manynovel Chapter 42 Cooperation Proposal
Chapter 42 Cooperation Proposal
In the private lounge area on the top floor of Stark Tower, Chen Haotian stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the dazzling lights of New York City below. In the distance, the Stark Industries Expo venue remained brightly lit, and the cheers of the crowd could be faintly heard. The prosperity of this world and the desolation of the Walking Dead world formed a stark contrast; separated by only a window, they were two completely different universes.
He held a glass of Tony's prized Macallan whiskey in his hand, the amber liquid shimmering under the light, reflecting the deep contemplation in his eyes. Research on void energy crystals had made a breakthrough; the blueprint for the new energy solution, the "Void Core," had been laid out, meaning they held an unprecedented trump card. But Chen Haotian knew very well that a single technological advantage was still weak and dangerous in the face of the infinite possibilities of the multiverse. Power needed a system, and advantage needed to be transformed into absolute strategic control.
Tony pushed open the glass door and walked in, still smelling of the lab's metal and machine oil, but he seemed much more relaxed than before, even humming an unknown tune. He walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass, then slumped onto the leather sofa next to it, letting out a long sigh.
"Jarvis's preliminary simulation results are in. The energy output stability of Scheme Two has improved by at least 400% after adding your energy sensing feedback loop. Chen, your 'intuition' is even more reliable than I thought." Tony swirled his wine glass, a hint of admiration in his voice. "We might really be creating something incredible."
Chen Haotian turned around, his back to the myriad lights outside the window, his facial expression hidden in the shadows, only a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his lips: "A 'Void Core' is indeed extraordinary, but Tony, have you considered that what we're doing right now is merely passively utilizing resources discovered by chance?"
Tony took a sip of his drink, raised an eyebrow at him, and said, "Passive? We're actively designing and creating."
"No," Chen Haotian slowly walked to the sofa opposite him and sat down, leaning forward slightly, his eyes sharp. "We were fishing in a pond, catching a fish we'd never seen before, and then we were overjoyed. But we never thought about why we didn't directly control the entire ocean, or even all the connected rivers and lakes?"
Tony put down his glass, his relaxed expression fading slightly. He sensed the underlying meaning in Chen Haotian's words: "Explain yourself more clearly."
Chen Haotian didn't answer directly. Instead, he pointed his finger in the air, and a barely perceptible wisp of runic energy overflowed, projecting a simple, dynamic star map above the table between him and Tony. At the center of the star map was their Marvel Universe (Earth-199999), and from this point, several rays of light extended, connecting to several blurry points of light.
"In the world of The Walking Dead, we brought back virus samples and void energy crystals. The former may give rise to new directions in biotechnology, while the latter directly drives an energy revolution." Chen Haotian pointed to one of the points of light, which flickered slightly, indicating that it had been explored.
His finger moved, pointing to another point of light that had just been locked onto by the runes, emitting an ominous red glow: "In the world of the Resident Evil movies, according to the information from my runes, the T-virus also exists there, but its manifestations, mutation directions, and even the possible technology tree of the 'Umbrella Corporation' will inevitably differ from the world of The Walking Dead. What can we obtain from it? More efficient biological weapons? More bizarre genetic mutation samples? Or... another form of 'supernatural' energy?"
Then, his finger moved to the third, larger and more colorful but also more dangerous point of light: "The DC Universe, just a fragment of one of its worlds, can trigger a violent reaction in the runes within me. The power of laws, magic system, super technology, and even the concept of divinity it contains, its breadth and depth may far exceed our imagination."
Finally, his fingers traced the other points of light that were yet to be lit, but theoretically endless: "And this is just the beginning. In all the myriad realms, each world is a unique treasure, possessing its own unique physical rules, energy forms, knowledge systems, and resource specialties."
Chen Haotian withdrew his finger, his gaze fixed intently on Tony, his voice steady yet alluring: "Tony, what we're doing right now is like adventurers who've discovered a new continent, hastily picking up some rare treasures each time they land before returning. But what we should really be doing is establishing a 'Research Alliance' that spans across the universe—a strategic organization centered around us, integrating the most cutting-edge wisdom, the most unique resources, and the most powerful forces from different universes."
