Chapter 552

"That was a suitably spectacular exit."

Luthor peered through the hole he’d punched through the aircraft and watched the cloud of ash drifting through the sky where Killian had been.

He couldn’t help but admire the Twins’ mercy.

Even in defeat, they’d allowed their enemy to leave the world in a blaze of glory.

Then he heard something behind him.

A mechanical whir.

Then the rising hum of an energy weapon charging.

Luthor didn’t even bother looking.

He spun and drove a fist backward.

If Killian’s discarded armor had somehow regained its functions after its owner’s death, it would have been the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack from behind.

His fist connected with steel.

The armor shattered.

Metal plates clattered across the floor, scattering in every direction.

Luthor looked down.

Empty.

There was no one inside.

He frowned.

Something didn’t quite add up.

He remembered Killian’s armor being a different color.

Wasn’t it?

Luthor shrugged.

Whatever.

It wasn’t important.

With a light jump, he returned from the lower hold to the first-class cabin. His body shifted back into its normal form as he made his way to the conference room.

He stopped before the Eredar Twins and bowed respectfully.

"The intruder has been defeated. Enemy confirmed dead. Awaiting further instructions."

"Stand by."

Salorathis gave him a satisfied smile and waved him toward the side of the room.

Then she turned back to the President.

"Well, Mr. President..."

She paused.

The Twins stared.

At some point, the President and his entire entourage had returned to their seats.

Everyone was sitting upright.

Everyone looked composed.

Everyone looked as though they’d been calmly watching the battle from the beginning.

If the Twins hadn’t personally witnessed the earlier spectacle, they might almost have believed it.

Salorathis smiled.

"What did you think of our demonstration? Are you feeling confident in our company’s technological capabilities?"

"Of course."

The President had undergone a remarkable transformation.

The terror that had sent him diving beneath the table was gone. In its place was the dignified composure he’d worn at the beginning of the meeting.

"I couldn’t be more satisfied. In fact, I’d go so far as to say I’m pleasantly surprised. Your company’s biological enhancement technology is the most mature and practical implementation I’ve ever seen."

He paused.

"Your company’s capabilities are beyond question. But I still have one concern."

His expression became thoughtful.

"And if the question is too sensitive, you don’t have to answer."

Considering that the Twins had just saved his life, the President’s attitude toward them was remarkably accommodating.

"As long as it doesn’t involve confidential information, there’s no reason we can’t answer, Mr. President."

Olesia’s tone was equally courteous.

The President nodded.

"My question is simple."

He glanced toward the equipment and warriors that had just been demonstrated.

"Your company has already achieved such impressive results in biological enhancement. Why did you decide to enter the field of powered armor as well? And, more importantly, how did you manage to achieve such impressive results there too?"

That was what genuinely puzzled him.

In the modern world, both biological enhancement and powered exoskeletons represented the absolute cutting edge of military technology.

For most companies, achieving a breakthrough in either field would be a monumental accomplishment.

One successful product would be enough to make its creators extraordinarily wealthy.

Yet this company had apparently cracked both.

How?

"Your perspective determines the scale of your achievements, Mr. President."

Olesia didn’t seem troubled by the question.

"Our company established its ultimate objective from the very beginning: to create a truly revolutionary weapon capable of completely transforming modern warfare."

She spoke with complete confidence.

"Yes, biological enhancement is our primary project. That’s largely because it is considerably more difficult and requires more time and resources. Enhancing a human body isn’t as simple as replacing a hydraulic component in a machine."

Her smile widened slightly.

"But if we’re going to achieve our ultimate objective, powered armor is still essential."

Salorathis suddenly joined the conversation.

"Mr. President, don’t you think combining the two would be an even better idea?"

The President swallowed.

"You mean..."

His gaze drifted toward Luthor.

"You intend to have enhanced soldiers wear powered armor?"

"Why not?"

Olesia smiled.

"Humans invented tools and weapons precisely to compensate for our natural limitations. We use them to accomplish things our bodies couldn’t accomplish on their own."

She gestured toward Luthor.

"Enhanced humans are no different. They’re already powerful, but giving them suitable equipment can make them even stronger."

Salorathis nodded toward the warrior standing nearby.

"Take the battle you just witnessed."

"My warrior sent that enemy’s war machine flying twice. That’s certainly impressive, but it still isn’t enough."

She looked at Luthor with a faint smile.

"If he’d been wearing the custom gauntlets designed specifically for him, equipped with high-strength alloy knuckles and jet propulsion, that first punch might have ended the battle immediately."

The President stared.

"So..."

He looked from Salorathis to Luthor.

"That means this warrior wasn’t fighting at full strength?"

The President and his advisers were visibly stunned.

From their perspective, Luthor had already looked like some divine force had descended upon the battlefield.

Now they were learning that he’d essentially been fighting without his proper equipment.

"And the gauntlets you just mentioned..."

"I’m afraid not today, Mr. President."

Olesia offered an apologetic smile.

"Given the special circumstances of this meeting, we didn’t bring those particular gauntlets with us. They can unquestionably be classified as weapons, and we weren’t about to bring something like that through security and onto Air Force One."

"So we can’t demonstrate them today."

"That’s understandable."

The President had immediately become interested in seeing them.

But the more he thought about it, the more obvious the problem became.

There was no chance something like that would make it through Air Force One’s security screening.

Olesia took another sip of water.

"Then, Mr. President..."

She set the glass down.

"Can our company become an official partner of the United States government? Are you able to give me an answer?"

"Well..."

The President scratched his head.

"That will require some discussion. I need to speak with the Cabinet and the Department of Defense. That’s simply the necessary procedure."

He paused.

Then his expression brightened.

"But I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I suspect the procedure will be exactly that: a procedure."

He smiled.

"Who would refuse a partnership with a company as valuable as yours?"

"Then we’ll be looking forward to hearing good news from you once you return, Mr. President."

The Eredar Twins nodded.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the meeting finally came to an end.

The sales pitch had gone exactly as planned.

"How’s it looking up there, Tony?"

The President and his people had survived the demonstration.

The Eredar Twins had successfully completed their pitch.

But not everyone was feeling quite so relaxed.

Far below Air Force One, a yacht drifted across the ocean.

Tony Stark and the others were aboard, watching the situation from a distance and waiting anxiously for word.

Not long before, Tony had used his remote-control system to send his armor toward Air Force One as reinforcements.

Then something had gone wrong.

He’d suddenly lost contact with the suit.

Peggy Carter immediately noticed his expression.

"What happened?"

Tony looked at his aunt.

She was clearly worried.

He hesitated.

"Uh..."

He cleared his throat.

"My armor fell apart."

Peggy stared at him.

Tony gave her an apologetic shrug.

"So I can’t see what’s happening up there right now."

Peggy’s expression went completely cold.

"You’re useless."