Chapter 118 - 27

Chapter 205: That Could Also Be Washing Powder

 

Evidence is a strange thing.

 

In legal terms, it refers to the basis for determining the facts of a case in accordance with litigation rules. Broadly speaking, if the U.S. government wants to launch an attack on a certain country, it needs a reason to justify the attack. To convince others of the authenticity of the reason, it needs "evidence." This evidence drives the entire country to take the next step.

 

But in reality, evidence can be true or false. The key is that the military organization led by Norman can occupy Saudi Arabia in one day in the name of fighting Hydra and secure major oil fields.

 

In addition to the "chief," there is also the "bank." Facing a force of this scale, they can only be considered rich men, and their powerful friends will not stand by their side.

 

"Based on the intelligence we have so far, there is no doubt that Chief Abdul and his family are Hydra, and these are the evidence."

 

Ross presented information about the chain of interests behind Abdul and the members of Hydra at the United Nations Security Council, including the interests between Abdul and the "Bank" and Dr. List.

 

To be honest, there are many people on this list whose Hydra identities are questionable, but they are all criminals.

 

Ross then put on gloves and took out a bottle of white powder from the bag.

 

"This is a weapon of mass destruction that our informant found at a business owned by the chief, and our agents fought tooth and nail to obtain this evidence."

 

This scene reminded people of the mysterious powder evidence that Powell produced in 2003. He claimed that it was a weapon of mass destruction, and then the United States sent soldiers there.

 

In this world, Harry could confirm that it was indeed washing powder and that it had something to do with Hydra.

 

The substance in Ross's hand now is not washing powder; it is actually a dangerous compound that Harry made based on obelisk material. However, it was not found from the "chief." But Hydra has been studying obelisks for many years, and they should have similar compounds on hand. Even if they don't, no one will care about it.

 

Harry also personally packaged the test tube containing the reagent, and the surface was covered with a layer of nanomaterials that changed color according to light. The bottle seemed to be filled with colorful smoke, which looked very psychedelic.

 

Ross glanced around at the representatives present with a solemn expression.

 

At this moment, the camera showed diplomats from several major countries. They didn't make any objections and nodded solemnly in cooperation with Ross.

 

As for the members of the Security Council, the older generation of members is now going through the impeachment process, and the newly appointed members are sitting here. They are still counting on these major powers to help them secure their positions.

 

So they nodded solemnly.

 

This frightened all the unsuspecting small countries. A diplomat from Sweden raised his hand tremblingly, his hands shaking crazily.

 

"How can we be sure that it's not some kind of washing powder? And who knows where that thing came from? Maybe it was you..."

 

Halfway through, Ross's eyes made him freeze.

 

No one around him agreed with him, not even the representative of the country that had always liked to oppose the United States.

 

Not only that, he clearly saw these people starting to collect their things—no one cared about his words at all.

 

To be honest, he didn't want to be the leader, but he had already made a deal with Hydra. It was like making a deal with the devil. There was no turning back.

 

"Is this washing powder? You can take off your clothes now and let us test it on the spot—of course, I won't wash your clothes for you; you have to wash them yourself." Ross handed over the test tube and waited for him to pick it up.

 

But how dare he take it?

 

Not only that, the cell phone in his pocket was vibrating crazily, and the Prime Minister kept calling him, wanting to know what was wrong with him. Was he trying to commit treason?

 

The funniest thing is that the Arab representative said nothing, but a Swede stood up and questioned.

 

Ross waved his hand and dismissed the meeting.

 

...

 

"You see, your people must have run out of tricks, and you actually asked a Swede to help."

 

Harry shook his head.

 

Several big Hydra leaders are now locked in the laser cage and staring. They have long passed the "you were caught anyway" stage.

 

These people include Alexander Pierce, Gideon Malick, Wolfgang von Strucker, and Dr. Zola, who was put in a special cell.

 

At this point, all Hydra leaders have been identified. Although there is no concrete evidence yet, there will be when they are all arrested, and these half-truths and half-false evidence will be implemented.

 

The four of them also know this truth.

 

Although Hydra is very powerful today, it can only develop in secret. After all, their most powerful period was during World War II, when they were still a legal political assembly.

 

In today's world, they are very powerful. They are like cockroaches in the house. They are dirty and disgusting. You don't know how many there are, and they will scare you at random. But they die in the light.

 

Although they were already prisoners of Harry, these people were quite stylish, sitting on the only stool in their cell with their legs crossed.

 

Pierce had the highest status among all the people here. He said with a smile, "If you cut off one head, two more will grow."

 

Since being captured, he has turned into a repeater and can only say this sentence—of course, this is also the reason why Harry did not sentence him.

 

Just after saying this, Harry received a communication from A: "Mr. Osborn, the 'Banker' and 'Chief' have been delivered."

 

"Good, throw them in."

 

As Harry finished speaking, the floor beneath several Hydra cells began to deform.

 

They never knew where they were being held; they always thought it was some military base. But now they know they were wrong.

 

Wrong.

 

They are at an altitude of 340 kilometers, and there is an openable window below their prison. As the window opens, the air pressure difference between the inside and outside causes a crazy influx of air.

 

The howling wind made them tremble—not only that, Harry specifically hung a hook above the cell. As the strong wind surged in, the cell swayed, and it looked like it was about to fall.

 

"...If you want to use this..." Pierce calmed down. He had been on the battlefield, after all, and wanted to say a few harsh words to embolden himself.

 

"Don't get me wrong, Mr. Pierce, I'm just giving you some company."

 

Three cages containing Dr. List, the "Banker," and the "Chief" were brought in by the mechanical arm and then hung on the buckle. Now there are six Hydras floating in the wind.

 

"You said it would grow two heads, and now I've chopped off three more. How many heads do you still have?" Harry closed the window.

 

Pierce stopped talking now. There were really not many people left. The only ones who could be called leaders were Whitehall and "Battleship" Bakshi.

 

Fortunately, Whitehall was a disciple of Hydra in the Red Skull era, so this was the only thing Pierce could talk about to comfort himself.

 

Besides, he still doesn't know who the Green Goblin is.

 

It's better to make this Osborn feel like he's finished cutting down Hydra, just like the SSR.

 

Seeing that this Hydra was no longer arrogant, Harry didn't intend to say anything more and closed the door.

 

---

Chapter 206: The U.S. Power Grid is Completed

 

Through Norman's New Infrastructure Policy and the promotion of construction robots, infrastructure work is progressing at an unimaginably rapid pace.

 

Many people overlook that this country was once an "infrastructure maniac." President Roosevelt carried out extensive infrastructure construction during the economic crisis of 1929.

 

It was during Roosevelt's New Deal that the United States built a nationwide highway network.

 

Then, during the Eisenhower administration, to promote economic development and demonstrate their superiority, the road network was planned to be upgraded to a highway network, and the Interstate Highway Project was launched.

 

After many generations of hard work, 70 kilometers of highways were finally built in the 68880s. Later, many miles were added, and the final mileage of highways exceeded 10,000 kilometers.

 

Unfortunately, after decades of use, these roads have become dilapidated and have not been maintained due to financial constraints and domestic issues.

