Under the night sky of New York, in the heart of Manhattan, a vast plot of land that once belonged to Fisk Industries and had been idle for a long time was now tightly enclosed by towering construction hoardings.
The hoardings bore the giant Hero Association emblem and the words "Future Landmark, Coming Soon," yet there were no renderings of the building's specific design, giving it an air of mystery.
However, if a keen observer could peek through this tight 封锁, they would undoubtedly be stunned by the sight before them.
Here, there was no deafening roar of pile drivers and mixers typical of traditional construction sites, nor was there a dense throng of construction workers bustling like worker ants.
Instead, there was a construction method that was almost like magic.
Several uniquely shaped, streamlined, large-scale pieces of equipment, glowing with a ghostly blue metallic luster, were silently working on the planned foundation, like living behemoths.
They did not rely on diesel or electricity; their power source was unknown.
One piece of equipment emitted a soft beam of light, scanning the ground.
A deep pit that would normally take weeks to excavate had its soil and rocks precisely "erased" by an invisible force field, as if by a giant hand, directly transforming into basic particles for recycling, leaving the pit walls smooth as a mirror.
Another piece of equipment sprayed a silver-gray, liquid metal-like substance onto a pre-installed special alloy framework provided by the system.
Upon contact with the framework, these substances, as if alive, rapidly spread and solidified along the preset structure, constructing the building's walls and floor slabs at a visible speed.
The process was precise and efficient, without the slightest error or waste.
These were the "Basic Building Units · Multifunctional" that Kingpin had exchanged using system points from the [Association Construction] module.
They represented a construction technology completely beyond the current Earth civilization's understanding.
Wilson Fisk, Kingpin, stood at the top floor of a Fisk Industries building adjacent to the construction site, looking down through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows at the silent miracle below, which was "growing" at an astonishing speed.
His massive physique was like a sculpture in the dim light, with only his sharp eyes, reflecting the ghostly blue light from the construction site below, gleaming with calculation and control.
"The technology provided by the system is indeed efficient," his deep voice resonated in the empty room, as if speaking to Wesley behind him, yet also as if talking to himself, "But this is just the framework.
To make this headquarters truly a symbol of the Association and a source of power, it needs more... 'fillings' that conform to the rules of this era."
System technology was the core, the sharp blade.
But for an organization to function, especially to establish itself in this complex World, merely possessing a sharp blade was not enough.
It needed flesh and blood, a 脈絡, a network that could integrate into the existing system and, in turn, influence or even control that system.
And this required him, Wilson Fisk, to leverage another form of "superpower" accumulated over decades – his "cash" ability, and the vast resources and connections it represented.
"Wesley."
"Boss." James Wesley immediately stepped forward, holding a thick electronic notepad.
"First, funding." Kingpin's gaze remained fixed below, "Activate my reserve accounts in Cayman, Switzerland, and... several other places.
Invest five billion U.S. dollars in the first phase for standardized interior decoration of the non-core areas of the headquarters, procurement and deployment of the World's top electronic security systems, and all 'conventional' equipment and supplies that need to be purchased openly.
I want this headquarters to be impregnable, inside and out."
"Yes, Boss.
The fund flow will be laundered and injected through seventeen different charitable foundations, offshore companies, and multinational trade projects, ensuring a clear and 'legal' source." Wesley quickly recorded.
"Second, talent." Kingpin continued, "Send anonymous invitations to bid to the top ten architectural design firms and structural engineering companies worldwide, asking them to provide functional designs for the headquarters' interior space that 'fit the Association's image'.
We only need their creativity and 'shell'; the core structure will be our own.
At the same time, poach top engineers, programmers, and data analysts from major tech companies at three times the market salary to fill the Association's technical support, intelligence analysis, network maintenance, and other departments.
Remember, their backgrounds must be clean, or... they must have enough leverage that we can control."
"Headhunting companies are already in action; the first batch of candidate profiles will be on your desk tonight."
"Third, materials and supply chain." Kingpin turned around, his eyes piercing, "In the name of Fisk Industries, place massive orders with major rare material suppliers and precision instrument manufacturers worldwide.
I have already sent you the procurement list.
Some of these items will be used to mask the consumption of our own technology, and others will be used for the Equipment Research Department's... attempts at mass-producing 'unique' designs.
I want to establish a supply chain that belongs entirely to the Association and is not dependent on anyone."
"Understood.
We will conduct decentralized procurement through several of our holding trading companies to avoid attracting unnecessary attention."
"Fourth, legal and public relations." Kingpin walked to the liquor cabinet and poured a glass of Water, "Hire the best legal team to ensure all procedures for the headquarters' construction are 'perfectly' compliant, and to handle any potential challenges or lawsuits from official or private sources.
The public relations department will continuously guide public opinion, portraying the headquarters as 'the cornerstone of future security' and 'New York's new landmark'.
At the same time, strengthen the... 'political donations' and 'relationship maintenance' with all cooperative media and key parliament members."
"The legal team is in place, led by Dr. Stone.
The public relations plan is being executed as scheduled; positive reports on the headquarters' construction now account for seventy percent.
Political donation channels are open, and the chairmen of several key committees have expressed 'interest'."
Kingpin nodded slightly, taking a sip of the iced Water.
The cold liquid sliding down his throat made his rapidly working brain even clearer.
The system had granted him technology and frameworks beyond his era, while his own vast wealth, business empire, and underground network became the fertile ground to fill, solidify, and deeply root this framework in this World.
Technology (System) + Resources (Kingpin's Empire) = True Power.
He looked at the outline of the building rising silently below, which was not just a creation of steel and concrete, but also the concretization of his ambition, the throne from which he would redefine the rules for this chaotic World.
"Tell Dr. Leo," Kingpin finally instructed, "to reserve enough area in the headquarters' underground space for his Equipment Research Department and future special laboratories.
Energy supply will be handled by our own 'fusion core' (system technology), so let him freely pursue his... inventions."
"Yes, Boss." Wesley bowed in response, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and awe for the future.
He knew that when this headquarters, a fusion of black technology beyond its time and Kingpin's vast secular resources, was finally completed, the Hero Association would no longer be just a concept or an active organization.
It would become a truly undeniable behemoth, an existence capable of conversing as equals with any existing powerful force in the World, or even... looking down upon them.
Kingpin's "cash" ability was transforming the system's blueprint into an unshakeable reality at an astonishing speed.
In the night, the silently growing building was like a dormant beast, awaiting the moment to bare its fangs to the World.