As a scientist, even though he hadn't interacted with Tony much, he still understood these fundamentals.
The Red Queen's figure gradually formed out of a cluster of light.
Within the high-tech environment of Antarctic Military Industries, she no longer needed crude projection devices. Here, she was like an electronic ghost — present everywhere.
"Arrange for him to construct a large-scale Arc Reactor," Xu Dan said.
"Same model as Stark Industries?" Red Queen asked.
"No. We integrate our own technology. It must surpass theirs."
Listening to Xu Dan converse with an artificial intelligence so naturally, Vanko felt surprised.
In his understanding, AI was at most a computer program. How could it be this… human?
What he didn't know was that even JARVIS — whom the world considered "advanced" — was merely a program in Xu Dan's eyes.
The Red Queen was on an entirely different level.
Modern AI simply could not reach her standard. Most AI systems didn't even compare to JARVIS. The Red Queen was an anomaly in this world.
"You want me to build a large Arc Reactor?" Vanko asked.
"What else?"
"That's my technology."
"Isn't this your chance to prove your value?"
Vanko narrowed his eyes, feeling like he was being maneuvered.
Xu Dan's next sentence completely dismantled his doubts.
"Stark Industries' large Arc Reactor design is outdated. I want something stronger. Newer."
"You…" Vanko froze. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing complicated. Do your job well. I believe in your talent." Xu Dan patted his shoulder.
In truth, Antarctic Military Industries already possessed the capability to manufacture large Arc Reactors independently. Xu Dan even remembered the new element formula Tony once discovered.
Letting Vanko build one was merely a test.
Unlike Selvig, Vanko wasn't a cornered academic. He was a highly gifted outlaw.
Prison didn't matter to him. Switching to another arms dealer wouldn't matter either.
Selvig, on the other hand, had a strong survival instinct. At his age, he didn't want his life to end in disgrace. Under Xu Dan's persuasion, Antarctic Military Industries was his only path forward.
Selvig didn't need loyalty tests.
Vanko did.
"Red Queen, arrange lodging," Xu Dan said. Then to Vanko, "You haven't eaten, have you?"
"No," Vanko replied honestly.
Xu Dan had no intention of giving him Selvig-level privileges. He didn't even plan to discuss salary for a month.
Let's see how long he lasts.
Northeast Sector — Selvig's Laboratory
When Xu Dan entered, Selvig was staring blankly at a tube-shaped device.
Xu Dan deliberately made noise while approaching so as not to startle the old scientist.
"Oh! You're here. I was just looking for you."
"For me? New progress?"
Selvig handed over the tube.
"This is derived from the Tesseract. Think of it as a 'Tesseract unit.' Not great at naming things… but this single unit can power our entire base for a month."
Xu Dan was stunned.
The monthly energy consumption of this base was astronomical — and this small tube replaced all of it?
"How many can you make?"
If mass production was possible, this wasn't about saving electricity bills…
This was an energy revolution.
Military expansion always brought environmental criticism. But with clean Tesseract-derived energy, that argument would disappear.
This wasn't business.
This was rewriting civilization's energy structure.
Selvig replied, "Working at full capacity, about 100 units per month. With assistants, more."
Xu Dan was ecstatic.
"Approved! You'll have help. Any age or gender requirements? Humans? Robots?"
"Preferably young and steady."
"No problem. Anything else?"
"Not for now…"
Selvig actually felt awkward at Xu Dan's enthusiasm.
To him, this was a failure — just a tiny fraction of the Tesseract's true power.
He was secretly trying to replicate the Tesseract itself.
Better not say that yet.
He'd speak once it succeeded.
-----------------------
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