Sean looked at the eager Hamilton and inwardly sneered...
This seemingly enthusiastic Worthington representative was merely trying to get him to betray Oscorp and strangle a powerful competitor in its cradle.
On one hand, they were holding private talks to obtain the secret formula for the gene therapy. On the other, they were secretly obstructing Oscorp's new drug approval.
If Sean agreed to sell the formula, Worthington could rush ALZ-112 through approval and dominate the market first, rendering all of Oscorp's efforts meaningless.
The kindness and compassion of these pharmaceutical companies were nothing but crocodile tears, a facade to lull their prey into lowering their guard. The moment you showed vulnerability, they would mercilessly devour you whole!
If they truly had good intentions, healthcare in this country wouldn't be so prohibitively expensive that welfare-dependent poor people couldn't even afford to step into hospitals, deterred by the exorbitant costs of medicine and medical services.
"Those shares are jointly held by Dr. Connors and myself," Sean corrected.
Hamilton smiled mysteriously, believing he had this young upstart figured out. In a persuasive tone, he said: "I've noticed Dr. Connors rarely makes public appearances. He spends most time in the lab, while you handle press conferences and media interviews."
"Dr. Connors has passed his prime as a scientist, while you're in your prime with a brighter future..." The pharmaceutical representative sounded like a Wall Street stockbroker, skillfully leading his prey into the trap...
"But...Harry is my friend..." Sean pretended to waver, putting on an act of moral dilemma.
Had Hamilton read Stanislavski's works, he might have realized the young man's seemingly conflicted expression masked complete indifference, his eyes utterly cold.
"Sean, this is New York. Everyone here seeks opportunities, but not everyone succeeds," Hamilton said in a mentor-like tone, "You may be more talented than most, but New York has never lacked geniuses... Tony Stark, Reed Richards, they were all brilliant stars."
"Yet look at the difference between them. One is celebrated wherever he goes, the other struggles for research funding. Is Mr. Richards less intelligent than Stark? No. Because Stark has Stark Industries, an enormous military-industrial complex providing endless funding and the best research environment!"
Hamilton patted Sean's shoulder meaningfully, "Life offers few opportunities. When you spot one, seize it. A genius reputation isn't valuable, at least not in New York."
Sean humored the Worthington representative. Their acting was so convincing they, appeared to hit it off. To outsiders, they might seem like old friends enjoying a pleasant chat, unaware both harbored ulterior motives.
"You can contact me anytime. Worthington will offer a satisfactory price. There's a Wall Street saying I agree with... everything has its price."
Before leaving, Hamilton smiled knowingly. He could tell Sean was tempted, and just putting up pretenses. He had seen countless such hypocrites who craved benefits while feigning integrity.
At first, everyone talked about morality and justice, playing the righteous defender. But ultimately, they all succumbed to money's allure, and willingly become profit machines for pharmaceutical companies.
"I believe you'll make the right choice," Hamilton waved goodbye.
"Of course." Sean nodded, his lips curling in disdain once he turned away.
Golden light flickered in the young man's eyes as he gazed at the warm sun, his expression turning cold.
Worthington planned to strike at Oscorp's biopharmaceutical ambitions, with Sean being the easiest target.
If he secretly sold the formula to them, it would be a stab in Oscorp's back. The struggling family business that had barely recovered would plunge into ruin.
Harry would lose his father's empire, falling from wealthy young CEO to nothing.
And what would Sean gain?
He'd face lawsuits from Oscorp, public disgrace and prison time. Expecting Worthington to defend him would be like waiting for the sun to rise from the west. Capitalists only cared about profits, their promises weren't worth a dime.
If Sean is blinded by short-term gains to betray Oscorp, Worthington would discard him without hesitation. To them, scientists without leverage were just profit machines to be exploited.
This was precisely why Sean chose Harry as his partner. Umbrella relied on Oscorp to survive its infancy and grow rapidly with its resources.
At least he didn't have to worry about Harry scheming to oust him like those greedy capitalists, wanting the whole pie for himself.
"Good things come to good people in this world." Sean exhaled.
Since defeating Hell's Kitchen's vigilantes and absorbing the dragon bones' immense energy, he had entered a new realm.
From manipulating internal energy to projecting it externally with his mind, he improved daily. His cells grew hungrier, absorbing solar radiation and other energies faster.
Clenching his fist slightly, Sean felt the Sentry's power awakening bit by bit within him!
"Worthington Industries... the pharmaceutical company that gave mutants so much trouble..." Sean finally remembered the name.
In the original timeline, its leader hated mutants, especially because his son was one.
They developed mutant-suppressing drugs... even someone as powerful as Magneto temporarily lost his abilities when hit by weapons loaded with this serum, becoming an ordinary man.
"Perhaps I won't need to lift a finger."
Sean's eyes gleamed as he sensed the hazy white light in his mind, his mental will growing stronger, "Maybe it's time to pay a visit to the great Professor X..."