Max

"What?" Connors asked subconsciously, thinking he hadn't heard correctly.

"I said it's impossible to create that kind of self-healing genetic serum, Doctor!"

Lee Stein's follow-up caused a trace of irritation to flicker across Connors' face.

Lee Stein, however, didn't seem to mind and continued, "Doctor, you should understand that genetic modification is never universal. While it might be possible to make the human body fuse with the genes of other organisms, every person's genetic makeup is different."

"Even if that difference is only 0.1%, the resulting genetic serum could never perfectly integrate. The consequences would range from developmental deformities affecting one's health to total genetic collapse and immediate death."

"Therefore, this method can only ever be a clinical treatment within a laboratory, and it can never become a universal serum."

As soon as Lee Stein finished speaking, Dr. Connors' expression changed drastically—no, in truth, his expression had shifted the moment Lee Stein uttered his first sentence.

"Not universal... universal..."

"Genetic differences..."

Connors seemed possessed, muttering the words unconsciously. A moment later, this transformed into wild ecstasy, and he headed straight for the main laboratory, which was partitioned off by tempered glass doors.

"Right, Lee Stein, your interview is passed. Gwen, take him to get processed. Remember to be here on time next week."

Having run into the lab, Connors finally remembered Lee Stein, poked his head out to give the instruction, and then dove back into the lab, disappearing from sight.

Gwen was left completely stunned, her red lips slightly parted in a way that made one inexplicably want to steal a kiss.

"What's wrong with the Doctor?"

It took several seconds for Gwen to snap out of it.

"Who knows!"

Lee Stein shrugged.

In reality, he knew the reason, but it was better not to voice it here and invite hostility.

Having read the research materials left behind by Richard Parker, he knew clearly that Curt Connors' research direction had been wrong from the very beginning.

This error wasn't just as simple as lacking the core Decay Rate Algorithm.

Connors wanted to develop a serum that fused lizard self-healing genes, but as he had just said, genetic modification is never universal. How could it be possible to develop a genetic modification serum that everyone could use?

Genetic modification is not a chemical synthesis enhancer. To fuse and replace genetic chains, one must calculate and optimize based on the target's specific genes, just as Richard Parker had done. Even the slightest error could lead to catastrophic consequences.

The entire research direction was wrong, and with a group of researchers in the lab who were all stuck in logical fallacies and rigid thinking, it would be a miracle if they ever succeeded.

What was even more absurd was the original plot, where they injected a serum meant for lab mice into a human—it was truly baffling, practically brain-dead behavior.

It was precisely because Lee Stein had pointed this out that Connors had finally woken up.

However, Lee Stein didn't need to worry about Connors actually developing the modified serum ahead of time; after all, the Decay Rate Algorithm was still firmly in his own hands.

"So, want to grab a bite to eat?"

After finishing the onboarding paperwork with Gwen, Lee Stein tentatively extended an invitation.

Gwen spread her hands and said, "I'm on the clock right now..."

"Another failed invitation. Gwen, you're going to lose me if you keep this up!"

Lee Stein clutched his chest in mock agony.

"Perhaps you could consider moving this invitation to next weekend." Gwen covered her mouth and laughed.

"That is the best news I've heard all day. It's a date."

Hearing Gwen's words, Lee Stein beamed.

As he left, even though he was extremely good at controlling his emotions, Lee Stein's steps were noticeably lighter, almost floating, now that he had successfully asked the girl out.

There is a saying that holds true: when you're in a good mood, everything looks beautiful.

For instance, right now, he even thought the black man sharing the elevator with him—who had messy, bird's-nest hair, looked incredibly greasy, and carried a faint body odor—looked somewhat pleasant.

Uh... well, that was just an illusion; please don't question his sexual orientation.

"My name is Max, Max Dillon!"

A nervous, faint voice rang out.

Lee Stein was startled and looked around in surprise. Only after confirming that they were the only two people in the elevator did he realize the man was introducing himself.

However... who introduces themselves like that? The man was staring straight ahead, not daring to even glance at him. If you didn't know better, you'd think the man was talking to the air.

Despite his internal complaints, Lee Stein still reached out his right hand in a friendly manner: "Nice to meet you, Max. I'm Lee Stein, Dr. Connors' new intern!"

"Uh... oh, oh, it's an honor to meet you too, sir!"

Hearing Lee Stein's reply, Max the black man became flustered, hurriedly wiping his hand on his clothes before shaking Lee Stein's hand.

The way he went about it was as if he were meeting a head of state, shaking Lee Stein's hand vigorously with excitement before finally letting go after a long while.

Just as Lee Stein expected them to follow up with a bit of small talk, a silence ensued—a dead, suffocating silence.

Until they exited the elevator, the other man didn't make another sound, only occasionally tilting his head to glance at him, which made Lee Stein feel a bit creeped out.

"..."

"Fine, it seems he has even worse social anxiety than Peter Parker; he's beyond saving!"

Stepping out of Oscorp Tower, Li Si finally processed the interaction and was rendered speechless.

"Wait, Max... why does that name sound so familiar?"

Recalling the appearance of that black man, a strange sense of familiarity rose within Li Si. He frowned and came to a halt, casting his gaze back toward the interior of Oscorp Tower.

Seeing the blueprints held in the hands of the man in the lobby, Li Si finally realized where that sense of familiarity came from.

Max, Max the Electro, one of the primary antagonists in the plot of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

According to the movie's plot, Max was an electrical engineer at Oscorp with severe personality flaws; he was introverted, withdrawn, and suffered from an extreme lack of self-worth—a description that matched perfectly with their brief encounter just now.

"How could I have forgotten him? He's a prime candidate for recruitment!"

Li Si stroked his chin as he recalled the plot of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, his heart stirring with an idea.

Based on the film, Max's potential was immense. After his mutation, he became a being of pure energy, capable of transforming into electricity to travel through power grids, as well as absorbing and controlling electrical currents.

Electricity and magnetism are inseparable, and electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe. If developed properly, his potential might even surpass that of Magneto, with a baseline combat power of at least Tier 4.

More importantly, Max was incredibly easy to recruit.

This man suffered from a desperate need for validation; he would be thrilled for half a day just because someone remembered his name. He would willingly lay down his life for someone who simply said, "I need you." Recruiting him was as easy as it could possibly get—it would cost almost nothing.

"I'll give it a try when I have the chance. Even if I can't recruit him, making a friend wouldn't be a bad outcome."