On the training ground,
Zaire's tall figure flashed around like a phantom.
The metallic floor was cluttered with obstacles and mannequins constructed from materials scavenged from David's building supplies.
As his powerful frame dashed forward,
His palm accidentally brushed against a metallic mannequin.
Sharp fingertips effortlessly gouged several deep grooves into the surface of the metallic figure!
Before long, Zaire, his skin flushed, gradually slowed down.
The fangs in his mouth slightly revealed themselves,
As he gasped for air.
The Heart of Leman Russ granted much more than a second life.
First, with blood circulating rapidly throughout his body,
Zaire's endurance saw a significant boost.
Along with that came a considerable increase in explosive power.
Most importantly, his heightened senses endowed him with unparalleled accuracy!
He didn't even need vision.
With just his sense of smell and hearing, he could pinpoint a target's location and strike it with precision!
Of course, that also required a deep familiarity with the weapon he wielded…
Zaire took a deep breath
And approached David standing by the edge of the training ground.
Before he could say anything, a faint floral scent caught his attention through his instinctively twitching nostrils.
Zaire turned his head slightly
And immediately saw Jessica walking toward the training ground from hundreds of meters away,
Holding a pot of blooming peony camellias.
As they drew closer,
Jessica blinked a few times upon seeing Zaire's appearance.
She raised an eyebrow and said:
"Boss, your look today… is definitely one of a kind."
Zaire, his hair completely gray, smiled faintly.
He twitched his nose, exposing his fangs:
"The flowers are nice… Black woman, over thirty, and judging by the smell of disinfectant, a nurse or doctor?"
Jessica's eyes widened instantly as she instinctively ran her hand through her short hair.
Staring in shock at Zaire's wolf-like turquoise eyes, she asked:
"Boss, did you gain superpowers too?"
"This isn't a superpower, just some peculiar instincts…"
Zaire shook his head slightly.
Squinting his wolf-like turquoise eyes, he continued:
"Well then, since you're back… let's have a meeting."
At the metallic round table in the base's center,
It was already laden with various delicacies from the Warhammer universe.
Grox leg meat was being meticulously grilled by David, releasing an enticing aroma.
Next to the blooming peony camellias, Jessica was downing cup after cup of the Astra Militarum's drink, "Green Bull."
Zaire, holding a glass of rich wine from Paragon's satellite, "Gres," slowly sipped at it.
"Jessica, first, thank you for your efforts toward addressing our health issues."
Zaire, smiling faintly, raised his glass toward Jessica, whose cheeks were flushed.
"… How did your contact go?"
When her boss asked,
Jessica, seated across the round table, quickly swallowed a piece of unchewed Grox meat.
Smacking her lips at the oily taste, she said:
"Claire's been a friend of mine for years. She's a skilled night-shift nurse and very warm-hearted…"
"But her mother has been bedridden for years, and her daughter is now of school age. A nurse's salary alone is no longer enough to support her family."
Zaire's wolf-like turquoise eyes narrowed slightly.
Swirling the wine in his glass, he softly asked:
"If money can solve the issue, then it's not a problem… Did you settle the price?"
"Uh… Boss, I took the liberty of offering Claire five thousand a month, with the condition that she's on call. She's not frivolous and can keep secrets, so…"
Jessica hesitated slightly,
Cautiously explaining to Zaire.
However, Zaire maintained his faint smile as his fangs subtly emerged. He grinned and said:
"Jessica, I trust your judgment. Tell your friend her salary is doubled."
Upon hearing Zaire's response,
Jessica, her cheeks flushed, broke into a radiant smile.
She raised her glass toward Zaire and said boldly:
"Boss, thank you on Claire's behalf! Bottoms up for me, your call!"
Before finishing her sentence,
Another cup of "Green Bull" disappeared into Jessica's mouth.
Zaire, with a resigned expression, took a sip from his wine glass.
Then, raising his chin, he gestured toward David, who was acting as the chef:
"David, give us an update on Roxxon Industries' current situation."
"As you wish, my lord."
David tilted his metallic head.
While grilling the meat, blue light beamed from his eye sockets.
Chemical formulas and numerous files were projected above the round table.
