A Marine Admiral in the Marvel Universe

"Good morning, Hank." A woman in a black women's suit with short, shoulder-length hair smiled. She had bright red lips, fair skin, and a beautiful face, but... Cao Gui glanced at her and then looked away.

Well, this Ms. Hope Pym is a bit old, and the only reason she looks good is because of her makeup; she didn't even have the idea of ​​being a worthy opponent.

It's really interesting that Dr. Pym seems to be getting younger and younger, while his daughter looks rather old.

“Oh… Hope…” Dr. Pym sighed, “Would it kill you to call me father?”

His wife was trapped in the quantum realm during a mission, and in order to find her, he devoted all his scientific talents and tried his best to bring her back from the quantum realm.

But he is not just a husband; he also has a connection to S.H.I.E.L.D. and is Hope's father.

But a person's energy is limited. On one hand, he dealt with the people from S.H.I.E.L.D. to obtain funds for research in the quantum field, and on the other hand, he focused on research to bring his wife back.

And Hope... Pym could give her everything: money, honor, technology, but she lacked nothing but love.

Moreover, fearing that his daughter might do something rash, Dr. Pym had kept the fact that his wife was still alive a secret. As a result, his daughter now ignores him and is even showing signs of turning against him.

Hope smiled faintly at Dr. Pym's words. She was no longer the little girl she once was. She had her own independent life, her own economic situation and values. This father... was indeed dispensable.

"Dr. Cross will be very happy that you took the time to come see us," Hope said with a smile, holding a stack of documents.

"It's not just happiness, it's overwhelming excitement." Bald Darren Cross left Cao Gui and the other two behind and quickly ran over to shake hands with Dr. Pym. Dr. Pym was his mentor, who had guided him all the way to where he was today. To him, Dr. Pym was both a teacher and a father figure.

Of course, in the business world, there are no fathers and sons; when it comes to interests, whoever dares to stand in your way is your enemy. So he still has respect for Dr. Pym, but it depends on the occasion and the time.

"I was utterly surprised to receive your invitation," Dr. Pym said in a deep voice. "What day is it today? Why such a grand occasion?"

“Mr. Pym, you’ll find out, won’t you, Hope?” The bald man smiled at Hope.

"Everything is ready inside, just waiting for you." Hope ignored Dr. Pym and walked into the company, using her ID card to open the door and standing outside to wait for the guests to enter.

"She's still ignoring you," Darren Close said helplessly. "Let's go."

With that, Darren Close led the guests into the exhibition hall first, while Hophanke was the last to enter.

Cao Gui smiled. Logically speaking, Hope Pym's status in the company should be on par with Darren Close's, and with the addition of inheriting Dr. Pym's shares, she should be able to outrank Darren Close.

But judging from the series of events before us... it's obvious that's not the case. She should have already been kicked out. Darren Close is mindful of her status, which is why he hasn't expelled her from the company.

It's really interesting. She teamed up with her senior, Darren Close, to kick her father out of the game, but not long after, she was kicked out by Darren Close herself, and the entire Pym Tech was completely controlled by Close.

Darren Close is a ruthless man. He didn't even have to be a live-in son-in-law to inherit the Pym family fortune. He took all of Dr. Pym's technology and company. If Dr. Pym hadn't lived so long, this Hope Pym might have become Darren Close's property.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, Darren Close first gave a grand introduction to Dr. Pym, and then began to introduce the Pym Particles. From the very beginning, everyone's attention was drawn to this bald doctor.

"Gentlemen, when I took over this company from Mr. Pym, I began researching a particle that could alter the intermolecular distance and change density and forces."

Cao Gui frowned slightly. Something was definitely wrong. Logically speaking, Dr. Pym should have kept this secret, but this bald Dr. Darren Close still knew about it. How did he find out?

Why was such a revolutionary idea buried in Hank Pym’s many studies? I don’t know.

Darren Close said, "But gentlemen, imagine how much damage a soldier, a soldier the size of an insect, carrying a deadly weapon, could cause?"

As he spoke, Darren Close pressed a switch, and a video began playing on the screen above the exhibition hall, with the logo of an organization called Strategic Dangerous Intervention and Intelligence Logistics flashing by.

