Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Your qualifications are excellent. How about this: start as my assistant and take over all of the company's external business affairs. Your most important task right now will be dealing with those major corporations that want to acquire us. I have only one stance: independent development. Reject any acquisition offers."

"Of course, we're still a small company, so we can't afford to offend those major corporations. While rejecting them, you need to strike the right balance. Don't antagonize them too badly. Understand?"

Sarah Carter, also known as Agent 13 Sharon Carter, nodded slightly.

"I understand, Boss. Leave it to me."

After Wang Khan had Sarah complete her onboarding procedures with the already-established Human Resources Department, the senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent officially became a member of Umbrella Corporation.

"Since S.H.I.E.L.D. has already set its sights on me, it probably won't be long before the Spider-Bot technology lands on that Black Nick Fury's desk. And it's not just S.H.I.E.L.D.—after I rejected them, major companies like Hammer Industries and Osborn will probably resort to dirty tricks. I have to stay on guard."

When it came to preventing piracy, Wang Khan had never trusted the patent office. In fact, the patent office itself was the biggest source of information leaks. Believing they could keep secrets was like believing a cat wouldn't eat fish.

That was why Wang Khan had prepared a complete set of anti-theft measures from the very beginning.

Over the following week, Sarah represented Umbrella Corporation and rejected the acquisition offers from every major company one by one.

In order to gain Wang Khan's trust, Sarah secretly mobilized some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources as well. In short, she handled everything well and earned praise from the entire company. She had firmly established herself within Umbrella Corporation.

Wang Khan said nothing about it and did not stop her from trying to win people over.

Umbrella Corporation was a high-tech company, and high technology was its selling point. Without innovation, the entire company would collapse.

Just look at Stark Industries. Tony spent every day surrounded by cover models, yet he was still the company president.

Obadiah had worked diligently for decades and was still only a Vice President. In the end, he had no choice but to hire someone to commit murder. Hiring a killer came with risks—once exposed, he would be utterly ruined. It was the lowest and most disgraceful method in a corporate war.

It was precisely because he could not beat Tony through normal means that he had been forced to resort to such a desperate measure.

Wang Khan was not worried about being replaced, but he also knew that he was currently too isolated and weak to contend with a giant like S.H.I.E.L.D. Thus, he did not expose Sharon Carter's identity and instead kept her close by, making it easier to keep an eye on her.

Over the past week, Sharon Carter had performed excellently, while Wang Khan had not been idle either. He collected a large number of books on computer programming and, with the aid of his Super Brain, rapidly absorbed the knowledge within them.

Finally, on the sixth day, he finished absorbing all the knowledge from the books. Then, on the seventh day, he launched the Meditation Experiment once more.

Large amounts of electricity discharged within his brain, and it seemed as though thunder roared in his eyes. At the same time, Wang Khan's physical strength began draining rapidly.

Half an hour later, Wang Khan pressed the final Enter key.

"A.I. Red Queen at your service, my respected master."

A sexy beauty with flaming red hair and a model's figure appeared on the computer screen.

"Just call me Guardian, Red Queen. How many functions have you activated now?"

"Given the specifications of Guardian's laptop, activating 1% of my functions is already the limit. Please upgrade the hardware as soon as possible."

Wang Khan stroked his chin in thought.

"1%? If I want to activate 100%, I'll probably need a server as large as a room. That's far too bulky."

"Guardian, would you like to initiate a hardware research and development project?"

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Red Queen's eyes flashed twice before she spoke.

"I recommend developing a Quantum Computer. Once successful, my core can be reduced to the size of a coin. Guardian will then be able to carry me around."

Wang Khan nodded.

"Quantum Computer research is necessary, but not now. Right now, I need you to take over Umbrella Corporation's security operations, especially anything concerning the Spider-Sense System. That is currently the company's key project."

Although Red Queen had activated only 1% of her functions, she instantly located all information related to the Spider-Sense System.

"Guardian, please allow me to connect to the network."

"Granted."

"I have found over one hundred thousand pieces of information regarding the Spider-Sense System. A total of 854 pose threats to the company, originating from four different companies. The greatest number come from Hammer Industries. Are they Guardian's enemies?"

The moment he heard Hammer Industries, Wang Khan gave a cold smile.

"So a dog really can't stop eating shit. Justin Hammer truly deserves his title as the king of knockoffs. He's already preparing to make a move against me. Too bad I've been guarding against you all along!"

Wang Khan did not immediately upload Red Queen to the server. Instead, he urged the processing plant to manufacture parts for the Mechanical Spiders while renting out an entire floor of a high-end office building to serve as the company's workplace. This kept him busy for a full month. Only after that month did Red Queen get uploaded to the server and receive a home of her own.

As an artificial intelligence, Red Queen could actually survive in the online world just as Ultron did.

But Wang Khan was not some reckless hothead like Tony Stark, someone who acted without considering the consequences. Naturally, he would not give an artificial intelligence the opportunity to rebel. Therefore, despite Red Queen's powerful performance, she had one crucial permission lock: her core could not move freely.

Once the server or other hardware housing her was destroyed, Red Queen would be finished as well. She did not possess Ultron's ability to replicate infinitely so long as a network existed.

Strictly speaking, the current Red Queen was very similar to Hydra's Dr. Zola.

On a bright and sunny morning, Chief Winter represented the NYPD in completing its transaction with Umbrella Corporation. For fifty million USD, it purchased 500 spider-shaped intelligent robots, averaging one hundred thousand USD each.

Compared with their capabilities, that price was already quite fair. But if Winter knew the cost of each Mechanical Spider, he would surely cough up blood in fury and roar that he had been ripped off.

In any case, Umbrella Corporation had earned its first bucket of gold, and the amount was considerable. With that, it had thoroughly gained a foothold in the international metropolis of New York.

As this major order was delivered, powerful figures from all sides began displaying their abilities. Before long, these spider-shaped intelligent robots had entered the laboratories of various companies and reverse engineering began. Hammer Industries in particular, being a major knockoff producer, had called in enormous favors to obtain twenty Mechanical Spiders.

After half a month of research, they reached a conclusion that left them utterly frustrated.

"What did you say? The Spider-Bots themselves aren't very technologically advanced, and their power comes entirely from the system? Then get me that Spider-Sense System!"

Hammer held a sexy female secretary in his arms, looking full of confidence, as if he had already foreseen the glory of another successful knockoff.

"Boss, Umbrella Corporation's network defenses are extremely strong. With our capabilities, we can't breach their firewall."

"Are you an idiot? If I had such powerful network capabilities, I would've stopped running an arms company long ago and started a cyber-extortion company instead. It'd be easier and more profitable! Go find outside help! I'm giving you ten million USD in operating funds. Steal all of Umbrella Corporation's core technologies for me!"

Please add this to your collection. It really means a lot to me. Thank you, everyone.