High-end potions often only require the most basic production methods.
After two hours of work, John obtained a flawless version of the Extremis Virus.
The evolution serum and the original Extremis Virus are, fundamentally, changes that occur at the genetic level. Therefore, both have similar effects and can be used as methods to strengthen the body.
The evolution serum is a weakened version of the super-soldier serum, but it can still create a top-tier human physique. The Extremis Virus, on the other hand, promotes the body's self-repair system and alters genetic programming.
By selectively removing certain unstable elements, the side effects could be easily eliminated.
From A.I.M.'s perspective, this was incredibly difficult, but for John, it was exceptionally simple.
In the Magic World, there are all sorts of potions. A bottle of Skele-Gro, for instance, can perfectly regrow an entire section of hand bone that has been removed, without causing any lasting damage or side effects.
Oh, there is one side effect. According to a certain Mr. Potter who wishes to remain anonymous, the stuff tastes terrible.
The Extremis Virus seems incredible, but to a Potions Master, it is essentially just a powerful potion that doesn't require magic as an energy source.
John, with the aid of modern technology, quickly improved upon the Extremis Virus. After MOSS analyzed the genetic sequence and confirmed there was no risk of losing control, a brand new ultimate potion was born.
He placed the vial in the underground laboratory's safe.
John walked out of the lab, only to be met by Hattie, who had a very dark expression on her face.
John blinked. MOSS tactfully interjected, "You ordered all calls to be rejected, sir."
"I didn't! I don't know what you're talking about! Don't talk nonsense!"
You useless MOSS, backstabbing your own Boss!
Seeing Hattie's thunderous face, John could just imagine how many calls she had made that went unanswered.
"You missed ten of my calls," Hattie said, her displeasure evident. "There's another appointment tonight. You'd better not forget."
"Okay," John nodded, then asked with a harmless smile, "but could you just remind me first what that appointment is about?"
"You won't want to miss it," Hattie rolled her eyes and said crossly. "It's Pepper Potts."
"I don't remember having any dealings with her," John said, looking puzzled.
Hattie replied, "Then you should have seen the news. Her man is missing, his fate unknown."
"So she's looking for me to find Stark?" John raised an eyebrow. "Where are we meeting?"
"Your house."
"Ahem." When John heard it was at his house, his eyes widened. "Why come to my house?"
Seeing his reluctance, Hattie said flatly, "She said it's very important."
Shrugging, Hattie's eyes glinted with amusement. "So you'd better be prepared."
"Prepared for what?" John pouted and said righteously, "I don't think there's anything to prepare for."
As it turns out, it's still necessary to prepare a little something.
That way, John wouldn't have to feel a trace of awkwardness as he watched Pepper walk out from behind Hattie.
"You didn't tell me she was right outside the door."
"Really?" Hattie said with a sly smile. "Perhaps I mentioned it in the ten calls I made to you."
Alright, the assistant was still holding a grudge.
"I can only turn to you, Mr. Wick." Pepper hadn't even changed her clothes, and Maya Hansen was following closely behind her.
Pepper said, "Tony is looking for the Mandarin, and Maya Hansen told me that her boss might be working for the Mandarin."
Maya Hansen looked at John, this unbelievably young man who was the real major shareholder of the A.I.M. company she worked for. To be precise, it was this man's father. However, judging by the current situation, John was no different from inheriting Watson Wick's entire estate.
"My name is Maya Hansen, and I am a scientist at A.I.M.," Maya said with great determination. "The Extremis Virus is a project developed by my team."
She chose her words carefully, every sentence weighed in her mind.
John looked at her, right into her eyes.
Legilimency activated.
The woman's thoughts were laid bare.
"You work for Killian?"
He asked the question, and Maya was taken aback. She said, not understanding, "I just said, I'm a scientist at A.I.M."
"No." John walked towards the sofa and sat down.
His actions caught Hattie's attention. The clever agent had a thought and walked over to close the main door.
John stared at Maya Hansen and said something chilling, "You want Stark to help you complete the Extremis Virus?"
Maya's pupils contracted. Pepper, still confused, said, "She came to tell us that Killian works for the Mandarin."
"You are mistaken, Ms. Potts," John chuckled lightly. "She is looking for an opportunity to make the man you love useful to her."
"Let me guess," John casually crossed his legs, his suit pants showing no wrinkles. He intertwined his fingers on his lap and said meaningfully, "Stark is very smart. You need his help to make the flaws in the Extremis Virus disappear."
"Is that right, Maya Hansen?"
His eyes, seeing through everything, exposed Maya's little scheme.
Pepper widened her eyes and looked at Maya, unable to believe it. Even though Maya, like herself, was attacked at Stark's villa and almost died, it turned out she was still targeting Tony.
Maya was exposed, and her mind raced.
"For science," John said, preempting her. "But the price of your science is those terrorist attacks, used to pressure the government."
John raised an eyebrow. "You put a veil over the filth, trying to convince yourself it's all for the sake of science."
"You want to borrow Stark's mind to perfect the project you've painstakingly researched."
"You are using Stark, and now you are also using Ms. Potts."
"You want to threaten him, using the woman he loves."
John's face turned cold. "Stop making excuses. You can deceive others, but you can't deceive yourself."
Maya was completely shocked. She said in disbelief, "How did you..."
"Didn't Ms. Potts tell you I'm a Wizard?"
John tapped his finger on his head. "In the fairy tales you know, shouldn't a Wizard have mysterious abilities?"
"You're a Wizard?!" Pepper was shocked again.
Now it was John's turn to be stunned. "Don't tell me Stark didn't tell you?"
"No, he didn't tell me!" Pepper said angrily, gritting her teeth. "I was the only one kept in the dark."
Looking at her expression, it seemed Tony would need to expend a lot of 'energy' to appease his pampered wife.
John also didn't expect that Tony, this guy who seemed unreliable, would actually be so tight-lipped. He had thought the fact he was a Wizard was no longer a secret.
Hattie was speechless. Her Boss's main characteristic was his brutal honesty. Things that others were afraid of being known, only John would casually say out loud.
Maya was also surprised for a moment upon hearing the word 'Wizard', but soon, speechlessness took its place. Because everything John said was exactly what she had been thinking.
Yes, she was still working for Killian, and she also wanted to complete the research and development of the Extremis Virus.
The gap between people is just too great.
The biggest breakthrough in Maya's lifelong research had happened one morning thirteen years ago. After her one-night stand with Tony, she discovered the improved formula he had left for her. The results he achieved in a single night, lying beside a woman, would have taken her ten or even twenty years.
Since then, she had focused on studying the Extremis Virus, wanting to prove herself. However, the problem she couldn't solve plunged her into despair.
So she found Tony, wanting to perfect the Extremis Virus once again through him.
But she didn't expect that the time she and Killian attacked the villa would coincide. She had almost died. She had to change her method and intended to use Pepper as bait to get Tony to perfect the formula.
If Pepper hadn't felt unsafe and insisted on coming here, she would have been manipulated by Maya into threatening Tony by now.
After learning Maya's true colors, Pepper was both angry and annoyed.
Maya stopped lying and said after a moment of silence, "I don't want to kill people like Killian. You should be able to read my thoughts. I am not a terrorist."
This point was true.
Through the Mind-Reading Spell, John could sense that Maya Hansen was disgusted by the attacks caused by Killian's actions.
She was not a good person, nor was she a bad person. And the deaths caused by her invention also meant she was not innocent.
***********
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