Ina's Business Philosophy, Part 2

"That discount was only available because you previously placed a large order for titanium alloy materials with Hebron," Ina Sandra added, meeting Phil Coulson's look of utter despair.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had indeed placed its first order with Hebron for around fifty tons, worth several billion USD! It was precisely this order that made Ina Sandra see S.H.I.E.L.D. as a Wealth Code. Whenever business with S.H.I.E.L.D. came up now, her eyes practically sparkled with excitement. God knew how timely that money had been!

At least for the next two or three months, she would not have to feel so much pressure. In two or three months, once Metal Prosthetics and New Energy, those two Cash Cows, went live, perhaps she could catch her breath a little? But considering Luke's alarming habit of spending however much money the company had, Ina did not dare be certain.

"We can use lower-grade alloy materials," Phil Coulson suggested helplessly.

"Hebron Industries has never passed off inferior goods as quality products in its military orders. We use the finest technology and materials available, which is why our products are so sought after." Ina Sandra's gaze turned somewhat dangerous. "Are you trying to ruin Hebron's reputation?"

"But—"

Phil Coulson had barely opened his mouth before Ina forcefully cut him off again. "No buts. Believe me, they are our creations. When Hebron sends them out of the factory, they are flawless, balanced products that have been weighed against every possible factor. Changing any aspect will severely affect their performance. Unless you want to pay a high price for a Big Metal Toy with an extremely high failure rate."

"As far as I know, a single Mark II made by Stark costs only around two hundred million USD," Phil Coulson retorted, finally at the end of his rope.

"But he doesn't sell his technology to you, does he? Technology is priceless!" Ina Sandra argued with perfect confidence. "Besides, Stark's Mark Series Iron Armor also uses materials from Hebron Industries' New Titanium Alloy Series. What you quoted was merely the cost price. The material consumption of our Iron Titan Series alone is more than twice that of the Mark Armor!"

"Damn Seller's Market," Phil Coulson sighed in misery. He could already foresee the grim consequences of being ruthlessly reassigned and targeted by his own Captain after this deal was concluded.

"One of a kind." Ina Sandra smiled brilliantly. Though her smile was beautiful, to Phil Coulson, it was no different from a demon's smile.

"Fine, fine. Let's continue with the negotiations." What could Phil Coulson do in the face of Exclusive Technology? All he could do was lie down and take it. There would be further talks anyway, so he could leave the wrangling to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s negotiators and Hebron's famously formidable Commercial Department. Maybe there would be hope for another discount?

"We do not need its Intelligent Control System. We have our own system," Phil Coulson stated.

"That is certainly not a problem. However, out of goodwill, I must solemnly remind you that only Hebron's Intelligent System can perfectly adapt to them and bring out their full performance. If malfunctions occur in the future due to system-related issues, Hebron will bear no responsibility." Ina Sandra nodded her agreement while swiftly adding that caveat.

"Fine. If you are willing to sell the matching Intelligent System Code, then—"

"I'm sorry, but because it involves the core secrets of Hebron's White Queen, that request cannot be granted." Ina did not let Phil Coulson finish before rejecting his proposal. "Likewise, we will not reduce the corresponding price that comes with the Intelligent System."

"Then the next question is, what energy source does it use? High-Density Batteries? Or technology similar to Tony Stark's Arc Reactor?" Phil Coulson's expression became much more serious as he raised the issue.

At his words, Ina Sandra once more put on a brilliant smile that made Phil Coulson shudder. "Diesel!"

"My apologies, Ms. Sandra, but I believe there is something wrong with my ears. Could you repeat what you just said?" Phil Coulson looked utterly dazed, his face full of the incredulous expression of someone asking, Are you kidding me?

"Diesel Drive." Ina repeated it happily.

"Diesel? The kind of diesel I'm thinking of?" Phil Coulson stared blankly at the two active metal Giants in the field, still clinging to the tiniest shred of hope as he sought confirmation.

"That's right. Exactly the kind you're thinking of." Ina gave Coulson's question an unequivocal confirmation.

"Please do not joke about something like this, Ms. Sandra." Phil Coulson pointed at the thing in the field. "Even if I do not understand technology, I know diesel is very difficult to use as an energy source for something like that, isn't it? You could at least say it uses some kind of High-Density Battery developed in Hebron Laboratory!"

Luke Field quietly moved a little farther away. He could understand Coulson's despair at that moment, but what could he do? He had gotten interested, spent the money, and worked out the miniaturization technology for Crimson Typhoon's Diesel Engine. He had originally intended it as a memento, and after finishing it, he tossed it into Hebron's White Queen's Technology Repository.

If Ina had not dug it out, Luke would have nearly forgotten the technology even existed.

At Ina's insistence, the First Generation mass-produced Iron Titan Type Iron Armor used diesel as its energy source. Although Hebron had better energy technologies and at least two more generations of technical reserves, Ina's reasoning was that it hurt her heart to see a New Energy technology that had never even turned a profit get eliminated.

It was an exclusive business for now, so they could make do with it first. Once competitors appeared later, they could upgrade it, phase out the diesel-powered Iron Titans outright, and sell another wave of new technology! If that did not work, they could always take other routes—modify it a little, license it, or sell it to automobile companies, oil tycoons, and the like.

"Believe me, this is Hebron Industries' latest Diesel Energy Technology. Although it cannot compare to Stark's Arc Reactor, it can drive this fellow at full power in combat for several hours without any issue at all. Resupplying it is also extremely convenient." Ina Sandra's words once again left Phil Coulson speechless.

Because it was true. Setting aside the Diesel Drive, this iron fellow did look quite impressive. Its energy level was still above eighty percent. But no matter how he thought about it, diesel power was simply too absurd!

It was like a mothership capable of interstellar travel using not Dark Matter Nuclear Fusion, but petroleum—an energy source that should have been obsolete in an interstellar age. The sheer mismatch left one utterly dumbfounded.