Chapter 78

Noah Industrial Park.

This vast area, covering 21.3 square kilometers, roughly the size of ten Franklin Parks, was once a high-tech industrial development zone. It had originally been owned entirely by Noah Company, a symbol of its founders' vision for an integrated, innovative industrial hub.

But after the original founders passed away, internal conflicts over capital distribution tore the company apart. The chaos created an opening for Metropolis's powerful capitalists, who had long coveted Noah Company's assets, to chip away at its holdings.

Within a few years, Noah Industrial Park became fragmented, its assets divided among various metropolitan capitalists. The unity and order envisioned by the original founders had been replaced by disarray.

Now, Bardi had joined this landscape.

After acquiring Noy Biotechnology Co., Ltd., he had settled into the industrial park.

The company was housed in a 15-story white-and-gray building with a sleek, minimalist design. Its flat exterior walls reflected a sense of rigor and precision. The sunlight bouncing off its glass facade gave it a modern, innovative feel. The building itself was specially designed by a renowned expert to serve as a state-of-the-art biological research facility.

Now, it belonged to Universe Biotechnology Co., Ltd.—Bardi's company.

The building had once been home to over 100 biotechnology researchers. But due to unpaid wages and other mismanagement, most of them had been poached by competing research labs. Only a dozen or so stubborn employees remained, unwilling or unable to leave despite the lack of pay.

However, after Bardi settled all outstanding salaries, even those last holdouts were dismissed. Overjoyed to receive six months of back pay, they left without hesitation.

In just one day, the building was left completely vacant.

Yet, within half a day, Bardi had managed to hire over 70 new employees. He recruited research assistants with basic knowledge of biology, offering them wages three times the market standard. He also visited several universities in Metropolis, hiring promising biological science students.

In no time, Bardi had assembled a full team. The speed and decisiveness of his actions were unparalleled.

Unlike traditional recruitment, which involved detailed contracts with strict non-compete clauses and significant penalties for breaches, Bardi's approach was shockingly lax. He didn't seem concerned about ensuring the loyalty of his new employees or protecting his intellectual property.

This reckless attitude horrified Lex Luthor.

"Do you really think this will work?" Lex demanded, glaring at Bardi. "A bunch of college students with barely any research experience? A handful of assistants who don't even qualify as proper researchers? And on top of that, your contracts are so loose that anyone here could take our research and run!"

Lex's frustration boiled over. "Do you have any idea how much we've invested in this? The special diabetes medication, the heart disease treatment, sildenafil, this is everything we have! We spent everything we had in the Suicide Slum for this. And now you're handing it all to these people with practically no safeguards!"

While Lex hadn't officially managed a company before, his sharp mind made it easy for him to understand the stakes. If even one employee walked away with their research, the entire operation could collapse.

But instead of addressing Lex's concerns, Bardi seemed preoccupied with his own work.

At that moment, he was holding a crystal CPU, its transparent surface glinting under the fluorescent light. Inside the crystal, faint, intricate circuits shimmered like flowing water. The CPU was both beautiful and oddly crude, a product of an era where industrial technology hadn't yet reached the standards of the future.

Bardi frowned at the device.

"The technology of this era… it's so primitive," he muttered. After a pause, he sighed and added, "But it'll have to do."

He installed the crystal CPU into the massive mainframe he had constructed, a computer towering at 2.5 meters high and 4 meters wide. The sheer size of the machine, along with the dense maze of wires and ports inside, left Lex completely stunned.

Even with all his knowledge of modern computers, Lex couldn't identify some of the components or their functions.

Bardi calmly attached a reinforced steel sheet to the mainframe, sealing it shut with a decisive gesture.

"Done," he said, brushing dust from his hands with a satisfied smile.

He turned to Lex, ruffling the boy's hair. "Don't worry. I've already laid out a clear plan for you to follow, step by step. My secretary will assist you. Focus on learning and studying."

Bardi smiled to himself, thinking, When I touch your head, it's because I know you'll become the strongest someday.

Lex, oblivious to Bardi's thoughts, frowned at the gesture. His delicate features were pinched with worry. As much as he hated to admit it, Bardi's pace was so fast and unpredictable that even Lex, with his extraordinary intellect, struggled to keep up.

He took a deep breath and said, "The research assistants are already showing signs of wanting to leave. As soon as they start working on the synthesis experiments, they'll want to run. They've clearly seen the potential of our diabetes medication, the heart disease treatment, and sildenafil. They'll jump ship to other pharmaceutical companies as soon as they can."

Lex's tone grew sharper. "These people are trouble, nothing but trouble."

Bardi remained calm. "Didn't the contract stipulate that they couldn't leave for at least six months? It's legally binding."

Lex's frustration deepened. "Sure, but the penalties for breaching the contract are ridiculously low. If I were in their position, I'd run too! With just a little investment, they could start their own labs and become billionaires."

Bardi chuckled. "Then they'll have to deal with me. You know what I relied on to survive in Metropolis, don't you? I killed for it."

His words were casual, almost flippant, as if murder were no more than a minor inconvenience.

Lex's pupils contracted slightly. He had already learned that Bardi didn't play by conventional rules. The recent chaos within the Intergang and the Hundred had only confirmed this. While the gangs were preoccupied with internal power struggles, it would take no effort for Bardi to send a few men to "take care" of a disloyal researcher.

But then Bardi added, "Actually, killing isn't the best solution. I need volunteers for human experiments in the underground lab. Anyone who tries to run can be captured and put to good use. Give me three months, and the problem will resolve itself."

Lex fell silent. He despised this approach but knew that Bardi's ruthlessness made it inevitable.

After a long pause, Lex spoke again. "There's news from the Suicide Slum. Someone called Deathstroke is coming for you."

Bardi froze for a moment.

"Deathstroke… so it's him?"

***

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