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Silent City.
Between transmissions.
The dazzling light of the dimensional rainbow bridge continued to brew, and finally, in a dazzling light, two huge mechanical devices, which still seemed large enough even after being compressed by the space device, were transmitted over.
Countless light waves and rays scanned back and forth on the transmitting device at the same time, starting to collect and analyze information data.
If you go to another civilization, and assuming your civilization level is higher than theirs, how do you package up their massive amount of technical information and send it back?
Infinite storage disk?
To put it in a creative way, as long as you are within the same underlying logical rules, you only need one stick from that civilization.
What if it's a different universe?
Luke chose to move the other party's laboratory and creations back in their entirety.
The Silent City began a high-power operation mode. One space gem after another was connected and activated, and one space bubble after another was formed during the transmission.
The space between the transmission lines had become crowded due to the huge machinery being used to transmit the information, but it became spacious again due to the effect of the space bubbles.
Those huge devices and disassembled machinery were swallowed up by the space bubbles one by one, and then transformed into floating soap bubbles, floating between teleportation.
A hunchbacked, gray-haired old man directed the floating mechanical squids, meticulously arranging the bubbles and labeling them with sequence information. He also had to fine-tune the energy level and size of the bubbles.
In the square outside, people from various planets and dimensions who were stationed here to do business were looking at the brilliant lights in the sky, feeling inexplicably excited and nervous.
They all knew that only a fully operational Dimensional Rainbow Bridge could create such a massive energy commotion and magnificent spectacle in Silent City. With such frequent activations and the Dimensional Rainbow Bridge operating at full power, it was clear that Silent City was making another major move.
Their city lord and the people behind the energy bank had clearly reaped another bountiful harvest. This was undoubtedly a good thing for them, as Silent City was the transit center and core of everything. Those harvested from other universes and worlds, after thorough research, would be transformed into various products and technologies for limited circulation outside. As the saying goes, those who are close to the water get the moon first. Those who own shops or have been stationed in Silent City for a long time would naturally be the first to reap the benefits.
The Silent City is no longer an unknown building in a remote corner of the universe. Its Mingcheng has even been expanded at least three times, and the fourth expansion is already in preparation and bidding.
Every civilization, big or small, has an office in the Mingcheng of Silent City, a place similar to an embassy. Surrounding it are one or two shops of varying sizes, used for product display.
This place has become the intersection of major civilizations.
As for the Dark City, it was relatively closed, open only to a select few and limited groups. While the Dark City was still technologically advanced compared to the Bright City, everyone within it viewed it as a hub of mystical power.
After all, the strange creatures and dimensional creatures here alone are enough to open one's eyes. It's like a gathering place for all kinds of mythical creatures, angels, demons, dwarves, gods, elves, and wizards.
There are also rare and mysterious items rarely found in the Bright City. At least one wealthy Midgard tycoon, Stark, likes to browse the Dark City through the data dimension whenever he has time, shopping for upgrades for his hobby.
Unlike the Starks of other universes, Tony now possesses not only the technological Mark suits he already possesses, but also a series of magical Mark suits, as well as hybrid suits. Suit types like the Asgard and Nine Realms suits, while not necessarily part of a single category, are nonetheless considered collector's editions, much like the Spider-series he created for Peter Parker.
There was no way around it. The cost of the Tech Edition was fine for now, but the other versions were too expensive for Stark to afford. Faced with the overwhelming array of materials in the Data Dimension, he had to admit that his money was truly limited, and every penny he spent needed to be carefully calculated.
The main concern was materials. These mysterious materials, sourced from various universes and dimensions, were scrambled for by various factions as each one came into circulation. While Stark and his colleagues had inside access, Luke, a profiteer, wouldn't be so generous as to give them away for free or sell them at a 50% discount. Every large purchase required Stark to spend all of his hard-earned new currency, and he would often even exchange his and Dr. Banner's latest technologies for funds to cover the shortfall.
There was no way around it. Seeing all those different materials, he always had an irresistible desire to research and purchase them. For him, restraining himself from buying them would be worse than death.
So Stark still sometimes missed his uncle Obadiah! Even though he wanted to kill him, the time when he was in charge of money and affairs was indeed his most comfortable time. They worked well together. Stark provided the technology, and he was responsible for selling it and converting it into money. If he were still around, he might work better with him.
Of course, this was just a moment of nostalgia. Pepper actually did quite well in this regard. While she lacked Obadiah's smooth, ruthless tactics and calculations, she handled the company's affairs with impeccable efficiency. And most importantly, Pepper and Sandra of Hebron had a close relationship, so close they were practically on the verge of kicking each other out and living together with their children.
Stark was able to obtain all the purchasing rights and low-interest loans for non-public materials because his wife was a close friend of the hostess of Heberon. This made Stark feel a little embarrassed at times.
So in order to maintain his self-esteem and some other factors, Stark had to return to his old job.
Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. once made an offer to Stark and wanted to pay him a salary. Stark said arrogantly at the time that you can't afford my salary.
But things are different now. Although SHIELD is heavily in debt and has been thrown one debt business after another by Luke and the bigwigs of the Energy Bank, as a subsidiary of the Energy Bank, it has many businesses and new currency resources.
Stark Industries is one of the giant companies that S.H.I.E.L.D. works with, responsible for developing and producing customized equipment for the agency. As the driving force behind Stark Industries, Stark, after some subtle prodding, finally managed to secure a lucrative position as a technology consultant from Nick.
