Iron Man and the Boy

Chinatown apartment, basement.

The concrete floor trembled faintly, dust churning endlessly.

Thump!

Accompanied by a soft sound.

Five black metal fingers, pressed together like a blade, suddenly pierced through the ground!

Then, like a sharp scalpel slicing through flesh.

The metal fingers easily cut through the concrete floor.

Extending further, turning swiftly.

Shhh shhh shhh—

In just a few seconds, a one-and-a-half-meter square section of concrete was neatly cut out!

Bang!

The severed concrete was suddenly lifted upward by a delicate, immense force.

Revealing a deep, dark, perfectly square hole.

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

It used five metal fingers to effortlessly support the heavy slab of cut concrete.

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

Then, it bent slightly at the waist.

Reaching out its other metal arm toward the hole.

At the same time, Rorschach, his brows brimming with excitement, grabbed the metal hand for support.

Leaping out of the hole in one bound.

The moment his feet steadied.

Rorschach, a smile on his face, looked up at the towering Iron Man and exclaimed in admiration:

"Haha, it actually worked!"

"Simple calculation... nothing worth mentioning."

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

Rorschach kept his smile.

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

Clearly, their relationship was progressing well...

An hour earlier.

When Rorschach openly showed the Iron Man the Plasma Pistol.

To express initial goodwill.

The intelligent Iron Man responded with greater understanding.

And in return for Rorschach's brave act.

A solid foundation of trust was initially established between them.

Then, the two intelligent beings from different races engaged in deep communication.

Truly reaching a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship.

Rorschach, as the instigator who freed the Iron Man from the 'sea of suffering' of the Warhammer Universe.

Would receive all help from the Iron Man UR-025 except in combat.

The pacifist Iron Man refused to be drawn into any conflict unless its own safety was threatened.

And the human Rorschach maintained the necessary respect for the Iron Man UR-025.

That is, treating it as a mechanical lifeform with a complete personality.

Not a killing machine from the Warhammer Universe.

Thus, the harmonious 'Iron Man and the Boy' duo was quickly formed.

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

The two entered the Underground Passage of New York City.

And successfully dug a tunnel straight to the apartment basement.

--

At this moment.

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

Blue light flickering in its eyes, it asked Rorschach politely:

"Rorschach, is this where you live? Do you need a larger, more magnificent living space?"

"Uh..."

Rorschach paused briefly, then shook his head and said:

"This is just a basement, a temporary spot for me to store things... But your mention of a living space does remind me..."

"We need a secret base now. Any suggestions?"

Looking at Rorschach's sincere expression and earnest gaze, the iron man with flickering blue light in its eyes raised its metal hand, pointing toward the cave entrance they had come from.

Then, the iron man's cold, mechanical voice seemed to carry more emotional fluctuation:

"Based on Terra's brief human history and data analysis of countless human statements online, I believe it will take more time for Terrans to fully accept mechanical life..."

"For the sake of my peace and Rorschach's survival, building the secret base underground is the optimal choice..."

Hearing the iron man's answer, the smile on Rorschach's face grew even brighter.

He quickly nodded and said:

"You're right. Human tolerance isn't high... But I know nothing about construction, so I'll have to trouble you to handle it."

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

The iron man with flickering blue light in its eyes did not refuse.

Or rather, through the traces left on the network, it had long seen through some of Rorschach's thoughts.

The two discussed the size and purpose of the secret base.

Then, an excited Rorschach left the basement with light, brisk steps.

Once Rorschach's footsteps faded completely, the iron man, still standing in place, turned its metal head once more.

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

A mechanical voice, clearly brimming with excitement, slowly sounded:

"Cunning Terran human, cunning Rorschach..."

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

--

The first thing Rorschach did after leaving the basement

was to contact the apartment landlord, intending to buy the basement.

Now that the basement was about to become one of the entrances to the secret base, it was no longer a position that could be abandoned at will.

So simple rental was a risk.

Buying it was the best choice.

In the end, facing Rorschach's aggressive cash offensive, the apartment landlord agreed to the deal for a price of one hundred fifty thousand.

After settling with the landlord, Rorschach did not go back to the basement to disturb the iron man.

After all, respect and trust were also combat power.

Rorschach went straight home.

While frantically eating from the fridge, he occasionally opened the Simulator page, checking the progress of the second salvage.

Given the terrifying haul from the first salvage, Rorschach was filled with great anticipation for the second, larger salvage.

Unfortunately, that anticipation lasted only until late at night, when the salvage results were fully displayed before Rorschach's eyes.

[Salvage Countdown: Zero]

[Salvage Yield: Fresh Ant-Grub Cans (One Box)]

Note: Produced by the Blackstone Fortress. Before consumption, roast with a flamethrower for at least two hours... Improper consumption, and your loved ones will weep.

[Salvage Yield: Unspoiled Frozen Steg-Beast Milk (One Can)]

Note: Produced on Feros Planet. Long-term consumption can increase toxin resistance... Steg-Beast Milk—even the High Lords praise it.

[Salvage Yield: Unexpired Protein Bars (One Dozen)]

Label: Origin unknown hive world, Ork manufacture... nutritious and healthy, plant-based protein.

[Salvage Yield: Century-Chilled Grox Hind Leg Meat (Two Hundred Kilograms)]

Label: Origin unknown planet, Bon Appétit to Carnivores... as fierce as a Grox?

[Salvage Yield: Pristine Death Korps of Krieg Soldier Kit (Ten Sets)]

Label: Washed and pressed many times, not a single drop of Krieg soldier blood on them... Guaranteed by the Krieg Quartermaster.

[Salvage Yield: Unexpired Laughing Skull Corpse Starch (One Barrel)]

Label: Flesh-Eater Cult production, one recommendation per week... green food, definitely made from people, clean and hygienic.

[Salvage Yield: Standard Bolter Ammunition (One Hundred Twenty Rounds)]

Label: Adeptus Mechanicus production, standard ammunition for the Astartes... load, aim, then charge.

[Salvage Yield: Lasgun Power Packs (Ten Units)]

Label: Origin unknown planet, lifelong companion of the Imperial Guard... if they live long enough.

[Salvage Yield: Unopened Small Refractor Field Generator (One Unit)]

Label: Adeptus Mechanicus production, a birthday gift for an officer... a birthday gift that never arrived.

[Salvage Yield: Pristine Armageddon Steel Legion Standard Soldier Kit (Ten Sets)]

Label: Armageddon planet production, if more are needed... please contact Commissar Yarrick immediately.

Thank you to this person for the ten-thousand reward!

Thank you for your support!

Three chapters today, one extra for the ten-thousand reward!

But the rest will come a bit later.

Please bookmark! Please recommend!