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Ch. 177 The Senate Hearing
🕑 Added 2023-11-29 16:00:06 +0000 UTCIn the eyes of ordinary people, the female military officer sitting across from Russell was undoubtedly a beauty to behold.
However, right now, she was sitting in front of Diana.
In Diana's presence, not only this unnamed and ageless female officer, but even Gwen and Kara would pale in comparison.
To Russell, Diana was the unparalleled beauty standard.
This female officer didn't expect Russell to say such a thing to her. Her elegant eyebrows furrowed, and her already serious expression turned even colder.
"Mr. Bradley, this isn't an invitation, it's a subpoena!"
"Tomorrow at exactly 9:00 AM, Washington D.C., Capitol Building!"
After saying this, the female officer didn't wait for Russell's response. She simply placed the subpoena on the table and, along with the two tall soldiers also dressed in Army uniforms, turned and left.
Watching the female officer walk away, Russell slightly furrowed his brow.
His relationship with the military was not bad, to say the least. In fact, it was quite good.
Strictly speaking, it was even excellent.
More than General Ross had purchased the enhanced serum from him, several other military bigwigs had done the same.
Not to mention Jack and Johnson, the two Army generals who had purchased the Zaku Battle Armor from him in the past.
Although he didn't know which general this female officer belonged to, it was hard to believe that any general would act so forcefully.
With Stark Industries gradually closing its weapons development department, Octopus Monster Industries had become the military's largest supplier of high-tech equipment.
Although Hammer Industries and Oscorp Industries were competing with Octopus Monster Industries for the military contracts vacated by Stark Industries, Octopus Monster Industries had secured the lion's share.
"It seems the military takes the Titan creatures more seriously than you'd imagine," Diana said slowly to Russell.
"Let them be. If things get too complicated, I'll just pull out. I won't do business with the military anymore!"
Russell directly ignored the subpoena on the table and continued to savor the food in front of him.
After finishing their meal, he had no intention of taking the subpoena with him. Instead, he left the restaurant with Diana.
Diana noticed his slight mood change but didn't say anything. She looped her arm through his right arm and pulled him into a post-dinner stroll.
Strolling along the peaceful riverside street, Russell and Diana chatted casually, sentence by sentence.
After over half an hour of leisurely strolling, they finally boarded the self-driving Porsche with the intention of returning to their apartment.
However, as soon as they got into the car, Russell saw the subpoena that he had completely ignored.
"What's going on?" Russell asked Diana as he looked at her.
"I had No. 3 bring it over. I wanted to see what they're up to," Diana replied calmly.
"If they really have any ideas they shouldn't have, we can always deal with them later."
With a faint smile and a gentle tone, Diana said, "Don't worry; I'll support whatever you decide to do."
Well, since Diana put it that way, Russell had to slightly adjust his plans. He decided to make a trip to the Capitol Building tomorrow to see what the military and politicians were thinking.
After receiving the subpoena, not attending the hearing could indeed cause some trouble. But that was only for ordinary people.
If he remembered correctly, in the cinematic universe, Tony Stark had been through a similar hearing. He had been asked to hand over the technology behind Iron Man.
Facing Iron Man Tony Stark, they would have wanted the technology behind the Iron Man suit.
As for him, they would probably ask for Godzilla.
Of course, there might be more that the attending senators and military brass wanted. Such as the technology behind the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor and Zaku Battle Armor, the formula for the enhanced serum, or the high-tech unmanned military factory currently under No. 3's control.
Oh, and there was the serum symbiote that he had intentionally disguised as a biological suit.
Back at the apartment, Russell and Diana engaged in a passionate post-dinner exchange, reminiscent of a honeymoon.
Diana's tenderness made him forget his minor unhappiness from tonight, and both his body and soul experienced great satisfaction.
The next day.
After enjoying a simple breakfast prepared by Diana at the apartment, Russell donned the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor and flew to Washington, D.C., which was 360 kilometers away.
It took him less than twenty minutes to arrive at the Capitol Building, hovering over it in the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor.
Even though it was not yet nine o'clock, there was already a large gathering of reporters and onlookers outside the Capitol Building.
Russell scanned the reporters and onlookers from above, and then landed in the square in front of the Capitol Building.
He deactivated the war armor, and with a wave to the reporters who were kept outside, he walked toward the Capitol Building.
Once inside, several female staffers wearing black business suits approached him and guided him to the hall where the hearing was being held.
At 8:59 AM, he arrived at the hearing hall.
He took his seat in the front row, which was marked with his name. He had No. 3 control the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor to sit to his left.
According to the hearing procedure, he could bring some of his own people. However, he didn't do that. He was only here to play some political games with these politicians and military bigwigs, and one person was enough for that.
With the sound of camera shutters clicking, the hearing began on time.
Russell looked at the person sitting in the chairman's seat, and realized he had no impression of this particular senator.
As for the military representatives sitting next to him, who were in uniform, he recognized several familiar faces.
Seeing these people, he finally understood why the female officer from last night had been so impolite.
General Hagg!
Last night's female officer was actually one of General Hagg's subordinates.
Seeing General Hagg, he immediately connected all the dots.
First of all, among the military bigwigs, there were factions.
General Hagg belonged to the faction that was opposed to General Ross.
Secondly, unlike General Ross and others who were trying to give the military super-soldiers or equipment to counter superhuman abilities, General Hagg was a firm opponent of superhumans.
Not to mention recent superheroes like Russell, even the Fantastic Four would not be liked by General Hagg, as he saw them as potential major threats.
With the double buff of these two factors, it would have been abnormal if General Hagg's female officer had shown Russell a pleasant demeanor.
While he was assessing General Hagg, the general with a "noble" complexion was also sizing him up.
However, in the next second, Russell began scanning the hearing hall for the figure of the female officer from last night.
The senators on the podium, as well as General Hagg sitting next to them, were no longer of interest to him.
