Beneath a pristine azure sky, with clouds drifting lazily, the day was nothing short of splendid.
Su Xun secured the gates of his factory and stood before them, his gaze sweeping across the expanse of Z City.
The devastation left by yesterday's insectoid invasion was evident; Alliance forces were busily engaged in urgent repairs. Occasionally, armed helicopters and armored vehicles traversed the city center in a steady parade.
He drew out his phone. "Nikola, once we reach the institute, I'll expand your memory. Excited?"
From the screen emerged a translucent humanoid figure—Nikola himself. "Sir, gaining entrance to the institute still requires approval from those seasoned veterans. Are you truly so confident?"
"They'll approve me? Ha! If those old timers knew I'm the Iron Man who saved Z City yesterday, they'd be begging me to come in."
"Sir, please temper your arrogance. It's best not to reveal your identity as Iron Man."
"Of course I won't."
Su Xun had no intention of exposing himself. Earlier that morning, when sending the battle suit's schematics to Chen Jin, he had reiterated this condition. Chen Jin promised to facilitate his special recruitment under the guise of a prodigious talent, ensuring his identity remained concealed.
Pocketing his phone, Su Xun proceeded to the garage beside the factory. Unlocking the door, he stepped inside where a pristine white Audi R8 awaited—the very car Tony Stark drove in Avengers 2.
When Su Xun first ventured to the black market to peddle weapons, this car had immediately captured his eye. He swiftly acquired it and outfitted it with a series of modifications to enhance its practicality.
Sliding into the driver's seat, he started the engine.
At ignition, Nikola's three-dimensional hologram flickered to life on the central LCD display. "Sir, your travel route has been plotted."
"Let's depart."
The car's autonomous driving capabilities were already impressive; with Nikola's AI system integrated, its autonomy ascended to an even loftier tier.
Issuing a command, Su Xun watched as the vehicle smoothly piloted itself toward Z City University.
Seated within, Su Xun did not idle. His phone displayed information about Hualing Research Institute—the largest such facility in Z City and the very place Chen Jin had arranged for him.
Hualing was immense, boasting the third most advanced facilities across the entire Huaxia Alliance. Its annual scientific output accounted for over 30% of the nation's total, and it housed the most seasoned experts and specialists throughout the alliance.
This institution was ideal for Su Xun's ongoing research and development of cutting-edge technologies. He could effortlessly leverage his Iron Man persona to accrue virtual credits, while simultaneously crafting ever more formidable innovations within the institute's walls.
"Nikola, we have arrived at Z City University."
"Understood."
Hearing Nikola's voice, Su Xun powered down his phone, smoothed his attire, and fitted a Bluetooth earpiece, maintaining seamless connection with Nikola for instant communication.
The car gently pulled over and parked along the roadside. Su Xun opened the door and stepped out, retrieving a sleek black rolling suitcase from the trunk.
At the university gates, a man and woman's eyes were drawn to him.
"That must be our arrival," the crew-cut man said, turning to confirm with the woman beside him.
"Seems so," she nodded, smiling at him. "Let's not keep him waiting."
"Right."
The man, square-faced and appearing in his thirties, was Zhuang Yan, Chen Jin's personal guard.
The woman, modest in stature and unassuming in appearance yet in her forties, was Fang Min, deputy director of Hualing Research Institute.
They had been dispatched by Chen Jin to receive Su Xun.
Su Xun noticed them and waited calmly beside his car.
"Hello!"
"Hello."
Both greeted him courteously. Su Xun responded with a nod.
Zhuang Yan began explaining their purpose. "Hello, Su Xun, I'm Chen Jin's guard. We've come today to—"
Before he could finish, Su Xun cut him off abruptly. "No need to waste time. Let's proceed directly."
Nikola, through the Bluetooth earpiece, quipped with dry humor: This morning after breakfast, you sat counting fallen breadcrumbs at the table, then spent half an hour watching idiotic videos in the bathroom.
Su Xun's mouth twitched sharply at the rebuke, mentally scolding Nikola, yet outwardly maintained an expression of unflappable composure.
Fang Min cast a sideways glance at the sleek sports car beside Su Xun, inwardly judging: Not much like a youthful genius, more like an arrogant trust-fund brat trying to sneak into the institute by connections.
She turned to the slightly embarrassed Zhuang Yan and offered an escape: "Let's enter Z City University directly. The professors at the institute have been awaiting your arrival eagerly—they're keen to meet the prodigy Chen Jin has praised so highly."
"Indeed," Zhuang Yan said gratefully, casting a quick glance at Fang Min before extending a welcoming hand toward Su Xun.
Su Xun nodded in acknowledgment, signaling them to lead the way. The three then proceeded into the sprawling Z City University together.
The campus was vast, and their destination—the main academic complex—was nestled deep within, requiring over half an hour on foot. Thus, they boarded the jeep Zhuang Yan had driven, heading toward the complex.
As Su Xun surveyed this prestigious institution of the Huaxia Alliance, he noted the intricate network of intersecting roads weaving throughout, forming what resembled a city within a city. Most students navigated the grounds on bicycles, while a notable few cruised leisurely in luxury cars.
By the time Zhuang Yan and company departed, Chen Jin had already received word. He had taken the initiative to arrive at the complex accompanied by several professors and their deputies, awaiting Su Xun's arrival.
This display stirred murmurs of discontent among some; though Su Xun was hailed as a prodigy, surely it was excessive to have such a reception at the gates. Yet the professors, still elated over the newly acquired Iron Man battle suit schematics, offered no dissent against Chen Jin's arrangement.
Conversely, a few younger deputies voiced their objections vociferously, whispering among themselves.
"Who isn't a prodigy these days? Brother Xin was admitted exceptionally at fourteen, and even then, no one made such a fuss on his arrival."
"Doesn't this kind of fanfare risk inflating the newcomer's ego?"
"Still, what right does that blond kid have to make these professors wait?"
"Must have some deep connections with Chen."
"Quiet down," Wang Xin motioned for silence, though his brooding gaze betrayed his own irritation.
Chen Jin, standing at the forefront, naturally caught wind of their remarks but paid them no mind—after all, the pressure would fall squarely on Su Xun.
And why should everyone come to receive him? Because he was Iron Man, the very provider of the battle suit's blueprints!
At that moment, Zhuang Yan's vehicle rolled slowly to a stop before the assembled group, drawing all eyes eager to behold Su Xun.
The door swung open, and Fang Min and Su Xun alighted in quick succession.
Xu Jin's eyes brightened instantly upon seeing Su Xun, and he strode forward with purposeful steps. "Young man, a pleasure to meet you."
Meeting the large man's outstretched hand, Su Xun returned the gesture. "Hello, I am Su Xun."
"The honor is mine."
Xu Jin's sincerity was unmistakable. Judging by the professors' exhilaration over the schematics moments before, it was clear that one capable of designing the Iron Man battle suit was no ordinary talent—especially one so youthful, destined undoubtedly for remarkable achievements.
Xu Jin's warmth stood in stark contrast to the professors and deputies, who remained coldly indifferent.
The professors barely spared Su Xun a glance, engrossed instead in animated discussions of the schematics. While much was readily comprehensible, the arc reactor powering the battle suit posed a formidable puzzle; after all, the concept of cold nuclear fission remained largely theoretical.
Just as Xu Jin prepared to introduce Su Xun to the group, a figure clad in a white lab coat came sprinting out of the academic complex, breathless and alarmed.
"Professor Ma! Professor Ma! There's been an incident in the laboratory!"