Only the low hum of the intelligent robotic arm remained in the workshop.
Tony Stark's face was stiff.
"Iron coffin..."
It wasn't that he hadn't considered failure.
He had envisioned running out of energy, being shot down by artillery, system crashes... but all those scenarios were imbued with the tragic grandeur of heroism.
He had never imagined he would fail due to such a basic.
Such a... foolish "icing problem."
This was the greatest insult to his name as a "genius."
Inside William, a tsunami was raging.
Steady!
Maintain the persona!
Right now, I am the God of Risk Management!
I am a prophet who can foresee the future!
Tony Stark, your insurance policy, I'm taking it!
"Alarmist."
Finally.
Tony spoke, breaking the suffocating silence.
He slowly straightened up, putting on his usual cynical smile, though the curve of his smile was a bit stiff.
"A simple 'icing problem'? That's a technical detail an engineer can solve over a cup of coffee. It's hardly a 'fatal flaw.'"
"Are you insurance salesmen all good at exaggerating a loose screw into an impending plane crash just to sell your expensive policies?"
His words carried a familiar sting, attempting to regain control of the conversation.
William smiled.
It wasn't a professional, fake smile, but a genuine, knowing smile from the heart.
"Mr. Stark, our profession isn't to exaggerate risks, but to precisely calculate the 'cost of ignoring risks.'"
"For a commercial airliner, an 'icing problem' is indeed just a technical detail.
Because it has an entire set of mature, repeatedly verified backup plans and safety redundancies.
But for your... unique, performance-driven, single-person experimental aircraft..."
William's gaze swept over the sleek, cold metal shell of the mark ii.
"Any 'technical detail' that is ignored will be magnified into a 100% fatal factor at ten thousand meters in the sky.
There are no backup plans, no rescue, only coldness and loss of control."
His words were like a scalpel, precisely dissecting the defense Tony had built with his pride.
Tony's smile completely vanished.
"How do you know? Don't give me that 'risk assessment' nonsense. This level of analysis requires complete design blueprints, material data, and countless wind tunnel simulations.
Tell me, how did you... or rather, the 'company' behind you, manage to do this?"
Here it comes! The core question is here!
William's internal alarm bells were ringing, but his face showed an expression of "isn't this obvious?"
"Mr. Stark, since you consulted us, we naturally use the most professional resources.
Our 'risk assessment model' is based on a database so vast you can barely imagine it.
It not only includes all publicly available material science and aerodynamic data on Earth.
It also includes many... well, non-public, cutting-edge technology risk cases from our special channels."
He casually presented his system as the unfathomable strength of his company.
"We don't need your blueprints.
The moment you authorized us to conduct the assessment, our expert system had already performed a comprehensive scan and data modeling of the target object through... a certain special remote sensing technology.
For our technical team, finding the 'icing problem' is like an experienced Doctor who can tell if a patient has a weak spleen and stomach just by looking at their complexion."
Remote sensing technology? Expert system?
These words, coming from William's mouth, were filled with a convincing mystery.
Tony's brain was working rapidly; he thought of satellites, of quantum entanglement.
He thought of countless advanced technological possibilities.
But each one pointed to a single conclusion.
This insurance company was even more unfathomable than he had imagined.
He fell silent.
This time, it was genuine silence.
He walked to the mark ii, reached out, and tapped his knuckles lightly on the cold titanium alloy armor, producing a crisp "clang, clang."
After a long while, Tony turned around.
In his eyes, there was an unprecedented seriousness and... intensity.
"Good." He said only one word.
Then he looked at William and said, word for word: "You've convinced me.
I want to insure it.
Not that 'Cutting-Edge Technology Innovation Comprehensive Protection Insurance' you mentioned earlier.
I want a... customized, unique insurance policy that addresses all my concerns."
William's heart pounded. He knew the biggest fish had taken the bait.
"Of course, Mr. Stark."
He tried to keep his voice steady.
"What our company excels at is providing unique 'all-risk solutions' for top clients like you."
"I don't care what you call the solution."
Tony waved his hand and strode to the control panel, bringing up a new virtual screen.
"I need your insurance terms to include not only compensation for damage and accidents, but also the... risk response strategies you just mentioned."
His fingers slid rapidly across the screen, bringing up a series of complex material science formulas and structural diagrams.
"For example, this 'icing problem.'
If your company is truly that powerful.
Then can your 'claims service' include a... well, a special alloy formula that can solve this problem, or a super-efficient miniature anti-freeze system?"
A cunning glint sparkled in Tony's eyes.
He wasn't just buying insurance; he was also using this opportunity to further test the technological limits of this mysterious company.
He wanted to see how much of a surprise this policy could truly bring him.
This was no longer insurance; this was a technology investment, a risk transaction!
William's breathing stopped for a moment.
He hadn't expected Tony Stark to be so direct, turning a technical problem directly into a claim requirement!
His brain worked rapidly, frantically engaging in some unseen communication with the "system" in his mind.
Does the system have such a function?
Directly provide solutions?
*Ding! Detected an out-of-scope claim request from the client. Generating a customized policy template...*
*Template generation complete! "Genesis: Prototype All-Dimensional Protection Agreement" unlocked!*
William was ecstatic!
"Of course, Mr. Stark."
He straightened his back, his face beaming with a confident "everything is under control" expression.
"This is precisely the core value of our 'all-risk solution.'"
He walked over to Tony. "Regarding your 'icing problem,' we can offer an option called 'Risk Mitigation Resource Package' in the policy's additional terms.
Once you choose to insure, we will provide you with... technical data for a 'nickel-titanium shape memory alloy coating' from our partner laboratories.
This coating not only possesses excellent low-temperature resistance but can also generate a shape memory effect when driven by microcurrents, actively breaking ice."
"Of course, the specific technical details and licensing fees will need to be agreed upon separately in the contract."
Tony Stark was utterly stunned.
He stared intently at William, as if looking at an alien.
"Nickel-titanium shape memory alloy coating... active ice breaking..." he murmured, his brain instantly completing a feasibility analysis.
This solution.
It's feasible!
This damned insurance salesman not only saw his problem but even casually tossed out a solution!
"You..."
Tony opened his mouth, finding himself at a loss for words.
"Your company... is truly a treasure trove."
"We are committed to being the strongest backing for every great innovator."
William smiled, delivering the fatal blow.
"So, Mr. Stark, regarding this 'Genesis: Prototype All-Dimensional Protection Agreement,' can we begin discussing the details now?"
Tony took a deep breath. He looked at the young man before him, then at the mark ii that had almost become an "iron coffin," and finally, he nodded heavily.
He grinned, revealing his signature, confident smile.
"Come on, William. Let me see how deep your 'treasure' truly is."