The entire world was shaken by Nolan's actions.
A monster so terrifying and overwhelmingly powerful had been killed just like that.
But what truly stunned people even more was not Abomination's death, but the fact that Nolan had completely dominated him alone, pressing him down from start to finish.
"Who is this guy? This is insane!"
"My God, in front of him, Iron Man is not even worth carrying his toolbox!"
"You don't know? The authorities tried to suppress this before. That green monster was called the Hulk. He fought Iron Man once, and guess what happened?"
"He got crushed!"
"But when Nolan Rock showed up, Hulk was the one being beaten into the ground!"
The moment those words appeared online, shock and disbelief exploded across the internet.
But confirmation followed almost immediately.
This was the age of information. Once something slipped through, no blockade could hold it back forever.
And the name that truly shook people was Nolan Rock.
"That's Nolan Rock? The CEO of Rock Technologies? That has to be a joke!"
"I live nearby. I can tell you for sure, that was his house."
The news spread like wildfire, growing stronger with every passing minute.
And yet, at the scene itself, the matter was far from over.
General Thaddeus Ross arrived swiftly with his troops.
In the past, Nolan would never have met him face to face. But this time was different.
This was his home.
Ross's eyes burned with excitement.
That kind of overwhelming power struck him even harder than last time.
He had studied enhanced individuals for years. He understood exactly how far such power could go.
Missiles?
His thinking was changing.
The more enhanced beings appeared, the more obsessed he became.
He was not one of those short sighted fools.
Once individual power reached a certain threshold, missiles lost their meaning.
No matter how powerful they were, could they really be used freely in a city?
In an era without large scale wars, extraordinary individuals were destined to become more and more important.
And yet, beneath Ross's burning gaze lurked a deep, unmistakable malice.
Power like this should never belong to an individual.
The Terminator project had once filled him with anticipation.
The Thor's Hammer armor, however, filled him with fear.
"Mr. Rock," Ross said slowly. "We meet again."
Nolan sighed.
"I really did not want to meet you under these circumstances, General. Especially when something like this happened right outside my front door."
He glanced at the surrounding devastation.
"And regarding the losses caused by this battle, we will be compensated, right?"
"Of course," Ross replied.
At the same time, he cursed Nolan inwardly. A capitalist to the bone. Wealth beyond measure, yet unwilling to give up a single inch.
"Mr. Rock, I want the military to have purchasing rights for this armor."
"I believe we already discussed this," Nolan said, frowning.
"Yes, we did," Ross replied calmly. "But last time, your offer lacked sincerity. Now, however, the power displayed by the Thor's Hammer armor has exceeded what I consider acceptable for civilian use."
Nolan narrowed his eyes.
Exceeded acceptable use?
He was not stupid. Ross was clearly dissatisfied. More than that, he was targeting him.
"I recall that every citizen has legal rights. What exactly are you implying, General?"
Ross ignored the question.
"One billion dollars. Ten units."
His voice was steady, leaving no room for negotiation.
"That is impossible," Nolan said flatly.
This was not a negotiation. It was a demand.
Even the production cost of a single Thor's Hammer unit far exceeded that price.
"Mr. Rock, I hope you can understand the military's position. This is already a very reasonable offer."
Ross continued speaking, but Nolan cut him off coldly.
"General, if I accept this deal, Rock Technologies would go bankrupt overnight. If you insist on taking it by force, then let your army speak for you."
Nolan turned away.
"This meeting is over."
Trying to take without paying?
Dream on.
As for offending General Ross, Nolan did not care.
The government was not ruled by one man.
And if they pushed him far enough, he could always stir things up. The world was vast. There was nowhere he could not go.
He had come to this universe to make money.
If he gave in today, tomorrow the Department of Defense would come knocking. Then the Security Council. Then everyone else.
Ross was counting on Nolan having no foundation here, no connections.
But Nolan Rock had only one principle.
Rock Technologies was his.
Anyone who reached for it would lose their hand.
Watching Nolan walk away without a second glance, Ross's face darkened.
He had expected refusal. He was prepared to raise the price.
His goal had been simple. Make Nolan bleed, and give the military a way to counter enhanced beings.
But now?
Nolan Rock had not taken him seriously at all.
"Nolan Rock," Ross muttered, his gaze icy. "You will pay for this."
