bioinnovel Chapter 454 [3 Chapters Combined] "Lucky" Tony
Chapter 454 [3 Chapters Combined] "Lucky" Tony
Tony Stark stood in front of the holographic projection map, swiping his finger, and New York City's energy network unfolded before him like glowing veins.
The red area, representing traditional fossil fuel supplies, is shrinking at a visible rate, while the blue dots, representing clean energy nodes, are spreading like wildfire.
"Sir, the power grid upgrade in the central urban area has been completed ahead of schedule, and it is expected that residents' electricity bills will decrease by 60% per capita this month."
At the same time, Jarvis's voice rang out, carrying a hint of almost imperceptible pride and smugness.
"In addition, the city hall just sent a letter of thanks, saying that we have made a great contribution to the harmonious development of free America."
Tony picked up his coffee cup but didn't drink it; he just stared at the fluctuating numbers on the projector.
"Interesting... those old fogies were saying my reactor technology was 'immature' and 'risky' just last week at the hearing."
A sarcastic smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Thanks to Sheriff Black, I suppose their legal team is too busy to bother us right now?"
Jarvis did not answer, but instead controlled one side of the holographic screen, displaying a series of news headlines.
Executives of energy giants arrested en masse, industry faces reshuffling.
Stark Osborne Union's stock price surges as clean energy becomes the new hot spot.
A transnational cooperation agreement has been reached, under which China will introduce clean energy.
New York's crime rate hits a decade low; police attribute it to "comprehensive social governance."
Tony picked up his slightly cooled coffee, took a sip, and casually typed some words on his keyboard. The third news item appeared on his screen, displaying details such as a tiered timetable for technology sharing, the location of a joint R&D center, and even a talent exchange plan for the next decade.
The terms were so generous that they seemed less like a business negotiation and more like a strategic investment.
"They saw my talent and are optimistic about the future of clean energy..." Tony repeated the official statement from the news in a low voice, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "That rhetoric is only good for fooling children... This is clearly Riley's own doing, even going so far as to reduce his own share of the profits to lower the price. I suspect that if it weren't for everyone's interests at stake, he would have given the technology away for free."
The holographic image switched to display a snapshot of the agreement signing ceremony.
The Chinese representative, a middle-aged man with a gentle smile, was shaking hands with Tony.
Half a step behind Tony was Riley, dressed in a black Spider-Man suit.
His posture was relaxed, but the lines of his shoulders carried a subtle tension, clearly indicating that he was ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.
This should have been a perfectly ordinary contract signing, and the location was chosen to be the top-floor office of Stark Industries.
Logically speaking, this should be considered the safest place in all of New York, outside of the 13th ward.
Instead of lowering his guard, Riley appeared as if facing a formidable enemy.
Even in the shadows of each person, two or three ninja soldiers lurk silently. This is to ensure that in the event of any unexpected situation, everyone present can be dragged into the shadows and quickly moved away from danger.
It's fair to say that Tony had never met Riley before and acted with such caution and nervousness.
That's Spider-Man, the strongest superhero in the world today, a true god among men.
This is precisely why Tony, having noticed Riley's emphasis on the great Eastern power, couldn't help but feel curious...
Putting aside just how outrageous Riley's connections really are...
Tony recalled the occasional details Riley had revealed during several operations:
He can readily quote certain Eastern philosophical allusions.
In the equipment design, a modular approach, completely different from Western engineering, was subconsciously adopted. The most representative example is Riley giving Captain America, who originally wore the Stars and Stripes, a bright red nanotech suit. Tony even momentarily thought that Steve had changed his nationality and become Captain China.
Even Riley himself prefers tea to coffee on a regular basis.
Moreover, he didn't just use tea bags as a substitute; he had a small, portable tea set that was quite particular about water temperature, time, and technique.
These details piece together a somewhat strange fact—these are clearly native-born free people, yet deep down they possess a profound identification with a distant civilization.
