They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 191 Ron Keller
A few days later, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The crowds flowed like a never-ending river, carrying accents and weariness from all over the world, surging beneath the massive glass and steel dome.

Zhuge Qing, dressed in simple casual clothes and pulling a suitcase, calmly blended into the bustling background, as if he were just an ordinary international student who came to study.

However, as he stepped out of the terminal and breathed in the air, which was a mixture of exhaust fumes and a hint of the salty sea, a figure precisely weaved through the crowd and came straight to him.

He was a middle-aged white man who looked to be around thirty or forty years old, dressed in a suit and tie, every line of which exuded just the right amount of refinement and propriety.

His blond hair was meticulously combed, and his azure eyes held a businessman's unique enthusiasm, but beneath that enthusiasm lay a subtle, hawk-like scrutiny.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Zhuge Qing?"

He smiled and extended his hand, his accent impeccable and his tone gentle.
"Welcome to New York. I am Ron Keller, a member of the Behemoth Board of Directors, and the person in charge of your trip."

Zhuge Qing's gaze sharpened slightly, but he maintained a polite smile and shook hands with the other party.

"Hello, Mr. Keller."

A slight ripple stirred within him.

Ron Keller.

He was quite familiar with this name.

In the original timeline, this core member of the Behemoth board of directors was one of the people directly responsible for the storm on Nathan Island a few years later.

In the comics, this operation mobilized a large amount of resources, including an aircraft carrier.

Such an important person actually came to the airport to greet me personally?

This is interesting.

The level of hospitality extended by the other party far exceeded his initial expectations.

"No need to be so polite, just call me Ron."

Ron Keller's smile seemed to easily bridge the gap between people, and he waved.

Immediately, a servant in a black suit took Zhuge Qing's suitcase and led him to a black Lincoln sedan parked by the roadside.

"We must be tired from the journey, let's get in the car first."

As the car door opened, a luxurious yet understated aura wafted out.

The interior features top-grade tanned leather with excellent sound insulation. The moment the doors close, the noise from the outside world is completely shut out, leaving only the smooth and almost inaudible hum of the engine.

The vehicle smoothly merged into the traffic, and the skyscrapers outside the window receded like a steel forest.

“Mr. Ron, if I may be so bold, I am very curious as to why Behemoth would extend an invitation to me, and why it would be personally handled by a director like yourself.”

In this created, enclosed space, Zhuge Qing was the first to break the silence. He looked out the window and asked in a casual tone.

Before answering your question, I'd like to hear your perspective on what kind of company Behemoth is.

Upon hearing this, Ron Keller's smile deepened. Instead of answering directly, he took a bottle of mineral water from the car refrigerator, handed it to Zhuge Qing, and asked in return.

This was a very clever test.

"On the surface, Behemoth is the world's largest medical supplies and biopharmaceutical company, holding an absolute monopoly in multiple fields."

While I have indeed published a few somewhat immature papers in biology journals recently, I don't think they're important enough to warrant a board member personally greeting me, are they?

Zhuge Qing took the water, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and calmly met the other person's gaze.

His words were concise and to the point, providing a public answer while humbly implying that he knew things were not so simple.

"Hahahaha!"

Ron Keller let out a hearty laugh, his bright blue eyes revealing undisguised admiration.
"Sharp, incredibly sharp! Truly worthy of being a descendant of that Marquis of Wu!"

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and his gentle tone finally carried a hint of the oppressive aura of a powerful figure in charge. "We, Behemoth, are actually a comprehensive institution that studies superhumans... oh, in your country's terms, researches and manages 'Inhumans'."

Its positioning is similar to that of "Na Du Tong" courier companies in your country.

"Oh?"

"So, you're interested in my identity as an 'Outsider'?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Qing unconsciously stroked his chin with his slender fingers, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes behind his glasses.
This really surprised him.

His papers in biology and physics are written with considerable restraint.

Although it has shown great potential, most of it is still just theory and speculation.

After all, the achievements in these two fields require massive amounts of experimental data to support them, and it would be too absurd to present them out of thin air.

He initially thought that Behemoth was interested in the research potential represented by his "world's best student" persona.

According to Ron's current statement, the other party seems to care more about his identity as a descendant of Zhuge Liang, or rather, his nature as an "Outcast".

It's important to understand that this isn't Japan, which has a special affinity for the Three Kingdoms period, but rather the United States, a country with a short history and a pragmatic culture.

Does the name of his ancestor Zhuge Kongming really carry that much weight here?
Is it significant enough that such a large organization would personally send someone at the board level to contact him?
"Haha, in a sense, I guess so."

Ron Keller seemed to enjoy the perfectly timed surprise on Zhuge Qing's face. He gestured for Zhuge Qing to calm down, and then took out a bottle of chilled champagne and two wine glasses from the car refrigerator.

With a soft "pop," the golden liquid rippled with delicate bubbles in the glass.

"Here, try this."

He handed one of the glasses over, then leaned back in his chair with a leisurely air and asked another question that seemed completely unrelated to the previous topic.

"Qing, do you think, in this world, which came first, the 'innate extraordinary people' or the 'acquired extraordinary people'?"

"A naturally gifted individual..."

Zhuge Qing took the wine cup but did not drink it. He simply swirled it gently, watching the bubbles rise and burst in the cup.

The answer to this question is obvious.

The essence of an extraordinary person lies in "cultivation".

Regardless of the civilization, every cultivation system must rely on a self-consistent theoretical foundation.

For example, their Chinese Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, and the interaction between heaven and man;
The five chakras and seven channels of ancient India, and the unity of Brahman and Atman;

Or perhaps it is the theory of the four elements of earth, fire, water, and wind in Western alchemy.

These theories are the crystallization of wisdom, gradually established by countless predecessors through observation, understanding, and summarizing the laws of nature.

This is also the fundamental reason why he previously deduced that the more ancient a civilization is, the deeper its "Heavenly Dao" force field is, and the more extraordinary schools and methods it can give birth to.

Therefore, in the primitive era before these systematic cultivation theories were established, it was impossible for so-called "acquired extraordinary people" to exist.

Those who existed in that era could only be those born different, possessing extraordinary power without the need for cultivation... innate extraordinary beings.

"Yes."

Seeing the knowing look in Zhuge Qing's eyes, Ron Keller nodded approvingly.

"Based on the archaeological findings we have collected over the years, the evolution of the extraordinary people did indeed begin with the innate extraordinary people."

His voice became deep and magnetic, as if he were telling an epic story forgotten in the depths of time.

"In the distant, primitive era before the invention of writing, those innate extraordinary beings who possessed all sorts of incredible powers were worshipped as gods by the ancient people who ate raw meat and drank blood."

(End of this chapter)