Chapter 1
The kidnapped playboy won't dream of the mysterious gashapon merchant.
[Brain Storage]
[The location of the Kuuga belt]
[Feel free to leave a comment if you'd like to see who has what abilities, whether you're Daniel Wu or Li Yifei.]
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Sparks flew, illuminating Tony Stark's oil-stained and despair-filled face.
"Don't let your hands shake, Stark."
Dr. Ethan handed over a glass of murky water, his voice hoarse: "If you keep shaking it, you'll break before anything is even made."
"This is simply impossible to succeed."
Tony threw down his welding torch and stared at the ugly pile of scrap metal on the workbench.
Mark 1.
That was his only way out, and also a damn joke.
Without wind tunnel testing, and with the hydraulic system salvaged from a truck, it would be a miracle if this thing could even move a single step, let alone break through a barrage of fire from hundreds of AK47s while wearing it.
He was unsure of himself.
"We don't have time, Ethan."
Tony's voice was hoarse, tinged with desperate anxiety, "Tomorrow is the deadline. If we don't deliver the missiles by tomorrow, they'll cut our heads off and hang them at the entrance of the cave."
"You have to be alive to build it..."
"Click."
A crisp, cracking sound interrupted Ethan's words.
That sounded like... chewing popcorn?
Tony and Ethan turned their heads sharply to look at the corner of the cave.
The place, which was originally piled with discarded missile casings and some miscellaneous items, now has a human figure.
A young Asian man in a suit was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, holding a large bucket of butter popcorn in his arms, watching them with great interest.
"Don't stop, keep hitting."
Seeing the two looking over, Li Ang grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth, commenting indistinctly, "That look just now was spot on, that feeling of despair that comes with being a genius but about to die."
"And the rhythm of the forging is a little chaotic, but it makes it feel more realistic."
Tony was stunned.
Ethan was dumbfounded.
"Who are you?"
Tony grabbed the pliers beside him, his muscles tense and his eyes fierce.
His first thought was that it was either a new overseer sent by the Ten Commandments gang, or that pervert that Lazar had found.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
This person is too clean.
In this godforsaken place where even rats are infested with fleas, this guy's hair looks like he's just had a treatment.
Let me introduce myself.
Li Ang put down the popcorn bucket, stood up gracefully, and even dusted off non-existent dust from his body.
He wore a professional smile, the kind of smile a salesperson gives when they see a fat sheep.
"Li Ang, a gashapon merchant who was just passing by."
"Gashapon merchant?" Tony frowned, not relaxing at all, but instead looking at Ethan beside him.
"Ethan, am I crazy? Look over there, is anyone there?"
Ethan swallowed hard, his eyes confirming that there were indeed people there.
Duang!
Before the two could finish their conversation, Li Ang snapped his fingers and then pulled a gashapon machine out of his pocket.
Its bizarre style and vibrant colors clash with the gloomy and simple cave.
"I'm here to bring you hope. Come on, smile."
Li Ang walked between the two men, came to the pile of scrap metal Mark 1, and flicked it with his finger in disgust.
"I've been watching for a while, Mr. Stark. If I may be so bold, are you really planning to rush out wearing this metal can?"
Li Ang walked up to the half-finished Mark 1, extended a finger, and gently flicked the rough breastplate.
Ding.
The voice was muffled.
"The hydraulic system has a delay of up to 2.4 seconds. Its defense is barely enough to stop an AK47, but if you get hit by an RPG, you'll be turned into a barbecue can."
"And what you're doing can't fly, can it?"
Li Ang clicked his tongue twice, turned to look at Tony, his eyes full of mockery.
"The mighty Tony Stark, the world's most brilliant mind, ended up riddled with bullets and dying a pathetic death in the desert? This ending..."
Tony was hit where it hurt.
This was his biggest concern: the Mark 1 was too rudimentary.
Wearing it to deal with outsiders is like gambling with your life, and the odds of winning are almost zero.
"So what brilliant idea do you have?" Tony gritted his teeth. "With this colorful slot machine?"
"To correct you, it's a gashapon machine."
Li Ang took a half-step closer, like a devil tempting a child to make a mistake.
"This contains the power of countless worlds, bloodlines capable of smashing tanks with a single punch, and Senzu Beans that can bring the dead back to life..."
"Listen, whether you're a charlatan sent by some organization or some kind of holographic projection."
Tony scoffed, believing that technology was the only source of true power in his world.
"I don't have time to play games with you right now. Get out, or I'll smash your head in with these pliers."
boom!!!
A loud bang interrupted Tony's words.
The heavy iron door of the cave was violently struck, and dust fell in a flurry.
"Stark!" came the furious roar of Leader Lazar from outside the door. "Don't think I don't know you're stalling for time! Open the door! Or I'll storm in right now!"
紧
Click click click!
That was the sound of a heavy machine gun being set up and the bolt being pulled.
"It's over..." Ethan's face turned deathly pale. "The suit isn't assembled yet, and the program hasn't been uploaded!"
It’s over.
Tony's heart skipped a beat.
The program hasn't been uploaded yet, and the device hasn't been worn yet.
Dead.
"Look, the climax of the story is coming."
Li Ang remained calm and instead sat back down in his chair, picking up some popcorn.
Tony's eyes hardened at these words, and he raised the pliers. "Did you tell them that?"
Leon stretched out his hand, "oioi, Mr. Stark, don't point weapons at your benefactor."
"I'm just here to watch the show; I haven't finished my popcorn yet."
"Ten thousand US dollars for one draw from my gashapon capsule, or you can use those iron pliers to charge out and fight them to the death. The choice is yours."
Tony looked at the rickety iron gate, where sparks from a welding torch were already flashing through the cracks.
The terrorists are violently breaking down the door.
He glanced at Ethan, whose face was filled with despair, and then at the pile of unusable scrap metal.
Finally, his gaze fell on the strange gashapon machine.
As a scientist, he did not believe in theology.
But as a dying man, he had to grasp at every straw.
"I don't have any money on me," Tony yelled.
"The name Tony Stark is worth an unlimited overdraft."
Li Ang smiled and pulled out something that looked like a POS machine. "Palmprint payment, fair and square."
"Deal! If you dare to mess with me, I'll haunt you even in death!"
Tony threw down the pliers and rushed to the gashapon machine.
The iron gate had been cut in half, and half of Raza's ferocious face was sticking out.
"hurry up!"
Tony roared and slammed his hand on the gashapon machine's button.
"That's right."
A smile curved Li Ang's lips, and his eyes sparkled with pleasure.
"Welcome to the world of pay-to-win players."