How to Get New Orders

With Chen Changsheng's addition, Dr. Connors's research progressed much faster. Dr. Connors had already developed the Lizard People enhancement potion, and Chen Changsheng changed his formula the moment he joined the project.

At first, Dr. Connors was furious that Chen Changsheng had joined the research project without permission. He completely regarded Chen Changsheng as an ignorant leader who knew nothing and gave orders recklessly.

However, as a prisoner under someone else's roof, Connors had no choice but to calmly accept Chen Changsheng's interference. Although he was somewhat displeased by Chen Changsheng's wild operations, Dr. Connors's fear of the Combat Tyrant was etched into his very bones. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and endure Chen Changsheng's seemingly playful experiments.

To be honest, Connors initially thought Chen Changsheng had come merely to leech off the research results for his own study points. He had never expected Chen Changsheng's casual alteration of the formula to produce such miraculous results.

In front of everyone, he had actually synthesized a new Lizard formula potion. Moreover, the potion was highly controllable, the transformation had a time limit, and, most importantly, there was even an antidote.

This meant the user could end the transformation at any time, solving the problem of Lizard People losing their minds after transforming for too long and even exhausting their body's vital essence.

Chen Changsheng's performance deeply shocked Dr. Connors. The last student this talented had been Peter Parker, but Chen Changsheng seemed better than Peter—more capable and more professional.

Peter Parker had only provided him with inspiration in certain areas, whereas Chen Changsheng could stand on his own and solve difficult problems independently. Calling someone like that a genius was no exaggeration!

During Chen Changsheng's experiments, Dr. Connors felt that he had learned a great deal as well. Both of them specialized in biology, and Dr. Connors felt that understanding one principle led to understanding countless others. With Chen Changsheng's addition, he had far more confidence in the research ahead.

Looking back, when Chen Changsheng had first joined the company and mentioned the various potions he wanted to research, Dr. Connors had thought he was simply daydreaming.

At that time, Dr. Connors had only developed a Lizard People potion suited to his own genetic traits. Used on others, it would cause irreversible damage to the human body. He believed that the people he had turned into Lizard People were already suffering from all sorts of problems.

That was how genetic medicine worked. It could not be universally adapted to everyone, or even to most people. This was an unchangeable flaw of genetic potions. Yet he had never imagined that today he would witness someone solve the problem firsthand. There had been some trickery involved, but it was still a solution.

Dr. Connors had not yet figured out the underlying principles, but he had observed the experimental process clearly. Connors secretly decided that once Chen Changsheng left, he would immediately begin his own experiments and try to successfully learn from him.

At this point, Dr. Connors finally realized that Chen Changsheng was no ordinary person. Someone capable of founding a technology company alone truly could not be the fool others thought him to be.

After the experiment succeeded, everyone was immersed in celebration. Chen Changsheng alone remained calm and indifferent, as though he had known the result from the beginning.

Looking at Chen Changsheng's composed appearance, Dr. Connors suddenly recalled some unpleasant memories. He kept feeling that the man in black armor who had beaten him senseless with his bare hands was merging with the Chen Changsheng standing before him.

Connors harbored a bone-deep hatred for that black-armored man, along with a fear that had penetrated his very marrow. After all, anyone who had slapped him hard enough to wake him from his arrogance would be impossible for Dr. Connors to forget for the rest of his life.

While Dr. Connors was lost in his thoughts, Chen Changsheng had already walked up to him and said, "Dr. Connors, this is a small step forward for biological technology, but a giant leap for human civilization. Your contribution will be recorded in history textbooks and remembered by generations. Congratulations—the Gene Fusion Project has succeeded!"

Chen Changsheng's words jolted Dr. Connors out of his own world. Only then did he fully hear what Chen Changsheng had said.

He hurriedly waved his hands and refused. "President, this isn't my achievement alone. You led us in completing this experiment together. You deserve the greatest credit."

Dr. Connors's words left Chen Changsheng stunned. Who would have thought that you, with your honest-looking face, would know how to flatter people too? Is this ability etched into your bones?

Chen Changsheng also waved his hands. "The whole world knows that you're an expert in gene fusion. Even if you don't carry this name, you'll have to carry it.

"Oh, right. I'll be having a brief meeting with General Ross later. At that time, introduce this project to him properly. I'm sure General Ross will be very interested." After saying that, Chen Changsheng patted Dr. Connors's severed arm, looking exactly like a considerate boss who cared for his subordinate.

Before Dr. Connors could recover from Chen Changsheng's words, Chen Changsheng had already opened the door and walked out of the laboratory. This was probably what people meant by leaving after accomplishing something and hiding one's achievements.

