Rod of God

New York, being a global metropolis, experiences explosive daily foot traffic even though it may not be fundamentally a tourist city. Regarding "Umbrella," people hear about it almost every day. Mainly due to its unbelievably fast construction progress, people's attention remains fixated on it.

The cost of constructing this building is a mystery. No organization can estimate it yet. The materials used are diverse and completely confidential. The information can only be estimated roughly once the construction is complete and details are obtained from the contractors.

It must be a truly staggering figure!

With such an enormous flow of funds, who is the owner? And which industry titan is behind it? What's the purpose of building across from Stark Tower?

These secrets are like a dangling thread that scratches at people's minds.

New York, situated in the US, is renowned worldwide. At times, even those unfamiliar with American history might think New York is the capital city of the US.

It sounds amusing, but it also underscores the city's influence.

Stark Tower is also rapidly undergoing renovations. With Tony Stark, the "architectural genius," at the helm of the redesign, people sense a unique taste in his designs.

As the floors continue to rise, although the two buildings are entirely different, they look like twin towers from a distance.

Based on "known information," if Umbrella is indeed a company, no matter what they intend to do, it will become a global powerhouse.

Massive funds lie there, though no one knows where this money comes from.

...

The cloud computing base occupied by Red Queen is operating at full tilt every day. Her plans are slowly coming to fruition.

However, funds obtained by laundering and embezzling have attracted attention. Even though they can't figure out who is behind it, combined with the recent prominence of "Umbrella"...

She doesn't want any unexpected issues. The first task assigned by her Master must be executed flawlessly!

This time, Red Queen targeted virtual currency! With the advanced capabilities of the Beta-class exploration spacecraft's central brain, she fully believes that even another artificial intelligence would take a substantial amount of time to decipher.

By then, Red Queen would already have control of a considerable amount of funds.

...

The plan never stops. Kurumi is still studying the intricate and tedious magic arrays.

In Red Queen's heart, she wants to orchestrate something significant. During the era of internet domination, she's like a deity there, manipulating countless "minions," ready to launch attacks on billions of computers worldwide!

In a particular desert in Africa, an underground experimental base.

Of course, it wasn't recently built, but Red Queen has eradicated its personnel and backing!

Now, it serves as Umbrella's first experimental base in this world.

Even Kurumi herself doesn't know.

Cophy Wilson, a scientist not particularly well-known within his field, can't even be considered famous.

However, there's no denying that he's pretty accomplished in researching new weapons.

In this world, the wealthy order the latest weapons from Stark, and those without money buy cheaper products from other arms dealers.

With Tony Stark, the genius of weaponry, around, some arms companies even think that developing new, large-scale weapons is futile.

They can't compete with Stark Industries' madness. In fact, those who oppose Stark Industries usually don't fare well.

Most arms companies have started researching smaller but practical weapons.

After all, on the battlefield, the most powerful items are usually saved as a last resort, positioned for deterrence.

The ones that consume the most are often smaller, precious new weapons.

These companies have set new records in firearms and explosives, leaving Cophy with nowhere to exhibit his skills.

After much difficulty, he confirmed a technological breakthrough, only to find that his name wasn't included when it was published.

He hates it! He hates the company, and he hates those people! The glory that should have been his is now shamelessly attributed to those thieves and scoundrels basking in people's blessings and applause!

But what can Cophy do? He's helpless.

If the company didn't find him somewhat helpful, that person named "Cophy" probably would've disappeared from the world long ago.

When he was abducted, Cophy didn't even resist. As the light gradually appeared in his world, he even felt like he had entered heaven.

But everything in front of him... the white hall, people in lab coats coming and going.

And he, Cophy Wilson, dressed in ragged clothes, unshaven for days, exuding a sense of decadence that didn't fit the scene at all.

"How are you feeling? Better?"

A gentle female voice echoed in his ears. Cophy lifted his head, and he could swear to God that he saw an angel.

...

Wearing a white lab coat, manipulating a computer, with precision instruments being processed nearby.

Here, they have everything they need, with no concerns about funding.

Even the design blueprints and general plans have already been completed.

All that's left is assembly. Cophy Wilson has asked himself more than once, what's the point anymore?

Cophy stood up and approached a testing framework. A virtual projection floated there, making it the dream experimental base for researchers!

Slightly larger than a conventional military satellite, Cophy gently touched it. The virtual projection separated entirely, even marking each small part clearly.

In the centre... was a six-point-one-meter-long, thirty-centimetre-wide, high-density mixed metal rod.

Slightly pointed at the front, it had a decidedly aggressive appearance.

According to calculations performed by a supercomputer through millions of simulations, the success rate was as high as ninety-five point sixty-eight per cent!

From the moment Cophy saw it, he found it unbelievable. This was a purely conceptual weapon, and even military forces were still in the theoretical stages. Yet, this mysterious organization had already constructed it!

What was even more astonishing was that the chief engineer for its construction was, Cophy Wilson!

Licking his slightly dry lips, Cophy glanced at the construction progress, eager to head to the construction site.

Standing in front of the glass that had been perforated, massive mechanical arms were assembling inside. Not a single intricate part was overlooked. Cophy was trembling with excitement!

He wasn't thinking about national honour or security anymore. He had encountered many people from different countries here. Some, like him, had been abducted, while others had volunteered!

The computer controlling the mechanical arm belonged to a projection of Red Queen, and this "satellite" was being assembled.

Until the last part was installed...

Cophy almost ran over, seeing the enormous "satellite" not far away. His heart was boiling with enthusiasm.

This conceptual weapon, after all, had been manufactured by them! A weapon that could intimidate the world!

A space-based weapon, also known as the Rod of God.