NOVEL NEXT Chapter 278: Operation
Smith Dole gave his orders:
"Selina, bring the battle power scanner. When we reach the Life Foundation, use it on Carlton Drake. If he's hosting Riot, the readings won't be anywhere near human."
"If Riot is inside him, we capture and secure both. If not, we'll rely on Venom's ability to sense his kind to locate him."
He set a heavy case down.
"Bulma built this containment unit. Michael, you'll be responsible for locking Riot down."
Soon after, their helicopter lifted off from the League of Assassins' headquarters, bound for San Francisco. Local operatives were already mobilizing.
Onboard, Smith dialed a secure line.
"Agent Coulson."
"I've identified a corporate founder who's become a traitor to Earth. His actions have caused countless civilian deaths. I'm moving in to eliminate him. I need S.H.I.E.L.D. to freeze his assets for victim compensation."
"Traitor to Earth?" Coulson repeated, stunned. "Does this involve aliens?"
Smith nodded.
"Yes. Alien lifeforms. The company is the Life Foundation."
"I need those assets frozen immediately."
Coulson hesitated only a moment before pulling up the Foundation's profile.
"…Three hundred billion dollars in market value," he muttered. Then firmly: "I'll escalate to Director Fury for authorization. But afterward, I'll need you to submit detailed evidence. It's still a corporation of massive size."
Smith agreed easily.
"You'll have it. Some of the data will need to be public anyway. Too many have died at their hands."
Coulson's tone grew careful.
"Public alien intel is dangerous. That part we'll need to negotiate."
"That can be discussed," Smith replied. "Just file the report."
He hung up, leaving Coulson to scramble a late-night call to Fury.
On the chopper, Eddie swallowed hard.
"Boss… you're not telling the public about the aliens?"
Smith shook his head.
"There are pros and cons. One day, the truth will surface. But for now, secrecy buys stability."
Eddie glanced at Selina, then cleared his throat.
"Um… Selina? Could you check my battle power?"
The scanner was far too expensive for him ever to buy. Before Venom, he never cared. But now? Now he had to know.
Selina gave him a cool look, then nodded.
"Alright. I'm curious too."
Eddie grinned nervously.
"Venom—transform!"
In a rush of black biomass, Eddie became the hulking, sharp-fanged form of Venom.
"Run the numbers."
Everyone but Smith stared, impressed despite themselves.
Selina's scanner beeped and displayed the result.
"Sixty. Not bad at all."
Alexei gawked.
"Impossible! Sixty? No way this kid could take me."
Smith wasn't surprised. Venom's healing factor alone made the difference—broken bones and deep wounds could vanish in seconds. Combined with its attack and defense, Eddie was formidable… but his weaknesses were equally glaring.
Selina confirmed, eyes still on the scanner.
"High energy output, fast regeneration. But the weaknesses are too exposed."
Alexei nodded grimly. Sonic vibrations and fire. Fatal flaws.
Eddie, though, was ecstatic.
"Sixty! Venom, we're superhuman! Hah!"
······
Meanwhile, at the Life Foundation, Drake stood in silent communion with Riot. He now knew the truth: their world housed millions of symbiotes.
If he brought them to Earth, they would become gods—masters of both planets' resources.
Riot seethed with confidence. Smith Dole, Iron Man, even the thieves who stole the others—none of them mattered. With an army of symbiotes, they would all fall. And if Riot seized hosts like Smith himself? They would only become stronger.
Drake's body was little more than a tool. If not for his access to rockets, Riot would have discarded him already.
Drake strode into the launch control room.
"Prepare the Life Two launch."
A technician frowned.
"Sir, the astronauts aren't ready—"
"No astronauts," Drake cut in coldly. "I'll pilot this one myself."
The staff froze.
"You… you'll fly it?"
Drake smiled with Riot's teeth.
"Yes. Me."
······
(End of Chapter)
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