Chapter 224: In Dire Need of Money
After mentioning Pepper and the others, he refrained from elaborating further, as Sonia wouldn't meet them anytime soon.
"Since Tony's in charge, that puts my mind at ease," Sonia replied, grateful not to have to pursue the matter further. She had enough to manage with what she already knew and had access to, ensuring that nothing would go awry without her notice.
"But Tony, if you're not working on the AI, what are your next plans for research?" Sonia asked, shifting the conversation.
"To be honest, we're in dire need of funds on Void Island," she added.
"I could venture into the energy sector, but if I distribute my arc reactors, I'd be afraid other civilizations would use them to create terrifying armies," Tony replied, contemplating. "So, I'll stick to researching technologies related to starship demands. I need to be well-versed in building our own starships if I want Earth to step into the interstellar age."
After hearing Sonia's report, Tony's brow furrowed as he scrolled through the projections filled with information and data regarding the AI for starships.
While the sale of an arc reactor would yield a significant profit, it would also pose a series of complications. Tony felt comfortable selling a few to SHIELD, knowing they couldn't replicate his armored suits. However, he had no such confidence in the technological capabilities of other civilizations; they could easily create formidable armies if they obtained the arc reactors.
"Is it really possible for Void Island to be so cash-strapped, considering you must be making over a billion a year?" Tony asked, surprised by Sonia's claim.
"Trust me, Tony. If you haven't been in charge, you wouldn't understand how costly it is to maintain operations here," Sonia replied. "The members of the Void God Sect have astonishing appetites, and just keeping the island running requires substantial funding."
"While we've constructed many facilities, there's still a lot of untapped potential. Not to mention, the Void God Sect will need to expand its territory, which will also require a significant amount of funds for development."
Sonia's eyes glimmered with concern as she spoke, a deep sigh escaping her lips. The ambition for expansion within the Void God Sect wasn't a secret on the island; everyone was aware of it, but their concern for how to accomplish it was minimal. They were confident that with Kassadin and Sonia in charge, solutions would naturally present themselves.
Though the timeline for expansion could stretch over ten years, they preferred to expedite the process if possible.
"Supporting the appetites of so many people isn't easy," Tony said, nodding in understanding. "I'll give it some thought and see how I can develop new technologies to generate more revenue for Void Island."
"Developing technology takes time, but I'll strive to expedite the process," he continued. "Now that we've discussed everything, I should be on my way."
"By the way, Sonia, do you have any recommendations for someone at the Elite Hotel?" Tony asked as he stood up, smiling.
"The Elite Hotel is merely a place to stay; it doesn't offer the type of services you're imagining," Sonia clarified. "They assist with daily needs and various tasks but don't provide... intimate companionship."
"However, they can help you find other women," she added. "As for recommendations, everyone's tastes differ, so I won't suggest anyone specific. You'll have to experience it for yourself."
Sonia wasn't surprised that Tony was interested in the Elite Hotel; after all, he had just returned to Xandar and would likely want to enjoy himself rather than dive headfirst into work.
"Then I'll check it out myself," Tony decided, satisfied with the options available.
Once Tony departed, only Sonia and Harvey remained in the grand hall.
"I'll be heading out," Harvey suddenly stated, pausing his game.
"Out for a while? Are you leaving for long stretches?" Sonia asked, curious about this unexpected news.
"Yeah, considering the financial situation on Void Island," Harvey replied. "I plan to adopt an alias and take on some bounty missions to pass the time."
Sonia quickly realized that her earlier comments about the island's financial needs had influenced Harvey's decision to take action. Had she known it would lead to this, she wouldn't have mentioned their monetary troubles in front of Tony.
But since the words were already out, and Harvey had made his decision, there was no point in retracting.
"Alright," Sonia said with a smile, accepting the situation.