Cao Gui frowned slightly. This organization was a name that S.H.I.E.L.D. had used before, which meant that the video material did indeed come from within S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Looks like there's a mole..." Cao Gui chuckled twice. This was good news. S.H.I.E.L.D. generally couldn't interfere with the normal operation of the United States, but... the presence of a mole was a different story.

Cao Gui has plenty of ways to manipulate Dr. Pym and his daughter. I don’t believe we can’t get the Pym Particles under these circumstances.

Of course, this is a last resort. If the problem can be solved normally, there is no need to resort to this extra method.

In the video, some soldiers are knocked down by inexplicable forces, and machine guns fire without anyone operating them. Then, the video zooms in, and a small humanoid creature appears in the frame.

It's not that there are no people, but that people have shrunk to a size that is difficult to observe with the naked eye, which is why this situation has occurred.

Everyone was amazed. Ants are not scary, but ants with human strength are terrifying, especially when they know how to use weapons.

Darren Close explained in detail that Hank Pym was Ant-Man, but Hank Pym denied it outright.

His wife did not enter the quantum realm voluntarily; rather, she was forcibly forced into it while being shrunk to a subatomic state.

This led him to be extremely wary of the particles he had developed, and he did everything he could to prevent his daughter and disciples from having any contact with them, even erasing the name "Pym Particles".

Unfortunately, all his efforts have come to a complete failure today.

Darren Close demonstrated his shrinking technology for non-living objects to everyone; a table and an old-fashioned desktop computer were shrunk to the size of a little finger.

This revelation shocked not only Hank Pym but also Hope Pym.

It was obvious that this was the first time she had heard about it either.

After demonstrating the shrinking technology for non-living objects, Darren Close then presented his concept of Ant-Man. Just moments before, he had asked Dr. Pym in front of everyone whether Ant-Man existed in the world, but Hank's answer was: "It's just a legend."

Now, Darren Close says he is about to complete this idea, turning the legend into reality, and he is also very excited to thank his mentor for his guidance, leaving Dr. Pym speechless.

"Alright, the new technology is temporarily complete." Darren Close clapped his hands. "Hope?"

“Thank you all very much for coming. Please follow me, I will lead you out.” Hope Pym snapped out of her daze and immediately said with a smile, looking like Darren Close’s assistant.

"Regarding this... no rush, Dr. Cross, can we talk about it?" Cao Gui said with a light laugh.

Darren Close paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course, Mr. Shareholder, how can I help you?"

------------

Chapter 441 I admit my tone was a bit harsh just now.

"I need some of your shrinking particles. Name your price," Cao Gui said with a smile.

Darren Close was slightly taken aback. The purpose of today's exhibition was not to make deals, but to attract investment.

Darren Close showcased his new research findings, demonstrating the promising future of the new technology. He explained that with funding and research, he could quickly develop the technology and reap huge profits.

But... he never even considered making a deal.

After thinking for a moment, Darren Close shook his head and said seriously, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cao, I cannot make a deal with you."

“My identity is not only that of a group leader, but also a scientist. The current shrinking technology is incomplete and immature, and I cannot use it to make a profit.”

Cao Gui gave him a strange look. What was going on?

Based on the technology shown so far, it's not entirely feasible, but to say it's immature is utter nonsense. If it weren't mature, Darren Close wouldn't even dare to showcase it.

Should incomplete technology not be used for profit?

That's impossible. So many countries in the world develop aerospace technology because simplified versions of aerospace technology can benefit the civilian sector and expand productivity. Besides things like diapers and memory foam, there are a whole host of other technologies such as lubricants and water heaters.

“Darren, you still want to surpass me…” Dr. Pym said with some emotion and deep meaning. Why did he love Darren so much back then? It was because this child was so much like himself.

Dr. Pym's words pointed out the reason why Darren Close did not want to make the deal. It was simple: he wanted to surpass Hank Pym, and disseminating the incomplete technology would affect his reputation, which would be an indelible stain on his scientific career.

So... he refused!

