In the bustling press conference venue, guests arriving for the event are all dressed in smart suits and there are several distinguished figures present.
The left seats are filled with important mbers of the military and political world, including an advisor from the White House, whereas on the right sit influential figures from the business world, including Pepper and Stark, Osborn, the head of Hamr Arms Industry, and bosses of over 20 other companies.
The back right side is filled with academics, including Shiller, Strange, Connors, Ethan and over 30 other PhD holders or prominent university professors. The last two rows alone probably hold a hundred doctoral degree holders.
Amongst them, Strange and Shiller sit on the far right, behind Stark. Both are dressed in suits, sitting straight in their chairs. Strange keeps his gaze fixed ahead of him and whispers to Shiller, "This so-called eternal life factor's theory of effects on neural system recovery is such bullshit, I can't even bear to read it."
"Whenever you can't bear to read it, just think about that string of numbers at the end of the contract."
"So for the next few months, do I have to stand in places like this, like a deceitful charlatan, reciting these nonsensical theories?"
"No, you have a lot more to do in the coming months, such as resigning, moving, and most importantly – counting money."
At this point, the host of the press conference invites Strange onto the stage. Strange stands, straightens his suit and tie, takes a speech script, and moves to the front of the stage.
"...As with the research results announced by the Stark Group and Osborn Group, as an expert in the field of neurosurgery, after acquiring precious samples, I too have discovered the secret of the human body's self-repair and regenerative ability..."
A sleepy Stark below the stage is awakened by a pat from Pepper, he rallies himself, rubs his eyes and looks around. Seeing the empty seat next to Shiller, he quietly walks over to sit beside Shiller and asks, "How much did you promise him to make him lie so blatantly?"
"In any case, much, much more than his salary."
"I thought he would be a man with so professional ambition."
"Of course he is, he considers himself to be the world's greatest neurosurgeon, which in fact is true. Haven't you heard his reputation as 'God's gift to the dical world'?"
"What audacity, I haven't even dubbed myself as 'God's gift to the scientific world'."
"I promised him a number he couldn't refuse, and hired him as the primary physician for the new sanatorium. You know, his reputation is big enough for that position."
"What about you? I thought you'd be the one to personally assu the role of primary physician."
"No, I am the director. I don't have ti to directly treat patients, I have a lot to do."
"You two unscrupulous doctors." Stark concluded, "Whoever goes to your hospital is really dood."
After so ti, Strange finishes his speech. On returning to his seat, he finds Stark in his place. Both stare at each other, neither willing to give way. In the end, Dr. Ethan, who is nearby, brings another chair for Strange.
Strange tells Stark, "You had better ensure that the salary the collective group is paying is worth the pollution of my brain by these terrible theories."
Stark snorts scornfully, "Your annual salary is less than what the Stark Group earns in a minute."
"Don't say that." Then, Shiller comforts to Strange, "Later, I will introduce you to Senator Porter. He has a keen interest in the Eternal Life Factor and needs a private health consultant."
"Hold on." Stark looks at Shiller with confusion, "Why is there a matter of a senator involved now?"
"You guys aren't planning to double dip, are you? Both of you are advisors for the alliance. Both Stark Group and Osborn Group have to pay you, and you're working for S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick must be giving you a reward too. There must be a portion of wages for you in the funding for the sanatorium's construction. And now, you are going to et with a senator??"
Strange's eyes light up, and he says, "I think it is necessary to appropriately widen our career path."
Shiller wholeheartedly agrees. "Exactly, and they are begging us to do it. The old lords of Capitol Hill want to know so information about the potion, but you know, I'm just a psychiatrist and I don't understand the specifics of dical principles. At these tis, I need so professionals to help ."
"By the way, Stephan, after a while, coordinate your testimony with Dr. Connors. The senators have their own health consultants, they are your enemies..."
Strange grunts coldly, "I am just pretending to be a fraud, and those health consultants are the real frauds who don't study."
Then, he leans in a bit towards Shiller and quietly asks, "Is it true what Stark just said? You plan to collect money from various sources?"
"Not , us." Shiller also leans in, and they huddle together for a quiet discussion. Shiller says, "A new technology that can change the future of humanity has been released, what do you think is most lacking now?"
Before Strange could respond, Shiller answers his own question, "All forces hope for soone to explain what exactly this is and what changes it can bring about.
As the real participants in the research, we hold the power to give the most clear and definite explanation. Everyone will scramble for it, and not only will we incur pay from various sources, but we will also serve those who offer the highest price."
"But actually, I can't explain anything." Strange says, "I've read Connors' research report, in reality, we haven't cracked this thing..."
