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Chapter 168: We Were Tricked by Tony
October 19, 2022 Author: Great Demon Spirit
Not long after, an unremarkable piece of news was reported by the media: the former CEO of Oscorp had been arrested and imprisoned for corruption.
Many others also went to prison with the former CEO, all part of a small syndicate.
Then, while being transported, this group of people mysteriously died.
Many experts investigated multiple times but couldn't come to any conclusion, only hastily submitting a report stating that the individuals had suddenly lost all vital signs.
Many within The Government focused their suspicions on Tony, but with no evidence, they had to temporarily suppress their concerns. Tony's high-profile meeting with Harry Osborn was no secret; anyone could uncover it if they investigated. However, they lacked proof that Tony had murdered anyone.
Even if they found evidence, it wouldn't matter. Arrest Tony? What a joke. That guy could single-handedly start a modern war and tear New York City apart.
The Government had far too few cards to play. Despite investing huge sums of money into researching super soldiers every year, the results weren't as significant as they'd hoped. They either mass-produced a bunch of weaklings incapable of acting as a deterrent, or failed entirely.
An anomaly like the Hulk could be encountered, but not controlled.
A high-ranking government official was restless, his intuition telling him this incident might be related to Tony. As the Mutant with the fastest-growing influence recently, Tony was a source of great anxiety for many.
"You should know how severe the problem is. With Tony leading the way, more and more Metahumans will become craftier, learning to leverage capital to empower themselves! They're no longer straightforward like Magneto; they'll use more cunning methods to achieve their goals. This is a terrible development, and worse, we have no effective way to counter it."
The current president, Obama, was on the phone, a look of helplessness on his face.
The entire nation is shaped by countless large and small capital interests. Capital only suffers setbacks when faced with even more powerful capital; in the political arena, it's essentially invincible, unlike that Eastern Great Power, where it's constrained by a clear ceiling.
Tony's series of moves always started with capital, which was very cunning. What's more awkward is that Tony directly conversed with the higher-ups of certain Super Conglomerates—Tony, Wayne, Harry Osborn—and it was the same every time. His choice of timing was just too perfect, too exasperating.
Obama worried, "Stryker, I hope you push forward with the New Sentinel Program as soon as possible."
Stryker paused, choosing his words carefully. "Mr. President, believe me, I hate Mutants even more than you do. I desire to curb Mutant development more than anyone... but it's becoming increasingly difficult. For some unknown reason, the number of Mutants and Metahumans is skyrocketing every year. In a few more years, the trend will become uncontrollable, and ordinary humans will be exterminated."
"I proposed intensifying research into the X-Gene a long time ago. Forgive me for being blunt, but the reality is that certain people paid lip service to the idea, only to cut my funding and authority year after year."
As a colonel with real authority, Stryker's research in the Extraordinary Field was the most in-depth. Even the president had to rely on a talent like him.
"That's why, since taking office, I have fought against all opposition to increase my support for you and have entrusted the most important Sentinel Program to you and no one else! Colonel Stryker, I need results to use as a counter against my opponents!" Obama conveyed his dissatisfaction over the phone.
Stryker fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "My research into the Mutant X-Gene is the most extensive. The Sentinel Program exists for the sole mission of countering the diverse abilities granted by the X-Gene. I'm currently rushing my research on Mystique's and Tony's genes, but I've obtained some very bizarre results."
"I was considering using Mystique's gene as a blueprint to cultivate a robot capable of mimicking other abilities. This is, in essence, still a method of utilizing the X-Gene, and it requires a significant amount of time for experimentation and integration. I thought about mixing Tony's gene in, but then something miraculous and strange occurred."
"The new X-Gene was a success. It was as if Tony's gene instantly integrated Mystique's gene. Then, with Tony's gene serving as the foundational template, Mystique's gene became a mere ornament upon it. Two X-Genes, extracted from different gene chains, combined perfectly, forming a bizarre, seamless yet distinct entity. It was as if the two genes had briefly come together in an intimate collaboration, except that the characteristic abilities of Mystique's gene were drastically diminished, completely overwhelmed by Tony's gene."
Obama was no fool; anyone who could become president was naturally a brilliant individual. His eyes lit up as he said with surprise, "So, you're saying you can soon create a multi-functional Super Sentinel?"
