Marvel's Death Merchant

Just then, the phone rang again. It was the Umbrella company's car, ready to go. "Rebecca, your car is waiting for us downstairs. Let's get going."

"Thanks, but I'm still late," Jill said helplessly.

“It’s okay, at worst we’ll get a scolding, it’s nothing serious,” Rebecca reassured Jill.

“Okay, let’s go quickly.” Jill got up and quickly picked up her toothbrush.

Rebecca smiled at Jill, who was standing there scrambling around, and said, "I'm going down now. If Wesker punishes you by not letting you eat at the police station at noon, I'll treat you to lunch, because we're best friends."

"Okay! Be careful." Jill said with a smile, her mouth full of toothpaste foam. Rebecca smiled and shook her head at Jill's disheveled appearance, opened the door, and got into the Umbrella Corporation car to wait for Jill.

Jill put on her Stars uniform, combed her hair, put on her beret, slipped on her shoes, tore down the calendar from the wall that read "June 1, 1998," and grabbed her bag. She hung her service pistol and drove to the police station.

After finally getting into the car, she and Rebecca thought their lateness was over, but to their dismay, the car broke down just before they reached the police station. Staring at the thick smoke billowing from the engine and seeing their driver's helpless expression, they had no choice but to get out and sprint away. Confused passersby mistook them for two police officers chasing a thief.

"Huff! Huff! Huff!" Jill was panting heavily, her hands on her knees. She was so tired that she couldn't even climb the steps of the police station in front of her. She had been exercising less lately and her physical strength had weakened.

“Jill, you’re late again. I’m speechless. Rebecca is usually pretty punctual, even though your schedules are different.” Jill looked up and saw Richard standing on the steps. He was the liaison for the Stars team. The Stars team, also known as the Alpha team, included Barry, Chris, and Jill, all of whom held very high positions in Japan.

"Hello, whew. Richard, whew!" Jill gasped as she tucked her bangs behind her ear.

"Your car must have broken down, otherwise why would you be so tired? Wesker, who just got back from Paris, is waiting for you in his office. If this keeps up, you'll only be able to become a traffic cop."

"Where are you going?" Jill asked, puzzled.

“I… I’m sick and need to go to the hospital. And I’ve already asked Wesker for leave,” Richard said to Jill with a smile, then walked down the steps.

Jill strode heavily into the Stars team's office area. "Hey! Isn't this our member Jill? You're back late, aren't you?"

Brad, the pilot of Alpha Squad, made a remark that drew laughter from the Stars members present. "Ignore him, he's got no redeeming qualities other than flying planes and accidentally firing his pistol," Rebecca said, stopping Jill's attack on Brad. Rebecca was eighteen years old and had just graduated from university. She joined Stars because of her genius-level chemistry skills, and was currently in a squad with Jill.

“Sigh, when will you guys ever get rid of this habit?” Barry walked over while wiping his beloved pistol with a rag. He was the gunsmith for Stars and a member of the Alpha team.

“Well… I didn’t want to be like this either, but… I was still late.” Jill explained helplessly, looking at Wesker who had just arrived from the Paris branch.

“Jill, come here. I want to ask you why you’re late.” Captain Wesker interrupted their conversation from the doorway of his office.

“Jill probably won’t get lunch, but I’ll treat her,” Brad said to Wesker with a smile.

“Suit yourself,” Wesker replied without hesitation. Jill slunk after Wesker, bracing herself for another scolding.

"How many times have you been late already, Gil? If you don't want to consider changing careers, just answer honestly." Wesker, the captain of Stars who came from the Paris company and was also Tang Tian's subordinate, looked at the silent Gil with a blank expression.

Jill was afraid of Wesker's cold face, and because Wesker's sunglasses were reflected by the ceiling light so that his eyes were not visible, Jill felt strange and speechless when she saw Wesker sitting expressionlessly in his office.

“That expressionless guy,” Jill muttered in the quietest of voices, venting her frustration.

"What? What did I just hear? With a blank expression, I mean, this isn't the time for jokes, Jill. It seems you really aren't suited for this job." Wesker, expressionless, clasped his hands together on his desk.

Jill was startled. She was still quite afraid of someone as powerful as Wesker, and thought to herself that this guy had super hearing.

“No, no, I didn’t say anything, you misheard,” Jill explained, feigning innocence.

