Chapter 118: Why is Everything Related to You? (Annoyed)
"Around 1999, at a Technology Gala in Switzerland, I met a female plant researcher." Tony's eyes glazed over, as if recalling the past.
"Her name was Maya Hansen. We had a very pleasant conversation, and she invited me to her room to see her research outcome."
"Just to see the research outcome," Thor asked, seemingly probing, but the smirk at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Thor," Steve interrupted, "now is not the time for jokes."
"Sorry, my mistake," Thor suppressed his smile and put on a serious expression.
Tony shrugged and continued, "She showed me her research outcome, a technology that uses chemical means to re-encode and modify genes. She called it the Extremis Virus. She wanted to use this technology on the human body to activate human body immunity and create regeneration."
"But her technology was not yet perfect," Gutrot said, transforming into Gutrot and stuffing Yang Le's brain with a great deal of chemical knowledge. This knowledge could even make Ben Tennyson a chemical expert, and of course, allow him to analyze the Extremis Virus.
"From the video recording, it can be seen that she did achieve part of it, but that man's body did not complete reprogramming. Before creating regeneration, he turned into a bomb first."
"Believe me, when I first met her, this technology was even less perfect. Using it on the human body was just a fantasy," Tony took a sip of water, the lengthy narration making his mouth dry.
Tony put down the cup and continued, "I talked with her day and night, and finally gave her some advice before leaving."
"That's all I remember."
Tony thought hard, and finally pieced together his fragmented memory. Although embarrassed, Tony still recounted his romantic history.
"Sigh~ Playboy," Hawkeye couldn't help but sigh.
'Honestly, I'd rather hear about the "talking all night" part,' Hawkeye thought to himself.
"It seems your help wasn't very effective," Natasha said.
"That man's name is Reynolds. He's a veteran. The reason for his retirement was a right leg disability. He was injured on the battlefield, resulting in the amputation of his right calf."
Steve's expression was solemn, his eyes complex. Even after hearing this topic many times, he was still moved.
"Since his retirement, he's acted like any other veteran. As for the man who traded with him, I've entrusted SHIELD with investigating him, and they are still looking into it." Natasha sighed. It was truly one wave after another. Avengers Tower was in a mess because of Ultron, and even information gathering had become difficult.
"I think I should be able to help you. Are there any other electronic devices connected to the network here?" Upgrade transformed back to his original form and returned the tablet to Natasha.
"Uh, there are some downstairs," Natasha pointed behind her.
"Thanks," Upgrade curled his body into a ball and quickly rolled towards the Tower.
"Follow Upgrade," Diamondhead said, and took the lead towards the Tower. The others followed behind him.
When everyone arrived, they saw Upgrade already starting to drill into the computer. Such a large object was actually able to drill into a small computer, and everyone was amazed.
"Okay, okay, I'm in," Eventually, Upgrade completely drilled into the computer, and the computer was covered with a layer of white light circuit board.
"Give me a little time, I'll check it out."
"Uh, what's he doing?" Hawkeye looked at Diamondhead beside him with puzzlement.
"Network intrusion," Diamondhead explained.
"I thought he could only fuse with machines," Bruce Banner remembered the big color TV from before.
"Fusion is just one of Upgrade's abilities," Diamondhead said, a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth.
"Just like network intrusion now, this is just the tip of the iceberg of his abilities. This is also why I requested his support. He can be said to be Ultron's natural enemy."
In fact, Upgrade has an advantage against most mechanical enemies. Although it is difficult for Upgrade to control sentient machines, if I can't control you, can't I just break you?
Upgrade can fuse into the interior of machines and destroy them from within. He can be said to be the hunting natural enemy of all machines, and even Ultron is no exception.
Moreover, even if Ultron intrudes into the network, Upgrade has a way, because he can also intrude into it.
"I found something, guys," the computer fused with Upgrade flashed white light in coordination as he spoke.
"This Reynolds contacted that man a few days ago. They seem to be old acquaintances. The man who gave him the Extremis Virus is called Savin, and he works under Dr. Killian of AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics)."
'AIM, which is Advanced Idea Mechanics, is also a well-known organization in comics, but unfortunately, it's not so good in the movie universe,' Yang Le's various clones thought to themselves, without any change in expression.
"Stark, do you have any impression of this Killian?" Steve asked. It's no wonder he thought of Tony first, as Tony's past record was just too extensive.
"I think I have some impression," Tony rubbed his temples in distress, carefully searching his brain for keywords related to Killian.
"Okay, I don't seem to remember."
Tony tried hard for a while and announced his surrender. It was okay for him to remember the name of a beautiful woman, but he really had no impression of this Killian.
"Then Dr. Killian might be sad," Upgrade pulled up Killian's information.
"He's your fan."
He used to be, but not anymore. Love turned to hate, and he has become your hater, the kind who wishes he could kill you.
Everyone's eyes converged on Tony. Sure enough, it was related to you again.
"Why is everything related to you?" Thor blurted out directly.
"Oh, I remember now," Tony ignored Thor and suddenly realized something after seeing Killian's photo and information.
"He seemed to be at that party in '99 too, but he looks quite different from now."
Tony frowned. The Killian in the photo and the Killian in his memory had a discrepancy. The Killian in his memory was unkempt, his leg was still lame, but he was still somewhat talented.
However, the Killian in the photo was in high spirits, dressed elegantly, and obviously well-groomed. Looking at his posture in the photo, it was clear that his leg was no longer lame.
"I remember him being a cripple," Tony scratched his head. There was a discrepancy between Killian and his memory.
"This is a photo of Killian attending an event recently, and this is a photo taken at the 1999 Technology Gala," Upgrade explained, then pulled up another photo and placed the two photos together for everyone to compare.
Everyone discovered that, indeed, Killian in '99 was still using a cane, but in the recent photo, the cane was gone.
"By the way, Miss Maya Hansen, who spent a one-night stand with Mr. Tony, is also a researcher under Killian," Upgrade said.
"It seems Mr. Killian's research and development of the Extremis Virus has been quite successful."
(End of Chapter)