"The most advanced laboratory? The freest environment?"
Dr. Connors pushed up his glasses, his skepticism almost overflowing.
"Mr. Rodriguez, I've worked for Oscorp and received project funding from the Military. I know that behind these promises, there's usually a fifty-page addendum and a stack of non-disclosure agreements."
He had seen too many investors who made grand promises.
"No, no, no, Dr., our company is different."
William wore a sincere smile and made a 'please' gesture, leading him towards a nondescript, independent building deeper on the island.
"We are a startup, without so much bureaucracy. We only believe in one principle—"
He stopped in front of the building's thick alloy door, turned to look at Connors, and said, word for word: "Let geniuses do what geniuses should do."
Before Connors could fully grasp the deeper meaning of this statement, William had already pressed his palm onto the scanner by the door.
"Identity confirmed."
A cold electronic voice sounded, and the heavy alloy door silently slid open to both sides, revealing the breathtaking sight behind it.
Soft White light poured out from within, illuminating Dr. Connors's instantly frozen face.
There was no imagined clutter or crowding; what met his eyes was a vast space that could only be described as "expansive."
High ceilings, pure White nano-composite material walls, and a floor so reflective it shone like a mirror—everything exuded a futuristic, minimalist style.
Dozens of high-precision robotic arms hung from tracks on the ceiling, gliding silently, maintaining rows of complex instruments.
Gene sequencers, centrifuges, mass spectrometers, electron microscopes... This place encompassed almost every top-tier biological research equipment Dr. Connors could imagine.
His intact hand instinctively clenched, and his eyes behind the lenses widened slightly from overwhelming shock.
His entire life had been dedicated to science, and the scene before him had a far greater impact than being invited for "tea" by those Agents.
"This... these..."
His throat was dry, and his scholarly composure seemed so fragile in the face of pure scientific desire.
"Biological Lab 01, custom-built for you."
William's voice sounded at the opportune moment.
"All-day constant temperature and humidity, Military-grade independent power system, quantum-encrypted data transmission, completely isolated from the outside World at a physical level. Security level... let's just say, even if Mr. Abomination is having a party outside, it won't affect your observation of cell division in here."
Emil Blonsky, who was nearby, raised an eyebrow when he heard his name, but said nothing.
Connors walked in uncontrollably, like a devout believer entering his own sanctuary.
He reached out, his fingertips trembling as they traced the cold metal casing of a "subatomic structure analyzer," his gaze like one caressing the face of a peerless lover.
With each piece of equipment he recognized, the light in his eyes grew more intense.
His steps quickened, rushing past one instrument only to be drawn to another.
He completely forgot his experience of being kidnapped and humiliated, and he forgot that two people were still standing behind him.
This was his heaven, the sacred place he had always dreamed of.
William watched this scene, the smile on his lips deepening.
The fish had taken the bait, willingly jumping into the net.
He didn't disturb Connors; instead, he turned and walked to a control panel in the center of the laboratory, tapping it a few times.
Hum—a wall in the deepest part of the laboratory slowly rose, revealing a massive low-temperature ecological cultivation area.
It simulated a tropical rainforest environment.
Gurgling Water, lush plants.
And amidst that greenery, dozens of different species of lizards and newts were leisurely crawling and resting.
"Dr., I think these little fellows might provide some modest help for your research."
William's voice was like the whisper of a devil.
Connors suddenly turned around, and when he saw the ecological zone, his entire body froze.
For a scientist researching cross-species genetic inheritance and limb regeneration...
These reptiles with powerful regenerative abilities were living gold mines!
What lawyers, what complaints—could they be more important than researching these rare species?
Dr. Connors practically lunged forward, pressing himself against the isolation glass, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
He completely failed to notice that behind him, William and Emil exchanged a look.
One conveyed "done," the other "bored."
"Mr. Rodriguez... no, William."
Dr. Connors suddenly turned around, looking at William with an almost eager gaze for the first time, "My assistant..."
"You will have a team of AI-assisted robotic arms, fifty times more efficient than human assistants, and they don't need vacations or salaries."
"Funding..."
"No limit."
William uttered these four words, completely shattering Connors's last shred of rationality.
The Dr. opened his mouth, finding that he could no longer ask any questions.
Or rather, all questions seemed pale and powerless in the face of the words "no limit."
He quickly walked to a data terminal, his sole hand dancing rapidly across the virtual keyboard.
Without even a goodbye to William and Emil, he was already completely immersed in his own World.
It was a concentration that disregarded everything else.
Done.
This Dr. Lizard, destined to make big news in the future, was now the first and only employee of his company's biological R&D department.
Although it was semi-forced, looking at him now, even if he were told to leave, he probably wouldn't be willing.
He turned and walked out alongside Emil.
The heavy alloy door slowly closed behind them, locking the bright scientific sanctuary and Dr. Connors's fervor inside.
"Aren't you worried he'll cause trouble?"
Stepping out the door, Emil finally spoke, his voice low.
"Like turning himself into a monster?"
William shrugged, his steps light.
"Worried, but no need to be." He looked up at the moon in the night sky, "Emil, do you know the essence of insurance?"
Emil watched him silently.
"It's not to eliminate risk, because risk always exists."
William's lips curved into a meaningful smile, "It's about controlling risk within an acceptable range, and then... letting it create the maximum value for me."
Emil seemed to understand something, yet also understood nothing.
But when he saw the expression on William's face, one of having everything under control, he stopped asking questions.
He was just a bodyguard; his boss's thought process was not his to study.
William, however, was in unusually good spirits.
"Let's go, time to sleep."
William stretched.
"Tomorrow is another day full of hope. Who knows, maybe I'll run into another nearly bankrupt superhero on the street corner?"
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