After Pepper dragged me around some more, I finally escaped two days later. I didn't understand. Shopping was just going out to buy things, so why not go somewhere and buy them? Why did we have to walk around for so long? We had a car, but she insisted on walking. She was the esteemed CEO of Stark Industries, and I was an esteemed shareholder, yet we really did walk for an entire day. Jazz followed us around outside for the entire day. So what was the point of me finding him for you?
At the same time, this also gave Rimuru a way to make money. Cars nowadays still ran on gas, and I had the technology from the Terminators, so poor battery range wasn't an issue, all right? Of course, the batteries in anything below a T-850 definitely wouldn't do. Those things used nuclear power and hydrogen, perfectly solving the problems of gas cars not exploding and electric cars not blowing up loudly enough. Who would dare make that?
Tony! Want to make a pile of cash?
Tony Stark leaned back in his work chair with his legs crossed, idly swishing the coffee in his cup. He had given up on studying the T-1000. Not that he had exactly given up; he had learned a few things, but discovered that its strength simply wasn't suitable for making armor, so he ultimately dropped it.
The peaceful moment lasted less than three minutes before a swift swish through the air shattered it.
Rimuru charged straight into Tony's workshop, shouting at the top of his lungs. The previously quiet workshop immediately erupted into noise.
"Tony, look! Look! I've got a project that'll make us a fortune. Want to invest?"
Rimuru held a silver device with an extremely futuristic design in front of him. Its casing was cold and hard, its markings precise and intricate. It was the core power source of the Terminator T-X: a built-in miniature dual-isotope plasma reactor. Though only palm-sized, it contained a terrifying amount of energy that could easily surpass conventional sources, enough to last over a hundred years. It could be rapidly charged in minutes, and its burst output far exceeded that of an ordinary battery.
Tony raised an eyebrow and set down his coffee cup. Intense scientific interest flared in his eyes, though he deliberately spoke with teasing disdain. "Well, look at that. My top-of-the-line precision workbench has its most carefree visitor yet. Rimuru, if you want to discuss a project, can you at least get off my workbench first?"
Rimuru waved him off, not bothering to trade jabs. He held up the T-X plasma reactor and brought it closer, speaking in a casual but earnest tone. "Don't get hung up on the details, Tony. I've got something good to show you. It's some loot I just recovered, the Terminator T-X's core power source. Ordinary batteries can't compare. It's small, stable, lasts a really long time, and can put out a steady supply of high-power energy. It charges so ridiculously fast that you hardly have to wait to replenish it."
Tony tapped his fingertips against the table, studying the unfamiliar miniature reactor. With his first-rate technological expertise, he could tell at a glance that it was extraordinary. Compared with the Arc Reactor he was currently developing, this plasma energy core was more compact and lightweight, with an astonishingly high energy conversion rate. It also had none of the troublesome shortcomings in operating life, and its stability was unexpected.
"Impressive." Tony leaned closer, keeping his fingertips clear of the reactor's energy field as he examined its markings. "A piece of technology from another world? The T-X's core power source, a dual-isotope reactor rumored to operate continuously for hundreds of years. No wonder its energy has such a distinctive quality. Just how many strange high-tech treasures have you secretly collected?"
"They're just loot I happened to pick up along the way~" Rimuru brushed the question aside, saying nothing about how easily he handled high-end mechanical combatants. Then he abruptly changed the subject, turning remarkably down-to-earth and even taking on the serious air of someone planning community development. "I didn't come here today just to show off a treasure. I've looked into it carefully. You know Hell's Kitchen, right? I've dealt with the gangs there. The ones who listened stayed, and the ones who didn't were exiled. There's a big area vacant now, just right for building a factory."
Tony was taken aback. He had assumed Rimuru wanted to discuss major subjects like advanced energy upgrades, powering up mechs, or technological breakthroughs. He had never expected that Rimuru, who possessed transdimensional black technology and unfathomable strength, would talk about nothing but redeveloping Hell's Kitchen.
"Did I hear that right?" Tony looked both incredulous and amused, raising a hand to his forehead. "You brought a piece of ultimate future energy tech that could upgrade a top-of-the-line fighter jet, boost an armored suit's power, or even keep a small weapons system fighting continuously. You crossed space to find me, Stark, just because you're concerned about renovating Hell's Kitchen? Isn't that the government's job?"
"This is a very important matter!" Rimuru raised his eyes slightly, speaking with particular gravity, an adorably unexpected contrast to his solemn manner. "Good energy should be put to good use! Using such a stable, efficient, zero-pollution energy source for weapons and fighting would be such a waste. Why not make the most of it? We can partner up and build a dedicated electric car factory in Hell's Kitchen."
Tony was thoroughly intrigued by this unusual idea. He set down the battery in his hand and folded his arms, listening intently with an amused smile. "Electric cars? Go on."
Seeing this, Rimuru continued to lay out his grand plan, enthusiasm shining in his eyes. "Think about it! With this T-X plasma reactor as their core power source, modified electric cars wouldn't need to rely on the traditional power grid, charge frequently, or consume fuel. It's small but packs enough energy to keep an electric car running over extremely long distances. The power would be plentiful, smooth, and quiet, with no exhaust pollution at all. Aren't you developing clean energy projects? This is a major opportunity.
"We'll make a batch of lightweight, safe, quiet electric cars. Gas cars today have a thermal efficiency of just over forty percent at best. Electric cars, combined with the technology I'm offering, could reach at least seventy percent. They'd be low-carbon and environmentally friendly. I'm certain electric cars will be a major direction for future development. We'll get an early start and build the factory in Hell's Kitchen."
The down-to-earth business plan formed an extreme and endearing contrast with the futuristic black-tech energy source in his hand.
Tony looked at the young man earnestly working to improve people's lives and couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh. He had met countless people who pursued power, fought over energy, and sought to control technological supremacy, but this was the first time he had seen someone holding an epoch-making, top-tier combat energy core whose only thought was to build an electric car factory in an old New York neighborhood.
"I have to say, Rimuru, the way your mind works never fails to surprise me." Tony shook his head, his eyes full of amusement and admiration. "Other people would use black-tech energy at this level to upgrade weapons, monopolize technology, and build up their fighting strength. You're the only one who's thinking about nothing but making money. You're more of a businessman than I am."
"I can't help it. I've had enough of being poor. I really want to make money. I even dream about making money." Rimuru was candid, the reactor in front of him humming softly and emitting gentle, stable energy fluctuations. "Using it for fighting would be too much of a waste. We might as well build an electric car factory and do the people some good. We can revitalize Hell's Kitchen and put clean, efficient new energy to practical use. What a great deal.
"I'll take care of the technology. I have perfect control over the energy properties of this T-X reactor, and I can max out both stability and safety. As for the rest-choosing a factory site, modifying the machinery, setting up the production line, testing, and operations-I'll leave it all to you, Stark."
Tony looked at the relaxed yet dependable Rimuru, then at the quietly operating plasma reactor with its limitless potential, and immediately made up his mind.
"Deal." He promptly raised his hand for a high five, speaking casually but confidently. "But it'll take quite a while to get this project off the ground. It won't produce anything in the short term. And your battery in particular will have to be heavily nerfed. You know what the government's like."
Rimuru smiled and high-fived Tony. It was only time, and he had plenty of that. Once the electric cars were produced, I'd be the father of electric cars. I'd even make it into the textbooks someday.