Hulk had been important.
But now, in Ross's eyes, Nolan Rock was worth even more.
If he could control Rock Technologies, the future would be unimaginable.
Back at the villa, Nolan removed the Thor's Hammer armor. His body was spotless, as if the battle had never happened.
"Your ability really is convenient," Susan said with envy.
Every time Nolan used it, all traces of dirt vanished.
She poured him a glass of water.
"Nolan, I saw you arguing with General Ross."
She had not gone outside, but she had been watching.
His strength amazed her. But clashing with Ross worried her.
"He's a powerful figure in the military. Rock Technologies is a defense contractor. Offending him could mean serious trouble."
"I know," Nolan said calmly. "But he crossed my bottom line. If I gave him room, the trouble later would be even worse."
"As for the military, it is not his personal kingdom."
Susan was still uneasy.
Nolan added casually, "Worst case, we pull out of defense entirely. Rock Technologies does not depend on the military anymore."
Susan was now both his partner and his secretary. Naturally, she understood the risks.
"That would be a huge loss…"
She knew the truth.
Nolan simply refused to swallow this humiliation.
But she did not say it aloud.
At moments like this, she would always stand by him.
Her eyes shone with admiration.
Even without the defense sector, her man would never fail.
Because Nolan was a genius.
For Nolan, the matter seemed settled.
Then, one week later, reality slapped him in the face.
Just before signing a major naval contract for the Terminator units, the Navy suddenly announced that cooperation was suspended, with no new date set.
Nolan's breathing turned heavy.
They had been negotiating this deal for months.
Production had already begun.
The next day, the Air Force canceled all cooperation.
As for the Army, Ross himself was a general there. The outcome was obvious.
Nolan's face darkened.
Without the military, no private organization could absorb the Terminator units he had already produced.
More importantly, this meant he had truly lost his footing in the defense industry.
"Damn it."
For the first time since arriving in this world, Nolan felt suffocated.
Meanwhile, Ross moved relentlessly.
His goal was not just to force Rock Technologies out of defense.
He wanted to nationalize it.
It was a bold move.
In a country ruled by capital, this was unprecedented.
He knew exactly how much resistance it would face.
Almost every politician stood behind capital.
No one wanted to open this door.
If it opened once, no one would feel safe again.
Ross entered the main conference hall.
The President and key figures from the White House were already seated.
"General Ross," the President said solemnly, "do you understand what your proposal means?"
"Of course," Ross replied. "This is the only way to eliminate the threat. Rock Technologies has grown far beyond anyone's expectations."
"I detailed its capital strength and growth potential in the report."
"I have read it," the President said. "But you should understand that freedom is sacred. Violating it could endanger the nation's future."
"Freedom is sacred," Ross replied evenly. "But every citizen also has an obligation to the country. Nolan Rock refuses to fulfill that obligation."
He paused, then added meaningfully, "If this continues, Rock Technologies will control not just the economy, but potentially conventional military power as well."
"And most importantly, it is entirely controlled by a single individual."
The room fell silent.
"What is your plan?" someone asked.
"Simple," Ross said. "Cut off its defense channels. Slow down its civilian approvals. Rock Technologies is not owned by one man alone. Once pressure builds, things will unravel naturally."
The vote was swift.
Thirteen people.
Eight in favor.
Five opposed, insisting on freedom.
It was not enough.
Suppress Rock Technologies.
Legally.
Step by step.
Ross left the room refreshed.
Against the power of the state, individual strength meant nothing.
Still, he would give Nolan Rock one last chance.
If Nolan knew when to bow, Ross would allow the company to survive.
No one could stand above the government.
That was his justice.
The only justice.
Nolan knew none of this.
In a company meeting, he spoke calmly.
"Next quarter, we shift seventy six percent of defense resources to civilian tech. Defense development continues, but this setback is temporary."
The technological gap was absolute.
In this universe, even Justin Hammer was still struggling to make clumsy machines functional.
The military could wait a few months.
But thirty years?
Impossible.
Nolan scanned the room.
Some were unhappy.
No one spoke.
Absolute control had its advantages.
"Also," Nolan continued, "why hasn't the K9 life robot project been approved yet?"
The project manager stood helplessly.
"I submitted it long ago, but it still hasn't passed…"
The room fell quiet.
Something was clearly wrong.