"Yeah, I'm a billionaire too." After Happy drove him home, Shen Fei pumped a fist into the air the moment he entered his room.
Getting rich overnight was that simple. Though his wealth was worlds apart from Stark's, compared to most people, he was definitely rich now. Of course, he would have to wait a month for it all to happen.
Launching a new product, especially a health supplement that also counted as medicine, was extremely complicated. It had to undergo multiple tests on people beforehand to ensure it was harmless. That was simply being responsible to the public.
To bypass such testing, one needed an extremely powerful backer. Even then, at least one or two short-term tests were required.
In America, there was no shortage of scandals involving pharmaceutical companies putting untested drugs on the market. But that was the work of people desperate for quick results. If there was a problem with a drug, it would eventually come to light. Unless they planned to make one score and run, they would have to pay for it sooner or later.
Norman Osborn of Oscorp was the best example. He injected an immature, untested human Enhancement Serum into himself, resulting in a split personality and the birth of the Green Goblin.
Being impatient for results was a common flaw among many scientists. Doctor Octopus's attempt to create an artificial sun and Umbrella Corporation's viral research had all gone wrong for that very reason.
The reason Umbrella Corporation's virus leaked, aside from Marcus's unexpected resurrection, was largely because Spencer kept pushing his subordinates to finish the viral research as soon as possible. It was not that Spencer did not know it was wrong. He was simply too old and did not have much time left to wait.
Drug testing had even given rise to a profession in America: professional drug testers. Their job was to move from one pharmaceutical company to another, testing new drugs.
No matter what kind of medicine it was, testing always carried unpredictable risks. That was why drug testers were paid very well.
Of course, that applied to legitimate companies with standards. At less reputable companies, or companies with ulterior motives, those drug testers were in grave danger. Not to mention companies that claimed to be testing experimental medicine when they were actually testing biochemical weapons.
Many of those companies had military backing. Dr. Banner's laboratory had been researching Super Soldier Serum for the military, hoping to stabilize its effects through Gamma Rays. Instead, they created the Hulk.
With the world kept at nuclear peace, large-scale wars were difficult to wage. Under such circumstances, how to win local wars at the lowest cost had become the focus of every country's research.
There were no more than two options. One was to create enhanced soldiers; the other was to develop powered armor, such as the Iron Man Suit, simple flight devices like Rocket Packs, Gliders, and so on.
Stark was not the first person to conceive of and build an Iron Man Suit. In fact, an arms company was already researching that field: Exploration Aerospace Company, Oscorp's greatest competitor.
Exploration Aerospace and Oscorp were both secretly backed by the American Military. But the military was not united. Different people had different preferences; some favored enhanced soldiers, while others favored enhanced armor.
Whenever one faction within the military gained the upper hand, the company it supported naturally received greater military support and more research funding.
Originally, Oscorp and Exploration Aerospace were evenly matched, with neither side possessing the strength to completely overpower the other. But the incident in Raccoon City caused many senior military officials who supported enhanced soldiers to lose their positions. The result was obvious: Oscorp was about to be abandoned by the military.
Aside from a few lunatics, no one liked biochemical viruses that turned people into zombies, including Hydra. After all, if everyone was dead, then even if Hydra ruled the world, who would they rule?
Under these circumstances, New York residents would probably soon see Green Goblins flying all over the sky. Too bad Spider-Man was still nowhere to be found.
Shen Fei was not worried about the Green Goblin at all. Reality was not a movie where Spider-Man had to be the one to deal with him. The police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and S.H.I.E.L.D. were not just decorations.
"No wonder Pepper earned Stark's trust." At Stark's villa, after the two sides decided to cooperate, Shen Fei barely spoke to Stark anymore. Nearly all his discussions were with Pepper.
Based on the bottle of medicine Shen Fei had developed, Pepper's series of plans could absolutely build an entire business conglomerate. Limiting themselves to women's health supplements was far too narrow-minded.
They could enter the beverage market, the alcohol industry, cosmetics, and more.
The current Pepper was not yet the CEO who would later manage the entire Stark Group. Tony's uncle was currently managing Stark Group, while Pepper was merely Tony's secretary.
Once the company was established, Pepper would become its lifelong CEO. Shen Fei's decision greatly improved Stark's impression of him.
Tony had not yet realized his feelings for Pepper, but the fact that Pepper was the only woman who had remained by his side for so many years revealed what Tony truly felt.
No other woman had ever stayed by Tony's side for more than a week.
Shen Fei no longer concerned himself with the company's affairs. Pepper would handle everything. His willingness to let go so completely surprised both Pepper and Stark. In the world of capital, anyone else who dared to do that would probably be left with nothing in the end. Shen Fei's answer remained the same: he trusted Stark and Pepper's character.
There was no better compliment than that.
"Looks like I can close my online store." Now that he had his own company, Shen Fei naturally had no need to keep selling figurines online. It had to be said that America truly had all kinds of people. Through those figurines, Shen Fei had met some people who clearly had psychological problems: fans of Serial Killers.
Because Shen Fei's figurines were exceptionally well made and could be customized, quite a few serial killer fans wanted to commission the things they needed from him. Shen Fei refused every single one. He was utterly speechless toward such people. He wondered whether they would still be fans if a serial killer murdered their family members.
"Wakanda, Vibranium, Heart-Shaped Herb." Looking at the information about Wakanda online, Shen Fei smiled and shook his head. Just as someone had said at a United Nations meeting, what could an agricultural nation possibly contribute to the world? Perhaps only the Ancient One knew Wakanda's true situation.
Shen Fei wanted both Vibranium and the Heart-Shaped Herb. So many scientists had failed in their attempts to create Enhancement Serum, yet the Heart-Shaped Herb could strengthen someone simply by being ground into juice and drunk. If those scientists learned of that, they would probably vomit blood and die.
As for Vibranium, it cost ten thousand dollars per gram on the underground black market, and even then, it was unavailable.
"Wakanda seems to have a force field. I don't know whether it can defend against a Portal, but their technology is extremely advanced. I should make thorough preparations before going there. First, I need to build an Ant-Man Suit. Looks like I'll have to borrow some things from Hydra again. Don't blame me."
Thinking of those Heart-Shaped Herbs that had been burned, Shen Fei could not help feeling deeply regretful.
Before you continue