The Alchemy Company was represented by its chairman, Fred Lawson, an elderly man with white hair and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He reminded Barry of an old man he once saw wearing headphones in the school library, though Fred's head was not bald.
Based in San Francisco, the Alchemy Company excels not only in chemical research but also in fields like magnetic levitation, plasma magnetic confinement, medical robotics, and intelligent robotics, achieving remarkable success.
"There are three buttons here, each representing a different chemical procedure," Fred explained with a smile as he approached Barry, pressing the pink button first.
"…poof!" Under everyone's curious gaze, a small pink ball ejected from the handbag-like box and landed in his hand.
It looked almost like a toy.
"This combines a small amount of perchloric acid, cobalt, and a trace of hydrogen oxide, heated to a high temperature," Fred explained, looking at Adams.
Adams nodded, producing a remote control and pressing a button, raising a metal target from the ground a short distance away.
"Go ahead and give it a try," Fred encouraged, handing the pink ball to Barry.
Curious, Barry took it, though lacking chemical expertise, he couldn't discern much by observation.
"Throw it at that metal target and see how it works," Adams urged, eager to proceed with the tests.
Barry nodded, aiming at the target about fifty meters away. He tossed the pink ball, which hit the target squarely.
"Poof!" Upon impact, the ball burst open, releasing pink smoke that enveloped the metal target.
As the smoke dissipated, the silver-white target had turned a bright pink.
"Sheriff George, care to take a shot?" Fred suggested, addressing George.
"Uh… could you be more specific?" George muttered, drawing his pistol and firing at the target.
"Bang!" To everyone's astonishment, the metal target shattered into pink powder, just as Fred had described.
Barry's eyes gleamed with interest, realizing he wouldn't have to worry about armored opponents in the future.
"Next, the white button," Fred continued, unfazed, pressing the white button.
"This is a freezing sphere containing a refrigerant that immobilizes enemies upon detonation," he explained, handing Barry the ejected white ball.
Barry felt a chill as he held the small white sphere.
Adams pressed the control again, raising another metal target.
---
Once the final chemical ball had been tested, everyone gazed at the frost-covered, bullet-riddled target.
"Your company's precision in storing and combining chemical materials is impressive," someone remarked.
"But it lacks practicality. Many special bullets, like tear gas or flashbangs, achieve similar effects, if not better. Only the metal embrittler stands out," noted a director from a military enterprise. To him, a small box couldn't produce many chemical balls, and the cost was prohibitive. Compared to established firearms, it wasn't very practical.
However, the metal embrittler intrigued him.
"This is designed for individual combat, not battlefields," Fred replied, dismissing the critique. While the device could have novel battlefield applications, the internal chemical materials were expensive; cobalt alone deterred many buyers.
Armor-piercing rounds or anti-tank mines were more cost-effective.
"I think it's excellent, especially for urban combat. These tools suit Barry's temperament better than mounting machine guns or rocket launchers, which would spark controversy," Adams praised.
George's eyes gleamed with interest. The police department could certainly use such gadgets.
"Haha, when Barry visits us, we'll craft some special items for him," Fred laughed, buoyed by Adams' words.
Following Alchemy's demonstration, the next company stepped forward.
"I'll go next," declared the military enterprise director who had spoken earlier. A middle-aged man with a noticeable belly but not greasy, his squinting eyes suggested wealth.
Kennedy Augers, director of Kennedy Industries, typically catered to international mercenary groups like Blackwater, Cossacks, and EO.
Aside from regular weapons, they also specialized in tools for assassination, tracking, and stealth.
Recently, with fewer wars and a quieter military, they aimed to tap into the civilian market.
Today, Kennedy presented a micro-missile wrist guard.
Unlike the previous items, his was more straightforward.
"The wrist guard houses six micro-missiles, ideal for handling crises like the recent lizard incident," he explained, donning a hefty black bracelet for demonstration.
The bracelet featured six riflings, with the firing port above the wrist, allowing barrel adjustments like a bearing.
"Whoosh…" A miniature missile launched from the barrel, trailing smoke, and exploded violently upon hitting the target.
The blast's force made several attendees shield their faces.
"Impressive. No wonder mercenaries worldwide favor your weapons," Adams remarked as the dust settled.
George's interest intensified.
He eyed Barry, vowing to acquire a set when finances allowed.
Subsequent companies showcased their weapons, each intriguing but Barry found the first three most fitting.
Finally, it was Osborne Industries' turn to present their creation.
Extra chapter avilable in PATREON
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