"You don't need a real explanation, just use the professional terms you understand and keep emphasizing one phrase – 'it is useful'. Rember, 'it is useful' is your main the for the next few months."
"Is it really useful?"
"Don't ask such stupid questions." Shiller looks around. There are legislators in suits and military representatives in uniform. He says, "We are just an emotionless harvesting machine. What does the longevity of these wealthy and influential chives have to do with you?"
"I like your attitude." Strange tilted his head and said, "It seems I have sowhat misunderstood you before, we do have common topics."
"Don't forget, once the resignation procedures at the Elders Council Hospital are done, you will imdiately start working at the sanatorium, the location has been booked for the next two months, you are going to be very busy."
"What about the division of shares?"
"Just as we discussed before..."
Stark heard the two of them whispering for a long ti, he was curious about what they were discussing, but he was too embarrassed to blatantly eavesdrop, so he feigned disgust and said, "You two unscrupulous quacks, I am sure you're not discussing anything good."
Strange and Shiller looked at each other and said, "We may be unscrupulous..."
"...but we are definitely not quacks."
After the conference, Shiller brought Strange to the reception office at S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick was waiting for them in the office. As soon as Shiller ca in, Nick walked up, shook hands with Strange, and said, "This is the chief consultant of the Eternal Life Factor series, isn't it? Hello, I am Nick Fury."
Without waiting for his myriad of questions to co out, Strange, who was taking in the surroundings of the S.H.I.E.L.D's office, Shiller directly asked Nick, "The construction of the sanatorium should be nearing completion by now, when can it open?"
"The previous owner of the old bank was quite careful, so there isn't too much renovation needed, it should open within a week."
"What about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, is it all arranged?" Nick and Shiller sat down together at a table, with Strange sitting on the side.
"No problem, everyone who should attend will attend. Furthermore, the follow-up construction plans of the sanatorium have also been put on the agenda, but for these further constructions, you will have to negotiate with Stark and Osborn Group, they are the real investors."
"Also." Nick looked at Shiller and said, "What are you planning to call this sanatorium? You can't just call it the Eternal Life Factor Sanatorium can you?"
Shiller laughed and said, "What about Arkham Sanatorium?"
"Arkham? That should be a surna, right?" As soon as Nick finished speaking, he paused, and with Strange, looked at the ring on Shiller's hand.
Shiller went on to say, "Just a joke, the na is not important, you can decide..."
"No, no, no, sorry, you don't have to explain the reason, the naming right is yours, you can na it whatever you want."
Shiller glanced at the two of them, Nick and Strange had a very strange expression, he knew that they had certainly misunderstood sothing.
When everyone's attitude to a misunderstanding is "No, you don't have to explain", it becos very difficult to clarify, and when they take on an "I understand, I understand" attitude, there is no point in trying to clarify.
About the source of the cryo technology in Shiller's hand, Nick and Strange both had so understanding, and Shiller claid it was "I have a friend", but the more he said this, the more everyone felt that he was hiding sothing.
"I have a friend," those who understand will understand.
Anyway, the na was hastily decided, as it was so hastily decided, on the opening day of Arkham Sanatorium, everyone did not know why the sanatorium was called Arkham.
Shiller had been keeping a low profile before, he was not as famous in the dical field as Strange, he stayed behind the scenes most of the ti, and apart from a few key figures, others did not know much about him.
As a result, most people thought that the dean's surna was Arkham, so Shiller directly lost his real na, most people referred to him as "Dean Arkham", instead of "Director Rodrigues".
On the sunny day, that Arkham Sanatorium opened. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Shiller invited all his friends from this world, and gave them centralized training the night before.
"...Yes, I am sure it is useful, although I am responsible for pathological research, I also have so understanding of so classified research results, I can indeed tell you this..."
"Oh, right... yes, I am a high school student, I just assist Dr. Connors in the laboratory, what? Have I seen the exact report? I cannot disclose this to you, it is confidential...okay, all I can tell you is that with so many researchers studying this thing together, it can't not be useful, right?"
"Indeed, I am a PhD in physics, but I think you have a misunderstanding about the scope of physics, I did participate in this experint, especially in the developnt of dical equipnt for the Eternal Life Factor. Do you think I would invest so much of my energy on sothing that isn't useful?"
"Prolonging life? You estimate the effect too conservatively, sir, as a psychology expert, I can responsibly tell you that it is also effective in regulating people's emotions..."
"Anyway, you don't have to ask so much, I am Stark! If Stark tells you it's useful, it's useful!"
"I think you've heard..."
"Yes, that's right, we all said this..."
"Is there a problem with that?"
"Do I need to stress it again?"
"It is indeed effective..."
"It's useful!"
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