Chapter 280: The Hot Commodity!
The Grand Design
Luke had a clear and explicit plan for the future.
ShowMe was the foundation. Once it became a necessity for three billion people, Luke would hold the throat of the entire world. By then, he would transcend the restraints of nations, laws, and armies, becoming an existence beyond the world order.
Blue Bird and Tesla would primarily serve the Phantom-1 battlesuit. It was Luke's greatest regret that the Phantom-1 had never been seen by the world. He dreamed that one day he could don the suit, leap from a skyscraper, and soar into the sky, a streak of light disappearing into the horizon, while onlookers gasped in awe, admiration, and envy.
Alas, dreams were just dreams, and reality was unforgiving. If the Phantom battlesuit were exposed, the Department of Defense would be knocking on his door the next second. They would use every method to force Luke to surrender the blueprints or, like Tony Stark and Iron Man, force him to build a government-serving war machine.
Luke was unwilling to do either. To avoid trouble, he had to hide his identity and wait until his power could disregard the entire United States. Only then would he openly wear the suit and declare to the world: He is the Phantom.
Naturally, all of this required time to accumulate strength; without power, everything was futile.
The Exoskeleton Suit
Under the curious and confused gazes of the founders, the door to the lab opened. A clunky robot slowly walked out. It had two arms and two legs but no head, with a power-board-like device mounted on its back. Iron rings were visible at the wrists and elbows. At first glance, it resembled the exoskeleton armor often seen in sci-fi movies.
Luke walked up to the armor, turned back, and smiled.
"This is what I wanted to show you."
Zacks Borg was astonished. "Exoskeleton armor?"
"You could call it that, though there are some differences."
Luke activated the power. The armor automatically split open, forming a human outline. Simultaneously, blue light emanated from the right arm and thigh areas, giving it a unique, futuristic appearance.
"Who wants to try it?"
Barry Allen immediately raised his hand and quickly trotted up to the armor. Following Luke's instructions, he inserted his hands and feet into the iron rings. The rings closed, and the external armor plates contracted inward, fitting snugly against his body.
A strange sensation washed over him.
Barry tried to lift his foot. He stumbled momentarily, unable to adapt to the armor's movement frequency, but the next second, he stabilized. He moved his arms and said, utterly amazed,
"The armor automatically adjusts balance!"
Luke shrugged. "Balance sensors, basic robotics technology."
"Barry, try to lift that sofa."
The future Flash nodded eagerly. He walked to the sofa and, to everyone's shock, effortlessly lifted the heavy 40-kilogram couch. Not satisfied, he leaped.
THUD!
His head slammed directly into the ceiling.
"That's awesome! Incredible jumping power! I feel like Superman!"
Barry laughed like a child with a new toy. The other young people in the room felt their hands itch. They dragged him out, put on the armor themselves, and started jumping and bouncing around the room.
The oldest founder, Philip, sincerely exclaimed,
"Every time we meet, you manage to surprise me."
Cindy said incredulously, "Boss, is this one of the products Tesla plans to release?"
Luke sipped his red wine, his expression calm. "Just one of them."
"What are the others?"
Luke kept them guessing. "You'll find out when the time comes."
Philip sighed. "No wonder you're launching Tesla and Blue Bird. If this is what you're building, this is what will truly change the world, more than ShowMe." He then frowned, unable to hide his serious concern.
"Luke, you need to be careful. The military value of exoskeleton armor far exceeds its civilian use. Once this is released, governments all over the world will target you. They'll stop at nothing to get their hands on the core technology."
"Don't worry, Arthur, I'm ready for them."
Luke put down his glass and called out loudly, "Stop playing, all of you. Take off the armor and sit down; I have something to discuss."
Reluctantly, they returned to their seats, their eyes occasionally drifting toward the armor. It was clear they hadn't had enough fun.
Luke cleared his throat and said seriously,
"You are all veterans of ShowMe. Your ability, character, and talent are beyond question. Since you are here today, I need to ask: who is interested in switching to work at Tesla?"
Silence fell over the room. Everyone exchanged confused glances. Weren't they here to convince Luke to focus on ShowMe's growth and stop wasting time elsewhere? How had the conversation turned into him poaching his own staff?
Still, a new job with that armor would certainly be interesting!
Zacks Borg and Barry Allen glanced at the armor, looking visibly eager.
Luke took in all their reactions and continued, "Don't rush your answer. Go home and think about it. If you want a change of environment, call me. It's either ShowMe or Tesla."
Cindy exclaimed angrily, "Boss, that's completely unfair! You're openly poaching—and poaching from your own company!"
Luke looked genuinely helpless. "I don't have a choice. The new companies are just starting, and we're severely understaffed. I don't trust many people, and after thinking it over, you are all the most suitable."
"Alright, that's it for today. If you're interested, give me a call. But before you leave, you must have your current work arranged. I absolutely won't allow ShowMe to fall into chaos because of this. If it does, I'll stop the transfers immediately."
In his final sentence, Luke's tone was very stern, carrying undeniable firmness.
After chatting for another half hour, the founders left the villa, their feelings a mixture of excitement and confusion.
The Threat of Success
Everyone was gone except Charlie and Billy. One was Luke's cousin, and the other his childhood friend; both were his absolute confidantes.
In the second-floor living room, Luke lit a cigarette and asked coldly,
"How are you going to handle the fundraising issue?"
Charlie immediately stood up. "Young Master, I've been meaning to talk to you about this. I don't think we can delay it any longer; it's becoming dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Luke raised an eyebrow. "What kind of danger?"
Charlie looked at Billy, who clenched his jaw and spoke up. "A week ago, someone tampered with our car. The brakes failed while we were driving downhill, and we nearly drove into a ravine!"
At this, Luke's face instantly hardened, his narrowed eyes reflecting a chilling killing intent.
"Who did it?"
Charlie shook his head. "We haven't found out, but Billy and I both believe their goal wasn't to kill us; it was to pressure ShowMe into accepting financing."
Luke pondered this, silent for a long moment. Then he said,
"Are they really that desperate to throw money at us?"
Charlie sighed, exasperated. "It's not that they are desperate, it's that ShowMe's growth has been too explosive. Thanks to the recent events—the mummy cases, the Vice President's kidnapping, the election, the Presidential attack, and the aliens—ShowMe's user count has surged repeatedly. Total users have now broken the 20 million mark. Plus, our paid clicks, tips, original video, and ad revenue are performing unbelievably well. Right now, many businesses see ShowMe as the next great commercial platform. We get hundreds of ad calls daily."
Charlie let out a sigh that was both excited and weary.
"ShowMe is a hot commodity right now. Everyone wants a piece, everyone wants to make a fortune off it. We can handle one or two, but if everyone starts eyeing this fat slice of meat..."
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