 

Moreover, many of the early expressways were cement roads with very low carrying capacity.

 

Therefore, today, decades later, people often bring up this plan again.

 

But now, with the help of the "Norman New Deal," these highways have been renovated, and a special passage has been added to the 10,000+ kilometers of highway:

 

"Drone Channel"—Constructed by Osborne.

 

This passage is filled with all kinds of driverless trucks and construction robots, working 24 hours a day to deliver materials and labor to designated locations.

 

Because all the robots on the lane are remotely deployed by OIS, even though the lane is operating at full capacity almost all day long, there has never been a traffic jam.

 

The flow of robots has become a tourist attraction. An attraction with a length of more than 1,000 kilometers has boosted people's spirits and promoted the advancement of machine labor.

 

Seeing this scene, Harry knew that he was right to intervene to prevent the birth of Ultron—even if he followed the original plot, stopped Ultron, and saved Sokovia, he would have gained nothing but the camaraderie of the Avengers. He wouldn't have achieved anything substantial either.

 

The promotion of these machine laborers would have faced significant obstacles. Where would he find these efficient laborers to upgrade the people on Earth at that time?

 

In his view, Ultron's damage to the Earth not only caused the Avengers to lose trust but also led the public to have huge doubts about the development of science and technology, which was very fatal.

 

Imagine a game in which everyone is climbing the technology tree. You, already lagging behind, are given the debuff "Citizens are marching: technology research speed -99%." Then what else are you playing?

 

Just restart it.

 

With the renovation of the highway network, the construction of the power grid has accelerated. Until today, the task Harry had been waiting for was finally completed.

 

**[Mission: Energy Monopoly]**

 

**[Second Ring Mission: Establish a super grid with a coverage rate of more than 98% in the United States]**

 

**[The task has been completed and the reward has been distributed]**

 

**[Reward: Virtual Frame World Construction Technology]**

 

**[We are responsible for both real life and virtual life.]**

 

**[The next mission has been released]**

 

**[Third Ring Mission: Occupy 70% of the global energy supply market]**

 

This time the reward surprised Harry. He thought it would be related to electricity and energy, but it turned out to be a technology in the virtual reality world.

 

But this is something he has been thinking about.

 

He is already an expert in brain-computer interaction. To put it bluntly, Tony is not as skilled as him in this area.

 

Harry conducted various side experiments along the way, with the support of a huge research team and resources. The result can only be described as a natural outcome.

 

In terms of brain-computer interaction, he has achieved more than 90% complete simulation. This technology has broad application prospects.

 

In addition to mining information in the brains of enemy agents, determining whether their agents are loyal, and identifying psychological defects that require vacation or retirement, it can also be used to train new recruits and impart knowledge through virtual classes, completely changing the traditional teaching model.

 

Aside from high-precision experiments that still need to be conducted in reality, things like 13-year compulsory education can be carried out in the virtual world.

 

The only question is how to build a world that can support the coexistence of so many people. No server can store and process such huge amounts of data.

 

But now Harry has the solution.

 

Through this technology, each device acts as a computing terminal, contributing computing power to the entire virtual world, effectively using the user's electricity bill to support the server.

 

However, traditional computers are very inefficient in building a virtual frame world. If this were done, Harry might have to build a nuclear power plant around the equator to support the operation of a virtual world with more than 60 billion people.

 

But now Harry has semi-biological electronic brain technology, which is very efficient in building virtual worlds.

 

Connecting the user to this semi-biological brain activates the brain, and this bio-brain connection technology will also deepen the user's immersion.

 

Simply perfect.

 

Technically, there is no problem; the rest is just hands-on work.

 

For military purposes, Harry could design it himself, but for civilian purposes, he needed to find someone else to maintain the system—T-Bone and A were already busy updating and optimizing the city scheduling algorithm.

 

In other words, T-Bone Grady is responsible for the real-world algorithms, and Harry also needs a team to operate the virtual world.

 

"Ois, help me find a company that is good at VR."

 

Harry took a sip of tea. Unlike others who were recruiting, he could directly acquire them.

 

How can recruiting one person be better than acquiring an entire team?

 

"Sir, the company directory has been listed."

 

According to the information listed by Ois, except for Osborne, most civilian VR is still at the stage of simulation with VR glasses.

 

This technology is still in its infancy, and the market is still in the PPT money-making stage.

 

There are game platform companies, social platform companies, software companies, etc., on the list. Because ctOS has undoubtedly captured the Internet market, many companies have turned to the field of virtual reality, which Osborne has not been heavily involved in.

 

I heard that they also speculated on a "metaverse" concept, but their technology doesn't seem capable of supporting this concept.

 

Harry scrolled through the list casually, and to be honest, he wasn't very satisfied with any of these options.

 

At this time, Ois suddenly said: "Sir, if you are not interested in big companies, perhaps you can look at entrepreneurs.

 

I found two young people who seem to have very novel technologies, but they don't have much money—though they do want a lot, considering their level."

 

Ois released information about the two young men.

 

James Halliday, a taciturn chief technology developer, pretty much embodies the stereotype of a genius: reserved, stubborn, and brilliant.

 

Ogden Morrow, his good friend, understands technology but is more responsible for soliciting sponsorship.

 

Harry rubbed his chin and thought: The names of these two people are somewhat familiar. Isn't this the innovative network company in the "Ready Player One" movie?

 

"Bought it."

 

---

Chapter 207: Virtual and Reality

 

"Now, the construction of the fusion energy grid across the USA has been completed, covering all cities and villages in the country, with a coverage rate of almost 99.9%.

 

This achievement means that our annual carbon emissions will be reduced by more than 80%, decreasing pollution, and we will gain a more stable and cleaner energy supply.

 

I must express my gratitude to Mr. President for his efforts in this matter and to the Osborne Group for their technical support. Without either of them, we would not have been able to accomplish this feat."

 

The U.S. Secretary of Energy spoke freely in front of the media.

 

This energy minister is a new appointee. The original energy minister had a peculiar episode where he attended a meeting with a shaved head—not completely bald, as there was still a small strip of red hair remaining. He dressed in women's clothing and wore heavy makeup.

 

He is male.

 

Norman couldn't tolerate it anymore and dismissed him directly. Now, the energy minister is doing quite well; he takes his position seriously and knows how to flatter Norman.

 

As the news broke, Oyce reminded Norman that the two guests had arrived.

 

James Halliday and Ogden Morrow.

 

Now, they are not the entertainment giants from the movies; they are just two young entrepreneurs working hard to start a business. To be honest, many companies have approached them, but what company would be more worthy of joining than Osborne?

 

Standing at the door of Osborne's Fortress, both of them opened their mouths in awe.

 

Looking at the photos, you can't feel the oppressive atmosphere that this building exudes. Instead, it appears as a miracle of human architecture embellished by the surrounding gardens.

 

People often stand in front of the pyramids and wonder: How did the ancient Egyptians build such magnificent structures?

 

Osborne's Fortress is even larger than the Pyramid.

 

As the height of the pyramid increases, the apex becomes more tapered. Standing beneath the pyramid, you can still see the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

 

However, standing in front of Osborne's Fortress, unless the sun is on your side, you are left in the shadows.