This made Tony wonder if, if Peter hadn't been more accustomed to life in the United States, Riley would have packed his bags and immigrated with his whole family to live on the other side of the ocean long ago.
However, considering the series of exploitative policies implemented by those in power, who completely treat the lower and middle classes as expendable commodities...
It's not hard to understand why Riley, who has always been fiercely opposed to evil, would show such bias.
"Sir, Mr. Osborne is calling."
Just as Tony was deep in thought, he couldn't help but wonder if he should go to China and buy a few houses in advance, so that he could go with Riley if he ever decided to flee.
Jarvis's voice echoed in Tony's ears once more, pulling Tony's consciousness back to reality.
The next second, Harry Osborn's video call window took up most of the screen.
The young master looked much more relaxed than when Tony last saw him; even the dark circles under his eyes had faded considerably.
Furthermore, judging from the nanosuit he was wearing, which was rapidly retracting, he even had time to go out and play "Spider-Man" for the first time in a long time.
"Tony, have you seen the offers from the West Coast?"
Harry spoke first, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement.
"Three large utility companies have proactively contacted us, wanting to establish long-term partnerships! Proactively! Do you know what their previous negotiators said? They said our asking price was 'too idealistic.' But now, they've not only voluntarily lowered their prices, but they've also deliberately increased them by 20%!"
"Hahaha! You should really take a good look at how humble they acted back then!"
"This was an expected outcome. After all, from now on, we basically have the final say in the entire US energy market." Tony pulled up a draft contract. "However, don't get too excited. Can our production capacity keep up?"
"You can rest assured about that! Riley had Dr. Otto return to help upgrade and revamp Osborn Industries' production lines, which are expected to increase monthly capacity by 40%, more than enough to meet market demand!" Harry replied confidently. "Of course, this is also thanks to your reactor technology. Currently, no one can manufacture that new element, let alone create a reactor that can output a stable output over a long period, greatly reducing our costs. This is enough to ensure that no one can compete with us in this field!"
As they spoke, the two quickly exchanged data and determined their expansion strategy for the following week.
During this process, Harry would occasionally pick up a pen to write and draw, and organize the paper documents in his hands.
Even in the current timeline, there are already several high-performance artificial intelligences, including Jarvis, assisting us.
But Harry still retains his father Norman's habit of always having one or two physical copies of important documents.
After the work content was almost finished being discussed, Harry looked up at the screen, his expression more serious than when they were discussing business expansion.
"By the way, shouldn't we say something to Sheriff Blake? After all, they bore the greatest risk in this operation. He was also the one who stepped in and solved our biggest problem."
Tony turned away from the energy distribution map and nodded. He then walked over to the coffee counter, pouring more coffee into his cup as he responded.
"That's natural."
He stirred the dark liquid, habitually scooped up two spoonfuls of sugar, hesitated for a moment, and abandoned the inexplicably unsettling thought of adding three spoonfuls of sugar.
"I've made all the arrangements. The dividends from District 13 as a shareholder will arrive this afternoon. In addition, I will also donate an extra sum of money for activities in the name of the 'Community Safety Fund'."
He walked back to the holographic projector with his cup in his hand, and the projector automatically switched to a 3D map of New York City.
Several newly built safe houses and operational nodes in District 13 are highlighted.
Clearly, after the Amora invasion, Riley, realizing the base's location was no longer secret, had begun relocation. This was to prevent District 13 from becoming a sitting duck, transforming from one of the world's safest places back into a "public toilet" that anyone could come and go as they pleased.
"However..." Tony took a sip of his coffee, his tone becoming subtle. "After the turmoil of the last Sandman attack, Sheriff Black might be more concerned about something else now—"
"It's about continued intelligence support and more powerful equipment upgrades," Harry replied knowingly, pulling a report with an Osborn Industries green cover from a folder beside him. "Dad has already ordered the R&D department to send over the latest medical monitoring equipment prototype."
He projected and shared the report, showing a lightweight armor lining system on the screen.
