Shadow of the Beautiful World

November 2005, Africa, Nigerian savannah.

This small town called Numbani is very lively today. In fact, from the birth of this city to the present, it has never been as eye-catching as it is today.

Even though it was only 8 o'clock in the morning at this time, reporters from news media, large and small, all over the world, had already set up very spectacular long guns and short cannons on both sides of the wide road that had just been repaired in the small town of Numbani.

These reporters spoke various languages, stood in front of the camera, and introduced the situation here and now to the audience.

The sound of cameras taking pictures, and the flashing light almost never stopped, and behind these reporters, at the end of this wide road, was a large-scale and uniquely shaped building.

It's a factory, the world's first omnibus that's about to go into operation.

Of course, in the publicity to the outside world, the reporters did not mention the word intelligent and they used smart products. It's something like a robotic arm in a manufacturing plant.

Most people, including these reporters, don't realize what kind of changes this omnibus center that will be put into use today will bring to the entire world.

But for now at least, all journalists are singing the praises of major advances in technology.

In the past few months, we have repeatedly disclosed the construction progress of the Onika Group's smart product factory. Although it is very mysterious, we still managed to find a lot of internal information.

In front of the camera, well-known San Francisco independent investigative reporter Eddie Brock, wearing his signature black bomber jacket, pomaded hair combed neatly, looks like a handsome boy, and He is not as serious and rigid as other media people, and he is quite relaxed.

He waved a stack of documents in his hand to the camera, as if doing a talk show, he opened the document and said to the camera:

Everyone knows that Aonica Group was established 1 year ago, but I think it is difficult for everyone to guess that this mysterious company specializes in high-tech products and has released many explosive smart products in the past few months. Who is the major shareholder behind the company... Well, I'm not taking the opportunity to advertise, but their newly released smart speakers are really, really good.

Eddie told a joke to the camera, and he smiled himself. After laughing, he turned the document around mysteriously, and said to the camera:

Look here, friends, the shareholders of the Onika Consortium include the talented arms dealer we know, the famous playboy, and the idol in all men's hearts. Tony Stark, wow, when I interviewed Tony last time, he He also told me swearingly that the Onika Group is great and has great potential, so he was advertising his own products.

After a small revelation, Eddie did not continue to disclose more shareholders. On the one hand, it was because those guys were not as topical as Tony Stark. On the other hand, other shareholders also called Eddie ahead of time. After greeting, they do not want to be seen in public.

Yes, that's the rule that journalists need to follow... Reporting news is risky, and a smart reporter needs to learn to avoid risks.

And beside Eddie Brock, I don't know if it's a coincidence. In short, another famous reporter, Ms. Louise Lane, wearing a blue floral dress, is also talking about the upcoming Numbani Intelligence A warm-up report was made on the site of the opening ceremony of the industrial zone.

Compared with Eddie's relaxed and happy reporting style, Miss Louise is much more dignified and serious. She is more like a traditional media reporter, but her good looks and precise and powerful wording have also won her many awards. loyal audience.

Louise actually doesn't care about these preheated reports. Her boyfriend Clark Kent, who is very capable in all aspects, has already obtained the qualification for internal interviews for Louise through his mysterious and efficient connection.

After the opening ceremony, Louise will have the opportunity to conduct private interviews with the big names attending the opening ceremony. For the editors of the Planet Daily, compared with the popular, cookie-cutter news broadcasts and various unreasonable Yes, tabloid news that only attracts people's attention, such a real and attractive private interview is the real gimmick.

Under Louise's instructions, Clark, who was holding the camera, turned the camera to the smart industrial park in the rear. During the switch between long shots and short shots, this warm-up report is over.

Clark turned off the camera, he took out a bottle of water from his backpack, handed it to his girlfriend who was already thirsty, and said:

Maybe after the report is over, Louise, we can take this opportunity to go for a walk on the prairie.

OK.

While drinking water, Louise brushed her long hair, and she winked at Clark:

I have a better idea, why don't we take our annual leave and take a trip, from the savannah to South Africa...We haven't traveled together before.

Okay.

Clark pushed his glasses and showed a gentle smile. He said to his girlfriend:

But I have to go home before Christmas, Martha told me I had to go home... Seriously, I want to take you back so they don't have to worry about me anymore.

Going to see your parents?

Louise was a little nervous at this moment, holding the water bottle in her hand, she said:

Isn't this going a little too fast...

No, it won't.

Clark reached out and took his girlfriend's hand, and he said:

They are very good people, believe me, they will not put pressure on you, just go to the farm and sit, we can go back to New York after only two days.

Oh well.

Louise nodded, and looked back at the smart project behind her as if she felt something. Several cars were parked there, and some people came out of the cars. Louise hurriedly grabbed the camera in her hand and said to Clark :

Turn on the camera! Come on, the representative of the World Security Council is here... Oh, my God, it's Alexander Pierce, he actually came in person! Wait, the person next to him is him again?

Louise put the camera in front of her eyes, adjusted the focus, and soon, she locked on Alexander Pierce, who was leaning on a cane, and the guard in the windbreaker beside him.

Louise didn't know the guy's name and identity, but the last meeting of the Future Technology Foundation, including the report on the illegal human experiment accident in Mexico, had this guy.

The lady reporter seriously doubted that this rather gloomy-looking guy should be a low-key person, and he might be a high-ranking official engaged in secret work.

And just when Louise was about to press the shutter to take a picture, Merlin who accompanied Pierce out of the car suddenly turned around.

In Louise's camera lens, she clearly saw Merlin showing her a gentle smile, and just as Louise was about to take a picture, her camera suddenly turned off strangely.

Damn it!

