C 34

"It feels good to learn Chakra."

After Kain returned to the Marvel universe, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of excitement as he practiced using ninjutsu. Having come from an ordinary background, the experience of wielding such a remarkable, mystical power was exhilarating. This Extraordinary ability was something few could even imagine, and Kain couldn't shake the thrill of learning to harness it.

The amount of Chakra he had acquired from Kakuzu was far beyond anything he could have hoped to generate on his own. Reflecting on it, he realized that comparing his abilities to those of a seasoned ninja like Kakuzu was almost laughable. The moment Kain accepted Kakuzu's Chakra, it was like diving into a vast ocean of energy. He could feel every vein in his body filling to the brim with this life force, as though he had tapped into an endless reservoir of power. It made him feel, for the first time, something more than human.

Kakuzu's transmission of Chakra was continuous, taking nearly an hour for Kain to refine and stabilize the Chakra within his own body. For him, the experience was transformative—an awakening to a power that few outsiders ever experienced. Unlike the native inhabitants of the ninja world, who had refined this energy over centuries and generations under the guidance of the Sage of Six Paths, Kain was approaching this power as an outsider.

As someone not of the ninja world, he had none of the genetic predispositions that enabled the people of that world to produce Chakra naturally. For Kain, the process was laborious and required Kakuzu's constant guidance. Yet, it was exhilarating. After observing Kain's first few efforts, Kakuzu had even commented that, while he showed potential, his body wasn't exactly suited to ninjutsu. In Kakuzu's blunt words, even with considerable talent, Kain would likely reach only the rank of Chūnin, the second rank in the ninja hierarchy. But Kain wasn't discouraged. After all, with the ability to cross worlds and seek new opportunities, he didn't need to rely on the conventional path to mastery.

With this initial training under his belt, Kain negotiated with Kakuzu to continue tutoring him in ninjutsu over the next half month, offering a sum of five million ryo in return. Kakuzu, enticed by the lucrative deal, readily accepted. To him, this was a far more enjoyable way of making money than his usual dealings in underground markets.

During his stay, Kain focused on mastering the basics, learning the essential Three Body Technique and the Shadow Clone Technique. His execution was far from perfect, but over time, he knew he could improve through practice. For now, Kain's Chakra reserves were limited, barely enough to produce a single Shadow Clone that could last a mere thirty minutes. His Chakra level was comparable to that of a ten-year-old academy student in the ninja world, and even that was on the lower end. Still, he was optimistic. In the Marvel world, where few wielded such powers, his current abilities would make him an elusive figure, hard to track and even harder to catch.

Transformation Technique, in particular, became one of his most valuable tools, serving as a perfect means to disguise himself and stay hidden. Beyond his newly acquired skills, Kain found himself in a relatively stable position financially. His recent investments were progressing well, and his pharmaceutical wholesale company was beginning to stabilize. Although he also owned a biopharmaceutical company, it was currently little more than a placeholder, an empty shell, as he awaited the right opportunities to grow it.

On returning to his company, Kain reviewed a series of emails that had arrived in his absence. Most were routine updates on work and progress reports, but one message immediately caught his attention: a headhunter had successfully contacted Professor Maya Hansen. Excited by the prospect, Kain promptly sent her a collaboration proposal, keeping the tone respectful and sincere. Both Maya and her associate, Aldrich Killian, were people Kain believed to be crucial to his plans. With the email sent, he made his way to his pharmaceutical trading company, eager to assess the current state of affairs.

In the few weeks he had been away, the company had made significant strides, particularly in overseas markets. Demand for pharmaceuticals was booming in Mexico, with local suppliers struggling to meet demand. Interestingly, Kain's company had managed to secure partnerships not with public hospitals but with private entities, including local organizations and syndicates. The marketing department reported that trade volume had tripled within just two weeks, yet the demand remained far from satisfied. Kain projected that, within a year, his company could dominate the pharmaceutical market in Mexico, with similar growth potential in Asia, Australia, and South America.

However, this rapid expansion required a more extensive sales team. At present, the company only had seven overseas salespeople, a number far too low to meet growing demand. After discussing with department heads, Kain outlined a plan to increase the sales team tenfold, believing that even if only a fraction of the recruits succeeded, the company's presence in international markets would strengthen substantially.

With his company's immediate goals and future plans set in motion, Kain received an email response from Maya. She mentioned that she was also in New York and suggested a meeting that very afternoon at a coffee shop in Queens. The email included detailed directions and a specific time. Checking the clock, Kain noted he had ample time, so he finished his office work before heading out.

Arriving early at the coffee shop, Kain settled into a quiet corner. Before long, he noticed two individuals approaching his table. He stood up, greeting them with a polite nod.

"Kain Pent?" the woman asked, and Kain recognized her immediately.

"Miss Maya, Mr. Killian, please have a seat," he replied, gesturing to the empty chairs.

Maya and Killian settled into their seats, and Kain could see that while Killian maintained a somewhat gloomy expression, Maya appeared more composed, albeit cautious. Killian's attire was modest, likely reflecting the financial struggles of his organization. Kain guessed that while they may have been collaborating on the Extremis project, their funds were far from sufficient.

"Mr. Kain, we've heard you've been looking for us for some time," Maya began, her tone direct.

"That's right," Kain replied. "I'm planning to establish a biological research center, one dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the human body and developing targeted treatments for diseases deemed incurable. Although the center is still in its early stages, I've already made considerable headway with preparations."

He handed over two documents detailing his plans and the progress made so far, hoping to demonstrate his sincerity and the seriousness of his intentions. Killian appeared interested, flipping through the documents with growing intrigue. Kain knew that despite his ambitions, Killian's resources were stretched thin. His initial attempt to secure funding from Tony Stark had failed, leaving him in search of alternative support.

Maya, meanwhile, looked up after skimming the papers. "Mr. Kain, I'm currently working on a project in collaboration with AIM. If you're interested, we'd be open to your investment."

Kain met her gaze, understanding the significance of this opportunity. This was the opening he needed—a partnership that could propel his plans forward. And in that moment, he realized that this collaboration could mark the beginning of something far more significant than he had originally envisioned.