Preparations Before the Trip

Banner frowned and asked, "What conditions?"

Wang Bert said, "Cooperate with me on an assessment!"

"An assessment?"

Banner was stunned. This was rather different from what he had expected! "Yes, an assessment of whether Hulk can be reformed!"

Wang Bert nodded. "I’ll invite the world’s top psychologists and education experts to assess whether Hulk can be reformed. If you don’t trust me, that’s fine, but you have to trust the experts, right?"

"This…"

Banner hesitated. He had seven doctoral degrees, so he naturally trusted experts.

Banner asked, "The absolute best?"

"Yes, the absolute best. With my wealth, it’s no big deal!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Banner, if the experts all agree that Hulk can be reformed, I hope you’ll give it a try, because Hulk is very important to this world."

"More important than a genius with seven doctoral degrees like me?"

Banner was somewhat displeased. He asked, "What if they say it can’t be done?"

Wang Bert said, "Then I’ll never bring it up again! You can do whatever you want!"

"Fine, I accept your condition!"

After thinking for a moment, Banner gritted his teeth and said, "When do we begin the surgery?"

"In two days. Once everything is ready, we’ll begin!"

Wang Bert said. In truth, the blood had long since been inside Banner’s body. The surgery two days later was merely for show! Banner nodded. "Two days? Fine!"

At that moment, Betty remembered something and pleaded with Wang Bert, "Mr. Wang, could you let my father go? S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military said my father’s situation is terrible. He might even go to prison!"

Betty glanced at Banner and continued, "They also said they could help my father, as long as I was willing to persuade Bruce to join them."

"Betty, why did you never tell me about this?"

Banner was quite surprised, then immediately understood and was deeply moved. Betty had clearly been afraid of putting him in a difficult position!

In Betty’s heart, her boyfriend was the most important person! Wang Bert said, "They’re fooling you. Your father will be fine."

Betty was confused. "How could that be? He’s about to face a court-martial! A lot of people are protesting against him too!"

"Your father has the Super Soldier Serum and information on the Hulk. That’s enough to ensure he remains safe and sound."

Wang Bert said, "Besides, the military needs hardliners like him. Nothing serious will happen to him. He might even make a comeback someday!"

"Really?"

Betty let out a sigh of relief. "Then I can finally relax!"

"All right, see you two in two days!"

Wang Bert waved his hand and left to handle other matters. Since he would be away for a while, he had to arrange the affairs of the Blood God Group and Osborn Corporation.

In the office, Wang Bert asked Lilith, "Any newcomers applying to join Watchmen Company?"

"Yes!"

Lilith placed two files before Wang Bert and said, "After the company’s screening process, these two are suitable to become new Super Heroes!"

Wang Bert opened the first file. It was on a Black man named Luke Cage. He had been modified by the military and was not only impervious to blades and bullets, but also possessed strength far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Power Man, Luke Cage."

Wang Bert nodded and opened the second file. It was an Asian man from Hong Kong!

Chen Haoran, a street performer who could create and control fire, though its power was not very strong! "Chen Haoran? This guy seems to be an Inhuman from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Bert said, "Recruit them both. This Chen Haoran isn’t suited for combat, so have him work with the fire department and help put out fires. His codename will be Firefighter Hero."

Lilith asked, "Helping put out fires? That counts as a Super Hero?"

"Why wouldn’t it? Using superpowers to help people makes you a Super Hero!"

Wang Bert laughed. Chen Haoran’s power was too weak, and in the future there would be a Human Torch of the same type, but far more powerful than him!

"True!"

Lilith put away the files, and Wang Bert asked, "How are the negotiations over Spider-Man’s licensing rights going?"

"He’s signed the contract. From now on, we can produce Spider-Man merchandise!"

Lilith said, "Spider-Man won’t take any share of the profits. All proceeds will be used to compensate for the damage he caused. In addition, we need to negotiate with the police department on his behalf to cancel the wanted notice."

"That’s because it’s me. If it were some other Blackheart boss, Spider-Man would be exploited for every last cent."

Wang Bert shook his head. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Didn’t Osborn Corporation develop a bulletproof biological fiber? Make it into clothing and give it to Spider-Man. A dignified Super Hero having to buy his own merchandise as a uniform is too pathetic."

"You seem quite fond of Spider-Man?"

