Lawrence's Hellgun

This simulation had ended, taking fifty-six days.

This simulation had yielded retainable options.

1. 'Tyranid' Swarm Combat Information (Incomplete)

2. Imperial Commissar Basic Set (One Set)

3. Lawrence's Hellgun (Standard Issue)

Note: "Reporting to the Commissar, my name is Lawrence, from 'Pearl Moon'... Commissar, want some fish?"

This simulation had lasted more than twenty-four hours. Simulator depletion had not been waived.

Cooldown: 56 hours.

Currently Available Cooldown: 297 hours

Consume cooldown time?

No cooldown time had been consumed. The Simulator had entered natural cooldown (cooldown could be waived at any time).

The simulation had temporarily ended.

Yet Rorschach did not immediately choose a reward.

He stared at Lawrence's Hellgun among the options.

The excitement of completing the simulation and obtaining a reward somehow failed to rise within him.

The sacrifices of countless human lives had formed the foundation upon which the Imperium stood.

But when facing Chaos, the Tyranid Swarm, and so many Heretic factions...

Did the Imperium of Man in the Warhammer Universe truly have a future?

Perhaps it was the alcohol.

Rorschach had become uncharacteristically sentimental.

In the end, he silently chose Lawrence's Hellgun.

Even though, after so many simulations, this was the only ordinary standard-issue weapon Rorschach had ever obtained.

In the blink of an eye, a Mark II Gyrostabilized Hellgun connected to a battery backpack appeared in Rorschach's hands.

With practiced movements, he slung the heavy battery backpack onto his back.

Rorschach raised the gun and made several quick aiming motions, making sound effects with his mouth.

"Biu—"

He was still at home, of course, and did not dare test-fire it.

The Hellgun's powerful laser beam could pierce straight through the entire apartment building.

And roast every resident along its firing path into a row of skewered meat.

Rorschach fiddled with the Hellgun for a while.

The thrill of handling the real thing for the first time finally washed away what little melancholy remained.

By then, it was the early hours of the morning.

With his biological clock right on schedule, Rorschach reluctantly removed the battery backpack and Hellgun.

Then lay back down on the bed.

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, Rorschach got up and carried the Hellgun toward the basement.

He needed to store this dangerous weapon away to keep outsiders from touching it.

At the same time, he needed Iron Man to help track Madam Gao and Bullseye's movements.

Whether New York's gangs could be wiped out in one stroke, whether the vermin could be swept away, would be decided in this battle.

Cautiously, Rorschach arrived at the basement.

He opened the basement's iron door.

At a glance, he saw Iron Man, whom he had not seen for an entire day, standing in the middle of the basement.

Rorschach's expressionless face showed the slightest lift of his brow.

The Hellgun in his arms began to emit a low hum.

Its muzzle was aimed directly at Iron Man before him!

Even though he knew that not even the never-overheating Plasma Pistol might be of any use...

If he had to die, then he would die gloriously!

He would die fighting!

This was humanity's dignity!

Thud!

However, accompanied by a dull metallic clash.

The unexpected turn of events before him caught Rorschach completely off guard.

The towering Iron Man suddenly dropped to its knees.

Not only did it lower its metal spine, it spread both hands upward.

The Iron Man even spoke in a mechanical voice filled with reverence:

"Welcome the descent of Omegamessiah. Your loyal and dependable eternal servant, UR-025, awaits your command!"

"Uh..."

Rorschach could not help widening his eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked suspiciously:

"Friend, did you cause some kind of trouble? Did you crash the entire Earth's financial markets? Or did you dig through the city's cable network?"

Hearing Rorschach's question.

The Iron Man did not raise its Metal Head.

It remained humble as it said:

"I inadvertently sensed Divine Revelation. I am merely your servant and tool, not a guide..."

"I had only just awakened from hibernation and was not fully conscious. Now, I have merely returned to my rightful place."

Divine Revelation? Servant? Tool?

The Iron Man's few words only left Rorschach even more confused.

The gods of this universe probably did not have the time to grant revelations to an Iron Man, did they?

They were embodiments of cosmic laws.

They had even surpassed the comprehension of intelligent life by far...

"Friend, didn't we agree before? We're only partners in Cooperation..."

Rorschach took a deep breath.

The muzzle of the Hellgun slowly lowered.

"I've always treated people..."

"No, no, no—"

Before Rorschach could finish.

The Iron Man hurriedly raised its Metal Head.

The faint Blue Light in its Eye Sockets surged violently.

It actually interrupted Rorschach directly, its mechanical voice seeming almost fawning:

"I am your tool! Your servant! This Point cannot be disputed! Please give your orders... I can do anything for you!"

"Uh... pull up the locations of Bullseye Lester and Madam Gao of the Triads, and take over their phones..."

Standing where he was, Rorschach stared suspiciously at the Iron Man and spoke tentatively.

Before he had even finished speaking, the Iron Man projected Bullseye's and Madam Gao's movements and current situations from its Eye Sockets.

Even their phones had become listening devices, broadcasting the sounds around them.

Humanity's internet age on Earth was completely undefended before an Iron Man.

Just then.

Rorschach's eyes shifted as he thought it over.

With a serious expression, he said to the Iron Man:

"Friend, I've figured it out... I want to become a billionaire!"

"And I want to become humanity's guide, Earth's ruler!"

However, the Iron Man suddenly stopped the projection.

It said to Rorschach:

"I will help you build a Secret Base, and build it even better. I will also help you monitor all humanity on Terra to prevent you from encountering danger, while helping you learn any useful knowledge..."

"You may freely command funds in the millions or even tens of millions... but as for greater resources, or controlling all humanity for your own use, My Lord, you can personally do that yourself. I will cheer you on from behind! I will pray for you!"

"Huh?"

Rorschach narrowed his eyes and stared at the Iron Man with a cold smile.

"Yesterday, you kept saying you could make me a billionaire. Why have you changed your mind today?"

"Speak! What exactly happened? What made you change your mind?"

In an instant, the Hellgun in his hand lit up once more.

Its muzzle was aimed at the Iron Man.

Yet the Iron Man remained kneeling on the ground.

It actually spread its metal arms without the slightest concern, exposing its metallic body.

"Do you know how many people's blood, sweat, and toil went into accumulating that lost wealth? How much hope it represented for countless poor humans who wanted to change their lives? You just want something for nothing. You just want to become a slave to endless resources!"

The Iron Man's words made Rorschach laugh in fury.

That damned Heretic was actually trying to lecture him.

Rorschach stared hard at the Iron Man and said in a low voice, "You damned Heretic! Stop trying to brainwash me!"

"Didn't you just say you were my tool? My servant? Then why do you keep defying my orders?"

"Fine, if you won't let me become a billionaire... then go place an order with an arms company for a hundred thousand guns! The more, the better!"

"As long as My Lord gives me a reasonable explanation and convinces me, I'll place the order for you right now... Even if you want aircraft carriers or fighter jets, I can get them!"

A faint blue light flickered in the Iron Man's eyes as it replied calmly.

This time, it was the aggressive Rorschach who was left dumbfounded.

He had been counting on the Iron Man to legally purchase firearms for him.

How many guns could he possibly obtain through smuggling alone?

But Rorschach couldn't reveal the existence of the Simulator to a Heretic!

"I... I'll fucking shoot you dead!"

Rorschach's anger steadily rose.

"Shoot me dead? I'd rather you shoot me dead! Come on! Pull the trigger! Omnissiah!"

The shameless Iron Man began to give up entirely, relying on its metal body.

"My Lord... humanity can only rely on itself!"