Tony: I'm Not Chicken!

In front of the reporters, Li Wei unusually did not mock Tony Stark. Instead, he respected his choice.

To the reporters, Li Wei seemed far too magnanimous, making Tony Stark look even more like a coward by comparison.

More importantly, there was no point in mocking him at this time.

Li Wei was also building his own public image.

He could not be as petty as Tony Stark, could he?

Be magnanimous when it mattered, and people would like him more.

After finally shaking off the reporters, Li Wei entered the company building under the protection of the security guards.

He spotted Gwen Stacy yawning at a glance.

"Gwen, didn't you rest well last night?"

Li Wei asked.

"Mm."

Gwen covered her mouth, then replied, "I was pretty busy yesterday."

She really had been busy. Kingpin's subordinates had gone crazy, causing trouble everywhere.

Gwen had been overwhelmed.

"Make sure you get some rest."

Li Wei took her straight to the laboratory.

There was quite a lot to do today as well.

He first went to Doctor Otto's laboratory.

Doctor Otto could not sit still and was already arranging surgeries of all kinds.

Seeing Li Wei arrive, he said excitedly, "Li, one-third of the employees have already undergone the surgery."

"That includes you, right?"

Li Wei looked at Doctor Otto. He was no longer wearing the non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface helmet, but was instead wearing a hat for once.

"Yes, I still have scars."

Doctor Otto nodded.

For the surgery, he had decisively shaved his head bald, leaving behind a few small scars.

Only then had the Brain-Computer Interface been implanted.

But the results were obvious as well. His four mechanical arms obeyed him as readily as his own arms.

He had also implanted a chip in himself, allowing him to access the internet at any time.

He had originally wanted to install artificial eyes and the like too, but gave up because he was afraid of the pain.

Li Wei knew his company's security force would become even stronger, but he still warned him, "Otto, don't go overboard. Installing too many prosthetics isn't a good thing."

"I know."

Doctor Otto nodded repeatedly.

Of course he knew the drawbacks, but the feeling was simply too wonderful.

It made him feel as though the whole world was under his control.

"Mr. Stark, coming to the Middle East at a time like this—does that mean you don't want to fight in the Las Vegas arena anymore?"

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Li Wei said he respected your choice and wouldn't blame you."

"..."

Tony Stark's expression was not pleasant.

The frustration he had just vented on the flight attendant immediately flared up again.

He pressed both hands down and said, "I have business to handle on short notice, and it's very important!"

"As for whether the arena match will still happen, that's uncertain. I don't think it's a good choice..."

He waved his hand, and a military vehicle immediately pulled over.

"Everyone, the military vehicle is here. I'm going to discuss business."

Tony Stark turned and got into the vehicle.

The crazed reporters still tried to stop him, but the military vehicle ultimately sped away.

"Damn it, those lunatics."

Sitting in the vehicle, Tony Stark said helplessly, "They actually followed me all the way here. And even the local media came to join in on this?"

"The whole world is watching this now. I didn't expect you to chicken out."

Rhodey immediately said.

Tony Stark's face instantly turned red. "I'm not chickening out. I'm just here to discuss business!"

"When I get back, I'll definitely beat him flat."

"Haha!"

Rhodey burst out laughing and was promptly smacked twice by Tony Stark.

"Rest for a couple of days first. Take in the local customs and scenery. You'll be heading into the desert after that, and you won't get to see any beautiful women there."

That piqued Tony Stark's interest.

"I really haven't had any fun yet."

There had barely been any women along the way, like rare animals, and they all wore headscarves, wrapped up from head to toe.

That only made Tony Stark even more interested.

Professor Connors's laboratory.

Aside from him, his wife Martha was also there, along with two S.H.I.E.L.D. volunteers.

The two did not like prosthetics and wanted their own flesh-and-blood bodies, so they were willing to participate in the experiment.

Li Wei could only say that great minds thought alike.

"Red Queen, no problem, right?"

Li Wei arrived with Eve and 2B, then asked in passing.

Red Queen's projection appeared beside him and answered, "Master, I conducted more than seven hundred thousand simulated experiments. At worst, there may be some mutation."

"What kind of mutation?"

Li Wei felt that wording sounded familiar, so he asked.

"The body may undergo some alteration, but it will also gain strength and regenerative abilities."

Red Queen replied.

Li Wei frowned. "Wouldn't that still turn them into Lizard?"

"If by that, Master, you mean their entire body becoming a lizard, that is impossible."

Red Queen answered, "The initial serum did indeed have major flaws, but Professor Connors and I have now improved it. We have also prepared an antidote."

Hearing that, Li Wei remained outside the glass partition and nodded to Professor Connors inside.

Then Professor Connors, who had one arm, and his wife Martha got busy.

They had the volunteer lie on the hospital bed and strapped down all four limbs.

Only after the safety measures were in place did they prepare to inject the serum.

Under Red Queen's operation, a syringe of green serum was slowly injected.

This volunteer was missing his right leg. During a mission, someone had thrown a high-explosive grenade at his feet. He had fallen aside in time, but his leg had still been blown clean off.

Fortunately, it had not been a fragmentation grenade, or he would have died on the spot.

Everyone present was somewhat nervous.

As the drug entered his body, the laboratory suddenly fell silent, as if everyone had died.

"What's happening?"

"A protective mechanism."

Red Queen answered calmly.

"Ah!"

Then the test subject let out a roar and began thrashing about on the hospital bed.

His leg slowly grew back, though its color looked somewhat wrong.

"Why is it green?"

Li Wei asked.

"It has mutated."

Red Queen frowned. This serum truly was difficult to develop.

The test subject had grown a lizard leg, and with a bang, he shattered the metal restraints holding him down.

"Why is my leg like this?"

The test subject was confused, then frightened.

Professor Connors hurriedly soothed him and began recording the experimental data.

That surprised Li Wei. Compared to turning completely into Lizard, the serum was fairly mild. Only the regrown leg had become a lizard leg, while the man had not lost his mind and was instead very lucid.

"Lizard DNA is too dominant. We need other drugs to neutralize the virus."

Red Queen said beside Li Wei.

"It's not a failure."

Li Wei nodded.

Compared to directly becoming Lizard, this was already a success.

He had brought Eve and 2B along precisely in case there was no combat power.

Now, it seemed there was no need for that concern.

Professor Connors injected the test subject with the antidote, restoring him to normal.

Li Wei, meanwhile, prepared to invite Gwen to dinner.

He had not won her over last time. Nothing could go wrong this time!