Chapter 1419
You're declaring war!
The research on the steel-plate masked man was handed over to Horii, that big fat guy.
Although this guy isn't very active in training, he gets panting like a broken bellows after running 50 kilometers, and howls louder than an alarm when Spike is chasing him, he's still trustworthy when it comes to scientific research.
After all, he was a scientist. Now that he was at TPC, the equipment was more advanced and the resources were more abundant. He even dared to analyze the composition of Tom's pot of milk that could melt a spoon. A mere broken piece of iron was no problem for him.
Then... Horii conducted various experiments on the steel-plate masked man.
Cutting, scanning, electromagnetic stimulation, and even dripping a drop of Tom's milk on it—as a result, the iron block actually emitted a wisp of smoke, which startled Horii, who quickly put the milk bottle cap back on and muttered, "This formula needs to be adjusted again."
Finally, on the seventh attempt, Horii successfully made the thing, which had been reduced to nothing but a block of iron, speak.
Although this thing was found to be hollow inside, without circuit boards, biological tissue, or even a screw, the metal itself has memory.
As Horii activated the device, a weak current was injected into the iron fragments, and the twisted steel mask suddenly trembled, emitting a piercing metallic scraping sound.
Then, it opened its mouth.
"Security system... activated..."
"Target... Max Propulsion System... Eliminate..."
“Max Dynamics System… Threat Level… Highest… Must be eliminated…”
Upon learning this news, Cui Ming instantly became furious.
Damn it!!! You bunch of bastards are such cowards!
The Earth is developing its own technology, and you guys are playing the tech blockade game?
This is a declaration of war!!!
Cui Ming turned around and pulled a grenade launcher from the weapon rack. His movements were as fast as drawing a gun. He raised the muzzle and was about to rush out of the laboratory.
"Instructor!!!"
Xincheng was the first to pounce on Cui Ming, grabbing his waist and hanging behind him like a koala.
"Calm down! Calm down! There's only one survivor!!!"
"Let go!" Cui Ming dragged Xin Cheng forward three steps, as if he were pulling an empty backpack. "I'm going to blow up all those iron turtle manufacturers! Technological blockade?! Who do they think they are?!"
"No, Instructor!" Daigo rushed over from the side and grabbed Cui Ming's arm. "Put the cannon down! Put it down! Let's find out who did it first!"
"What the hell are you asking!" Cui Ming lifted the grenade launcher high with one hand, causing Daigo to be lifted off the ground. "The Max Propulsion System is Earth's own technology! What right do they have to eliminate it?! Back in my EDF days, even the Star Guides didn't dare to be this arrogant!"
"Cui! Calm down!"
Megumi's voice came from behind, but she just stood there, arms crossed, with a "let's see how far you can go" expression on her face, showing no intention of stopping her.
After all, she knows her husband too well.
There's no stopping him at times like this; you can only wait for him to vent.
So the rest of the Victory Team, even the Dinosaur Man, came together to hold Cui Ming back.
Adam emerged from the ground, his enormous claws gripping the howitzer's barrel, pressing it down like pulling a radish: "Mr. Cui! You mustn't! You mustn't! If this cannon fires, TPC's roof will be gone!"
Yiwu leaped over from the side, her tail wrapping around Cui Ming's waist, forming a pincer attack with Xincheng from the left and right: "Cui! Take a deep breath! Take a deep breath! Think about your blood pressure!"
"I don't have high blood pressure!"
"Then think about your protein bar! You haven't eaten your share for today yet!"
"..."
Cui Ming paused for a moment.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lindis crept up from behind and snatched the howitzer, her movements as practiced as someone disarming someone on the battlefield: "Cui, I'll take the cannon first, you listen to this iron block's confession first."
"But--"
"No buts!" Hilda, holding a frying pan, stood in the lab doorway, her face full of righteous indignation. "Instructor! If you rush out, tomorrow's news will be 'Storm One angrily bombs TPC due to technological blockade,' and those Pitt aliens will be laughing their heads off!"
"..."
Cui Ming was finally subdued.
He stood there, his chest heaving, his eyes looking like he wanted to devour someone, but he had no cannon in his hand, Yiwu's tail was hanging around his waist, Daigo was wrapped around his arm, and Shinjo was stuck to his back, his whole body was wrapped up like a rice dumpling.
