Chapter 176: The Runaway Glutton

Ivan Vanko's energy weapons earned unanimous praise from the Department of Defense...

The applications of the replicated Arc Reactor extended far beyond just weaponry... that small, glowing device meant military officials no longer had to pressure Stark Industries. After the live demonstration, General Ross was all smiles, clearly satisfied with Umbrella's performance.

Sean wasn't surprised...

Ivan Vanko's talent and capabilities had already been evident in the original timeline. Compared to the so-called genius Tony Stark... one raised in the harsh winters of Siberia without formal education, the other an MIT graduate backed by Stark Industries... their life circumstances were worlds apart.

Yet Ivan had still managed to replicate the Arc Reactor using nothing but an old schematic from the last century. That alone proved the Russian's immense potential.

On the way back, Sean once again ran into the overly enthusiastic Justin Hammer, who kept steering the conversation toward the Arc Reactor. Each time, the young man deftly sidestepped with a smile. He had no interest in partnering with this brainless capitalist... the cost would always outweigh the gains.

Seeing Sean evade the topic, Hammer suppressed his frustration and turned his attention to the intimidating Russian instead. As the shrewd businessman rambled on, Ivan lazily closed his eyes, arms crossed, radiating indifference.

From this angle, it was clear: geniuses rarely bothered with equal conversation when the other party's intellect didn't measure up. Whether it was Tony or Ivan, the principle was the same...

After striking out twice, Hammer was fuming. If these guys were going to be so difficult, he'd have to resort to methods beyond business.

Hammer Industries was no saint in the arms trade. Though a tier below Stark Industries, its massive scale still made it a corporate giant.

Strong-arming competitors was nothing new to Hammer. Every business empire began with dirty, bloodstained origins... even Howard Stark, hailed as the "founder of the military-industrial empire", had kicked Ivan's father to the curb the moment he saw the Arc Reactor's potential.

Even Tony, who had since distanced himself from the "merchant of death" label, had once been branded a "cold-blooded arms dealer" by the media. Reality was often bitter candy wrapped in pretty lies.

Inspirational stories might sound sweet, but believing them as truth? That was just laughable...

...

"Tony and his friend, Colonel Rhodes, will be at the military weapons symposium next week." Back in Washington D.C., Sean got into the car heading for Manhattan.

He glanced at the Russian and said softly, "Ivan, you'll restore your family's honor. But to catch up to Stark? That's not enough yet."

Ivan Vanko fell into thought. He was beginning to understand the rules of the game at the top. Scientific genius alone wouldn't get him to Tony Stark's level... he needed a platform.

"I understand… boss." The Russian nodded.

It was the first time he had addressed Sean so formally. The prideful brute from Siberia had subtly shifted his stance...

...

Sean didn't return to Umbrella with Ivan. It had been a while since he'd been home, and he wondered how his lazy little gremlin was doing...

Maybe he should bring Mindy a gift, or a surprise.

Arms loaded with snacks and game discs, Sean stood at his doorstep, and quietly unlocked the door. Before he could even step past the foyer, a clear conversation reached his ears:

"Mindy, sweetest Mindy, I want more…"

"No! You'll get fat! And this is the last bag!"

"But I'm so hungry."

"Gali, why are you always starving? You've already eaten all my chips, soda, and ice cream!" A pleading female voice tangled with a fierce little girl's protests.

Sean set down the bags and took in the scene... the floor was littered with snack wrappers, 'Kill Bill' played on the TV, game discs were scattered around, and soda bottles everywhere...

"Then I'll go clean. Mindy, what do you want for lunch? I can only make sandwiches…" the meek voice asked.

"The maid is coming later. Anyway, since Sean's not here... heehee... I can finally enjoy my happy, free life again!" The little gremlin sprawled on the couch, utterly carefree.

Mindy sipped her soda, looking as content as a well-fed hamster curled up in the soft cushions. Meanwhile, the girl in the purple dress beside her suddenly froze, her expression turning strange.

"Why are you looking at me like– AHH!" Dangling in mid-air, Mindy kicked her little legs frantically.

When she twisted around and saw the murderous expression on Sean's face, her own instantly shifted. Big eyes welling up with fake tears, she wailed, "Sean! You're back! I missed you so much! Life's been so hard without you…"

"Oh really?" Sean remained unmoved, "How many ice cream bars are left in the fridge? How many bags of chips?"

"That… that wasn't me!" Mindy shot a desperate look at her friend, but the purple-clad girl had entered some kind of trance the moment Sean appeared.

"Hmph." Sean held the squirming gremlin like a misbehaving kitten, and pinched her chubby cheeks and stretching them outward.

After some playful torment, he turned to the other girl and said gently, "Give me a minute."

Then he marched straight into Mindy's room.

*Whack!* *Thud!* *Smack!*

A few minutes later, Sean emerged, looking perfectly composed.

"Hello, Gali" He smiled at the girl.

She didn't seem like a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent... physically, she appeared completely ordinary.

The girl nodded shyly, her nose twitching slightly as she stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. A pink tongue unconsciously licked her lips.

In her perception, the young man radiated a golden glow... The glow was warm like sunlight, brimming with vitality and life... it felt incredibly soothing.

As her face drifted closer, Sean raised an eyebrow. Was society this open now, or was this girl another one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s honey traps, like the neighbor Miss Scarlett?

"You smell really nice…" The girl's eyes fluttered shut, as if intoxicated.

Ever since arriving on this planet, she had never been truly full. Though she tried to suppress the gnawing hunger, her instincts sometimes took over.

She didn't want to end up like her father... a terror whispered about across the cosmos, consuming without restraint.

That wasn't the life she wanted. So instead, she hid among humans and enjoyed delicious food every day, even if it never truly satisfied her.

But this was the life she chose. She just hoped her father wouldn't find her. That would be bad.

She leaned even closer. To her, pure energy was the most delicious sustenance, and in her memory, nothing had ever smelled as intoxicating as the aura around this man.

The vibrant, overwhelming life force was intoxicating, yet intertwined with something terrifyingly destructive. The paradoxical fusion was irresistibly alluring.

Sean took a slight step back, pressing a finger to her forehead to stop her advance. He wasn't that desperate.

The girl pouted as her bright eyes locked onto him. Her small nose twitched, as if savoring the scent of that pure, enticing energy...

"Can I kiss you?" Gali asked, her eyes wide and utterly sincere...

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