Microscopic image of an ingeniously designed microstructure with a biocompatible nanocoating on the surface.
"This is the third-generation 'Guardian' medical lining," Harry explained. "Based on Riley's suggestions, we've integrated real-time vital signs monitoring, a self-healing fibrous braided layer, and—"
As he spoke, Harry tapped the screen, deliberately enlarging one of the modules.
"Based on lizardman serum, a new type of healing serum microcapsule storage unit has been developed. The recovery speed is 30% faster than the old version, and there is no side effect of mutating into a lizardman. It is planned to issue three stockpiles to each standard combat unit, and field personnel will be additionally equipped with individual first aid injections. Furthermore, the serum purity and stability have passed extreme environment tests, and it can still maintain its activity in the range of -20 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius."
Tony whistled, zoomed in on the image, and examined the microcapsule release mechanism closely: "Wow, this sounds intriguing. Get me a set too, and see if I can integrate it into the Mark 3's functional modules."
"Huh? The new generation of Iron Man suits is already made so quickly?"
"It's not that easy. I'm still figuring out the specific upgrade direction... By the way, are these medications for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection?"
"Both, depending on the situation." Harry pulled up the schematics. "The sensors in the lining assess the type and severity of the injury. In the case of an open wound, the hemostatic fibers will first seal the main bleeding point, while the serum capsules will penetrate directly into the wound edges through contact with the skin. In the case of internal injuries or poisoning, micro-injection needles will be launched to the nearest healthy muscle group. The entire process is completed within three seconds, buying time for subsequent treatment."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Theoretically speaking, the quantity sent this time is enough to equip each of all known field personnel in District 13 with a liner and three spare syringes."
"Wow, that's a big spender. Old Norman really went all out this time."
"Absolutely. Dad said that compared to the huge profits that Sheriff Blake's operation brought, this investment is nothing."
"I thought your dad had a change of heart... but this is definitely in line with his style."
Tony raised an eyebrow at this and teased him with a straight face.
"However, there's already a new version so soon. It seems Mr. Norman hasn't been idle lately..."
He placed the coffee cup on the console and began rapidly typing on the virtual keyboard.
"Since that's the case, I have to do something. I'll coordinate a batch of equipment and send it to District Thirteen later."
"Equipment?" Harry raised an eyebrow curiously. "I remember you publicly stated that you had closed the weapons department? Logically speaking, besides your Iron Man suit, your current inventory should only contain defensive and non-lethal equipment, right?"
"Hey kid, don't you dare slander me, or I'll sue you for defamation! Back when I was an arms dealer, didn't those selfish idiots rip off a lot of my products?"
Without looking up, Tony pulled up a list bearing the Interpol logo. Then, feigning nonchalance but with a hint of smugness, he continued, enunciating each word carefully.
"This batch of goods is 'lost supplies' that Riley and I just recovered from the Middle East a couple of days ago. They're all outdated 'antiques'... By the way, Riley also gave me the codename 'Iron Man' during this operation. I have to say, his naming style is as rustic and direct as Peter's, but I think it's pretty good. We'll use that name from now on."
As he spoke, Tony continued scrolling through the list, showing Harry several items.
"The high-frequency laser emitter was originally intended to be used as the main gun of the next-generation tank. To facilitate single-person operation, I specifically made lightweight modifications. Although the power and range have been reduced, at full output power, it can still effectively penetrate the armor of most light vehicles."
"And this, a sonic directional vertigo device. It's not lethal, but it can temporarily paralyze the cochlear cavity, causing enemies to lose their balance and causing symptoms such as vomiting and dizziness."
"And this—" He clicked on a 3D model, "Tactical EMP Generator, portable, effective radius of fifty meters, specializing in destroying electronic equipment."
Harry carefully examined the specifications of the equipment and gradually understood Tony's intention: "So, you're planning to hand over all these 'recovered lost items'... to Section 13?"
