The farce on the street came and went quickly.
With Umbrella Corporation’s efficiency, they had loaded Pietro and the others into the vehicle without causing any commotion on the street.
Once things calmed down, Matthew Lawrence took a closer look at the future Iron Man.
“Hmm… regardless of anything else, he looks even more arrogant in reality than in the movies.”
It is hard to imagine that a person like this would later become someone who sacrifices himself to save the World.
“Matthew Lawrence.”
“Tony Stark.”
The two smiled and shook hands.
Tony glanced at the “escort vehicle” driving toward the end of the street and asked half-jokingly, “Lawrence, you just said you were going to send them to the company as drug volunteers. Was that a joke or for real?”
“Of course, I was just joking to scare him. Don’t you think it’s fun to see him look so panicked?” Matthew’s lips curled into an arc.
“Besides, this is a society ruled by law, and our Umbrella Corporation is a legitimate, publicly traded company. Naturally, we can’t do anything illegal.”
“Right, Eleanor?”
“That’s right.” Eleanor chimed in.
Watching the two of them harmonize, Tony shrugged indifferently, a non-committal look appearing on his face.
He wouldn’t believe the “rule of law” that Matthew spoke of.
After all, if the World really operated in an orderly manner according to the law, they wouldn’t have encountered these things today.
“Mr. Lawrence, we have other things to attend to. Since this matter has concluded satisfactorily, we’ll be leaving.” With the matter finished, Tony prepared to turn and leave.
Just as he turned around, Matthew called out to him from behind.
“Mr. Stark, I really appreciate your help this time, but I don’t like owing people favors.”
As he spoke, Matthew pulled a pure black metal card from his pocket and handed it to Tony: “This is my private business card. It has a built-in encrypted chip. As long as you snap it, it can be located via satellite signal, and we will send people to rescue and protect you immediately.”
“If you encounter any trouble in the future, this might be able to help you.”
Hearing the words, Tony looked at the black card held out to him.
After a moment of contemplation, he said to Happy: “Happy, take it for me.”
“Sorry, Tony isn’t used to people handing him things directly.” Happy explained.
Matthew said indifferently: “It’s fine.”
After handing the card to Happy, the two didn’t linger and drove away.
Watching the two figures depart, Eleanor suddenly spoke: “Sir, what kind of person do you think Tony Stark is?”
“So you also think he is a self-centered playboy?”
“No.” Matthew shook his head: “It’s true that he is a playboy, but he is more of a genius.”
“A genius capable of changing the World…”
Nighttime.
After lingering with another woman, Tony Stark was now sitting in the living room wearing pajamas.
Under the cold lights, he was fiddling with the black business card in his hand.
There was no text or phone number on the card; it looked like an ordinary metal card.
“Jarvis.”
“Sir, I am here.”
“Check the chip inside this card.”
“Very well…” After these words, Jarvis fell silent.
Half a minute later, the silent Jarvis responded again: “Sir, the chip inside the card is nothing special; it is just an encrypted positioning chip. Its function is to transmit a positioning signal to a satellite after the chip is manually destroyed to locate its position.”
After hearing what Jarvis said, Tony examined it for a while longer and muttered: “It really is just a positioning chip… I guess I overthought it.”
Putting the card away, Tony stopped paying attention to this and walked back toward the bedroom to seek comfort.
Of course, not everyone’s nightlife is like Tony Stark’s.
At this moment, Matthew was sitting in his office, his gaze sweeping across the virtual light screen, the muscles on his face twitching constantly.
[t-virus sample: After injection, it can strengthen and reorganize the host’s DNA, allowing them to gain astonishing Stamina and vitality. Even if vital organs are severely damaged, they can still remain active for a period of time, but they will lose intelligence and develop a series of defects. Note: System Points can be spent to optimize the t-virus sample.]
[Zombie-fication: Can be optimized for 80 System Points.]
[Lethargy: Can be optimized for 40 System Points.]
[High Lethality: Can be optimized for 80 System Points.]
[Low Intelligence: Can be optimized for 100 System Points.]
[High Infectivity: Can be optimized for 80 System Points.]
Looking at the series of defects appearing on the system screen, Matthew felt a headache.
It seems all his work this afternoon wasn’t even enough to optimize half the defects of the T-Virus…
It seems he needs to find another way, a path more suitable for grinding System Points.
“Ross.”
“Sir, I am here.” Eleanor replied in a low voice.
“Where are those people from this afternoon being kept?”
“Are you talking about the group from the Maggia?” Eleanor frowned slightly, clearly detesting those people: “They are currently being held on the fifteenth basement level of the company.”
“Take me to see them.”
“Yes.”
…
Umbrella Corporation Building · Basement Level 15.
This place was specially designed to detain and transfer target individuals and key figures, though it wasn’t often used.
But today, it welcomed its true purpose…
Pietro, who was locked in a cell, had a face covered in bruises and swelling; his originally gloomy and gaunt face had been beaten into a pig’s head.
Of course, the others who came with him were no better off; they were all in the same state.
The members of the Maggia were currently imprisoned in separate cells, stripped naked, and even their hair had been shaved off.
By now, they no longer had the arrogance and domineering attitude they displayed on the street in the afternoon; they were all squatting in the corners, looking like aggrieved little wives.
In the empty floor, apart from the guards at the end, there were only them left on the entire level.
Under the dim lights, Pietro, squatting in the corner, couldn’t understand why the soft persimmon that could be bullied by anyone a few days ago had transformed into an executive of Umbrella Corporation.
And he was in charge of the security department, no less!
If it had been any other department, they wouldn’t be in such a sorry state today…
Just as he was thinking about how to find a way to escape from here, the crisp “ding” sound from the elevator at the end immediately caught his attention.
Immediately after, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure came into view.
“Ma… Matthew?!” The pain in his joints made Pietro swallow nervously.
“What? Are you surprised to see me?”
Outside the cell door, Matthew wore a chilling smile, which made Pietro feel a chill run through his entire body.
If he hadn’t already retreated to the corner, he would likely have backed away another three meters.