Stryker subconsciously recoiled at words like "Super." He and the late Ross had been rivals, and he held an instinctive disdain for the Super-Soldier Program. Having studied the X-Gene for the better part of his life, he knew better than anyone how miraculous this thing, present in the vast majority of humanity, truly was.
"...Theoretically, yes. But if we don't solve the problem of the most troublesome individuals, it's useless no matter how many Sentinels we build. One is Magneto. In fact, no matter how rigorous the demagnetization and anti-magnetic procedures the Sentinels undergo, it's impossible to completely block Magneto's control. However, I can use technology to suppress his Magnetokinesis to the absolute limit. The most troublesome one is still Tony."
"Tony is practically a government asset. You can study his gene in secret, but moving against him directly is absolutely out of the question. It would have terrible repercussions and scare away many Metahumans. Besides, The Government needs Tony as a weapon," Obama warned.
Although he was worried about Tony's uncontrollability, his politician's instincts led him to leave a layer of subtext, saying only half of what he meant and leaving the other half to be understood by others.
If Stryker were to develop a way to take Tony down, he would be free to act.
Such was the nature of interests.
"It's difficult. I haven't figured out the source of Tony's abilities." Stryker rubbed his forehead. The long hours of intense research had left his body feeling stiff and his mind overtaxed.
"Aren't you in the process of cloning Tony? You've already solved the key technological problems for Sentinel robots, yet you can't replicate Tony's ability?" Obama frowned.
He had his own people around Stryker. Ever since the Hulk incident, it had become standard practice to place operatives within such high-risk research projects.
"I do indeed have several of Tony's clone bodies. However, not a single clone has awakened Tony's mechanical control ability. Instead, they have all uniformly awakened a different power—the ability to coordinate other genes that I just mentioned."
Holding the phone, Stryker turned around heavily. He looked at the three enormous cultivation tanks behind him. Inside were three identical 'people,' their bodies riddled with tubes and respirators over their mouths and noses, sleeping peacefully. Numerous high-tech monitoring devices were attached all over their bodies.
Numerous researchers in white lab coats moved to and fro, periodically opening the cultivation tanks to draw blood from the three clones.
"Tony's X-Gene ability is not about creating Transformers at all! His X-Gene ability is 'Containment'—it can carry a certain number of other genes! We've all been tricked by that bastard Tony!"
(end of chapter)
October 19, 2022 Author: Great Demon Spirit
Not long after, an unremarkable piece of news was reported by the media: the former CEO of Oscorp had been arrested and imprisoned for corruption.
Many others also went to prison with the former CEO, all part of a small syndicate.
Then, while being transported, this group of people mysteriously died.
Many experts investigated multiple times but couldn't come to any conclusion, only hastily submitting a report stating that the individuals had suddenly lost all vital signs.
Many within The Government focused their suspicions on Tony, but with no evidence, they had to temporarily suppress their concerns. Tony's high-profile meeting with Harry Osborn was no secret; anyone could uncover it if they investigated. However, they lacked proof that Tony had murdered anyone.
Even if they found evidence, it wouldn't matter. Arrest Tony? What a joke. That guy could single-handedly start a modern war and tear New York City apart.
The Government had far too few cards to play. Despite investing huge sums of money into researching super soldiers every year, the results weren't as significant as they'd hoped. They either mass-produced a bunch of weaklings incapable of acting as a deterrent, or failed entirely.
An anomaly like the Hulk could be encountered, but not controlled.
A high-ranking government official was restless, his intuition telling him this incident might be related to Tony. As the Mutant with the fastest-growing influence recently, Tony was a source of great anxiety for many.
"You should know how severe the problem is. With Tony leading the way, more and more Metahumans will become craftier, learning to leverage capital to empower themselves! They're no longer straightforward like Magneto; they'll use more cunning methods to achieve their goals. This is a terrible development, and worse, we have no effective way to counter it."
The current president, Obama, was on the phone, a look of helplessness on his face.
The entire nation is shaped by countless large and small capital interests. Capital only suffers setbacks when faced with even more powerful capital; in the political arena, it's essentially invincible, unlike that Eastern Great Power, where it's constrained by a clear ceiling.
Tony's series of moves always started with capital, which was very cunning. What's more awkward is that Tony directly conversed with the higher-ups of certain Super Conglomerates—Tony, Wayne, Harry Osborn—and it was the same every time. His choice of timing was just too perfect, too exasperating.
Obama worried, "Stryker, I hope you push forward with the New Sentinel Program as soon as possible."
