**Chapter 233: Collection, Anti-Tang Song Armor**
Every being in the world has their own hobbies.
Some like to sing, some like to listen to others sing.
Some like chaos, some like dragging others into madness with them.
Of course, aside from these extremists, most people's hobbies are actually quite normal.
Just like Boss Tang recently enjoys gardening, petting cats, and planting things.
If you want to be a bit more elegant, then collecting, or rather, 'Collection', is quite suitable.
From this bizarre and colorful world, one seeks eye-catching treasures, then carefully collects those treasures and places them in a specific location, usually in display cabinets.
Wealthy families will set aside an extra Storage Room for their collection items.
Even wealthier families will expand their Storage Rooms, adding some small decorations to showcase their individuality.
Generally, such a place is called a treasure vault.
Yes, similar to the one Odin established in the Golden Palace.
Figures like Odin are already considered the upper echelon of the collecting world.
The things he possesses are things most people have never even heard of, or wondrous items that only exist in legends.
But within the ranks of collectors, they are not yet considered truly top-tier.
Among the vast expanse of Stars, there is a true "Collector".
Although he has only recently risen to prominence in this Universe, anyone who has met him sincerely refers to him as "The Collector".
In short, this city of Stars, located within the skull of a strange creature, became a place of "no exit" after a group of space pirates who stumbled upon it spread the name of Knowhere.
Perhaps due to a severe collecting obsession, the owner of this place, The Collector, announced to the entire Universe.
Any unique, one-of-a-kind item, no matter its origin, appearance, function, or effect, as long as it is truly unique, can be exchanged for a return from The Collector.
Any return! The wealthy Collector seems to possess everything, but for those who dare to deceive him with fakes, or attempt to rob him by force, this mysterious Collector's retaliation is absolutely brutal.
In short, as long as you have genuine goods, you can exchange for anything at Knowhere! Stellarium, precious materials, mysterious knowledge, barter, and some lucky individuals have even exchanged for a complete small fleet here.
Finally, there is information!
Information about the mysteries of the Stars, valuable information, information that can determine the life, death, and future of a Star Zone.
The owner of Knowhere, The Collector, only cares about the collection items he possesses or is about to possess; he doesn't care about the environment or rules of the place at all.
Centered around his needs, a large-scale Black Market quickly formed here.
Not everyone who brings treasures can receive a return from The Collector.
Although The Collector disdains those inferior treasures, there are naturally people of lower taste who covet them. Murder, robbery, clever deception, and other such behaviors are enacted on Knowhere almost every moment.
The generous Collector occasionally issues mercenary orders to search for treasures, so some space mercenaries have also come to this "good place" in groups.
And after a place's reputation becomes bad enough, or rather, after this damned place becomes "free" enough, more guys craving chaos will be attracted.
This is a vicious cycle.
In short, this is a very, very bad place.
A super-large Museum! The huge Room is filled with various glass display cases.
Display cases made of black metal strips and transparent glass, each compartment containing a collection item.
Plants, animals, insects, mechanical creations, and even things like cocoons.
"A unique collection item, the Power Stone!"
The Collector Tivan, with white hair and a rather unconventional hairstyle.
An odd long robe with alternating red and black, adorned with white fluff on the shoulders, wearing white gloves, and strange paint on his chin.
Hmm, at first glance, this Collector doesn't seem like someone you could easily like.
He was filled with an indescribable sense of strangeness. The Collector let out an odd sigh. A gleam flashed in his eyes. Not long ago, he received information about the Orb that sealed the Power Stone.
And he released information, hiring those Ravagers to search for this collection item he desired.
For Tivan, the preciousness of the Power Stone wasn't due to its immense power, but because of its unique attribute in the Universe.
As the best record store in New York, Zhen De Bang Record Store's location was quite remote, and the internal Space was very narrow. However, the various records inside were neatly arranged. The small record store was packed with audiophiles who came to browse.
These record collecting enthusiasts from all over the world moved cautiously, afraid of stepping on the records underfoot.
After all, this record store was indeed small, and records almost filled all the Space within the small shop.
Maybe there were a few pressed under a coin bank beneath their feet.
Star-Lord squeezed among the crowd, occasionally picking up a record, looking at the lyrics on the cover, and couldn't help but hum a few lines softly.
However, from the disdainful gazes of the people around him, it was clear that his singing skills were truly mediocre.
"Boss, do you have any records by the Redbone band?"
After finding a few records, Star-Lord squeezed to the front of the plump white Boss and stated what he wanted to buy.
The Boss looked at Star-Lord with surprise. "Redbone band? That was a band from the seventies of the last century!"
"Wait while I look!"
The Boss took out a small notebook from the desk drawer, flipped through it for a while, then looked up and said.
