C 97(1)

In the morning, Kain was woken up by sunlight streaming through the window. After opening his eyes, he looked at Betty Ross lying beside him. 

Her arm had been draped over him all night. Carefully removing it, Kain got up, dressed, and glanced at the curse pattern on the back of Betty's neck.

The curse seal's pattern would gradually fade as the Chakra within it weakened. If Kain didn't replenish it, the seal would become fainter and lose its effectiveness, even as it influenced Betty. 

Unlike others, this seal was made to uniquely suited to host's body. Rather than harming her, it enhanced her physical abilities, boosting her overall fitness.

The bedroom floor was a mess, with scattered clothes and other signs hinting at the intensity of last night's "battle." 

Noticing that Betty was still asleep, Kain used magic to tidy up the room. Instantly, clothes were neatly hung on hangers, and the stains on the carpet vanished without a trace.

Thanks to his vast magical power, Kain didn't need a housekeeper. Even in a villa as large as this one, cleaning was a trivial task for him. 

For the most part, a caregiver was enough for occasional help. Then there was Boa. Its growth rate was alarmingly fast, and even if Kain bought every house in the area, there was still a risk of exposure. 

He decided it was time to inject Boa with some genetic material from magical creatures.

The genes of an invisible beast would suffice. With its fur allowing it to vanish, even a skilled wizard might overlook its presence. 

Living near the sea offered additional security—if Boa became invisible and dove into the ocean, it would be virtually impossible for anyone to find.

After preparing a simple breakfast, Kain noticed Betty stirring. She woke up just as he finished. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the freshly cleaned room and the aroma of food wafting from downstairs.

The billionaire making breakfast himself wasn't a sight Betty encountered often. Among her acquaintances, Kain was a rare exception.

"Do you need to hire a nanny? You can't clean such a big house all by yourself," she remarked while sitting at the dining table. 

Picking up a sandwich filled with bacon, fried eggs, and butter, she took a bite, still feeling drained from the night before. Even though she'd had some milk last night, she needed more to regain her strength.

"No, I can manage," Kain replied while serving her two more sandwiches, sensing that one wouldn't be enough. "As for the other four manors, I'll handle those after I renovate this place."

Betty raised an eyebrow. "I'm practically turning into your personal butler at this rate. And don't think I've forgotten what you promised last night—you still haven't delivered."

She was referring to the special medicine. She felt tricked, as Kain had kept her in the dark about it.

"And about those four manors," she continued. "If you buy them all, you'll still refuse to hire a nanny or housekeeper? You'll wear yourself out, and they're massive properties."

Kain shook his head, dodging the subject. "You'll understand when the time comes. If you're worried, you can always come and check things out. The room on the second floor is yours anytime."

Was it true that she had given in? Betty Ross had cooperated last night out of curiosity about the special medicine, not for the pleasure of indulgence. 

Otherwise, she wouldn't have come here at all. Still, she didn't answer the question. Betty had her own boyfriend, her ideal person. She felt a pang of guilt thinking about Bruce.

"Betty, help me find out about someone. Her name should be Helen Cho—a Korean, maybe based in Seoul or the United States. She might be connected to a place called U-GIN Laboratory."

There were still more than ten years until the Age of Ultron. Kain didn't know how old Helen Cho was—perhaps still in school or already working in a lab. But that didn't stop him from investing in her research ahead of time.

Whether nanotechnology was Helen Cho's personal project or tied to U-GIN Laboratory, Kain wasn't going to let this technology slip through his fingers.

"In a few days, I'll need to head to Russia," Kain said. "I'll leave everything here in your hands."

"You'd better stay longer," Betty replied, rolling her eyes. "That way, I can finally take a vacation."

Her boss had a habit of disappearing for long stretches, only to come back briefly to delegate tasks and—on occasion—spend the night with her. 

Then she would end up busy again. Betty estimated it would take her at least another month or two before she could relax.

If this kept up, she might barely see Bruce at all. Maybe it was a good idea for them to take some time apart, to let things settle. But why was she even thinking like this?

Betty felt conflicted. Could it be that, after only a few nights, she was already losing her feelings for Bruce? The thought felt strange. 

Yet, she couldn't deny how good last night had been—especially the breathless moments, almost like singing a song of surrender.

After dinner, Paul was waiting for Kain at the manor gate. Today, Kain didn't need Betty to act as his driver—in every sense of the word.

Yesterday, he had replenished the Chakra seals for most of the staff at the biological research center. Today, his plans included doing the same for Laura and the personnel at the Umbrella Military Security Company, as well as arranging their upcoming tasks.

The first profits from the Extremis Virus wouldn't come in for another six months at the earliest. Until then, Kain's visible expenses were being supported by his own funds and a pharmaceutical wholesale company.

Two companies, in particular, required his focus:

The Biological Research Center, which was self-explanatory. Umbrella, which had been rapidly expanding. Its plans included procuring more firearms, purchasing training grounds, and acquiring armored vehicles and helicopters.

Umbrella now had over 60 formal employees, of which 70% were front-line mercenaries and the rest were support staff. While this number wasn't insignificant, Kain considered it far from sufficient. 

His goal was to scale the company to at least 200 personnel.

Only when there were at least 180 front-line security personnel or mercenaries would Kain begin to evaluate the company's profitability.

Until now, all the expenses of the Umbrella Military Security Company had been funded by Kain himself. Fortunately, his savings were substantial, enough to last several years.

….

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