Marvel: Randomly Load a Protagonist Template

“Mr. Hawking, let me be clear: I am determined to get this project. Instead of us engaging in this detrimental competition and benefiting Reed, why don’t you name your terms? I can compensate you. That way, you won’t have to take any risks and still make a gain,” Victor said with a smile in another office, looking at Hawking.

If it were anyone else daring to compete so fiercely with him, he had ways to deal with them. To have reached his position, naturally, not all his business strategies were clean.

However, the person in front of him was dedicated to fighting crime and had stopped terrorists from hijacking a plane just today, as reported in the news. His usual tactics wouldn’t even be a challenge for them.

So, he had to concede more benefits to settle things.

Hawking looked Victor over and then smiled, “Since Mr. Victor has put it that way, it would be quite disrespectful for me, Hawking, to refuse. Let’s do this,”

“Alright, I agree to your terms.”

Hearing Hawking’ proposal, Victor pondered for a moment and then agreed.

To him, Hawking’ terms weren’t harsh, merely requiring Victor’s tech company to cooperate commercially with the current Avengers International Corporation. However, most of the profits from these cooperations would go to the Avengers International, while his company would practically break even.

But compared to the profits from the project with Reed, these were minuscule and hardly worth mentioning.

“One more thing, I need Reed to assist me in the future with the research on the gravity room. Going up to the space station is too dangerous, so he’ll stay at your company base and direct remotely.”

“My space station is very safe, but okay, that’s no problem.”

Victor initially wanted to argue, but seeing Hawking glare, he quickly backed down.

To secure this project, these were not issues. Remote direction was fine since the main goal was to collect data on how solar storms affect life evolution; the key was the research after obtaining the data.

So, whether Reed went to the space station or not wasn’t too significant.

“Let’s sign the contract then!”

Half an hour later, they returned to the previous office.

“My old classmate, Mr. Hawking has withdrawn from the competition. We’ll go with the terms he just proposed: fifty percent, shared patent rights.

You don’t put in a dime, I provide both the funding and the space station, and we split everything equally at the end. You’ve made a good deal,” Victor laughed as he extended his hand to Reed.

Ben couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow—what does he mean by not putting in a dime? The most crucial technology originated from Reed, who had spent all his funds and three to four years on this project. He was the one at a loss.

It’s typical to act like he’s getting a bad deal when he’s actually benefiting.

But as he was about to speak, Reed nudged him with his elbow.

“Ben, I’m not doing this project to make money, but to help humanity. Let’s leave it at that.”

Reed whispered to calm Ben and then shook Victor’s hand: “Deal!”

If it weren’t for Hawking pressing the situation to this point, even if it was the initial terms Victor proposed, he would have accepted.

Now, it was already a good outcome, at least his own research project’s patent rights weren’t completely stripped away.

“Although there was a slight mishap, the outcome was good, wasn’t it?” Victor said, proudly wrapping his arm around the Invisible Woman’s waist.

“Reed, although he thinks differently from most people and often puts his teammates in tough spots, honestly, his heart isn’t bad,” he added, as Hawking listened to their conversation.

After everything was settled, the Invisible Woman escorted Hawking and his companions out of the building, and they drove back to the Baxter Building.

“Mr. Hawking, thank you for your help just now,” Reed said as the car started.

“Why do you say that, Dr. Reed?” Hawking asked, a bit surprised.

“When I was explaining the project, Victor listened very intently, but you, Mr. Hawking, hardly paid attention. Your company isn’t involved in technological projects.”

Reed didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear.

He felt that Hawking was just intervening because he disliked Victor’s approach and wanted to disrupt the competition.

“You caught me, but it’s a mutual benefit. I gained a lot too. It’s not just about helping you. As long as you, Doctor, are willing to help me research a gravity device that can assist in my training after the project ends,” Hawking replied with a smile.

The reality was not as Reed thought. Hawking simply couldn’t understand the technical jargon Reed was using, plus he knew this experiment was bound to fail, so he wasn’t interested in the project details.

But since Reed misunderstood, he certainly wasn’t going to correct him.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hawking. According to my calculations, a solar storm will occur in six weeks, and in two months, I can spare the time to help you research the gravity device,” Reed promised after a quick calculation.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Hawking nodded in satisfaction.

Two months was manageable. Given Reed’s intellect, capable of inventing teleportation devices, he could surely advance the technology of the gravity room significantly. Waiting a bit longer was worth it.

Upon returning to the Baxter Building and saying goodbye to Reed and Ben, Hawking checked the time and rode his motorcycle to the Mutant Academy.

He still lived at the Mutant Academy, spending considerable time daily studying magic and practicing with Wanda’s assistance, now also involving Pietro.

As Pietro aged, his speed had increased, which could somewhat aid in his training.

Half a month later, at midnight.

As usual, Hawking, along with Peter and Jessica, was fighting crime in New York.

Recently, many powered individuals had applied to join the company, including those like Jessica who acquired abilities by accident, suspected Inhumans, and various mutants.

However, their powers were generally not impressive enough to catch Hawking’ eye or qualify them as superheroes to join the trio he had formed.

So, they were assigned to other roles within the company.

After all, the compensation they received there was definitely better than their previous jobs, and it was safer.

It’s understandable, given the current era, there aren’t many powerful individuals around, except for mutants. Those who are powerful are already on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s radar.

And the mutants that met his criteria were either not yet born or had been divided between Professor X and Magneto.

However, with the company doing well recently, he was considering finding a time to talk with Professor X about having some of the school’s mutants join the company.

Start with a few, build a reputation, gain a fanbase, then reveal their identities. This approach would make it easier for the public to accept them and gradually change human prejudices against mutants.

“Captain, there’s a big problem here. An unidentified force armed with a lot of weapons is chasing a… a black humanoid monster, oh my god, that monster is actually eating people’s heads!” Peter suddenly exclaimed over the earpiece.

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