Tony: I'm Not Scared!

For once, Li Wei did not mock Tony Stark in front of the reporters. He respected Tony's choice instead.

To the reporters, Li Wei looked magnanimous, which only made Tony Stark seem even more like a coward.

More importantly, there was no point mocking him now.

Li Wei was also cultivating his public image.

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

If he showed grace when it mattered, people would like him more.

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

He spotted Gwen Stacy yawning at once.

"Gwen, didn't sleep well last night?"

Li Wei asked.

"Mm."

Gwen covered her mouth, then answered, "Yesterday was pretty busy."

It really had been busy. Kingpin's men had been causing trouble everywhere like lunatics.

Gwen had barely been able to keep up.

"Make sure you get some rest."

Li Wei took her straight to the laboratory.

There was plenty to do today, too.

Their first stop was Dr. Otto's laboratory.

Dr. Otto could not sit still. He was already scheduling all kinds of surgeries.

The moment he saw Li Wei, he said excitedly, "Ren, a third of the employees have already had the surgery."

"Including you, I take it."

Li Wei noticed that Dr. Otto was no longer wearing the Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface helmet. Instead, he had on a hat, which was unusual for him.

"Yes. I still have the scars."

Dr. Otto nodded.

He had shaved his head without hesitation for the surgery, which had left a few small scars.

Only then could the Brain-Computer Interface be implanted.

The results were obvious. His four mechanical arms obeyed him as readily as his own.

He had also implanted a chip that let him access the internet whenever he wanted.

He had wanted to get Bionic Eyes and other implants too, but he gave up because he was afraid of the pain.

Li Wei knew his company's security would be stronger now, but he still warned him, "Otto, don't go overboard. Too many prosthetics aren't good for you."

"I know."

Dr. Otto nodded quickly.

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

It made him feel as though the whole world was in his grasp.

"Mr. Stark, did you come to the Middle East now because you don't want to fight in the Las Vegas ring?"

"Mr. Stark, Mr. Li Wei said he respects your decision and doesn't blame you."

"..."

Tony Stark did not look pleased.

The frustration he had just worked off with a flight attendant came surging back.

He pressed both hands downward and said, "I had some last-minute business to handle, and it's very important!"

"As for whether the fight will happen, I'm not sure. I don't think it's a good idea..."

He waved, and a military vehicle pulled up immediately.

"Everyone, my ride's here. I have business to discuss."

Tony Stark turned and climbed in.

The frenzied reporters tried to block them, but the vehicle managed to get away.

"Damn it, those people are crazy."

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

"The whole world's watching. I never thought you'd chicken out."

Rhodey did not mince words.

Tony Stark's face flushed. "I didn't chicken out. I came here to do business!"

"When I get back, I'll knock him flat."

"Haha!"

Rhodey burst out laughing, and Tony Stark gave him two hard smacks.

"Take a couple of days to relax and see the sights. Once you head into the desert, you won't be seeing any beautiful women."

That caught Tony Stark's interest.

"I haven't had the chance to explore before."

He had seen hardly any women on the way here. They were like rare animals, and the ones he did see wore headscarves and were covered from head to toe.

That only made Tony Stark more interested.

Professor Connors's laboratory.

Besides the professor himself, his wife Martha was there, along with two volunteers from S.H.I.E.L.D.

Neither volunteer wanted a prosthetic. They wanted flesh-and-blood limbs of their own, so they had agreed to take part in the experiment.

Li Wei could only say he agreed with them completely.

"Red Queen, there won't be a problem, will there?"

Li Wei asked as he arrived with Eve and 2B.

The Red Queen's hologram appeared beside him. "Master, I ran more than seven hundred thousand simulated trials. At worst, there may be some mutation."

"What kind of mutation?"

That wording sounded strangely familiar to Li Wei, so he asked.

"The body may undergo changes, but the subject will also gain strength and regenerative ability."

The Red Queen answered.

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

"If you mean their entire body turning into a lizard, Master, that won't happen."

The Red Queen replied, "The original formula did have serious flaws, but Professor Connors and I have improved it. We've also prepared an antidote."

Hearing that, Li Wei stayed outside the glass and nodded to Professor Connors within.

Then the one-armed professor and his wife Martha got to work.

They had a volunteer lie on the operating bed and strapped down his arms and legs.

Once the safety measures were in place, they prepared to administer the drug.

Under the Red Queen's control, the green liquid in a syringe was slowly injected.

This test subject was missing his right leg. During a mission, someone had thrown a high-explosive grenade at his feet. He had thrown himself aside in time, but the blast had taken his leg.

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

Everyone present was a little nervous.

After the drug entered his body, the test subject suddenly went still, as though he were dead.

"What happened?"

"A protective response."

The Red Queen remained calm.

"Ah!"

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

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

"Why is it green?"

Li Wei asked.

"It mutated."

The Red Queen frowned. This drug really was difficult to develop.

A lizard leg had grown where the man's leg should have been. With a snap, he broke the metal restraints holding him down.

"Why does my leg look like this?"

The subject stared in confusion, then recoiled in shock.

Professor Connors hurried to reassure him and began recording the experimental data.

Li Wei was surprised. Compared with turning completely into a Lizard, the drug's effects were fairly mild. Only the regrown leg had become reptilian. The man had not lost his mind and was fully lucid.

"Lizard DNA is too dominant. We'll need another drug or a virus to counteract it."

The Red Queen spoke beside Li Wei.

"I wouldn't call it a failure."

Li Wei nodded.

Compared with turning someone straight into a Lizard, this was already a success.

He had brought Eve and 2B along in case they needed fighters.

Now it seemed he had had nothing to worry about.

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

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

He had not won her over last time. This time, nothing could go wrong!