Unfortunately, the combat drone development was only halfway complete when Tony Stark 'made his move' again.
Justin Hammer, the founder of Hammer Industries and Orange Industries' largest source of funding, was imprisoned on the spot, and Hammer Industries itself was liquidated and split, almost going bankrupt before Orange Industries.
This directly led to the drone project almost dying in its infancy.
Afterward, the bumpy development continued for a year, and although the combat drones eventually officially launched.
This flagship product, once highly anticipated by Gina, could only barely serve as Orange Industries' last lifeline, propping up the company to prevent bankruptcy and collapse, unable to further expand its scale.
As for the last one.
Naturally, it was the 'Ion Containment Pistol', the core component of Luca's [Dominator] pistol.
Perhaps it was out of the romanticism of a scientific researcher.
Unlike Gina's choice of 'combat drones' based on the company's existing resources and market judgment.
Hermann, Luca's father and the core head of Orange Industries' R&D department, hoped to create a truly epoch-making 'sci-fi weapon'.
It needed to possess the excellent aesthetics of traditional weapons while also having the futuristic core essence found in science fiction works.
The Ion Containment Pistol, a powerful energy weapon, clearly aligned perfectly with Hermann's wishes.
Of course, Hermann was not blindly pursuing romance; otherwise, Gina would not have agreed to allocate funds for research and development.
Compared to 'combat drones', if a 'Ion Containment Pistol' with combat capabilities could be successfully developed, then products of the same series like 'rifles', 'submachine guns', and 'sniper rifles' could also bring a larger industrial market to Orange Industries.
Moreover, this kind of high-end weapon, whether in negotiating orders or investments, was an extremely attractive selling point and would make it easier to rescue Orange Industries from its precarious situation of potential bankruptcy.
It could even be modified and installed on drones, potentially significantly boosting drone sales.
It's just a pity.
Facts proved that Hermann's achievements in high-energy physics were clearly inferior to his accomplishments in electrical engineering and programming algorithms.
With Orange Industries unable to recruit researchers of his caliber who could assist him in development, the 'Ion Containment Pistol' could only remain an 'excellent toy' in the laboratory.
Extremely high manufacturing costs, short ion containment distance, and pitiful energy conversion rates—various problems that Hermann could not fully solve before his death.
This is also why, although these people came to observe this weapon test, most of them were not optimistic about the new firearm Luca spoke of.
Just as these people were chatting about various gossips and anecdotes.
Several people once again appeared in the distance, walking down the long corridor connecting to the weapon testing ground.
Among these people, the two walking at the very front were clearly the leaders.
However, one of them was a young woman who looked to be only around 20 years old.
The woman wore a large red dress, had dark brown curly hair, exquisite and beautiful features, and a sharp, knife-like demeanor.
She always walked with her chin slightly raised, giving off an unapproachable, arrogant aura from a distance.
Every movement suggested that she was the Master of this place, and her presence here was merely to attend a banquet for guests.
Such a demeanor naturally attracted the attention of most people.
However, many people were not admiring her beauty; instead, they slightly frowned.
"Why is she here too?"
"Who is this?"
The few who didn't recognize the woman in red immediately whispered, asking those next to them.
"Who else could it be? The current head of Hammer Industries. She hasn't even finished dealing with her own company's mess, yet she has the leisure to attend Orange Industries' internal test meeting?"
"Oh? She's the Hammer Industries heir, Justin Hammer?"
Yes, the person who arrived was indeed Justin Hammer, the daughter of the former Hammer Industries founder, Justin Hammer.
In the past, during Hammer Industries' heyday, although it was far from Stark Industries, ordinary people would not dare to casually discuss Justin Hammer's daughter, let alone the person in charge of Hammer Industries.
However, ever since old Justin was arrested and imprisoned two years ago, Hammer Industries was immediately fragmented and divided by various friendly businesses and the government Military, and its prestige was long gone.
Although this young Justin, whose name differed from her father's by only one letter, returned from overseas and took over the company again.
Because of her considerable ability and shrewdness, coupled with her beautiful appearance, she also became famous for a period of time.
But ultimately, when surrounded by a pack of wolves, ability could no longer play a decisive role in the situation Hammer Industries faced.
In the subsequent two years, Hammer Industries remained in a phase of rapid decline.
The fact that it did not directly go bankrupt was already due to young Justin's strenuous efforts to maintain it, and thereafter, few people paid attention to Hammer Industries' movements.
Of course, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse; after all, it was once a large Military-industrial group worth tens of billions, and even in its current decline, it is still not something Orange Industries can compare to.
The reason Hammer Industries' people were present here was because when Orange Industries became a secondary subcontractor for Hammer Industries, it ceded some of its company shares to Hammer Industries, to facilitate Hammer Industries' management of downstream industries.
Stark Industries didn't care for such things, but in reality, this is a very common practice among other large companies.
However, both companies later fell on hard times and were preoccupied with their own issues.
Although Hammer Industries remained Orange Industries' third-largest shareholder (after Gina and Hermann), it had never participated in any of Orange's decisions for over two years.
As for today, why Justin Hammer, who once stirred up trouble in the industry and carved out a last breath of opportunity for Hammer Industries, would personally come here, the others present truly had no idea.
As for the middle-aged man following Justin, always half a step behind her.
Despite his very ordinary appearance, gentle smile, and humble demeanor, as if he were merely a butler or attendant.
In reality, the others present were more familiar with him.
Heinrich von Stein.
Orange Industries' fourth shareholder, representative of Regeneration Capital.
A venture capital firm that invested in Orange Industries not long after it landed in the United States.
During Orange Industries' various ups and downs, this venture capital firm's shareholding also fluctuated, but it consistently maintained a position as an important shareholder.
Although Regeneration Capital is not well-known in the U.S., it is actually very influential in Europe, or more precisely, in Eastern Europe.
The majority of Orange Industries' current Military drone sales are basically orders secured by this capital representative through his connections.
It can be said that he is one of the important pillars that has enabled Orange Industries to survive until now.