Volume 3: The Nameless Chapter 52: Old Green Devil's "Property Declaration" and Personal Gifts
The post-war inspection of the anti-Superman armor was completed quickly.
The good news is that Crossbones' final counterattack only destroyed the outer armor, and Mason can repair it by refining a few pieces of alloy. The bad news is that the tritium energy engine installed by Dr. Otto on this thing has been confirmed to be unusable.
This thing is not only in disrepair causes leakage.
Moreover, due to design defects, its energy output was unstable, and several power control modules were burned out in succession when the overload mode was activated.
In other words, Crossbones is not a technological villain. Even wearing the armor of War Machine, it is difficult for him to exert his full strength. He was also attacked by Itlegen who was obsessed with killing. Otherwise, it is hard to say who will win or lose in the final mecha battle.
But Mason was not disappointed when he saw the energy engine that was taken out and still emitting a strange smell and smoke.
He recovered the Anti-Superman armor into the armor storage tank, threw it back into the briefcase factory, and then looked at the fist-sized ring-shaped precision device in his hand.
It's like some kind of handicraft made of opaque crystal.
He had seen this thing once before at the Edward brothers' wandering trader's stall, but at that time he was short of money and had no money to buy it. Unexpectedly, he found it when he casually defeated a BOSS tonight:
Stark Industries Micro Ark Reactor Standard Edition
Quality: Epic engineering, high-precision creation, exquisite craftsmanship
Status: Atomic battery missing, radioactive palladium remaining
Producer: Cleaner Corps Commander Allocated to the Third Laboratory
Item Description: Keeping something filled with radioactive material close to your body? No, that's not a good idea.
Tip: Engineering Lv6 can analyze this blueprint.
"It is at least one generation behind the reactor version in the hands of the Elric brothers. It does not contain the unknown element invented by Tony Stark, so it still needs traditional palladium batteries as ignition materials.
But the good news is, as long as there's enough palladium, this thing will keep working.
Based on my current understanding of engineering, even if I were given the most advanced reactor, I would not be able to crack the technology at all. It would be more convenient for me to use the next generation product.”
Mason stroked the Ark reactor in his hand and glanced at his current Lv5 engineering skills. He felt that he was only one step away from mass-producing Tony Stark's backward reactor.
The reactor alone as a reward made Mason feel that the battle was not in vain.
Satisfied, he put the thing into an engineer's box, threw it into his bag, and waved to stop the Batmobile that was speeding by.
Just like waving gracefully to call a taxi.
The cockpit popped open, but the person driving was not Catwoman but the great pirate Captain Jack. The latter, wearing frog-eye glasses, casually hooked his finger, motioning Mason to get in the car.
The guy who made an outstanding contribution tonight is now very proud of himself, and the words "he is a hero" are almost written on his face.
"Maybe they'll put up a monument for me or something."
Jack turned the steering wheel and said to Mason in the passenger seat:
“Maybe there will be a statue erected by the sea with the life story of the great Captain Jack Sparrow written on it. I suddenly feel that maybe moving to Osborne Tower is a good choice for me.
Gotham City is too noisy, and with the dangerous Batman flying around at night, it's really not safe and not suitable for a hero like me.
What do you think?
"I think you might be overthinking it."
Mason glanced at Captain Jack and said:
"Well, I admit that you did a good job tonight. Keep up the good work, Jack. One day your name will spread across the stars. Now take me to Osborne Tower. We will rest and leave before dawn."
"Huh? So fast?"
Jack complained somewhat dissatisfiedly:
"Aren't you going to stay for a celebration party or something? I'm planning on inviting Lady Mary Jane to dinner."
"If you want to cheat on old Peter, there will be plenty of opportunities later."
Mason shook his head and said:
"But we can't waste time now. What happened here must be reported immediately. We can't handle such a big thing. We have to find someone to help clean up the mess."
The Batmobile sped through the city where the flames of war still lingered, and the sound of gunfire cut through the night sky. Although Area C and Area B as well as the interior of Osborne Tower had been cleared, at least one-third of the city was still in the hands of the cleaners.
However, now that the Sanctuary Warriors, Osborn Guards and the underground people have joined forces and with the great demon Itlegan slaughtering people indiscriminately, the outcome of this battle is no longer in doubt.
