Serum

The design of the entire umbrella company's headquarters was exactly as Kyle had seen in the movie he watched earlier—a massive, high-tech facility with sleek architecture, reminiscent of the Hall of Justice from the Stark Tower in Marvel's universe. However, due to financial constraints, only part of it could be replicated at first. The steel framework had just begun construction.

Kyle ignored the system notifications. He knew the rewards would be waiting for him no matter how long he took, so he wasn't in any rush.

"Mr. Gray, how long will it take to complete construction here?" Kyle asked, his voice steady.

He and his companion went to meet the construction foreman. After negotiating, Kyle paid the construction team $60,000 per person after deducting the construction costs.

$60,000 for three and a half months of work was already a substantial amount. For context, the average salary in the U.S. was around $4,500 a month, a rate similar to what most of Marvel's street-level heroes, like Daredevil or Luke Cage, might expect for their vigilante work.

"Don't worry, Mr. Walter. We'll have it ready within the next month," Gray assured Kyle. "But are you sure you don't need us to finish everything?"

Gray's assurance came with an underlying concern. The instructions Kyle had given—build only the steel frame—had led him to believe that Kyle might only be building a shell. Spending nearly four million yuan for what seemed like a semi-finished product didn't add up.

"No," Kyle replied, "you're not part of our company, so it's best not to leak any sensitive information."

Kyle wasn't just being cautious; he was also considering a possible recruitment. Gray and his construction team were skilled, and Kyle had been contemplating bringing them on board. But he wasn't sure what Gray's feelings were. After all, Gray had rejected two offers from Kyle in the past.

"Ha! I wasn't saying anything, but… perhaps we could join the Water Company?" Gray said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Having been in the construction business for over a decade, Gray managed a team of more than 100 workers. His experience told him that Kyle's design was no ordinary warehouse. The presence of data fiber interfaces and radiation-proof features made him suspect it was a facility designed to contain dangerous materials—maybe even something akin to Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. or DC's Task Force X, which specialized in handling dangerous and covert operations.

"Really? You're thinking about it?" Kyle replied. "Well, if you're serious, we welcome your expertise."

With a strong organization comes a need for skilled individuals in every area, even down to the janitors. Kyle had always been strategic about hiring top-tier talent, and Gray's team would be an asset. Their addition would eliminate any remaining issues with the company's renovations, which had been completed by the Defenders, though some areas were subpar.

"It's a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Walter," Gray said, shaking Kyle's hand.

$60,000 a month was a high salary even for a city like New York, where only the top earners—CEOs, top lawyers, or elite figures like Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne—commanded salaries of $100,000 or more.

"Pleasure's mine, but I must warn you—our company's control is very strict," Kyle cautioned.

Gray understood; he had dealt with tough contracts before. Unlike construction projects that took months to complete, Kyle had given his construction team an aggressive timeline of just three months. The other teams had estimated four to five months, but Gray had promised to deliver sooner.

After some thought, Kyle adjusted the completion date to three and a half months, fearing the workload might be too strenuous.

"Haha, as long as the money's good, we'll get it done," Gray laughed. "The treatment was good from day one, after all."

Kyle had offered a competitive salary of $60,000 during the working period and $10,000 during the off-period. On top of that, Gray's team had to accept full oversight from Walter Company, including stringent rules such as only one day off per week and no more than five days off in January. A non-disclosure agreement was also part of the deal, ensuring secrecy about any ongoing projects.

"Gasco, please take Mr. Gray upstairs and have someone from the technical department prepare ID cards for the team," Kyle instructed. "Alice and I are heading back to the manor."

With the press conference behind him, there wasn't much for Kyle to do in the company for now. The promotion efforts for the new product were about to ramp up, with the release set for just three days away. Kyle intended to stockpile more inventory before the launch.

After briefly speaking with Alice, who'd gone to prepare dinner, Kyle found himself wondering about the system's reward, which had just arrived. He quickly checked the details.

[As the host expected, the reward is the super soldier serum. However, due to being a mass-production version, the serum's effects are slightly weaker than the original.]

[Once injected, it enhances human attributes by three times, improving muscle strength and defensive capabilities.]

Kyle's eyes widened at the description. This was the kind of serum that could create an army of enhanced soldiers. The thought of forming a special task force of superpowered individuals crossed his mind, similar to how Captain America was once transformed or how Batman's team of metahumans functioned in the Justice League.

"Hmm, the materials needed are a bit excessive, but it's not too costly," Kyle mused.

He reviewed the list of materials needed, noting that the cost was still manageable. After a quick calculation, he realized that one bio-enhanced serum would cost about one million dollars. Given the remaining balance in the company's account, he could afford to produce thirty doses.

"Tomorrow, let's have ten ready for the clearing team," Kyle decided. He believed the serum would be best suited for his most dangerous field agents—the clearing team.

Unlike the defenders, who mostly operated in a controlled environment, the clearing team faced high-risk missions and needed the enhancements immediately.

"By the way, the Red Queen will need to hack the surveillance cameras in New York. I can't let any incidents like the last one occur again."

After the serum injections, the enhanced individuals would need to practice, and the New York crime scene—much like Gotham's—is a perfect training ground for them.

"Boss, dinner's ready! Come out and eat!" Alice called, knocking on the door.

Kyle, reminded of his growling stomach, realized he'd only eaten popcorn since the press conference. Grinning, he stood up to join her for dinner.

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