"I see..." Cao Gui shrugged, and with a thud, a black badge fell off his body, bearing the clear and bright logo of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry," Gwen exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise, "I accidentally dropped something!"

"Please don't mind, everyone. It's perfectly reasonable for us investment companies to carry a S.H.I.E.L.D. ID with us, isn't it?" Gwen said, shrugging.

As she spoke, Beth bent down, picked up the SHIELD badge that had fallen to the ground, and carefully put it back into Cao Gui's coat pocket.

"Honey, leaving things lying around is a bad habit."

Darren Close and Pym's lips twitched. Was this a threat? It definitely was!

With a whoosh, Cao Gui pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on, his expression instantly turning serious.

“Mr. Darren Close, you are suspected of stealing internal S.H.I.E.L.D. data and obtaining huge profits. On behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., I am now bringing charges against you.”

"First, you are suspected of planting a spy within S.H.I.E.L.D. with the intention of overthrowing S.H.I.E.L.D., which is a heinous crime."

"Second, you are suspected of colluding with Hydra Captain Steve Rogers in an attempt to target Dr. Hank Pym, one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D."

“Now, I, Cao Gui, a Level 5 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., am formally arresting you. You may remain silent, but everything you have done will be used against you in court!”

As he spoke, Cao Gui reached behind his back with his right hand and pulled out a pink handcuff, which was still covered with some tiny cobwebs...

"Sorry, I took the wrong one."

With a swish, Cao Gui quickly shoved it back and pulled out a new pair of silver-white, proper metal handcuffs.

Gwen and Beth blushed slightly, their eyes sparkling, but neither of them were ordinary people. They quickly regained their composure and looked expressionlessly at Dr. Pym and the other two in front of them.

"Ahem... I'm sorry, gentlemen shareholders." Bald Darren Close said seriously, "I admit my tone was a bit harsh just now, I'm very sorry..."

"How about this, I'll give you thirty tubes of shrinking particles for free." Bald Darren Close tapped his phone, his expression as serious as Cao Gui's.

“Although I am the chairman of the board, you are also shareholders. The company belongs to me and to you. Isn’t it normal to take things from your own company?”

"To further reassure our shareholders, we will also provide instructions on how to use the miniaturized particles and any precautions. If you need more miniaturized particles, please feel free to contact me. Our company's motto is to treat our customers like royalty!"

"Getting it right!" Cao Gui gave a thumbs up and grinned.

Hope glanced at Pym. "Darren and you look alike? Even now, you still look alike?"

“Wait, Darren!” Dr. Pym said solemnly, “There’s a reason I’ve been keeping these things sealed away. Human scientific research into the quantum realm is far too limited; we can only understand a very small fraction of it.”

"Touching the quantum realm is far too dangerous for us; we can't do that..." Dr. Pym said earnestly.

"Hank, you finally admit it!" But Darren Close ignored him and instead asked excitedly:

"This is a great technology, and you should show it to everyone, instead of hiding it from people!"

"Listen, you idiot!" Dr. Pym roared, completely enraged.

"The thirty years from 1960 to 1990 were the thirty years of the fastest technological development for all mankind, and also the thirty years of the most peaceful human society since the Age of Exploration."

"The cause of all this is the balance of forces, and the particles I create will disrupt that balance, do you understand?"

Darren chuckled coldly, dismissing his words with disdain: "Hank, you've gotten old, become timid and hesitant, and stopped making progress. Even if you don't teach me, I'll figure it out myself. I'm no weaker than you."

"Damn it..." Hank Pym's neck veins throbbed, and his old face turned bright red. Given his temper, he should have slapped him long ago, but what would be the point of doing so?

Nothing can be solved!

As they were talking, the researchers brought over thirty tubes of yellow, shrunken particles. Cao Gui put the things away and then left with his two girlfriends.

The Green Gourd Sword Immortal

Dejected and disappointed, Dr. Pym left the company he had founded.

Seeing this, Hope Pym put down the documents and materials in his hand and caught up with his father.

“We should act now,” Hope whispered to Hank. “His technology only shrinks inanimate objects; we still have a chance to win.”