What Zed wanted most was Professor Ryoma Sengoku's intellect, but having the mechanical lifeform version wasn't bad either.
"Professor Ryoma, can you recreate Lockseeds and belts?" Zed asked, looking at the professor earnestly.
Half of Professor Ryoma's face was covered, making it impossible to read his expression. Only his calm voice could be heard:
"The drivers are no problem, but the Lockseeds require the fruit of the Helheim Forest as raw material. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
Zed frowned slightly, then relaxed. He took the Duke Lockseed in his hand, and as if he had thought of something, he also took out the Zangetsu Lockseed from his private space.
"I'll give you Director Takatora's Lockseed as well, Professor," Zed handed over both Lockseeds.
Professor Ryoma looked at the Zangetsu Lockseed, lost in thought, seemingly filled with emotion, and nostalgic for his old comrade.
Even though Professor Ryoma was now a bio-android, the level of technology he possessed was extremely high, perfectly replicating Ryoma Sengoku's soul and emotions.
The Time Driver only inherited the highest control authority of the mechanical lifeforms, and didn't make any changes or adjustments to Professor Ryoma Sengoku.
Professor Ryoma Sengoku was still Professor Ryoma Sengoku.
After putting the two Lockseeds into his lab coat pocket, Professor Ryoma Sengoku nodded to Zed and turned to walk out of the narrow cabin.
Woz welcomed him, "Congratulations, Professor Ryoma Sengoku. You have been favored by the Demon King, and now you can research to your heart's content. The door to truth is already waiting for you."
"Thank you." Professor Ryoma Sengoku wasn't one to be overly sentimental, and quickly emerged from his emotional low.
In the cabin, Zed stood in front of Ivan and thought seriously for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Ivan Vanko, you have three choices now."
"Heh, cough, let's hear them." Ivan had already thrown caution to the wind.
Zed moved even closer to Ivan, holding up three fingers.
"One, work for me. Two, I'll make you a limited edition. Three, I'll drop you off with Tony on the way."
Ivan stared blankly ahead, coughed a few times, and then managed to choke out a few words, "Do it."
Zed didn't say anything more and slowly reached out a hand towards Ivan's neck.
Although Zed himself wasn't particularly intelligent, with the help of Xiajiao and the Professor, Ivan was really just an optional extra. He wouldn't feel the slightest bit of regret if he were to become a limited edition.
Ivan was lifted up by Zed with one hand, completely defying the extreme weight of his Iron Man suit.
Cough, cough, ugh, cough.
Choked by Zed's grip, Ivan struggled to breathe, his face turning red, and his eyes slowly rolling back.
Zed watched coldly as Ivan's life slowly ebbed away, showing no mercy.
After three seconds of silence, Ivan suddenly burst forth with a strong will to live, reaching out and repeatedly slapping Zed's wrist, his legs thrashing wildly.
"Hahaha! Humans are truly interesting! But you've made your choice, there's no chance to start over. It's a limited edition, da!" Zed not only didn't let go, but increased the pressure.
With a crack, Ivan's limbs fell limply.
Zed turned to Professor Ryoma Sengoku and laughed: "Sorry, Professor, I took a little longer."
Professor Ryoma Sengoku shook his head:
"It's alright."
"Then let's return, Woz." After saying this, Zed waved his hand and returned home.
Colonel Rhodes brought Tony back to Pepper. Tony had already taken off the Mark VI Armor, as it was completely wrecked.
Pepper, though she never liked Tony's Iron Man identity, knew the armor was a symbol of safety in dangerous situations. "Tony, where's your suit?"
Tony looked awkward, unsure whether to tell Pepper he'd been defeated by a red mechanical dragon.
While Tony hesitated, Pepper exclaimed, "Not again! What are you hiding from me this time? Like when you hid that you were dying?"
Tony, a veteran when it came to flowers and a master of the dating game, was always a bit clumsy around Pepper, completely losing his usual suave demeanor.
But at that moment, Tony managed to regain a bit of his playboy charm, pulling Pepper into his arms and holding her tight, regardless of her struggles.
With Aunt Rhodes's smile, they reconciled, embracing each other deeply.
But the arrival of Natasha and Happy interrupted their moment of bliss. "Ivan Vanko was taken by Zed?"
"Whoa!" Rhodes stared at Natasha's torn dress.
Tony, looking serious beside Pepper, extended his hand and shook Natasha's:
"I apologize, Agent Romanoff. Ivan Vanko was indeed taken by Zed."
Tony put extra emphasis on the words "Agent Romanoff."
Natasha didn't bother with Tony's emotional issues and pressed on:
"Did Zed say anything when he took Ivan?"
"No, unless you count unleashing a mechanical dragon and beating Tony up," Rhodes chimed in, opening the War Machine helmet.
