New York.
Rock Technologies.
Conference Room.
"Nolan, you need to make a decision.
Now that Old Rock has passed away, what this company needs is a chairman who can save it, not a boy drowning in grief."
"That's right. Rock Technologies is already in serious crisis. If we don't launch a strong product, in three months no, less than that we'll all be out on the streets."
"Nolan, are you even listening? Nolan…"
The conference room, large enough to seat sixty or seventy people, was packed. Nearly everyone was firing accusations at the teenage boy sitting at the head of the table.
Only one elderly director, kind-eyed and gentle, sat beside him, watching the scene with quiet concern.
"Nolan, you need to give the board an answer," the elder said softly.
At last, Nolan Rock snapped out of his daze.
Another memory lapse.
Ever since he had crossed over into this world, these episodes had been happening again and again. Each time, fragments of the original Nolan's memories fused with his own.
Perhaps it had been the trauma of losing his father, or maybe the aftereffects of a serious illness.
Either way, the truth was clear: his soul no longer belonged to this world.
This time, the missing pieces of memory finally clicked into place.
His father had been killed by accident in a robbery.
Now the company was collapsing, and instead of helping, the board members were circling like vultures, waiting to strike.
For him, it was enemies within and dangers without.
"I understand, Uncle Charles," Nolan said quietly.
This man, Charles, had built the company alongside his father. He was now the only person Nolan could trust.
Their bond was somewhat like that of Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane. Of course, Obadiah had been the exception. Normally, such a relationship was built on loyalty and trust.
Nolan took a moment to gather his thoughts.
Rock Technologies, as its name suggested, was a tech company.
Though it had other businesses, none could influence the company's survival. Years of rigid, outdated strategies had left it trailing behind the times.
The most pressing issue was obvious: they had no flagship product.
If things continued, he would almost certainly be expelled from the board and stripped of his shares.
His memory reminded him of the cause.
Back then, to secure the directors' support, Old Rock had signed a bet-on agreement with them.
If the company ever faced bankruptcy, the agreement would take effect.
Nolan would automatically lose 91% of his shares.
The contract would activate in exactly three months.
It was obvious what the directors wanted: to trap him.
To crush him with pressure, so he couldn't focus on saving the company.
If Rock Technologies failed, they would seize the Rock family's shares, package the company's assets, and sell them off for a hefty profit.
It was an open conspiracy.
But Nolan's lips curved into a smile.
[System Activated]
Host: Nolan Rock
Host Rating: Inferior Carbon-Based Lifeform, Level 0
Current Technology Unlock: Level 0
Mechanical Store: Access Granted
Tech Credits: 334,000
Warehouse: Empty
A simple panel appeared before his eyes.
Seeing the system's evaluation of him, Nolan was speechless.
Not even qualified to be called human?
Still, if it could solve the company's crisis, he could tolerate a little humiliation.
He lifted his gaze to the mocking directors.
Calmly resting his chin on one hand, his eyes glimmered with faint disdain.
That look made the directors frown.
"What if I said I could save the company?" Nolan's voice rang out.
The boardroom burst into laughter.
"Nolan, you know the situation we're in. Anyone can make bold claims. What matters is results."
One director sneered.
The rest exchanged mocking glances.
It was the look of people waiting for a joke to unfold.
Everyone knew Nolan loved tinkering with inventions.
Unfortunately, none of his projects had ever been practical.
And now, with bankruptcy looming, only a groundbreaking product could make a difference. Anything less would be pointless.
Nolan chuckled softly at their expressions.
He leaned forward and pulled a large case onto the table.
The sight of it made several directors frown, though none of them seemed worried.
Nolan opened the case. Inside lay a massive mechanical arm.
Product Name: [Caterpillar P-5000 Power Loader]
Origin: Alien Universe.
Advantages: simple technology, low production cost, high practicality.
Required Tech Credits to unlock full blueprint: 8 million.
For reference, "Tech Credits" were simply U.S. dollars, renamed by the system.
Eight million dollars that was every cent he could muster.
As for his company shares, unless they were converted into money in his personal account, they were nothing more than meaningless numbers.
The original P-5000 Power Loader was enormous, but for today, Nolan had specially modified it.
What he revealed now was a gleaming, silver-plated mechanical arm, sleek and futuristic in design.
He lifted the arm, strapping it onto himself.
It was heavy, but thanks to his regular training, he managed. Otherwise, he would have been stuck presenting blueprints alone.
Nolan scanned the room, his eyes landing on a steel filing cabinet.
He strode over.
Before anyone could react, the mechanical arm gripped the cabinet's edge. With a squeeze, the steel crumpled like paper.
Gasps filled the room.
This was no toy.
This was real.
Even if it was only a part, it was still a working mech.
Nolan spoke evenly.
"This is part of the mech design I've been working on. The full prototype is complete.
Its production cost is only three hundred thousand dollars. Yet it allows a human to lift five tons with ease.
I've named it the K-01 Work Loader."
As the directors gaped, Nolan's gaze swept across them.
"Tell me. Can this save the company?"
Gulp.
He clearly heard the sound of someone swallowing.
One junior director blurted out in excitement:
"O-of course! This can absolutely be our company's flagship! I propose Nolan Rock be appointed the next chairman."
Silence.
The room went deathly still.
The smaller directors' voices didn't matter.
It was the major shareholders who controlled the game.
And right now, every one of them was staring intently at Nolan's mechanical arm.
There was no denying it.
Until today, mechs had been nothing but science fiction.
Now Nolan had made them real.
The profit potential was astronomical.
But none of them wanted to share it with a teenage boy.
Still, Nolan was unaware of their inner schemes.
One by one, they nodded, conceding for now.
After all, with the mechanical arm in play, they no longer had an excuse to kick him out.
Looking at their shifting expressions, Nolan gave a cold snort.
Money-hungry parasites.
Then
Bang!
He slammed the arm down on the conference table, splintering it in two.
The directors stared back at him, some angry, some frightened.
Nolan turned and strode out of the room.
That strike was his warning.
To remind them that he was not always a rational man.