March 26, 2024
"This... might actually be a kind of fossil fuel."
"Fossil fuel?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. Generally speaking, the highest-grade fossil fuels are used in aerospace applications, and their data is relatively easy to find.
Dr. Otto nodded, and it was clear he was equally surprised.
"Strictly speaking... I can't be absolutely sure. But the residue shows a very high hydrogen-to-carbon ratio, and there are a lot of hydrocarbon compounds."
"Just that one trait?"
That's not much to go on.
If it truly were a fossil-based fuel, there should also be traces of sulfur, nitrogen compounds, and metallic trace elements like nickel and vanadium.
With technologies like infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, one can observe the molecular structure, and the absorption peaks at specific wavelengths should closely match those of known fossil fuels.
Dr. Otto nodded again, looking a bit troubled. "Actually... those hydrocarbon compounds? They're practically nonexistent in any published paper.
They seem like entirely new compounds—complex, and extremely energy-dense.
The spectroscopic analysis results are even weirder. You should take a look."
All kinds of spectral tests showed that the fuel's absorption peaks, for the most part, overlapped with those of existing fossil fuels.
If you saw this material in person, it would probably look impossibly black.
A completely new compound isn't too far-fetched, especially in a cyberpunk world—
Take Alcohol-2, for instance: a substance with the same formula as ethanol but capable, under specific catalysts and reagents, of producing more energy than ethanol fuel—surpassing even traditional fossil fuels.
High-performance Alcohol-2 can be used in rockets, and the cyberpunk world has already used this fuel to establish space colonies.
But what followed in the spectroscopic data was outright bizarre— In a very narrow wavelength range, light passing through the material couldn't be detected at all, at least not above the system error threshold of ±0.002 absorption units.
That result...
Leo looked up at Otto, who wore a very grim expression.
If this material truly completely absorbed light at that wavelength, It would mean it behaved like a black body at that range. That's not scientifically possible!
"This isn't scientific," Otto echoed what Leo was thinking.
"But we've swapped instruments, even changed analysis sites.
My guess is that this bizarre behavior is what gives it its extraordinary properties. Judging by the numbers, its energy density far surpasses hydrogen fuel. I'd say...
Only nuclear fuel might be able to outperform it."
Leo said nothing. He simply stared at the full report.
The fuel recovered from the Vulture Suit was just residual traces.
The primer extracted from the Death Trooper's bullets was clearer, but even that was only marginally more concentrated.
Spectroscopy showed this second sample had a wider absorption spectrum—meaning even greater energy density.
Maybe that meant the creator of the material was improving their technique.
Otto continued, "This stuff is extremely complex. Apart from its ridiculous performance, we know nothing about it.
Reverse engineering? Not a chance."
Leo stood up from his seat and sighed.
"…But in my vision for the future, the energy sector is the next frontier we must conquer."
Thud thud.
In the adjacent lab, a small wind tunnel device hummed away.
Dr. Toombs was still running tests on the turbofan components.
Hearing this last comment, he suddenly approached the glass wall and knocked twice.
His voice came through the speaker system from behind the glass.
"If someone else had said that, I'd have smacked them on the head—but you, kid—I think you're right!"
"Now I understand why those guys at the Pentagon are so obsessed. Time to find a different approach and slap them in the face with it!"
Dr. Toombs wasn't stupid.
Fossil fuels and oil wars—they clearly go hand in hand.
The fuel that the Osborne Group presented definitely came from someone else. And whoever that was, they had to be tied to this oil war, no matter who they are.
Dr. Toombs finished speaking and returned to the control console to continue testing the new components.
Leo chuckled and resumed his conversation with Dr. Otto.
"Dr. Toombs isn't wrong."
"Then I guess we only have one option."
Leo nodded slightly, a string of potential scenarios and future strategies flashing rapidly through his mind.
"There really aren't many choices... But—let's head to Africa. Solar energy's technically nuclear, too. Let's start by cracking solar power."
Dr. Otto froze, caught off guard by Leo's unexpected response.
Wasn't the logical next step atomic energy? Why suddenly jump to solar power in Africa?
BOOM!
Suddenly, a loud bang erupted from the neighboring wind tunnel lab. Dr. Toombs stood by the small wind tunnel, now belching black smoke, face dark with frustration.
"Leo! This wind tunnel is garbage! I need a bigger one!"
"That can be arranged," Leo nodded. "We'll fund a new one for you—in Africa."
[Little Octopus: Boss, Mr. Castor is ready.]
After a few more quick instructions to the two doctors, Leo headed for the adjacent cybernetic lab.
Frank had obtained combat footage from his comrade, Gunner—evidence enough to deal a serious blow to the arms dealers in Congress.
In the lab, Frank had removed his exoskeleton and switched to a more standard set of external prosthetics.
Gunner stood beside him, looking extremely alert, clearly wary that Frank had merely traded one powerful handler for another.
To him, it was all just being used to fulfill someone else's agenda.
But Frank was full of enthusiasm. For him right now, who he worked for depended solely on who could provide a better life—or even a chance at survival—for him and his family.
Besides, Leo had promised: after this operation, veterans who had lost limbs would receive free prosthetics.
Next to Frank stood a man with a scruffy beard and the ragged look of a vagrant—
If Leo had passed him on the street, he'd have thought the guy was homeless.
But the way this man looked at Leo—it was like seeing a savior.
"Boss!"
"You're looking sharp," Leo said, patting Frank on the shoulder.
Though Frank was a head taller, so the gesture looked a bit awkward. Leo turned to the scruffy man.
"And who's this?"
The man replied excitedly, "I'm David Lieberman! I-I… I used to work at the NSA. NSA analyst. I—"
Frank gave Lieberman a reassuring pat on the shoulder and turned to Leo.
"Boss, this case runs deep. We've got plenty of witnesses, and the evidence is rock solid."
Leo looked at Frank's confident expression but was thinking of something else entirely:
How come there's a David in this universe too?
Just as he was about to speak, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He looked at the screen—it was the Governor calling.
This scene made Lieberman instantly recall when his own superior once received a similar call.
He had been just as confident then, thinking he was about to crack open a major scandal—only to find he'd stumbled onto something involving the CIA.
The NSA leadership and CIA turned out to be two sides of the same coin.
He had no choice but to fake his death, living in hiding for years, waiting for the truth to be exposed so he could return to his family and prove he wasn't a traitor.
The eerie similarity of this moment triggered his PTSD—sweat broke out on his forehead.
But Leo hung up the call without hesitation and said:
"With the evidence and confidence we have, what in the world could stop us from exposing the truth?
Get ready for court—the whole world will know the outcome."