"Reversal crystallization?"
Nick and Pierce were instantly interested. They looked at the fist-sized crystal with great interest. The light reflected from the cut surface was even more dazzling and attractive than the best gems in the world in Pierce's eyes.
"What about its effect? I mean, how can we use it?" Pierce asked anxiously.
"Effect? You should know that if the Inhumans want to awaken their abilities, they first need to rely on a precious mineral called Terrigen crystal." Luke's words were unanimously agreed by Nick and Pierce. They knew that what Luke said was correct.
"The Reversal Crystal can be understood as the opposite of the Terrigen Crystal." Luke didn't leave them hanging. "If the Terrigen Crystal represents the evolution of the Inhumans' abilities, then the Reversal Crystal represents the degradation and blockage of their abilities.
In other words, within the range of the reversal crystals, the Inhumans' abilities are sealed. They will no longer be superhumans with inhuman powers, but simply ordinary people deprived of their abilities."
Pierce was overjoyed upon hearing this, but out of caution, he still asked, "What if it's an Inhuman with a high level of awakening? Does it affect all Inhumans, or only those who haven't mastered their abilities?"
He had to ask this question. The way the woman in robes dealt with the snake heads like cutting melons and vegetables was still engraved in his memory. Pierce did not hesitate to give her and the so-called god behind her the highest level of danger.
"That's something you'll need to test yourself. My experimental data shows that it will silence all Inhuman genes. From this point of view, its purpose is to suppress all Inhumans with awakened and active Inhuman genes," Luke replied slickly. While he was confident in his skills, there was no need to boast too much in front of Nick and the other two. Such boasting might only arouse further doubts in the skeptical pair.
"If, and I mean if, this crystal doesn't work for a particular Inhuman, or if the effect isn't satisfactory, then what's the best solution? Can you provide better, more advanced technology?" Pierce asked Luke repeatedly, somewhat hesitantly. His relentless pursuit even drew a suspicious glance from Nick Fury beside him.
"If it's not ineffective, but only weakly effective, then wouldn't it be enough to increase the dosage?" Luke knew in his heart that the Inhuman Pierce was referring to was most likely the Inhuman fossil. If he was truly immune to the effects of the Reversal Crystal, then Luke might be even more interested in him.
After all, just like Superman, a Superman who is not immune to the effects of kryptonite is certainly worth studying. A Superman who is immune to the effects of kryptonite and magic will naturally be more valuable to study!
Pierce was somewhat dissatisfied with Luke's answer, but he didn't say anything else. He changed the subject and asked, "How large of a reversal crystal can it affect? If an alien came into contact with it, would the effect be more pronounced?"
"For a crystal this large, the impact range is about ten meters in diameter. If it can come into contact with the opponent's skin, the effect will naturally be better. You can even mix some reversal crystals into the metal and use it as handcuffs or even auxiliary materials for buildings where Inhuman criminals are detained." Luke calculated and gave a radiation range.
Pierce frowned slightly. "Is there a way with a larger scope?"
"What do you mean? Is it a pile of materials that have a continuous effect, or is it a temporary use that can trigger a sudden change?" Luke also looked at Pierce and asked back.
"What are the differences in their effects?" Pierce perked up, keenly hearing something in Luke's words that moved him.
"The former refers to items made of piled materials with lasting effects. The latter refers to using certain technical means to maximize the energy inside the crystal in a short period of time. The effect is short-lived and time-limited, but the range can radiate to a wider range!" Luke explained in detail.
"For example? Does it mean that the reversal crystals can only be used as an energy product?" Nick also interjected. After the appearance of Inhumans such as Black Bolt and the Inhumans belonging to Maximus' faction in Attilan, he thought about how to fight against those Inhumans in a targeted manner.
Indeed, according to Black Bolt and his team, many Inhumans' awakenings are uncontrolled. To awaken powerful abilities without any changes to their original nature requires a great deal of luck. While many Inhumans have awakened, most of their awakened abilities are diverse and not particularly powerful, at least in combat.
For example, an Inhuman awakened a pair of butterfly wings, which allowed them to briefly soar a little, but the wings were relatively fragile. Because the physical change was minimal, this was considered a successful example of eugenics and evolution in Attilan. However, it's unclear how much combat power this ability provided. The vast majority of Inhuman awakened abilities are similar to this.
"Of course." Luke nodded, "Whether it's used as energy for stimulation, or as a material and made into an additive, it's no problem.
You can use it to make certain melee weapons, which means that if you become enemies with Inhumans in the future, these weapons with added reversal crystals will give your agents an absolute advantage in melee combat.
It can also be made into bullets. When shooting at an Inhuman, the bullet will also affect his ability. Perhaps it will not have much effect on some Inhumans who are extremely proficient in controlling their abilities, but for those Inhumans who have just awakened or have difficulty controlling their own powers, any slight impact on their abilities may directly lead to his defeat or even death.
The above is a small-scale confrontation. If you want to engage in a positional battle beforehand, in an open area without many buildings, you can even exploit astronomical phenomena, mixing the material powder with the catalyst to create an artificial rain. I've run simulations on this in the data dimension. Simply adjusting the dosage is enough to affect the abilities of a wide range of mutants. The more open the area, the greater the impact on the mutants. The air will also carry trace amounts of the crystals for a period of time, which will cause a greater reaction when inhaled.