Chen Changsheng had met General Ross many times recently. Ever since witnessing the Combat Tyrant's formidable strength during the Lizard People incident, General Ross had come urging Chen Changsheng every few days to hurry up and deliver the Combat Tyrants ordered by the military.

At first, Chen Changsheng had merely stalled for time as much as possible. After all, the more difficult something was to obtain, the more people wanted it. Chen Changsheng, who had mastered the art of keeping people in suspense, had kept General Ross hanging like this the entire time.

Of course, he could not keep it up forever. Today, Chen Changsheng was prepared to deliver a batch of Combat Tyrants to General Ross.

As for why he did not transport them directly to the military?

Chen Changsheng wanted General Ross to see the External Compression Weapon Crate designed by Dr. Otto, and then casually notice the newly developed Lizard Enhancement Potion.

General Ross certainly lived up to his military style. He arrived exactly on time, neither early nor late, at the Umbrella Corporation facility.

Under the guidance of Umbrella's beautiful receptionist, General Ross saw Chen Changsheng at the shooting range, along with the Combat Tyrants he had been dreaming about day and night.

There were a full three hundred Combat Tyrants. They stood in a large, orderly formation across the enormous shooting range. Their neat and murderous arrangement reminded General Ross of the elite armies of World War II.

Back then, he had led that elite force alongside Captain America's Howling Commandos, thwarting one Nazi plot after another.

Unfortunately, he was old now, while those soldiers were either dead or retired. Since the war had ended, General Ross had never again seen an army with such a murderous spirit.

Just as General Ross was reminiscing about the past, a burst of gunfire jolted him awake. He unhappily looked toward the source of the shots—and then could no longer move his eyes away.

At the other end of the shooting range, a tall figure dressed in an active-duty US military camouflage uniform carried a large box painted in matching camouflage. He sprinted and leaped rapidly, nimbly avoiding various obstacles.

As he moved, he continuously drew different weapons from the box on his back and fired at the targets. From pistols to rocket launchers, every weapon that could fit inside the box was taken out and tested.

The results were astonishing. In a short time, the figure in military uniform had eliminated every target on the shooting range.

General Ross looked at the Combat Tyrant wearing a camouflage weapon crate, a specially designed auxiliary helmet, and US military-style camouflage combat armor. Then he looked at the three hundred low-end Combat Tyrants before him, each holding a Gatling gun. Suddenly, he no longer felt very interested in the latter.

What murderous spirit? Nothing could compare to the thunder of guns and artillery!

Even the glorious memories he had been recalling moments ago no longer stirred him. He turned to Chen Changsheng, who was likewise watching the distant scene, and asked dryly, "How much are you planning to charge for the equipment being tested over there?"

"The equipment worn by that Combat Tyrant? Oh, that's an Individual Combat Backpack developed by the country's top experts whom I hired. The individual weapons inside can adapt to all kinds of combat environments.

"More importantly, we can customize various modules according to the customer's needs, such as anti-aircraft modules and electronic warfare modules. If you can think of it, we can make it. Whatever the customer asks for, we have it." Chen Changsheng's extravagant sales pitch immediately turned General Ross's face green. Clearly, General Ross felt he had been tricked again.

General Ross forcibly suppressed his urge to hit someone and asked once more, "So how much does one set actually cost?"

"The basic model starts at five hundred thousand US dollars. The final price will depend on your requirements." Seeing that business had arrived, Chen Changsheng immediately began quoting prices.

"One Combat Tyrant costs only two million dollars, and you want five hundred thousand for a backpack? And that's the basic version! You must be out of your mind. I could go to Hammer and have them mass-produce it for one hundred thousand dollars!"

Even General Ross was shocked by the five-hundred-thousand-dollar quote. I may be a sucker, but you can't treat me like an idiot! This is outrageous!

"Of course, Hammer might be able to reduce the production cost to one hundred thousand dollars. But we're selling knowledge and intellectual property. Besides, my backpack has a specially developed intelligent auxiliary system.

"Applied to this kind of individual equipment, it can let a soldier stand against a hundred enemies and multiply their combat power. It's absolutely worth the price."

Chen Changsheng was brimming with confidence. After parting with Dr. Otto, he had arranged for people to apply for the patents. Now all he had to do was lie back and count the money.

"Stand against a hundred enemies, with combat power multiplied several times? Really?" General Ross could never resist claims about being able to fight a hundred enemies. He had no resistance at all to creatures capable of overwhelming a hundred opponents with superior combat power.

After all, he had personally seen Captain America. That was also why he had continued researching the Enhancement Serum despite spending enormous resources and gaining nothing.

It was also fortunate that General Ross had a strong background and considerable ability. Otherwise, so many people would never have supported him and indulged him in his madness.

