved?
"Mr. Hammer, I'm extremely curious—how did you acquire this serum?"
"It must have come at a considerable cost, no?"
The Vice President, following the thread of conversation, continued probing.
He subtly signaled his partner to stay calm and avoid rash decisions.
Hammer feigned a pained expression, raising a single finger.
"One billion dollars."
The answer made both presidents gasp.
A billion dollars!
A sum most could not even imagine—just for a serum capable of extending life.
Was it worth it?
For these powerful men, absolutely.
Their wealth fluctuated daily, but life itself decayed relentlessly, day by day.
If they could become twenty years younger…
If they could extend life by twenty years…
Surely, the world's richest would gladly pay such a sum.
The two presidents fell silent.
This godlike elixir was something they desperately desired.
Yet… even if they mustered every resource,
Would they truly dare to take it by force?
The android girl, No. 18, had already taught them a lesson.
And the bodyguard brought by Hammer, No. 16, was equally unfathomable!
Impossible…
Human armored forces would crumble at a mere gesture.
Even a global military coalition could not hope to defeat them.
Unless… divine power intervened.
Hammer smiled as he addressed the two presidents' curiosity.
He explained that the events had been orchestrated by General Ross, who had reaped the consequences of his own actions.
Considering the terrifying strength of that "mysterious force", no one dared pursue accountability.
The best course was to handle matters quietly,
And pin all blame on the now-deceased General Ross.
No one did such underhanded trickery—blaming the dead—better than these politicians.
For them, there were no eternal enemies, only temporary interests.
They considered it an honor to establish a cooperative relationship with such a powerful force.
As the intermediary, Hammer cheerfully discussed plans for future collaboration.
Yet just then…
Chaos erupted from outside!
The President frowned in displeasure.
Through a secure intercom, he inquired about the situation.
The Lieutenant Colonel in charge of security reported urgently.
Moments ago,
A strange female attendant had attempted to approach Android 16 with high-tech weaponry, trying to assassinate him up close!