“Whether you said it or not, if you’re late again, automatically place your badge and pistol on my desk. I’ll hand them over to Chief Elons; I have that authority in Japan. Giving your lunch to Brad is another punishment for you. Think things through before you do anything, Jill. I’m keeping you on temporarily because I haven’t found a more suitable replacement yet,” Wesker said calmly.

Just as Jill was about to turn and leave, Wesker called her back. Jill's expression instantly became quite interesting as she grinned and asked helplessly, "Is there anything else?"

“Jill, you’ll be going to the Arklay Mountains with Chris.” Jill breathed a sigh of relief, and Wesker gestured for Jill to sit on the sofa opposite him.

“The whole incident is rather bizarre. There were no witnesses, and the situation at the scene didn’t seem to be the work of bears, wild dogs, or other animals. It looked like a human attack.” Wesker interrupted Jill before she could finish her assessment.

"Alright, this is just a preliminary speculation. Quickly write a detailed investigation report outlining what needs to be investigated. And while you're at it, pour me a cup of coffee and put it on my desk," Wesker said calmly, exuding an air of superiority. (To be continued...)

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Chapter 130 Iron Monarch

Things develop in a connected way. Just as a butterfly flapping its wings in the tropics might cause a hurricane in a distant country, the story teaches us that small changes in initial conditions can trigger a long-term, massive chain reaction throughout the entire system.

The outcome of things is extremely sensitive to initial conditions. Even a tiny deviation in the initial conditions can lead to a huge difference in the result. Tang Tian's arrival here is like a butterfly flapping its wings, constantly changing this world.

Each time Tang Tian lands, he plays a different role. He's like a tiny, effective mechanism, correctly guiding things in the right direction. After a period of effort, he'll create a sensational effect. Stark is still developing as before, but unexpectedly, he encountered US fighter jets on his return. After playing around for a while, Stark contacted Major Rhodes.

After hearing Stark's explanation, Major Rhodes finally understood why Stark had shut down the company's weapons division. It turned out that Stark was researching such powerful high-tech weapons. He even felt a sense of anticipation, and the idea of ​​owning the Iron Man suit slowly took root in his mind, hoping that one day he would become Stark's loyal comrade-in-arms.

Meanwhile, Pepper Potts discovered a hidden disk containing a blueprint for a humanoid mechanical suit of armor in Stark's office at headquarters. If Tang Tian were there, he would recognize it as the very document Stark left behind in the cave at the Terror Base. It seems Obadiah must have gone to great lengths to obtain Stark's Mark I Iron Man suit, left in the desert, from Thiek, a result of Tang Tian's intervention.

Stark Industries. "Hello, Agent? Could you come to Stark Industries? I need to talk to you about something. When? Ideally, immediately!" He reached the stairwell, glanced around, and Pepper Potts, noticing him, immediately answered the phone, speaking softly.

"Tony, you always manage to make good stuff, don't you?" A cold, mocking voice rang in Pepper's ear as a pistol was pointed at her head.

“I’m glad Tony’s invention has brought us even more terrifying weapons. To be honest, I don’t want to kill someone as smart as you. But I really can’t let you live either,” Obadiah Stane said casually after deleting all the evidence.

"What exactly do you want?" Pepper Potts asked Obadiah Stane.

“Of course, what do I want to do? I want to truly change the world by controlling weapons. It’s a noble ideal, isn’t it? Just like Donald, the current big boss of Umbrella Corporation.” Obadiah Stan gently pulled the bolt, his eyes filled with envy as he spoke.

However, the clever Pepper Potts managed to escape and contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who had already arrived. Meanwhile, Obadiah Stane went to Stark's lab, preparing to go to the reactor. He was going to don the Iron Man suit he designed for himself, or rather, the Iron Monger. He knew his own combat abilities were utterly pathetic, no match for the vast power of the Umbrella Corporation, so he was preparing a secret weapon.

Stark's Private Research Institute

Tony Stark dried his hair with a towel, walked to the sofa, and took out his phone from inside the sofa. There were several missed calls on the screen, including from Rod and Pepper.

"Has something happened?" Tony Stark had just dialed Tang Tian's number when his body trembled, his eyes widening in disbelief. But Tang Tian had already received the call. He knew Stark had definitely been taught a lesson. However, he wasn't as worried as he thought.