After all, the main base of the Cleaners was completely destroyed by a tactical nuclear bomb, and no matter how ferocious the remaining people were, they were just fighting like trapped beasts.
The battle is not over yet, but Team K has no intention of continuing to participate in it.
Mason now only hoped that Mr. Hunter would not kill him with a knife when he received this news. With this thought in mind, he walked into the elevator and went up.
Before leaving, he had some things to clarify with the current controller of this world, the old Green Goblin.
As a result, when the elevator door opened, he saw two bodies being carried out of the Green Goblin's secret office by several Osborn guards.
Mason stopped the process, put on medical gloves, took the enhanced medicines and some personal belongings from the bodies of the two commanders, and planned to go back and study them.
Norman Osborn, sitting in the boss chair in the office, witnessed the whole thing.
After Mason finished the "autopsy", the old Green Goblin took the initiative to speak:
"I apologize for my mistake just now..."
"Please stop being so hypocritical."
Mason took off his blood-stained gloves and threw them weakly on the Green Goblin's desk. He then waved his hand to interrupt the insincere apology and said coldly:
"When I heard Taskmaster, White Ghost, and Crossbones run away from you, I knew you were up to something, you bastard.
Normal Norman has wisdom, evil Norman has power, and now the two of you have teamed up to do things in your territory and you can’t even take down a few second- and third-tier villains!
This is simply an insult to my intelligence!
I really don't wonder why you did this, but your actions put Team K at unnecessary risk and two of my team members were injured.
I said be direct.
Show some sincerity, Norman, or this matter will not end!"
"Shua"
Something was taken out of the drawer and bounced towards Mason, where the young man caught it. He looked at the object in his hand and found that it was a well-made authorization card.
When he held the thing, an information tag popped up:
SHIELD Level 10 Agent Warranty Card
Item Effect: Grants access to SHIELD facilities and grants [Temporary Captain] privileges when in the control room of a SHIELD carrier.
Notice!
This item is effective in all worlds where S.H.I.E.L.D. exists.
Item Description: The atmosphere has been set to this point, do you think it's appropriate not to say "Mazefak"?
This thing made Mason raise his eyebrows, and then he heard the Green Goblin stand up and say to him:
"The aerospace carrier outside the dock of the Cleaners' base was basically repaired a year ago. I told the outsiders who entered this world that it was the property of the Cleaners Corps.
But actually it is not.
I just left it there so no one could get their hands on it."
The fake smile on old Norman Osborn's face disappeared, and he said frankly and directly:
"Now, the aerospace carrier that can take off at any time as long as the power system is installed belongs to you, and the power system it needs is hidden in the underground warehouse of Osborne Tower.
It only takes one month of assembly and debugging, and you can have your own flying fortress.
Can this apology soothe the anger of Team K?"
"It's quite generous. It's barely enough."
Mason put away the authorization card expressionlessly, snapped his fingers, and said:
"But I heard from Mary Jane that the ship's weapons systems had been removed. What use would I have for an empty hulk? You're as good as a king in this wasteland, Norman. Perhaps you could do us a favor?"
"Of course I am willing to help, but transformation takes time."
The Green Goblin didn't refuse.
The thin and gloomy middle-aged man walked to the office window with his hands behind his back, looking out at the city that was still emitting smoke.
He said:
"Perhaps it will be of use to you next time you come. But I have something to confess to you, Mason, as a collaborator.
I must be honest with you, but my control over those pioneer teams that have walked out of this world is almost reaching its limit.
Hydra Squadron is the only force I can command.
But they were destroyed by you.
However, this situation can still be salvaged. Someone as smart as you will surely understand my intentions."
"I will report your situation to Mr. Hunter truthfully. It's his problem whether he wants to help you or not."
Mason didn't take any of that.
He could understand the Green Goblin's plan, but he had no intention of participating in the game of power. Team K was still at a low level, and Mason had no cards in his hand to balance the others.
Therefore, the best way is to let the Green Goblin and Quint negotiate with each other, and I will just act as a middleman.
He has always been sensible in this regard.
"I'm curious, how many people did you let out?"
Mason looked at Old Norman and asked:
"You have to tell me their team number, maybe we can say hello and keep in touch if we meet again in the future."
