CH 90

Chapter 90 Otto’s Secret

When Peter first heard Leo’s proposal, he wasn’t willing to leave the laboratory where he had spent so much time. Moreover, he was still subconsciously resenting the blind lawyer in the law firm right next to El Building.

Thus, his initial thought was to reject Leo’s proposal and even birthed the thought, “How could Mr. Erwin deliberately give someone a hard time?” or something along the line.

However, after some serious considerations and trying to approach the problem from Leo’s view, he abruptly realized Leo was already generous enough!

Peter believed if Leo really wished to give someone a hard time, he could leave Otto and him alone. Leo himself certainly could develop an excellent mechanical prosthesis and sell it for money. It was needless for him to pay salary and dividends to Peter and Otto.

With this line of thought, Peter was convinced Leo wasn’t someone who sees profits and ignores morality. Instantly, Leo’s personality in Peter’s heart was upped by a stage.

But Peter was clueless that if Leo wasn’t motivated by the mission, it was impossible for Leo to drum up a mechanical prosthesis.

In Leo’s brain, there were countless ways for him to rake in money. Even just selling the ‘Miniature Highly-compressed Battery’ was enough, where was the point of selling mechanical prostheses?

Leo contributed to such a great length in terms of both money and effort wasn’t it just to lure both of them?!

Believing he had seen through the entire truth, Peter willingly bit on the bait Leo cast. “Mr. Erwin, I’ve considered it properly. I’m willing to support your proposal and will work for El Tech Company.”

Turning his head to Otto, Peter added, “I believe with such a great opportunity, Dr. Octavius, you too will voluntarily go to El Tech Company with me. Doc, we can continue our research together again and this time, the progress will be much faster and smoother than before.”

In Peter’s impression, Otto’s goal was the same as his, wanting to successfully develop mechanical prostheses and help disabled people all around the globe. Now, their goal had the possibility of being achieved, Otto naturally had no reason to not work for El Tech Company.

However, out of Peter’s expectations, Otto rejected it. “Peter, you can go to El Tech Company yourself, your goal is there. Besides, you’ll have a better future there compared to staying with me. I’ve stayed at New York University for several decades. For me, the campus compound and the laboratory are a second home to me and my old friends are still around here, they’re like family to me. I’m already old and I don’t wish to leave here. Now that I’ve sold the ‘Nuclear Microreactor’ for two and a half million and no longer need to invest in the doomed ‘Neural Arms’ project. This amount of money is enough for me to live comfortably for the rest of my life. I just want to spend the rest of my time peacefully teaching at the university. So, Peter, go ahead and don’t worry about me.”

Otto’s expression was filled with a benevolent smile and a hopeful future in his eyes.

“Dr. Octavius, I envy the vision you have for your future. I also yearn for this kind of life. Every morning I wake up and have breakfast with my family. At night, have a drink and talk with friends. How beautiful life is? But hey, life often won’t go the way one wished. For me as an example, I’ve lost all of my family and old friends!” Bucky, the outsider, who was clueless about the truth of the matters, was yearning for and envying Otto’s future good life.

However, Leo was unwilling to believe Otto would have a good future because of the law of ‘Otto will become Doc Ock’!

Even Peter himself didn’t believe Otto’s words. “Dr. Octavius, you’re not someone who talks like this. This isn’t you.”

Shaking his head, Peter stared at Otto with a suspicious gaze with traces of seriousness and scrutiny, “Do you still remember half a year ago, after the ‘Neural Arms’ first successful trial, the words you said after you drank too much? You may not recall it but I do. That’s right, you do like the university’s open-styled campus but you don’t like this lab at all. When you’re drunk you said after your project was a success and funding was granted, you definitely will change for a brighter and more spacious laboratory. Besides, you also said the current New York University is full of lecturers who are chasing fame and fortune, making you upset.”

Because of Peter worrying for Otto, the more he spoke the more agitated he was. He stood up and exclaimed, “Home? Family? Doc, what are you talking about?! Dr. Octavius, what’s wrong with you? Why are you making up excuses to turn down El Tech Company? What are you hiding from me?”

The laboratory suddenly fell silent as the atmosphere tensed up.

The outsider Bucky finally had a chance to speak but realized he spoke wrong and hurriedly lowered his head, playing with the cards.

Although Leo guessed Otto was not being truthful, he never imagined Peter would directly tear down the act Otto was putting up.

In fact, Leo was also curious why Otto refused to join El Tech Company and lied about it. So, Leo had no intention to mediate the situation and chose to watch from the side.

After some time, Otto let out a long sigh, “Peter, I don’t want to go to El Tech Company and don’t want to leave the lab because I want to remain here to continue researching ‘Intracranial Transmission Technology’.”

Pausing for a bit, Otto tried to lift his hands and rub his face but helplessly put down his hands after several failures. Otto heaved out a sigh again, “Peter, I’m sorry. I lied to you. The reason I researched the ‘Neural Arms’ isn’t as grand as you imagine. In fact, the ultimate goal for the ‘Neural Arms’ is for my own sake.”

Peter failed to comprehend Otto’s words and asked in puzzlement, “Dr. Octavius, what do you mean? Both of your arms and legs are still fine, why do you need the ‘Neural Arms’ for?!”

“Hmph! Fine…” Otto raised his hands in vain and stared at them, “They’re no longer fine or rather, already not working. Haven’t you realized? Just now, I can’t even rub my face.”

Peter was even more puzzled, “Doc, what actually happened? The more I listen the more confused I get.”

“Something is wrong with my body. The doctor called it degenerative neurological disorder syndrome. He said that currently there’s no treatment for it. As for the main reason I’m sick it’s because I’ve been exposed to faint radiation when working on the Nuclear Microreactor’s radiation problem. Another reason was I was exposed to toxic substances for too long when I was doing research in the past. It was me being too reckless when I was young.”

Shaking his head, Otto helplessly added, “But the strange thing is, this syndrome only affects the muscle. My mind is still working fine but I can command my body at will and this will only worsen later on. So, I invented the ‘Intracranial Transmission Technology’, expecting to be able to rely on it when my muscles failed. I’m sorry Peter, I lied to you. Go ahead and forget about me. Start your new life, your future should be hindered by me otherwise I’ll feel guilty about it.”