Chapter 7: Umbrella's Foundation
A teenager with messy hair and a black hoodie stood still in front of an old building, his eyes intently staring at the rusty ‘Building For Sale’ plaque.
“This place…” he muttered softly. “The smell of rotting wood, peeling paint, and electrical wiring still from the world war era. Perfect.”
> [System: …Perfect for a B-grade horror movie set, perhaps. Are you sure this is a good idea, young master Stark?]
Kent smiled slightly, his steps light as he began to walk inside. His boots bounced on the dusty floor, a creaking sound greeted his every step.
“System, we need a place that won’t attract attention. Remember, this isn’t your average startup. We’re not trying to sell apps or create a new social media.”
> [System: Oh yeah. We just want to build a secret biotechnology company, which will be the future defense of humanity, keep mom and dad in a state-of-the-art bunker, and… oh, don’t forget, it will make the Ancient One and the TVA curious enough to go berserk.]
“The details,” Kent chuckled. “I can’t protect my family just by coding in my room. We need a base. This will be my first base.”
He walked to the end of the room, opening the digital blueprint that appeared on his smart bracelet. It showed a three-story underground plan with a hidden lab, data room, and escape route.
“And we’re starting from scratch. Without Stark Industries’ help. Without Dad’s interference. This is my personal project.”
> [System: Admit it, you also want to prove that you can be better than Tony without using the Stark name.]
“And even if you do?” Kent raised an eyebrow. “I only have a little time before everything explodes. I know my future. I’ll be banished from this universe. So, before that happens…”
He clenched his fists. “I’ll make sure the people I love are safe. Whether in this reality… or later.”
> [System: Okay, Kent, the main character of a dark sci-fi anime. Let’s begin… recruiting genius villains to be your dream team.]
---
A Few Weeks Later
The small cafe in Queens was chosen for one reason: no CCTV cameras.
Kent sat at a corner table, wearing a hoodie with the “U.Corp Prototype” emblem. In front of him, three figures sat, each with a different aura.
“Thank you for coming. I’m sure you know why you were called.”
A young woman with silver hair and a lazy expression placed a tablet on the table. “Your data is… strange. You’re Howard Stark’s son, but your data has never appeared in any public database.”
“Family secret,” Kent replied casually.
A second man, large and muscular, wore a leather jacket and eyed Kent suspiciously. “And you’re only 17. What do you want to recruit us for?”
Kent activated the screen on his wristband, displaying a simulation of the lab’s structure and security system schematics.
“You’ve all been kicked off official projects because your theories were deemed crazy. But I… I believe that being crazy is necessary.”
He rotated the screen, showing the results of experiments that no ordinary high school kid could possibly create. Genetic engineering. Artificial intelligence. Self-contained network systems.
“This isn’t a joke. I’m building the Umbrella Corporation. And I need people like you.”
> [System: Note: the probability of them thinking you’re a psychopath: 78%. But since you brought donuts and a contract with a salary three times the market… the acceptance rate has increased to 95%.]
The big man finally spoke, “What’s the guarantee? You’re just a high school kid.”
Kent smiled. “I may be a high school kid… but my father is Howard Stark. And I’d rather be thought crazy than die without a chance to act.”
> [System: Just like an isekai anime plot… minus the truck-kun.]
“If you join,” Kent continued, “we work outside the system. Off the radar. All experiments are protected. All research results belong to us all.”
The silver woman raised an eyebrow. “And who are you, anyway?”
Kent stared at her, his dark eyes unwavering.
“The one who will change the course of the future.”
---
That Night
Underneath the newly renovated headquarters, the first floor of the underground chamber began to come alive. Cables were pulled. Initial equipment began to arrive in secret. The newly recruited team went to work, and Kent was at the center of it all.
“Our every move is being watched,” he said quietly as he examined the mini-AI prototype. “But I won’t stop.”
> [System: You know what? Sometimes, you sound cool. But more often than not, you sound like a mysterious transfer student anime protagonist.]
Kent chuckled. “Good. Because the protagonist always wins, right?”
> [System: Not necessarily. If you die in episode 12, don’t blame me.]
---
Elsewhere
In the mirror dimension, the Ancient One opened her eyes. The piece of paper containing the Sacred Timeline’s timeline began to crack… little by little.
The TVA began to collect records of time anomalies. There was one name that hadn’t been officially registered… but it had a huge impact.
Kent Stark.