Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Negotiations
***
A superbrain isn't always a blessing. Once Link's mind starts racing, it's hard to stop. He even starts thinking about how flying might not necessarily require a hoverboard. Maybe Falcon's flight gear would be better?
But probably not—those wings aren't really his style.
"Well, this hoverboard has quite a few flaws. I'll make some improvements, but I'll need a proper workshop," Link said. "I'll have a chat with Stark Industries. Their new building in Hell's Kitchen is coming up fast; buying it shouldn't be an issue."
"Alright, I'll handle the pharmaceutical side," Norman Osborn responded, dividing their tasks.
...
Link contacted Pepper Potts, and they met in New York at the offices of the United Construction Company.
"Pepper, long time no see." After a brief embrace, they parted.
"You've been full of surprises lately, Link. Acquiring Osborn Industries?" Pepper said.
"I have a knack for this. I shorted Hammer Industries before, but they've got military backing and managed to survive. So I had to set my sights elsewhere," Link explained, though this wasn't exactly true. He had no real interest in Hammer Industries, which lacked depth.
If it weren't for their entanglement with the military, the company would've been torn apart long ago. Link's story was just a convenient excuse.
Pepper admired Link's abilities, seeing his potential as beneficial to Tony Stark.
"So, what's the reason for today's meeting?" she asked.
"I want to purchase the Hell's Kitchen building that Stark Industries is developing. I plan to modify its original design," Link explained. "It will serve as the new Osborn Industries headquarters. Once our stock price rises, I also hope to acquire Stark Industries' weapons division."
Pepper didn't immediately respond. She thought about it.
First, the building was no problem. The four towers Stark Industries was constructing were designed to run on renewable energy. Selling one would have the same effect as renting it out, and if Osborn Industries bought one, the value of the remaining towers would likely increase.
As for the weapons division, that was a more complicated issue. Although it had been shut down, it hadn't been completely dealt with yet. Plus, with Stark Industries shifting focus back to New York, the department, and its employees were still a problem she had to solve.
"We can sell you the building," Pepper said with a smile. "But what about the weapons division?"
"My idea is that once our special drug hits the market and the stock price goes up, Stark Industries can take a 15 to 20 percent stake in Osborn Industries in exchange for the weapons division," Link proposed.
Pepper nodded. "That sounds like a good plan, but there's just one issue—Tony's approval."
Link was surprised. "Aren't you the CEO now?"
"Yes, but I respect Tony's opinions. I need to ask him what he thinks, especially since he's the one who shut down the weapons division. Agreeing to such a deal might go against his wishes," Pepper explained.
Link understood her point. She agreed in principle, but Stark's perspective was still important.
"Of course, feel free to ask him," Link said.
"I'll do it now." Pepper pulled out her phone and called Tony Stark.
After a brief silence on the other end of the line, Stark quickly made his decision. He agreed to the deal.
When Pepper hung up, she smiled. "Tony's on board. He trusts that you won't misuse the weapons. After all, someone has to manufacture them."
Link nodded in agreement. "Looks like he's come to terms with it. Weapons have been around since the dawn of humanity—they won't disappear."
"Well then, here's to a successful partnership!"
"Indeed, to our partnership!" Link shook hands with Pepper before they both attended the United Construction Company meeting.
The reason they met there was because Link had organized a meeting with United Construction to discuss taking a stake in the company, using Osborn Industries as the buyer.
Wilson Fisk was pleased. Although Link was a major shareholder in Osborn Industries, the company's stock price was currently low. However, it had a solid history, and with Link now in control, Fisk was confident the company's fortunes would soon turn around.
Others might doubt it, but Fisk believed in Link's ability.
For now, Osborn Industries could only afford to purchase a 5 percent stake in United Construction. When combined with the shares held by Jessica's charity foundation, they controlled a modest 13 percent.
Fisk had no plans to sell any more shares. He intended to wait for the stock price to rise before seeking out new partners.
The current situation was ideal for him—he was making money and gaining powerful allies. The only downside was that he didn't have the funds to invest in other projects just yet.
...
Link then reviewed the blueprints for the Stark building. The design was similar to the Stark Tower, and Link didn't intend to change much. He liked the rooftop and its flying platform.
The "Stark" lettering would be replaced with "Osborn," and the building's design would need some adjustments. Link also planned to install a small automated factory in the middle floors, which he would negotiate directly with Stark.
Additionally, a supercomputer would be housed in the building, located in the underground levels for cooling and security purposes.
Features like holographic projection and intelligent controls would also be installed, with a fully integrated smart security system. But Link wasn't relying solely on this system—he didn't want S.H.I.E.L.D. accessing his building at will.
Since Osborn Industries didn't have the money, Link would personally fund the purchase, with the building serving as the company's headquarters. Osborn Industries would pay rent until their financial situation improved and they could buy the building outright. Otherwise, they would have to raise funds through investors, which would dilute Norman Osborn's shares.
The building would be divided into two sections, with the upper portion dedicated to laboratories and the lower portion to administrative offices.
The security in the laboratories would be significantly enhanced, something Osborn readily agreed to, having suffered previous losses. By placing the labs in the upper levels and bolstering security, they could better manage the research and prevent further incidents.
This arrangement also made it easier for Norman Osborn to manage the company without interference from Link as chairman.
For now, the board of directors consisted only of the two of them, so decisions were quick and easy. But what about when more board members were added?