"There are two in the bottom box of the fourth row!"
Star-Lord walked to the fourth row of shelves where the records were placed, as the Boss had said. After squatting down and searching for a while, he indeed found two records at the bottom of the box.
Just as Star-Lord was holding the records and about to pay, the communicator on his wrist suddenly started beeping.
Star-Lord glanced around, took out a small earbud-like device from the communicator, put it in his ear, and changed the communicator from projection mode to voice mode.
"Star-Lord, where are you? There's a big job!"
After connecting the communicator, a familiar voice came through Star-Lord's ear.
"I'm busy, I have a big job here too, I can't get away!" Star-Lord said, flipping through the records in his hand while dealing with Yondu on the other end of the communicator.
After accepting Boss Tang's employment and receiving the first deposit, Star-Lord no longer cared for Yondu's so-called big business.
What business could compare to purchasing over a dozen Spaceships in one go?
"Heh heh, big job? What big job did you get this time? Helping the Kree find their lost pet, or smuggling your junk?"
On Planet Contraxia in the Milky Way Galaxy, inside a noisy Bar, several robot-like waitresses were carrying trays, delivering cups of murky liquid resembling alcohol to the Guests' tables.
Contraxia, this Planet is a resting stop for various Ravager Tribes. Spaceships occasionally landed from the sky, docking at the space Harbour.
The people inside this Bar were all burly, their temperaments filled with killing intent, and each was equipped with an energy gun.
A Big man wearing a rooster-comb-like decoration on his head laughed, revealing a mouth full of yellowed teeth. Seven or eight Ravagers from various races sat around him.
When they heard Yondu jokingly mocking Star-Lord, several Big men burst into laughter simultaneously.
"Alright! Listen, the employer needs this thing urgently. I need you to go to Planet Morag to find something and bring it back. I'll give you 10% commission this time!"
"10%? I haven't finished the mission I'm currently on, so I won't take this job! Boss, how much are these records? Beep Beep Beep—"
Listening to the sound of the communicator hanging up, Yondu was silent for a moment, then chuckled hoarsely:
"Hahaha, not making money isn't like that kid Star-Lord. He's not tempted by a ten percent commission, he didn't even ask about the commission. Sally, go back to the Spaceship, locate Star-Lord's position. I have a feeling he's definitely got a big money-making business on his hands right now!"
"Okay! Leader, I'll go check right away!" The burly grey-skinned Big man, waving his four arms, downed the alcohol in his cup in one gulp, then got up and walked towards the Bar Exit.
"Leader, what about the Orb mission? Since Star-Lord isn't willing, how about I go?"
A three-eyed person held a wine glass, looked at Yondu, and volunteered.
Yondu glared at him. "No, Bayer, you're not as good as Star-Lord at bypassing security mechanisms. The Orb Temple there only appears once every three hundred years. We don't have many chances to make mistakes!"
Bayer took a big, frustrated gulp of the liquid in his wine glass. Although somewhat unconvinced, he knew Leader Yondu was right.
Among their group of Ravagers, although Star-Lord was the scrawniest, the strange little gadgets he invented were indeed better than everyone else's for studying ancient civilization Ruins.
In the past, they always assigned these ruin exploration and treasure hunting missions to Star-Lord.
Now that Star-Lord had suddenly quit, they truly couldn't find suitable manpower for a while.
Earth, New York, inside Zhen De Bang Record Store.
Star-Lord took a stack of records to the counter, and under the surprised gaze of the plump white Boss, pulled out a black Centurion Card and paid for the records.
When Star-Lord walked out of the record store with a stack of records, Tang Song's figure was no longer outside the door, only two Bodyguards were standing guard outside the record store.
"Mr. Quill, the Boss has some matters to attend to. Would you like to return to your residence now or continue browsing—!"
Star-Lord glanced at the Black-clothed Bodyguard, then looked at the records in his hand. "I need some equipment to play these classic records!"
"Please get in the car, I'll take you there now!"
A Black-clothed Bodyguard opened the Mercedes-Benz Car door and gestured for Star-Lord to enter. While the two Bodyguards were taking Star-Lord around New York,
inside the Living Room of Tang Manor, Tang Song sat on the sofa, holding a thick stack of data.
Kane sat in front of Tang Song with a grim expression. He clenched his fists, making cracking sounds. A faint hidden power echoed in the Living Room, causing people's eardrums to ache.
Someone was plotting against the Boss. He rushed back as soon as he received the information.
On the other side, Lane and Frank were also thoroughly investigating the Organization behind the scenes, digging deep to uncover their roots.
This data in Tang Song's hand was what Frank had investigated through S.H.I.E.L.D.'s channels.
