"Hello, White Devil," Thomas, the manager of the Midnight Hotel, raised his glass to Zod.
"What is that?" Zod asked, perplexed, as he sipped from a glass of absinthe.
The mellow taste and intoxicating aroma filled his senses.
"Don't you know? It's the awe from your colleagues for your powerful strength. You've earned your own nickname," Thomas replied with a smile, clinking glasses with Zod in congratulations.
"It doesn't sound very good," Zod mused, unimpressed. "Something more straightforward, like 'Grim Reaper,' would be better."
After completing five high-reward missions in quick succession, Zod had become a living legend at the Midnight Hotel and in the broader assassin world. The lack of preparation time between missions only heightened the mystique around his achievements, and even seasoned killers thought twice before challenging him.
Zod was in high spirits. Earning over $10 million in such a short period and becoming a multi-millionaire was definitely a reason to celebrate. Though, he reminded himself, in a capitalist country like the U.S., multi-millionaires were not rare.
In his spare time, Zod had another project in mind: crafting stronger armor for himself. Back on Krypton, Zod had been programmed as a researcher. His inquisitive mind led him to study topics of personal interest, particularly in materials science. During his life, he'd befriended General Zod and others in the Kryptonian military, though the bonds he'd hoped to leverage for his own gain were now long gone.
The armor he currently wore was his own creation. It was made from a super alloy he'd forged, extracting metals from Krypton and combining them with various alien minerals. Zod, with a touch of dark humor, named this alloy "Kryptonite Steel." It was exceptionally durable, heat-resistant, and tough—far more resilient than the armor worn by General Zod's forces during their infamous battles.
Kryptonite Steel had another advantage: its ability to absorb energy and repair itself. Zod didn't necessarily expect his armor to increase his combat prowess, but he wanted something sturdy enough that he wouldn't have to worry about it getting damaged mid-fight.
As for the idea of wearing the same skintight suit as Superman? Zod cringed at the thought. He wasn't one for spandex.
He had come to the Midnight Hotel today to tap into its resources and connections, specifically to source vibranium. While vibranium was most famously linked to Wakanda, Zod knew it wasn't exclusive to that region. There were rumors of smuggling operations, and even Ultron had been able to acquire enough to build a body. Zod was confident he could get his hands on some as well.
Thomas raised an eyebrow when Zod mentioned vibranium. "Vibranium? That rare alloy from Africa? It's incredibly scarce, though the supply has been increasing recently."
"How much does it cost?" Zod asked, unfazed.
"Ten thousand dollars per gram, at the base price. But it often sells for much more."
Zod nodded, contemplating the cost. "I have over eight million dollars in my account. How much can I buy with that?"
After a quick phone call, Thomas returned with an answer. "Five hundred grams, max."
Zod had expected the steep price, but it was still jarring. No wonder Tony Stark didn't have vibranium armor. Even for someone like Stark, the costs could be astronomical.
Two days later, Zod left the Midnight Hotel with a small box of vibranium in hand. The hotel's efficiency impressed him, solidifying his suspicion that Hydra had some involvement in its operations.
Upon returning to his newly finished villa, Zod immediately went down to the basement, where he had set up a studio and research lab. There, he began studying the properties of the vibranium.
The hardness of vibranium wasn't on par with Kryptonite Steel, but its unique energy-absorbing qualities made it invaluable. Vibranium could absorb vibration energy and store it within its molecular bonds, making it incredibly tough once charged. The only question was: did vibranium have a limit? Could it absorb so much energy that it would explode? That was something Zod hoped to figure out.
Kryptonite Steel, on the other hand, was resistant to all sorts of attacks—heat, cold, corrosion, and kinetic energy. Its structure was incredibly stable and resistant to high-frequency vibrations.
"I only have a pound of vibranium," Zod muttered, frustrated. "Not nearly enough to conduct meaningful research."
If Zod could figure out the perfect ratio between Kryptonite Steel and vibranium, he believed he could create indestructible armor. He also had a keen interest in the Adamantium alloys, both the original and the "true" versions. Unfortunately, without mutants in this world, acquiring liquefied true Adamantium was impossible. The original Adamantium was only available through the U.S. military, and even that was extremely rare. For now, the inferior secondary Adamantium was the standard in circulation.
"So, I need more money," Zod concluded. He needed a larger supply of vibranium, and with Ultron not yet in the picture, he had some time before the market got too competitive.
Pulling out his black market phone, he glanced at the new job listings. There were more than enough high-paying jobs available, as if people were getting killed left and right.
Then Zod noticed something interesting—a mission that named him specifically.
With his growing fame, it was becoming common for clients to request him by name. What was unusual about this mission was the hefty reward: seven million dollars, just for eliminating a single target.
Zod reviewed the details. The target was a drug dealer, set to go to prison soon. However, just before his sentencing, the dealer revealed that he had dirt on Wilson Grant Fisk—aka the Kingpin—and was set to testify in court the next day.
"Fisk, huh?" Zod smirked. "This could be interesting."