 

A blond woman with impeccable body proportions, dignified appearance, and a beautiful face walked out of the door and bowed slightly toward the two of them.

 

"Mr. Halliday, Mr. Morrow, this is Carla. I am responsible for escorting the two of you to the conference room to discuss financing matters."

 

Kara's every move was impeccable. Coupled with her sweet smile, it made the two of them feel relaxed and happy, causing them to swallow quietly.

 

Following Kara, they walked into this mysterious building—it was not as hierarchical and oppressive as they had imagined.

 

Instead, as soon as they entered, they saw a burly man playing with a cat.

 

"Carlo, how was your day?"

 

This man is nearly two meters tall, with a bald head and a black exoskeleton that appears mysterious under the light. His left eye also emits a dangerous red glow.

 

However, no matter how much he teased the little kitten named Carlo, Carlo held its head high.

 

Morrow whispered to Halliday with interest, "This scene could be added to the game—it's quite interesting."

 

Before Halliday could answer, the man's behavior finally angered the kitten, and Carlo bit him hard. The bite was somewhat alarming—

 

The man's fingers were bitten off, revealing the metal structure inside—this was a mechanical prosthetic!

 

"Damn it!" Morrow exclaimed.

 

A cat that can bite off Osborne's security guard's prosthetic leg in one go is not a cute kitten at all; it is obviously a biological weapon!

 

Halliday: "…It's actually quite interesting."

 

"Carlo is the smartest cat in the company. His IQ is equivalent to that of a 14-year-old child, but he has a much more volatile temper than a child of that age." Carla waved her hand, and the little kitten ran over, licking the palm of her hand.

 

Next, they saw researchers flying around on hoverboards, gorillas being chased by a team of researchers with strange robotic arms, and enormous flowers dozens of meters high, among other oddities.

 

"More than interesting… I think our thinking seems a little too conservative," Halliday added.

 

They planned to restore Osborne's Fortress in their own virtual world oasis and create a game based on Osborne.

 

As a result, they found that the inside of the giant fortress was completely different from their expectations.

 

It's not a depressing place; there are no horrific human experiments, but rather a cute black-footed cat that can bite off a prosthetic leg, and the vicious security guard who likes to water plants that doesn't resemble the flowers of earthly plants...

 

There are two completely different worlds here compared to the outside. The gap is as significant as the difference between their "oasis" and the real world.

 

After getting on the elevator and slowly elevating their view, they realized that what they were seeing was just the tip of the iceberg.

 

"Okay, you two, this is the conference room. Please come in. Someone will negotiate with you shortly," Kara said politely.

 

After bringing the two men to the conference room, Kara's mission was complete.

 

Watching Carla leave, Morrow suddenly said, "You should ask for her phone number and see if she'd like to join you for a meal or something."

 

But how could Halliday, who already felt some inferiority, take that step?

 

"He's right. If you're interested, I can help," came a voice from nearby, causing the two of them to tremble.

 

"Harry Osborn...? I mean, it's nice to meet you! I'm Ogden Morrow, and he's James Halliday."

 

Morrow reacted immediately and introduced himself, but Halliday seemed momentarily lost and didn't respond for a moment.

 

They had originally thought that being allowed to come here to discuss matters would grant them considerable respect. As for funding, it might pose a challenge for them, but for Osborne…

 

This is simply a matter of moving a finger, not something that Harry Osborn himself should be concerned with.

 

"I've read your idea of an 'oasis,' but what equipment do you plan to use to support this concept?"

 

Halliday and Morrow exchanged glances. Why was Harry Osborn talking to them directly? That was not their concern; their responsibility was to present their own ideas.

 

Listening to the two men's narratives, Harry recognized a problem.

 

After all, the "Oasis" and the "framework" world Harry wishes to construct are not the same thing.

 

In essence, Oasis is a completely virtual world, a game environment designed for entertainment, focusing on "fun."

 

However, the framework is different. Its goal is to establish a genuine "virtual universe" that closely resembles reality and can even replace and innovate certain traditional industries.

 

Therefore, in terms of data breadth and depth, the framework requires more thorough consideration, meaning Oasis's requirements for server capabilities are much lower.

 

But it is a fact that Oasis is more entertaining.

 

"It seems like… a utopia, but humans are real beings after all, Mr. Halliday," Harry said.

 

Halliday and Morrow were taken aback, unsure of what Harry was trying to convey.

 

"The stimulation level in the Oasis World is too high. If one remains in this state for too long, their excitement threshold will elevate—just like taking drugs."

 

If happiness is readily available, who would wish to return to reality?

 

Yet humans are real creatures. Unless we cease to be human and transfer our consciousness entirely into the virtual world, we will always seek genuine happiness.

 

It feels so good that one day, we may no longer be able to feel good. Our consciousness may disintegrate, and we would ultimately be entertained to death.

 

The two ambitious young men were left stunned by Harry's words. This was something they had never considered.

 

---

Chapter 208 The Real Illusion

 

"The Oasis world cannot be so unrestrained. It will become a haven for many people to escape reality," Harry said bluntly.

 

The virtual world is a beautiful place, which was also Halliday's original intention in developing Oasis.

 

This version of Oasis is completely a game world without any restrictions. As long as you have money to buy equipment, you have crossed the first and last threshold.

 

Oasis has its own currency and its own way of making money, allowing you to enjoy highly stimulating activities that you cannot experience in the real world without taking any risks.

 

Between the cruel reality and the beautiful virtual world, many people will choose to indulge in it.

 

Norman is already trying his best to use Osborne's advanced technology to revitalize society, but this still requires everyone's efforts and time.

 

After experiencing something like an alien invasion, the unemployment rate and ZS rate in the USA are actually lower than during the financial crisis. This is already considered a miracle.

 

However, it is conceivable that there must be people who are just making a living by working, because the drug abuse rate here is still among the highest in the world.

 

Harry believes that over time, as the economic situation improves and life becomes easier, people will have more time to discover the beauty of reality and better distinguish between the real and virtual worlds.

 

But in the current situation, it is difficult to say that such a world will not make Norman's efforts in vain.

 

Moreau is a realistic person, and he can understand Harry's thoughts.

 

But Halliday is not. He obviously does not agree with Harry's words: "...Boundless imagination is the most beautiful. If we put shackles on this world, then what's the point of creating it?"

 

In his view, the game world is an old friend who has been with him for decades, supporting him through tough times and allowing him to survive to this day.

 

But can he not only perfect his real life but also satisfy his spiritual needs by selling Oasis? Can others?

 

Harry shook his head.

 

"It has many meanings, but the most important thing is that it should serve reality and not be a place of escapism."

 

To be honest, Harry is also in a bit of a dilemma—the protagonist in the movie "Ready Player One" seems to have solved this problem by giving the world an anti-addiction mechanism, but is it possible?

 

Anyway, Harry thought it was unlikely.

 

If a person is addicted to it, even if they are given an Oasis for only one day a week, the rest of the time they can devote all their attention to imagining what they will do on that day.

 

Just imagine if a person only thinks about what to do on the weekend while working—how can they be interested in doing something groundbreaking?

