Chapter 290: The World-Changing Armor!
Bruce Wayne Takes the Lead
Unlike others, Bruce Wayne's goal was simple: to test the performance of the exoskeleton armor. If it was as good as he imagined, he planned to cooperate with Tesla and use Luke's technology to comprehensively upgrade his Bat-suit.
In his mind, wealth, technology, and women were secondary; Gotham City always came first.
The eight individuals who put on the armor began performing various movements. Some were clearly unaccustomed to the exoskeleton's walking mode; were it not for the built-in balance system, they would have been on the floor already.
The exoskeleton armor designed by Luke was fundamentally different from the one currently trending in the military. The latter uses human effort as the basis, with the armor acting as an auxiliary device. The former, however, uses the armor's own kinetic energy as the drive, making human effort largely dispensable. To use the exoskeleton armor proficiently, one must adapt to it.
It's like riding a bicycle: you have to learn with concentration to ride smoothly.
Among the group, Bruce Wayne was the most astute. In just a short time, he mastered the essentials of the exoskeleton armor. While others were still struggling to walk, he was already sprinting across the stage.
His speed was extreme, his legs powerfully strong. Each stride covered three to four meters. With a sudden thrust of his legs, he was airborne, executing a 720-degree forward somersault before landing stably on the ground.
Luke applauded enthusiastically, his face full of admiration.
"Mr. Wayne is an eye-opener. The dancers took half a day to grasp the essentials of the exoskeleton armor, and you only took two minutes. My respect, my genuine respect."
The crowd was also surprised. The Bruce Wayne they knew was the famous playboy of Gotham, constantly involved in scandals with supermodels and socialites. They never expected such remarkable skill beneath that flamboyant exterior.
Bruce realized his slip and quickly stopped. After a moment's thought, he turned back and said,
"I want to buy this set of armor."
Luke pretended to be troubled, looking very reluctant.
Bruce said solemnly,
"One million US dollars!"
Luke feigned helplessness. "It's not about the money. These eight suits are prototypes and cannot be sold. How about this: once the armor enters production, I'll custom-make a set specifically for you according to your requirements. How does that sound?"
"Make one for me too."
Lex Luthor walked onto the stage, his gaze fixed on the exoskeleton armor. "I am very interested in your product."
Luke laughed. "I didn't expect Mr. Luthor to like the exoskeleton armor as well. Since both of you have asked, I can't appear stingy. How about this: everyone who came to the venue can enjoy the custom-made service. Tesla will produce a product that will astonish you all."
At this, the crowd cheered. Lois was also tempted. She nudged her boyfriend and whispered,
"I want a suit too."
Clark sighed. "We don't even know the price yet."
"Call Kara; she'll definitely know."
"We'll see about that later."
The Military Response
The testing went on for a long time. People took turns wearing the armor, experiencing the allure of becoming a superhero. Of course, there were plenty of embarrassing mishaps; the exoskeleton armor's drive system was completely different from human muscular action, requiring extensive practice to adapt.
The more people tested the armor, the more it highlighted Bruce Wayne's exceptionalism. Gradually, many people began casting scrutinizing glances at him, unable to fathom how he mastered such complex operation techniques in just two minutes.
Is this guy really just a playboy?
Luke just smiled and remained silent. Bruce Wayne's talent was naturally outstanding, and years of continuous training had pushed his physical abilities to the human limit.
Moreover, he had his own Bat-suit, and the leg drive system of the Bat-suit was similar to the exoskeleton armor. Someone who wore the Bat-suit year-round was simply incomparable to an ordinary person.
As the number of testers increased, the atmosphere in the venue became more animated.
People gathered in small groups, observing the armor on stage and whispering among themselves.
The FBI and CIA both showed keen interest in the exoskeleton armor, but the strongest reaction came from the Department of Defense. If the timing hadn't been so public, the generals led by Sam Lane would have already attempted to classify it as a military secret.
The performance demonstrated by the armor made the generals salivate. They could imagine how much the combat power of the troops would increase once they were equipped with this gear.
The nature of warfare would be revolutionized. Individual soldiers would dominate the battlefield, while tanks would fade into history. And the US would once again lead the global trend by seizing control of this technology.
"We must control it. It absolutely cannot fall into the hands of our enemies, at least not now."
Sam Lane made an immediate decision, a look of resolve hardening his eyes.
Qu Youran's Mission
Elsewhere, Wang Kun, who had finished testing the armor, returned to the bar. Qu Youran looked around, and seeing no one nearby, whispered,
"How is it?"
"It's very powerful, unimaginably so. If it were standardized in the army, combat effectiveness would increase severalfold."
"That amazing!"
Qu Youran secretly clicked her tongue.
"More than just amazing!"
Wang Kun took a deep breath, speaking with great solemnity. "These eight suits are just prototypes. Even with my rudimentary scientific knowledge, I can see its potential, let alone a genius like Luke Shaw. The exoskeleton armor has many areas for improvement and could even be the foundation for constructing full-body individual mechas."
"That is a weapon of mass destruction capable of changing the geopolitical balance of power!"
Wang Kun's analysis made Qu Youran nervous as well.
"What should we do?"
"Obtain the core technology of the exoskeleton armor at any cost."
Wang Kun spoke with absolute finality. "I will try to contact Old Man Shaw to see if we can find an opening there. As for Luke Shaw, I can only leave him to you."
Qu Youran forced a bitter smile. "He knows my identity and has always been very wary of me."
"Then you must get him to drop his guard."
Qu Youran lowered her head, remaining silent, her expression extremely conflicted.
Wang Kun spoke gently. "No one else is better suited for this task than you. You might run into some trouble, but your life will never be in danger."
Qu Youran was puzzled. "Why?"
"Because of Old Man Shaw. He values sentiment deeply, and he and your grandfather were life-and-death friends. With the old man vouching for you, you will be safe. Luke Shaw is a genius; you must find a way to forge a good relationship with him."
Qu Youran nervously clenched her fingers, struggling internally. After a long while, she finally managed a nod.
"I understand what I need to do, Uncle Wang."
Wang Kun sighed, patted her shoulder, and said no more.
The exoskeleton armor pushed the atmosphere of the exhibition to its peak. Seeing that the mood was just right, Luke decided to present the third gift.
This gift was the core of the entire exhibition.
🗒️NOTE:
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
Explore up to 20 chapters in advance!