Chapter 52 (The Mortal Multiverse : Liam Raven Harper)

Chapter 52 - Building the Case (Final)

Liam PoV

I opened John’s file in my HUD and went through it carefully with total focus.

The file contained what John had found on Carlos Vega’s—the drug supplier’s side.

The Pictures and video files with timestamps of Hale’s and two other new people’s meetings along with John’s notes.

According to John, the first new person–named Adrian Kane and is the CEO of NutraGenix–a company working on supplements

The second one is mentioned as Dr. Leonard Strauss

[The first guy is always in an expensive suit and he fits the profile of the guy in suit that Rizzo mentioned, but who is this doctor?] Eve said

‘Indeed, who is this guy’ I said while checking the file on the doctor and it showed that Dr. Leonard Strauss specialises in some protein based study.

I resumed the video clip and it showed Adrian Kane walking across the footage like a man who’d never had to look over his shoulder.

Tailored suit, confident step, hand extended to receiver a case full of cash which was visible as Marcus Hale had opened it while Carlos Vega held the case.

Another footage showed Adrian Kane meeting this Dr.Leonard in a fancy restaurant talking about something and at the end of each meeting–he handed a case to him after each meal, most probably money

[These security footage is enough proof to link the two of them and bring in all together] Eve commented and I just nodded

There were other security footage showing Carlos Vega meeting with Hale’s outside the Velvet Rose or some hotel, a duffel handing off in broad daylight—cash or product, it was impossible to tell from the angle, but the motion was clear.

I let the weight of that sit for a second and summarised.

‘The man Rizzo pointed out, the suited cousin of Carlos Vega has been confirmed as Adrian Kane. The video matched Seraphina’s account and Rizzo’s confession into a compass that pointed at a corporate front.’

I scrolled to John’s notes on Dr. Leonard Strauss.

He is currently working in Oscorp and John suspects he is the mind behind the product as NutraGenix’s Research and Development team is only so and so.

The trail read clean: Strauss and Adrian collaborating on a protein project on the side, creating the product—Vega and Hale’s were ready to handle the shady stuff.

Marino and Dorian’s was brought into this through Hale’s as he owned them money and the group was formed.

It was a hormonal, financial ecosystem—corporate shell, street distribution, legalized betting on fixed outcomes.

I felt the familiar rush of anger, then replaced it with the cooler metal of strategy.

Emotions are useful and can be used as fuel for persistence, but they don’t win cases.

Evidence wins cases and this was enough.

‘So the powder is NutraGenix’s prototype,’ I said aloud, mostly to the empty office and to Eve.

‘They were running a live trial off-books through Hale’s network and Marino’s backing. They approached coaches–target athletes and animals as test subjects—most without any knowledge of the side effects of the lactation powder, some knowingly—then gave the performance spike as a miracle, but it started going sideways but they didn’t care if people and animals got sick or died because they were making loads of money. They play with life as if it’s a game for money. That’s criminal on multiple levels.’

[Indeed, Liam. Even though Adrian Kane is popular and holds the role as CEO, it can’t shield him from this—after all it’s just a position. If Dr. Strauss’s lab notes tie the formula to the seized powder and financial transfers show payments from Kane to Strauss that cannot be justified, we have a bridge from corporate R&D to street distribution.] Eve’s voice was clinical and precise, the blue HUD pulsing at the corner of my vision.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. ‘There’s one thing that still bothers me. Nexor’s result said the powder wasn’t illegal—no issue with the powder. Only high level protein absorption, unusual composition, but no negative effect of health that increases uptake or stresses physiology without any banned component, the lab report makes prosecution trickier. We can show harm—but proving intent and source is the key. That’s where Kane and Strauss get pinned, not the product label alone.’

[Agreed. We need Straus’s raw notebooks, the R&D samples, and we have the cash payments video. We must show the formula was engineered to modify metabolism beyond advertised parameters. If Strauss is from Oscorp, he must be working on this in secret as Oscorp is big and wouldn’t allow its scientists to work with other companies as it’s bad for business]

‘Maybe, I can pressure Oscorp to take my side and throw this Dr. Strauss under the bus’

‘His communication and transaction with them will show Oscorp what he’s up to and I’m sure they won’t stand behind him if all this came out. Even though Oscorp is Evil in Marvel Universe, I’ll have to give the benefit of doubt as this world is different’

[Next move?] Eve asked

‘It’s time to upgrade my sharingan’ I said while my HUD showed intelligence and strength potions from the shop.

[Why now?] she questioned

‘Because, I need to be prepared to what happens next’

[Right now, you do have the money to upgrade even after sending half of the money received from Emma to John for his current and future jobs]

‘Eve, list all the evidence in hand’

[Understood] she replied and my HUD became blank and Eve started listing down

[1. Marcus Hale’s reckless driving under the influence and cops body cam footage of arresting Hale’s

2. Car search resulted in finding Cocaine and Lactose Powder

3. Security footage of Hale’s taking possession of the cocaine from an associate of Carlos Vega

4. Videos of Hale’s interaction and money transactions with Francesco Dorian, Victor Marino, Carlos Vega and Adrian Kane

5. Videos of Adrian Kane meeting and Dr. Leonard Strauss

6. Unofficial testimony from Seraphina and Rizzo that can’t be used on court

7. Unofficial list of Coaches, Athletes and track racing breeders got from Hale’s

8. Unofficial list of Movie Stars, Influencers and Models who get cocaine from Hale’s

9. Money trail through bank]

‘With the evidence in my hand, I could get judge Harrington to issue search and arrest warrants for all of them and have some of them arrested by the end of the day and start an investigation going on the rest by the most important thing right now is to strike them before they get to know they were my targets. I have to get the info of the Lactose powder form Dr. Strauss possession.’

‘They used kids and animals as test subjects for profit. They gambled with lives and I’ll make them pay.’

Eve’s HUD flashed the briefest, almost-mocking heart of blue light.

[Then let’s go pull the pin.]