 

In the same way, if a student studies with this kind of mindset, how can they learn well?

 

A balance point, a link relationship, must be established between the framed world and the normal world.

 

"...We can set the character to lose everything after their death?" Moreau said on the side.

 

In fact, he was somewhat aware of this problem. After all, he had always been in charge of raising financing, and Halliday was an idealist who focused on it.

 

If Moreau had also devoted himself to research, the two of them would have been sleeping on the street long ago.

 

"We can discuss this issue later. I have better technology—you can give it a try first." Harry clapped his hands and revealed the two virtual reality chambers.

 

The two were stunned—this technology was very similar to the "high-end equipment" they had imagined.

 

But the Osborne Group seemed to have never demonstrated relevant technology. If they could come up with such a thing all at once, why invest in them?

 

To understand this problem, they first had to try out what this device was like, so they lay down in it.

 

.....

 

"You two, how do you feel?"

 

Harry appeared in front of them again, and now they were in a grassland.

 

This grassland is lifelike, with wind-blown grass, dazzling sunlight, and distant snow-capped mountains—it is almost as if you are actually there.

 

But that wasn't what surprised them most.

 

What surprised them most was the soft green grass, the gentle breeze, and the slight burning sensation of the strong sunlight on their bodies.

 

This shocked them greatly.

 

You know, this kind of picture is not a problem for Oasis. They can also use some feedback servers to create the effect of being hit and touched.

 

But it can never be that real.

 

"This... we can't do this... how is this possible?" Halliday felt a little complicated. On one hand, he was extremely curious about the world, and on the other hand, he felt frustrated.

 

In fact, there was something even more outrageous. Harry broke off a piece of grass, put it in his mouth, and started chewing it.

 

The two of them followed Harry in a daze and made the same move—

 

They found that the grass didn't disappear in a snap. They could feel the texture of the grass in their mouths...

 

Taste?

 

The two of them grabbed a handful of grass and put it into their mouths like homeless people who had been hungry for two weeks!

 

Until they confirmed that it was real and they actually experienced the taste!

 

Not only that, they noticed something that their subconscious mind had ignored: from the moment they entered this grassland, there had been a faint earthy smell surrounding them.

 

Taste and smell... this is completely different from the current VR technology!

 

But even so, they are still fortunate—they can also carefully prepare soil and fresh grass in the virtual warehouse...

 

"I won't call you all the way here to feed you grass. Let's look at the next scene." Harry smiled and drew out a control menu.

 

In the blink of an eye, the surroundings transformed into a noisy New York market, and Harry handed two pieces of pizza to the two of them.

 

After trying the pizza, the scene changed to a dry desert again, with edible cacti at hand.

 

Then they experienced a noisy dance hall, a bloody battlefield, the silent seabed, and so on.

 

Changing so many scenes in a short period of time made them feel dizzy and called for a stop.

 

"Please stop, Mr. Osborne! I... I can't hold it anymore!" Moreau knelt on the ground and shouted loudly.

 

Seeing that it was almost done, Harry switched the scene back to the previous conference room.

 

Although Halliday also felt uncomfortable, he was more surprised.

 

If he could achieve this level of virtual reality, wouldn't he be able to reach the heavens?

 

However, this is what Harry is worried about: in a sense, this virtual reality chamber can even achieve a better anesthesia effect than medicine.

 

It doesn't matter if it's just to make money, but the problem is that humans are not the only race in this universe. What if we live in a virtual world and aliens come?

 

Shout "Aliens have taken over the Earth" again?

 

Halliday may not have thought much about pioneering this technology, but the Oasis in the movie has led to countless people becoming addicted to it.

 

Harry is looking for someone to operate this technology, not asking them to develop "electronic medicines."

 

Harry knocked on the two virtual reality chambers:

 

"This technology has great potential, and I have high hopes for it, but people cannot give up on reality."

 

As he spoke, he opened the virtual reality chamber, and Halliday and Moreau saw themselves lying in the cabin.

 

The two of them had their eyes closed tightly, but the corners of their mouths couldn't help but raise. From this perspective, they looked like two fools.

 

"If you are the kind of people who can only lie in it, tell me, can you still build that Oasis world?"

 

---

Chapter 209 The Reality of Dreams

 

If Halliday were merely a game addict, he wouldn't have been able to develop games, especially the Oasis technology. In fact, he worked hard to create the world of his imagination, studying diligently in college, focusing on software engineering, hardware design, and more.

 

His original intention for creating Oasis was not to provide a haven for escaping reality; he was simply captivated by that world and believed it would be better if people could experience its beauty more fully.

 

Seeing himself lying in the virtual warehouse looking foolish, his mood became complicated.

 

Moreau, however, was more open-minded: "Do we really look that ridiculous?"

 

"Of course, you're not truly that foolish as you are now," Harry shrugged. "It's just a bit exaggerated."

 

As he spoke, Harry displayed their true appearances. In reality, they wore neutral expressions; at most, they looked a little pale.

 

Harry briefly explained: "Brain-computer interaction technology and virtual world technology can stimulate all five senses. Of course, it's controlled and not a 100% mapping."

 

It sounds simple, but the technical content of this virtual warehouse far exceeds that of Oasis.

 

"I want you to run the world," Harry stated bluntly.

 

"But… is there any difference?" Halliday was confused now. "Isn't your system just easier for people to get addicted to?"

 

Harry pondered for a moment, deciding it was better to demonstrate first.

 

With a wave of his hand, the surrounding scene transformed into an open space, and steel bars rose at his command.

 

"For example, the framework system is based on existing physical rules. In other words, at least from a macro level, it interoperates with reality in many aspects."

 

Steel and concrete accumulated bit by bit as Harry formed a dome building with a unique structure.

 

"I'm using these traditional materials to recreate the basic structure of Osborne Tower—"

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the complex structure became shaky, the internal materials broke apart, and the entire building began to collapse.

 

"You can see that the previous materials couldn't support the structure of Osborne Tower. To build something like this, we need better materials."

 

Harry replaced them with new materials sourced from the Chitauri and asteroids, and this time the structure held firm.

 

This was just a simple example to illustrate that this system could be used to study structural mechanics and simulate engineering design on a macro level.

 

With this set of equipment, anyone could try architectural design and verify its feasibility.

 

Not only engineering design, but these scenarios could also be applied to education. After all, some experiments and teaching methods are prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to many.

 

Once the cost of education decreases, it can become more widespread. Of course, this doesn't include pursuits like equestrian learning. He has always disliked the so-called "elite aristocratic education."

 

By allowing people to better see and understand advanced technology, more individuals will become interested in it.

 

The previous situation was akin to 100 out of 90 people doing repetitive work, with only 10 having access to these resources, thereby becoming high-tech workers.

 

And among those 10, at least 9 weren't genuinely engaged in research.

 

Of course, this is merely a metaphor.

 

Harry always believed that people possess curiosity about the wider world, but it is often stifled by harsh realities.

 

In fields like scientific research and education, as well as in social interactions and psychotherapy, the virtual world can serve as a beneficial transitional option—but it should not dominate.

 

After a moment of thought, Halliday and Moreau began to understand Harry's intentions.