"Boss, no matter what kind of Organization this Freemasons is, I will definitely dig them out," Kane finally said after a long silence.
Picking up a glass of wine, Tang Song took a slow sip and smiled:
"A bunch of clowns, don't take it to heart. However, some rats still need to be cleared out. You handle this matter."
A thick stack of documents was thrown into Kane's hand, and Kane began to read through them.
The data recorded the identities and origins of the Agents who had infiltrated the Tang Group Company's research departments since the company's establishment.
The anti-infiltration investigation results of the Tang Group's Military-Industrial Department's B-Level Research Institute, detailing the process of leaking research data for over fifteen types of weapon equipment below A-Level.
A-Level Research Institute, peripheral Researcher identity identification report. Of those who joined in the past year, over a third of the scientists were spies from various countries and Organizations of influence.
Ten percent of the middle and lower management of the Tang Group's largest current subsidiaries showed signs of being contacted and compromised.
"Boss, I'll immediately mobilize manpower and clean all these people out!" Kane gripped the documents tightly.
Tang Song waved his hand. "Our core strength lies in the A-Level and above Laboratories at the Raccoon City Hive Base. As for the less important things, it doesn't matter if they see them. Cut off the hands reaching towards these Laboratories, and be ruthless!"
"Yes, Boss," Kane said in a low voice. "But the Freemasons clearly want to screw us over! We need to settle this score!"
Tang Song nodded. The Freemasons Organization had indeed overextended itself. Seeing how much he was gaining, the major zaibatsu hiding behind the scenes thought they could use tricks to force him to give up his profits.
That's somewhat interesting.
Tang Song toyed with the wine glass in his hand. The Freemasons were a loose Alliance. Although in West's eyes, they were just a third-rate Organization composed of masons.
However, after developing for several hundred years,
Thanks to the development of industrial capital, the Freemasons, originally composed of craftsmen, have now become synonymous with money and authority.
A bunch of happily hopping fleas, like sharks smelling blood, what they want are the profits from the Space Gate.
Fools blinded by profit, they voluntarily joined forces and controlled roughly eight percent of the world's energy, Mining, public welfare, and economy, and then had the audacity to make a move against him.
They didn't even think about talking to Boss Tang.
Truly courting death! Originally, Tang Song had the mind to play with them,
Unfortunately, they were foolish enough to contact Phil Coulson and Steve Rogers, investigate the so-called death of Nick Fury, and point the finger at Boss Tang. If this isn't courting death, what is?
"Notify Ana and Madame Hydra to cooperate with Black Widow. If Steve Rogers finds any clues, show no mercy, eliminate them!"
"Yes, Boss!"
"How is Project Insight coming along?"
"Forty-nine Micro Formation Satellites have been successively launched into their designated orbits under the name of Starlink, ready to be activated at any time."
"Then let's make an example of this fat guy named Josh and test the effectiveness of these satellites!"
Tang Song shook the documents in his hand that contained photos.
Josh Lamont
Boss of the Federation's largest Mining Company, one of the members of the Federation Freemasons.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., pull up the Original Blueprint for the 'Anti-Dark Skin Armor'."
In the huge manufacturing workshop of the Seaside Villa, Tony, holding a cup of coffee, put on his stylish brown sunglasses and said to J.A.R.V.I.S.
The next moment, a complex and precise blueprint was projected by J.A.R.V.I.S. before Tony and Doctor Reed Richards.
The blueprint for the Alien Armor, constructed with light, was disassembled by Tony's constantly gesturing fingers.
Soon, the large workbench shaped by projected light was covered with parts of strange shapes and unknown uses.
"You call this thing the 'Anti-Dark Skin Armor'?"
Behind Tony, Doctor Reed Richards, the smartest person on the science side in the world, rubbed his chin, wearing a pair of experimental glasses. He examined the virtual parts before him and said to Tony:
"Who is this thing for? If racial discriminators hear this name, they might gather in front of your Stark Tower to protest!"
"Uh, I designed this for that Dark Elf back then. I've been improving it, but unfortunately, I haven't found a method to counter its ability to transform into Dark Mist."
Tony took a sip of coffee, feeling a bit annoyed.
"And Tang, in that Underworld, the strength he displayed was too powerful. Once he's out of control, I can't think of anything that could restrain him, so I need to build a weapon that can counterbalance him."
Iron Man placed the coffee cup on the table. He crossed his arms and said to Reed in the blue-lit Laboratory, "But design can't keep up with change, especially when dealing with monsters that can't be judged by common sense."
Tony rubbed his chin and said, "But it's not without value. I think, after a slight modification, using it to fight that Dark Elf wouldn't be a big problem."
"Slight modification?"