"It wasn't 'handed over,' but 'entrusted' to District 13 for 'safekeeping,' and for security reasons, these 'weapons that had been privately modified by Middle Eastern bandits' were subjected to 'safety testing and evaluation.'"
Tony corrected him, a shrewd smile playing on his lips—a smile that teetered on the edge of the rules.
"After all, I have already personally promised to close the weapons department, and the main business is now focused on the development of clean energy. Where would I find the extra energy to painstakingly store and maintain so many weapons? It would be better to hand them over to an official organization that I trust, so that the higher-ups won't be suspicious and everyone will be happy."
"Haha, as expected of you, this process is indeed flawless."
Harry laughed out loud, a laugh that contained both admiration for Tony's methods and praise for the impeccable rhetoric.
He's not some greenhorn fresh out of school.
As the sole heir to Osborne, Harry grew up listening to board meetings and was accustomed to the flexible operations hidden beneath various veneers of compliance.
And among the equipment Tony showed him...
The modular design principle of laser weapons and the same framework as the Mark 2's super weapon are clearly the same.
The sonic vertigo device is also 40% smaller than similar products on the market. This requires the latest miniaturized energy core to achieve.
As for that portable tactical electromagnetic pulse generator, its frequency adjustment precision is ridiculously high, and it's not something that some Middle Eastern bandits could tinker with haphazardly.
In other words, this is hardly a "resold outdated antique" at all.
This is clearly a brand-new product that Tony tailored specifically for the urban special operations environment, especially for the increasing threat that District 13 is facing from superhuman criminals who may target and retaliate against them over time!
"I believe it's a fact that you and Riley—I mean Spider-Man—made a point of taking time out of your busy schedules to go to the Middle East to recover old Stark Industries products that were smuggled out of the country."
Harry picked up his teacup, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"Spider-Man teams up with rising hero Iron Man to devastate a terrorist hideout and seize a large quantity of dangerous weapons!" A press release can be written like that, and a report can be filled out like that. But in this "list of seized supplies"... how much of it was actually moved from a desert warehouse, and how much was just off your private production line, still carrying the fresh static electricity of "retro new products"? Well, I guess only the two of you know the truth.
"I already told you, that's defamation. Be careful, or I'll sue you."
Tony showed no embarrassment at having his plans exposed; instead, he wore a knowing, pleased expression.
But outwardly, the proud Tony still wanted to defend himself and struggle a bit.
He adjusted the holographic projection, placing the weapon design blueprints side-by-side with some publicly available "older models." Then, hands on his hips, he responded confidently.
"Look, this is a record from the District 13 investigation files. It was smuggled out of the military warehouse five years ago and secretly sold to a now-defunct private security company. It's called the 'Raptor-III' laser defense system."
"And the one on the right is from the same batch of products that we 'luckily recovered' this time. Even more fortunately, the people at this security company actually have some brains; their unauthorized modifications to the performance parameters miraculously resulted in a significant improvement! We really got a great deal!"
Harry leaned closer for a closer look, and after a brief silence, he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, "Apart from the outer paint job and product number, it still looks like the 'Raptor-III,' but the internal structure diagrams are completely different. You... I mean, this security company's 'improvements' are truly thorough."
"You can't say that, kid. Technology is always advancing... Just like I could never have imagined that in just three months, a superhero like 'Spider-Man' would appear in the world." Tony shrugged, looking innocent. "As for the other products you find strange... After recovering these lost valuable assets, we responsibly used the latest technology to perform necessary maintenance and upgrades to ensure their safety and reliability. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"
“Yes, yes, that makes perfect sense.” Harry nodded in agreement, his eyes full of smiles. “So, when will this batch of equipment, which has undergone ‘necessary maintenance and upgrades,’ be delivered to Section 13? My transport convoy is ready and will be dispatched to Section 13 first thing tomorrow morning.”
