Li Wei felt like he was playing Werewolf.
The night had passed without incident, and he had gotten nowhere.
Eve was too serious. She gave him no chance at all!
Eve also showed what she was capable of: she never got sleepy.
As an android made of machinery and flesh, she had human emotions but a body with superhuman strength.
Even most superheroes couldn't survive in space without protection.
Eve could...
After eating the breakfast 2B had made, he set off for the company.
On the way, he asked the Red Queen to arrange surgery for all the company's security personnel as soon as possible.
The veterans didn't mind the surgery. They were willing to return to a normal life, whatever the cost.
Li Wei needed them to grow stronger, too. Only then could they protect the company.
As for whether there were any security risks?
The Red Queen had left backdoors in their chips...
Surely no one thought Li Wei was a saint?
When he arrived at the company, the Red Queen appeared beside him.
Gwen had class that morning, so she couldn't come.
Li Wei would have to wait until she graduated before she could become his full-time secretary.
"Master, the Sandevistan is ready."
At the Red Queen's words, Li Wei headed straight for the lab.
Before he reached Otto's lab, though, Professor Connors stopped him.
"Ren, we've tested the serum dozens of times. All that's left is a human trial."
Professor Connors looked at Li Wei reproachfully.
If the Red Queen hadn't stopped him, he would have tested it on himself...
Watching Otto produce result after result, he couldn't help feeling anxious!
"Right."
Li Wei gave an awkward smile and had the Red Queen call Black Widow, Natasha.
He had gotten Natasha Romanoff's number yesterday. He could discuss the next steps with her.
"Would your people agree to a serum trial?"
"Give me a moment."
Natasha couldn't make the decision herself.
After a while, she replied, "As long as they volunteer."
"Then there's no problem."
They had to volunteer. Li Wei understood.
The two didn't chat any longer and hung up.
He told Professor Connors, "Don't worry, Professor. I'll bring you some people right away."
"Good."
Professor Connors nodded and returned to his lab.
"Ren, you're here."
Otto had dark circles under his eyes, though he had cleverly put on sunglasses so no one could tell.
Brimming with excitement, he immediately handed Li Wei two precious creations.
"Look. This is the Sandevistan. Its specifications match exactly, but I can tell an ordinary person wouldn't be able to handle it."
This was what had kept Otto awake all night. For a scientist, nothing was more exciting than studying something new.
Li Wei, a scientist in name only, was excited too. He immediately picked one up.
"It's heavy!"
"Of course. It's an artificial spine."
There were many Sandevistan models—Zetatech, Dynalar, and Falcon—but none matched the Apogee in his hands.
It was an entire artificial spine, classified as "Iconic" in the game.
Holding it, Li Wei could feel the weight of its advanced engineering. It truly was a legendary piece of equipment.
"Do you have someone in mind to use it? I'd say only a superhuman like Spider-Man could handle it."
Otto warned him, "It would put a huge strain on an ordinary person. Their body might reject it, too, and that could easily cause problems."
"That's why I don't plan to give it to a human."
Li Wei smiled.
Otto blinked, then understood.
"It's a shame this can't be widely adopted," he said regretfully.
"That's fine. It's still a major breakthrough."
Li Wei shrugged. "But ordinary people can use the chip and Bionic Eye, right?"
"Yes. Their functions complement each other."
Otto smiled.
"Good. We'll hold a press conference when the time comes. It's about time you took the spotlight."
Otto's face flushed instantly at Li Wei's words.
Who didn't want to be famous?
"Thank you..."
Li Wei took 2B and Eve to his office, then rode the private elevator straight down to the basement.
The Red Queen could replace their spines for them.
2B was straightforward: her entire body was mechanical, so replacing her spine with a Sandevistan would be easy. The only concern was that the model might not fit.
But that probably wouldn't be a big problem either.
Surely she wasn't limited to YoRHa parts?
The rest of Eve's body was flesh and blood, but her spine wasn't.
In the game, Eve had more than a dozen auxiliary spines, and both upper and lower sections could be swapped freely.
Of course, there wouldn't be two sections now. There was only one Sandevistan.
That single Sandevistan was stronger than all of Eve's other auxiliary spines.
When Eve and 2B learned the replacements were for them, they were delighted.
2B was a combat android. All she wanted was to grow stronger.
Eve had been made for combat too.
So the two women obediently took off their clothes.
Looking at their beautiful backs, Li Wei wished he could teleport around in front of them.
"Master, please wait over there."
The Red Queen appeared before Li Wei, mainly because she was worried he wouldn't be able to stomach the sight.
Replacing a spine would be a bloody procedure.
Li Wei knew the next scene would be anything but pretty, so he obediently stepped aside.
He went to the Red Queen's supercomputer and opened a virtual screen.
He didn't need a keyboard or mouse. He could just tap it with his fingers, which was very convenient.
"What are all these files?"
Li Wei glanced at them, and his mouth twitched.
"Sorry," the Red Queen said. "They're classified files from the White House and the Pentagon."
"The squids have bought off many generals and key figures close to the president. They use them to lobby him and indirectly control him. I found the evidence."
None of this was really a secret. There just hadn't been any evidence.
Now that the Red Queen had it, releasing it would cause an uproar.
"No wonder people say the squids own America."
Li Wei shook his head, but it was none of his business.
The more chaotic America became, the happier he would be.
So Li Wei browsed the classified files with relish, including ones about aliens.
"Huh? Pym Technologies works for the military too?"
Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, had discovered subatomic particles that could change the size of objects. He called them Pym Particles.
He had once been partners with Tony Stark's father, Howard Stark, but they had later fallen out.
Li Wei hadn't expected him to go to work for the military and found Pym Technologies.
"Pym Technologies is preparing to rename itself Cross Technologies. Evidently, Hank Pym has already lost his position at the company," the Red Queen said beside him.
"I need to find a way to get some Pym Particles."
Li Wei nodded. Those things could even be used to travel through timelines.
"Master, the surgeries are complete."
"Really? Let me see!"
Li Wei sprang up and hurried over.
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