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Chapter 79: Chapter 79: A Flash of Inspiration
**
The building wasn't completed yet, and Osborn Industries couldn't relocate at the moment. With no laboratory or automated factory of his own, Link found himself with nothing to do for the time being.
While he was at ease, Norman Osborn, on the other hand, became quite busy. After taking just a single day off, he immediately began overseeing the testing of the special drug and actively communicating with the regulatory bodies.
The scale of the biological experiments was substantial. Given that Link's genetic injection cured Norman's illness, Osborn had full faith in him. He swiftly expanded the testing, using quantity to save time. Once the required number of tests was met, the meticulously compiled data was submitted.
Furthermore, Osborn released the test data and results to the media, demonstrating great success. Some media outlets initially suspected that Osborn Industries was falsifying data, but after Norman successfully filed a patent for the drug and invited third-party organizations to conduct their own tests, providing samples for evaluation, those doubts quickly dissipated.
With the willingness to allow third-party evaluations, the media had little more to say. Osborn Industries' open invitation for external verification only boosted their credibility.
Thanks to Norman Osborn's lobbying efforts, the regulatory approval process moved swiftly. Lobbying, a common practice in the West, involved providing indirect benefits to regulatory officials in return for smoother approvals. This led to the rapid greenlighting of human trials.
These human trials were conducted at a hospital in Hell's Kitchen, where many impoverished people, unable to afford proper medical care, welcomed the offer of free treatment. The Jessica Charity Foundation's legal firm provided pro bono legal support to ensure the patients' rights during the trials.
In addition, Norman Osborn invited several media outlets to document the process. The trials were to be filmed and turned into a series of reports, featuring over ten different special drugs being tested on human subjects—a rare and significant event.
The diseases targeted were those that had long stumped medical professionals. Now, with the special drugs, different treatment plans could cure varying degrees of these conditions. This was a blessing for many patients, and the coverage proved to be a hit.
Patients, their families, and individuals concerned about healthcare or personal illness became the program's loyal audience. Although the episodes were short, they instilled confidence in viewers as they witnessed patients gradually recover over time.
Each of the ten special drugs required a considerable number of patients, and with three phases of trials necessary, even more participants were needed. Fortunately, the number of willing patients was high. They were all poor, and after thorough background checks and identity verifications, they signed contracts drawn up by Matthew Murdock, ensuring their legal rights. The first phase participants signed their contracts in front of the media.
Luckily, the hospital had expanded recently; otherwise, it wouldn't have been able to accommodate so many people. Patients with similar conditions were grouped together, and each required thorough examination to rule out other complications. Detailed medical records were kept for each individual, ensuring comprehensive treatment plans were devised.
The meticulous preparation gave viewers a sense of reassurance. With such tight controls and media oversight, it was clear that Osborn Industries had full confidence in their human trials. With everything in place, the first phase of the trials commenced.
Link followed the progress daily, watching updates on the trials with Jessica.
"Darling, your drug is incredibly effective," Jessica remarked. "In the first group, even patients with mild symptoms are showing significant improvement."
"After the first treatment course, they have a good chance of fully recovering."
Jessica, who managed the foundation, had a detailed understanding of the treatment process. She enjoyed digging into the details.
Link smiled, fully aware of the efficacy of his drug. "After the first batch is cured, have them stay in the hospital for observation for at least three weeks."
"That's stipulated in the contract. Have Matthew remind them not to assume they're fully cured and leave immediately. It's crucial for Osborn Industries."
"These patients are poor and not well-educated. Once they feel better, they might rush off to work—or worse, fall into crime. If something goes wrong, who'll be held responsible?"
Jessica paused for a moment before nodding in understanding. These people had no health insurance, and their conditions were difficult to treat without medication. Once cured, they might disappear, off to deal with life's struggles—legal or not.
"I get it. I'll remind them. Won't you go see for yourself?" Jessica asked. "You are the head of the foundation, after all."
"No, it's better if I don't make frequent public appearances. I need to maintain a bit of mystery for now," Link replied. "After all, I am a SHIELD agent. While I don't have many missions right now, too much exposure wouldn't be wise."
"There's no coverage of me in the media yet, so I'm still somewhat under the radar."
In the future, when he inevitably joined the Avengers, his public exposure would increase significantly. But by then, Osborn Industries' new headquarters would be completed, and he could simply live and work there.
The idea pleased him. A high-rise penthouse where he could work and relax, basking in the sun, while having all the tools he needed to develop whatever he wished. He could even create his own gear—especially his nanotech suit—right in the automated factory.
However, Link wasn't idle. He had been thinking about ways to improve his hoverboard design, coming up with numerous ideas, none of which quite satisfied him.
Noticing him drift off into thought, Jessica leaned in and gave him a playful kiss on the cheek.
"Darling, what's on your mind?" she asked.
"Oh, just thinking about the design for my hoverboard," Link responded. "None of the ideas I have seem to work. If it gets too big, it won't fit my needs. After all, I'm not meant to be the heavy hitter."
Jessica wasn't sure what he meant by "heavy hitter," but she ventured, "If there really are aliens out there, how do you think they design their ships?"
That gave Link a sudden spark of inspiration, and he grinned. "Darling, you're brilliant! How did I not think of that?"
"Huh?" Jessica looked confused, but before she could ask more, Link grabbed his laptop and darted off to his study.
She rolled her eyes, realizing her boyfriend had entered "mad scientist mode" again.
Link, in fact, had just thought of alien spacecraft, specifically the Ravagers' fighters, which had a shape strikingly similar to a hoverboard. Their unique wing configuration made them incredibly agile.
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