Louise was taken aback. She picked up the camera and looked at it, and found that the machine was not broken, but what the hell was the sudden shutdown?

She turned to look at Eddie Brock beside her. There seemed to be something wrong with the camera in the young reporter's hand...

This must not be a coincidence!

Louise grabbed the camera, gritted her teeth and watched Merlin quickly disappear behind the gate of the Smart Industrial Park, she said:

Just wait, I'm sure I'll catch you.

———————————————

That was... Louise just now?

Merlin sat on an unmanned electric car and drove towards the core building of the omnibus center. While looking at the elegant environment inside this large industrial park and the transplanted trees, he asked:

Is it Clark's girlfriend? Eddie Brock is standing next to her?

Yes, it's them.

Icarus projected photos of Louise and Eddie, along with identities, onto Merlin's lenses, saying:

Both Miss Lane and Mr. Eddie seem very interested in you, Merlin.

Many people are interested in me, Icarus, but I can't answer their curiosity one by one. My time is precious.

Merlin stretched out his hand and waved to the big bald Lex Luthor who was also sitting in the unmanned vehicle not far away, and the latter also nodded to Merlin. Although the park has not yet opened, some important people, such as Pierce, Luthor, Prince T'Challa and Queen Ororo of Wakanda, and Princess Shu Rui, have all entered the park.

The opening ceremony that will be held later is only for ordinary people to see. At the opening ceremony, representatives of the Onika Group will only show some semi-smart products. The real role of the omnibus center will not be disclosed at this stage. .

The people are not ready for omnics.

In the next few years, the Aonica Group will slowly promote a series of smart products to the society at a speed consistent with the development of science and technology, and their ultimate product will be a product with an independent personality and a complete thinking circuit. Intelligent robot.

But that's at least 3 or 4 years away...if all goes well.

Merlin, you're here.

When Merlin arrived at the entrance of the towering building called the Smart Tower, the core area of ​​the Omni Industrial Park, George, who was sitting on a suspension chair, also came out to greet him.

George is currently one of the chief designers of the Onika Group. This group is dominated by S.H.I.E.L.D., and almost all of its important staff are employees of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Hi George, long time no see.

Merlin jumped off the smart car, he shook hands with George friendly, and he said to the super brain:

Have you been here for a few months? I went to the ghost base the other day and Moira asked me when I would transfer you back... Obviously, she missed you. Ha, George, you are very charming Big.

Stop joking, Merlin.

George rubbed his forehead in distress, and said:

You know, Moira just wants me to go back to her weird experiments... It's horrible to be in a relationship with her, even if it's kissing, you have to be wary of the syringe in the girl's hand, seriously, I regret it a little.

I don't know about other worlds, but at least in our world, we don't regret taking medicine.

Merlin patted George on the shoulder, and he said with pity:

This is a matter of buying and leaving, and there is no return or exchange.

Forget it, don't talk about these things.

George didn't want to say too much on this issue. He manipulated the suspension chair and waved to Merlin. He said:

Come with me, the first test run of the omnibus is about to begin. All the scientists involved in the design are here. Unfortunately, Dr. Reed has gone to space. He can't see that this is destined to go down in history It's a scene.

It's okay.

Merlin followed George into the smart tower. He looked at the silver-gray corridors in the smart tower with a very futuristic sci-fi style, and those anti-gravity escalators shining with blue light. He said:

We can record it, and when Reed returns from space, he can still see the video material.

The two were talking, and soon took the anti-gravity escalator to the central control room of the smart tower. As George said, the place was full of people, most of whom were members of the Future Technology Foundation, and even those who had been opposed to it before. Omnic dwarf arms dealer Torbjörn and his daughter.

Banna, how are you feeling recently?

Merlin walked to the edge of the control room, he picked up the goblet on the table, and said to the Physician who stood behind the crowd in front of him, who had no sense of presence:

Why don't you see Betty?

She's in the lounge with Ms. Ororo and Miss Potts.

Bruce Banner, the dangerous containment item code-named 05084-2, said to Merlin very gently:

She doesn't like omnics very much, in fact, she's a tech conservative.

Well, understandable.

Merlin nodded. He looked at Banner in front of him. According to his spiritual vision, the vitality in Banner's body was incredibly active, but his mood was very stable. It seemed that he had adapted to his state.

Your meditation technique is quite useful, Merlin.

Banner thanked Merlin and said:

Hulk hasn't shown up for 2 months.

Keep it up, Banner, I hope it doesn't show up either.

Merlin took a sip of his wine and said to Banner:

We need your wisdom, not its power. At this stage, you are much more important than him.

Um.

Banner, with messy hair, nodded. To be honest, he has a really good temper when he is not angry.

Ding, Ding

There was a crisp knocking sound in the crowd. Merlin and Banner turned their heads and saw Tony Stark in a coquettish little dress standing in the center of the crowd. are attracted to him.

He said to the others:

Ladies and gentlemen, we have gathered together our wisdom and finally come to this point. In front of our eyes is the crystallization of the most outstanding wisdom of mankind. It represents not only the progress of technology, just like what we used to know Said, it represents the gate of the new world...

Now, we're going to push it away.

Tony winked at everyone and asked:

Before that, out of politeness, I still want to ask, is there anyone who objects to the opening of this door? Tobion, you irritable old fellow, why are you silent?

Shet!

The dwarf arms dealer who was named rudely gave Tony a middle finger, which caused the others to laugh, and the atmosphere immediately became active.

Alright alright.

Tony didn't care either. He put his finger on the red start button beside him, then raised his glass to everyone, and said calmly:

To the future!

To the future!

In the sound of people calling, Tony pressed the button, and the next moment, the entire smart tower...

alive.