Chapter 143: Digging a Big Pit for Ross to Jump Into
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
"Vibranium? A good idea, but also a terrible one. Vibranium is too scarce. It's fine to equip a small Super Soldier team with a little, but large-scale armament is impossible." Ross instantly lost interest when he realized he couldn't acquire the technology.
He was more concerned with the technology Tony possessed. Many in the Military coveted it, but Ross, however, advocated for a more gentle approach, a slow-boil strategy.
"Is there anything else you want to say? If not, then develop another batch of the serum immediately. We need to create more Super Soldiers." Ross waved his hand, preparing to dismiss him.
"No, General. I know a place with an astonishingly large Vibranium Mine. It's been frantically mined for over a thousand years, yet they've only just scraped the surface." Tony bared his white teeth, revealing his wild ambition. "That place is called Wakanda."
"The Kingdom of Wakanda is located in an isolated part of Africa. The natives there have held the Vibranium Mine for millennia, sitting on a mountain of treasure, oblivious to its true worth. We can lead an army to conquer it."
As Tony spoke, on the screen behind him, several more soldiers failed the modification process. They were killed by the violent serum and expertly dragged away. Against this cruel backdrop, every word Tony said seemed to possess a terrifying power, and a strong stench of blood assailed the senses.
"Really?!" General Ross shot to his feet, a look of utter disbelief on his face. A Vibranium Mine? When the hell did Vibranium, a rare and precious metal, ever get described as a 'mine'?
And they'd only scratched the surface after a thousand years of mining?!
This Vibranium Mine could buy the entire United States! Ross, with his sharp political instincts, already sensed a paradigm shift. If this mine was real, it would be the most valuable asset in the world. Oil and diamonds could go to hell.
War was nothing new to the Military. For half a century, to preserve their interests, they had started wars everywhere—Kosovo, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya. They had ravaged all these countries. And that was just the open warfare; no one could say how many backroom deals had truly been made.
The others in the hall were also stunned. They all stopped what they were doing and turned to stare at Tony in an uproar.
Tony sat calmly in his chair, his expression composed, a smile of assured confidence playing on his lips.
"Number One." Ross gave the Super Soldier a look. The Super Soldier immediately began to guard the entrance and exit, allowing no one in or out. Those who had heard the news were also specially isolated by other soldiers who came in.
General Ross's eyes flickered. He slowly sat back down in his chair, his cold and sharp gaze fixed on Tony, tinged with excitement, but even more so with a subtle killing intent.
A Vibranium Mine meant far too much to a globally preeminent, domineering, and violent organization like the Military. They would brazenly go to war for a bit of oil, let alone a Vibranium Mine of incalculable value.
Ross's face adopted an expression of concern and gentleness. "Tell me, my boy, where in Africa is this Vibranium Mine? Also, the Kingdom of Wakanda... I've never heard of it. I need to confirm this."
Tony looked at Ross meaningfully.
The cunning old fox. He didn't ask how Tony knew, but went straight for the location, going straight for the crucial information. Simple and direct.
"There's no rush for the specific location, General. Let's first discuss the division of the spoils," Tony said.
He was going to play a massive trick on this idiot Ross. It would be a cold day in hell before the Military could actually conquer Wakanda. Wakanda's technology was decades ahead of the Military's; their various high-tech weapons would turn the Military into imbeciles, causing them to suffer heavy casualties and losses.
In Wakanda, Energy Weapons are standard issue for everyone. Casually blowing up a few planes and tanks is a standard operation.
"What do you want?" Ross was direct, his eyes locked on Tony. "You are a member of the Military now. As long as I can confirm the truth of your information, I can make the decision to promote you directly to the rank of colonel. Your contribution would be worthy of this honor."
The rank of colonel. Tony smiled. It was a triple jump in rank, and getting promoted couldn't be easier, but unfortunately, his heart wasn't in it at all. He just wanted to use his intelligence to maximize his gains and achieve his goals.
Attacking Wakanda was a massive, inescapable pit. If Ross jumped in, he wouldn't be getting out for the rest of his life. This was a war between entire nations.
Don't be fooled by Wakanda's seemingly naive national defense system, which lacked a complete anti-air network. Despite that, they possessed the most advanced technology on Earth. Wakanda was isolated from the world and had little need for heavy military investment. Even so, a single Wakandan soldier with an Energy Weapon could easily take down a small mechanized unit.
Wakanda's technological superiority was globally top-tier; it wasn't just empty talk.
Black Panther's sister had a mind that was essentially a cheat code, even more prodigious than Tony Stark's. Her weapon development speed alone was faster than that of an entire country. Add to that the inexhaustible Vibranium Mine... If the formidable Military charged in with their aircraft carriers and planes, they might make some progress initially, but they would soon be utterly routed...
The mental image was just too beautiful to behold.
"I want the complete Adamantium manufacturing technology. I also want the right to post-war profit sharing. I want one ton of Vibranium as my payment, and one percent of the annual Vibranium revenue as my share," Tony stated his conditions without a hint of hesitation.
The latter was obviously nonsense; the former was the main point. He didn't just want the technology for limited mass-production of Secondary Adamantium, but also the raw data for True Adamantium—the strongest metal accidentally created by Tony Stark's father.
That piece of True Adamantium had been made into a shield, becoming Captain America's exclusive weapon.
Unfortunately, the manufacturing method was lost to time. Even Tony's father was completely bewildered, having no idea how he had created it. No matter how many times he revised the formula, he could never replicate it.
Tony was ambitious. He hoped to one day restore the technology for True Adamantium and use it to arm his Cybertronians.
He refused to believe that in the future, by gathering the power of an entire planet, he still wouldn't be able to restore a known, albeit incomplete, technology?
"One-thousandth. The most I can give you is one-thousandth of the profits." Ross felt a weight lift from his heart. It was good that he had demands. The more he demanded, the more credible the intelligence appeared. To be honest, the figure of one ton had truly shocked him. Who the hell had ever measured Vibranium in tons?
Besides, being a selfless do-gooder was not Tony's style.
He was the type who wouldn't act without an incentive.
And that was far more reassuring.
General Ross stood up, his face stern and authoritative. "Tell me, Tony, where exactly is that place? If this is true, you will be a hero!"
(end of chapter)