"Please compare the products of the two industrial giants."
Tony Stark's Stark Industries shifted its focus to the new energy field after the closure of its weapons division. It became the world leader in clean energy, holding numerous patents and theoretically having access to an endless flow of money.
But there was a major hurdle: the difficulty of popularizing clean energy.
Tony Stark first had to contend with resistance from Middle Eastern oil magnates and various old energy tycoons. It's important to note that these oil barons were often tied to American consortiums. They weren't willing to let their wealth shrink or risk bankruptcy without a fight. If Stark wasn't under the protection of S.H.I.E.L.D., he would likely have been assassinated by now, and new energy development would have been taken over by someone else.
Secondly, the introduction of new energy would cause global job losses tied to the old energy industry. How many workers would be affected?
Then there were the students studying old energy technologies and management, the schools established to teach this knowledge, the teachers employed, and even the industries—like automobile manufacturing—that depended on old energy. The livelihood of these industries, the people employed, and their families was massive. For humanity to adopt new energy, it would have to be a gradual process, likely spanning at least four generations.
And this four-generation timeline is optimistic. As previously mentioned, the old energy tycoons wouldn't just sit back and let their assets shrink or face bankruptcy. They would mobilize people in their industries to protest and sabotage the new energy initiatives of Stark Industries. In a more realistic scenario, the transition to new energy might take five or six generations.
It's not that humanity doesn't understand the benefits of new energy—it's that they're unwilling to accept it.
This is why Zod didn't bother with new energy; it was too much trouble. Instead, he focused on producing materials and weapons, making quick profits.
He registered the patent for the miniature arc reactor, but he wasn't planning to sell new energy technology.
This decision explains how Blade Industries quickly caught up with, and even surpassed, Stark Industries.
"Boss, you're incredibly powerful and a genius, but don't get lost in your research all the time."
Uuld rarely left Zod's side after witnessing his work ethic. She admired Zod's spirit, but she also felt helpless and worried.
For Uuld, the helplessness stemmed from her inability to get closer to Zod outside of work. She was also worried that his relentless focus on research might negatively affect his health.
"Uuld, there are a lot of people out there who want me dead. If I go out, I'll only cause trouble. I might as well stay in the lab."
Zod shook his head. Like Tony Stark's work in new energy, Zod's creation of the War Machine had angered many military-industrial leaders, and they wanted him dead. While Zod didn't particularly care, he wasn't interested in getting involved with ordinary people either.
Uuld found this logic reasonable; safety was indeed a concern.
Although Zod was regarded as a driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution, history had shown that many world-changing scientists had met mysterious and untimely deaths.
"By the way, what's the status on Emil Blonsky?"
Zod asked suddenly.
Emil Blonsky, as a villain, was also a super soldier capable of physically fighting the Hulk for a few rounds. If Zod could capture him and experiment with the super animal serum, he'd have a powerful new subordinate.
More importantly, Zod believed that the villains of the Marvel world carried a certain "villain aura," meaning they were less likely to face complications.
"He has accepted our invitation," Uuld replied. No one could refuse Blade Industries. The resumes of various experts eager to work there were mind-blowing.
Lately, Zod had expressed interest in recruiting talent in biotechnology, so Uuld had been busy contacting top bioengineering experts.
Emil Blonsky, flattered by Blade Industries' invitation, had quickly accepted.
Within two days, Zod met the man himself.
Emil Blonsky, a former special forces commando, was visibly surprised to meet Zod in person. He hadn't expected to lay eyes on the genius who had influenced the world so dramatically.
Zod looked young. According to the available information, Zod Heath was only 20 years old—a prodigy beyond description.
As a Kryptonian who had absorbed sunlight, Zod wasn't concerned about his lifespan. He had casually filled in a random number when asked for his age.
"Mr. Blonsky, would you like to join Blade Industries?"
Zod asked with a smile.
"It would be a great honor, Mr. Heath," Blonsky responded immediately.
Though he wondered why he had been chosen.
Zod knew Blonsky craved power and a return to the battlefield. Blonsky was aging and could no longer maintain peak physical condition to fight. As a pure combat enthusiast, Blonsky had never married, had no children, and no lover.
"Our company has recently made groundbreaking advances in biological experiments. We invited you because you fit the criteria we've been looking for in our human power enhancement project."
Zod explained, though he didn't mention his secondary goal: recruiting Hydra's top male model.
For now, the Serpent Society still had to remain in hiding, lest Hydra discover them and decide to eliminate them. After all, Zod wanted the Serpent Society to be protected by Hydra, so outsiders would only see Hydra and not the Serpent Society.
Blonsky's breathing became rapid.
What was Blade Industries best known for?
Of course, it was the two groundbreaking products they had developed. Either one of them was enough to secure a place in history, to be studied by future students, and to become a monument to human progress.
Like the second-generation kryptonite alloy, now called Heath alloy or Zod alloy.
The War Machine was an exception; after all, no one calls the atomic bomb the "Einstein Bomb."
Now, Blade Industries claimed they had made epoch-making advancements in biological experimentation?
Blonsky had never imagined he would be lucky enough to witness such an event.
He cooperatively submitted himself for experimentation.
The lycanthrope created by the second-generation super animal serum no longer resembled any known Earth species. It looked monstrous but was far superior to the first-generation animalized soldiers.
After Blonsky was injected with the super animal serum, he was placed in a culture tank.