Stark Industries naturally tried to acquire a War Machine for research. Obadiah Stane expected Tony—or someone in Stark's weapons division—to figure out its secrets. The strategic value of the War Machine was obvious; if it could be copied or reverse-engineered, Stark Industries wouldn't have to lose to Blade Industries.
However, when Tony Stark attempted to disassemble it, the War Machine suddenly exploded, obliterating everything within a 500-meter radius.
Fortunately, Tony Stark had the reflexes to get out in time, but the weapons division of Stark Industries wasn't so lucky.
Afterward, when Stark Industries filed a formal complaint, Blade Industries' response was simple: the War Machine manual clearly stated that any consequences caused by unauthorized disassembly were the buyer's responsibility.
Although Kryptonian technology and Earth technology had developed along different paths—making duplication nearly impossible—Tony Stark was still Tony Stark. And, given that his personal judgment at the time wasn't the best, Zod had preemptively installed self-destruct systems in every War Machine, ensuring that any tampering would leave nothing behind.
Other nations faced similar disasters. Only Japan, careful to follow the instructions to the letter, stopped just before the final disassembly step.
Osborn Industries also suffered from the War Machine's sudden debut. Military orders for the super-soldier serum were canceled, resulting in losses nearing ten billion dollars. The massive investment poured into research was abruptly withdrawn, and the project was forcibly halted by other shareholders.
The military wasn't naive. They wanted super-soldiers because one could take on dozens of enemies at once. But now, the War Machine could achieve the same effect perfectly—without transport or logistics. One War Machine could eliminate not just a hundred fully armed soldiers, but any ground unit in its path.
A new era of military weaponry had begun. A global arms race ignited overnight. Many defense companies went bankrupt because of the War Machine. Zod himself quickly became the top target on multiple hit lists, with bounties reaching $500 million.
Blade Industries, however, gained unprecedented attention from the U.S. government. Recognized as even more strategically significant than Stark Industries, Zod refused military protection but secured permission for armed defense and lethal force. Blade Security Company's heavily armed mercenaries occupied every corner of the Blade Industries base.
Inside, bio-engineered Beast Soldiers stood guard. Even Captain America would have found it nearly impossible to break through.
Despite being considered the century's most influential genius, Zod focused on products that were, on the surface, trivial.
"Powerful cockroach repellent—just spray it at home, and you won't see a single cockroach for a week."
"Mosquito and fly exterminator—place it at home, and you'll be free from pests for a month."
"All-purpose rat poison—effective against the majority of rats and field mice, lasts for a month."
All three were listed under Blade Pharmaceuticals, along with Zod's other health products.
Surprisingly, these seemingly insignificant items sold extremely well. Their effectiveness was undeniable, and humans had long suffered from these pests.
Urd was amazed that the sales revenue from cockroach spray, mosquito repellents, and rat poison could exceed a hundred million dollars per month—and the numbers kept rising.
Seeing her confusion, Zod explained:
"The less glamorous the product appears, the bigger the hidden profit. The market for these items is enormous. Imagine if all sixty-plus billion people on this planet used our products—how much revenue do you think we'd generate?"
He spoke as if some alternate-universe Tony Stark were a cosmetics tycoon: insecticides, health supplements, fertilizers—all of these could generate unimaginable profit.
Zod's three products struck directly at humanity's most common nuisances. And he wasn't aiming for total extermination. After all, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and rats play important ecological roles. The goal was simply to keep them out of people's homes; the streets and New York's massive sewer system could accommodate the rest.
With sufficient capital and Blade Industries' now-unassailable status, Zod finally obtained precision instruments that were previously impossible to acquire—even with money.
These instruments were typically reserved for government departments—truly among the rarest in the world. By Zod's standards, they were still crude, but he had no choice. Without a fortress in the Arctic or a Kryptonian ship, he had to start from scratch.
Unlike Clark, Zod didn't rely on a super-powered body to bypass technology; he built everything with his own hands.
Meanwhile, Dr. Connors, who had taken over the super-soldier serum project from Osborn Industries, was brainwashed into becoming another loyal scientist for the World Serpent, assisting Zod in Beast Soldier research. Zod also considered approaching future major subjects—if he could obtain Hulk's genetic material, perhaps he could create a "Beast God General."
The scene shifted to the dark streets of New York, to a chaotic underground bar.
Three black Chevrolet SUVs pulled up to the entrance. Fifteen men in black combat gear emerged.
Two bouncers at the door barely had time to react before being pinned to the wall.
"This the place?"
The leader's tone was cold and mechanical.
"Heat signatures confirm it. This has to be it," another replied.
"Then let's move in."
Suddenly, the two pinned bouncers revealed sharp fangs, their faces twisting in horror.
Vampires!
But they hadn't accounted for the fact that, even with fangs bared, the intruders showed no hesitation—and their grip was unbreakable.
The bar's iron door was kicked open. The black-clad team filed inside, and within twenty minutes, total silence fell.
A truck arrived—a massive "Optimus Prime" vehicle—and the operatives began hauling out vampires, either unconscious or sedated, loading them into the truck.
Soon, the truck, carrying a full load of captured vampires, drove straight into the Blade Industries base.
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