"You..." he gritted his teeth, forcing out the words, "Let me go."
"We won't let go!" everyone shouted in unison.
"I promise I won't blow anything up."
"We don't believe it!" came the unanimous reply.
Cui Ming took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.
"...I promise I'll listen to the whole thing first."
The group exchanged glances and slowly released their grip.
But her eyes were still fixed on him, ready to pounce again at any moment.
Cui Ming straightened his rumpled scarf, glared at the still-humming iron block, and said in a voice as cold as ice: "Tell me, who sent you? Who is the manufacturer? Where is the headquarters? How many accomplices do you have?" The iron block was silent for two seconds, then emitted a piercing electric shock.
"Information...limited...unable to answer..."
"Can't answer?!" Cui Ming's eyebrows shot up again, and his hand unconsciously reached for his waist—where a grenade launcher used to hang, but now it was empty.
Lindis hid the cannon behind her back: "Cui, calm down. It says it's restricted, not that it won't say anything."
“Then let’s find a way to make it unrestricted!” Cui Ming turned to Horii, his eyes like knives. “If you can make it talk, you can make it say more, right?”
"Uh...theoretically, it's possible..." Horii wiped the sweat from his forehead, his chubby face full of guilt, "but it will take time, and the metallic memory of this iron block is fragmented, so it will have to be pieced together slowly..."
"how long?"
"...Three days?"
"one day."
Two days?!
“One day.” Cui Ming’s tone left no room for doubt. “By this time tomorrow, I want to know who is behind this technological blockade. Otherwise, I will personally go underground, dig out their manufacturing plants, and blow them all to smithereens.”
"...Yes, Instructor!"
Horii quickly lowered his head and continued fiddling with the equipment, his chubby hands trembling like a leaf.
The laboratory fell silent, with only the hum of the instruments whirring in the background.
Cui Ming stood there, arms crossed, his eyes still fixed on the iron block, as if he wanted to melt it with his gaze.
Ju Jianhui finally came over and handed him a glass of iced oolong tea: "Take a sip to cool down."
"I'm not popular."
"Your eyes are all red."
"...That's from anger."
Cui Ming took the oolong tea, took a big gulp, and then exhaled a long breath.
“The Max Propulsion System…” he said in a low voice, his voice tinged with suppressed anger, “That’s human technology, something we built up bit by bit. What right do they have to erase it? What right do they have?”
“They think we pose a threat to them,” Kijima Megumi said calmly, standing beside him. “But this isn’t something you can blow up by yourself, Choi. We need intelligence, we need a plan, we need—”
“We need to take down their stronghold.” Cui Ming took over, a ruthless smile curving his lips. “I know, I will endure it, until Horii pieces together the intelligence.”
He turned to look at the nervous team members in the lab, and the dinosaur-like man peeking in from the doorway.
"you……"
"Here!" everyone shouted in unison, standing at attention.
"...The barbecue restaurant will be open as usual tonight. Anyone who is late will have to run an extra 50 kilometers."
"……what?"
"What the hell?!" Cui Ming downed his oolong tea in one gulp and slammed the cup on the table. "You need to be full to have the energy to blow people up! Meeting adjourned!"
The group looked at each other, then slowly broke into smiles.
"Yes, Instructor!"
Adam scratched his head: "Then... can I bring Yiwu along?"
"Bring them all! Spike and Tom Jerry too!" Cui Ming turned and walked out, his scarf billowing behind him. "Tonight's on me, tomorrow—"
He paused, then looked back at the metal block.
"Tomorrow, we'll raid the lair of those bastards."
In the laboratory, Horii's chubby hands were still trembling, but the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
This is the real Storm One.
He was burning with rage, but never lost his reason.
Or rather, never completely lose your mind.
At least tonight, there's still barbecue.
Meanwhile, the iron block silently rotated in the corner, and deep within its metallic memory, a distant signal was flashing.
It had no idea what kind of being it had provoked.
Technological blockade?
In Storm One's eyes, that was nothing more than a declaration of war.
And the fate of a declaration of war is always the same: it is burned to ashes. (End of Chapter)