Chapter 332: The Flash's Combat Suit (Part 2)
The Negotiation
"Don't play dumb. Agree, and I'll help. Disagree..."
Luke shrugged, the rest of the sentence unnecessary.
Barry Allen hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "What do you want to steal?"
"It's not stealing! It's retrieving!"
Luke heavily emphasized the latter word. "Stealing and retrieving are completely different concepts, and besides, that metal is not a proprietary object."
"Metal?"
"Yes, a special metal, said to be from outer space, possessing incredibly magical properties. I don't know the exact details yet, but once I locate the metal, your friend needs to retrieve it for me."
Barry gave a wry smile. "Boss, can you change the request? He doesn't want to be a thief."
"I just said, it's retrieving, not stealing. That metal is an ownerless object. Furthermore, I won't need you to help me with anything else."
Barry scratched his head, clearly troubled.
He didn't want to be a thief, not at all.
Luke picked up his teacup and drank slowly. Seeing Barry's persistent silence, his expression hardened.
"Do you know how much the nanosuction technology is worth?"
Luke held up his index finger. "Ten billion dollars!"
"You privately stole my nanosuction technology, a ten-billion-dollar patent, just to make that useless armor?"
"You know what? When you first showed up with that blueprint, I really wanted to throw you into the sea to feed the fish. In the end, I held back. Barry, you're a good guy and deserve to live a long life."
Luke put down his teacup and stared coldly at him.
"A person's tolerance is limited. I've given you one chance, and there won't be a second one. Now, give me your answer. If you agree, I'll start manufacturing it immediately. If not, turn right, walk out the door, and get back to work."
The forceful voice echoed in the room, doubling the pressure on Barry Allen. He bit his lip, finally deflating.
"Fine. I will convince him to agree."
"That's more like it! Ten billion dollars' worth of tech in exchange for his nod—you guys are getting the better deal no matter how you look at it."
"Follow me."
Luke left the office, and Barry followed behind.
The Design Session
The two took a private elevator to the basement level, where a secret laboratory was located, known only to the core employees.
Luke opened the lab's main console, entered his personal account, and retrieved over a dozen single-soldier armor designs. The appearance, style, and functions of each suit were different, and in addition to basic defense, they were loaded with many incredible capabilities.
Barry Allen was completely dazzled and speechless.
"Did you... design all of these?"
"Who else?"
Luke glanced at him, his expression casual, as if to say these were no big deal.
"Give me the blueprint."
Barry was momentarily stunned, then quickly handed over the design.
Luke unfolded the blueprint and spread it on the desk. He used a reader to automatically extract the data from the drawing and had the super-AI analyze and compare it, constructing a three-dimensional model.
Soon, a projected armor model, composed of data, appeared beneath the projector.
Luke walked up to the projection, examining it up and down. He shook his head dismissively.
"A 60s or 70s rock-and-roll style, with a bit of a lightning element thrown in. Is this really your design?"
Barry mumbled, "My friend also offered some suggestions."
Luke scoffed mercilessly. "I truly don't know where your sense of aesthetics comes from. Only an idiot would wear this kind of utterly tacky armor."
Barry's face flushed.
"I think it's... it's not bad."
Luke didn't bother arguing. He walked to the console and began conceptualizing the aesthetic design.
"What kind of movies does your friend like to watch?"
"Movies?"
Barry was confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Movies determine a person's style. People who like sci-fi often prefer a tech-style or mecha-style. Those who like fantasy lean toward the mystical and elemental. Fans of war epics usually want their armor to be iron-blooded, heroic, and imposing. Of course, those are all male preferences. If your friend is female..."
Barry quickly waved his hands. "He's a guy, just like me."
"What genre does he like?"
"It should be mecha!"
"Nine out of ten men like mecha, just as nine out of ten men like women. Same principle."
Luke rapidly typed on the keyboard, and soon, an uncolored armor model was born.
Blade-like limbs, an external metallic style, with cold, straight lines. It formed perfect symmetry with a vertical line running down the center. There were armor-like protrusions on each shoulder, and combined with the mysteriously cool helmet, the entire suit had an intense visual impact.
Barry just took one look, and his heart rate surged uncontrollably.
Holy crap!
That is so freaking handsome, so unbelievably cool!
This is what I've always dreamed of.
Luke turned back. "What color does your friend like?"
"Red... Red!"
"Red lightning?"
"Yes!"
Barry nodded, his face flushed. "Red lightning."
"Deep red or light red?"
"Deep red."
Luke controlled the computer to color the model. To prevent the color from being too monotonous, he infused a small amount of black into the deep red. Red and black are the perfect combination.
As the colors and patterns formed, the armor began to exhibit a unique kind of beauty.
The deep red and pitch black were like iron and blood, symbolizing war and death, while the red electric streak running across the chest added a touch of tragic beauty to the war.
Barry's eyes glowed with admiration. He was utterly impressed. As expected of the boss, he's strong, unbelievably strong, incomparably strong!
However, the more he looked, the more something felt off.
"Boss, isn't this suit a little too... that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean..." Barry gestured. "It's too jarring. It doesn't look like a good guy. Imagine wearing this armor and walking down the street—what would citizens think?"
"That makes sense."
Luke looked thoughtful. After a moment's consideration, he removed the black from the chest, leaving black stripes only on the sides of the abdomen, the joints, and the head. This combination softened the previous killing intent, making it look gentler.
"How about this one?"
Barry nodded, then shook his head, his face contorted strangely.
"You don't like it?"
"No, it's not that."
Barry gripped his hair, full of internal conflict. "This suit isn't as handsome as the previous one."
Luke sneered. "Does how handsome it is matter to you? You're not the one wearing it."
Barry: "..."
Once the appearance design was finalized, Luke used his experience from manufacturing Phantom One to optimize it comprehensively. The materials were also perfected to ensure the armor possessed four main characteristics: high-temperature resistance, cold resistance, light weight, and abrasion resistance.
"This suit only has basic defensive capabilities. If your friend brings me the item I need, I will upgrade it and give the armor all sorts of incredible abilities, turning it into more than just a suit of clothes."
Luke raised his hand and clapped Barry's shoulder. He said earnestly,
"Barry, you're a good guy. I hope your friend is too."
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