“Remember this thing?” Stark’s very familiar voice rang out, snatching his phone and throwing it on the ground. Yes, it was the very same nerve-numbing device Stark had invented, and that person was Obadiah Stane.

“Although it hasn’t received approval from the military, it seems to be working quite well right now.” Obadiah Stan stood up and then put the nerve paralysis device into his pocket.

“Tony, the biggest mistake you made was giving the company’s weapons division to that guy Donald. He’s not you; he’s a very powerful business rival. That’s why I need you dead. I’ll get what I want through my own means.” Obadiah Stan said, pulling a tool from his pocket and then removing a small arc reactor.

“Look, Tony, this is what you invented. It’s the core of the most powerful weapon I need. I can change the world with it, using my most powerful mech suit.” Obadiah Stane said excitedly after placing the miniature arc reactor into the prepared box.

A minute after Obadiah left, a jet-black Iron Man fell from Stark's personal research facility.

"Stark, wake up." Tang Tian used supersonic flight to arrive next to the pale-faced Tony Stark.

"Donald, everything's over. Obadiah has taken the reactor's power. He'll use weapons just as powerful as yours against you. I know your Iron Man suit is even more powerful. Go and destroy Obadiah!" Tony Stark said anxiously, panting heavily.

"Obadiah, it was a mistake not to kill you outright, and you won't die, buddy. We should fight together." With that, Tang Tian took out a disposable palladium battery reactor and shoved it into Tony Stark's chest. Tang Tian didn't use a more advanced energy source because he didn't want to significantly impact the plot.

“We need to stop Obadiah immediately,” Stark said with a serious expression, now that he had recovered.

"Yes, get ready for battle," Tang Tian said casually.

By this time, Tony Stark, with Jarvis's help, had begun donning his Iron Man armor. The gold and red suit featured a large, gleaming lightbulb on the chest. Stark's Mark II was significantly more advanced than the first generation's massive suit.

“Come at me all at once, Donas,” Tony Stark said, raising his steel right hand.

"Of course, it would be my honor." Tang Tian said, and then their fists collided at the same time, sparking a flame of friendship. Their friendship was getting better and better.

The changes in the Marvel universe are now perfectly under Tang Tian's control, which is more conducive to his own development—a very important matter. Many geniuses are hidden in this world, and it's crucial to discover them to avoid affecting many things. Furthermore, this allows Umbrella Corporation's power to continuously expand, transforming it into a global super-corporation. (To be continued...)

Chapter 131 Resident Evil

With Tang Tian's help, Tony Stark successfully defeated Obadiah, meaning S.H.I.E.L.D. ultimately provided little assistance. After obtaining Stark Industries' technology, Tang Tian upgraded the Terminator weapons, significantly enhancing his forces' combat capabilities.

However, at the press conference where Iron Man finally appeared, Tony Stark admitted that he was Iron Man, and a high school student working as a reporter named Peter Parker took notes. Victor Doom and Reed Richards' team also discussed investment in space research with Stark Industries and Umbrella Corporation.

Tang Tian naturally knew the source of the Fantastic Four's superpowers, so he invested in the research with Stark. Tang Tian's idea was to give Stark superpowers and optimize his own genes, which was also very important. Tang Tian was aware of what was happening in the Akurey Mountains of Japan and had already made preparations for what was to come.

Like most powerful leaders, Wesker demands absolute obedience and respect. He is ordered to take control of Stars, which includes two squads, Alpha Squad and Bulava Squad, and Stark mandates that all members must obey his orders without hesitation. The two squads rotate among themselves and are assigned different tasks, only deploying simultaneously in cases of great importance.

Alpha Squad was directly under Wesker's command, while the captain of Bulava Squad was directly appointed as the deputy commander, Lieutenant Enrique Marini. This made perfect sense; Raccoon City was indeed a gathering place for Umbrella Corporation members, and it was obviously a place for experiments.

"Captain Wesker, here's your phone." Richard, who was standing next to him, handed him the phone.

"Who called?" Wesker asked expressionlessly, because he generally looked down on most people.

“Board of Directors, Mr. Donald,” Richard replied respectfully.

"Hmm, is Wesker's situation going well? Have you discovered Alice's existence?" Tang Tian's serious voice came from the other end of the phone, clearly indicating that this matter was very important.

“Yes, I have already received Jill’s orders. And as the manager of the hive, I have had my men provide Alice with information, so please rest assured.” Wesker’s expression remained unchanged; he certainly wouldn’t forget the benefits Tang Tian had given him. His subordinate, Ada Wong, was Alice’s informant, but he had only temporarily revealed some secrets to her.

It turns out that Tang Tian's plan for Jill had already begun in the beginning, in order to monitor the Stars team and protect Umbrella's interests in Raccoon City. Therefore, he sent Wesker, who was in the Paris branch, to be the captain of the Stars team, and at the same time, he arranged for Ada Wong to come into contact with Alice to gradually develop the plot.

Umbrella wasn't overly worried about its own interests, even though it was conducting large-scale research on biological weapons—in other words, spending huge sums of money on dangerous projects instead of producing medicine. However, everything was still in balance, so as not to jeopardize future development and thus lose its own interests.

"If that's the case, then I'm relieved. Okay, keep up the good work." Barry hung up the phone and said to Jill with a smile.

"Look who's here. Wesker didn't yell at you, did he?" Brad smiled at Jill, who had just entered, clearly pleased with him after watching the spectacle.

“Captain Wesker is punishing you by depriving you of lunch, haha… Ah!!” Jill didn’t say anything. Rebecca couldn’t stand it anymore. She came over, grabbed the half-eaten bread from Jill’s lunch on the table, and stuffed it all into Brad’s mouth. This temporarily shut him up, and he almost choked to death.

"That's really great, truly spectacular!" Alice, who had just emerged from the beehive, exclaimed with a laugh upon seeing the tomb.

"Look who's here, your friend Alice, the manager of Tokyo Beehive." Brad took the bread out of his mouth, pointed at Alice who had just entered, and greeted her.

“You’re here to take Jill out to dinner, right? She’s inside,” Chris said from the side.

“Yes, we went to a Western restaurant in Tokyo with Jill, right, Alice?” Rebecca said sincerely, looking at her friend Alice’s reply.

“That’s right, Rebecca,” Alice smiled and said to Rebecca. These people were all members of the Umbrella Corporation’s branch office in Raccoon City, Japan, sent there specifically to orchestrate appropriate storylines.

Jill quickly went out with Alice and Rebecca, and then sat down at a table in a Western restaurant. The waiter came over and asked them what they would like to eat, and Jill told them to order whatever they wanted.

"How have you been, Jill?" Alice smiled happily at Jill. Alice and Jill had a very good relationship.

"Three medium-rare steaks, two pasta dishes, and three lemonades, please." Alice knew exactly what her friend liked to eat, so she handed the menu to the waiter and gave him a satisfied smile.

"Alice, what brings you here today? You usually have so much free time," Jill said, glancing at Alice who had just pulled out a chair and sat down. She smiled at Alice's seat and leaned back in her chair.

“Of course, I recently discovered a murder case in the Arklay Mountains at my beehive research facility, which I find very strange. So I came here to clear my head,” Alice said casually.

"You actually know about the recent murders in the Arklay Mountains?" Jill asked Alice with some surprise.

“Yes, what’s wrong? Is something strange?” Alice asked Jill, puzzled.

Recently, TV Tokyo has been broadcasting news about a murder case in the Akurey Mountains, but Umbrella Corporation has maintained a very tight blockade.

“I don’t think the killer is an ordinary person,” Jill said softly. In fact, she already knew part of the truth.

"Perhaps it was done by mutants. Mutants' abilities are quite unique. Mutants exist in Japan, and recently there have been mutants in the United States as well. The new superhero Tony Stark has also appeared recently, so perhaps it's not surprising," Alice said after thinking for a moment. She clearly hadn't considered the issue with her own company. Although her informant, Ada Wong, had provided enough information, it was obviously not being taken seriously.

"Okay, let's not think about these things anymore. Don't bring work here." Rebecca changed the subject, which lightened the atmosphere.

"Here's your order." The waiter had already brought the food while they were talking.

"You didn't eat lunch, did you, Jill?" Alice said with a smile.

“No, Wesker didn’t let me eat because I was late, and he gave my portion to Brad,” Jill said helplessly.

"Since you haven't eaten, eat more!" Alice said, cutting half of her steak into Jill's plate, while Rebecca shared half of her pasta with Jill. Jill certainly couldn't eat that much, but her feelings for their friendship deepened even more.