He paused briefly, allowing Tony to process this astonishing concept, before continuing to outline his vision: "Imagine combining the virology of The Walking Dead with the virus control technology of Resident Evil, then incorporating Marvel's genetic engineering and DC's bio-magic—what kind of life miracles or destructive weapons could we create? And what powerful equipment could we forge by cross-researching Asgard's Uru metal technology, Wakanda's vibranium technology, DC's Kryptonian technology, Green Lantern energy construction, and even materials science from other unknown universes?"
"This is not just about collection," Chen Haotian said, his tone carrying the rigor of a top student and the macro-vision of a high-IQ individual. "It's about systematic knowledge integration and technological explosion. We can establish specialized research groups in different fields, composed of top experts from different worlds, to share data and exchange ideas. We can build a cross-world resource allocation network; a scarce material in world A might just happen to be a common mineral in world B. We can even... formulate cross-universe rules, extending our influence from a single planet or a single universe to these endless myriad realms."
Tony fell silent, leaning back on the sofa, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Chen Haotian's proposal was far too ambitious, far too terrifying. It far exceeded the scope of technological invention or commercial cooperation; it was the planning of an unprecedented, transdimensional empire.
The risks are obvious. Conflicts between different world rules, hostility from unknown civilizations, threats from powerful individuals, and potential power struggles and information barriers within the alliance... each of these could have devastating consequences. Not to mention, the core technology that drives all of this—the time-travel rune—is currently entirely in the hands of Chen Haotian.
But the potential rewards… Tony's heart pounded uncontrollably. As a genius standing at the pinnacle of Earth's technology, he yearned for breakthroughs more than anyone else, for exploring the unknown, for turning the impossible into the possible. Chen Haotian's blueprint was a truly boundless stage, the ultimate outlet for his limitless creativity. Knowledge, technology, resources, power… everything would reach a peak he had never imagined.
"It's tempting, incredibly tempting." Tony finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse. He looked directly at Chen Haotian, trying to see through his half-brother's true intentions. "But this 'alliance' sounds more like an 'empire' centered around you. And what role do I, Stark Industries, and even the other forces in this world play in it? Partners providing facilities, technology, and funding?"
Chen Haotian smiled, a smile that blended the carefree spirit of a wandering rogue with the composure of a cunning schemer: "No, Tony. Co-founder. You are the indispensable other pole. My runes provide the channels and possibilities, while your wisdom, your industrial system, and your organizational capabilities are the cornerstones that turn these possibilities into reality. Without you, I might be a lone wolf traversing countless worlds, but it would be impossible for me to build a true 'Alliance'."
He picked up his glass and gestured to Tony: "We need each other. The core of this alliance can only be the two of us. As for the other members, regardless of which world's elites they come from, they will all be part of this core's leadership. We will share the fruits of our labor, share the risks, jointly set the rules, and jointly... divide the future."
"To divide the future..." Tony repeated the phrase in a low voice, a sharp glint in his eyes. He picked up his glass and lightly clinked it against Chen Haotian's.
The crisp sound of the impact echoed in the quiet lounge.
"I'm interested in this proposal in principle." Tony didn't agree immediately. Years of experience in the business world and his sense of responsibility as a hero made him cautious to the end. "But the specific responsibilities, risk control, profit distribution, and especially the degree of 'sharing' of the time-travel technology, we need to have a more in-depth discussion."
Chen Haotian took a sip of his drink, unsurprised by Tony's reaction. The interplay of interests was part of any cooperation. He nodded, his tone relaxed yet undeniably confident: "Of course. I believe we will reach an agreement that benefits both sides. After all, our goals are the same—to stand at the pinnacle of all realms."
He gazed at the swirling liquid in his glass, as if seeing countless worlds rising and falling within it. The cooperation proposal had been put forward; what followed was the negotiation and weighing of the details. But regardless, the journey to the myriad realms had taken its most crucial step.