Chapter 218 - 200 Rise

"Mr. Lee..."

"To distinguish me from Martin, you can just call me Lille."

"Alright, Mr. Lille, we learned that a year ago you were still in a coma, and within this year, you founded two companies.

The Bloom Company’s ctOS system will be designated as NYPD’s cooperative safety system, becoming the cornerstone of New York’s public safety, and it has received widespread approval from the public. It is set to be deployed in more regions.

The International Gene Cooperation Company has also reaped significant benefits in genetic modification technology, and even after unexpected incidents, it has shed negative impacts and gained recognition from several medical authorities.

Now, both companies have weathered the most challenging periods, and you will become the youngest self-made millionaire——

And all of this, if calculated from when you regained consciousness, took only a year’s time. Some say you have already surpassed the new-generation genius Tony Stark.

Do you have anything to say about this?"

"I would say, money is not the key, nor am I the key. I hope people can focus more on what we are doing, on the changes we are bringing."

"Speaking of this, gaining the trust of the citizens and reversing their impressions of genetic modification technology is almost more difficult than becoming a millionaire. Why not choose to abandon these two companies and start anew?"

"As an organization with advanced technology, we have the responsibility to set a better example in society rather than avoiding it.

As I said, making money is not the goal. We hope others can also see this point.

Your family beside you, the neighbors next door, and people from other parts of the world appearing on TV are the purposes of technological development.

It is people who make up society, not money or power."

"Wow, that’s a grand objective. It makes me want to vote for you as mayor——

Speaking of which, after the incidents, the citizens of New York City are very dissatisfied with the current mayor and the administration, leading to several protests.

We also received information that you earlier established a homeowners’ committee and a workers’ mutual aid association in Hell’s Kitchen. Does this mean that you also have opinions about our mayor?"

"Of course——not just opinions, I have very strong words to say to him, but since this is a family-friendly show, I’ll keep it to myself.

Yes, I have opinions about him. I am very dissatisfied with how he disregards the safety of New York. He seems to have forgotten that it was the citizens of New York City who made him mayor. He should be a servant, not an emperor.

Here, I want to recommend Anthony Flor, the joint president of the homeowners’ committee and the workers’ mutual aid association, to become the mayor of New York City.

He is a political novice, but we established these organizations together in Hell’s Kitchen and drove out criminals."

Anthony Flor, Lille’s neighbor, that loud-voiced Latino middle-aged man.

Although he rose from doing hard labor, with the increase in speaking events, he has shown great speaking talents and a strong sense of affinity.

His good brother John, the black man whose throat was pierced by Bullseye, stood for their experiences.

Not everyone has the courage and ability like Lille, but John and Anthony are just two ordinary people.

In the recent protests, the homeowner’s committee and workers’ mutual aid association they led shone brightly and cooperated very well with NYPD: the frightened politicians rushed to their homes, and no gangs or criminals took advantage of the chaos.

The homeowners’ committee provided a venting channel for the dissatisfied shop owners and landlords in the city, and the workers’ mutual aid association did the same for the bottom-tier laborers. The political forces continued to grow, forming Anthony’s political base.

And the funds for political activities? Of course, Lille and Martin provided them.

In favorable conditions, all the elements were complete, and the expansion of political power became unstoppable like a chain reaction.

"I believe the citizens of New York would rather vote for you, but since you said so, they should also believe you.

So, shall we end this interview with some good news?"

"Of course."

"Citizens of New York, the promise from the International Gene Cooperation Company: those who donate bone marrow for free can enjoy blood volumes 20 times their donation amount within 5 years, and after 5 years, they will enjoy a lifetime of blood volumes 5 times their donation amount.

Bone marrow donors reaching 200ml can enjoy a lifetime of free blood.

Of course, this policy is currently only open in hospitals controlled by the company, and you can also transfer the free quota to relatives in need of blood.

This is different from other free blood donation policies: the International Gene Cooperation Company has advanced blood regeneration technology, always keeping the blood bank full.

No more watching stingy dignitaries rush blood from thousands of miles away while you, even if reaching the donation volume, face a lack of blood in the blood bank during usage.

In the near future, your donated bone marrow might not only save your life and your family’s lives in critical moments but also help the International Gene Cooperation Company advance in biological therapy technology, solving organ shortage issues.