 

"This system can better reflect the advantages of the virtual world back into reality, rather than simply 'making people happy,'" Moreau murmured.

 

"Exactly. You can also design some bizarre game worlds based on this system—cultural products are still products, after all. Computers aren't only for academic research, right?" Harry added.

 

By this point, Halliday and Moreau were completely captivated—it felt closer to the world they envisioned.

 

The boundaries between virtual and real were blending in a more harmonious way, rather than in opposition.

 

"A wonderful world… but why did you come to us?" Halliday asked directly, expressing his doubts.

 

To be honest, this technology and these ideas could outclass 100% of its peers. So why did he seek them out?

 

Harry considered silently: Because you are talents validated by cinematic plots and can handle this crucial task.

 

But of course, he wouldn't disclose that now; this was the stage of painting a dream.

 

"You're both familiar with Dr. Otto—his dream is to bring nuclear fusion energy to reality—and Dr. Connors, whose dream is to repair his own arm.

 

Osborne has many employees, and I'm very optimistic about them. They have dreams and capabilities; all they lack are resources—and what I lack most are people. It's as simple as that."

 

Harry believed that allocating resources to those with abilities and dreams was the most advanced means of creating value. Isn't this the advantage of being a transmigrator?

 

As for cornering the market, that could only be considered a secondary matter.

 

"So, do you want to accept this offer?"

 

Harry waved one hand, and the two found themselves seated at a table with two exquisite pens in their hands and contracts in front of them.

 

In truth, there was nothing to think over. Osborne was the best employer they could imagine.

 

Salary and benefits were secondary; the key was that Osborne could genuinely create and share the wealth.

 

The two exchanged glances, made a decision, smiled, and set down their pens.

 

"Are we really just signing in this virtual world?"

 

Hearing this, Harry smiled and snapped his fingers.

 

A line of small text appeared before Halliday and Moreau: **Exit the frame?**

 

They both selected "yes."

 

.....

 

With the signing of the agreement, Osborne now had an innovative network company focused on virtual world operations.

 

As everyone walked toward the conference room door, Moreau suddenly turned to Halliday and said, "Do you still want Kara's contact information?"

 

This question halted Halliday. He was a shy person, and personal inquiries were always particularly daunting for someone like him.

 

He felt a bit helpless.

 

Harry found the scene amusing: in the movie, Halliday had a crush on someone but never took the leap.

 

Now, this scenario was intriguing because Kara was not even a "person."

 

Harry said, "If you're interested, I can help you—but Kara is a synthetic being."

 

The term "synthetic human" stunned both of them. They hadn't expected something so sci-fi.

 

Seeing their reaction, Harry smiled. "So you see, imagination has its boundaries. I always believe that imagination merely supplements our understanding of the unknown aspects of reality. Sometimes, that's interesting and useful.

 

So should you continue to imagine what kind of person Kara is, or should you find her yourself to discover the truth?"

 

Halliday looked at Harry, then at his friend Moreau, who was winking at him.

 

"Then… it's up to you."

 

---

Chapter 210: Spartan Plan

 

The emergence of innovative network companies has caused great turmoil in the Internet world.

 

This new form of entertainment has nearly wiped out all traditional social networking companies in an instant, and the low price has everyone eagerly anticipating the day when the virtual warehouse is officially released.

 

A set of entry-level equipment costs about 500 credits, but the credits can only be exchanged at banks certified by the Osborne-Stark Banking Association, which is about $4,999 in U.S. dollars.

 

These banks offer low-interest loans, with very relaxed certification conditions. You can secure such a loan as long as you have a job.

 

On the other hand, it is not very cost-effective to exchange money for credits. You can earn 100 credits by completing the free holographic engineering introductory course at Osborne. Additionally, if you participate in a small infrastructure construction project at Osborne, you can earn an extra 300 credit points on top of your regular salary.

 

As for machine production, Harry is still keeping it under control because this equipment is not simple.

 

First, the neural access technology of this virtual warehouse is unique to Osborne, and Harry has no plans to relinquish his monopoly for the time being.

 

To prevent the stimulating virtual world within the virtual warehouse from raising the excitement threshold of users, the virtual warehouse will actually suppress the user's hormone secretion.

 

Secondly, there is a part engraved with runes in the virtual warehouse. This part has an emotional regulating effect and is used to supplement the user experience lost due to insufficient hormone secretion.

 

The key is:

 

The semi-biological electronic brain built into the virtual warehouse has a special organ that can produce weak psychic energy—this is the most peculiar aspect of the entire framework technology.

 

The framework provides a technology that uses psychic energy to strengthen connections. As long as users are within range, they can interact in the framework world without delay.

 

In other words, this is a means of faster-than-light communication.

 

Thus, the production of virtual warehouses involves too many mysterious technologies, and it is not yet time for these technologies to be fully disclosed.

 

Moreover, Harry discovered that using Osborne's power supply, the framework world constructed by these virtual warehouses can also have a strange connection with him, allowing him to travel between the two worlds without using the virtual warehouses.

 

Although he doesn't know the details yet, his sixth sense tells him that this connection is not dangerous and could even be beneficial.

 

Perhaps he will know the answer when there are more users.

 

"Boss, the synthetic factory is operating normally, and the virtual reality warehouse can complete delivery. But everyone seems more interested in the outside world," Kara reported from the side.

 

The synthetics are still managing the affairs of the synthetics. I only need to observe from the sidelines and ensure no major issues arise.

 

The synthetic factory referred to here has two meanings: one is a factory that manufactures synthetic humans, and the other is a factory led by synthetic humans, such as the current virtual reality warehouse factory.

 

They are much less sensitive to psychic powers and are more closely tied to Osborne, making them ideal for producing sensitive products.

 

Harry nodded. "Very good—you can start your normal vacation after passing Oyce's course. How is Halliday doing?"

 

Oyce and A jointly arranged the education of these synthetics. In this regard, Harry could only choose to believe that the two AIs could provide good guidance.

 

After all, he is a human being, and there are many things that he cannot truly understand from the perspective of a synthetic human.

 

Kara thought for a moment and said, "I don't know if it's a good thing to disclose this to him now... but his reaction is not what I expected."

 

The history class taught her that humans usually respond with a vigilant attitude when encountering the unknown—this is also a biological instinct. It is difficult for species that carelessly come into contact with unfamiliar targets to survive.

 

However, with the development of human civilization, many humans no longer have this vigilance, and curiosity often overwhelms caution.

 

This is a mixed blessing.

 

Harry hadn't expected Halliday to be interested in Kara, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

If synthetic humans were exposed to the public eye now, it would cause greater repercussions. It would have been difficult to suppress public doubts about mechanical labor, but now there is another synthetic human?

 

Then Norman is really going to have a big headache.

 

But for someone with Halliday's imagination, dating a synth doesn't seem that difficult.

 

If the two can come together... that wouldn't be bad. Let them get closer; perhaps Halliday will also develop a desire to create due to this relationship, producing works that can change people's perceptions and help synthetics integrate into society.

 

Harry said, "That's not bad—curiosity is the best driving force for understanding something. He is curious about you, and you are curious about him, which is a good start.

