[TN: Three chapters, one for missing friday and an extra one just because I feel like it.]
Leo liked young people with drive.
Wait, he was only eighteen, and Frank was thirty-eight.
Seeing this, everyone's lingering doubts were swept away, replaced by complex emotions about the uncertainty of the future.
Leo had painted them a very big picture.
But how could one develop on unfamiliar land and accomplish such a feat?
Naturally, there was some unease.
Leo smiled and gave Frank a thumbs-up. "Not bad. First, we need to solve the security problem."
In Leo's eyes, Africa was a land of opportunity, but that didn't mean its people were all friendly.
"I'm planning to register a private military contractor over there."
A sensitive phrase—very sensitive.
After all, Leo had always been clear about his anti-war stance. The fact that he was now going down this path surprised everyone.
Truthfully, Leo was conflicted about it too.
Although Wakanda promised to back him politically, it couldn't resolve the security issues.
The African Union was already struggling to resist surrounding warlords with all its might. Domestic law and order were a mess—Somalia, for example—
That country was still under the rule of armed factions. Its GDP had been shrinking for years, and robbing passing ships was practically considered normal.
It was even seen as a viable occupation.
Wakanda's internal security was decent, but Wakanda was an extremely isolated country. They couldn't just dive in and shut themselves off from the world.
Grim images of the region's situation played on the screen. Everyone fell silent.
New York was indeed a land of freedom. Before the Blume Corporation's ctOS was rolled out, even Hell's Kitchen could have machine gun fights.
But those were street-level brawls. Africa was dealing with full-scale, real conflicts.
The good news was that, while chaotic, Africa's conflict intensity wasn't very high. The most dangerous weapons were outdated tanks and missiles from the Middle East. Personnel quality was generally low.
Leo wasn't going there to wage war. Martin's Inner Demon Gang just needed a bit of equipment upgrading to handle security duties.
As for elite fighters like Frank, if Leo wanted, they could take down a few warlords easily.
"This private military contractor's primary business will be protecting our production facilities. But honestly, I've already foreseen that once our industries take off, the international community will accuse us of economically colonizing Africa."
"I've already discussed this with Wakanda's king. While we're essentially providing aid, that's how it's going to be perceived."
"The company will be divided into two parts. One will be Inner Peace Security's original business: protecting core production assets and maintaining basic order."
"The second part will require strong emergency response capabilities. Frank, you'll handle that."
"You can recruit your old comrades, disabled veterans—whoever you see fit."
"Our first headquarters will be in Tanzania. According to the contract, we can purchase land near Dar es Salaam at a very low price.
But aside from land, there's nothing else there. Worse, there may be hidden terrorist groups. So—Frank, that part is on you."
Leo projected intelligence from the African Union onto the screen.
The terrorist group even had a creative name: Savannah Liberation Front.
Everyone's expressions were a bit strange—what a righteous-sounding name.
Leo shrugged. "That's how it is over there—liberation this, equality that. This group's mission is to cut off Tanzania's external connections and restore theocratic rule."
"As for the name, they probably got it from some arms dealer. According to reliable sources, they may also be involved in human trafficking."
"Take care of them, and then we'll transport power generation equipment through Dar es Salaam.
We'll have to work hard—at first we'll rely on wind and solar power, and set a new power supply standard."
"I have a solution."
Leo took a hard drive out of his pocket. Everyone in the conference room suddenly stared wide-eyed—
"Uh… it's just normal wind and solar data."
The data came from tens of thousands of people using various power solutions in the Wasteland under Adcado's rule.
Generally speaking, wind and solar energy weren't cutting-edge technologies, but Adcado's data had the advantage of being practical and diverse.
If a reliable power grid could be established here, it could also be applied in the Wasteland.
"You sure?" Dr. Otto and Dr. Toomes asked in unison.
"I'm sure—really. It's just data that might help with design."
Leo handed the hard drives to his researchers, to be further developed by those two experts in mechanical and energy fields.
"Just some data?" Otto and Toomes exchanged a doubtful glance. Did "just some" data really need such a large hard drive case?
Ignoring them, Leo continued: "In the short term, our business here must continue. Michael, how's the prosthetics system going? And how's your body?"
Michael now looked more "robust." After dismantling the Death Warrior components, all that remained was a skeletal prosthetic just barely keeping his brain alive.
Yes, only his brain and half of his face were still fully his. The rest of his body had been completely cybernetically replaced.
That skeletal frame was now filled with more motors and batteries. The outer shell had been redesigned, and with clothes on, it was hard to tell his body was mechanical.
He pulled a chip from his neck.
"It's done. Our current prosthetic production line can now cover limbs, spinal replacements, and some supplementary micro-muscles.
There's actually a pretty wide range, but it's all integrated into the operating system."
[Advanced Prosthetics Research Lab Result: NexusOS Foundation 1.0]
[Description: A fully self-developed prosthetic integration system compatible with all first-generation in-house prosthetics. Masterfully controls micro-motors with 30% higher efficiency than average test builds.]
