Oaks prepared another batch of Purification Serum for Banner. After leaving him enough cash, he set off back to New York.
He naturally left the experimental equipment with Banner as well. Having gained a powerful ally, Banner had no plans to remain in that beautiful tourist city—there were simply too many English speakers there.
Oaks did not ask where Banner planned to go, but he left him his contact information in New York.
It was not just so Banner could contact him for more serum once he ran out. If Banner came around to the idea, Oaks could also lend him a hand with the coexistence of Banner and Hulk.
Brooklyn, New York, Emerald Dream Plant Shop.
"Wow, Mr. Oaks, you're finally back!"
Zhang hurried over in delight, holding Goose in his arms.
"The stuff in the shop is almost sold out. Ahh, these past two days, I've felt like even the air was wrong!
"You have no idea—after class these past few days, what I looked forward to most was coming back here to breathe the clean air in the shop. I couldn't even bear to sell the last few pots..."
"Go ahead and sell them. We can restock tonight."
Oaks stretched lazily and flopped onto the sofa. Goose struggled free from Zhang's arms, jumped into Oaks's lap, and settled down.
"So, were you getting used to running the shop by yourself these past few days?"
Oaks gently scratched Goose beneath the chin, and she began purring contentedly.
"Of course, Mr. Oaks!"
Zhang followed him over, sat opposite him, and began gesturing animatedly.
"Your shop's plants are so expensive, yet they sell so well. There really are plenty of rich people out there!
"And that Recovery Serum—you know, someone actually bought it!"
Holding up all five fingers, Zhang wore an utterly incredulous expression.
"And that beauty bought it to remove scars! Five thousand bucks, one price, for a tiny thumb-sized bottle—and she bought it without even blinking!"
As he said this, Zhang put on a pained expression again.
"Sigh, what a waste of its true value. The amount I used back then had to be worth several hundred dollars, right?"
Oaks rolled his eyes. If this guy found out that, back in Amazon, he had given Banner several large soda bottles of Purification Serum that was even better than this Recovery Serum, he would probably faint.
"Enough, stop looking so hopeless. Living in an environment like this all day gives you no less benefit than using a small bottle of Recovery Serum."
After communicating with Goose and confirming that no suspicious people had appeared nearby after the Recovery Serum was sold, Oaks nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll restock tonight, and the air quality will improve right away. For now, you can close the windows—anything new happening lately?"
"Ha, there really was."
Zhang quickly ran over to close the windows, then grabbed a newspaper on his way back.
"Look. Environmental pressure has been getting worse lately, and Stark Industries is right in the crosshairs—
"Because New York's latest air quality assessment is out, and it has once again ranked worst in the country."
"Stark Industries? Didn't they have Arc Reactors supplying their power?"
Oaks took the newspaper in confusion. When it came to air pollution, an Arc Reactor could reduce Stark Industries' carbon emissions by a tremendous amount.
And Stark Tower was a research facility, with at most a few experimental production workshops.
"Were the factories on Long Island and in Queens expanding? The New York government was demanding that they release their environmental impact report?"
Oaks grinned.
"Stark Industries claimed to be the most advanced multinational corporation around. Would they really overlook emissions control?
"Did the Mayor of New York have water in his brain, picking them as a target?"
"Heh, supposedly some extremists from environmental groups took to the streets, claiming the expansion would hinder New York's greening efforts. They opposed it, so the New York government was probably just putting on a show?"
Zhang looked as though he knew all about it.
"They released the environmental impact report pretty quickly. It came from an authoritative testing agency, and the numbers looked great."
"Hmm..."
Oaks saw the environmental impact report for Stark Industries' new Queens factory attached to the newspaper.
"Ding-ding-ding—"
A customer had arrived, and Zhang hurried off to greet her.
"Ah, ma'am, welcome. What can I get for you?"
The customer was a young blonde woman with hair falling over her shoulders. Her large eyes were lively yet elegant, and a faint smile rested on her face. Zhang stared blankly for a moment—what a beauty!
"Hello. I heard this plant shop was the best in all of New York."
The blonde beauty's eyes lit up the moment she entered. She quickly noticed the enormous difference between the air indoors and outside—
Zhang had only closed the windows for a short while, yet the magical plants' powerful purification ability had already become apparent.
"Wow, the air feels so comfortable..."
Her eyes widened in delight.
"You weren't using an air purifier?"
"Of course not, ma'am."
Zhang had seen plenty of customers who came after hearing about the place and asked that very question over the past few days. He smiled and explained.
"I only closed the windows a few minutes ago. The plants in our shop are special varieties cultivated by our boss, exclusive to us. There are only these four pots left now.
"When the shelves are fully stocked, we usually keep the windows open."
"Ha, wonderful. Looks like I came at just the right time."
The blonde beauty walked over to a pot of Magic Peace Lily. It was a popular indoor potted plant with air-purifying properties.
But the magical version here was in an entirely different league from the ordinary kind—
The moment the blonde beauty approached the potted plant, she could clearly feel the air becoming even fresher.
"My aunt is getting on in years, and every year she comes to her old house in Brooklyn to recuperate.
"She only got settled in today, and then I heard the neighbors saying your shop had become famous recently. Looks like they were right."
She nodded in satisfaction and swept out a hand decisively.
"Only four pots left? I'll take them all! I'll come back when you restock!"
"Ah? Ma'am, as for the price of our plants... how about trying one first?"
Zhang glanced at Oaks, who was frowning as he read the newspaper. Oaks had taught him to say that. Unless someone was a regular customer, he would generally make that suggestion, because one potted plant here could buy ten elsewhere!
An ordinary plant of this quality generally cost around fifty to one hundred dollars, and even pricier ones would not exceed two hundred dollars.
But the four pots the blonde beauty wanted came to a total of four thousand five hundred dollars!
"It's fine. I asked the neighbors about it. My aunt is a traditional English old lady—without some flowers and plants in the house, she feels uncomfortable.
"And these specialty plants work so well. They're only ten times more expensive."
The blonde beauty gave a dazzling smile.
"My aunt's pension isn't low. It's better than spending the money at a hospital."
"..."
A retort stuck in Zhang's throat for a long while, unable to come out.
Miss Beauty, you're really filial!
"Heh, Stark Industries sure has money."
The blonde beauty and Zhang turned around to see Oaks rise from the sofa, placing Goose on his shoulder while holding the newspaper. He looked both amused and exasperated.
"Ha, the new factory offices were all fitted with central air purification systems. The construction cost alone could match a production line, then there's the energy consumption, maintenance, and replacement materials... tsk tsk, what a waste."
Zhang spread his hands helplessly.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. I even did a rough calculation. The annual cost for the installed systems in those two factories could probably buy several houses like yours."
"...Ahem, if they converted their installation costs into our potted plants, they could keep the windows open every day and enjoy an oxygen bar. And all they would need to do was water them and let them get some sun. They'd save several two-story houses a year!"
At that, the blonde beauty's eyes lit up slightly.
That made so much sense!
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