Iron Man and the Boy

Chinatown apartment, basement.

The concrete floor trembled faintly, and specks of dust rolled continuously.

Thud!

Accompanied by a soft sound.

Five black metal fingers, pressed together like blades, suddenly pierced through the floor!

Then, like a sharp scalpel slicing open flesh.

The metal fingers effortlessly cut through the concrete floor.

They continued extending, swiftly changing direction.

Ssshhh—

In just a few seconds, a square section of concrete, one and a half meters across, had been cut out with astonishing precision!

Bang!

The severed slab of concrete was suddenly pushed upward by a cleverly applied enormous force.

Revealing a neat, deep, pitch-black opening.

The black metal head of Iron Man UR-025 slowly emerged, faint blue light flickering within its eye sockets.

It easily supported the heavy slab of concrete with five metal fingers.

Allowing its two-meter-tall metal frame to enter the basement.

Then, it bent over slightly.

It extended its other metal arm toward the opening.

At the same time, Rorschach, his face full of excitement, grabbed the metal hand for leverage.

He leaped out of the opening in one bound.

The moment his feet found solid ground.

Rorschach smiled, raised his head to gaze at the towering Iron Man, and exclaimed in admiration:

"Haha, it actually worked!"

"Merely a simple calculation... not worth mentioning."

The Iron Man, blue light flickering in its eyes, slightly shook its metal head and replied calmly.

Rorschach kept smiling.

He gave the Iron Man a thumbs-up, expressing his great approval.

Clearly, their relationship had progressed quite well...

One hour earlier.

When Rorschach openly displayed the Plasma Pistol to the Iron Man.

As a gesture of initial goodwill.

The intelligent Iron Man showed greater understanding.

And in return for Rorschach's courageous act.

The two had initially established a firm trust between them.

Afterward, the intelligent beings of two different species engaged in a thorough exchange.

They truly formed a mutually beneficial Cooperative relationship.

As the instigator who had freed the Iron Man from the "sea of suffering" that was Warhammer.

Rorschach would receive all assistance from Iron Man UR-025 aside from combat.

The pacifist Iron Man was unwilling to become involved in any conflict unless its own safety was threatened.

Meanwhile, the human Rorschach maintained the necessary respect toward Iron Man UR-025.

Namely, that it was a Mechanical Life with a complete personality.

Rather than a killing machine from the Warhammer Universe.

Thus, the harmonious "Iron Man and the Boy" duo was swiftly formed.

Then, with Rorschach's reminder and the Iron Man's efforts.

The two entered New York City's Underground Passage.

And successfully dug a tunnel leading directly to the apartment basement.

At this moment.

Standing in the basement, the Iron Man lowered its metal head.

Blue light flickered in its eyes as it politely asked Rorschach:

"Rorschach, is this your residence? Do you require a larger and more magnificent living space?"

"Uh..."

Rorschach paused slightly, then shook his head and said:

"This is only a basement, a temporary place for storing things... But what you said about living space does remind me of something..."

"We need a Secret Base now. Do you have any suggestions?"

Looking at Rorschach's earnest expression and sincere gaze.

The Iron Man, blue light flickering in its eyes, raised a metal hand.

It pointed toward the opening through which they had arrived.

Then, there seemed to be greater emotional fluctuations in the Iron Man's cold mechanical voice.

"Based on Terra humanity's brief history, as well as data analysis of countless human remarks online, I believe Terra humanity will require more time before it can fully accept Mechanical Life..."

"For my peace and Rorschach's survival, building the Secret Base underground is the optimal choice..."

After hearing the Iron Man's answer.

The smile on Rorschach's face became even brighter.

He quickly nodded and said:

"You're right. Humans don't have much tolerance... But I know nothing about construction, so I'll have to trouble you with it in the end."

"Naturally. It was my proposal to begin with."

The Iron Man, blue light flickering in its eyes, did not refuse.

Or rather, through traces left behind on the internet.

It had long since seen through some of Rorschach's thoughts.

The two discussed the size and purpose of the Secret Base.

Then, Rorschach, brimming with excitement, left the basement with light steps.

Once Rorschach's footsteps had completely faded away.

The Iron Man standing in place turned its metal head once more.

The blue light flickering in its eyes rose and fell like waves.

A mechanical voice filled with obvious excitement slowly rang out.

"Cunning Terra human, cunning Rorschach..."

"Praise the Machine God, praise the Omnissiah... and praise Rorschach as well!"

The first thing Rorschach did after leaving the basement.

Was contact the apartment's landlord and prepare to buy the basement.

The basement would now become one of the entrances to the Secret Base.

It was no longer somewhere he could abandon at any time.

Therefore, simply renting it was a hidden risk.

Buying it was the best option.

In the end, faced with Rorschach's aggressive cash offensive.

The apartment landlord agreed to the sale for one hundred and fifty thousand.

After settling matters with the landlord, Rorschach did not head to the basement to disturb the Iron Man.

After all, respect and trust were also forms of combat power.

Rorschach returned directly home.

He devoured food from The Fridge while occasionally opening the Simulator page.

To check the completion progress of the second salvage operation.

The terrifying gains from the first salvage.

Had filled Rorschach with immense anticipation for the greater haul of the second.

Unfortunately, that anticipation lasted until late at night.

Until the salvage gains were all displayed before Rorschach's eyes.

Salvage completion countdown: Zero

Salvage gain: Fresh Ant-Grub Cans (one crate)

Note: Produced by Blackstone Fortress. Please roast with a flamethrower for at least two hours before eating... Improper consumption, two lines of tears for your loved ones.

Salvage gain: Unexpired frozen Steg-Beast Milk (one can)

Note: Produced on Feros Planet. Long-term consumption can increase toxin resistance... Even High Lords say Steg-Beast Milk tastes great.

Salvage gain: Unexpired protein bars (one dozen)

Note: Produced in an unknown hive city, manufactured by Orks... Nutritious and healthy, plant protein.

Salvage gain: Grox Hind Leg Meat refrigerated for a hundred years (two hundred kilograms)

Note: Produced on an unknown planet. May all meat eaters... be savage as Grox?

Salvage gain: Brand-new Death Korps of Krieg soldier uniforms (ten sets)

Note: Washed and ironed many times. There are absolutely no bloodstains from Krieg soldiers on them... Guaranteed by a Krieg quartermaster.

Salvage gain: Unexpired Laughing Skull Corpse Starch (one barrel)

Note: Produced by the Flesh-Eater Cult. One recommendation every Monday... Green food is definitely made from people, clean and hygienic.

Salvage gain: Standard Bolter ammunition (one hundred and twenty rounds)

Note: Produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus. Common Astartes ammunition... Load, aim, then charge.

Salvage gain: Lasgun Power Packs (ten)

Note: Produced on an unknown planet. The lifelong companions of the Astartes... if their partners can still stay alive.

Salvage gain: Unopened small Refractor Field Generator (one)

Note: Produced by the Adeptus Mechanicus. A birthday gift for an officer... A birthday gift for a birthday that never came.

Salvage gain: Brand-new Armageddon Steel Legion standard soldier uniforms (ten sets)

Note: Produced on Armageddon. If you need more... please contact Commissar Yarrick immediately.

Thanks to this person for the ten-thousand reward for a newbie!

Thank you all for your support!

Three updates today, with one extra chapter for the ten-thousand reward!

But the rest will come a little later.

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