 

I remember you had the best grades in the course. Go and make contact with him this weekend—if you want."

 

Time will tell whether the interaction between the two can yield positive results.

 

After finishing up with adult matters, Harry told Kara to take a break.

 

Now it's time to consider the situation of the Mars mission team.

 

"Ois, help me add a batch of virtual reality warehouses to the next launch vehicle."

 

The Synth Factory will be able to produce 500 virtual reality chambers by next week, half of which are military models and will be sent to H.A.M.M.E.R. as training equipment.

 

Military models require cables to be inserted into the spine for a better simulation effect.

 

The other half consists of civilian warehouses that use electrostatic stimulation to activate nerves and connect the user to the warehouse. The degree of simulation is lower, but it is entirely sufficient.

 

This part of the capsules will be sent to Mars to test the communication distance of the current version of the psychic network.

 

According to the system, as the distance in space increases, this technology will be affected by various forces escaping in the universe, resulting in weakened communication.

 

You have to test the limits of this technology yourself.

 

The manned spacecraft "New World," used for the Mars mission, will arrive at Mars in about 7 days. The cargo ship is faster than the New World. The cargo ship launched together has been orbiting Mars for some time.

 

It turns out that the road to the stars is much more challenging than starting a virtual reality company on Earth.

 

I still have to prepare for the star base for a while. As expected, the Space Resources Development Agency should own 60% of the solar system base, and Osborne will own the rest.

 

In the solar system, other countries would definitely not allow Harry to control stars like this, but after all, the technology basically came from Osborne, so it is not unreasonable to say that.

 

It's up to them how to allocate the 60%. As for the United States, as long as Norman is still in office, Osborne can allocate some of the 40% to them.

 

But they have no control over other galaxies and can build star bases as they wish.

 

As for other countries, they do not yet have this technology, and they will have to wait at least several decades before they can take this step.

 

After the new port is established, he can construct larger spaceships in space, and the powerful weapons developed by Tinker will also have a place to be utilized.

 

And the power needs to continue to increase.

 

The spaceship must be paired with an interstellar army. Now it's time to upgrade the soldiers to the next stage.

 

Genetic modification, terminal viruses, active enhancers... I have mastered many bio-enhancement technologies, and now it is time to officially develop a stable, Osborne version of the super soldier plan.

 

Knocking on the table, Harry said, "Ois, create a new project under Project Ares—let Frank select 50 good brothers. This time it is a top-secret project."

 

"Okay, sir, how should I name this project?"

 

"Project Spartan."

 

---

Chapter 211: Virtual War

 

The equipment currently used by Frank and the others has given them superhuman combat capabilities.

 

Neural link exoskeleton armor enhances strength, a body hormone control system improves reaction ability, jetpacks, gliding boots, and spider silk launchers boost mobility, and tactical assistance AI and Green Goblin drones are tailored for each person. They also have various advanced weapons, as well as Titans.

 

This equipment is enough to allow them to navigate anywhere in the world, even when facing the Avengers.

 

If the Avengers don't include Thor and Hulk, they could even overwhelm the remaining Avengers.

 

Such a crushing battle could easily make people relax.

 

In Harry's opinion, the most outstanding thing about these soldiers, called pilots, was not their fancy equipment but their terrifying sense of self-discipline.

 

After all, not all pilots have been bio-enhanced. At most, they only have a few prosthetic limbs. So what makes them stand out?

 

It's training day after day and brutal battle after brutal battle.

 

Obviously, the Osborne quick reaction force, accustomed to fighting with the wind, does not have these two conditions. Although Harry has only recruited these people from soldiers with outstanding merits, this will inevitably lead to some slacking.

 

Of course, some people are born soldiers and are always good at fighting.

 

Like the Punisher, that's who he is.

 

Before undergoing enhancement, Harry still needs to screen out the best among these people through the virtual reality chamber.

 

On the plane, Harry stood in front of ten elite soldiers and examined their mental conditions.

 

"You are my best soldiers, and that's why you were chosen here.

 

But it was Frank who chose you, not me. Now is the time to prove your ability—

 

As the first batch of airdrop troops, you will clear out ground threats, dismantle Covenant air defense devices, and pave the way for the second batch of airdrop troops.

 

Until then, there are no Titans or reinforcements—just you!

 

Check equipment and prepare for airborne—"

 

The Covenant is a theocratic alien nation composed of various alien races. They have a technological level that far exceeds that of Earthlings. Since the two sides came into contact, thousands of Earthlings have died in their racial purification war.

 

As soon as the words fell, the deck beneath the soldiers opened. The airdrop pod was shaken violently by the howling wind. Adrenaline surged violently. Everyone clenched the weapons in their hands.

 

The communication channel was extremely silent, and only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.

 

"3, 2, 1...drop!"

 

Boom!

 

Thousands of airdrop pods left the ship's hull at the same time, turning into meteors as they fell toward the ground.

 

Almost instantly, the green laser weapons penetrated the clouds!

 

This battle is a simulation Harry created in virtual reality. The so-called orbital airborne division will continue to die as the battle progresses.

 

If these ten soldiers cannot achieve the tactical purpose in the battle, these thousands of virtual soldiers will be wiped out within an hour.

 

Part of the soldiers' memories, including Frank's, has been blocked. They will not remember that they are in virtual reality. This is the best selection method now.

 

Sitting in the airplane cabin, Harry began to watch each of them from their perspectives.

 

...

 

Boom!

 

The first step of the mission was completed. Frank's team all successfully passed through the laser air defense network and landed in the forest near the Covenant base.

 

This first step is not easy, and about 30% of participants die at this stage.

 

"We are the first to step into hell," someone in the communication channel silently encouraged himself.

 

Several Covenant soldiers happened to be at the landing point, and their plasma weapons were aimed at these airdrop pods.

 

The Green Goblin aircraft was the first to pop out, raining orange bullets and rockets into the encirclement. However, the aircraft's ordinary bullets had a poor shielding effect against the Covenant soldiers.

 

Frank's team took the opportunity to pop out of the cabin, rolled, and hid behind the airdrop cabin. The Gauss rifle's spiked armor-piercing bullets easily tore through the shield and opened fire on the Covenant soldiers.

 

"Billy, report the situation," Frank communicated with his AI immediately.

 

The Green Goblin aircraft, in the sky, had a panoramic view of the surrounding situation.

 

"There are two teams fighting 300 meters away—Scarab tanks!"

 

Boom!

 

"The aircraft was destroyed!"

 

The Scarab tank is a heavy unit of the Covenant, and they cannot effectively attack the Titans without being able to airdrop them.

 

Unless they can capture the Covenant's plasma turret.

 

Frank shouted, "Move! There are friendly forces fighting 12 meters away from 300 o'clock. Let's go around from the flank and attack the turret behind them, then take out the Scarab!"

 

Several team members shot out spider silk and flew through the forest.

 

With the assistance of jetpacks, these soldiers used spider silk to move three-dimensionally with great efficiency.

 

Due to their ultra-high mobility, even though the Covenant's weapons were very lethal, they couldn't really hit Frank's team. Instead, they were stunned by their ghostly shooting skills.

