Chapter 28: I Hope You Can Help Me

"Killian?!"

Jiang Chen frowned as soon as he recognized the man. The face, the name—this was Aldridge Killian, the founder of A.I.M. and the creator of Extremis. A man considered a villain by many.

"Hello, first of all, let me introduce myself," Killian said with a smile. "I'm Aldridge Killian, though you may also call me Mr. Kiri Amber if you prefer."

Jiang Chen snapped back to the present, having been lost in his thoughts. He casually found a seat on the luxurious sofa, his eyes fixed on Killian. His frown deepened.

"Did you really send that little girl back?" Jiang Chen asked.

Normally, Jiang Chen wouldn't have been too concerned about Anna's safety, especially considering how she wasn't just any ordinary child. But with someone like Killian, a known villain, trust was harder to come by.

"Of course, sir," Killian replied smoothly. To prove his sincerity, he pulled out his phone, dialing a number and switching it to speaker mode. "Has the little girl been delivered home safely? Let her answer if she's there."

Moments later, a familiar voice chirped from the phone, "Big brother, it's me, Anna!"

Jiang Chen relaxed slightly, listening to Anna's voice as she excitedly shared, "I just got home! I didn't wake you when I saw you sleeping, but these uncles have been so nice to me, don't worry."

Satisfied that it was truly Anna and not an impersonation, Jiang Chen responded, chatted briefly with her, and then ended the call.

Killian, seeing that his gesture had the desired effect, nodded and spoke again. "Since I invited you here, sir, I hope you understand my sincerity."

Jiang Chen's frown returned, unsure of Killian's motives.

"I'm looking for you because you're the first successful Extremis adapter," Killian explained. "I need your help."

Jiang Chen remained silent, his thoughts racing. From the way Killian was talking, it was clear that he had no idea Anna was also an Extremis adapter. That was a relief, for Anna's safety.

Killian, noticing Jiang Chen's lack of response, continued with an almost eager tone. "I thought you might not fully understand what Extremis can do. Let me explain. Extremis regenerates the body and strengthens it—essentially enhancing the human body in a revolutionary way. Once perfected, it could benefit all of mankind!"

Jiang Chen leaned back into the sofa, his expression unreadable. "But Extremis is only compatible with a select few," he said after a moment. "Most who try it… explode."

Killian quickly waved off the concern. "That's only because the research is still in its early stages. If we can identify the cause of those failures, we can fix it."

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. This was news to him. He hadn't heard of any potential fixes for the explosive side effects of Extremis.

Seeing Jiang Chen's silence, Killian wheeled himself closer, his excitement growing. "Your success, Jiang Chen, gives me hope."

But then, Killian's expression darkened, his tone becoming bitter. "Did you know," he began, his voice lowering, "there are always those who think they're better than everyone else? They believe they're saviors, standing above the rest of us." His eyes flickered with resentment.

"My legs," Killian spat out, his voice breaking with anger as he slapped at his disabled limbs. "I lost them because of people like that—people who look down on others just because they have more power or wealth. They act like they control our destinies!"

Killian's voice rose as he continued, nearly shouting now. "But they're wrong! We can be just as powerful—just as capable. If Extremis succeeds, I'll stand again. And no one will ever look down on me again."

Jiang Chen watched in silence as Killian vented. He wasn't sure what to make of the man in front of him. Despite Killian's reputation as a villain, Jiang Chen saw a man desperately seeking a way to heal himself—a man driven by ambition and pain.

Realizing his outburst, Killian composed himself, offering a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry," he said softly, "I got carried away."

Jiang Chen's face remained neutral as he asked, "And that justifies kidnapping people for experiments?"

Killian shook his head emphatically. "I swear, I've never ordered anyone to be captured for experimentation. All I did was sell the formula for Extremis. If others used it for… darker purposes, that's on them, though I take responsibility for putting it in their hands."

He sighed, his frustration clear. "I've made mistakes, but I still need to make a living. Without legs, I had to find other ways to survive."

Killian then fixed his gaze on Jiang Chen, his eyes brimming with intensity. "At first, I thought Extremis was just a dream—something that might never work. But you proved me wrong. You are proof that it can succeed."

Jiang Chen remained quiet, carefully weighing the man's words.

"Join me," Killian urged, his voice filled with conviction. "Together, we can stand atop this world. We can be the ones who control our destiny."

Jiang Chen sat back, his mind racing. This was a tempting offer, but he knew better than to trust someone like Killian without caution.

What would Jiang Chen decide?