Doctor Harrow possessed not only a brilliant mind and extensive knowledge, but also exceptionally skilled hands.
After losing his medical license, he showed no remorse whatsoever. Now hiding within New York City, he treated injuries for gang members. Nominally treating them—in reality, these gang members were experimental materials that had delivered themselves to his door. Dr. Harrow had been working tirelessly toward his insane vision.
When Bella found him, this bald doctor with skin abnormally pale from years without sunlight was performing surgery on a gang boss.
He wore specially crafted protective goggles with magnification functions. His green surgical gown was filthy, but he didn't care at all. His hands steadily wielded the scalpel, cutting open the patient's wound, while a deranged smile played at the corners of his mouth.
As a well-known underworld doctor, Jonas Harrow had his own subordinates. Many gang members were willing to acknowledge him as their boss, but these few thugs were no match for Bella—she took them down one by one.
She walked into Jonas Harrow's operating room as if entering her own home.
After observing carefully for a while, she asked, "Doctor, have you considered the patient's memory issues?"
The gang boss had taken a bullet to the head, shattering his skull. Dr. Harrow had fabricated a steel skull and was preparing to replace the patient's original one.
Even as a layperson, Bella knew this violated current medical standards. She could understand replacing damaged skull fragments, but not with steel!
Even hospitals, when replacing bone, only replaced small pieces without harming the brain. She'd never heard of replacing an entire skull with a steel one—this was insane.
Jonas Harrow casually glanced back, seemingly puzzled why such a woman had appeared in his operating room.
But he didn't particularly care.
He answered offhandedly, "I'll grant him an incredibly sturdy head. From now on, he'll never need to worry about being shot in the head again! Hahahaha—"
While talking, he continued suturing. Various nerves and blood vessels were connected one by one under his skilled hands. Bella frowned inwardly but didn't stop him. She didn't understand medicine—the gang boss's skull had already been removed, what could she do?
She observed the operating room as if no one else existed, growing increasingly alarmed.
This Dr. Harrow was different from Miles Warren.
Miles Warren had developed a deranged new personality after multiple traumas—his wife and children's tragic deaths, his unrequited love for Gwen Stacy, and killing a colleague. Currently, he was still a relatively normal scientist.
Dr. Harrow had no such complicated history. He was simply a thoroughly bad person.
An exceptionally talented bad person. A bad doctor.
With such people, there was no need for gradual reasoning. It wouldn't work anyway—his worldview and philosophy had been set in stone ages ago.
Seeing him complete the surgery and admire the gang boss's steel skull like appreciating artwork, she decided to use force!
Bella had barely gathered half her psionic energy and hadn't even taken out the Apple of Eden when a harsh buzzing filled the operating room.
Countless electromagnetic waves scattered through the room. Numerous long and short waves inaudible to human ears destroyed all electronic devices in range, hitting Bella like a devastating blow. Her head filled with buzzing noise, as if countless torrents surged and rolled within.
Dizzy and nauseous, extremely uncomfortable.
She tried to steady herself against the wall, but her body was nearly out of control. Her legs felt weak, completely devoid of strength.
Only then did Dr. Harrow react. First shocked, then wildly delighted.
"A psionic who delivered herself to my door? You'll make excellent experimental material! Haha—"
Before he finished speaking, gunfire erupted—"bang bang bang"—forcing him to duck for cover.
Always cautious, Bella hadn't completely lost mobility. She pulled out a handgun, closed her eyes, and fired wildly in all directions.
Simultaneously, she pushed her Mind Shield's defensive function to maximum.
According to her classification, this was at least a seventh-level spell. Without being innate, her current abilities couldn't cast it at all.
She'd been caught off guard earlier—who would expect a doctor to install such an anti-psionic trap in his operating room? She'd taken a serious hit.
Using the gun to buy time and the Mind Shield to suppress the discomfort, she slowly opened her eyes. No time to think deeply—without another word, she pulled out the Apple of Eden.
This Isu-made weapon wouldn't be affected by simple electromagnetic waves.
"Submit to me!" Bella's voice was somewhat weak, but her tone was firm and unquestionable.
Golden threads filled the operating room. Jonas Harrow bore the brunt. He blankly dropped his scalpel, his body rigid, his hands and feet trembling slightly and unnaturally.
"Turn off that damned machine! Now!" Bella endured her headache and commanded.
Jonas Harrow took two steps left, then stopped for two seconds before taking two more steps.
His mental world was struggling violently. One voice shouted for him to stop, while another persuaded him to obey commands.
His deranged nature tried to regain control of his body, but the Apple's power remained domineering. Even without Bella's assistance, he gradually walked to the western wall of the operating room, his trembling hands opening a hidden compartment. After hesitating for a full half minute, he finally extended his finger toward the button inside.
With a soft "click," the interference device in the operating room shut down. Bella leaned against the wall, gasping heavily.
Marvel's black technology was deadly! Even a mere doctor had such capabilities! This was completely beyond her expectations.
Her current condition was terrible, but she still had the strength to subdue Dr. Harrow.
"Obey me, submit to me, follow my commands, be a good person..." Her voice continuously echoed in Jonas Harrow's mind. His expression grew increasingly confused, until finally, with a "thud," he collapsed to the floor, falling into deep sleep.
"Number Three, did it work?" This was Bella's second time using the Apple to brainwash someone. She'd always adhered to her principles—unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't use this technique.
Last time was against Shatter, but that Decepticon who'd rather surrender to Starscream than to her provided no clear indication. This was her first time properly brainwashing a human.
The Apple's answer was definitive: "Of course. No matter how many thoughts he has, he cannot refuse genetic-level commands. His current unconsciousness is just the brain's self-protection mechanism—the will transformation process is too intense."
"Good, I need to find somewhere to rest..." Bella steadied herself against the wall, staggering outward.
She didn't notice—nor did Dr. Harrow see—that when golden threads enveloped the entire operating room, the gang boss on the surgical bed was also included. As Bella left, this gang boss who Dr. Harrow had fitted with a steel skull gradually calmed his breathing.