The last method is to use specially made instruments to instantly stimulate the energy in the crystal and transform it into an energy shock wave that radiates to the surrounding area.
The above two methods, without requiring terrain, are both highly effective in a large area and in a short period of time. I am just giving you a few examples."
"Sounds good, what do you think?" Pierce looked at the reversal crystal again with shining eyes. While speaking, he turned his head to look at Nick beside him and asked for his opinion.
"It's really good. What about the cost?" Although Nick was very satisfied with it in his heart, as someone who had done business with Luke many times, past experience told him that Luke really had no shortage of good things and good technologies, but at the same time, the price he sold them to the outside world was really outstanding and exciting.
Back when the US dollar was used as the settlement currency, it was fine. S.H.I.E.L.D. would just bite the bullet and squeeze a little here and there. If that didn't work, they'd just write a few more sternly worded reports and apply for more funding. But ever since the new energy currency became the settlement currency, business with Luke has become incredibly unruly!
Anyway, for every subsequent technology, Nick couldn't find a comparable sample. It was a complete technological monopoly, but there was nothing he could do about it.
SHIELD's previous status as a financial sponsor was inexplicably transformed into that of a debtor's younger brother, making Nick feel a little insecure when facing Luke.
Luke concealed nothing throughout the entire process, doing everything right under Nick's nose. Nick was well aware that the new currency was a massive pitfall, but this was an overt conspiracy. Anyone in Nick's position, with a sane mind and some intelligence, would know they had to follow suit. To refuse would mean completely giving up on the future. It would also mean giving up on the future of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its associated responsibilities.
Nick could only hope that, as a consumable, Luke would show some mercy this time, not cutting the knife so quickly. Even if it was a dull knife, it would cut the flesh slowly. Although he knew that this possibility was unlikely.
"One new currency, five hundred grams."
But perhaps because he heard Nick's inner voice, or perhaps because Nick thought Luke finally had a change of heart, the price Luke offered this time was within Nick's psychological tolerance limit, and even the tolerance limit he had set in his mind was still a certain distance away. This really made Nick feel so happy that he wanted to cry.
"One new currency, five hundred grams! Let's sign!" Nick still felt a little unreal, but he rarely urged Luke to draft a contract and have him and Pierce sign it. He wanted to set the price right now, not giving Luke any chance to change his mind. He even suppressed the urge to ask Luke if he had made a mistake, fearing that if he did, Luke would say, "Wrong, it's one new currency, five grams." Wouldn't he explode on the spot?
Strictly speaking, the price Luke offered wasn't exactly cheap, but Nick, having experienced the "good value for money" for the first time at Luke's place, was already quite satisfied. At least for this price, he could arrange and use more places.
At least he wouldn't feel the stifling pain when conducting experiments and consuming resources. In just a few years, Luke had transformed the s.h.i.e.l ...
As one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s permanent members, Pierce had also read some of the information Nick had provided about the new currency, so he had a rough estimate of its purchasing power. After hearing the price Luke quoted, he also thought it wasn't too expensive.
This made him glance at his old friend Nick with an odd look. He'd heard Nick complain to him repeatedly about the ridiculously high prices of Luke's technology while submitting requests for various resources and support. His expression and tone at the time were still vivid in his mind, completely unpretentious and truly relatable.
Pierce believed it for a while, thinking that Luke's technology was so expensive that it would make Nick feel heartbroken. But today, he found that everything seemed different from what Nick said to him.
It was still Luke's exclusive technology, still customized to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s needs. According to Nick, Luke usually quoted a very high price for this type of technology upon initial delivery, at least for the first one or two batches. But seeing is believing, and after personally participating in this deal, he found Luke to be quite conscientious in his business dealings.
While the price of the Reversal Crystal was still quite high, compared to the tearful accusations Nick had shared with him, it was a prime example of a business man. Pierce also understood that this technology, custom-made just for S.H.I.E.L.D., would have to be sold at a higher price to recoup the initial research and testing costs.
The question is, why did Nick lie to him? Or, why did he exaggerate Luke's greed?
Thinking about the fact that his old friend had been secretly embezzling funds for years, Pierce had a sudden realization. While Hydra had also quietly taken a large share of the embezzled funds, the fact that Nick was involved in corruption was undeniable! Pierce wasn't angry about Nick's embezzlement; after all, he and his Hydra team were also vested interests. But he was angry that this time, in this new market for new currency, Nick had left Hydra alone and reaped the spoils!
He is also envious of the new currency!
He also wants to get involved!
Pierce thought it was time to find a time to have a heart-to-heart with Nick.
Nick's scalp tingled under Pierce's inexplicable gaze, and his heart tightened. Just as he tried to carefully observe Pierce's expression, he had already turned his head and resumed his conversation with Luke. He frowned and thought carefully, and after deciding he hadn't revealed anything unusual, he could only suppress the sudden strange emotion that had arisen in him, not showing it outwardly.
The most urgent thing right now is to sign the order with Luke, finalize the deal, and establish the actual facts. Everything else can be discussed later.