 

Bypassing the bloody frontal battlefield, the bunker was not far away.

 

"Grenade throw!"

 

The arc star drew a beautiful blue arc and pierced the Covenant soldiers next to the fort. Taking advantage of the dizziness caused by the explosion, Frank and the others fell from the sky!

 

After a few gunshots, Frank successfully captured the plasma turret.

 

At this moment, the Scarab tank also realized something was wrong and turned its muzzle this way.

 

"Frankie, get out of the way!" Curtis shouted from the side.

 

But Frank gritted his teeth and forced the turret to point at the Scarab tank!

 

Boom!

 

The green plasma melted a big hole in the tank, but the turret used by Frank was also hit, and the explosion's aftermath knocked him several meters away.

 

"Ahem... not bad," Frank coughed and got up from the ground.

 

Harry in the cabin saw this scene and thought that the equipment he had given them was too good. In the background story, the Covenant could easily crush human troops.

 

But looking at it from another perspective, not all Earth soldiers have matching exoskeletons and aircraft. After all, Hell Paratroopers are truly ordinary people who do not have these powerful exoskeletons and aircraft.

 

But Harry wasn't too worried; after all, a battle of this scale would test many things.

 

After thinking about it, Harry increased the firepower of the Covenant. Frank on the ground found that the death rate of his friendly troops suddenly accelerated.

 

This allowed the whole team to recover from this small victory.

 

They blew up one Scarab tank, but there were hundreds of Scarab tanks on the battlefield, and not all of them were as well-equipped as they were.

 

"Continue to act and report consumption."

 

Frank looked at the laser anti-aircraft array that had been firing in the distance and the countless Covenant soldiers and felt powerless in his heart:

 

This is a mission without retreat, and judging from the current situation, they have fallen into a disadvantage.

 

---

Chapter 212: Spartan Warriors

 

More than ten minutes later, 11,810 of the 7,102 Covenant soldiers remained.

 

A total of 24,098 human soldiers were deployed, and 8,902 remained. The exaggerated casualty ratio was shocking.

 

Frank pulled out the plasma blade from the Covenant soldier's head. The team had run out of ammunition and could only use the plasma blade and grab the Covenant soldier's weapon.

 

After a wave of enemies were eliminated, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed not far away. They had penetrated deep into the Covenant fortress.

 

The sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams were endless, and Frank felt like he was back in Afghanistan, on the night he was sent on a death mission.

 

The difference was that it was night in Afghanistan and he couldn't see anything. Now the surroundings were very bright, but he didn't know how many enemies there were or how far he had to go.

 

But he had long been accustomed to this situation.

 

With only four people left in the ten-man team, he knew he had to move on.

 

Taking off the dog tags of his teammates who died in battle, Frank headed deeper into the base.

 

.....

 

The entire test did not require the soldiers to complete this task but was designed to test whether the soldiers' on-the-spot abilities had deteriorated.

 

These ten virtual warehouses were all created by Harry himself. If you die in the virtual warehouse, it will cause a massive blow to the nervous system. If you are continuously hit by this kind of impact in a short period of time, it will result in irreversible damage to consciousness and nerves.

 

After these soldiers "die" on the battlefield, their bodies will convulse violently, and the virtual cabin will activate emergency medical measures. Once their physical conditions stabilize, they will be transferred to a nearby medical cabin for recovery.

 

Facts proved that the good brothers brought by Frank were all excellent fighters.

 

Through psychic abilities and the special design of these warehouses, Harry could directly "observe" their level of consciousness, and no one had a decrease in consciousness due to fear or other emotions.

 

Moreover, because the enemy was an alien, the consciousness level of some soldiers was even much higher than usual.

 

This situation mostly occurred among believers. Harry was uncertain whether these warriors would resist his orders in future missions because of their "faith," so he temporarily removed them from the first batch of enhancement lists.

 

Frank's performance remained the best, showcasing his fighting will and combat ability.

 

The team he led was the only one that successfully destroyed the entire anti-aircraft array and completed the tactical objective, even though only three people survived in the end.

 

Frank looked at his comrades who were vomiting and had diarrhea and said, "Boss, this game console is too perverted."

 

"This is not a game console; it is a real training device. If they enter the warehouse and die again now, they will really die."

 

Harry's words stunned Frank—he thought this reaction was just a feeling like seasickness, but it seemed that the consequences were much more serious than he imagined.

 

But this was better than actually dying on a battlefield like that.

 

After resting for a while, the staggering soldiers returned to normal, but their faces remained pale. Death in such a realistic scene took time to recover from the damage to consciousness.

 

"Real alien war doesn't feel right," Harry said.

 

Fifty people, five teams, only three people survived. It certainly didn't feel good that only one team completed the mission.

 

"But that's something we have to face up to."

 

Needless to say, Harry, the virtual reality not only simulated the scene but also instilled in them the background of the war.

 

This allowed them to experience the fragility of human beings more personally than if they learned about these things from paper or electronic media.

 

"That's why I called you here. Just as Dr. Erskine chose Steve Rogers, I have chosen you.

 

Osborn has his own super-soldier program, which isn't entirely safe.

 

And once you accept the transformation, Osborn will sign a special contract with you, which will impose many restrictions on your freedom."

 

Everyone looked at each other.

 

Many American soldiers were deceived by recruitment propaganda related to Captain America. After the battle, some admired Captain America even more, while others had different opinions.

 

But this did not affect their understanding of the meaning of this passage.

 

"It's like Dr. Erskine selected Steve Rogers." In a sense, this is the modern mythological scene of the USA.

 

After a brief silence, Frank stepped forward.

 

He didn't know what others thought, but he recognized Harry as his boss.

 

Harry resurrected his family, saved his dying child, and helped him deal with the person who killed his wife. These things were enough for him to follow Harry wholeheartedly.

 

Moreover, so far, he had never seen Harry do anything harmful to the world. Most of the time, he was still saving the Earth. From a practical or emotional perspective, he had no reason to refuse.

 

As Frank stepped out of the queue, another 32 people followed him.

 

Some of the remaining individuals were dismissed by Harry because they were believers, while others simply wanted to maintain the status quo and did not wish to become super-soldiers.

 

"Very good—if all of you show up, it will make me doubt Frank's vision," Harry said with a smile.

 

Even if these people did not participate in the Spartan Project, they were still pilot-level warriors, and it was more than enough to serve in the Osborn Private Arms Contracting Company.

 

Thirty-three people was a considerable number, and Harry would personally enhance their bodies.

 

With Oyce's help, the job wouldn't be too difficult.

 

First, he would uniformly genetically modify these subjects, adding all five genetic traits that Harry currently possessed to them, and then perform Spartan biological modification surgery on them.

 

The first step was to strengthen the bones and implant carbonized ceramics into the bones to make them indestructible and able to withstand tens of tons of pressure.

 

Next, a protein complex would be injected into the muscles to enhance muscle density; the five-sense nervous system would be modified to replace biological nerves with superconducting nerve fibers.

 

Since these individuals were much stronger than ordinary humans after genetic modification, the effect of biomodification surgery would exceed expectations.

