Any New Technology?

Doctor Octopus had previously relied on a chip to coordinate his mechanical arms.

Over time, the chip had changed. It had even developed a weak AI.

It was the mechanical arms' own consciousness.

If left unchecked, it might have taken control of Otto.

That helped Li Wei understand why Otto had gone back and forth between himself and Doctor Octopus.

But there was no need to worry now. Red Queen had destroyed it.

Otto would not become Doctor Octopus.

He could now issue commands directly through the Brain-Computer Interface, without putting too much strain on his brain.

That was what the Brain-Computer Interface was for.

Without it, his brain would have had to bear an enormous burden.

It was like installing a miniature computer in his head, greatly boosting his brain's processing power.

Before long, Otto stopped.

He braced himself on the mechanical arms and walked with his feet off the ground.

"Wow!"

Gwen stared in surprise. It looked like fun.

"Well?"

Li Wei walked over.

Otto was brimming with excitement. "It feels wonderful. They're just like part of my body. I can control them as easily as my own arms."

The old chip could not handle such precise movements. It had only allowed the simplest operations.

But this was different. The mechanical arms felt like part of Otto himself.

So he immediately said, "I want surgery to install a semi-invasive Brain-Computer Interface."

"Not yet."

Li Wei stopped him at once.

A semi-invasive Brain-Computer Interface required electrodes to be implanted beneath the skull, against the dura mater.

It did not penetrate the cerebral cortex, but it still was not a procedure an ordinary doctor could perform.

"Someone else will test it first."

Wouldn't S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents make excellent test subjects?

After much persuasion, Otto finally gave up on rushing into it.

For now, the non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface was enough to let him conduct his experiments more easily.

Li Wei immediately sent the test results to S.H.I.E.L.D.

Coulson was still preparing the contracts. Once he saw the results, he picked up the pace.

The technology really would be useful to S.H.I.E.L.D.

With Brain-Computer Interfaces and prosthetics, injured agents would lose little of their capabilities and could keep going out on missions!

When it came to squeezing people dry, organizations like these were in a league of their own.

"Li, do you have any new technology?"

Otto looked at Li Wei, eager to start his next project.

Li Wei checked his Reputation Points.

More than seven million.

"Don't rush me. Let me think."

He reassured Otto.

All he needed was for Tony Stark to return.

Otto nodded and waited for his genius colleague's next flash of inspiration.

"Achoo!"

Tony Stark sneezed.

He rubbed his nose and figured he must be coming down with a cold.

That damned bastard had woken him up so early that he felt exhausted.

The fun he had planned was out of the question. All he could do was lie back in his chair.

His eyes were still busy, though. With his head propped on his left hand, he watched a flight attendant pole-dance in front of him.

He had specifically chosen beautiful private flight attendants with fair skin, all there to serve him alone.

He was aboard his private jet, flying across America.

He had said he would return to New York, and he meant it!

The two kings of New York could no longer avoid crossing paths.

The flight attendants swayed their arms and legs, their bodies shuddering as though jolted by electricity. Tony Stark was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Achoo!"

"That damned bastard's ruined my mood," Tony Stark muttered. Once he landed, he was going to mock Li Wei mercilessly!

Before long, the plane landed at the airport.

His driver, Happy, and his assistant, Pepper Potts, were already waiting.

Pepper was even holding his favorite cheeseburger.

"Mm. I am a little hungry."

Wearing sunglasses, Tony Stark took the cheeseburger, bit into it, then handed it back to Pepper.

Pepper knew he did not want any more, so she hurried after him.

"Li Wei hasn't been saying anything bad about me, has he?"

Tony Stark asked at once.

"No, Tony. Don't you think you should make peace with him? There's a saying in his country: harmony brings prosperity."

Pepper struggled to translate the phrase.

"Make peace? Not a chance!"

Tony Stark stopped in his tracks.

"Besides, he started it, not me! Unless he personally apologizes to me on television, I'm not forgiving him!"

Reporters arrived just then. Tony Stark straightened his tie and walked over to them.

Pepper watched him go with a helpless look.

A moment later, Tony was visibly fuming.

"Li Wei said I left New York because I'm afraid of him? That bastard!"

"He's the one who should be afraid of me..."

"It's going up!"

Sitting in the Maybach, Li Wei watched his Reputation Points climb rapidly and broke into a grin.

He opened the car's refrigerator and took out a bottle of champagne.

Time to pop the champagne!

Tony Stark was such a good man. How could someone like him stay away from New York?

2B was focused on driving, while Gwen Stacy sat beside her.

Li Wei asked Gwen for two glasses and poured them both some champagne.

"Boss, did something good happen?"

Gwen Stacy looked at him curiously.

Li Wei switched on the television. It was airing Tony Stark's interview.

"Look. Tony Stark's back in New York."

Li Wei raised his glass, and Gwen clinked hers against it.

"That's something to celebrate?"

Gwen's mouth twitched.

Hadn't Li Wei been trading barbs with that playboy all this time?

Why was he so happy to see him back?

Gwen could not make sense of it.

"Of course."

Li Wei realized how that sounded and quickly added, "Of course not. Now that he's back, I can mock him again."

Gwen nodded thoughtfully.

"Drink up. We're almost there."

Li Wei put the champagne away. One glass was enough.

The Maybach had reached Queens.

The FEAST Homeless Shelter was just ahead.

Gwen recognized the place and stared in surprise. "Boss, this is what you bought?"

"That's right. Why?"

"N-no reason."

Gwen could hardly say she had been there just last night.

"I saw on the news that a gang robbed this place."

"Doesn't matter. It wasn't worth much anyway."

Li Wei shrugged.

Besides, the money was not what mattered. He had come for Martin Li.

So much for fellow countrymen looking out for each other. Martin Li had taken the first shot at him, and Li Wei intended to return the favor.

Soon, 2B brought the car to a smooth stop outside the shelter.

A crowd of reporters who had heard the news was already there. They swarmed the car.

2B checked the surroundings first. Only after confirming it was safe did she unlock the doors.

"Mr. Li Wei, what do you think of Tony Stark saying you should be afraid of him?"

"I think with my eyes."