A Researcher Like You Talking Metaphysics With Me?

Under Norman's personal arrangement, Du Mu's project laboratory was quickly put into place.

This exclusive laboratory was not only spacious and independent, but also equipped with a vast array of professional research equipment and ample experimental materials for him to use at any time.

Norman had originally intended to assign several researchers and assistants to help Du Mu with his work.

However, Du Mu decisively refused, requesting only Gwen, an intern at Osborn Group, to serve as his assistant.

Time slipped by in a flash.

A few days later, Norman arrived at Du Mu's laboratory, unable to wait any longer to learn about the research progress.

He pushed open the laboratory door, and a thick, peculiar scent immediately rushed to greet him.

He saw Du Mu and Gwen huddled around the lab bench, and upon that very bench, a steaming hot pot was prominently set up!

"When blanching tripe, you must follow the 'seven up, eight down' rule. Do you understand?"

"I understand!"

Gwen clumsily swished the tripe with her chopsticks, her expression so focused and devoted that it looked as if she were operating some kind of precision experimental instrument.

The two were so engrossed in tackling the hot pot that they didn't notice Norman at the door at all.

"What on earth are you two doing!?"

Norman finally couldn't take it anymore and couldn't help but shout his interrogation.

Seeing Norman's arrival, Gwen was so startled her hand shook, and the tripe she had just picked up nearly dropped back into the pot.

Du Mu calmly looked up and replied, "Can't you tell? We are developing the Life Potion."

If you hadn't said it, I really wouldn't have been able to tell!

Norman pointed at the boiling Yin-Yang Hot Pot, the veins on his forehead throbbing as he gritted his teeth and said, "Don't tell me this pot of stuff is the Life Potion."

Du Mu explained with a straight face, "It's like this, Mr. Osborn. We are developing hot pot-flavored Life Potion. In the future, we plan to develop even more flavors so that patients can have more choices based on their personal preferences."

Norman: "?"

Are you out of your mind!?

Who would make a medicinal agent in so many flavors? This is medicine, not a snack!

But Norman was in no mood to dwell on this issue now and asked directly, "How much longer until a bottle of Life Potion is developed?"

Du Mu could clearly perceive the undisguised urgency in Norman's words.

It was obvious that Norman's physical condition was getting worse and worse.

"Maybe a week or two, maybe about a month," Du Mu said casually.

Hearing this answer, Norman's face turned ashen.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Can you speed up the development process of the Life Potion?"

Du Mu asked curiously, "Why, Mr. Osborn? Are you in a rush to use it?"

"Don't ask things you shouldn't."

"Alright, that's a bit difficult. The main thing is that this sort of thing depends on fate."

Norman: "?"

You're a researcher, and you're talking to me about the metaphysics of fate? Is this reasonable!?

Norman felt that Du Mu was somewhat unreliable, and with a livid face, he said, "I don't care what method you use, within two days, you must produce a bottle of Life Potion!"

"I'll do my best."

Du Mu spread his hands, and Norman snorted coldly before leaving the laboratory.

Gwen put down her chopsticks and looked at Du Mu with concern: "Du Mu, is this really okay?"

Over the past few days, she had been eating, drinking, and having fun with Du Mu... ahem, conducting research, so their relationship had become much closer.

Gwen was worried that if Du Mu couldn't produce the Life Potion by then, Norman would settle the score with him later.

"Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Du Mu waved his hand dismissively; he hadn't intended to actually work for Norman anyway.

What use is an NPC who can't even issue a quest!

"It looks like it's time to start."

Du Mu pulled out a Black Access Card and thought to himself.

Through his observations over these past few days, he discovered that a secret floor was hidden deep within the Osborn Building, but that floor could only be unlocked with Norman's exclusive access card.

Just now, when Norman had approached, Du Mu had swiped the access card from his pocket.

After giving Gwen a few simple instructions, Du Mu also left the laboratory.

He didn't take action immediately; instead, he slipped into an empty restroom and put on the Disguise Mask.

Yes, that's right—it was the mask belonging to Stane.

He then swaggered toward the elevator, waiting for it to descend.

Just then, an employee passing by with a stack of files happened to walk over, catching a glimpse of that highly recognizable face in front of the elevator, and was instantly struck with terror.

"Mr... Mr. Stane?!"

As the former second-in-command and major shareholder of Stark Industries, Stane was quite famous in the business and tech circles, so it was perfectly normal for him to be recognized.

"Mm, it is I."

Du Mu mimicked Stane's arrogant and cold tone, nodding slightly.

Just as the elevator doors opened, he stepped inside, pressing his access card against the sensor without hesitation and lighting up the button for the lowest floor, which was never open to ordinary employees.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the employee outside finally let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest.

It had to be said, the pressure exerted by a big shot like Stane was truly intense.

But soon, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

"That's not right. Didn't the overwhelming news reports a while back say that Stane died in an accident?"

"So, who was that just now..."

The employee swallowed hard, a chill rushing straight up his spine.

Oh my god! He felt like he had just seen a ghost!

Ding!

The elevator doors slid open smoothly, arriving at that mysterious final floor.

Du Mu stepped out and discovered that this place was completely different from the bright laboratories upstairs.

Rather than a laboratory, it looked more like a combination of a high-tech armory and a private research center.

In the most prominent central area sat a cool-looking green flight glider, while on the shelves nearby, over a dozen pumpkin-shaped metal bombs were neatly arranged, along with a set of dark green tactical combat gear.

"Good grief, the game designer actually hid so many treasures here!"

Du Mu's eyes lit up instantly.

Without hesitation, he activated auto-loot mode, stowing all these pieces of equipment and weapons into his game inventory.

Only after finishing this did he turn his gaze toward an encrypted computer terminal in the corner connected to an independent network.

Du Mu took out his Hacker Phone, easily cracking and hacking into the computer terminal.

As the screen unlocked, a large number of encrypted files appeared.

Du Mu quickly found a secret file marked with the emblem of the Department of Defense.

Opening it to view, the file revealed that Norman and the military were collaborating in an attempt to replicate a Super Soldier Serum project dating back to World War II.

The report showed that after countless failures, two vials of serum samples had been successfully replicated, but a bright red note on the side indicated that they had not been tested on humans and the risks were unknown.

The moment Du Mu confirmed the contents of this secret file, the system's notification sound rang in his mind.

[Mission "Investigate Osborn Group" completed!]

[Rewards obtained: 1000 EXP, 20 S.H.I.E.L.D. Reputation, Item "Death Qi Bullet"]

[Item: Death Qi Bullet (The target struck by this will have flames ignite on their head, their physical attributes will be greatly enhanced, and they will exhaust all their strength to complete the thing they regretted most before being hit; the side effect is clothes shredding, making it easy to suffer social death)]