 

Then, an appropriate amount of the Extremis virus would be injected into the subject's body, prompting the cells to produce high-energy sulfate bond energy storage substances that could store higher energy. The virus-modified cell fluid environment could stabilize these higher-energy chemical substances, and when needed, they would explode with energy several times that of phosphate bonds.

 

So far, many subjects had experienced discomfort during this process, but Harry also had active enhancers on hand, which could effectively help the experimental subjects get through the early stages of transformation.

 

There were constant screams in the laboratory throughout the process, and Harry had been using his psychic abilities to monitor their consciousness.

 

Fortunately, in the end, all 33 people survived the reconstruction surgery without any danger, and no one experienced life-threatening adverse reactions; their level of consciousness never changed.

 

It turns out that there may be only one Steve Rogers, but that doesn't mean the remaining billions of people are all weaklings.

 

A week later, Frank walked out of the enhanced warehouse. This scene was quite similar to Captain America walking out of the enhancement facility.

 

"How do you feel?"

 

Harry smiled; Frank looked great.

 

The new Spartan clenched his fist, feeling as if he could kill an elephant with one punch.

 

"Always ready to fight, boss."

 

---

Chapter 213: Full Attack

 

The Spartan Project is highly confidential, but the electricity used by this operation is equivalent to New York's total electricity consumption over the past two years.

 

For this reason, Max even called Harry during the experiment to ask if there was a fault in the power grid.

 

In fact, if Harry hadn't introduced more than 30 new elements into the reactor, New York might have experienced a blackout.

 

If converted into money, Harry couldn't bear to spend so much at once, but in terms of resources, Osborn is now as wealthy as any nation—not just a small country.

 

Osborn's profit margins may decrease in the future, but the resources and technologies at its disposal will only increase.

 

Now that the enhancement techniques have been successful, it's time to find some practice partners for them.

 

"Agent Coulson, how's your work progressing?" Harry contacted Coulson, who was out on a mission.

 

"Is SHIELD's integration status still with Whitehall?" Coulson asked with a professional smile.

 

"Come one by one."

 

The recruitment of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents is not particularly difficult. With Fury's approval and Coulson, a senior agent, handling it, plus the endorsement of countries around the world, the process was straightforward.

 

These agents are screened using virtual reality technology, and then Harry gives them two choices: join H.A.M.M.E.R. agents, or resign and return home.

 

Given the current situation, more people choose to resign and go home. After all, after going through so much, this is understandable.

 

It doesn't bother Harry at all. Most of them have special skills and knowledge, and Osborn can easily find suitable jobs for them.

 

The recruitment of SHIELD Academy, which Harry was most concerned about, did not face many difficulties. On the contrary, judging from the situation, they seemed eager to engage in scientific research at Osborn.

 

This isn't particularly surprising. Many of these researchers just wanted to work with advanced technology. With SHIELD being a leader in human technology, many joined for that reason.

 

Now, Osborn represents the pinnacle of high-tech advancements. Working at Osborn allows them to focus on research while maintaining some distance from agent activities.

 

This influx of talent is significant, and Harry doesn't need them to follow his people in the field. He only needs them to conduct research or teach.

 

Overall, things went smoothly.

 

After receiving the report, Harry said, "Thank you, Agent. You did a good job."

 

Coulson paused. During his training under Fury, Fury used to say the same thing.

 

He continued, "Whitehall was last seen 10 days ago. They have withdrawn most of their manpower and technology, and the location of the Arctic Circle base has been confirmed."

 

Harry had left a little time for them to pack up, and it seemed they had almost completed their preparations—just in time to catch them all.

 

The Arctic Hydra base is nearly a super-large bunker. They have constructed a well-fortified fortress outside the main operational area.

 

The Osborn Group's space station does not pass over the North Pole, so its coverage does not include it. To reach the location, they have to rely on H.A.M.M.E.R.

 

In the past, attempting to deploy H.A.M.M.E.R. and the army to the Arctic Circle would have drawn strong condemnation from the international community and caused public panic.

 

But not anymore.

 

Harry reclined in his chair and nodded, "Very good, Agent. Your mission is complete. Go back and take a vacation—I know you have a cello-playing girlfriend."

 

Coulson's cello-playing girlfriend is unaware of his continued existence, as it was Fury's request.

 

But now, it seems Harry has no intention of keeping that secret—

 

Then again, the Avengers knew Coulson was still alive and used that to earn their trust. What's the point of continuing the pretense?

 

As for that Hydra base, if Harry Osborn wants to act against an organization on Earth, no one can stop him.

 

"I'm starting to like you as a boss—Fury doesn't give me much time off, but I've applied to join the military operation against the Hydra base."

 

"You're not a bad employee, and you know how to take the initiative to work overtime." Harry smiled, "I approved it. The person I've sent is an 'old friend' of yours, so don't be too surprised."

 

.....

 

Hydra's Arctic base is located in an icy wasteland.

 

Here, even the best stealth technology cannot evade radar detection due to the desolate environment; any anomaly is extremely noticeable.

 

Thus, Harry didn't plan to send only one or two teams to deal with them. It would be unnecessary and not cost-effective.

 

Whitehall at the base is directing his men to handle research facilities and data, preparing for their escape.

 

This situation always reminds him of the defeat decades ago, which is uncomfortable.

 

However, considering the situation from another perspective, despite their past defeat, they have continued to develop.

 

Thinking this way, he felt somewhat better, but the next moment, his security chief Bakshi hurriedly approached him.

 

"Dr. Whitehall, the radar... there are many targets on the radar!"

 

Whitehall looked intently at the equipment in Bakshi's hand. There were many targets—an army!

 

Fighters, armed helicopters, aircraft carriers, powered armor...

 

"Fire and hold them back as long as possible. The submarine will be launched soon." Whitehall's face remained stoic as he issued orders to his men.

 

It will take some time to move all the valuables to the evacuation submarine.

 

But his escape submarine is already prepared.

 

Whitehall turned around to leave when a loud explosion suddenly erupted from above the base!

 

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

 

The base seemed to have been hit by more than a dozen heavy bombs. The deafening noise unsettled the Hydras, causing everyone to stop their work.

 

In the vast base, only the computers continued to run and hum.

 

Boom—Boom!

 

In an instant, green plasma penetrated the protective layers of cement, soil, and steel plates outside the bunker, turning the outer layer into a sieve!

 

Within moments, the plasma railgun had breached the outer armor of the base!

 

Seeing the Titans using their plasma railguns to effortlessly blast through the solid bunker, Ward, wearing GP armor, swallowed hard.

 

After breaching the bunker, Titan carried his weapon behind his back, expanded the hole significantly with his bare hands, and then waved toward them, the original Hydras in GP armor.

 

Some may truly be devoted to Hydra, but those individuals were sentenced to death by the International Military Tribunal.

 

Many here are not "disciples of the Red Skull," and directly behind them, the black muzzles of several legion-level Titans were aimed at them.

 

After glancing at the commands on the display screen, Ward was the first to move—honestly, the current situation felt no different from when he was commanded by Hydra.

 

Anyway, the task remains the same: eliminate the hostile targets in the base and capture it.

 

---