As Nick was under great debt pressure, he would certainly not let Stark and other technical consultants draw salaries without working. Almost immediately after signing the contract, he assigned them numerous research tasks.
S.H.I.E.L.D. now has a vast array of operations. With the support of various nations, it has expanded into a truly enormous entity. It's no exaggeration to say it possesses all the rights and responsibilities of a nation. However, it has no citizens and is not accountable to them. Its power even surpassed that of other official agencies at one point, leaving generals like Ross envious.
Of course, Nick also paid a lot of benefits for this, such as the technology inherited by SHIELD from Hebron, some [benefits] of the Energy Bank, and most importantly, the taxes on the new currency.
Officials from various countries are now counting on S.H.I.E.L.D. to receive a stable income from the new currency. As long as Nick Fury doesn't cross this red line, all kinds of support will continue.
The profits earned by giants like Stark and Osborn from SHIELD orders were also subject to a tax. Even earlier, the official council, under Captain No, had once considered confiscating all new currency paid to these giant corporations and converting it into real-world currency. However, as soon as rumors of this were leaked, these giant corporations united and launched a fierce counterattack.
Everyone knew the new currency had greater purchasing power and was also more scarce! It could be exchanged for any currency at any time, and could purchase items from Heberon and most other cosmic civilizations. But what could real money be exchanged for? Did they seem like someone who needed real money?
What they lack is new currency!
During that period, there were meetings and arguments, big and small, that lasted for four to five months, an average of one every day. The two sides were on the verge of a complete breakdown.
Aside from meetings and arguments, there were also endless small actions going on behind the scenes: one day a big shot was investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned; the next day another big shot committed suicide at home.
Even if the official parliament wanted to use the military to make an example of someone, facing the open security team of at least a hundred people, all equipped with extraordinary weapons, and various mutants recruited in advance, after a secret confrontation, they all withdrew in disappointment.
This more intense confrontation resulted in giants like Osborn abandoning everything for in-depth cooperation. They assembled an army with super-equipped equipment and mutant mercenaries. The two sides were at loggerheads, and the situation was so bad that it seemed to be on the verge of breaking out.
The upper echelons were in chaos, and everyone was in danger. Ultimately, faced with the powerful counterattacks and refusal to cooperate from the major powers, the parliamentary officials, realizing this approach was untenable, had no choice but to give in under the guise offered by Nick. If the confrontation continued, no one would be able to control the situation, and order would collapse.
After some [calm and friendly] negotiations, the official parliament and giant companies such as Osborn reached a consensus. After each side made a concession, S.H.I.E.L.D. continued to spend the new currency, but in return it received harsh new currency taxes.
This situation has been common since the Energy Bank was established, but this time the momentum and confrontation were particularly large. For example, when faced with external forces, giants like Osborne would naturally form a group depending on the situation, but when competing for internal orders, the major giants would also fight fiercely first.
The most intense, even resorting to extreme tactics, is in the early stages. Orders are scarce, and the competition for each one is fierce. Because it affects your bottom line. You can't just change careers and keep paying Heybollen's expensive consulting fees and machine loans every day, only to find no orders.
So what are they trying to achieve?
During that time, Nick was so blocked from entering his office that he couldn't leave for food or sleep. When he needed to leave for important matters, he'd even ask one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s wizard consultants to open a portal. Once he was done, he'd have the wizard open a portal to teleport back.
Now, the major corporations are even more generous. With the expansion of the Energy Bank's territory, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s business has also begun to expand. The Nine Realms War and the Civilization War—these two major orders—made the Council and the major corporations lavish and lucrative. Naturally, no one cares about the small profits they made back then. Even these giants have become disdainful of these minor scrambles, generously allocating them to lower-tier companies.
Of course, if these second-tier companies want to get a ticket to join, they must at least contribute enough stocks and positions, and they must also take out loans to purchase the extraordinary machines that these giant companies have eliminated after upgrading, and pay expensive labor consulting fees and service fees.
Harsh conditions?
If you don't want to join, there will be a replacement immediately.
The giants never worried about this. After all, they had to get their money back for what they had invested in Heybolt, right? The obsolete equipment wasn't broken; it was still a top-notch manufacturing machine, wasn't it?
After opening up the multiverse and incorporating and expanding the Time Administration, this huge cake almost stunned the entire S.H.I.E.L.D., the Board of Directors, and the giants.
The Time Administration has recruited numerous mutants as mercenaries and placed orders with S.H.I.E.L.D. for numerous specialized equipment. Heberon has also updated its technology purchase list, targeting the Time Administration's orders.
So this time, SHIELD got a large order from the Energy Bank and applied for loan authority from the bank. When competing for the order, the order included the corresponding manufacturing equipment price and loan authority.
In order to win this huge order that could fill up all the giants, Osborne and other companies tearfully handed over most of their hard-earned profits as purchase costs, and applied for a large loan from the Energy Bank to purchase various manufacturing equipment to match the orders.
The Energy Bank had taken on a significant portion of its loan business, allowing Heberon to earn a wave of substantial and sustained profits, ushering in a period of prosperity for the Council and S.H.I.E.L.D. Although the giants were burdened with another heavy layer of loans, they had acquired new technology, and over time, this order would allow them to recoup their investment and generate profits.
Even because of the increase in orders, more companies and people are able to participate in this order feast, and the new currency is no longer something that can only be earned and owned by a few forces and a few people.