Natasha flipped through the notebook in her hand. She glanced coldly at Beck and said, "Quentin Beck, graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a major in Computer Software and Security, later obtaining both a master's and PhD in the same field. Six years ago, you joined the Stark Group Headquarters and became a researcher in Laboratory No. 2306. You also rose to be the deputy team leader of the project and, a year later, became the team leader."
But about two years ago, you left Stark Group. You disappeared for a whole year. Upon your return, you had become Justin Balk, also a graduate from MIT and a Software Security Engineer, with an impeccable resume including work experience in major companies around the world. Leveraging this resume, you successfully gained employment at the Stella Core Space Station.
Natasha closed the notebook and stared at Beck. "Can you tell me what happened during that year?"
"That's my personal privacy," Beck said with a frigid tone.
"I hope you'll be just as tough in court," Natasha remarked. "I hope you're aware that before you left for space, 63 countries around the world had jointly passed the Human Spaceflight Safety Act No. 1, which allows for the prosecution of any individual or organization that endangers spaceflight safety. One clause stipulates that anyone who assumes another person's identity to participate in space work is considered a threat to human spaceflight safety and will face prosecution in their home country."
"Even though you've changed your identity, you haven't changed your nationality. You're still an American. According to the American Spaceflight Safety Act, drafted by Congress three years ago, anyone who threatens the safety of American spaceflight will be subjected to an accumulative sentence without an upper limit, depending on the severity of their actions."
"Moreover, according to the United States National Security Act No. 36, anyone who alters or conceals their personal identity to engage in illegal activities will also face charges under 72 different counts, including disturbing national security and obstructing justice."
"I just did a little calculation. Considering the seriousness of your crimes, you're likely to face 16 charges, totaling approximately 392 years of imprisonment."
"Do you have anything to say about this?"
"It's not my fault!" Beck struggled to sit up from the bed, yelling, "I didn't commit any crimes! It's all Stark's fault!"
"Unless you can produce evidence, it's going to be very hard for a jury to believe that," Natasha continued. "You know how serious the matter of the space station's fall is. Even the slightest association with it will not earn you any leniency from the jury."
"Let's talk about Stark," Natasha sighed, picking up another document. "Although Howard Stark isn't currently with Stark Group, the former leader and current shareholder used his authority to pull up your work records with Stark Group."
"The records show that you repeatedly refused to comply with work transfers. You even had physical conflicts with staff from other laboratories and refused to accept the group's handling of the situation, forcing them to resort to judicial measures. As a result, you owe more than two million US dollars in debts."
Natasha crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees, saying, "Personally, I can understand changing your identity to hide from debts, but what I really can't figure out is why you would cause such a mess in the lab? As far as I know, Stark Group treats its employees very well. Even for a secondary researcher like you, the salary was five to six times higher than other research institutes..."
"But that Bolent is an idiot!" Beck ground his teeth and cursed. "He belittled my research topic. Even though I became the leader of the research group, he got transferred to the administrative department and kept finding fault with me every day..."
"And that damn Peter Parker. He's in cahoots with them. On the surface, they say my research project isn't important, but behind the scenes, they want to steal my research findings..."
"Hold on a second," Natasha interrupted. "Bolent?"
The agent lowered her head to look through her documents, flashing a look of realization before saying, "He was the team leader when you were the deputy clan leader, right? You didn't get along with him?"
Beck's mouth was full of curses, uttering incoherent rants. In essence, he accused Bolent, Peter, and Stark of being in league, suppressing him outwardly, but really trying to drive him out to take over his research findings.
"About your research findings..." Natasha took a soft breath and said, "I've also accessed related documents."
Beck choked like someone's hand was squeezing his throat, letting out a short gasp, then fell silent. He feared Natasha might suspect something about Mysterio's identity.
Despite the fact that the monsters used unmodified original equipment and Mysterio's special effects were his own upgraded versions, crafted without any templates, he was still feeling guilty, worried that someone would see through him.
"I have a question. Weren't you working in software security? Why the sudden shift to visual effects? Are the highly popular, new special effects devices in the entertainment industry your masterpiece?"
"Stark stole my research findings!" Beck claimed. "But yes, those were indeed my techniques. I was just interested in that area."
"I must remind you," Natasha couldn't help but speak up, "your employment contract clearly stated that Stark Group has the right of first refusal for patents from its researchers. After formally acquiring the patents through due process, the rights to use the patents belong solely to Stark Group. The research team only retains the right of acknowledgment."
