NOVEL NEXT Chapter 269: Symbiote
The next day.
New York.
At the League of Assassins headquarters, Fox frowned slightly as she looked at an unfamiliar number on her phone. After a moment of thought, she chose to answer.
"Hello, Mr. Smith, this is Eddie Brock, the reporter who interviewed you last time."
Hearing the introduction, Fox immediately remembered who he was and also realized this number must be the one their leader had personally given him.
"I'm Fox, secretary to Smith Dole. I remember you, Eddie Brock—a star reporter."
Eddie and Anne were both surprised to hear a woman's voice on the other end, but quickly understood it was Smith's secretary.
"Hello, Ms. Fox."
"The situation is this: during my last interview with Mr. Smith Dole, he told me if I ever faced persecution while exposing the darkness, I could come to him for help and protection."
Hearing Eddie's words and knowing the kind of work he did, Fox quickly pieced together the situation and asked:
"Can you explain in detail what happened?"
Eddie didn't hold back and immediately said:
"Ms. Fox, during an interview with Carlton Drake, head of the Life Foundation, I uncovered disturbing information."
"The Life Foundation deceives the homeless, making those who can barely read sign waivers, and then uses them to test highly lethal drugs. Many test subjects died, and none of these cases were ever reported."
"When I questioned him about it during the interview, Drake retaliated against me. Both my partner and I lost our jobs—and I've been blacklisted from the entire industry."
At that moment, Fox glanced at the TV where Eddie's exclusive interview with Smith Dole was being replayed on the Daily Globe, and she asked:
"You're saying you're unemployed now—and banned from the industry?"
Eddie nodded.
"Yes, Ms. Fox."
Fox recalled that Smith Dole had already ordered her to investigate the Life Foundation. She hadn't expected such a heavy accusation to fall into their lap so quickly—human testing leading to deaths. Without hesitation, she said:
"Eddie, for your and your partner's safety, I suggest you both come to our company first."
"As for the Life Foundation issue, once you arrive, I'll need you to provide as many details as possible."
Hearing her words, Eddie and Anne's faces lit up with relief.
"Alright, Ms. Fox. We'll head for New York immediately."
After hanging up, the two embraced tightly.
Now that the issue was in Smith Dole's hands, a full investigation was inevitable. Once the truth came out, Drake would face ruin and judgment.
In that moment, Eddie felt an almost overwhelming urge to say to Drake: "I wish you a very happy life."
Without wasting time, Eddie and Anne packed their bags and prepared to leave for New York. Eddie knew if Drake learned of this, their lives could very well end with nine bullets in their backs, ruled as suicide.
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At the League of Assassins base.
Fox stared at her phone, then immediately issued orders:
"DaiDai, pull up all Life Foundation drug trial applications, subject contracts, and results."
After instructing the AI, she called the Brotherhood of Assassins' leader in San Francisco.
"Investigate the city's homeless population. Track those who sign with the Life Foundation. Monitor what happens after they sign and their final outcomes."
After hanging up, she reviewed DaiDai's collected data and said:
"Package this information and send it to the legal department. Have them verify whether these drug trial contracts violate any laws."
Once finished, she headed toward Smith Dole's office—this was something she needed to report directly.
After knocking, she entered.
"Boss, Eddie Brock called asking for help. He claims the Life Foundation has targeted him. Both he and his partner lost their jobs and he's been blacklisted from the industry. I've told them to come to New York."
Smith paused his work. He knew this meant they had already clashed with the Life Foundation. And now that the symbiotes had arrived on Earth, timing was critical.
"Place them at Capsule Corporation. Eddie can work in external communications, and his partner in the legal department."
"When they arrive in New York, arrange a meeting with me."
He didn't place them in the League headquarters—such a move would be too revealing. Capsule Corporation was a perfect cover. And this way, he was also quietly preventing the breakup of their relationship.
Fox nodded.
"Understood. I'll handle it once they arrive."
······
Meanwhile, in San Francisco.
Carlton Drake also learned that Eddie Brock and his girlfriend had both been fired, and that Eddie had been blacklisted from the industry.
To him, this was justice. The reporter who had dared oppose him would now suffer total ruin—in career, love, and life. He imagined Eddie living the rest of his days drowning in regret.
Then Drake walked into the laboratory, where research on the symbiotes had just begun.
The first control experiment was underway.
Inside a sealed chamber sat a divided container. One side held a symbiote; the other held a lab mouse.
As the test began, the partition retracted. The symbiote slithered toward the mouse and quickly entered its body.
The monitoring instruments scanned every detail. The mouse's body temperature began to rise sharply.
For a brief moment, Drake's eyes widened—could this organism truly coexist with a host?
But within three seconds, the mouse collapsed, dead. The symbiote slithered out of the corpse and returned to its side of the chamber.
Drake fell silent for several seconds before finally speaking:
"Collect the data. Dissect the mouse. Analyze every variable. Then report the results to me."
"Yes, Dr. Drake."
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(End of Chapter)
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