Marvel: Trading with Worlds

Kain ended the video conference and sighed. Removing Isaac from the T-virus project had been a necessary move. His presence added little value to the research team at this stage. 

Instead, Kain intended to redirect Isaac's talents toward developing advanced artificial intelligence—a task more suited to his current strengths.

With the support of Umbrella's advanced technology and talented personnel, the artificial intelligence developed by Isaac this time would undoubtedly surpass the Red Queen. 

It would be completely loyal to Kain, free from unnecessary limitations or fail-safes.

Kain knew he wouldn't remain in this world forever, so he had to leave behind an AI capable of protecting Umbrella's assets and Alicia in his absence before returning to the Marvel Universe.

Umbrella's technological advancements rivaled the top levels of Marvel Earth's science, excluding Wakanda. 

Kain planned to bring these innovations, along with the new AI, back to the Marvel Universe. Within a decade, his Pent Group would dominate as a multinational monopoly, leaving even Stark Industries in its shadow.

However, Kain had no intention of abandoning this world entirely. Umbrella was on the verge of monopolizing several global industries.

 With enough accumulated technology, the company could eventually achieve interstellar travel, a key focus for Umbrella's long-term goals. 

New energy weapons, space exploration technology, and artificial intelligence would form the foundation of its development.

As for human evolution experiments, Kain decided to leave that research to the Pent Group in the Marvel Universe. Once the T-virus reached maturity here, he would take it back with him to continue its development.

Japan

Japan had become a major hub for Umbrella's investments. 

Due to certain policy advantages, the company established a vast underground base there, supported by a permanent force of approximately 500 personnel, including 200 members of the Biological Disaster Countermeasure Force.

Since access to another large eastern country was more challenging, Japan served as Umbrella's gateway into the Asian market.

Tokonosu City, a coastal city with a population of over one million, boasted a large seaport and military base. 

Although technically under the command of Japanese officers, many of them were so loyal to Umbrella that they could betray their own country if ordered.

This city had witnessed more zombie incidents than any other in Japan, with a total of 32 cases. However, all were quickly contained by Umbrella's countermeasure forces, with the local garrison secretly assisting in the operations. 

The zombies that weren't killed on-site were transported to Umbrella's Tokyo branch, where researchers used them as valuable experimental subjects. Detailed data on the T-virus was collected from dissections and forwarded to Umbrella's headquarters in the U.S.

Currently, Umbrella's research focused on gathering data from zombies. However, for further development of the T-virus, the captured zombies would need to be transported to the United States.

 Unlike a post-apocalyptic scenario, zombies were still relatively rare; the total number of captured zombies worldwide remained under 500.

Tokonosu City Police Station

Inside the police station of Tokonosu City, a young girl with purple hair sat silently, clutching a wooden sword. 

Saeko Busujima had been waiting with her father's disciple for what felt like hours. According to her uncle, her father had been attacked and had yet to return.

The stillness was broken by a heated argument erupting inside the station. Saeko gripped the wooden sword tighter, stood up, and approached the source of the noise.

From just outside the room, she overheard the raised voices.

"What do you mean you didn't even bring back my master's body? How can this happen? Your police station is going too far!"

"Mr. Togo, I understand your frustration," a police officer replied. "But Mr. Busujima was involved in a case related to an infectious disease transmitted from animals…"

"His body may still carry the source of the infection. If you take it back, it could lead to very serious consequences. That's why the higher-ups ordered all infected and deceased individuals to be taken away."

"What infection?! My master has been staying in the dojo recently and hardly ever goes out. The last time he stepped out, it was to save someone—and he was killed by that lunatic!"

"Mr. Tuojiu, there's no use arguing with me. The police station does not have Mr. Busujima's body anymore. While the murder of Mr. Busujima is indeed the other party's fault, they've offered a compensation payment. That's all we're able to tell you."

The compensation was meager—just over two million yen. Umbrella had provided this money under the guise of settling disputes between both parties.

 For many families, hearing that an infectious disease was involved, combined with receiving compensation, often deterred them from pursuing the return of the body.

But Tuojiu wasn't going to accept that outcome.

"You don't care? You're the police! My master's body—"

Tuojiu's shouting abruptly stopped when he noticed Saeko Busujima standing at the doorway. His voice caught in his throat like a goose being strangled.

He didn't know how much Saeko had overheard, but even one sentence would be enough to hurt her deeply.

"Snort!"

Tuojiu let out a cold snort at the chief inspector of the police station. There was no way he would let this matter go. 

His master had died saving someone, and now they wouldn't even return the body? There was no greater injustice.

Turning to Saeko Busujima, he softened his tone slightly. "Junior Sister Busujima, let's head back for now."

Tuojiu planned to first take care of the late master's only daughter and then return to the police station to demand answers. 

If they refused to cooperate, he would contact the former students of Master Busujima. 

Their master's influence extended to many high-ranking politicians, and Tuojiu was confident he could rally them to exert pressure.

If the police station couldn't withstand the collective voices of Master Busujima's students, they'd have no choice but to provide an explanation.

…

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