CH 38

Chapter 38: Two Years Later

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“How’s the progress? Is there any new breakthrough with the Extremis Virus?”

Cain arrived at the biotech research center that had been completed for over a year. Currently, there was only one project team working on the Extremis Virus, and Cain had been trying to recruit more people but with no success so far.

However, in the past year, he had managed to fill up all the administrative and logistics staff at the biotech research center and then some.

“The progress is not very ideal at the moment. We only have limited data from experiments on plants and animals. We need to conduct experiments on humans to obtain more data.”

Kilian rubbed his temples and calmly stated his opinion. He particularly hoped to be involved in the process of human experimentation because the experimental data on plants could not be perfectly reflected in mouse experiments due to significant differences.

Similarly, the experimental data and experience obtained from mice may not be applicable to human experiments, and eventually, they would have to conduct human experiments.

“Kilian, don’t be like this.”

Maya shook her head and raised her voice slightly, completely refuting Kilian’s opinion. “Conducting human experiments now is tantamount to murder. The failure rate is nearly 90%. If there is no breakthrough in the next step, there is no need to conduct human experiments.”

Kilian continued to argue without backing down, “Maya, maybe the next breakthrough is in human experimentation!”

After speaking, he looked at Cain again and said, “Boss, if we don’t conduct human experiments, we may not be able to make progress in the next few years because the experiment lacks a critical step. Without that step, there can be no progress.”

“Kilian.”

“There’s no need to argue. Let’s conduct human trials. I’ll apply for an IRB review. Ms. Maya, this application will take about three months. If you don’t have a breakthrough during this time, then we’ll follow Mr. Kilian’s suggestion.”

Cain interrupted the dispute between the two and made a decision. It had been over a year, and the Extremis Virus project had cost nearly $40 million. All the expenses were currently being supported by the income from the pharmaceutical wholesale trading company. However, Cain’s patience would wear thin if it continued to drag on.

After hearing Cain’s words, Maya fell silent. She knew that the lack of progress in the research had made many people anxious recently, including herself. However, the failure rate of the Extremis Virus was too high, and she was reluctant to engage in behavior that would result in killing people for the sake of a little data.

Maya could accept Cain’s IRB proposal because the premise of approved human experimentation was that the subjects volunteered and were informed that they were selling their lives for money. This would not burden her too heavily.

The only problem was that it was costly; often, a volunteer would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and recruiting them was difficult. They could only go to some slums to buy lives.

We’ll have to think of other ways if there aren’t enough IRB volunteers. After the human experiments begin, the project will only become a real cash swallower.

However, one cannot rely solely on a single team. There are two masters of human research in the ninja world, and perhaps they can also participate.

“Next, I have something very important. Does anyone want to help their Boss complete a biology report? I’ve learned all of this, but I don’t want to waste time writing it down.”

Cain took out a university biology assignment, which was best suited for the people here to help him complete it. Most of them have a background in biology, so completing an assignment is easy.

Someone came over and took the assignment, saying, “2000 dollars.”

“Give it to me tomorrow morning.”

Cain handed over $2,000 and then looked at the latest round of experimental data on the Extremis Virus. His mind was sharp, and his learning ability was always good. Furthermore, the Extremis Virus was his hope for becoming stronger, so Cain had been working hard to study and research with Maya and Kirian.

After a year of humble learning, Cain had come to understand the principles and mechanisms of the Extremis Virus and had a full set of experimental data and two tubes of serum in his hands. As the Boss, it was easy for him to get his hands on these things.

After a while, Cain left. Compared to his last visit, his progress didn’t have much effect.

Although Cain had successfully enrolled in Columbia University, he had already been dubbed the most mysterious person by his classmates. Besides some necessary courses, Cain hired someone to take his classes for him if he couldn’t make it.

He had a lot on his plate besides the ninja world. There was a pharmaceutical wholesale trading company, a securities company he partnered with Connor and a large amount of jewelry he had to dispose of in the Hell’s Kitchen.

Luckily, Cain could use shadow clones and transformation jutsu. Otherwise, he would surely be targeted after repeatedly bringing large amounts of jewelry there.

The pharmaceutical wholesale trading company was the fastest-growing company under Cain’s management. In just two years, it had opened up markets in four regions: Mexico, South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia, and was gradually expanding.

This year’s revenue is estimated to reach over 100 million US dollars. Still, other pharmaceutical wholesalers have begun to pay attention to the overseas market and have shown signs of competing with Cain. That’s why Cain wants to develop new drugs on his own.

This market will eventually be consolidated, but Cain can try to make as much money as possible and then develop and sell new drugs, transitioning from a middleman to a source of goods.

Although he had invested a lot of money in the biotech research center, Cain’s personal assets were still rapidly expanding. Now his total assets are at least seven hundred million US dollars and nearly two tons of gold. This is just over a year’s worth of achievements, which may be slow, but it’s safe and secure.

Neither the tax bureau nor FBI nor SHIELD has come after Cain.

A year ago, Cain moved to a bigger residence than his current one, with a large basement. Cain renovated the basement into a safe house and hid there when he went to the ninja world.

“It’s about time to ask Tsunade to study the Extremis Virus and some effective drugs for some terminal illnesses. I hope she won’t disappoint me.”

Cain had decided that he and Tsunade had gotten along well during this time and also learned about Nawaki’s situation from Kushina. If he used Nawaki’s recovery as bait, Tsunade would definitely be interested in the Extremis Virus.

Cain also brought several samples of terminal illnesses and detailed data with him. He had asked around in the ninja world and found that there were many such diseases there, but they were rare among the ninja population, or they didn’t live long enough to contract them, so Tsunade didn’t pay much attention to them.

But with the temptation of a mission commission and the Extremis Virus, Tsunade would probably agree.

Next, Cain dealt with the affairs of the Marvel world, arranged for someone to take his classes in advance, and arranged all the company’s affairs before replenishing his space backpack and preparing to cross over.

The next second, Cain appeared in the ninja world.