"Actually, I'm also a registered Hunter of the Hunter Association," Illumi said, circling Austin's operating table.
"Within the Hunter Association, most Hunters view Specialty Hunters as half-baked."
Austin snorted disdainfully, not denying it; it was a fact.
"But a half-baked Hunter wouldn't have a Hunter like you. Although you're still far from an expert, you shouldn't be wasting your days in a circle like the Specialty Hunters."
Illumi returned to stand directly in front of Austin. The latter wore a disdainful expression, his eyes darting left and right, seemingly not listening to his words.
"When did Beyond begin inserting his people into the Specialty Hunters?"
As these words left his mouth, Austin, who had just been wearing a disdainful expression, instantly narrowed his eyes, but quickly recovered.
"What damned Beyond? This old man doesn't know!"
A smile spread across Illumi's face. On his right index finger, held behind his back, a faint trace of red aura was dissipating.
"No need to lie; your eyes and your tone betray you. In truth, not long ago, I also considered cooperating with Beyond."
"However, I now realize there's absolutely no need. Because I myself possess sufficient power and influence to explore the Dark Continent alone."
Austin's expression drastically changed when he heard the words "Dark Continent," but he still spoke disdainfully.
"Heh heh, where do you get your methods from? To go to the Dark Continent, you must meet certain conditions, otherwise..."
Illumi's lips curled up, and he held out a large hand in front of Austin, cutting off his speech.
"License, qualifications, methods, contract."
"These things set up by the V5 hold no binding power in my eyes now."
"How about it? Do you want to consider joining my faction?"
Austin scoffed, still looking at Illumi with a disdainful tone and a sneer.
"I don't know where you heard about the Dark Continent. However, you truly underestimate this world too much. Even if the five great nations of this world went with all their national power, it's not guaranteed they would return safely from the Dark Continent."
"You're merely seeking your own death."
"Furthermore, I wouldn't entrust my life to a bastard like you who doesn't value human lives!"
Illumi shook his head, no longer bothering with Austin's words, and instead commanded the people outside.
"Release him."
"Click, click, click..."
As his words fell, the sound of shackles opening filled the air. The researchers outside the laboratory operated the equipment, unlocking and retracting the shackles on the operating table. Austin was startled at first, not understanding Illumi's intention.
"Haha, he actually dared to release me! Watch me, I'll..." He then realized he really was unbound, and immediately burst into laughter, leaping up and punching towards Illumi's head.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
A large number of tough ropes made of shadows burst forth from the ground, binding Austin in mid-air, rendering him immobile.
"Ugh..."
Austin opened his mouth, and then, there was nothing more.
"Are you kidding me!?" Austin struggled fiercely, feeling the constricting pain from his bound limbs. It felt as if the flesh on his hands was being squeezed off, causing him extreme agony.
"Hmm, it seems you need to calm down." Illumi slightly loosened his grip on Austin, making him feel a bit better.
"Begin."
At Illumi's command, Dr. Boyce and Dr. Baldwin operated the mechanical arms on the operating table, placing a helmet on Danika's head.
"Wuwuwu..."
Danika's face was filled with terror, tears streamed endlessly from her eyes, and her entire body trembled slightly in fear.
"Hiss, hiss..."
The black-red plant tentacles attached to Danika's entire body suddenly perked up. They swayed, raising their 'heads.' Their 'heads' showed signs of splitting, and a thin tube extended from within them.
"Stop!"
Austin suddenly struggled harder. He couldn't bear to watch his old friend's woman being brutally modified in front of him, especially turning into that monstrous state.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft..."
But unfortunately, no one present would listen to him. Dozens of black-red plant tentacles directly pierced into Danika's skin, delivering spores through their internal tubes. Ten seconds later, the dozens of plant tentacles withdrew from the skin surface, looking as if they had been hollowed out. The main plant stems softened and retracted beneath the operating table.
"Ugh, ugh, ugh..."