After all, the funds General Ross had spent researching the super Enhancement Serum would have been enough to fight several large-scale wars.

"Just as you saw, General." Hearing General Ross's doubts, Chen Changsheng casually pointed toward the Combat Tyrant carrying the weapon crate in the corner of the shooting range.

Recalling the combat scene he had just witnessed, General Ross nodded involuntarily. Chen Changsheng was right. This Combat Tyrant really could achieve that effect.

As long as it worked, the US military would pay. It was not his own money, anyway. After struggling for a moment, General Ross looked at Chen Changsheng again and said directly, "Add an Individual Combat Backpack to every Combat Tyrant in the order. Tell me how much that will cost."

After the Lizard People incident, the military had already increased its order. It now exceeded two thousand Combat Tyrants. Although they had not all been produced yet, the military had always paid promptly, and no one dared to owe the military anything.

Therefore, Chen Changsheng quoted General Ross a price of one hundred million dollars. When General Ross heard the quote, he did not even frown. He nodded and told Chen Changsheng, "Produce them as quickly as possible," then prepared to leave.

One hundred million dollars was quite a lot, but by the time General Ross saw the Combat Tyrants, the amount he had to pay would probably have multiplied several times. After all, equipment was updated at an astonishing speed in this era, and this was the kind of thing that could determine life or death.

Just as Chen Changsheng was seeing General Ross off, Dr. Connors arrived late. Seeing Dr. Connors's exhausted figure, Chen Changsheng immediately stepped forward, grasped his hands, and said, "Dr. Connors, I heard that your Lizard Gene Enhancement Potion has succeeded. Is that true?"

As he spoke, Chen Changsheng winked at Connors. He even secretly pointed toward General Ross behind him.

Dr. Connors only glanced over and immediately understood Chen Changsheng's meaning. In a voice that was not loud, but was just sufficient for General Ross to hear, he said to Chen Changsheng, "The experiment is complete. The Gene Fusion Project has succeeded. Now only human trials remain."

"That's simple. Bring over a Combat Tyrant and let me see what the Enhancement Potion does." Chen Changsheng seemed so excited that he could no longer control the volume of his voice. General Ross naturally heard this sentence as well.

Of course, General Ross had also heard Connors's earlier statement that the Lizard Enhancement Potion had succeeded. Hearing that Chen Changsheng planned to conduct an experiment on a Combat Tyrant, General Ross, who had been walking away, suddenly could not take another step. He no longer wanted to leave.

Chen Changsheng hesitated before walking over to General Ross and saying softly, "General, something has suddenly come up here. I'm afraid I can't see you off."

"Have you developed the Lizard Enhancement Serum?" General Ross ignored the rudeness of eavesdropping and asked directly. Whenever enhancement-related matters were involved, General Ross never hesitated.

"Yes, we..." Chen Changsheng stopped after only beginning. He put on a shocked expression and looked at General Ross. His face clearly said, How could you eavesdrop on someone else's conversation?

After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng finally said in a low voice, "This is classified information..."

When General Ross heard Chen Changsheng's confirmation, his face also revealed shock. After all, of the dozens of missing Lizard People, the military research institute under General Ross's management had obtained several.

Yet so far, they had achieved no research results. Chen Changsheng, without making a sound, had already produced results. How could that not excite him?

"Can I take a look?" General Ross made the request. Seeing Chen Changsheng's conflicted expression, he added, "The order for Combat Tyrants will be increased."

The moment Chen Changsheng heard this, his face lit up with delight, and he immediately agreed to General Ross's request. At the same time, he instructed Dr. Connors to hurry and prepare the human trial so General Ross could inspect Umbrella's research results.

Dr. Connors had long been astonished by Chen Changsheng's acting. Who had been the one modestly giving him credit earlier? Wasn't it Chen Changsheng? How could he pretend so convincingly?

Connors sighed inwardly. No wonder Chen Changsheng had become president at such a young age. This was truly the acting of a powerhouse. Compared with him, what was Connors himself? Just a tool person with a single line?

Connors felt that every time he faced Chen Changsheng, he was shocked by Chen Changsheng's actions. Then his mind would wander wildly, making it impossible for him to concentrate.

Considering his future research plans, Dr. Connors decided that it would be best to see Chen Changsheng less often. It would be disastrous if this affected his intelligence. This was simply too strange. Honest man Connors would absolutely never associate with someone like Chen Changsheng.

Connors strode quickly toward the experimental area, while Chen Changsheng led General Ross after him.

As they walked, he introduced General Luo to the research process behind the Lizard Enhancement Serum. In short, everything had to begin with the Lizard People incident...