Hank pointed at a spot on the map: "Darren has stored all the Cross Particles research data in an independent server room on the third basement floor."
"And the timing is perfect right now," Pym analyzed with a sharp gaze.
"Because of that crazy Ellis New Deal, Darren must be overwhelmed. To protect his assets, all his energy is likely spent dealing with those Federal Agents and Auditors, leaving him no time to worry about the company's security."
Saying that, Pym took out a Miniature High-Explosive Bomb the size of a fingernail.
"We need to take advantage of this opening. Hope, you put on the suit, and then you just..."
While the Pym father and daughter were discussing their action plan.
A few meters away, Darren, in his shrunken state, heard everything clearly.
Looking at Hope's profile as she intently discussed how to destroy his career, the last shred of affection Darren had for her vanished into thin air.
"Bitch... You're just like this old man, using me! Betraying me!"
"Boss." A subordinate's voice came through the communication channel, breaking Darren's fury.
"Data decryption is complete. But..." The subordinate's voice sounded a bit hesitant.
"But what?! Did you get the formula?!" Darren asked in a low voice.
"No, Officer. The server... is empty."
"Empty?"
"Yes, Officer. There are no formulas or data regarding Pym Particles, nor are there any experimental logs. Most of the data has been wiped and cannot be recovered."
Darren turned his head to look in the direction of Hank.
He understood.
This old man was overly cautious. He hadn't left any paper records, nor had he stored them on any server.
Everything was kept in his head! Every time he finished synthesizing Pym Particles, he would wipe all records.
Now, in this spacious laboratory, there were only those finished red test tubes on the table and a pile of cold synthesis equipment.
Without the formula, taking the finished product would be like drinking poison to quench thirst.
"Since you've hidden the formula in your head, I'll force you to say it yourself," Darren thought coldly.
He knew Hank Pym too well. This old stubborn man valued Pym Particles more than his own life; even under torture, he would never utter a single word.
However, Hank had a fatal weakness.
Darren's gaze locked onto Hope.
"Old bastard, don't you care about your daughter the most? Let's see if you can bear to watch her suffer."
Darren raised his right arm and made a tactical gesture to the three subordinates behind him.
"Prepare to reveal yourselves. One and Two, lock onto that old man and that other Guy. Three, guard the perimeter. Hope is mine."
The three Yellowjacket Soldiers received the command, and the mechanical tentacles on their backs unfurled. Energy sources began to converge in the emitters at the tips of the tentacles, glowing with a piercing yellow light.
While Hank was still pointing at the blueprint, analyzing the layout of the building's ventilation ducts with Hope.
"Do it!" Darren ordered.
Four figures, originally only the size of ants, instantly restored to normal human size!
The change happened too fast—so fast that Hank and Hope didn't have time to react at all.
Darren Cross appeared behind Hope.
The mechanical tentacles behind him suddenly lunged out like venomous snakes. One brutally clamped around Hope's neck, while the others tightly locked onto her waist and arms.
At the same time, the other two soldiers pounced on Hank Pym from the left and right, mercilessly pinning the elderly scientist down onto the lab table.
The last soldier appeared behind Homelander, with mechanical arms locking onto Homelander's shoulders and arms, holding him firmly in control.
"Let her go!" Hank roared in anger, his cheek pressed against the cold tabletop.
The helmet visor of Darren's suit retracted upward with a hiss, and he looked at Pym with a mocking expression.
"Good evening, Teacher," Darren said with a forced smile.
"What a wonderful tactical meeting. I almost wanted to applaud your meticulous plan."
His mechanical tentacles tightened slightly.
"Ugh..." Hope let out a pained groan.
"Darren! You madman! Let Hope go! This was all my idea, it has nothing to do with her!" Hank struggled desperately, but his elderly body was no match for the strength of a Yellowjacket warrior.
"Nothing to do with her?" Darren gave a cold laugh. "Hank, you're always so hypocritical. Just now, I heard with my own ears how she planned to blow up my servers. She's more vicious than you."
"Let her go, Cross!"
Beside them, Homelander also timely displayed the anger a "devoted boyfriend" should have.
His eyes blazing with fire, he glared at Darren and roared.
"If you dare harm a single hair on her head, I guarantee that the Starr Group will use every resource to hunt you down to every corner of the World!"
Darren glanced at Homelander and curled his lip in disdain.
"Give it a rest. Now that Homelander is gone, do you think I'd still fear the Starr Group? Once I have the Pym Particles, you won't even be able to catch my Shadow!"
Darren's gaze fell back onto Pym, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
"Listen, old man. My patience is limited!"
"Write down the synthesis formula for Pym Particles. Now! Immediately!"
"In your dreams, Darren! You're a cold-blooded monster. Giving the formula to you is equivalent to pushing the World toward destruction. I'd rather take this secret to hell!"
"I know you're not afraid of death."
Darren slowly turned around, controlling the mechanical tentacles to pull the mid-air Hope closer to him.
"But... what about her?"
Darren looked at Hank coldly.
"I know you, Hank. Janet's death was the greatest nightmare of your life."
"But if you don't write the formula..."
"I will slowly, bit by bit, snap her neck right in front of you. I'll let you experience once again what it feels like to lose the most precious thing in your life!"
"No! You wouldn't dare!" Hank Pym's eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted in rage.
"If you dare touch a hair on her head, Darren, I swear! I will torture you in the most cruel way in the World! I will make you howl in pain every single second!" Hank issued a shrill, furious curse.
Homelander also immediately matched Hank's emotions, struggling violently.
"Let her go! You piece of trash! If you want money or technology, I can give it all to you! Just don't hurt her!"
"Counting down from three, Hank." Darren turned a deaf ear to their threats.
"3."
Darren lightly pressed a button on the control panel.
"Zzzzt—!"
The tips of the mechanical tentacles instantly released high-voltage electricity.
"Aaaaaah—!!!"
Hope let out a pained wail, her body twitching violently.
"No! Hope!!"
Hank was heartbroken and frantic with worry.
"2."
Darren remained unmoved, and the intensity of the current increased again.
Hope's screams died down, but the whites of her eyes rolled back.
"Stop! Stop! I'll give it! I'll give it to you!!"