 A mysterious vehicle using a huge magnet steals a highly potent mutagen known as PX @-@ 41 from a secret laboratory in the Arctic Circle . The Anti @-@ Villain League ( AVL ) , headed by Silas Ramsbottom , tries to recruit former supervillain , <unk> Gru , to track down those responsible and recover the mutagen , but Gru refuses , claiming that he is now a legitimate businessman as well as the devoted father of Margo , Edith , and Agnes . Dr. Nefario , Gru 's friend and assistant , tells Gru that he " misses being evil " , and opts to leave him for new employment . Gru reluctantly agrees to investigate the theft of the mutagen , and is partnered with undercover AVL agent Lucy Wilde . The pair begin their search in the Paradise Shopping Mall , disguised as bakery employees . Gru immediately comes to suspect Mexican restaurant owner , Eduardo Pérez , of being the infamous " El Macho " , a legendary supervillain who supposedly died after skysurfing a shark into the center of an active volcano . Gru and Lucy break into Eduardo 's restaurant at night , but find nothing to prove that he is the culprit . Meanwhile , Agnes confides her dream to one day have a mother , and believes that Gru will fall in love with Lucy , but , despite her excitement , Gru tells her that his relationship with Lucy is strictly professional . 
