"Are you sure it's safe? We need to be 100% certain it won't cause any harm to the human body. Our main goal is to help people. Making money comes second. Safety must come first!"
Carl's face revealed a spark of happiness, but he still insisted once more.
He didn't want to find himself in trouble because of a temporary temptation and become the public's greatest villain.
If the new drug turned all cancer patients into Hulks, the world would be thrown into chaos. Transforming into the Hulk could certainly destroy any disease — once you turned into the Hulk, the powerful Hulk genes would eradicate nearly all ailments — but that was not what Carl wanted. His aim was to find a way to treat terminal illnesses without causing dramatic side effects.
This was the main direction of Stern and Banner's research during this period.
"Boss, you can rest assured. We've done numerous simulation experiments and can fully guarantee its safety."
When Banner heard that Carl's first consideration was safety, a deep sigh of relief crossed his face. His decision to stay here seemed more and more reasonable.
A week earlier, he'd noticed through their instruments that the green gene had reappeared in his body, which meant the antidote hadn't completely eliminated it.
After careful consideration, and with Betty's encouragement and Stern's suggestion, Banner decided to stay with the Hudson Group as a researcher alongside Stern.
While trying to find a way to completely cure himself, he was also helping Stern and the rest of the team develop a new drug — a way to give back to the people who had supported him.
The main consideration was that if he left the Hudson Group and lost Carl's protection, he'd have to find a place far away from Ross and the government, somewhere without advanced equipment — a place where his own research would suffer.
"Now that it's been confirmed to be safe, notify Jack immediately and have him prepare a press conference and promotions. After that, we can start production!"
If we were following normal procedures, it might take years for the drug to be approved. But time was something Carl didn't have.
Banner himself had confirmed its safety; the rest was a formality. Through his connections, money, and unconventional means, obtaining approval for production and sales wouldn't be an issue.
Any hidden complications in the future were not a big deal. His power was growing by the day; whatever came up, it would be easily dealt with.
The new drug was currently effective against all forms of cancer. Cancer comes in many varieties — early, intermediate, late — and aside from a few cases, most required extensive treatment, operations, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The drugs that followed were prohibitively expensive and often left families destitute.
Some advanced-stage patients, even after successful operations, were given only a year or less to live.
But this new medication, developed by Stern and Banner, could destroy all cancer cells in the body with a single pill and allow the patient to return to health.
How could a cancer patient possibly resist a treatment like this?
Every year, 18 million new cases were documented across the world. If you were to add in the number of existing cases, it was an enormous market.
This medication was set at 10,000 dollars per pill — about 70,000 yuan.
If we were to price it purely based on its effects, we could easily sell it for 1 million, but then it would become a privilege for the rich.
Instead, by pricing it at 10,000, nearly all ordinary families could find a way to pay it. If someone fell short, borrowing from friends or relatives would be viable.
Most people were unwilling to lend large sums to someone battling a chronic disease with a poor prognosis, but for a medication that guarantees a return to health in a single dose, nearly everyone would be willing to help.
This pricing meant that the moment the new medication came on the market, it might take less than a week for all the world's cancer patients to buy it — some wealthy people might even buy a few in advance just in case.
Hudson Group's assets would grow exponentially and quickly become a powerhouse comparable to Stark Industries.
Furthermore, this pricing policy kept the company's conscience clear and its reputation spotless. If the price were raised to a ridiculous amount, it would undermine the group's credibility and disappoint many people — including doctors like Banner and Ethan — who believed in its mission.
Of course, this breakthrough would offend many in the industry and spark a lot of envy.
But it didn't matter. Carl already had a plan. He'd have Amelia and her team of assassins stationed in New York. There were plenty of people who might try to undermine him, but none who would have the courage once they understood the cost.
He wanted to send a clear message: If anyone tried to harm Hudson Group, there would be only one outcome — death.
The next day, Carl arrived at the airport at the appointed time.
Tony's private jet was a dramatic contrast to Carl's. His own was a mid-tier model, purchased for practicality and ease of travel, while Tony's was a top-of-the-line, specially modified Boeing 737 filled with advanced technology.
All the seats had been removed and the cabin was a sprawling lounge — perfect for drinking, singing, and entertaining — staffed by glamorous blonde stewardesses.
Carl sighed inwardly. Tony really knew how to enjoy the rich lifestyle.
The hearing was a huge event, presided over by none other than Hydra's own mole, Senator Stern.
Stern called in Justin Hammer — Tony's former competitor — and Tony's friend, Colonel Rhodes.
Using their testimony, the committee tried to portray the Iron Man suit not as a sophisticated aircraft, but as a threatening piece of military hardware.
Then the narrative shifted toward "national security"— framing the suit as a potential danger to peace — in an attempt to pressure Tony into handing over its technology.
But Tony was prepared. His phone, a piece of high-tech wizardry, was already tapped into their screens. With a few taps, video footage appeared of numerous countries failing in their attempts to produce their own suits.
This made the committee's arguments ridiculous.
Tony boldly insisted: "I, Iron Man, am enough to keep the peace. There's no need for me to surrender this technology."
Stern fell silent. There was nothing more to say.
While everyone's attention was on Tony, Carl quietly walked into a corner, pressed a seal on a piece of paper, and handed it — a detonating talisman — to his shadow clone.