Chapter 1286 Greedy for Cicadas (Middle)_1

The status of Spider-Man 2099 can only be described as "no long-term worry, must have near worry". He can't foresee how this technology exchange will change his world. He doesn't know whether it's good or bad, but the technology that Peter brings can directly extract energy from the sun.

Does he have a choice? Actually, no.

The space stations of the wealthy indeed have solar energy technology, but it is nowhere near as efficient and cost-effective. The crucial thing is cost-effectiveness. Iron Man of Peter's universe spares no effort to lower the cost of the Mercury Solar Energy Extractor, freeing up more funds for his materials science research.

As money-consuming as the research on materials needs to be, so cost-efficient must the Mercury base be. What is more terrifying is that a certain Eastern Great Nation makes this technology not only cost-efficient but also easy to assemble and quickly build. By the time others are still pioneering for the first week, they have already sped through the fifth. The crux is speed.

Of course, countries on Earth have also embarked on different paths. Some think it should be bigger; some believe it should be more portable. Some feel that the sun should be deeply exploited, while others have fallen in love with other stars.

Regardless, technology improves through trial and error. By the time it got to Spider-Man 2099, it had become an irresistible feast. All it cost to dine were some space station technologies that the poor could not afford to operate even if they retained them.

Given this, why not trade? As for technology barriers or maintenance problems later, who cares about the nose when the eyebrows are on fire?

Thus, the first successful step of the Multiverse Dispatch Plan was taken. Just as Peter Parker was explaining to Stark and Strange what the plan was all about, Batman asked Shiller, "So you guys have already landed on Mercury, established a series of bases there, and started extracting the sun's energy?"

"What you said is inaccurate. We did more than that," Shiller replied: "We not only extracted the sun's energy but also began researching the technology to create stars. The Andromeda Galaxy is a perfect testing ground. Have I told you what they've been through?"

"Sadly, this poor galaxy once lost a star. Of course, it had nothing to do with us, just a terrible natural disaster, but that doesn't stop us from generously creating a new star for them."

"Magneto, the outstanding one among the mutants, is already attempting this. They want to research this technology before ordinary humans do, then sell it to us in exchange for greater benefits for the mutants."

"Can I go to the Mercury Base to see?" Batman made a not too excessive request, but it made Shiller somewhat embarrassed. All he could say to Batman was, "Seeing their attitude towards me now, do they look like they'd allow me to take such a risk on Mercury?"

"So, how serious is your illness?"

"I'm not sick at all."

"Do you believe that?"

"Batman, now is not the time for you to bully and oppress," Shiller pointed out without any reservations: "You are a friend of Arrogance, but not mine. You should understand why I am known as Greed. You want to go to the Mercury Base just because you're coveting our technology."

"You are very confused about how Arrogance managed to bring light back to Gotham, whether this technology could be learned and replicated. But I can tell you the answer is yes, and the key lies in energy."

"For thousands of years, all human development has been for energy: more energy, cleaner energy, more controllable energy, even sustainable energy."

Greed's tone revealed a kind of madness that Batman didn't understand. It differed enormously from Arrogance's madness, but it was still terrifying.

Batman had already witnessed Shiller's madness and thus developed an unrestrainable curiosity about another kind of madness.

If Greed and Arrogance were equally mad, and if Arrogance's madness could even make the Joker collapse, then what could Greed's madness achieve?

"The most proud achievement of what I have done in this world is enabling humans to touch the sun."

"For centuries, the sun has been humans' favorite star. We wrote numerous romantic poems for it, with sincere gratitude for its gifts."

"But the human race is far from being a kind and sincere species. These repulsive negative emotions are our true essence. Everything we've done to this day contains our primal fear and doubt about the sun—what if it goes out one day?"

"Our love for the sun has long turned into hatred and a desire for control. We want to control the sun completely so that it shines for us, and it must shine for us. If it's not bright enough, we replace it with another that will."

The arrogance in Greed's tone surprised Batman. He even thought Greed was the real Arrogant.

"One day, we will tell the sun that it's not the one who created us, but we are the ones who are going to create it. We will understand the truth of the universe more profoundly than a naturally formed star and control it thoroughly. We'll fear no natural disaster in the cosmos, or rather, we will become the real disaster."