"According to Stark Group's internal files, three months after your technology was completed, Stark Group initiated the patent acquisition. All the acquisition processes were finalized half a month before you left the company. This means that the patent technology now legally and legitimately belongs to Stark Group, which has the right to earn all income from it."
"If you didn't want to give any of your independent research projects to Stark Group, why did you sign the employment contract in the first place?"
Facing Natasha's probing gaze, Beck stammered without a clear response. Then Natasha somewhat understood—he said they offered too much, right? During that long time you worked after that, haven't you ever considered why the Stark Group was willing to pay you such a high salary?
"They monopolize patents…" Beck finally choked out a term.
Whether they are monopolizing technology will be investigated by professional anti-monopoly departments. But I must remind you. If you disclose any information about this technology to others or produce it privately, and you are sued by Stark Group, the compensation for patent infringement you'll need to pay will be astronomical.
Beck turned pale.
He whispered "I didn't do it" under his breath, yet he couldn't articulate a well-reasoned rebuttal. Seeing him like this, Natasha had no options left—the female agent could only conclude that this guy was at fault.
Natasha had started with this question because she was also worried that certain people within the Stark Group might use their authority to seize technology, but based on current evidence, there's no issue with the patent acquisition process. This kind of special technology isn't Stark Group's main business, so it's not a question of monopoly. Beck isn't a victim.
Just like Natasha said, if you don't want to share the technology with others, then don't sign the contract. These big companies always videotape their contract signings, where the terms are clearly displayed. There are professional legal practitioners who explain the contract terms to the employees; there's no fraud or dual contracts involved. But Beck still signed.
It simply came down to the fact that Stark Group offered a lot. Not only was the salary six times higher than the market rate, but they also paid an additional patent fee during the acquisition. After a subsequent investigation into Beck's personal account, the money had clearly gone straight into Beck's pockets.
In this light, Stark Group appears to be the victim. They followed the contract and paid the salary, and on top of that, a hefty fee for patent acquisition. Now they also face the risk of patent leaks.
Although Natasha has never sympathized with capitalists, Beck isn't a good person either. The most unfortunate were the researchers in his same team. In case the technology really leaked, they would be the first to lose their jobs. What wrong have these ordinary people done?
Well, Mr. Beck. It seems the debt you're shouldering is going to be far far more than just a few million dollars. I hope you can repay it in your lifetime. Natasha chose to turn the page on this subject and ask for something truly useful.
One last question for today. Just answer honestly, and we'll conclude the inquiry—Who helped you change your identity?
Yet this question seemed to stab straight into Beck's chest. Suddenly, he turned pale with rapid breathing. Shiller walked over and pushed the female agent aside. He should examine Beck.
"Stress-induced apnea," Shiller turned and shouted. Nurse! Prepare for intubation!
Natasha stood up, glanced at Beck, then said, "It seems we can't proceed today. I hope you do your utmost to treat him, doctor.
"I will. You should leave now. I believe what you've learned today is enough for you to report back.
After Natasha left, Shiller went to adjust the ventilator. Severe apnea is a troublesome ailment. Patients suddenly forget how to breathe and require external assistance. Otherwise, they'd end up suffocating like fish out of water.
Luckily, Beck was in the hospital. The treatment methods here were very advanced. It didn't take long to save him. Shiller stood by the bed and looked at Beck with some helplessness, saying, "I wasn't wrong about you. You really are weak."
Beck conveyed his anger with his eyes. But he couldn't fully adapt to the rhythm of the ventilator and could hardly speak.
"Have you had prior episodes of apnea?" Shiller casually asked while adjusting the breathing tube.
Beck shook his head, his eyes a bit lifeless as he stared at the ceiling, feeling his tense windpipe finally relax a bit. Breathing became smoother.
"As you can see, I am a psychologist, and next, I'm going to conduct some psychological therapy on you," Shiller said tiredly, rubbing his forehead. "Let's start with the paperwork."
For the next approximately thirty minutes, Beck filled out several forms. Xile asked him some very basic questions then told him they were finished. Beck suspected Xile was brushing him off, but he had no evidence.
This made Beck even angrier. He felt that Xile was a sycophant who kowtowed to Stark. Because Stark paid him a hefty salary, he would try his best to please this wealthy man. Now that he was helplessly lying in bed, he was being given the run-around.
Why was the whole world targeting him???
Moreover, every time his breathing was about to stabilize or he was about to fall asleep from exhaustion, Shiller would fiddle with the ventilator or adjust the breathing tube, making it impossible for him to sleep at all. This damned doctor must be following Stark's orders to torture him!
This anger and frustration slowly brewed into a storm in Parker's heart.