Chapter 42: The Latest Reward: The Divine Conquest and Universal Attraction
Read up to 15 future chapters at patreon.com/FFAddict !
Reflecting on previous events, it became clear that the missile that nearly exploded him was manufactured by Stark Industries. The Ten Rings' base was also brimming with Stark weapons. Those meant to fight crime had instead become the criminals' most potent arms! This realization shook him to his core and made him question the morality of Stark Industries' armaments production.
So, the moment he escaped the cave, he shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division. Was this the reason his other-worldly self had done the same? Was this the transformation often mentioned in his journal?
Tony Stark finally understood.
He had once dismissed these journal spoilers with scorn, thinking his alternate self foolish for such an absurd decision. He was adamant that he, the great Tony Stark, would never commit such folly. But now, his certainty wavered.
The young soldiers meant to protect him had been killed by Stark Industries' weapons, a horrifying fact he witnessed within this base. He dreaded to consider the extent of the harm caused by the Ten Rings using these arms, nor could he bear to think of other criminal organizations equipped similarly.
"Who is responsible for this?"
"Who could it be?"
Meanwhile, a substantial question plagued Tony. The widespread dissemination of Stark weapons to a group like the Ten Rings could only be explained by internal treason—someone high up was secretly selling to these villains, leaving no trace of their involvement. Who could that be?
Tony's focus returned to the journal. He hoped it might reveal something further, but to his frustration, it had stopped updating. His key to the mystery was abruptly cut off by the most inopportune writer's block. For now, he'd have to put the investigation aside and focus on escaping by building his Iron Man suit.
Resolute and clear-minded, he closed the journal. "Guard!"
Decisive and without wasting words, he summoned the Ten Rings members. "I need to set up my workspace here. I require many things."
"I need welding tools, acetylene or propane—either will do!"
"I need a welding bench, a helmet, and goggles."
"I need..."
Tony listed a long array of items for the Ten Rings, who cluelessly thought he had capitulated. After all, he was just a wealthy man—how resilient could he be?
So they obeyed and began delivering everything Tony needed. The spacious cave quickly filled up, cluttered by the weaponry of Stark Industries. Unbeknownst to them, hidden amongst those unrelated armaments lay all the necessary materials to build the Iron Man suit."Let's do this!" Tony Stark glanced at the assortment of materials filling the cave, full of eagerness to get started.
The sound of metal striking metal, clear and pleasant, began to ring out from within the cave.
The playboy was fully immersed in the grand project of creating the Iron Man suit.
…
Before he knew it, Tony Stark had already spent two sweat-filled weeks in that gloomy cave.
The outside world had been in turmoil, that was certain.
For such a long time, the military, FBI, CIA, and various other agencies had been investigating Tony Stark's disappearance thoroughly.
In Afghanistan, the area where Tony Stark went missing was almost turned upside down.
But there was no progress.
Since the initial attack, it was as if Tony Stark had vanished into thin air, with no sign of being alive or dead.
Although Tony Stark's body had never been found, and his death was not confirmed, mainstream opinion across society had come to the unanimous conclusion that Tony Stark must be dead.
Stark Industries immediately found itself in a precarious situation, with its stock prices plummeting.
After all, everyone knew that Tony Stark was the soul of Stark Industries!
Without Tony Stark, Stark Industries had lost its core competitive edge.
However, for Zhou Cheng, who had seen the Marvel movies and knew the plot, none of this was news.
He was well aware of these events and did not pay much attention to them.
Yet, from the very first moment Tony Stark was kidnapped, Zhou Cheng had entrusted Wade Wilson to investigate.
After all, Zhou Cheng's diary required him to fight crime to maintain its contents, and the Ten Rings were a prime target for him.
Moreover, seizing the original Mark armor blueprints would be a chance to make a fortune – why not take the opportunity for such a win-win situation?
But this task was not so simple; there had been no update from Wade until now.
And now?
Zhou Cheng had no time to bother with these matters.
His entire focus was on the diary in front of him.
Because he had once again completed fifteen entries in a row!
The moment to receive his reward had arrived!
[Diary update quota achieved.]
[Congratulations to Zhou Cheng, the owner of the diary, for receiving a random gift package!]
As the last word was written, such a notification sounded in his mind.
Zhou Cheng immediately looked forward with great anticipation.
The previous two rewards from the diary had been quite good.
Both the ability to fly and the indestructible body had substantially enhanced Zhou Cheng's strength.
So, what would he receive this time?
Whoosh!
In the next moment, as Zhou Cheng watched, the familiar dazzling light burst from the diary and shot into his body.
There was a noticeable increase in the brightness of Zhou Cheng's gaze.
Based on experience, he could tell that such a reward was more likely to be a skill than an item or prop.
[Item: Shinra Tensei]
[Attribute: One of the Six Paths abilities of the Rinnegan]
[Source: Naruto universe]
[Detailed Introduction: One of the abilities of the Rinnegan that allows the wielder to manipulate repulsive forces, repelling objects, ninja techniques, etc., around them. When reversed, it could be called Bansho Ten'in.]
Indeed.
Zhou Cheng's guess was correct, and immediately after, another burst of information flashed through his mind.
Following the indestructible body he obtained last time, Zhou Cheng had received yet another ability.