"Could this be something Mr. Stark had designed? Besides, he could use it this way, but mass-producing it would be astronomically expensive, Director Nick would go insane."
Peter, with his head in one hand, focused intently on the design. At that point, Venom spoke within his mind: "I have an idea."
Peter asked in confusion, "You can read mechanical designs too?"
"Of course, I can."
"What are you thinking of doing?"
"Miniaturization, customization for individuals, normalization, we could…"
Peter, sensing Venom's thought waves, declared, "Of course, achieving these few points would be great, but there are many issues with miniature weapons..."
Peter continued, "To reduce the cost, the bullets it fires have to be stored as a liquid, which is the most suitable storage state for cryogenic technology."
"But converting liquid fuel to solid bullets takes time. The bats are very fast. This kind of delayed firing could put the shooter in danger before they even get a shot off."
"However, for this kind of weapon, it's impossible to use solid bullets. This transformation process is necessary."
"Ever thought that the bullet-firing process isn't the only possible method of attack?" Shiller stated, "How about the use of a close-range aerosol spray?"
Peter paused, then replied, "It does make sense. If long-range attack tactics require some preparation time, a close-range method can be added to the weapon as well. The spray would require much less preparation time compared to the solid bullet, plus it has continuous output, very suitable for close combat…"
Peter then seemed to shift into a different persona, his gaze riveted on the design, stating, "We can design this gun with two attack modes. One is delayed fire, launching ice cones. The other is close combat deployment of the freeze spray. This would basically solve the problem of alternating between distant and close targets."
Peter, holding the design, got up from his chair, then said: "We can consider both devices. One is the freeze gun with two attack modes. The other is a broad-spectrum freeze device that can be used like a grenade. Ordinary personnel would only be equipped with freeze guns, while the elites at the center of the battlefield can be equipped with a few broad-spectrum freeze devices."
Sitting in his chair, Shiller applauded him: "You're fast becoming the savior of this war, Peter."
"Fine then, I'll start making a prototype now. Jarvis, are you there?"
"Second production unit is ready, Mr. Peter."
Rubbing his hands together, Peter excitedly said, "I have never actually made a weapon before. For all that Mister Stark taught me, I didn't remember much. But now, all those things are coming back to me, and they're all very clear."
"That proves you're a genius," Shiller responded, "By the way, what do you plan on naming this weapons system?"
"Umm…" Peter hesitated, then said, "Though I did flesh it out, the original idea wasn't mine. What would you like to call it, Doctor?"
"How about 'Blizzard'?"
"Blizzard? That suits the broader range freeze device quite well."
"Let's go with that then. Head on out. I'm looking forward to seeing the alpha test version of your Blizzard."
After Peter left, Shiller reached out to call Nick, saying: "I'm almost ready on my end, how are things your way?"
"Those moderates have been lobbying the delegates. They've even gone as far as the UN Security Council. But Pierce is holding up under the pressure. I can only buy us another two days at most. I suggest you speed things up."
As soon as he hung up, Stark, decked out in his armored battlesuit, hastily strode into the laboratory. He spotted Shiller, pen in hand, drawing on the lab table. Stark, visibly agitated, asked, "What on earth is going on? Surely those delegates are not being swayed by the vampires?"
He lifted his face guard and spoke, "Chief George told me some people have contacted him, asking that he discontinues the use of massive firepower. Damn it, those bats are going absolutely insane, and they're asking us to not retaliate?"
"What's the situation on the battlefield?" Shiller asked.
"Not exactly optimistic." Stark downed a big glass of water and set the glass down on the table with a thud. He was clearly not in a good mood, "Doctor Lizard was of great help, he tore through the bats and bore the brunt of the frontal assault. Then there's Captain America. I hate to admit it, but Steve really knows how to handle himself in a fight…"
"The two of us worked pretty well together, taking on much of the firepower on the flank, and the other flank was held by SHIELD Agents. For now, we're holding steady. But this is not sustainable.'
"The sun will rise soon." Said Shiller, "You just need to hold them off for this last wave of attacks. As soon as the sun rises, their attacks will certainly decrease."
"But the vampire hunter known as Blade Warrior told me, under the effects of their ritual, those crazed bats can even resist weak sunlight."
"Regardless, it doesn't mean their operational ability won't decrease. When daylight comes, a large portion of the vampires will surely go into hiding."
"Fine, it looks like on the coming day, we'll have issues to deal with off the battlefield. What the hell is Nick Fury doing? Why are these vampires gaining the upper hand in public opinion?"
Shiller continued drawing on his paper, not lifting his head, and responded: "You must know that they have deep ties with human society. Many among them are scholars, professors, and public figures. We have taken too strong a position this time, and many of them have joined forces to try to internally influence our decisions."
Stark sighed: "Many police officers and even more civilians have been injured. Thankfully, our battleground was near the bridge and not a residential area, otherwise, the losses would have been unbearable. These monsters belong in hell!"
"Your current battle may be over, but there's another war awaiting you."
"What does that mean?"
"The vampires' full scale attack has indeed been troublesome. Some among them have given heed to that elusive prophecy and come to New York to stir up trouble."
"We've dealt with this problem for now, but what if there's another prophecy next time? This time it's New York, next time Los Angeles? Or San Francisco? This time we lost a bridge and suffered hundreds of casualties, what will we lose next? Which bridge? Which building?"
"I'm well aware of that." Stark, his metal-covered hand tapping on the table, said, "The UN Security Council and Congress aren't doing anything. Should such a tragedy happen again, we'll have to scramble once more to the front line, and then observe in despair the gruesome casualty list. I'm more opposed to this than anyone."
"That's why we need to solve this problem at its root."
Stark narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze on Shiller who kept writing something. "Are you a bit too calm? Why does it seem like this sudden invasion hasn't taken you by surprise at all?"
"Good question, but it's not important." Shiller rearranged the papers in his hands neatly on the table and passed them to Stark.
Stark, suspiciously, took the document from him. He read aloud the title displayed at the top, "Analysis Report on the Medicinal Value of Vampires... Medicinal Value???"