After the plant tentacles left Danika's body, she immediately began to convulse violently. Her muscles continuously bulged, and the friction between muscles even made a "gurgling" sound. However, after convulsing for ten seconds, Danika's body suddenly stiffened and stopped moving. Her entire body's muscles appeared in various uncoordinated states, and her skin surface gradually turned red. Her mouth was slightly agape, with large amounts of saliva uncontrollably drooling from both corners of her lips.
"Dead?"
Illumi frowned slightly. This was the first time he had seen a test subject die during modification.
"Boss, this woman's physical strength was too low; she couldn't withstand the onset period."
Dr. Ballard's voice sounded from the laboratory's intercom. A mechanical arm operated, lifting the helmet from Danika's head, revealing Danika with bloodshot, red eyes and a tearing gaze. Her originally fair face had also turned red.
"Drip, drop..."
Immediately after, faint trickles of blood seeped from Danika's skin surface, dripping onto the ground along the edge of the operating table.
"Ordinary people, after all, cannot withstand the Avengers Project's modifications." Illumi showed no disappointment. The original intention of the Avengers Project was merely to enhance the potential of soldiers, and his soldiers were all Nen ability practitioners. It was reasonable that ordinary people couldn't bear it. As for Johnny, he was originally a porter, often transporting various goods, so his physical fitness was considered strong among ordinary people, but he only barely survived the onset period.
"You bastard!!!"
Austin glared furiously at Danika, whose entire body was reddish and bleeding from her pores, then at the calm-faced Illumi.
"Let him calm down."
Illumi waved his hand and turned to leave the laboratory. As he left the laboratory, the shadows binding Austin immediately dissipated. Austin landed on the ground and immediately went to the blood-covered Danika. He checked her nostrils and felt her pulse. His face was ashen. She was completely dead.
"Roar!"
Just as he was grieving, the Avengers soldier, who had been standing still, roared and punched Austin's temple.
"Beast."
Austin raised his right arm, turning to look at the tall figure. The Avenger's eyes were filled with bloodthirsty, murderous red light, and his attacks were incredibly vicious.
"Bang!"
However, when the Avengers soldier's fist struck his right arm, his body immediately transformed into a streak of light and slammed with a "boom" against the laboratory wall.
"Wh-what the hell!?"
Austin looked at the Avengers with their bloodshot eyes, his own eyes filled with disbelief.
"Isn't he just an ordinary person!?"
A dull pain, like bone splitting, surged from his arm, recurring like an electric shock. The pain caused fine beads of sweat to continuously break out on Austin's forehead.
"No need to be surprised. This is the result of our Avengers Project experiment."
Dr. Ballard's proud voice resonated through the intercom. The Avengers Project was an extension of the human potential activation project, aimed at enhancing the individual strength of soldiers. However, Illumi later discovered that soldiers without independent thought were more suitable for the Dark Continent than those with thought. At the very least, they could be used as a vanguard force with great potential.
Patirus, Umbrella Biotechnology Company branch.
"Excuse me, can the Umbrella-A antibiotic truly combat the DCM-1 virus?" A reporter stood up and asked.
At this moment, a press conference was being held in the lobby of the Umbrella branch building. The venue was packed with people. Everyone entering the venue was required to wear masks and gloves, as well as isolation gowns provided by Umbrella. Many people were displeased by this but had no choice. This was because Umbrella had deployed a large number of security guards at the scene; if one refused to wear the gear, it was impossible to enter the venue.
"Yes, after extensive clinical trial data from the company and testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it has been proven that Umbrella-A has a therapeutic effect on DCM-1."
"Currently, governments around the world are also in negotiations with us, which further confirms its authenticity."
The crowd immediately erupted in a "whoosh" of commotion. The reporters inside the venue and the public outside were instantly in an uproar, exchanging glances and engaging in discussions.
Suddenly, a reporter from the United States of Edimei raised his hand, and Alvin nodded, signaling for him to ask.
