Two years later (asking for all kinds of support)

"How's the progress? Any new breakthroughs with the Extremis Virus?"

Karn arrived at the Biological Research Center, which had been completed over a year ago. At present, its only project team was working on the Extremis Virus. Karn had been trying to recruit others, but so far, his efforts had yielded nothing.

Over that year, however, he had filled all the Biological Research Center's administrative and support positions, with staff to spare.

"Things aren't looking very promising right now. The data we can obtain from experiments on plants and animals alone is too limited. We need human trials to gather more data."

Killian rubbed his temples and spoke evenly. He was particularly eager to move into human trials, because the experimental data from plants did not translate perfectly to lab mice. There were too many differences.

By the same logic, the experimental data and experience gained from lab mice might not apply to human trials either, and they would have to conduct human trials eventually.

"Killian, don't be like that."

Maya shook her head, then raised her voice slightly as she flatly rejected Killian's suggestion. "Conducting human trials now would be no different from murder. The failure rate is almost ninety percent. Unless we make another breakthrough, there's no need for human trials."

Killian refused to back down. "Maya, the next breakthrough might be waiting in human trials!"

After saying that, he turned to Karn. "Boss, if we don't conduct human trials, we might still be unable to take the next step several years from now. Our research is missing a critical step, and without it, we can't move forward."

"Killian-"

"Enough arguing. We'll proceed with human trials. I'll apply for an IRB review. Ms. Maya, the application will take roughly three months. If you can't make a breakthrough in that time, we'll follow Mr. Killian's suggestion."

Karn interrupted their argument and made his decision. It had already been over a year, and the Extremis Virus project had cost nearly forty million dollars. All its expenses were currently being covered by revenue from the pharmaceutical wholesale trading company, but if this dragged on much longer, Karn would run out of patience.

Maya fell silent after hearing Karn's decision. She knew the recent lack of progress had made many people impatient. Even she was feeling a little anxious. But the Extremis Virus's failure rate was too high, and she strongly resisted the idea of killing people for a little data.

She found Karn's proposal of an IRB review more acceptable. Approved human trials required willing participants. They would be told upfront that they were risking their lives for money, which would ease her burden of guilt.

The expense was enormous, though. A single volunteer often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and recruiting them was extremely difficult. They could only go to slums to find people willing to sell their lives.

If there weren't enough IRB volunteers, they would have to think of other methods. Once human trials began, this project would truly become a money pit.

Still, he couldn't pin all his hopes on one team. There were two masters of human experimentation in the Shinobi World. Perhaps he could bring them into the project as well.

"Next, I have something very important. Would anyone like to help their boss finish a biology report? I've learned all this already, but I don't want to spend time writing it."

Karn took out a college biology assignment. The people here were the best candidates to help him finish it. Almost all of them had backgrounds in biology, so completing an assignment would be a piece of cake.

Someone walked over and took the assignment. "Two thousand dollars."

"Give it to me tomorrow morning."

Karn took out two thousand dollars and handed it over, then leaned in to examine the latest round of experimental data on the Extremis Virus. He was sharp and had always been a good learner. Besides, the Extremis Virus was his hope of becoming stronger, so he had been working hard to study and learn from Maya and Killian.

After a year of humbly learning from them, Karn had gained an understanding of the Extremis Virus's principles and mechanisms. He also had two vials of Extremis Virus serum and a complete set of experimental data. As the boss, getting his hands on those was very easy.

Karn left a little while later. Compared with his last visit, there had been little meaningful progress.

Although Karn had successfully enrolled at Columbia University, his classmates already called him the most mysterious person there. Apart from a few required classes, he took leave whenever he could. When he couldn't, he found someone to attend in his place.

He simply had too much on his plate. Besides his affairs in the Shinobi World, there were the pharmaceutical wholesale trading company, the securities company he had partnered with Connor to establish, and trips to Hell's Kitchen to sell off large quantities of jewelry.

Fortunately, Karn knew the Shadow Clone Technique and the Transformation Technique. Otherwise, taking large quantities of jewelry there to sell several times in a row would certainly have drawn unwanted attention.

The pharmaceutical wholesale trading company was the fastest-growing business under Karn. In barely two years since its establishment, it had opened markets in four regions-Mexico, South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia-and was gradually taking them over.

Its revenue for the year was projected to exceed a hundred million dollars. However, other pharmaceutical wholesalers had begun taking overseas markets seriously and were showing signs of competing with Karn for business. That was also why Karn wanted to develop new drugs of his own.

This market would eventually be consolidated, but Karn could make as much money as possible before researching and selling new drugs, turning himself from a middleman into a supplier.

Although he had invested a considerable sum in the Biological Research Center, Karn's personal wealth was still expanding rapidly. His total assets now amounted to at least seven hundred million dollars and nearly two metric tons of gold. This was what Karn had achieved in just over a year. Progress might have been a little slow, but it was steady and safe.

Neither the tax authorities, the FBI, nor S.H.I.E.L.D. had come knocking.

A year earlier, Karn had also moved to a new home, much larger than his previous residence and equipped with a spacious basement. He had converted the basement into a safe room and secluded himself there whenever he traveled to the Shinobi World.

"It's about time I asked Tsunade to research the Extremis Virus and targeted treatments for some terminal illnesses. I hope she won't disappoint me."

Karn made up his mind. He and Tsunade had been getting along reasonably well lately, and he had learned the details of Nawaki's condition from Kushina. If he used the prospect of restoring Nawaki to full health as an incentive, Tsunade would definitely be interested in the Extremis Virus.

Karn also took along samples and detailed data for several terminal illnesses. He had made inquiries in the Shinobi World and learned that many of those diseases existed there too. Few ninja contracted them, however-or rather, few lived long enough to reach that age-so Tsunade had paid them little attention.

But with a commissioned mission and the lure of the Extremis Virus, Karn figured Tsunade would most likely agree.

Next, Karn took care of his affairs in the Marvel Universe. As usual, he arranged in advance for someone to attend classes in his place. After making all the necessary arrangements for his companies, he fully restocked his Spatial Backpack before traveling between worlds.

The next second, Karn arrived in the Shinobi World.