Marvel and Beyond

The next day began with an unusual hustle and bustle in the Knight's mansion, unlike anything seen there in a long time.

Max descended the staircase only to be met with workers in uniform; some with measuring tapes, others with basic instruments, sauntering back and forth from the entrance to the basement.

He raised an eyebrow, watching the scene with faint amusement as he made his way past them. Several of the workers gave him respectful nods, realising him as the owner of the mansion, which he acknowledged with his eyes .

Gradually, Max caught sight of Martha, who was busy guiding the men and helping them with whatever they needed. 

She also seemed to be keeping a careful eye out for anyone with questionable intentions, which forced a small chuckle from his lips.

Although it was in her nature to be cautious, Max found her motherly vigilance oddly endearing. With a glance, Max realized these men must be the team Leo had summoned after he passed on the lab project.

That said, he trusted Leo would have called a reputable firm with strong credentials and good connections.

'He sure works fast,' Max praised Leo inwardly.

Spotting Martha again, he raised his voice slightly over the noise. "Grandma, where's Leo?"

"He's in the basement with the team leaders from both companies," she responded with a similarly raised tone.

He nodded and stood beside her, watching the controlled chaos unfold.

Martha cast a sidelong glance at him. "You really stirred up a commotion today. Next time, warn us beforehand."

Though her words were mildly scolding, her eyes betrayed a teasing glint.

Max played along, casting his gaze down and using a guilty voice as he replied, "Sorry. You'll have to suffer for a few days. How about I make it up to everyone with lunch outside today?"

She chuckled at his mock remorse. "Let's not. We have too much work to do. Save that lunch for your girlfriend."

"Grandma, you know I don't have one!" he protested, mildly flustered as a face surfaced in his memories which he pushed down. 

Not now he scolded himself.

She sighed and patted his shoulder before walking away. "Then go out and meet someone. Don't keep hiding in your room like you used to."

Max pouted slightly and muttered, "That was just a phase. And I don't have time for relationships right now."

He sighed as he watched her begin talking to Lily. They seemed to be discussing something related to the work, but the way both women giggled made him suspect they were gossiping—possibly about someone.

 It could even be him, who knows.

"Women," he muttered, heading toward the basement with a resigned sigh.

As he descended the narrow staircase leading to the basement, Max realized the workload he had given Leo was more extensive than he had initially assumed.

More than twenty men were present, each occupied with different tasks, some were measuring the area, others were inspecting the condition of the structure, while several were actively cleaning.

 Despite the progress, a large portion of the basement still needed to be cleared.

His eyes scanned the area until they landed on Leo, who stood beside two other men near a table stacked with large charts filled with plans and designs. From where Max stood, he couldn't make out the details, but the organization impressed him.

He nodded in approval at how efficiently things were moving forward.

As Leo pointed out instructions to the workers, he noticed Max approaching from across the crowded space.

"Master Max," he greeted respectfully.

Max gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the active crew and the two men who, upon noticing Max, gave polite smiles and walked away.

"How's everything going?" Max asked, noting how smooth the coordination seemed.

'They're working efficiently,' he thought to himself.

Leo chuckled slightly, watching the two team leaders give them space. "With the bonus you approved, they're working like machines."

He had started work the moment Max mentioned the need for a lab. He hadn't asked why, that wasn't his role. His job was to ensure comfort and efficiency for his master.

While Max was away yesterday after instructing him, Leo wasted no time. He immediately contacted both companies the previous day.

Yesterday, he worked with the cleaning crew to prepare the site, and today, he coordinated with the construction department to plan the lab's intricate details.

Max had instructed him to secure the best services available and a cutting-edge lab design from the market.

The lab needed to serve multiple purposes—not just pharmaceutical research but also tech development. It would be Max's personal research station, so there could be no compromises.

Thanks to his years of experience managing various affairs for the Knight family, Leo handled everything seamlessly. 

Though the operation was costly, especially considering the tight timeline Max had demanded, Leo met the challenge head-on.

Max nodded, understanding the power of incentives. After a brief pause, he asked, "How long do you think the project will take to complete?"

Leo answered after a quick mental calculation, referencing the company timeline. "Even with the speed they're working at, thanks to the extra payments, it'll still take about a month. A lot of detailed work remains—cable setups, lighting, special fittings for lab equipment, and structural enhancements."

"Hmm… well, that's good," Max muttered, picking up one of the designs on the table. Another chart next to it appeared to be a rough prototype of the lab's layout, filled with sketches and measurements.

He handed Leo a folded sheet from his pocket. "Also, here's a list of the equipment I'll need. Anna should have placed the order through Oscorp, I already checked their inventory and asked her to coordinate. Make sure everything's delivered once the lab is ready. Nothing should be missing."

With that, Max turned and walked away, leaving Leo to handle the next phase.

Though the basement lab was still under construction, Max planned to use the cell labs in the meantime. 

His first priority was sorting through the T-virus memories and knowledge embedded in his mind before diving deep into the actual research. He also needed to strategize a preliminary plan for how and where to start.

For now, working in the cell labs would suffice. He could consult the experienced researchers there if needed. However, until any official contracts were signed, he would not show the T-virus to anyone. 

Even after formal collaboration began, the virus would never leave his control. Only his personal lab would house real samples.

The people under his command might eventually be exposed to diluted or derived variants of the virus, but even that would come much later, and only after their loyalty had been thoroughly vetted.

He exhaled deeply.

"So much to do in so little time…"

With that, Max walked away, already mentally organizing his next moves.

…

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