"Mr. Alvin, to my knowledge, your company is a new biotechnology company established less than two years ago. Do you truly possess the capability to develop new antibiotics?"
"Furthermore, according to a statement from Illumina Biotechnology Company, they claim that your Umbrella Company stole their research results to achieve everything you have today."
"May I ask, what are your thoughts on all of this?"
Alvin closed his eyes and chuckled softly. As expected of a reporter from the Edimei Daily. If this question wasn't answered well, Umbrella Company would fall into a negative public opinion. However, he had long anticipated all of this and already had an answer in mind.
"My dear reporter friend, I also have a question for you."
"Why was the theory of relativity discovered by a humble clerk in a patent office, and not by the most renowned scientists in the world at that time?"
"Uh..."
The questioning reporter was momentarily speechless, and Alvin continued.
"As for Illumina Biotechnology Company's statement, it is nothing but baseless fabrication, purely the result of human resentment at play."
"Umbrella Company developed Umbrella-A; this is the current fact."
Without waiting for the reporter to speak, Alvin again reached out and pointed to another reporter.
"Mr. Alvin, how much Umbrella-A new antibiotic reserves does your company currently have? Can it simultaneously meet the needs of countries like the United States of Edimei, Pegarose Federation, Ozma Federation, and all other epidemic outbreak areas worldwide?"
The reporter he pointed to raised a question of great public concern.
"Because we only recently discovered the therapeutic effects of Umbrella-A against the novel virus. Moreover, besides our headquarters' production base, our other branch production bases have only just begun construction."
"Therefore, our reserves are not large."
"Then, how many new antibiotics can your company's production line produce daily?"
"We will do our utmost, working overtime, producing non-stop 24 hours a day. Everyone, please don't worry too much about this issue."
Alvin responded easily. He naturally wouldn't let the public know the true situation; that was company confidential. At the same time, many reporters present showed disappointment. They hadn't heard the answers they wanted, nor obtained the information they desired.
Following this, the reporters' questions became increasingly sharp, but Alvin calmly handled them all, deflecting them like a tai chi master.
At the end of the press conference, Mr. Robinson, the mayor of Patirus, appeared.
This immediately brought the reporters and the public at the scene to a climax. This individual was a popular candidate for the next president. His arrival indicated the Pegarose government's overt support for Umbrella Biotechnology Company.
"Our hearts are with the people of Pegarose, and with our friends in countries around the world."
"In this war, too many lives have been lost for no reason."
"Some might say that if we hadn't angered the gods, such a tragedy would not have occurred."
"However, the truth is far from it."
"Indeed, we live in a dangerous world where good choices are few, but the worst choice is inaction."
"We should unite, we should unite for our children and grandchildren, for our relatives and friends, for our compatriots, to overcome these difficulties."
"Humanity has come this far precisely because of unity."
"May God bless us, bless Pegarose, and bless the world."
This popular candidate for the next president of the Pegarose Federation first thanked the reporters from various countries and relevant personnel for their attendance. Then, with a heavy voice, he spoke of the immense damage this epidemic had caused to the Pegarose Federation, and the irreparable losses it had brought to the people of the world. His words were forceful yet full of emotion, and his incredibly magnetic voice moved the emotions of everyone present. All attendees, whether reporters or citizens, listened quietly to the current mayor of Patirus's speech.
Mayor Robinson's profound speech resonated emotionally with a large number of people watching on television and present at the scene. When he finished speaking, a round of cheers immediately erupted from below.
"Well said."
At Umbrella Company headquarters, Illumi sat on a sofa, watching Mayor Robinson's speech on the TV screen, and praised him. This current mayor of Patirus, putting everything else aside, simply by his level of speech and presentation, possessed the demeanor of his previous life's black president. Alvin, as the spokesperson for the press conference, was still somewhat inferior compared to this popular presidential candidate.
However, it didn't matter. As long as there were no blunders in his answers to the reporters' questions, it was fine. He didn't expect his subordinates' speaking skills to be on par with a president.
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