Chapter 180: C131(2)
"I need a dress now," she said. "Tomorrow's event won't be simple. It's not just about appearances—you probably can't even imagine their true intentions."
Kain glanced at Betty's outfit and remarked, "I've already ordered a dress for you, but I think you look stunning in this one—very sexy."
Betty rolled her eyes at his comment before responding. "Didn't you read the file I left for you?"
"To be honest, I didn't have time," Kain admitted. "I've only been back for a day."
"Where were you? How do you still manage to lose contact in the 21st century? Did you board a spaceship to another civilization?"
Betty had long wished Kain would at least stay in touch via phone or video when he disappeared for days at a time.
However, she didn't knew this was nearly impossible for him. Unless she had access to the same system Kain used, she couldn't expect him to change.
"My father suddenly ordered an extra batch of Extremis virus serum. This is definitely not for backups or research. The most likely reason is that more super soldiers are needed," Betty said, shifting the conversation to business.
She quickly shared the information she had gleaned from her father: "There's no reason to rush the expansion of the super-soldier squad. This batch of serum is unplanned, and my father seems a little... scared."
"Scared?" Kain asked, puzzled. What could frighten a general, especially one who oversaw the super-soldier squad?
Just yesterday, Thaddeus Ross had sounded perfectly calm when they spoke on the phone. Yet here was his daughter, claiming he was scared.
"There's no one in that wasteland of a Middle Eastern conflict who could threaten the super-soldier squad, right?"
Betty shook her head. "I can't think of any other explanation for why they'd suffer heavy losses. And I haven't seen those soldiers in three months."
This revelation surprised Kain. Super soldiers injected with the Extremis virus serum suffering heavy casualties?
Although it was a scaled-down version of the serum, a single super soldier could easily take on a team of special forces. Without prior knowledge of their weaknesses, they were nearly impossible to defeat.
Could it be S.H.I.E.L.D.? Or Hydra?
Either way, it was inconceivable that the culprits were "Middle Eastern insurgents." While those insurgents could handle common soldiers, super soldiers injected with the Extremis serum were nightmares incarnate to them.
As for the other parties suddenly expressing interest in him and the Extremis serum, it all reeked of conspiracy.
Kain had little patience for these kinds of entanglements. His travels and quest for strength had always been about avoiding precisely this kind of trouble.
"Kain, I know you're strong, but someone out there can deal with the super soldiers injected with Extremis serum," Betty said urgently, noticing his distracted demeanor.
She kept emphasizing the gravity of the situation, hoping he'd take it seriously.
"I know, Betty. I'm taking this matter seriously, and you'll understand more once we get to the hotel," Kain reassured her, patting her black hair gently.
Unlike overthinking the issue now, Kain preferred to confront the problem directly, perhaps even using Legilimency or the Imperius Curse to find out who was bold—or foolish—enough to target a powerful wizard.
Later That Evening
By the time the two of them reached the hotel, Betty was too drained to eat or even take a proper shower.
"God, are you a bull? Don't touch me tonight!" she complained hoarsely, collapsing onto the bed. "I don't want to end up going to the banquet in a wheelchair tomorrow."
Betty didn't care about anything at this point. Exhausted, she let herself relax completely.
The hotel staff could deal with the sheets later—she wasn't even willing to lift a finger. All she wanted now was a good night's rest.
After everything had settled, Kain began to think about other matters. After the banquet, he could hint at some good news to Ross.
If one Extremis virus serum wasn't enough, introducing the Super Soldier Serum would undoubtedly spark Ross's interest.
As the primary beneficiary on paper, Ross had a good chance of advancing his position. While he might not become Secretary of State as quickly as in the next few years, there was a strong possibility he could secure the role of Secretary of Defense instead.
To be honest, Kain wanted Ross to wield more power. Although the two of them didn't particularly like each other, Betty's presence between them made them natural allies.
"If the military adopts the Super Soldier Serum, I'll make sure to claim the biggest piece of the pie," Kain thought to himself.
The recent news about the decline of the Oscorp Group had also piqued his interest. Once a giant propelled by military contracts, the company had started to crumble for the same reason.
However, it still held significant influence. With the military's backing, acquiring Oscorp Group should be straightforward.
Kain imagined that many shareholders of the Oscorp Group would welcome his takeover. It would stabilize their investments and restore the company's prominence in the military-industrial and biotech sectors.
If successful, Kain would cement himself as a pivotal figure in these fields, creating a trifecta of core industries under his name: human enhancement, medical technology, and the Ark Reactor. From there, he could expand into even more domains.
"Betty," Kain suddenly said, turning his attention to her, "I just thought of something. I need your input."
"Don't touch me," Betty groaned, her voice hoarse and exhausted. "I seriously can't do this again."
Kain raised an eyebrow, amused. "..."
…
patreon.com/Vks_sh
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Vks_sh
Vks_sh Bonus chapter
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone