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Three days later, at noon.
A stylish white vintage car drove out of the suburbs, embracing the warm sunlight and gentle breeze as it entered New York City. After reaching one of the main streets, it headed straight for the bustling business district filled with skyscrapers.
After passing through the security checkpoint.
The classic car slowly came to a stop. As the window rolled down, the driver, an elderly gentleman with a stern expression, was revealed.
He was dressed in a gentleman's suit, wearing sunglasses, and calmly handed over several identification documents to the security personnel.
The guard glanced at the documents and immediately handed them back, saying, "Hank Pym... Welcome back to New York, Mr. Pym."
"I'm not dead yet, after all."
Hank Pym quipped to himself as he retrieved his documents and drove on to a specific address.
Just yesterday morning.
The chairman who ran Pym Technologies on Hank Pym's behalf had suddenly contacted him, saying there was something important that needed to be announced at the company, and even his daughter, who served as manager, had insisted that he return to the company.
Having been retired for many years, Hank Pym didn't think much of the idea and canceled his original vacation plans to visit the company he had founded, Pym Technologies.
Pym Technologies focused primarily on engineering, specializing in high-end niche areas. Though not as famous as Stark Industries, it was still one of the more notable tech companies in New York.
When Hank Pym arrived at the main building of Pym Technologies, he saw that many businessmen, who had been invited, were already present.
As Hank Pym was about to enter the lobby, additional security guards at the entrance quickly stopped him and said, "Sir, please show your credentials or an invitation from our company.
"Take a look at that first."
Hank Pym pointed to a prominently displayed photograph of the Founder on the first floor, then removed his glasses, revealing a face almost identical to the one in the photograph.
"My apologies, sir. Please come in!"
Seeing the real founder for the first time, the guard was shocked and quickly stepped aside, bowing and gesturing in greeting.
Hank Pym didn't mind and stepped into the lobby, where he soon spotted his daughter, Hope van Dyne.
Hope, now in her thirties and unmarried, was an absolute powerhouse. After Hank's retirement, she had stayed on at Pym Technologies as the general manager.
Seeing Hope now, dressed in a mature business suit, with short hair falling over her shoulders, lightly made up, and smiling as she walked toward him, Hank Pym couldn't help but think of his late wife.
It's been nearly thirty years since the disappearance of the first Ant-Man.
The current chairman and CEO of Pym Technologies, Darren Cross, led a group of businessmen down from the second-floor lobby.
Upon seeing Hank Pym in the lobby, Cross enthusiastically clapped his hands and loudly announced, "Everyone, look! This is the founder of Pym Technologies and my mentor, Hank Pym. Please give him a warm welcome."
Hank Pym, a veteran of countless big events, stood calmly in the center of the lobby, accepting the looks and applause of the businesspeople around him.
Cross descended the stairs to shake Hank Pym's hand and, after a few cordial exchanges, said eagerly, "Now that Mr. Pym is here, let's proceed to the third-floor demonstration hall where we will reveal the purpose and significance of today's meeting.
Cross led the group to the third floor of Pym Technologies' headquarters, which served as the demonstration hall for technological product releases.
The demonstration hall was spacious and comfortably accommodated thirty people without feeling crowded. With large screens integrated into the walls and a glass and metal architectural design, the room exuded a high-end, cutting-edge technological atmosphere.
Cross, a man in his early forties, confidently took center stage in the demonstration hall, unfazed by the attention of so many high-profile individuals despite his shiny bald head.
"Since I took over Pym Technologies, I've been working to develop particle technology that can alter the distance between atoms by increasing their density and strength."
As Cross began his opening remarks, he immediately captured the attention of many in the room, but it also caused Hank Pym to furrow his brow, and a deep sense of foreboding crept into his heart.
"This revolutionary, groundbreaking idea actually originated in the hands of my mentor over thirty years ago. But why was it buried in Hank's cobwebbed notes? I do not know," Cross said calmly. "But imagine, if you will, what would happen if a soldier could shrink to the size of an insect?"
At this point, Cross ignored the paleness on Hank Pym's face and activated the control in his hand in front of the assembled businessmen.
The large screen in the room suddenly lit up and played an old historical documentary.
In the black and white footage, Hydra soldiers were mysteriously attacked by an unknown lifeform, causing them to collapse one by one. As the camera zoomed in, a tiny, insect-sized humanoid figure appeared.
"A human the size of an ant?"
Many of the viewers exclaimed in surprise.
Cross's face grew even more fervent as he declared, "Yes, an Ant-Man, the ultimate covert operative who can use his tiny size to effortlessly accomplish missions others cannot."
"Am I right, Hank?" Cross smiled as he turned to see the first Ant-Man, Hank Pym, in the crowd.
"That was just a myth," Hank Pym replied, his expression remaining calm.
"Is it? Let's call it a myth, then. But it was the idea of Ant-Man that inspired me. I thought, why not use this particle technology, along with expandable metals, to create a special item?"
Cross stepped aside to reveal a glass case slowly rising from the platform. Inside the case was a thumb-sized, wasp-shaped battle suit, almost like a miniature figurine.
"Is that..." Hank Pym's eyes widened and he could no longer keep his composure.
"This is the Wasp suit. It allows the wearer to shrink and expand at will, becoming as small as a wasp and transforming into the most deadly and ultimate combat weapon. This suit will be the ultimate weapon to end all wars!"
Cross laughed heartily and played a concept video for the Wasp suit, showing an army of Wasp warriors advancing and conquering, unstoppable by any means.
"Anyone interested in investing can place an order with me now."
With this final, ambitious statement, Cross closed the product presentation, sparking heated discussions among the businessmen, some of whom immediately began placing bids, making Cross smile like a shrewd businessman.
After leaving the showroom.
Hank Pym, looking rather displeased, called Cross aside and said in a low voice, "Darren, I hid the Pym Particle for a reason. It is not yet perfected and should not be released to the world!"
"Hank, you could have worked with me, but now it's too late. You destroyed the Pym Particle with your own hands, and now I will bring it to its full potential."
Cross was clearly not listening, and after a few dismissive words, he returned to discuss orders with the businessmen.
Hank Pym remained silent. Just then, Hope approached him and whispered, "Father, Darren still trusts me. Give me the Ant-Man suit and I'll handle this."
"No, you're not the right person for this," Hank Pym shook his head without hesitation, then muttered, "But I do have someone in mind who might be able to handle it."
After Hank Pym and the group of businessmen left Pym Technologies headquarters.
Cross returned alone to the demonstration hall and spoke respectfully to an empty corner, "Mr. Kyle, everything you instructed has been completed."
His voice echoed faintly in the empty hall. As the scene around him began to fade, the Wasp suit on the platform, the large screens, all vanished.
The room was now empty, with only a few hovering drones working overhead, their cameras turning off the ultra-realistic simulated holographic display they had been projecting.
No one knew that everything they had just witnessed was a large-scale illusion created by advanced technology.
Cross, who had previously appeared as a bald man, returned to his true form - a young man with a beard, wearing a glass helmet and holding a drone controller.
In the previously empty corner of the room, Kyle sat in a chair with his legs crossed and looked up at the bearded young man, "Well done, Quentin Beck. Although Howard introduced you, your ability to blur the line between reality and illusion certainly came in handy.
Quentin replied excitedly, "Thank you, Mr. Kyle, for giving me a stage to showcase my talents. I hope to continue to serve you."
Kyle nodded, "That will depend on your next performance. We need to put enough pressure on Hank Pym, otherwise the Ant-Man won't reveal himself so easily."
"Understood," Quentin enthusiastically accepted the assignment.
(End of this chapter)
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