The International Gene Cooperation Company will also cooperate with Lee Financial to launch various medical insurances. Stay tuned."

.....

Although the Osborne Group was a technology company, Osborne held many hospitals and pharmaceutical factories.

When the situation surfaced, the company’s stock prices plummeted, and Martin naturally took advantage.

His target was not the company itself but the industries under Osborne’s control.

Factories, hospitals, labs... all ready-made industrial chains, easy pickings.

However, for many reasons, some industries of the Osborne Group were taken by other companies——

"...This company called Cyber Technology is the biggest beneficiary besides us. They took the brain-machine interface technology."

Martin walked into the office, placing a file on the desk.

Cyber Technology.

Hydra’s high-tech industry, responsible for researching military-grade combat prosthetics, just as the company name suggests.

Cyber Technology recently announced significant breakthroughs in brain-machine interface technology.

If one investigated the fund flows thoroughly, more details of asset restructuring would be found. But with no agents on hand, in-depth overseas investigations were unlikely.

Though Cyber Technology was the biggest beneficiary besides Lille, compared to Lille, who almost obtained the entire set of confidential technologies and industries, there was a huge difference.

Of course, Lille was also now heavily in debt due to adjustments.

"They moved quickly..." Lille touched his chin, "how’s the prison situation?"

"First, we acquired a small one, the new one is still under construction." Martin sat in the chair and crossed his legs, "I want to see him die in prison, but before that, he must watch the name Norman Osborn being nailed to the pillar of shame."

"I have no objections to that, you handle it. But I want to say another thing, do you want to convert your people into a security company?"

The Heart Demon Gang was a gang after all.

There were pros and cons to a gang. The pro was that it could maintain production order at low costs, reducing production costs.

But Martin himself was not involved in many black industries, mostly some sweatshops.

The con was simple, not suitable for daylight.

Now that they were a high-tech enterprise; the profitable parts could entirely support an independent security company.

Martin pondered: "It’s possible, but a security company approached us——they were initially going to sign a contract with Osborne, but for some reason, Osborne suddenly backed out, thinking they might get a contract from us."

"Which company?"

"Silver Mink Security Company. I reviewed their credentials; very professional, possessing PMC qualifications, originally mercenaries."

"That... indeed professional. We handle the confidential parts ourselves; for Silver Mink Security... I’ll arrange a place for them."

"Alright." Martin leaned back in the chair, which then spun around, "One more thing, Osborne Tower is up for auction——we should have our own landmark building."

"You want to buy Osborne Tower?"

"I want that land, then tear down that building and build a memorial or something, writing down his name and deeds on it.

That counts as one landmark, the other one..."

Martin became interested, pulled out a projection screen beside the glass, and the projector displayed a map of New York City.

He drew out their current sphere of influence: Hell’s Kitchen, several important Chinatown districts, and Osborne Tower.

Except for Osborne Tower, other places could be considered slums, becoming poorer under the economic crisis backdrop.

"We can rebuild and connect these regions. My people trust me, your people trust you. We have money and manpower, the reconstruction speed will be quick.

Then we establish our own office buildings, hospitals, schools, factories, and malls in this connected area...

Build a second Manhattan, our own Manhattan."

"Sounds good, but that’s a massive project."

"We need such a big project now," Martin looked at the outlined area, filled with ambition.

After avenging the great grievances, he sought something new to do——something the good side of him had always wanted to do.

Lille waved, "So let’s get to work, I have to visit the lab, see you later."

"Hmm."

Martin watched Lille leave the building, looking up at the dilapidated Osborne Tower.

His office building wasn’t high, neither was its location prime, but from there, he could turn back to see Osborne Tower, a reminder of the painful past.

Today, the scene he fantasized about finally came true.

He hadn’t become obsessed and lonely because of the long revenge, feeling empty at the moment of success, or lost in the moment of failure.

Instead, he succeeded, crossed the revenge hurdle, and reclaimed his former self with many things he wanted to do.

He wouldn’t call successful revenge a "good thing," as it represents an unchangeable painful past.

But thinking about no longer needing to do bad things, bearing the humiliation of plotting revenge, but embracing a different future...

That was indeed a "good thing."

Martin took out a somewhat yellowed family photo from his clothes, placed it on his chest, and closed his eyes.

A little rest was deserved.