With the immense resources of Antarctic Military Industries behind him, Vanko had completed a large-scale Arc Reactor in just one week.
Thanks to Antarctic technology being integrated into the design, the reactor was significantly different from Stark Industries' version.
Stark's large Arc Reactor was well known — glowing a clear, sky blue.
But when Xu Dan first saw this one, he instinctively felt a flicker of caution.
Because this massive reactor glowed a dangerous red.
"…Are you sure this thing is safe?" Xu Dan asked.
The Red Queen stood quietly beside him and replied in a calm, reassuring tone:
"Master, even if the reactor is subjected to violent external impact, there will be no explosion, nor any energy radiation leakage. The protection protocol will instantly seal the core. Its safety level can be described as complete containment."
"Containment?" Xu Dan smiled. "I like that word."
He turned to look at Ivan Vanko behind him. The big man truly lived up to his reputation — a mind not inferior to Tony Stark's.
"Excellent work."
"Heh… just doing my job." Vanko scratched his long hair awkwardly. "Um… may I ask… are pets allowed here?"
"Pets?"
"I… I have a bird. I want to bring it here. Haven't fed it in seven days…"
Xu Dan was speechless.
Macho tears? Iron man with a soft heart? Some kind of bizarre poetic contrast?
How did this man even believe a pet left unfed for a week would still be alive — or still be there?
"It's allowed," Xu Dan said at last. "But I can't guarantee you'll still find it."
"Not find it? Impossible! That's absolutely impossible!" Vanko said confidently — perhaps too confidently.
Xu Dan gave up trying to argue. When the time came, reality would teach him what kind of pet owner he really was.
His own Ghost Wolf at home, after all, only ate premium monster-grade meat — purchased from the Points Mall.
"Vanko, what do you plan to work on next? Improving your electric whip technology, or—"
"I'm not working for you," Vanko interrupted. "I'll do whatever you say."
Xu Dan blinked.
Loyalty? What is this, the ancient era?
He hadn't expected Vanko's transformation to be this fast. Just days ago, the man had been obsessed with killing Tony Stark.
"You don't want revenge on Tony anymore?"
Vanko smiled faintly. "Actually… I don't even care about Stark anymore. The Red Queen said our Antarctic reactor outperforms Stark Industries' in every aspect by more than ten times."
"Big sister Red Queen," huh?
Ten times?
Xu Dan looked at the Red Queen in surprise. Since when did this AI learn to exaggerate?
In his own estimate, the reactor was at most four times stronger than Stark's — not ten.
Was she brainwashing Vanko with Antarctic tech?
Seeing her master's gaze, the Red Queen showed a bright, innocent smile, her eyes curving into crescents.
Xu Dan took a deep breath.
This AI… was dangerous.
"Since you've fulfilled your life's wish," Xu Dan said at last, "do you want to inherit your father's legacy and become another 'Iron Man'?"
Vanko didn't hesitate for even a second.
"No. Absolutely not. I don't owe the world anything. Why should I become some hypocritical hero?"
That answer pleased Xu Dan greatly.
There were too many fake saints in this world. Too many people raised on heroic propaganda, dreaming of being "saviors."
Someone like Vanko — clear about his own heart — was rare.
"Good," Xu Dan said. "Then I have a task for you. Follow me."
He led Vanko toward the mecha division.
The area was heavily secured — enormous mechanical frames were anchored in place by massive stabilization equipment.
When Vanko saw the towering mech, his eyes lit up.
That was the light of a dream.
The door to a new world had opened.
He might not want to be a hero, but that didn't mean he didn't love machines.
In truth, he had always envied Iron Man's suit. That was why he had copied the design in the first place — chest reactor, crude exoskeleton.
Back then, he simply lacked resources.
Mecha… was a man's romance.
"These… these are yours too?" Vanko asked in disbelief.
"Of course. Who else's would they be? The President's?" Xu Dan scoffed.
"Heh… heh…" Vanko grinned.
"Want one? I can give you one."
Vanko froze.
His playful expression vanished, replaced with seriousness.
"Don't joke… I can't handle that kind of temptation."
Xu Dan laughed. "Of course there's a price."
He pointed at the largest mech.
"That one is my design. It's called Wanderer. Because of my limited engineering background, there are many flaws. See the chest area? It lacks a suitable core."
The towering machine was clearly inspired by a Jaeger-type war mech.
Vanko's eyes burned with determination.
"Then I'll design a new reactor core for it!"
Xu Dan smiled.
"No."
"This time… we're using new elements."
-----------------------
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