American comics: Starting with Luke the Maker

"Yes, the progress is encouraging." Justin Hammer had a triumphant smile on his face.

"Is there a possibility of success?" the general asked with interest.

"Of course! You must believe in the research and development capabilities of Hammer Industries! Although Stark Industries has some weapons ahead of us, that doesn't mean we don't have the strength to catch up, right? I can reveal some top-secret research and development information. We have solved most of the technical problems of the Iron Man armor and will soon be able to conduct relevant overall testing." Justin Hammer revealed confidently.

"Then congratulations," the plump congressman congratulated first.

"It's a pity that Tony is unwilling to share his technology now, otherwise we could soon equip every one of our soldiers with Iron Man armor." Justin Hammer shrugged. Everyone present knew he was exaggerating. Even if the military had more money, it was impossible to allocate an Iron Man armor to every soldier. But in this situation, no one would expose or refute him, but nodded in agreement.

"I remember that Tony's Iron Man armor technology doesn't seem to be unique to him? I heard that there were three people with Iron Man armor fighting that night." Justin Hammer asked tentatively. Those in the field who knew some inside information looked at each other and remained silent.

"Tony is unwilling to sell his Iron Man armor, what about the others?" Justin Hammer asked, unwilling to give up, looking at the silent crowd.

"This is classified, Hammer. All I can tell you is that we currently only have a confirmed identity for Tony Stark," the general said. "It wasn't our people who were responsible for handling the cleanup."

Justin Hammer nodded thoughtfully.

...

Hammer Industries' manufacturing plant.

"How is the progress of the Iron Man armor?" Looking at the Iron Man armor skeleton in front of him, Justin Hammer asked his researchers anxiously.

"There are still many problems to be solved." The researcher who was asked spread his hands to his boss helplessly. "Materials, structure, system programs, balance, and other systems are okay, but the most troublesome thing now is the energy system. We cannot have Tony Stark's miniature arc reactor technology. So we have to carry a few large batteries or use wires for testing."

"You don't need to worry about energy technology for now. You need to solve the other technical problems as soon as possible! I have to show them something so they will favor us!" Justin Hammer waved his hand and looked at the person in charge of Iron Man armor technology development. "The general wants to see a physical test, so we must solve the relevant technology within the next ten days. Don't have any accidents during the test, understand?"

"That's impossible, the time is too short," the researcher retorted.

"Of course I know the time is short, but we don't need to make it very good or use great technology in the early stage. I just hope they can move and do some test actions! I don't think this will be difficult for you." Justin Hammer patted the other person's shoulder and gave him a firm, unquestionable look. Under the pressure of his gaze, the researcher being stared at could only grit his teeth and nod.

...

Luke was diligently stuffing food into his mouth in a corner of a social venue. Recently, his brain had been overused, and his appetite had obviously increased. Just as he was concentrating on eating, a somewhat familiar voice entered his ears from the side.

"So you're here." Tony Stark put an arm around Luke's shoulder in a familiar manner, half-hugging him.

Looking at the familiar Tony Stark, Luke picked up a napkin on the table and wiped his mouth, with a thoughtful expression and a somewhat helpless tone: "If I remember correctly, this is a Hyperion Industries-led reception. I remember that Inna and Miss Potts sent you invitations."

"Invitations? I never use that stuff." Tony Stark patted Luke on the shoulder, sat down on the stool next to him, and impolitely moved all the untouched food on the table to a clean new plate next to him. He stuck a fork in it and stuffed a bite into his mouth, chewing as he said, "My face is the best pass, with it I can enter any reception I want to enter."

"What brings you here?" Luke asked bluntly. He knew that Tony Stark was paying attention to his whereabouts and came to him personally, so he definitely wouldn't just be saying hello and getting to know him.

"I've always wanted to get to know you, after all, some media always put us two together for comparison. Of course, it's comparing you to me when I was a kid." Tony's right hand fiddled with the food on the plate, his eyes looked at Luke's calm face, paused for a moment, and then said directly: "Okay, okay, let's drop these boring greetings, I'm not suitable for this way of greeting anyway. Let's get straight to the point and say what we have to say.

Listen, I know who you are, I know what kind of technology you have in your hands, I know you helped me..."

"So you're here to thank me?" Luke interjected.

"So you admit it was you that night?" Tony leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowed, staring closely at Luke.

"I have a complete alibi for that night." Luke shrugged: "In fact, I wasn't at the scene either."

"I didn't mean to expose you. In the past, I might have ridiculed you, the little old-fashioned guy, and then dragged you to experience the glamorous world, but now I've turned over a new leaf. The purpose of my coming to you is simple, one is to say thank you, you saved my life. The second is to buy some better materials. That's right, it's the material you're thinking of." Tony gave Luke a [you know] look at the end.

"For business matters, you should go to Inna." Luke pointed to Inna in the center of the reception.

"Miss Sandra? That's right, Pepper also asked me to thank her. If it weren't for her reminder, I might not have discovered Stane's true colors for another day or two." Tony's eyes followed Luke's finger to the direction he pointed, and he quickly withdrew his gaze. In the past, he wouldn't have minded taking a few more glances at a beauty of Inna Sandra's level, or even taking the opportunity to strike up a conversation, but now, with important matters at hand, women, except for Pepper, are all secondary!

"Give me a price." Tony failed to win over Luke with a few words, and finally resorted to his best method, which is a money offensive.

"Not for sale," Luke refused directly.

"Don't be like that, or how about we exchange some mutually beneficial interests? Do you want to enter the new energy industry? We can start a company together, you use technology to occupy a part of the shares, and then everything else, external storms and malicious prying, I can help you carry it. Anyway, I have a lot of lice on my body, so I don't have to worry. You only need to disclose all of Hyperion's material purchase permissions to me, and you can sit back and enjoy the success."