"After the infiltration of Red River Orphanage, our only gains were a sample of Compound No. 5 and several hard drives. However, since the location was merely an abandoned early-stage lab, the hard drives contained very little information…"
"A few early human experiment data sets, some unknown chemical formulas—I suspect they're related to the compound, but deciphering their specifics will require experts to experiment and deduce…"
As he spoke, David's gaze shifted to Jessica, who was continuously downing alcoholic drinks,
And then to Zaire, whose wolf-like turquoise eyes were wide open.
"I suspect none of us here are skilled in chemistry or biology… So, I'll just state the facts; let's discuss more practical matters."
Facing David's teasing,
Zaire bared his fangs and glanced at the slightly intoxicated Jessica.
Then, his sharp fingers scratched at his chin as he fell into thought.
His mastery of combat was unparalleled.
Even Jessica's training had veered toward combat under his guidance…
While he had many gang foot soldiers,
He lacked a single competent scientific researcher.
As Zaire sank deeper into his thoughts,
David continued:
"My recent investigations show that Roxxon Industries' CEO, Dario Agger, frequently travels between the Americas and Europe. Unless it's a major conference, he never docks. His large yacht, the 'Minotaur,' serves as his mobile office."
"Furthermore, given the nature of a multinational corporation, simply eliminating a CEO wouldn't hinder their operations. If we launch a series of decapitation strikes, targeting board members scattered across the globe, we'd face a manpower shortage and provoke strong retaliation from governmental forces…"
At this moment, a model of the large yacht was projected above the metallic round table,
Pulling Zaire's thoughts back to reality.
"What would be most vital to such a massive multinational corporation?"
Squinting his wolf-like turquoise eyes, Zaire tapped his cheek with his sharp fingertips and slowly asked.
"Money!"
Jessica raised a hand with wide eyes.
Simultaneously, David added:
"My lord, it's profits."
"David, if we attempt to manipulate the stock market and suppress their stock price… could we force the board members scattered worldwide to gather on Agger's yacht?"
Zaire licked his fangs with his tongue,
Squinting as he questioned David.
"Roxxon Industries can't have no enemies, right? The nature of capital ensures they must have adversaries…"
"My lord, that seems like a very clever idea…"
As David's mechanical voice trailed off,
News reports began projecting from his eye sockets.
"Hammer Industries, AIM, Pym Technologies… Oh, their current rival is Stark Industries, which is developing clean energy. Roxxon Industries has far more enemies than expected. Several medium-sized firms are also trying to escape lawsuits from their legal team…"
David explained to Zaire one by one.
"As long as Roxxon Industries' board members gather, we wouldn't even need to intervene… After all, with so many hostile parties, including weapons manufacturers, a new experimental weapon malfunction could result in a 'tragic accident' on the 'Minotaur' yacht…"
Listening to David's progressively detailed plan,
Zaire squinted his wolf-like turquoise eyes.
After careful consideration, he raised his chin slightly and said:
"David, let's go with that."
"As you wish, my lord…"
David stopped the light projection.
He brought a plate stacked a foot high with grilled Grox steaks to Zaire.
Zaire smiled faintly at David.
Then, with gusto, he began his meal.
Perhaps Zaire's way of eating was too eye-catching.
Even Jessica, who had already eaten plenty of steaks, couldn't resist and went back for more.
Rejecting David's offer to grill more, she insisted on handling it herself.
By the time Zaire finished replenishing his energy,
Jessica's steaks weren't even done, and she had consumed so much alcohol that she was slumped on the metallic round table, rambling drunkenly.
With a resigned expression, Zaire stood up slowly.
He gestured for David to carry Jessica to her bedroom.
David hesitated slightly.
He walked over to Zaire and said softly:
"My lord, perhaps Ms. Jessica would prefer it if you carried her to her room personally…"
"Why should I carry her? She's just drunk, not dying…"
Zaire's wolf-like turquoise eyes widened as he glanced at the inexplicably confused David, puzzled.
"Oh, and David, inform Auntie… I won't be coming home for a while."
With that,
Zaire, in high spirits, began humming an unnamed tune.
He turned and headed toward the lounge.
As Zaire's figure disappeared completely,
David tilted his metallic head slightly.
Gazing at the drunken and slumped Jessica, he muttered to himself:
"Classic romance movie tropes really are just made up…"