The painfully twisted postures of the test subjects in the background photos confirmed the early, unstable, and highly explosive nature of the Extremis Virus prototype. Judging by the chaos, Killian hadn't found the perfect stabilization formula yet.
"The second issue is more troubling," Emilia turned to the next set of documents, her voice thick with even more visible disgust. "TCRI has clandestine ties to a syndicate called The Hand. The Hand is a powerful crime organization that controls certain local neighborhoods."
Hawk took the files on The Hand, murmuring: "The Hand is a powerful, transnational criminal syndicate. Its reach extends far beyond what one might imagine, with extremely strong infiltration capabilities, and... they possess certain supernatural powers."
The documents showed complex money-laundering trails, which ultimately funneled into a series of shell companies. The actual control points of these companies pointed to industries controlled by The Hand: upscale underground casinos scattered across the city center and port areas, and drug manufacturing dens disguised as abandoned factories and warehouses.
"TCRI provided them with money laundering channels, some security technology support, and even used its own logistics network to help transport their 'goods.' A portion of the profits from the casinos and manufacturing facilities flowed back to certain high-level TCRI executives as 'protection fees' and dividends. It's an entire, hidden criminal ecosystem."
Emilia's finger tapped a photo of one of the drug manufacturing sites; the equipment was rudimentary, but the output was enormous and highly dangerous.
Hawk listened quietly, his fingertip tapping a rhythmic beat on the smooth conference table.
"Understood." Hawk's eyes narrowed, then he chuckled, placing the materials back on the desk. He pointed at the A.I.M. documents:
"First, regarding A.I.M., immediately terminate all cooperation agreements. Notify all TCRI specialists providing technical support at A.I.M. labs to return to headquarters immediately for debriefing. Cut off all raw material supply and technology sharing channels to them. Tomorrow, release a rigorously worded public statement saying that following Lane Capital's acquisition of TCRI, compliance review uncovered major ethical risks in certain cooperative projects, making them incompatible with the company's new values. Therefore, we are unilaterally terminating the partnership. If they object, they can sue. The wording must be official, but clear enough for Dr. Killian to 'understand'."
Killian's research is stuck at a bottleneck, and TCRI's technical support is critical. Suddenly pulling the rug out from under him, especially with the publicly humiliating reason of "ethical risk," will certainly throw the increasingly desperate Killian into disarray. He will come to us, like a cornered, enraged beast. When he shows up, we'll negotiate terms, or... we'll solve this future problem once and for all.
The Extremis Virus? It has value, but only when controlled, not in the hands of a lunatic. Regardless of the final outcome, the first thing Killian and A.I.M. need to do is come and pay their respects to the new dock owner.
Next, he pointed to The Hand files, his tone hardening:
"Regarding The Hand and these filthy operations, collect all detailed addresses, operational evidence, key personnel lists, and money trails related to TCRI's involvement with their casinos and drug manufacturing facilities. Then... call the police!"
"Call the police?" Emilia's pen, which had been flying across her notepad, paused.
Hawk stated emphatically: "Hand it over directly, packaged, and send it to the NYPD. At the same time, leak it to several influential media outlets."
Hawk had no interest or time in a protracted war with a criminal syndicate. Exposing them to the light, allowing the iron fist of the state's enforcement machinery to smash these dirty branches, is the goal. Calling the police is the most legal, most efficient, and lowest-cost method of disengagement. It will thoroughly cleanse the filth that has stained TCRI, firmly nail the former management's crimes, and use official power to disrupt their operations.
As for The Hand's core and their "supernatural" secrets? They'll become much clearer once they're forced out of the sewers.
Emilia rapidly took notes of Hawk's directives, the surprise in her eyes gradually replaced by efficient readiness. She understood Hawk's intention: "Starving the snake out" for A.I.M. and "Killing with a borrowed knife" for The Hand. The core strategy was to quickly and cleanly sever the past cancerous links and to either set the stage or create the conditions for future actions.
"Understood, Boss. The A.I.M. termination notice and specialist recall order will be issued immediately. The evidence against The Hand will be precisely delivered to all target inboxes and reporters within two hours." Emilia's tone was resolute.
Hawk nodded slightly, stood up, and straightened the cuffs of his suit jacket.
"Good." He strode toward the door. "The reporters are waiting downstairs to announce the birth of the new TCRI."
Meanwhile, in the ground-floor lobby of TCRI Headquarters, flashbulbs glittered like a dense starscape, illuminating the press conference area like daylight. On the giant backdrop, the logos for Lane Capital and TCRI stood side-by-side, with the newly adopted Lane Bio-Tech insignia underneath, symbolizing a total transfer of power.
Hawk Lane stepped behind the podium, impeccably dressed and poised—a stark contrast to the ruthless figure he had been moments ago in the conference room facing Shredder.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hawk's voice was projected clearly through the microphone, cutting straight to the chase without opening pleasantries. "Thank you for attending this press conference on such short notice. As you know, at 3:28 PM this afternoon, Lane Capital formally completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in TCRI."
He turned and gestured toward the screen beside him, which displayed the shocking images of the factory ruins in Pennsylvania and Houston, along with the disastrous curve of TCRI's collapsed stock price.
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