"There are currently three more, all of which are B-level teams."
The Green Goblin turned around and raised three fingers to Mason, saying:
"The Defenders are made up of three members of the Defenders Alliance, Iron Fist, Jessica, and Luke Cage, and several street heroes active in New York City.
I heard you cured Matt Murdock of his paralysis.
Good, I need to talk to that blind man, and maybe then we can get the Defenders back under our control.
There is also the "punishment" team composed of Frank Castle, Gwen Stacy and several heroes from the shelter. These people are hostile to me and difficult to deal with, but Peter Parker's comeback may help them reconnect with their hometown."
Norman shook his head, left the last finger and said to Mason:
"The last and most troublesome team is the 'Holy Shield' team, which consists of Black Widow, Winter Soldier, Phil Coulson, and a group of elite SHIELD agents and the superheroes who serve them.
They are doing well in the Star Club, and as I said before, they are already applying for the promotion process to the A-level Council of Twelve.
But they didn't trust me at all.
The only connection between me and these guys who were originally agents and spies was mutual exploitation, but I believed that once I had Mr. Hunter's permission, it would be easiest to repair the relationship between me and them.
But the Blazers are not my trump card."
The old Green Goblin gave a mysterious smile, pointed to the top of his head, and said to Mason cryptically:
"In fact, we have people in several brother organizations of the Star Alliance. Remember what I told you before? Tony Stark left here with a group of people.
They are the best researchers.
After joining that organization, we were naturally treated with courtesy, which resulted in our influence being dispersed but covering all areas.
As long as they get the support of Mr. Hunter and the high-level forces behind him, these scattered sparks will immediately converge into a surging undercurrent!
This is also the reason why I have the confidence to contact the person behind you.
They may not lack us in terms of strength, but our people and networks lurking among them are an endless wealth! "
"Not bad. Just by listening to the strength on paper, it seems that your resistance army is strong."
Mason stroked his chin and looked at the Green Goblin. After a few seconds of silence, he said:
"But there is one most important question you haven't told me. What exactly are you planning to do? What do you want to do? Is it revenge? Is it to find out the truth?
Or do you simply want to survive?"
"Why do I have to choose just one? Why can't I have them all?"
Old Norman showed a sinister expression, turned his head to look at Harry Osborn who was sleeping in the bio-capsule in the corner of the office, and said:
"My feelings towards this world are not as deep as Peter Parker's, and I don't think the protection advocated by the Stars is anything special. The more you understand this organization, the more you will understand that they are just luckier than us and knew the impact was approaching earlier and made preparations in advance.
They played gods to me, returned my son who died in the war, and asked me to work for them.
I did so.
I felt no satisfaction or even humiliation.
I just deeply realized that the rise of the Star Society was just an accidental event, and the best thing is that it can be replicated. I mean, if I were given a chance, I wouldn't do worse.
And if you insist on a specific answer, I will tell you that my most original thought is that I don't want to die along with the world among the dying stars.
I, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, do not want to die quietly and humbly like stardust in the apocalypse. "
"Which you?"
Mason asked.
The old green devil lowered his head and smiled evilly, saying:
"It was both of me, one wanted to fight them and the other wanted to mess with them, so we sort of buried the hatchet and teamed up.
Well, you don't know how difficult it is for two of us to reach an understanding.
Fortunately...
We did it. ”
His weird smile made Mason feel even colder for a moment, but it seemed like an illusion and in the next second he returned to old Norman's wise look.
He said to Mason:
"Otto and I will send the gravity hammers stored here back underground, but we will still have some left above the safety line. Otto wanted me to give you some as a gift.
This scarce resource is not available in every world. If you miss this opportunity, you don’t know how long you will have to wait.
I heard you're a pretty good engineer?
Very good, then use these rare resources properly. I can't give you the Patriot armor I have, but I will also give you the blueprint of the previous 'Green Goblin' suit.
It's not a very good thing, but it's very good for servants.
Ten standard units of purified liquid gravitonium are already being prepared. Consider this my personal gift, Mason. I hope you can put in a good word for me in front of Mr. Hunter."
"Thank you."
Mason nodded and said to the Green Goblin in front of him:
"I'll put in a good word for you, provided my boss is willing to listen."
