Skyward (First Update)

Old Wang chuckled.

Now, across the entire United States, anyone even remotely well-informed knew that General Ross had been hunting Hulk for five years, trying to clean up the mess he had created himself.

If he had put that kind of persistence into chasing girls, even an iceberg would have been moved, and you would have become one of the glorious backup options…

The Super Soldier Program he had overseen had produced no results, yet it had created a freak. The direct losses exceeded 500 million dollars, the indirect losses were impossible to calculate, and countless lives had been lost. No matter how powerful General Ross’s connections were, he could not withstand that.

Otherwise, he would not have given up his military career and turned toward politics.

Ten Air Force Ones with a single opening of his mouth—a full one-billion-dollar order. General Ross certainly had guts. More importantly, he had money.

The problem was, it was useless!

Forget ten.

Even a thousand Air Force Ones would not be able to harm a single hair on Hulk’s body. General Ross, you were wasting your money. It hurt me just to think about it…

Old Wang smiled faintly. "Hulk?"

Talbot remained silent.

This was a secret known to the entire nation, and also the biggest scar in General Ross’s heart. What was Director Wang trying to accomplish by tearing it open in person?

"I’ve read Hulk’s files. His skin is tough, his strength is boundless, and even the military’s air-to-ground missiles are useless against him."

Old Wang said with a smile, "Air Force One’s weapons systems won’t be stronger than those of an F35 fighter, so they’re useless against Hulk. I suggest directly purchasing Air Force Model 2 or Air Force Three. Azeroth Industries can make targeted modifications, with emphasis on boosting their offensive power."

Talbot fell silent for a full minute.

The reason for purchasing Air Force One was actually its speed and maneuverability.

Although Hulk was a strength-type hero, he was extremely fast. His highest known jump exceeded one hundred meters, and his strength surpassed fifty tons. That was only what he had displayed so far; clearly, it was not his limit.

To capture Hulk, they first had to catch up to him and keep him occupied.

Based on the past five years of experience, Hulk had always stayed in populated areas. Wide-area weapons with excessive destructive power could not be used there, so Iron Soldiers were more convenient.

After the purchase, Air Force One would certainly be modified with weapons that had special effects, such as freezing, fire, and high-powered lasers.

However, while the Air Force Weapons Development Department was decent, its weapons development capabilities definitely could not compare with Azeroth Industries. If Director Wang was willing to make modifications according to their requirements, that would naturally be even better.

Thinking this through, Talbot hurriedly called his superior. Only after receiving authorization did he look at Old Wang. "Five Air Force Threes, modified according to our requirements. Delivery within three months."

Old Wang was delighted.

Air Force One cost one hundred million dollars each, while Air Force Three cost three hundred million each. This alone added another five hundred million dollars, not to mention the modifications, which would also bring in a substantial sum.

"Rest assured, General. Azeroth Industries has plenty of good things, such as the ‘Ex-Wife’ missile."

Old Wang mentioned it casually without elaborating.

Having once been a keyboard warrior for a time in his life before last, Old Wang had mastered Qidian’s art of ending chapters at the crucial point. He only said half of what needed to be said, making Talbot’s mouth twitch as he protested fiercely inside.

How could this man be like this? Just how powerful was the "Ex-Wife" missile?

Seeing Old Wang maintain a smiling silence, Talbot could only nod helplessly. "I hope it will be a surprise."

With that, he turned and left.

He was currently the commander of an air force base in Puerto Rico. He had far too much to do and no time to waste.

Old Wang smiled and called out loudly at Talbot’s retreating back, "General Talbot, if General Ross needs anything, the Shengun Bureau can provide assistance at any time!"

Talbot paused.

The Shengun Bureau had only just been established and was an empty shell, but barring any surprises, all of Director Wang’s people would hold posts in it, including Quake and Ghost Rider.

Not to mention Director Wang himself, the renowned Immortal Iron Fist.

Perhaps they truly could deal with Hulk.

This was not the right setting to say much more. As a subordinate, he could not make decisions for his superior, but Talbot remembered those words and intended to find an opportunity to mention them to General Ross.

Only after watching Talbot leave did Fitz walk over. He did not know where to put his hands, and his expression was somewhat awkward. "Boss, from a technical standpoint, the ‘Ex-Wife’ missile is pretty good, but its stability…"

He did not know how to put it.

"Ex-Wife" carried on Hammer Industries’ usual style of secondary processing: shoddy workmanship, forcibly cobbling together other people’s immature technologies and hardware to make the numbers look as good as possible, fooling outsiders and even experts. They never considered compatibility or stability. Out of every ten "Ex-Wife" missiles, at least three became dead wives.

Duds. Completely unreliable.

Whoever got stuck with them was doomed.

And even if they were not duds, they could not hurt Hulk at all.

Breaking his defenses was impossible.

"Just do it according to General Ross’s requirements. The rest is none of our business."

Old Wang waved a hand. Seeing Skye approach, he smiled and said, "Good, you’re both here. I have several announcements to make."

The two immediately stood at attention.

Old Wang said, "The Shengun Bureau has been established. Skye will serve as Director of Operations and commander of Afterlife Base. Fitz will serve as Director of Technology and chief person in charge of the Sky Carrier project. Simmons will be Deputy Minister."

The two nodded, neither particularly surprised.

For various reasons, the Shengun Bureau had only five Deputy Directors, appointed by the five permanent member states. That could not be changed for now; compromises had to be made where necessary.

But the commanders of the five major bases and the directors of every department would definitely be their own people.

Only…

Fitz froze slightly. "Chief person in charge of the Sky Carrier project?"

The boss was going to build a Sky Carrier?

"The Shengun Bureau has commissioned Azeroth Industries to design and construct a Sky Carrier. It is currently in the design stage."

Old Wang said, "This matter has not yet been submitted to the Council for approval, but we can start first."

As long as the rice was already cooked, along with some reasonable backroom dealings, nothing would be a problem.

Fitz nodded. He was just an employee; the boss had the final say.

"Also, based on the Quinjet, hurry and develop the Shengun Bureau’s exclusive first-generation fighter."

After thinking for a moment, Old Wang said, "Call it ‘Skyward.’"

Fitz looked thoughtful and seemed to understand something.

Skye’s name sounded very much like sky, and the first-generation fighter was called "Skyward." This was obviously sucking up to her. How boring.

True love did not need sucking up. Simmons and I were not like that.

I wonder if she knows how I feel about her…

Skye’s Chinese had improved rapidly lately. She knew exactly what "Skyward" meant and nodded. "Good name."

She was looking forward to what pleasant name the Shengun Bureau’s first-generation Sky Carrier would have.

"Right now, the most important thing is building the Shengun Bureau’s own bases."

Old Wang said, "The five major bases—Antarctic Base, Pacific Base, and Sahara Base—can wait. For now, the most important ones are K’un-Lun Base and Afterlife Base. I’ll handle K’un-Lun. As for Afterlife…"

He looked at Skye. "Has the Council of Elders agreed?"

"They have."

Skye nodded. "Wang, the people you were looking for have already been brought to Afterlife by Gordon. Tomorrow is Day of Prophecy."