[Developers: Michael Collins, Professor Connors]
[Rewarded Tech Points: 500]
[Current Tech Points: 9500]
The first-gen prosthetics were based on brain-machine interfaces, using large numbers of micro-motors combined with intricate mechanical structures for a bionic effect.
While they looked high-tech, they were still relatively crude—just mechanical limbs and exoskeletons.
The sensors weren't that refined, and the experience lagged far behind premium custom prosthetics.
As for the test version—it was a patchwork OS Leo made in the Cyberpunk world. Over there, prosthetics from different companies were nominally compatible, but had to handle all sorts of illegal DIY implants.
Only someone like Leo, proficient in many technologies, could make it work. Most black clinics just connected some wires and hoped for the best. With the wrong doctor, neural dysfunction was the norm.
This OS could be ported back to the Cyberpunk world with minor tweaks, giving first-gen prosthetics a major software upgrade.
"Not bad," Leo nodded. "What about the second-generation prosthetics?"
The second-gen models would include embedded structures, intelligent microprocessors, and enhanced organ functions.
Connors looked at Peter, who organized his notes. "The lizard serum experiments for animal organ cultivation have succeeded. We'll begin human organ cloning soon. I don't think there'll be issues."
"Then research progress will ramp up quickly." Michael was excited. Being trapped in a mechanical body meant he had lost many sensations that biological tissue once gave him.
This full-body prosthetic felt more like a coffin sustaining his brain. Sensory feedback was vague at best. Most people would've gone mad long ago.
The third-generation prosthetics were planned to simulate peripheral nerves and deliver vivid sensory systems, making him feel more human again.
But first, the second-gen had to be completed.
In the end, all of this still required money.
Leo turned to Hammond: "Any funding problems?"
Hammond chuckled and set down his tablet. He had already sketched out a budget. "This? Boss, I think you're underestimating our profitability.
Instead of worrying about money, worry about how fast we can build. Basic infrastructure takes time."
Cement needs time to set. Steel takes time to smelt. Workers need time to build.
Turning an empty lot into a futuristic city requires money, tech, and time.
"That's why we must spare no expense. And we still have plenty of new tech we haven't brought to the civilian market."
Leo took out a small tube of refined spider-silk catalyst. The mechanical tentacle at his waist drew out a line of cement.
The little octopus picked up the concrete pouring gun by the wall, absorbed the cement, and poured it into the mold next to the bucket.
Normally, cement needs time to set and cure.
"Every bit of time must be shortened. Some technologies aren't just useful for special operations—for example, this one.
I'm guessing you're all familiar with this spider silk with insane tensile strength."
Everyone nodded. Leo had used it when rescuing Dr. Toomes, and Spider-Woman had been using it to uphold justice around the city.
Peter instantly understood what Leo was getting at, as if a door slowly opened in his mind.
The little octopus inserted a vibration rod into the cement. Leo added a solvent into the rod—
Then something miraculous happened. When the little octopus pulled the rod out, the cement that normally would have taken days to cure rapidly hardened. The octopus's arm immediately switched to a hammer.
Bang.
The crisp sound struck a chord in everyone's heart.
"The strength will exceed the standard within 16 hours. The spider silk solution significantly speeds up the construction process. All we need to do is equip the workers with civilian-grade construction exoskeletons, safety devices, and tools."
There aren't many heavy machines in Africa, but there are plenty of people.
Leo's approach was incredibly thought-provoking. Most of those present had never considered these kinds of "small details."
Until now, Peter had often fantasized about swinging through the air like a spider, helping New Yorkers with his webs.
But in reality, the streets of New York were full of homeless people—he couldn't possibly help them all.
Perhaps they were homeless for different reasons, but lacking a home was the common thread.
At that moment, he suddenly imagined himself building houses with the spider silk solution, providing shelter for the cold and poor.
So Peter quickly raised his hand: "Actually, during my experiments with spider silk, I discovered a way to increase its conductivity. It could reach the level of silver wire, but the cost is significantly lower than copper wire."
Leo smiled and returned to the table. "If any of you have similar ideas, you're welcome to apply for funding to experiment.
Although I suspect such small innovations don't require geniuses to come up with them—these details can be left to other employees.
Now then—let's get to work, everyone."
The grand vision, the short-term goals, and the demonstration were all in place. The unease about the future immediately turned into a clear sense of purpose.
It really was time to start working.
Hammond raised his hand. "So... we're heading to Africa now?"
Leo's expression turned serious. "No. Frank, your special operations team will handle the first mission—transporting supplies and personnel to Tanzania by sea.
The first batch of supplies will be provided by Wakanda, and the personnel will be a mix of volunteers and local recruits."
Long-distance transport is dangerous.
Once out of public view, things get complicated.
Many African Union airlines are foreign-owned, but in terms of sea transport, at least they still have their own ships.
"You'll cross the ocean under the name 'Theseus Transport Company.'"
"Speaking of that..." Hammond interjected, "Since we're becoming a multinational enterprise, we'd better register an international entity to consolidate all these resources."
Leo had already thought of this. He turned to the screen and wrote the name of the company:
Atlas.
"We'll use this name."
Atlas Corporation.