Elena glanced at Hattie, then let out a sigh. "You know the Eteon Corporation, right?"
Leon paused briefly, then nodded. "Yeah, a massive high-tech conglomerate—robots, pharmaceuticals, energy, and more. Their capital and influence are enormous."
Eteon Corporation was well-known for developing vaccines, targeted anti-cancer drugs, and even investing heavily in robotics. Leon had once seen them in the news and had looked them up online, so he was fairly familiar.
"What's up? Is there something shady with this company?" Leon asked, curious.
He wasn't afraid of trouble—even genetically enhanced humans wouldn't scare him. After winning the races and completing his tasks, his stats had leveled up significantly—hundreds in strength, speed, and other attributes. For comparison, someone as strong as Dominic would barely be over a hundred in stats. Leon's abilities were extraordinary.
Elena, however, didn't know the extent of Leon's power. She hesitated, "You don't need to ask too much about this. I'm afraid it'll involve you. All we need is for you to help modify the vehicles."
Being a justice-driven U.S. cop, Elena refused to endanger anyone unnecessarily. The fewer people who knew, the fewer casualties.
Leon just smiled and shrugged. "You've come to me anyway. You think they'll leave me alone after this? If you tell me a little, maybe I can be of use and they'll let me slide."
He added the last line with a self-deprecating tone, joking. In movies, it's always the ones who know something that survive, while those clueless often don't.
Also, with Eteon's power, they'd likely already know Elena came to see him. Even if Leon sent them away, within hours, Eteon agents would storm in to interrogate him. Simply put, now that he was involved, Eteon would inevitably target him.
Elena fell silent, speechless. She hadn't considered this possibility before Leon pointed it out. Despite her intentions not to involve him, she had already dragged him into it.
Hattie held out her hand, revealing a black mark resembling a small pill. Its poisonous aura was palpable. Leon squinted at the design on her palm. This was no ordinary supplement.
"This is…?" he asked.
"The Snowflake Virus. Eteon Corporation's latest creation," Hattie revealed.
The "Snowflake" was a programmable, DNA-targeting bioweapon. Technically, it wasn't a traditional vaccine but a DNA-level manipulator, capable of inserting or replacing segments of human DNA to confer immunity. Initially, this research was for good—curing diseases—but Eteon had altered it maliciously.
The virus could kill the weak and was highly airborne. Those with compromised DNA or frail bodies infected would have a 100% fatality rate. Organs would melt like burning candles, eventually reducing victims to pools of blood. Hattie's tone grew grim.
"This virus is terrifying and only targets humans. It's estimated that three billion people worldwide could die if it spreads," she continued.
Hattie herself carried the virus; the outer capsule would eventually dissolve, releasing it. Without intervention, she would die—and unintentionally become a vector that could infect the entire world, causing global panic. She couldn't bear that responsibility.
"Why do Americans always seem to court disaster by inventing such dangerous things?" Leon joked bitterly. Is the world too crowded, and everyone owes them something? Or are they just asking to get wrecked? Such reckless corporations were prime targets.
"How did you get your hands on this?" Leon asked.
"I'm a special agent. I stole it while they were transporting the virus," Hattie explained. At this point, hiding the truth was pointless. Leon now understood she wasn't an ordinary person—otherwise, she wouldn't have survived.
Interesting. A special agent and a cop walking together—were they going to seek shelter from the authorities? He doubted anyone would believe the virus story if told openly.
"So, what do you need me for?" Leon asked, crossing his legs comfortably. Now that he knew the full story, it came down to negotiation. Money couldn't be wasted, even for beautiful women. He could be paid in cash—or… other forms.
Leon smiled faintly, thinking: speed had already been conquered; now came the question of passion.
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