Fifteen cubic nanometers of subatomic particles.
Although the quantity wasn’t particularly large, the most important thing was that Ethan’s theory had been proven correct!
He had been worried that particles with the required fluctuation values might not exist in this universe at all.
If that had been the case, would he have needed to search for an alternate dimension like Dr.
Pym, or even find a way into the Quantum Realm?
Either approach would have consumed an enormous amount of time and energy, with no guarantee of success.
Fortunately, those worries had been unnecessary.
Everything had turned out exactly as Ethan predicted.
After stripping a single molecule and scanning the resulting material, he had already discovered fifteen cubic nanometers of particles matching the required fluctuation values!
Although this was far less than the quantity available in the alternate dimension of the Marvel universe, Ethan had discovered something even more valuable.
Here, he could extract additional particles whenever he needed them.
“If I can develop an instrument that completes the entire process automatically, won’t I be able to obtain subatomic particles whenever and wherever I want?”
Ethan’s eyes burned with excitement.
This discovery was incredibly important!
Even in the Marvel universe, Pym Particles had to be prepared and stored in advance.
They were essentially a limited resource, like batteries.
Once the supply was exhausted, more would be needed.
But in this universe, Ethan could extract the necessary particles whenever he wanted.
As long as the process worked, he could maintain a virtually unlimited supply!
“The home universe really is something special!
Hahaha!”
Ethan burst into laughter.
“JARVIS, I’ll continue the extraction process.
Record every step I take!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Ethan returned to work, carefully repeating the manual extraction procedure.
For now, he still had to perform each step himself.
However, once JARVIS had learned the procedure from the recordings, Ethan wouldn’t need to handle every operation personally.
He could simply use a robotic arm controlled by the AI to perform the extraction continuously, twenty-four hours a day.
Half an hour later, Ethan had accumulated a small reserve of the particles.
Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough for his first experiment.
“No, this is straining my eyes too much.
I need a break.”
Ethan removed his gloves and stepped away from the equipment.
“JARVIS, use the robotic arm and follow the procedure you’ve learned from my recordings.
Let’s see how well you can manage it.”
“Understood, Sir!”
An automated platform glided into position.
A robotic arm extended from the apparatus, its articulated fingers unfolding one after another until several delicate, precision-engineered tools were ready for use.
Without hesitation, the robotic arm began following Ethan’s recorded procedure, carefully stripping and extracting the necessary material.
Unlike a human operator, the machine wouldn’t suffer from trembling hands or fatigue.
Its movements could be controlled with extraordinary precision, eliminating tiny deviations that might otherwise compromise the experiment.
As a result, its extraction efficiency was almost twice Ethan’s manual speed!
The robotic arm continued working for approximately another half hour.
“Sir, the reserve has reached the required quantity,” JARVIS announced.
“Excellent!”
Ethan carefully retrieved a small metal vial from the instrument.
Inside it was the precious material he had worked so hard to obtain: the subatomic particles that would form the foundation of his first Pym Particle experiment.
“JARVIS, begin the next stage of processing.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The processing procedure itself wasn’t particularly complicated, but there was an important distinction Ethan couldn’t afford to overlook.
Simply combining the particles with other materials wouldn’t be enough to produce functional Pym Particles.
They also needed to undergo a specific process involving a carefully developed formula that would transform their properties.
That formula was the real key.
Dr.
Pym’s greatest achievement wasn’t merely discovering the particles.
It was devising the formula that allowed them to be used to manipulate an object’s size, turning what had once seemed impossible into reality.
If this formula were ever revealed to the scientific community, the world’s leading researchers would rush to study it.
They would be fascinated by its implications, yet many would struggle to understand how it worked.
The knowledge required went far beyond the limits of modern scientific understanding.
For Ethan, however, none of this posed a problem.
He had already mastered the formula and understood its underlying principles, allowing him to handle the processing with complete confidence.
“Sir, someone has arrived at the front entrance.”
JARVIS’s sudden announcement interrupted his work.
“Someone?”
Ethan frowned.
“Show me the surveillance footage.”
Apart from Chloe Bennett, he couldn’t recall telling anyone else where his villa was located.
And if Chloe had arrived, JARVIS ordinarily would have simply opened the door for her rather than interrupting his work with a special notification.
A surveillance window appeared on the laboratory’s display.
Ethan glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The visitor was Claire Bennett, the former classmate whose fortune he had read at their recent reunion.
“Sir, your experiment has reached a critical stage,” JARVIS said.
“Would you like me to prevent any outside interference?”
“No need.
Let her in and direct her straight to the basement.”
Ethan returned his attention to the equipment.
“However, Sir, Ms.
Bennett holds a significant position in human society.
If she witnesses the technology you’re developing, there could be undesirable consequences.”
JARVIS’s concern was understandable.
The equipment and research inside the basement represented a substantial technological advantage, and allowing an outsider to see it could potentially expose Ethan’s secrets.
Ethan chuckled softly.
“Look at you.
You’ve learned quite a lot lately.
Now you’re even considering confidentiality and potential risks.”
He paused before continuing.
“But it doesn’t matter.
Eventually, other people will learn about this technology anyway.
Letting Claire see it now won’t make much difference.
Besides, even if she decides to tell someone, what can one person accomplish without access to the internet or any supporting evidence?”
JARVIS processed his response for a moment.
“Your reasoning appears sound, Sir.”
It accepted Ethan’s decision and immediately activated the necessary controls.
“All access restrictions have been lifted.
Ms.
Bennett may enter.”
Ethan took a sip of water and returned to the equations displayed on his screen, entering one formula after another.
Outside, Claire was surprised when the villa’s main gate suddenly opened automatically.
“Ethan?”
She called his name tentatively before walking through the courtyard and approaching the entrance to the house.
Before she could press the doorbell, the front door clicked open by itself.
There was nobody standing behind it.
Claire blinked in surprise and cautiously called out again, her curious eyes scanning the empty hallway.
Suddenly, the coffee table in the center of the living room began to descend.
At the same time, sections of the floor shifted apart with mechanical precision, revealing a hidden opening beneath them.
“This…”
Claire stared at the scene in astonishment.
She had seen similar mechanisms in science-fiction movies, but witnessing such advanced machinery operating in reality was an entirely different experience.
“Ethan?”
“I’m downstairs.”
Ethan’s voice drifted up from the opening.
Claire finally relaxed.
She approached the entrance, peered down into the passage, and cautiously descended the stairs leading to the basement.
When she reached the bottom, an imposing futuristic door immediately caught her attention.
Her beautiful eyes lit up with curiosity.
Claire had never truly believed Ethan was a fortune teller.
Although she couldn’t explain how he had predicted the outcomes of those online gambling games or uncovered the numerous secrets surrounding his classmates, she was certain that he possessed extraordinary abilities and was hiding a remarkable secret.
Now, it seemed she was finally about to discover at least part of the truth.
Claire stepped closer to the futuristic door and noticed a symbol resembling a handprint embedded in its surface.
“This must be some kind of biometric identification system, right?”
Driven by curiosity, she cautiously extended her hand and placed it against the symbol.
Whoosh!
The handprint immediately illuminated beneath her palm.
Multicolored lights began flowing through the grooves that resembled electronic circuits, spreading outward until the entire door glowed with a dazzling, futuristic radiance.
A moment later, JARVIS’s voice sounded.
“Welcome, Ms.
Claire Bennett.”
“Please enter!”
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