Interesting Developments

Long Island, New York. The spired building was brightly lit, its enormous red-and-white umbrella logo gleaming atop the structure and radiating a brilliant glow.

Sean remained in the Hive Building as Dr. Connors carefully lifted a vial of Progenitor Virus from the workbench. His lips parted slightly, and his eyes were filled with intoxicated fascination, as though the liquid flowing through the glass tube were a magnificent world-famous symphony that deeply shook him to his core.

Dr. Maya Hansen, meanwhile, was conducting a comprehensive physical examination on Yoshimura Eto, the world’s only aberrant ghoul. Compared with the Progenitor Virus, she paid far more attention to the delicate, petite Yoshimura Eto. That was probably the difference between men and women.

As for the Eihman Metal seized from Ichiro Yashida, Sean gave it to Ivan Vanko. He believed the big Russian would like the gift very much. After all, even a wealthy man like Tony Stark used gold-titanium alloy in his Mark series armor—though that was undoubtedly related to the astonishing destruction rate of his Iron Armor and its frequent upgrades.

"Looks like I have a new subject again?"

Dr. Connors let out a long breath. Since completing his research into limb regeneration, he had been searching for a new direction.

The complexity of the Progenitor Virus itself, along with the diversity it gave rise to, posed quite a challenge for Connors. The cross-genetic-field technology of limb regeneration had been his lifelong ultimate dream, the pursuit into which he had poured his heart and soul. Now that the greatest expectation of his life had been fulfilled, he inevitably felt somewhat empty. Naturally, he needed to find a new project.

"Umbrella is already at the forefront of the world in biological modification. Next, I hope we can fill the gap in genetic engineering." Sean draped an arm over Dr. Connors’s shoulder and said softly, "We have the enormous treasure trove of Mutants. We need to know how to use it properly."

The young man naturally had not forgotten Stryker’s years of work: the Mutant gene bank. It was a priceless treasure gathered from an entire era, the key to opening the door to evolution. It certainly could not simply be tossed aside and ignored.

Next, Sean discussed future plans with Dr. Connors, gave him a few instructions regarding the research priorities for the Progenitor Virus, and handed Yoshimura Eto over to Dr. Maya Hansen before walking alone through the corridor.

Standing on one of the upper floors of the spired building, Sean looked down upon his private kingdom, and his heart brimmed with satisfaction. Umbrella, once hailed as a rising star in scientific research, had now gradually grown into a colossal force capable of rivaling giants like Stark Industries.

At first, newspapers had praised Sean as "the second Tony Stark," but the media rarely used that title anymore. This New York genius, who had appeared before the world beneath multiple halos, no longer needed to borrow Iron Man’s fame.

After a period of explosive growth, Umbrella swept aside the monopolistic giants of the biomedical industry and crushed Worthington Company beneath its feet. It then followed Stark Industries into the new energy market on a grand scale. With Kock Industries later joining the partnership, the three carriages raced side by side, creating a brand-new era.

Even in the Military Industry, which required extensive connections and cutting-edge technology, this newborn company, less than two years old, had firmly suppressed Hammer Industries with energy weapons and Human Enhancement Serum. Especially after its helmsman, Justin Hammer, was thrown into prison, Umbrella seized the opportunity to join forces with a military bigwig and swallow up the other side’s weapons manufacturing plants.

Many industry insiders analyzed the situation and ultimately reached the same conclusion: any obstacle standing in Umbrella’s path tended to meet a bad end. Every sign indicated that this rising star was not to be provoked.

People gained an entirely new understanding of Sean Sipes, the well-regarded New York genius. Behind that gentle smile might lie sharp methods unknown to others, causing quite a number of speculators and capital predators to abandon their covetous gazes.

There was an old saying in the East: learn from the past to guide the future. No one wanted to become the second Worthington or Hammer Industries.

"Two Stones," Sean said with a sigh.

He had learned from Skynet that Loki had come to Earth and seized the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D. No matter how fiercely the butterfly’s wings flapped, they still could not alter the world crisis destined to occur.

The Chitauri army stood ready beyond the vast river of stars, waiting for the Asgardian Prince to use the Tesseract to open a gateway between the two sides, then seize the planet in one stroke. Under S.H.I.E.L.D.’s summons, the Avengers were rapidly assembling. A great battle was unavoidable.

But what Sean considered was what he could gain from it.

Given the current situation, there were three Infinity Stones on Earth. One was stored within the Eye of Agamotto at Kamar-Taj; unless he wanted to court death by provoking the Sorcerer Supreme, it was temporarily out of reach. One was the scepter held by Loki, capable of controlling minds and twisting consciousness. The last was the Tesseract, which could manipulate space and draw energy.

If the Sentry acted, taking two Stones would not be a problem. But the key was whether doing so would draw Thanos here—the formidable being devoted to maintaining the balance of the universe by reducing all living things.

"If I can end this game ahead of schedule, that doesn’t seem too bad."

Sean pondered for a long time. He believed that only an all-out battle between life and death could break through the solid shackles of fifty percent.

This was undoubtedly a tremendous gamble. If Thanos descended and the Sentry proved no match for him, everything Sean had worked to build would be reduced to wreckage and ruins.

"What a difficult choice…"

Sean chuckled and made a coin-tossing gesture. He raised his head toward the dark heavens, where the stars glittered and the moonlight shone bright. Behind the black curtain lay a veiled hue of mystery and the unknown.

Had his arrival turned this world into a complete mess, or had he, as the Ancient One said, merely followed the tide step by step until the final ending arrived?

"If that Asgardian Prince isn’t stupid enough to come provoke me…"

Before Sean finished speaking, a piercing alarm blared. A handsome, elegant man in a long trench coat brazenly broke into Umbrella’s main building. The two guards responsible for verifying identities were effortlessly knocked to the floor by him.

As though striking a golf ball, he swung the golden scepter and smashed it heavily into the guards’ heads. The two professionally trained security personnel collapsed at once.

The intruder who had arrived in the dead of night stepped gracefully through Umbrella’s doors. Before a bronze statue in the center of the lobby, he looked at the ancient, weighty model of the galaxy cast from metal and smiled disdainfully.

"Lowly insects, what could you possibly know of the boundless universe?"

He had come here not merely to obtain the metallic iridium Dr. Selvig required. He also intended to make a spectacular entrance, drawing S.H.I.E.L.D.’s attention so he could carry out the next stage of his plan.

"Call the Umbrella Squad," Sean said expressionlessly, taking in everything before him.

Since things had become so interesting, he might as well take a seat at the gambling table himself and await the grand arrival of that Cosmic Overlord.