Lilith asked, "You had Madame Gao teach him martial arts and gave him all sorts of conveniences!"

"People as pure as him are far too rare these days!"

Wang Bert said, "Enough of that. How are the preparations for those Vampire films going?"

"The script for Blade has been completed. Blade is the protagonist, while you’ll appear as a mysterious presence."

Lilith said, "The other films promoting Vampires are also in preparation!"

Wang Bert asked, "Very good. Did Blade agree to appear?"

Lilith said expressionlessly, "He refused, but he mailed over his sunglasses. He said that you once said sunglasses were his true body, so this counts as him appearing in the film. He wants to be paid."

"Haha, Blade, you’ve changed!"

Wang Bert burst out laughing. He asked, "Is Blade short of money lately?"

Lilith said, "He’s pursuing that female doctor, and his mother Vanessa has always spent money lavishly. She burns through cash."

"Every family has its own troubles!"

Wang Bert shook his head and said, "The Blood Clan Police Department has done well. Hold them a celebration banquet and give everyone a bonus. Give bonuses to the S.H.I.E.L.D. people too!"

Lilith nodded and noted it down. "All right!"

"Also, find someone to write a script for Blood Clan Police Department. Make it reflect the Blood Clan’s situation as realistically as possible!"

Wang Bert said, "If Blade does well at the box office, say Blood Clan Police Department is a spin-off series. If it doesn’t, treat it as an independent series!"

After thinking about it, Wang Bert continued, "Find handsome and beautiful Vampires to play the leads. This is a world that judges by appearances. As long as they’re good-looking enough, fans won’t care whether they’re human!"

Lilith asked, "Will all this promotion really work?"

"It will definitely help, but we can’t expect too much."

Wang Bert shrugged. "Even if it doesn’t work, these films can still help me pick up plenty of beautiful women. I won’t lose out!"

"Isn’t that using public resources for private gain?"

"No, it’s killing two birds with one stone!"

Lilith gave Wang Bert an expressionless glance and said, "James reported that many companies are contacting Ivan and his father, including Hammer Industries."

"Ignore them. What they’re offering probably isn’t even a fraction of what I gave."

Wang Bert did not care in the slightest. What company could offer Ivan five billion dollars? No, it was already ten billion dollars now!

Lilith said no more. No matter how one looked at it, Ivan could not possibly jump ship!

After thinking about it, Wang Bert took out his private phone and called Ivan. "Ivan, don’t throw away that damaged Hero armor. Patch it up a little and make sure it can start… What’s it for? Anyway, it’s not to scam anyone. Hmm? My suit is almost done? Good, I’ll come take delivery in two days!"

After putting down his phone, Wang Bert picked up the desk phone, pressed a button, and instructed, "Felicia, call all the company executives together. I’m holding a meeting to discuss the development plan for the next few months."

Felicia replied, "Yes, Blood God!"

Wang Bert added, "Oh, right. You’ve been doing well lately. Come to my house tonight to look at art and study art!"

"Wonderful, thank you, Blood God."

Felicia was overjoyed. The Blood God’s home did not merely have a lot of art; it had an enormous amount, and nearly all of it was exquisite. Some pieces were even national treasures. No lover of art could refuse! In the blink of an eye, two days passed. Today was the day Wang Bert would perform Banner’s surgery!

There was no need to describe the surgery process. It was all just an act anyway. Once the surgery was over, Wang Bert took out two high-end-looking Controllers and tossed them to the pair. "These can control that blood. There are several commands, including releasing control, strengthening control, and so on."

Banner and Betty hurriedly caught the Controllers. Banner asked suspiciously, "The surgery is really over? Why don’t I feel anything?"

"That’s because you were anesthetized!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Practice is the sole criterion for truth. Let’s begin the test directly. Without any other command, that blood will keep controlling your heartbeat. Now think of something that makes you angry!"

"All right!"

Banner nodded and began recalling General Ross hunting him down. His heart filled with indignation. He hated both General Ross for pursuing him and fate for being so unfair as to make him endure such pain.

Betty had been staring at the nearby instruments. When she noticed that Banner’s heartbeat had barely changed, she could not help asking, "Bruce, are you really angry?"

Banner also noticed that his heartbeat was steady. He said delightedly, "I really am angry. This feels so strange. It’s like my body and consciousness have split into two parts. My consciousness is angry, but my body doesn’t react!"

