Arc Reactor Technology

In Wang Khan's newly purchased seaside villa, he sat in an oversized lounge chair, admiring the setting sun over the sea. The view was wonderfully poetic.

Unfortunately, the beauty was soon shattered by a roaring sound.

A red-and-gold Iron Man suit, of who knew which generation, flew in from the horizon, entered Wang Khan's courtyard, and landed beside the lounge chair.

"Tony Stark, welcome. Want a drink?"

Wang Khan shook the Maotai in his hand, then poured him a glass.

The mask opened. Tony did not stand on ceremony and took the drink Wang Khan offered him.

"Chinese liquor. I've had it before. It's pretty good, though I'm not quite used to it."

Wang Khan stood, shook his hand, and led him into the living room.

As they sat down, Wang Khan glanced at Tony's neck and saw clear Palladium Poisoning marks there, almost reaching his face.

"Your Palladium Poisoning is pretty serious, Mr. Stark. Around forty percent by now, I suppose?"

"Forty-eight percent. You really do know a lot. So the rumors were true. You want to make Iron Man suits and sell them to the military too, don't you?"

The incident involving spies at the robotic processing plant had inevitably spread. Along with it came word that the workshop Wang Khan had used to mislead Sharon Carter contained Powered Armor.

"Heh, don't worry. The Powered Armor I make won't use Arc Reactors. Those things cost far too much to be fitted into individual weapons."

"Oh? You see things quite clearly. Looks like you're a cut above the mediocre crowd."

Tony Stark was still as abrasive as ever. Wang Khan merely smiled.

"Since you don't have much time left, I won't waste words. Give me the Arc Reactor technology, and I'll give you the technology for this."

With that, Wang Khan took a small box from a drawer. Inside were two items.

One was a dark-purple bottle. Judging by the nozzle, it was a spray.

The other was a piece of metal. Wang Khan picked it up and tossed it to Tony.

"This is a weapons-grade alloy, identical in composition to the shrapnel inside your body."

Tony Stark was an expert in weapons manufacturing, and with Jarvis assisting him, he quickly confirmed that the metal in his hand was indeed identical to the shrapnel in his body.

"And this is the Metal Embrittlement Agent I developed. Watch closely."

Wang Khan took the metal back from Tony, shook the spray in his hand, and pressed the switch. A stream of purple mist sprayed directly onto the metal shard.

Very quickly, the weapons-grade metal softened and warped like mud, eventually becoming thick sludge that dripped between Wang Khan's fingers.

Tony Stark's eyes lit up. He already understood what Wang Khan meant.

"Metal Embrittlement Technology?! I didn't expect you to be this capable. Is the spray highly toxic?"

"You saw it just now. The spray is completely harmless to the skin. As for inside the body, I haven't found any issues so far. You can take it back and test it before using it once you're completely satisfied."

Wang Khan took a few napkins from beside him and wiped the metal sludge from his hands. Just then, a beam of infrared light suddenly shot from the Iron Man suit and scanned his hand.

"Sir, Mr. Wang Khan's hand shows no pathological reactions such as poisoning, nor any signs of allergy."

"I can see that."

Wang Khan tossed the spray to Tony and sat down on the sofa.

"So this is the artificial intelligence installed in your Iron Man suit? It seems pretty good. With its help, no wonder your Iron Man suit has never crashed."

"Of course. Jarvis is the strongest artificial intelligence around today. Are you interested in him?"

"Compared to artificial intelligence, I'm more interested in Arc Reactor technology."

Naturally, Wang Khan would not fall for Tony's bait. Besides, in terms of AI sophistication, Jarvis was far inferior to Red Queen.

If the two AIs fought in the network, Red Queen beating Jarvis would be like a father beating his son.

"I can transfer the Metal Embrittlement Technology to you, including all experimental data to date and every finished product I've made. In exchange, you give me the Arc Reactor technology and experimental data. Then we'll be even."

Tony sat down as well and swirled the spray in his hand.

"Do you think the two are of equal value? Besides, with my intelligence, I believe I can develop the same Metal Embrittlement Agent myself before long."

Looking at Tony's arrogant face, Wang Khan did not indulge him in the slightest.

"Enough. Let's stop haggling. I believe that with your IQ, you can indeed develop a Metal Embrittlement Agent, and compared with the Arc Reactor, this technology is indeed somewhat lacking. But do you have the time? If my calculations are correct, your Palladium Poisoning will reach eighty percent in no more than a month—and that's assuming you don't use the Iron Man suit at all during that month."

"If you keep courting death like you are now, you'll be meeting God within a week. Assuming you can get into heaven, that is. Otherwise, it won't be God receiving you, but Satan."

He pointed at the Metal Embrittlement Agent in Tony's hand.

"Metal Embrittlement Technology alone truly can't compare to the Arc Reactor. But if Tony Stark's life is included, then they're equal in value."

Tony Stark's expression darkened.

"You really know how to take advantage of someone in trouble!"

"Don't put it so harshly. Business is about mutual consent. I'm just making full use of my current advantage. When I get backed into a corner someday, you can fleece me the same way. When that happens, I'll absolutely bow my head and accept the loss."

Tony did not know the allusion behind being backed into a corner, but he could understand what Wang Khan meant.

"I can only give you the basic Arc Reactor technology. Miniaturization is absolutely out of the question. If you don't agree, then pretend I was never here."

With that, Tony angrily threw the spray onto the table, his eyes filled with madness.

The two faced off for a moment before Wang Khan suddenly burst into laughter.

"You really are Iron Man. Looks like you've already found a Super Hero's bottom line."

"Hmph. I swore that I would never deal in weapons again. Arc Reactor miniaturization is the most powerful weapon in the world. Even if I die, I won't let it enter the market!"

"Now that's spirit. Since that's the case, I'll give Iron Man some face. We'll trade the basic Arc Reactor technology for the Metal Embrittlement Technology. Pleasant cooperation."

Tony kept a cold face as he shook Wang Khan's hand. Being threatened and having no choice but to accept it left him extremely displeased.

Afterward, they exchanged technical documents and experimental data. Tony activated his flight system and prepared to leave.

"Oh, one last reminder before you go. Watch out for Justin Hammer. That knockoff king has his eyes on Iron Man suit technology. Hammer's technological level may be mediocre, but you're not the only person in the world who understands Arc Reactor technology."

Tony's expression changed slightly as he thought of something, then he took off with a roar.

"Jarvis, search for Anton Vanko. See how he's doing."

"Sir, Anton Vanko died in an accident not long ago."

"Dead?! That's too much of a coincidence, isn't it? Hammer, you'd better not play with fire, or I won't let you off!"

The novel will get a trial recommendation next week. I hope everyone will support it then. The time for the new book's battle has come—let's go!