More Advanced Than You

Tony never could have imagined that Chen Mu's technology had really been "plagiarized" from him.

Back when Chen Mu had touched the Arc Reactor in front of Obadiah, he had already acquired the Arc Reactor technology. Later, posing as an Iron Man fanboy, he got Tony to lend him the Mark 2 for a spin. By touching the Iron Armor, he obtained all of its technology as well.

That included the Mark 2's miniature reactor and the connected Jarvis intelligence, all of which Chen Mu had taken away in one package.

Now, another month had passed. Chen Mu had long since fully mastered those old technologies and even improved them. He had transformed an upgraded Mark 2 into the Qilin Armor and delivered it directly to the military.

In this era, many "Super Heroes" had yet to be born. Only Tony, as Iron Man, was fairly active. Combined with his identity, people around the world had witnessed the power of the Iron Armor.

After Director Zhang acquired the Qilin Armor, he was naturally overjoyed. He gave Chen Mu even more conveniences without hesitation, allocated land and funds, and Huaqiangbei Industrial Park rose from the ground.

Moreover, due to the Qilin Armor's importance, Director Zhang deployed additional troops to set up defenses around Huaqiangbei Industrial Zone, with the priority being the protection of the materials here.

Of course, another purpose of those troops was to monitor Huaqiangbei and prevent it from engaging in any "treasonous" actions.

Chen Mu did not particularly mind. After all, his Qilin Armor had been made for the military from the start. He deeply understood that only when his motherland possessed great strength could he have enough confidence when out in the world.

After all, Chen Mu had no desire to play at being some "Super Hero." Although he could create powerful armor, he would never be like Tony, putting on the armor himself and charging straight into battle.

The great rejuvenation of China was not empty rhetoric. Nor was it something Chen Mu alone, no matter how powerful, could accomplish to protect this country. To achieve it, every Chinese person needed to shoulder this responsibility!

Chen Mu knew his own limits. Compared to the soldiers who truly protected the nation, he was nothing at all. If he wanted the country to be strong, then making its military strong was what he needed to do!

"Is this armor... something you made?"

Looking at the armor beside Chen Mu, black as ink, Tony appeared somewhat incredulous and did not know what to say for a moment.

"How is it? Looks pretty good, right?"

Chen Mu looked quite pleased with himself.

Who was it that said I could never make Iron Armor?

And said that if I managed to make armor with my own abilities, he'd authorize me to use it?

"My armor is different from yours, and my Arc Reactor is completely different too. So, what do you think? This doesn't count as infringement, does it? There's no need for your authorization."

Chen Mu said with a smile. By now, his Arc Reactor was far more powerful than Tony's, and the materials it used were entirely new as well. Naturally, it could not be considered infringement.

"My Arc Reactor's output should be several times greater than yours too. How about it? Want one? I'll authorize you to use it directly—the kind with no licensing fee."

Chen Mu looked exceedingly smug as he watched Tony and asked with a grin.

At the same time, Chen Mu knew full well that his Arc Reactor could save Tony's life!

Tony had already developed Palladium poisoning, yet he had no choice but to continue using his current reactor. Otherwise, the shrapnel in his heart would kill him outright. If he wanted to live, he could only replace the reactor's materials.

And that was precisely what Chen Mu's Arc Reactor could accomplish.

"I'll consider it..."

Tony's eyelid twitched as he said in a low voice.

How could someone as proud and arrogant as him admit defeat? He would never acknowledge that Chen Mu's armor was more advanced than his!

"Then how do you intend to use your armor?"

Tony frowned again as he looked at the armor beside Chen Mu, his heart filled with concern.

"It's called the Qilin Mark 1 Prototype. Unfortunately, I don't have many weapons. Otherwise, I could definitely make it even stronger than your armor."

Chen Mu spoke with some regret.

That was also due to the circumstances in China. As an ordinary person, Chen Mu could not research weapons in his homeland, which put Tony slightly more at ease.

Good. At least his weapons aren't as good as mine...

Of course, Chen Mu had only said that casually. In truth, his armor's weapons systems were more advanced than Tony's. But to conceal some of his strength, Chen Mu had not said so directly.

Besides, saying it this way was also a small way of preserving Tony's dignity.

"Fortunately, the Chinese Military has ordered my Qilin Mark 1 and authorized me to use some weapons, so protecting myself won't be a problem."

Chen Mu smiled calmly.

"What? You gave the armor to the military?!"

Upon hearing this, Tony, on the other side of the ocean, abruptly widened his eyes in shock. He shouted, "Absolutely not! Dangerous weapons like that must never be handed over to the military! It will cause tremendous casualties! Absolutely not!"

After Tony had previously seen the devastating destruction caused by his own weapons in the Middle East, he had begun resisting the military. So when they demanded that he hand over his armor and even pressured him with "the greater good," he had refused to comply. Only after using certain methods had he managed to keep his armor.

But he never could have imagined that Chen Mu, on the other side of the ocean, had also developed armor. What surprised him even more was that Chen Mu would directly hand it over to China's military!

The situation Tony least wanted to see had already happened!

"Heh. Do you think China's military is the same as America's military?"

As he said this, Chen Mu wore a mocking expression. Looking at Tony, he said seriously, "Have you ever seen China's military point their guns at ordinary people? Or deliberately start conflicts? Have you ever seen them carry guns while going to disaster relief?"

"This..."

That was true. Since the founding of New China, although her military strength had rapidly developed, she had never invaded any country from beginning to end!

The wars she had won had all been counterattacks, and their guns had been aimed at invaders!

In this regard, they were worlds apart from the American military!

America's military was a gun in the hands of capitalists, one that could be aimed at anyone for the capitalists' interests!

Even innocent civilians with no weapons at all!

"China's military exists to protect its own country. What is wrong with giving the armor to them?"

On this point, Tony had no answer.

There was no other reason: China's military had the best reputation in the entire world. No other country's soldiers could compare to them.