Just as Russell was about to have No. 3 transform the battle suit back into its endosymbiotic form, he suddenly remembered something.
Something Master Ma had said in "Das Kapital".
"With 20 percent profit, capital is emboldened; with 50 percent, it is positive; with 100 percent, it makes itself absolutely reckless; with 300 percent, it will trample under foot all human laws."
A cost of thirty million, a selling price of fifty million...
Russell suddenly felt he was being a little too good-hearted!
This won't do!
Since he had already decided to be a capitalist in the capitalist nation of America, how could he still have such a thing as a conscience!
No way!
This is not what a qualified capitalist should do!
Russell inwardly mocked himself for a few moments.
Then, he turned to look at the Zaku-form battle suit and said to No. 3 inside, "Continue to weaken the performance of the mass-produced Zaku, and control the cost at twenty million US dollars!"
"Yes, sir!"
No. 3 replied immediately without any hesitation.
A cost of twenty million US dollars, a selling price of one hundred and twenty million US dollars!
A five hundred percent profit!
This is the kind of "conscience" a qualified capitalist should have!
As for whether he would be hanged from a lamppost because of this "conscience," Russell wasn't worried at all.
In America, a country where capital calls the shots, it's unrealistic to even think about hanging a capitalist with a "conscience."
After having No. 3 transform the battle suit back into its endosymbiotic form, Russell left the laboratory and returned to his office on the third floor.
The Zaku battle suit would be the Octopus Monster Military Lab's ace product in the early stages. Whether the cake that originally belonged to Stark Industries could be turned into the Octopus Monster Lab's basically depended on these Zaku battle suits.
After returning to the office, he made a phone call to a certain Republican senator.
During his years as an assassin, he had built up a small network of his own.
This Republican senator was one of them.
After telling the senator about his idea, the senator, who owed him a favor, readily agreed to his request.
His request was very simple: he wanted to meet with some bigwigs in the military and establish some connections.
For the senator, this request was not difficult at all.
The product was ready, the potential buyers were there, so the rest of the matter was basically not a problem.
After hanging up the phone, Russell once again began his slacking off life.
Playing games!
Ever since he cleared that blacksmithing game, playing games had become his preferred way to slack off and relax.
Time flew by in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, another three days had passed.
During these three days, Russell continued his "Superhero Whitewashing Plan" while also keeping an eye on the progress of the Zaku battle suit.
According to No. 3, they only needed to wait two more days, and the first Zaku battle suit would be ready.
By then, he could take the battle suit to meet those military bigwigs and turn the laboratory from a purely research institution into a genuine military industrial enterprise.
For the Octopus Monster Lab, this was a crucial step, and also an important step in whether he could become a capitalist.
Brooklyn.
Russell, who had transformed into his "Serum Agent" form, had just completed his daily "Good Deed of the Day" mission, handing over a group of robbers who were robbing a bank armored car to the police who had just arrived at the scene.
Just as he was about to shoot out a tendril and leave the scene, an orange-red fire person flew towards him at high speed like a missile.
Before he could leave, the flying fire person arrived in front of him, blocking his attempt to depart.
Human Torch!
There was no need to ask; it was obvious that this fire person was Jonathan, the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four.
After flying in front of Russell, Jonathan quickly extinguished the flames on his body, transforming himself back into his normal human form.
As the flames disappeared, Jonathan, who looked like Captain America's twin brother, said to Russell, "Hey, buddy, don't go yet!"
Looking at Jonathan, who looked exactly like Captain America but had a completely different demeanor, Russell slightly furrowed his brow.
If Captain America was a perfect soldier full of righteousness, then Jonathan, the Human Torch, was a wild and unruly playboy.
Although their temperaments were different, besides their looks, they had another common characteristic.
A classic American perky butt!
Because his uniform was a tight suit, Jonathan's American perky butt looked even firmer and perkier than Captain America's.
Although Russell had never met Jonathan, the Human Torch, he was not unfamiliar with Jonathan.
Jonathan was currently wearing the Fantastic Four's standard dark blue tight uniform, which was covered in various brand logos on the front and back.
These colorful brand logos made the Fantastic Four logo on the uniform appear inconspicuous.
Perhaps seeing Russell looking at the brand logos on his body, Jonathan said with a smile, "Are you interested in brand sponsorships too?"
"No!"
Glancing at the overly friendly Jonathan, Russell quickly replied.
Without giving them a chance to continue talking, a large group of reporters rushed forward, frantically taking pictures of the two of them.
Flashbulbs flashed wildly, and Jonathan smiled, greeting the surrounding reporters like a Hollywood star.
While greeting the reporters, Jonathan once again showed his overly friendly nature, putting his right hand on Russell's shoulder.
If it weren't for the reporters in front of them, Russell would have really wanted to just throw this overly friendly guy away.
"Mr. Serum, are you really going to form a new hero team with Mr. Jonathan?"
"What do you think of the new team 'Human Torch Serum'?"
"Who is the leader of the new team?"
"Will the Fantastic Four become the Fantastic Five?"
...
The reporters rushed to ask Russell and Jonathan questions, practically shoving microphones in their faces.
Russell had also watched Jonathan's press conference a few days ago.
But he had no intention of teaming up with Jonathan at all.
Even if he were to team up with other superheroes, he would team up with Gwen, not Jonathan.
"In our new team, there is no leader, everyone is equal."
"I have extended an invitation to Mr. Serum on behalf of the Fantastic Four. As long as he is willing, Baxter Building is always welcome for his arrival."
Jonathan answered the reporters' questions with a smile.
This guy...
Looking at Jonathan, who was chatting freely with the reporters, Russell decided to take the initiative back.
"The Fantastic Four is a superhero team I admire. Every one of them is excellent."
"Especially Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman, they have always been role models for me to learn from."
"I personally look forward to cooperating with the Fantastic Four, but so far, I have not received an invitation from Mr. Fantastic."
Russell spoke very tactfully, but the reporters on the scene immediately understood the meaning of his words.
His meaning was simple: whether he joined the Fantastic Four or not was not up to Jonathan, because Jonathan was not the leader of the Fantastic Four.