Tony pulled up a logistics interface, displaying several complex transport routes: "In thirty-six hours, the 'lucky' Spider-Man and Iron Man will 'accidentally' discover a secret arms depot somewhere in Yemen. After forty-eight hours of inventory, sealing, and preparation of diplomatic documents, the equipment will be transported to New York under the supervision of Interpol. Then, after... well, seventy-two hours of customs inspection and judicial procedures, it can be legally transferred to Stark Industries for their disposal."
He marked a time point on the map: "So, in about seven days, Sheriff Blake will receive a 'surprise delivery'."
"Coincidentally, I heard they're going to conduct a joint combat exercise with S.H.I.E.L.D. next week, which will come in handy~"
"And the new equipment that was 'accidentally' deployed during the exercise will help the Section 13 team achieve 'impressive' results, thus naturally leading to the subsequent live-fire testing phase and officially incorporating this equipment into the list of individual combat equipment for Section 13 agents." Harry continued, praising the logical chain. "Every step is perfectly linked, even the application scenarios are all laid out. Except for Nick Fury who might be a little unhappy, it's a happy ending for everyone. Tony, you really should go write screenplays in Hollywood."
"However..." But soon, as if he had thought of something, Harry quickly suppressed his smile, "The technical level of these equipment is clearly higher than that of ordinary products on the market. Will District Thirteen have any concerns when taking them over? I mean, after all, their operations often need to be kept low-key."
Tony nodded. "That's been taken into consideration. So all of this equipment will have a 'civilian-grade appearance treatment.' The laser casings will be changed to resemble municipal engineering maintenance equipment, and the acoustic devices will be packaged as geological exploration instruments. As for the electromagnetic pulse generator..." He blinked, "we'll say it's a 'new lightning protection device test product' developed to protect historical buildings from lightning strikes."
"Lightning protection devices for historic buildings," Harry repeated, then couldn't help but laugh again. "Okay, that's a... very creative reason. So, what do you need me to do to help?"
"Your medical equipment should be sent there first, the sooner the better," Tony said seriously. "After the Sandman incident, Sheriff Black is definitely reassessing the protective standards for field personnel. Your supplies will effectively alleviate his biggest concern: personnel safety. As for the weapons and equipment, I will arrange for them to be delivered in batches under different names to downplay the sensitivity."
"After all, none of us want our carefully prepared 'gift' to be intercepted by those above us, and then willingly handed over to the enemy for a pittance, right?"
Harry jotted down the key points: "Understood. I'll arrange the transport today, using Osborne Industries' dedicated medical supply route, and label it... 'Sports Injury Protection Equipment Research and Pilot Cooperation Project'."
"Perfect," Tony praised. "Then, let's split up and prepare. Stay in touch."
"Stay connected."
The communication ended. Harry's face disappeared from the screen, replaced by a refreshed stream of global energy data. But Tony didn't immediately get to work; he stood there for a moment, deep in thought.
Jarvis.
"Please give your instructions, sir."
"Retrieve the past twelve months' mission casualty reports from District 13, analyze the most common injury types and scenarios. Then compare them with the design parameters of Osborn Medical Lining, and mark the parts that may require special reinforcement."
"Analysis in progress... Completed. Data shows that over 67% of moderate to severe injuries occur during surprise attacks or encounters, and the wounded often cannot receive immediate medical support. The Osborn Lining's autonomous treatment function covers 83% of these injury types. The remaining 17% are mainly mental attacks or special energy damage, which are difficult to prevent with current technology."
Tony nodded: "Send the analysis results to Riley and suggest that he try to add mental protection features after receiving the goods, even if it's just to reduce the impact. Also..."
He paused, gazing at the photograph on the table—a picture of Tony and his father, Howard Stark, which had once been hidden away but had only recently been rediscovered.
"...In my personal name, transfer a sum of money from that anonymous account in Switzerland to the 'Families of Fallen Soldiers Trust Fund' that Sheriff Blake mentioned. The amount..."
"The goal is to ensure that their children can continue their studies without applying for any loans, and continue until they graduate from university."