American comics: Starting with Luke the Maker

A little over two weeks later.

The same suburban training ground, the same people.

Looking at Evra's stern face, Luke actually felt a sense of familiarity. Especially after learning about the potential big order today, looking at Evra's face felt even more amiable.

"I heard you've created something good again?" General Evra stepped forward and shook Luke's hand. His stern face softened a little, like a spring breeze. Although Luke looked a bit young and his family didn't have much influence in the military, his intelligence, ability to produce military products he urgently needed, and understanding of how to show gratitude after receiving an order were enough.

"It's this thing." Luke pointed to the highly futuristic heavy helicopter behind him. It was 31 meters long, 9 meters high, and entirely silver-white.

"It looks ordinary. You said its payload is very powerful?" General Evra glanced at the heavy transport helicopter behind Luke.

"Even when fully loaded, it can still lift 120 tons." Luke casually said something astonishing.

At least, when Evra heard his words, the indifferent expression on his face changed instantly, and he couldn't help but take another look at the heavy helicopter. He pointed his finger and asked in surprise, "120 tons?"

"You can have someone test it yourself." Luke stepped aside. The personnel behind Evra, who had been eager to try, immediately rushed up. With the explanation and instructions from Heberon's employees, they began to familiarize themselves with and temporarily take over the heavy transport aircraft, while others were frantically making phone calls, asking people to prepare equipment of sufficient weight.

"How did you do it?" Evra looked in amazement at Luke's still young and somewhat green face, his eyes burning.

"We improved the power system. In addition, Heberon Industries has experimented with several new alloy materials that are lighter, stronger, more defensive, and have better ductility." It was Ina Sandra who answered, her face full of pride: "Frankly speaking, if we release these materials, they will become the top choice for many high-end military enterprises."

"The only disadvantage is that they are very expensive." Ina Sandra concluded with a slight regret.

General Evra pondered upon hearing this, understanding Ina Sandra's words somewhat. Before the first transaction, he had inquired about the information of Heberon Industries and Luke, etc. Although Luke's parents had no influence in the military, they had connections with many wealthy people and councilors, which could be described as extensive. Ina Sandra's own parents were also a combination of councilors and wealthy businessmen, with their own family business, and the two families had close ties. According to the information he gathered, this woman had put a lot of effort and invested a considerable amount of money in the early stages of Heberon Industries' construction, and her excellent management skills had also been fully demonstrated in recent years, not just a simple pretty face.

He thought of these things because in situations where Luke couldn't say some things well, this woman had the confidence, strength, and status to represent Luke.

"If it is indeed a good product, then it is naturally worth promoting. I will use my connections to help you." General Evra nodded. This was not difficult for him, especially if the new materials were really as Ina said, then even without his help, they would inevitably be sought after as soon as they appeared on the market.

After all, this circle was neither big nor small, but it was really small.

Luke watched the helicopter he named Heberon 01 take off and fly towards the test site, his heart calm and unwavering. The heavy transport aircraft in Pacific Rim had a lifting capacity of at least 300 tons, so what he took out was certainly not the ultimate version. As a qualified company manager, Ina heavily cut it down after learning about Luke's technology, creating a castrated version.

In her words, since the castrated version could form a crushing advantage, why throw out the trump card from the beginning? The company's development is very difficult, and besides expanding the workforce, you and I need money to build this and that, so in order to avoid financial difficulties in the future, each of our products must maximize profits!

When she said these words, Ina Sandra's face was glowing, and the aura and gaze she directed at him made Luke feel a chill down his spine. Moreover, he also felt that Ina's words were correct, so he readily made several castrated versions, even changing the power system. At least within three generations, Luke wouldn't need to worry about it.

Isn't it just squeezing toothpaste?

Isn't it just technological accumulation?

Isn't it just so that when your opponent's product performance finally catches up, you can easily upgrade and make your opponent curse you for being inhuman?

If there were certain situations involving his upgrade needs that required promotion, then Luke would naturally insist on making a final decision, but heavy transport aircraft technology was not something worth paying attention to, nor was it technology related to his upgrade, so he let her do whatever she wanted.

"I heard your security team had problems?" General Evra looked at Luke with a smile on his face. "Do you need me to introduce some manpower? They are all good young men who are about to retire. It's a waste of talent to be bodyguards."

"Thank you." Luke naturally wouldn't refuse. Although he didn't have Ina Sandra's emotional intelligence and ability to discern people's hearts, he also understood that Evra was not mocking him by saying these words at this time, but was releasing goodwill to him and wanting to make the relationship between the two closer.

"Soldiers who are capable but have to retire due to injuries and disabilities?" Luke asked his request in Evra's surprised eyes.

"Of course, there are many such soldiers every year. Many of them were great young men when they were healthy." Evra was a little puzzled.

"Heberon has recently developed a new technology that allows people to control their mechanical limbs as if they were controlling flesh and blood arms. It's just that there are no test subjects yet. What I can guarantee is that the technology is very mature and there are no major risks. If there are any soldiers who want to return to normal and find a job, you can explain it to them and introduce them to me." Luke said implicitly.

In any case, he still needed a certain amount of security forces now. His parents, Ina, company executives, etc., all needed manpower to protect their personal safety.

As for trust and how to avoid a repeat of Wallace's betrayal, what Luke could think of was to use the addition of mechanical limbs to disabled soldiers as a backup, with a synesthesia recognition system for screening. Although this cannot guarantee that there will be no people with ulterior motives, the installed mechanical limbs and technological equipment can be used as a trump card when things really come to a head.

PS: Seeking follow-up reading, it's Tuesday, dear.