Stryker paused, choosing his words carefully. "Mr. President, believe me, I hate Mutants even more than you do. I desire to curb Mutant development more than anyone... but it's becoming increasingly difficult. For some unknown reason, the number of Mutants and Metahumans is skyrocketing every year. In a few more years, the trend will become uncontrollable, and ordinary humans will be exterminated."
"I proposed intensifying research into the X-Gene a long time ago. Forgive me for being blunt, but the reality is that certain people paid lip service to the idea, only to cut my funding and authority year after year."
As a colonel with real authority, Stryker's research in the Extraordinary Field was the most in-depth. Even the president had to rely on a talent like him.
"That's why, since taking office, I have fought against all opposition to increase my support for you and have entrusted the most important Sentinel Program to you and no one else! Colonel Stryker, I need results to use as a counter against my opponents!" Obama conveyed his dissatisfaction over the phone.
Stryker fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "My research into the Mutant X-Gene is the most extensive. The Sentinel Program exists for the sole mission of countering the diverse abilities granted by the X-Gene. I'm currently rushing my research on Mystique's and Tony's genes, but I've obtained some very bizarre results."
"I was considering using Mystique's gene as a blueprint to cultivate a robot capable of mimicking other abilities. This is, in essence, still a method of utilizing the X-Gene, and it requires a significant amount of time for experimentation and integration. I thought about mixing Tony's gene in, but then something miraculous and strange occurred."
"The new X-Gene was a success. It was as if Tony's gene instantly integrated Mystique's gene. Then, with Tony's gene serving as the foundational template, Mystique's gene became a mere ornament upon it. Two X-Genes, extracted from different gene chains, combined perfectly, forming a bizarre, seamless yet distinct entity. It was as if the two genes had briefly come together in an intimate collaboration, except that the characteristic abilities of Mystique's gene were drastically diminished, completely overwhelmed by Tony's gene."
Obama was no fool; anyone who could become president was naturally a brilliant individual. His eyes lit up as he said with surprise, "So, you're saying you can soon create a multi-functional Super Sentinel?"
Stryker subconsciously recoiled at words like "Super." He and the late Ross had been rivals, and he held an instinctive disdain for the Super-Soldier Program. Having studied the X-Gene for the better part of his life, he knew better than anyone how miraculous this thing, present in the vast majority of humanity, truly was.
"...Theoretically, yes. But if we don't solve the problem of the most troublesome individuals, it's useless no matter how many Sentinels we build. One is Magneto. In fact, no matter how rigorous the demagnetization and anti-magnetic procedures the Sentinels undergo, it's impossible to completely block Magneto's control. However, I can use technology to suppress his Magnetokinesis to the absolute limit. The most troublesome one is still Tony."
"Tony is practically a government asset. You can study his gene in secret, but moving against him directly is absolutely out of the question. It would have terrible repercussions and scare away many Metahumans. Besides, The Government needs Tony as a weapon," Obama warned.
Although he was worried about Tony's uncontrollability, his politician's instincts led him to leave a layer of subtext, saying only half of what he meant and leaving the other half to be understood by others.
If Stryker were to develop a way to take Tony down, he would be free to act.
Such was the nature of interests.
"It's difficult. I haven't figured out the source of Tony's abilities." Stryker rubbed his forehead. The long hours of intense research had left his body feeling stiff and his mind overtaxed.
"Aren't you in the process of cloning Tony? You've already solved the key technological problems for Sentinel robots, yet you can't replicate Tony's ability?" Obama frowned.
He had his own people around Stryker. Ever since the Hulk incident, it had become standard practice to place operatives within such high-risk research projects.
"I do indeed have several of Tony's clone bodies. However, not a single clone has awakened Tony's mechanical control ability. Instead, they have all uniformly awakened a different power—the ability to coordinate other genes that I just mentioned."
Holding the phone, Stryker turned around heavily. He looked at the three enormous cultivation tanks behind him. Inside were three identical 'people,' their bodies riddled with tubes and respirators over their mouths and noses, sleeping peacefully. Numerous high-tech monitoring devices were attached all over their bodies.
Numerous researchers in white lab coats moved to and fro, periodically opening the cultivation tanks to draw blood from the three clones.
"Tony's X-Gene ability is not about creating Transformers at all! His X-Gene ability is 'Containment'—it can carry a certain number of other genes! We've all been tricked by that bastard Tony!"
(end of chapter)
