Marvel: My Eyes Defies Fate.

"Talk to me? That couldn't be better."

Kurogai heard Stark's voice, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He had anticipated needing a bit of pressure, but cooperation made things smoother. That was a pleasant surprise.

What Kurogai didn't realize was that Stark's agreeable attitude stemmed from the caution he felt toward Kurogai. Otherwise, with Stark's usual ego and defiance, things would have gone quite differently.

"I'll reach out to Dr. Helen Cho," Stark said. "She mentioned wanting to speak with you about the project's specifics. Whether it succeeds or not depends on what exactly you're proposing."

Stark gave Kurogai a sharp look, then turned away to begin contacting the doctor.

Moments later, a sleek holographic screen flickered to life in mid-air, revealing the figure of Dr. Helen Cho. The projection hovered smoothly, high-tech yet familiar.

"Hello, I'm Helen Cho," she said promptly, skipping any formalities. "Tony said you want me to assist with a project?"

As soon as she laid eyes on Kurogai, she got straight to the point. She needed to know what kind of work was involved, and more importantly, whether it was dangerous. If the experiment crossed ethical lines, she wasn't about to play along—she'd even go as far as stopping him.

"It's related to genetic transformation," Kurogai replied calmly. "Too complex to explain remotely. Where are you right now? I'll come to you, and we'll talk face to face."

Unlike with Stark, Kurogai wasn't aiming for negotiation here. If Helen Cho refused, he was prepared to take control by other means—specifically, magical coercion.

"I'm not in the States," Helen said. "I'm working overseas. It'll take time for you to—"

"That's not a problem," Kurogai interrupted. "I have my ways."

She hesitated, then said, "I'm at a genetics research facility called U-Gin Labs. The address is—"

"I've got it. I'll be there shortly."

Without another word, Kurogai activated the mystical energy within him. Arcane patterns ignited in the air as he conjured a portal. A golden circle of light shimmered open, and with a single step, he vanished from Stark's residence—only to appear instantly inside U-Gin Labs, right beside Dr. Helen Cho.

"What... how is that possible?" Helen whispered, stunned.

Back at the villa, Stark stared at the screen, utterly shaken. One second Kurogai had been next to him, and now, through the still-active video call with Dr. Cho, Stark could see the man standing across the globe beside her.

He had just watched someone teleport halfway across the globe.

But Kurogai didn't care about Stark's disbelief. He had what he needed.

The moment he arrived, he ended the call with Stark. There were parts of this project Stark didn't need to know. The billionaire was clever—too clever—and some secrets had to be kept from prying eyes.

"Dr. Cho," Kurogai began, "you're aware of mutants, right?"

"I… I am," she replied, still recovering from the shock.

"Good. Then you understand the key difference between mutants and ordinary humans lies in their genetic makeup. My project is focused on altering human genes—essentially, turning regular humans into mutants. I believe this is something you'll find intriguing."

Helen's eyes widened.

"Turning humans into mutants? That's—no, that's too dangerous. It could destabilize society completely. I can't help you with something like that."

Her mind raced with implications. A world where anyone could be given powers? That kind of shift could collapse everything—government, culture, morality. Helen instinctively resisted, already preparing to reason with Kurogai.

But then she saw it—his eyes, glowing red.

"This is troublesome," Kurogai muttered, almost regretfully. "Looks like I'll need to use control."

With a subtle gesture, he activated his Geass. Instantly, Helen's resistance faded.

"I'll begin compiling genetic data for both mutants and baseline humans," she said, her tone calm and compliant. "It'll take approximately half a day to prepare the samples for your research."

Kurogai nodded, satisfied. The beauty of Geass was that it didn't impair a person's intellect. Helen would work as efficiently as ever, simply following the new directive.

"You have one day. Use that time to settle any remaining business. I'll come for you tomorrow."

With that, Kurogai turned and stepped through another portal, reappearing in Stark's residence. He still had unfinished business—namely, settling the matter of the energy-based weapons deal. Stark owed him, and Kurogai had every intention of collecting.

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