Tony was exasperated:
"Rhodes, do you believe I'll change all your War Machine sound effects to Barbie dolls!"
Before Rhodes could respond, Pepper spoke up, "What! A mechanical dragon? Beat up Tony? Aren't you guys friends?"
"Uh," Tony really didn't know how to answer.
Pepper turned to Natasha:
"Natalie, or rather, Agent Romanoff, who exactly is this Zed Oleg?"
Natasha blurted out, "A hedonist. Extremely dangerous, but not interested in ordinary people.
You don't need to worry about that, Ms. Potts. As for Stark, you can see for yourself."
Pepper understood Natasha's meaning after seeing Tony's disheveled state, but she was still worried, as she was just an ordinary person.
Tony comforted Pepper and drove away from the expo. Rhodes and Natasha, representing the military and S.H.I.E.L.D respectively, couldn't leave yet.
They had a lot of work tonight, such as interrogating Justin Hammer.
Justin Hammer was nominally an important partner of the US military, but everyone in the circle knew that he was just a sycophant.
And such a sycophant was the first to take Ivan Vanko away. Justin Hammer's competitors included, but were not limited to, the US government, the US military, the FBI, the CIA, and S.H.I.E.L.D.
No one believed there wasn't something fishy going on.
"Justin Hammer! Talk! Who's behind you? Who helped you take Ivan Vanko?"
"If you don't cooperate, we're sending you to prison. You know, with the soap."
"See this serum? It's called Truth Serum. One shot, and you won't have any secrets left."
The heads of numerous organizations were bombarding Justin Hammer with questions, but Justin Hammer genuinely had no idea what they were talking about.
Justin Hammer hadn't thought that far ahead. He just got a whim, made a call, and arranged for the personnel. Taking Ivan Vanko was that easy.
Justin Hammer had always been the head of Hammer Industries; nobody had ever ordered him to do anything.
But someone had indeed been secretly monitoring Justin Hammer, greenlighting his actions every step of the way.
And this person was exceptionally clean, leaving no trace. No matter how they investigated, they couldn't find anything on this individual.
While the heads of these departments were working tirelessly, Malik in Washington D.C. spat in disgust.
"Good for nothing, useless."
After the two Time Demon Machines returned to Genm Corp, Kuroto Dan, Skye, and Shin were already waiting.
Kuroto Dan, seeing Professor Ryoma Sengoku in a white coat following Zed, asked curiously:
"Who is he?"
Zed considered his words, then introduced:
"Professor Ryoma Sengoku, the developer of the Sengoku Driver and the Genesis Driver. He's an excellent scientist."
Kuroto Dan's eyes darted around, and he leaned back slightly:
"Sengoku Driver, Genesis Driver? Can they compare to my Gamer Driver and Buggle Driver?"
Professor Ryoma Sengoku was also a proud man, and he couldn't stand Kuroto Dan's arrogant tone. "Why don't we just try it and see?"
Both men's eyes flared with killing intent, and before Zed could intervene, they had both transformed.
Genesis-Duke versus Buggle-Dangerous Zombie.
"Let me show you my god-like talent!"
"Hmph! I am the one who will create a god!"
"Shut up!"
"Nonsense!"
Boom! Bang! Swoosh! Aaaah!
Zed had expected a fierce battle, but it quickly devolved into a shouting match, and finally, a philosophical wrestling match.
Watching the two geniuses on the ground, still bickering while explaining their philosophies, Zed felt speechless.
If Kuroto Dan pulled out the God Maximum Mighty X Gashat, Zed would immediately pull these two apart. But instead of fighting, they were more focused on arguing, trying to intellectually defeat each other.
Zed even took a nap, and it wasn't until much later that the two finally collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
Zed dragged the bruised and battered Professor Ryoma Sengoku to a vacant laboratory.
"How is it? Do you need any equipment, Professor?"
Professor Ryoma Sengoku examined the lab and then asked Zed:
"Your Majesty, I cannot create Lockseeds in the short term. So, what do you need me to do for you?"
Zed smiled, circling Ryoma. "Professor, your body was created with extraterrestrial, high-level technology. Can you analyze this technology?"
"Understood. Those aliens are heading toward a fusion evolution where one is all, and all is one. All knowledge is shared, not just the manufacturing methods for the bio-robotic units." Professor Ryoma Sengoku replied with considerable confidence.
Hearing Professor Ryoma Sengoku's response, Zed was naturally overjoyed. Zed patted Professor Ryoma Sengoku on the shoulder and continued:
"I need you to compile all of this alien technology to strengthen the company's overall capabilities.
Don't hold back on enhancing anything you can, including Demon Machines, AI, and weaponry. Also, there's a very important project I need you to lead."
"What project?"
"The Great Demon Machine!"
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)