After hearing Victor von Doom's words, Dr. Reed Richards lowered his eyes and fell silent.
He knew very well that, as a partner, once the "Cosmic Storm" experiment was over, he would have no further connection to anything here beyond his share of the research findings and profits. He would no longer be able to enjoy an environment like this, either.
Unless he agreed to join the Howlett Group and become one of its scientists.
"All right, everyone, keep up the good work. I have some very important business to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Johnny! If you ever feel like trading some Wolf Gold for other assets, heh, remember to come to me."
Doom strode out of the ship's central cabin with a buoyant, triumphant air, as if something good had happened to him.
Only Ben and Johnny's occasional bickering remained in the starship laboratory in Zone X-3. Reed was silent for a while before returning to his work.
Several kilometers away, above Zone One of the launch facility, a long, blue-black rectangular ship seemed to tear through the clouds, a colossal meteor plunging toward Earth.
An oppressive force that seemed slow but was actually swift drew closer, layer upon layer. A continuous hum trembled through the air. Doom and several sharply dressed Howlett Group executives stood respectfully in the ground-level waiting area, their eyes fixed on the descending ship.
"Twenty or thirty years ago, we had to wait beside a parked private plane or car for the gentleman to arrive. But today—heh, heh, heh—a spaceship! My father was still lamenting on his deathbed that he hadn't had one last chance to see 'Old Mr. Howlett.' Alas, he never lived to see the day the gentleman revealed his identity."
The executive at the front of the group,