- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 11
“Five seconds left, almost there.”
After Kina left, Leo watched the countdown on the panel. He quickly opened the box in front of him and tossed the black pill inside into his mouth, swallowing it just before the countdown hit zero.
When the countdown ended, he felt a moment of disorientation. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his office at his company in Sokovia.
“Come out!”
Without hesitation, he struck his stomach with his palm, forcing the black pill he had just swallowed back out of his mouth.
“I can’t believe it actually worked.”
Looking at the saliva-covered black pill on his desk, Leo’s face showed a satisfied expression.
According to the panel’s instructions, nothing could be taken between the main world and the small world—not even clothes, which changed depending on the world. In the Marvel world, he wore a suit, while in the Naruto world, he wore the attire of a prince of the Land of Fire.
It seemed there were no loopholes, but Leo had a clever idea. If he had just eaten something and was in the process of digesting it during the world transition, the system couldn’t isolate the food from his body, right?
With this thought, he had Kina buy a military ration pill (bing ryo) in advance, which he swallowed right before returning. To confuse the system further, he ate a lot of other normal food before taking the pill.
As expected, the system didn’t forcefully expel the food already in his stomach, allowing him to retrieve it after returning.
The military ration pill is a special food and medicine that ninjas carry during missions and battles. It can quickly restore chakra and physical strength and serves as a significant hunger suppressant.
Leo wanted to bring the pill to the Marvel world so that his company’s scientists could analyze its components, similar to how they had researched and replicated the strengthening paste. They could create a replica and a simplified version for ordinary people.
Even if the replica didn’t match the pill’s full effects, it would still be useful as a temporary booster for chakra and physical strength during battles in this world.
The simplified version, which would exclude the chakra-restoring effect, could retain the benefits of physical recovery and hunger suppression, potentially being marketed as two new products.
Handled well, this could help him break into the New York market.
He would leave the specifics of operation and marketing to his company’s professionals, as he wasn’t adept at these tasks.
“Xiao Liu, have Dr. Smith come to the office.”
After wiping the pill clean and setting it aside, Leo pressed the button on his desk to instruct Xiao Liu outside his office.
Xiao Liu was one of the subordinates Leo had trained over the years. While his public role was that of Leo’s male secretary, he was actually tasked with ensuring Leo’s safety.
Although Leo was a dark strength martial arts expert, he couldn’t withstand modern firearms and needed his subordinates’ help against professional assassins, especially if they were numerous.
Dr. Smith was a notable biologist Leo had recruited from England at a high cost. The company’s best-selling and most profitable health supplement, Power Pills, was a product developed by Dr. Smith based on the strengthening paste provided by Leo.
The strengthening paste, when applied all over the body, enhanced physical strength, especially under standing postures and breathing techniques. The paste played a significant role in helping Leo regain his peak physical condition from his previous life within three years.
While the Power Pills didn’t offer the same level of enhancement, long-term use could slightly increase physical strength and make the body more robust. Besides its long-term health benefits, the Power Pill had a noticeable short-term effect that contributed to its popularity, even overseas, generating significant profit for the company.
The pill could transform even an impotent patient or an elderly man into a vigorous lover for half an hour. However, it could only be taken once a day to avoid adverse effects on the body.
“Boss, Dr. Smith called in sick today and has taken three days off.”
Xiao Liu’s voice came through the phone.
Leo frowned upon hearing this:
“Send some people to check on Dr. Smith at his home.”
Taking a three-day leave was unlike Dr. Smith, who usually spent every possible moment in the lab. As the company grew, it inevitably affected some people’s interests, and while Leo had dealt with threats decisively, caution was always wise.
Half an hour later, a robust young man respectfully reported to Leo:
“Boss, the third brother and his team went to Dr. Smith’s house. He wasn’t there, and there were signs of forced entry. It appears Dr. Smith may have been kidnapped.”
“Someone dares to touch my people in Sokovia!”
Leo’s eyes narrowed as he gave instructions to the young man before him:
“Xiao Liu, inform Uncle Li and have him use all available resources to locate Dr. Smith and identify the perpetrators.”
To the public, Leo was known as Sokovia’s greatest philanthropist. However, among Sokovia’s upper echelons, it was well known that he was a fierce lion not to be trifled with. Those who had previously targeted the Power Pills had met harsh fates.
“Yes, Boss!”
Xiao Liu nodded and respectfully exited the office.
After securing the military ration pill in his pocket, Leo stroked his chin and muttered to himself:
“It wouldn’t be you, would it?”
[Ding! A new side quest has appeared nearby. Please check!”
Just as Leo was deep in thought, a notification sounded in his ear. He quickly opened the panel to check the new side quest.
[Quest: Rescue Dr. Smith, kidnapped by Hydra.
Reward: Five Explosive Tags.
Quest: Kill Baron Strucker of the Hydra base.
Reward: C-rank Ninjutsu—Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu.
Quest: Eradicate the Hydra base in Sokovia.
Reward: B-rank Ninjutsu—Shadow Clone Jutsu.]
“So it really was Hydra!”
Reading the new side quest, Leo’s expression turned cold.
He had long known about a hidden Hydra base in the mountains outside Sokovia and that several Sokovia government officials were Hydra agents. He had previously chosen not to provoke them, maintaining a policy of mutual non-interference.
However, it seemed that the long-term effects of the Power Pills had drawn Hydra’s attention, leading them to kidnap his company’s chief scientist, Dr. Smith.
Hydra, as an organization, was notorious for its research into super soldiers and enhanced individuals.