Wang Bert rubbed his chin. "Why does that sound so strange?"

"Strange? I don’t think so!"

Banner shook his head and said impatiently, "Let’s move to the next step. Betty, use the Controller to release the blood’s control over me."

"All right!"

Betty nodded, took out the Controller, and, under Wang Bert’s instruction, pressed the red button at the bottom. A voice immediately sounded, "Control released!"

Betty said in surprise, "That’s your voice?"

Wang Bert said, "Yes, my voice. That blood only obeys my commands. Don’t worry, other people imitating my voice won’t work!"

The instant the control was released, Banner’s heartbeat immediately began accelerating. It was an instinctive rebound. Banner took a deep breath, had Betty get ready, then continued recalling enraging things. A green glow gradually appeared in his eyes! A moment later, Banner clutched his slightly green head and cried painfully to Betty, "Betty, activate control!"

Betty immediately activated it, and the Controller sounded, "Control activated!"

Before the voice had even faded, Banner’s heart was gripped violently. Banner collapsed to the floor in agony, his mind going blank as if he were about to die! After such a heavy blow, the green light in Banner’s eyes rapidly vanished! "Bruce!"

Betty hurriedly crouched down to check Banner’s condition. Wang Bert said, "My blood will protect his body. Combined with his own special nature, he generally won’t be in danger, but this move should be used sparingly."

"It definitely should be used sparingly!"

Betty nodded repeatedly. At that moment, Banner gradually regained consciousness. Instead of being angry, he shouted with immense joy, "It really worked! It really controlled him!"

"Yes, it controlled him!"

Betty hugged Banner, equally happy. The nightmare that had haunted them for so long had finally passed!

After a while, Banner stood up with Betty’s help. He said gratefully to Wang Bert, "Mr. Wang, thank you very much for your help. I’ll take that assessment seriously."

"I’ll bring those experts over as soon as possible! Rest assured, they’ll absolutely be the very best!"

Wang Bert said, "Banner, I’m inviting you once again to join Osborn Corporation. I need Hulk, and I need you as well."

"Mr. Wang, I’m willing to join Osborn Corporation!"

Banner and Betty looked at each other and nodded. At this point, could he really refuse? Did he think capitalists helped people for free?

"Welcome aboard, Banner. Your primary job will be researching yourself, and your secondary job will be helping Ivan improve the armor. Any problem with that?"

Wang Bert said happily. After doing so much, he had finally brought Banner under his command. The next step was reforming Hulk!

"So my job really is being researched!"

Banner smiled. "No problem. I’m also very interested in armor. Maybe I can create an armor specifically designed to deal with Hulk!"

"If you’re interested, you can let Hulk out and have him spar with the armor. Consider it data collection!"

Wang Bert said, "Betty, you should join Osborn Corporation too. Your main task will be researching Banner and reforming Hulk."

"All right!"

Betty did not particularly care either way. As long as she could stay by Banner’s side, that was enough for her.

After giving his instructions, Wang Bert called Mercury and had her arrange employment for the two of them. He himself went to the armor manufacturing base to take delivery of his suit. Ivan had said it was already finished! Looking at the silver-white four-seat sports car before him, Wang Bert asked speechlessly, "This is my suit? Hey, Ivan, do you take me for blind? This is obviously a sports car, all right?"

"This is a suit in the form of a sports car!"

Ivan had a toothpick in his mouth as he said, "It perfectly meets your requirements. Fast and stylish."

Wang Bert said irritably, "Do you think I’m short on sports cars? I already have next season’s models!"

Ivan looked at him disdainfully and asked, "Can your sports cars fly?"

"Fly?"

Wang Bert’s eyes immediately lit up. "You’re saying this sports car can fly?"

Ivan could not be bothered with more nonsense. He took out a Controller and pressed a button at the sports car. The car began changing modes! Its four wheels rapidly transformed, then Light Flame burst from beneath them as the sports car slowly floated into the air!

"Cool!"

Frank, who had come along, could not help shouting. Ivan smiled smugly and said, "It has four Arc Reactors installed, so it can fly for a long time. As for flight speed, it can definitely go supersonic, but I don’t recommend going too fast. The pressure will be immense, and its pressure resistance can’t compare to a real suit!"