Doctor Reed Richards raised his hands and picked up a functioning core from the virtual workbench before him. He turned the thing's structure over and over, then said suspiciously:
"This isn't a slight problem at all, Tony. We've researched that Dark Elf's combat methods. According to the Asgardian, to fight it, this thing needs a complete modification of over 85% from the inside out."
"Furthermore, according to my preliminary estimate, the finished product after modification will definitely be a behemoth. Hmm, to house so many linked High-Energy Particle Generators, its height would be at least 150 meters, a genuine giant robot."
"Right!"
Tony snapped his fingers. He reached out and patted Reed's shoulder. He said, "If it were a simple job, I would have done it myself. But I called you over, you should understand, right? I need your intellect. To be precise, we'll cooperate. Oh, right, Banner will be here soon."
Iron Man checked the time on his watch and said to Mister Fantastic, "His research on Gamma Rays can help us complete the Weapon System design."
Reed lowered his head, entering a scientist's state. While rapidly modifying the structure of the components in his hand, he said to Tony without lifting his head:
"Honestly, I think everything on Earth is going well right now. All countries are setting their sights on the Stars, reducing warfare and conflict."
Tony, who had also entered work mode, said casually, "It's like a nuclear bomb. We might not use it, but we can't not have it. Honestly, Tang's strength is too great, so great that it makes many people feel unsafe. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you to come help."
During the Convergence of the Nine Realms, Tony Stark witnessed Tang Song obliterating Malekith at the last moment before leaving Svartalfheim.
He was an extremely insecure person, just like Batman from DC next door. After returning to Earth, he began developing the Anti-Tang Song Armor, although nominally it was to deal with energy-based creatures like the Dark Elves.
To develop this powerful armor, he even invited Doctor Reed Richards and several other assistants, which would have been impossible for him in the past.
But Captain recently told him that Nick Fury's death and Black Widow's betrayal seemed related to Tang. Before Nick Fury was assassinated, he had been conducting a secret investigation into Tang.
This forced Tony Stark to accelerate the pace of researching the Anti-Dark Skin Armor.
Excellent scientists are all workaholics; staying up late is a piece of cake for them.
Even Tony Stark, the most unconventional scientist and a playboy, often stayed up late designing various equipment and instruments.
Moreover, when they work, they need a quiet environment without disturbances. Once they enter work mode, the passage of time becomes very fast.
As the sparks of wisdom between the two clever minds constantly rubbed and collided, a night quietly passed just like that.
Amidst the busyness, Bruce Banner also arrived. The tall, thin scientist was wearing denim clothes, a baseball cap, and carrying a rather unfashionable single-shoulder bag.
"Banner, did you go crazy with Betty all last night?"
Tony, with dark circles under his eyes, drank milk and said to his friend with dissatisfaction, "You should have been here 7 hours ago!"
"Betty went to see her dad. General Ross is the Minister of Defense now, and he's about to change terms. It was hard for him to spare some time."
Facing Tony's teasing and dissatisfaction, Dr. Banner didn't get angry. He took out a silver hard drive from his shoulder bag and handed it to Tony, saying:
"I saw the battlegear parameters you sent last night. I completed the blueprint for the matching Weapon System on the plane. It's modified from the blueprint of the Gamma Ray Generator that created the Hulk."
"You guys take a look first. If it needs changes, I'll stay here."
Doctor Reed Richards took the hard drive, pulled up the data, and the three scientists quickly started chatting, discussing various kinds of knowledge that Ordinary People couldn't possibly understand.
Although it was called the Anti-Dark Skin Armor, the three men's goal was actually to develop a battlegear that could contend with Tang Song. This was an unspoken understanding between multiple parties.
"Unfortunately, Ivan Vanko isn't here. Relying on the intellect of just us few, we could definitely manufacture a truly powerful battlegear!"
When Banner spoke, both Tony and Doctor Reed Richards fell silent. The few of them had stayed at the Chitauri Starship Research Center for nearly half a year, and the results they deciphered could be said to have pushed Earth's starship technology forward by a large step.
After spending half a year together, even Tony Stark had to admit that he had his unique insights in the field of weapon R&D.
It's just a pity that he belongs to the Tang Group.
"Here's the data on the Wakandan Variant Vibranium you wanted!" At noon, the three men, who had been busy all night and morning, had lunch.
A young Black Person with dreadlocks came to Tony's Seaside Villa and delivered a Silver Briefcase.
The Princess of Wakanda, and also a research expert in Vibranium Technology.
After lunch, Tony Stark, with the mindset of balancing work and leisure, was preparing to take Doctor Reed Richards and Dr. Banner on his private yacht for sea fishing.
An unwelcome Guest arrived at the Seaside Villa, interrupting their yacht trip.
(end of chapter)