Chapter 13: Guess what gacha !
Few Days After the Fight with Killer Shark
The red hologram flickered to life, its glow casting an eerie light across the lab. Red Queen's voice, calm and efficient, echoed in the quiet room.
"Sir, the clones will reach full maturity in two months. After that, their aging process will decelerate significantly."
I nodded, leaning back in my chair. "Understood. Red, begin the installation of the Ark-3 reactor here. Make it top priority."
The AI, Red Queen, had been a stroke of fortune., she was a good blend of brilliance and ruthlessness. But she was far from my only prize. The gacha had delivered a treasure trove: the Kaminoan cloning project, Spartan I and II armor schematics, Heavy Helldivers trooper armor, a functional lightsaber, a Pelican dropship from the Halo universe, and thirty kyber crystals.
The Kaminoan cloning technology was particularly invaluable making some of there clone knowledge with mine. Their mastery of cloning was unparalleled, allowing me to create a loyal, efficient workforce for mass-producing armor and advanced weaponry. I had spent hours studying their methods, marveling at their precision. With Spartan-grade armor for the clones and the versatile kyber crystals in reserve, the possibilities were endless.
At the moment, though, my focus was on improving the Iron Spider suit.
The fight with Killer Shark had been a lesson in humility. The limitations of my current design had almost cost me dearly. I crouched over the workbench, upgrading the repulsors to deliver higher damage and incorporating a freezing weapon to counter adversaries like Killer Shark.
The fight had also pushed me to expedite work on another project: the Iron Smasher.
"You know," Emme said, stepping into the lab with a tablet in hand, "you should change the name. Iron Blaster sounds way better than Iron Smasher. "
I looked up from the gauntlet I was adjusting and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with Iron Smasher? It's direct and gets the point across. And your name is not better "
"It's stupid, And mine sound cooler " she shot back, scrolling through her tablet. "Anyway, I've compiled the details on the data leaks from two months ago." She paused, then added with a small smile, "By the way, speaking of two months, how's your mom settling into Star City?"
"She's doing well," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "She's happy I got a job at 'Stark industries .' It's a believable cover, and it keeps her from worrying."
Emme chuckled. Good. Now, back to the leaks. There were three individuals involved. One works for LexCorp, and the other two from gotham ... well, you can probably guess."
"oracle and Batman," I said, already anticipating the answer. "oracle was likely trying to probe our systems before my debut. Batman... he's following the money, isn't he?"
"Bingo." She flipped the tablet around to show me detailed dossiers.
"oracle curiosity was probably harmless, just checking if we were a threat. But Batman's dive into our finances? That's him being... well, Batman. On that note, how's the whole 'buying politicians' thing going?" I ask her
"Making progress," She replied, returning to my work. "I've secured five senators, but the mayors of Star City and Metropolis are proving difficult. As for Gotham, I'm holding off until you finish dismantling the Court of Owls."
"How's that going, anyway ?" she asked, leaning against the table .
"I've identified about forty percent of their members," I said. "They're frustratingly secretive. Their operations are deeply compartmentalized. Cracking them is like untying a Gordian knot."
She sighed. "Just be careful. You're juggling a lot of moving pieces, and the last thing we need is something slipping through the cracks."
I smirked, confidence radiating from my tone. "Don't worry, Emme. I'm always in control."
"Now, tell me, how's the company doing?" I asked, my focus still fixed on the suit components spread across the workbench. "We've structured the finances to leave no paper trail, so I assume everything is running smoothly."
Emme, standing nearby with her ever-present tablet, nodded. "The company's growth is solid. and we're making strides in the laptop manufacturing sector." She paused, glancing down at her tablet as if debating whether to continue. Then she added, "Oh, and there's something else. I received an invitation... from the Wayne Foundation."
At her words, I froze. The tool in my hand hovered mid-air above the micro-repulsor I was adjusting. Slowly, I turned to face her, irritation creeping into my voice. "And why am I only hearing about this now?"
Her posture shifted instantly; she avoided my gaze, tucking one hand behind her head in a nervous gesture. Eyes downcast, she mumbled, "I'm sorry. I honestly forgot about it. Should I accept the invitation?"
For a moment, the only sound in the lab was the faint hum of machinery. My eyes locked onto her as I weighed the implications. Finally, I spoke, each word measured.
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hello , yo, hey , hi ,bonjour
hope you enjoy
until next till
bye