Above the cold metal round table, a cone of blue light emanated from David's projector. His eye sockets, glowing with the same light, were fixed on the hologram.
He continuously projected extremely clear patterns, rotating them with gestures. One after another, crisp, detailed construction drawings of the large cruise ship "Minotaurs" appeared in the air in front of Nolan.
David raised his metal palm, gesturing to a cross-section of the ship, the light of the hologram casting shifting blue shadows across his metal chassis.
"This large cruise ship belonging to Roxxon Industries weighs 110,000 tons. According to the original design, it can accommodate 1,500 people. Of course, this refers to a full load of tourists."
A new file appeared, replacing the schematic with grainy, zoomed-in port footage.
"However, according to video data from many ports, the permanent population on board, in addition to the necessary crew members, is no less than 500 people. That is the private bodyguard team of Roxxon Industries."
David's gaze slowly fell on Nolan's face, who was squinting his cyan wolf eyes, his expression unreadable in the blue light.
"My Lord, please forgive my presumption. I think a problem that can be solved by a few missiles is not worth your personal effort."
Nolan, his fluffy gray hair shifting as he leaned forward, smiled slightly. The smile didn't reach his eyes. He showed his fangs and said:
"This is just a backup plan, David. If the other party's bodyguards are all metahuman, then a few missiles might only kill a large number of mortals. A waste of good ordnance."
The projection suddenly stopped, dissipating into motes of light in the air. David shook his metal palm again, as if shooing away Nolan's concern. He said confidently:
"My Lord, you can rest assured. I have hacked into Hammer Industries and Stark Industries through the compromised mobile phones of a large number of staff members. Among them, there are still some stocks of the 'Jericho' missiles, made by Stark before he became Iron Man, that have not been destroyed."
A new image, a missile schematic, flashed.
"And the similar imitation 'Ex-wife Type II' improved cruise missiles made by Hammer Industries have also come under my control. The goods in their experimental site are enough to start a war. Under the double attack of quality and quantity, I think a mere large cruise ship would be difficult to resist."
"Okay, David." Nolan's grin widened. "I'll tell you the truth. I just want to test the new armor."
He couldn't help but spread his hands, a gesture of mock confession. He complained to David.
David shook his metal head slightly. A faint pneumatic hiss, like a weary sigh, escaped his joints. There seemed to be a hint of genuine helplessness in his mechanical voice:
"My Lord, you should be the commander, waiting calmly for the outcome, not the general, charging into the trap."
Nolan, narrowing his cyan wolf eyes, was about to make a joke, fangs already bared for a witty retort.
But his words died. His keen ears picked up the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps echoing from the tunnel. A moment later, his eyes caught sight of an angry Jessica rushing into the base hall like a gust of wind. Her face was a mask of fury, her cheeks flushed, and her hands clenched into white-knuckled fists at her sides.
Nolan's demeanor snapped from casual to cold. He waved a dismissive hand at David and said:
"When the other party's directors gather, notify me immediately."
He then fixed his gaze on the approaching girl. His voice was not a shout, but a low, sharp command that cut through the hall.
"Jessica, control your anger! You have to learn to control your emotions!"
Hearing Nolan's loud rebuke, Jessica stopped dead in her tracks. She was visibly surging with anger, her entire body trembling. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a few deep, ragged breaths, one after another, her chest heaving. After a few dozen seconds, a small eternity in the quiet base, she finally opened her eyes. The fire was still there, but it was no longer a wildfire. It was banked.
She walked to the side of the metal round table, her movements stiff. She spread the heavy, crumpled documents she had been holding out for Nolan and David.
"Boss!" Her voice was low, thick with suppressed rage. "It turns out that many girls have disappeared from Midtown High School over the years, and the school's board of directors concealed it all! Apart from some who were involved in criminal cases or ran away from home, almost one-third of the girls who really disappeared were lured to the Roxxon Industries 'Minotaurs' by headhunters with various high-paying jobs!"
She jabbed a finger at a list of names.
"I used my connections among the students to inquire, and some of the girls who boarded the ship have never returned home. And they all have the same characteristics: their families are poor, they desire wealth, but they have exquisite looks and beautiful figures. Rumors say that they are... they are basically conservative believers who keep themselves clean and have never had a boyfriend."
Jessica's eyes were wide open, her breathing heavy and audible, and her teeth were clenched so hard her jaw ached.
One of her palms, which had been resting on the table, suddenly pressed down.
SCREEEEECH!
There was a harsh, protesting sound of metal twisting and deforming. Her palm embedded deeply in the metal round table, her knuckles white. The thick plate had visibly buckled under her grip.
After listening carefully to Jessica's words, Nolan's expression never changed. He was perfectly still.
He licked his fangs, a slow, predatory gesture. He said calmly:
"If that Agger is really some kind of xenos, then I'm afraid the beautiful lives of all the girls on board have long disappeared."
His voice dropped, becoming a cold, hypnotic sermon.
"The only thing we can do is to avenge them and make more xenos and heretics pay a painful price. Kill them."
He paused, letting the words land.
"Kill them until they think that humans are the masters of the earth. Kill them until they are on the verge of extinction. Kill them until they are only afraid of humans and dare not raise any weird, parasitic thoughts!"
He looked at her, his blue eyes cold.
"Jessica, you have done well. This is not your fault. You must remember the anger burning in your heart now, but don't let those surging emotions completely control your thinking."
He tapped his own temple.
"After all, reason is the most important bargaining chip in battle."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nolan slowly stood up, his chair scraping quietly.
He waved to Jessica, a simple, sharp gesture.
"Come."
He indicated that she should keep up with his pace.
Jessica took a deep breath again, pulling her hand from the ruined table with a wince. After blinking, she hurried to catch up, her anger now overshadowed by a cold, heavy dread from Nolan's words.
Nolan, his expression calm, took Jessica into the equipment room. It was brightly lit, sterile, and hyper-organized.
He picked up the set of Sun-style Void Combat Armor from the display case. It was sleek, white and gold, and looked impossibly advanced.
He turned around and handed the heavy chest piece to Jessica.
Nolan stared at her fiery eyes, which seemed to be burning with a mix of rage and unshed tears.
He blinked his blue wolf pupils a few times.
He said solemnly:
"I will take you on this operation. I know it may be too early, and your training isn't complete, but I think it's a good thing to let you see the future battlefield situation in advance."
Jessica, her face solemn, stretched out her hands and took the combat armor. The weight was significant, and she firmed her stance to accept it.
She nodded her head heavily at Nolan, her gaze locked with his, and said:
"Boss, I won't let you down!"
"No." Nolan's fangs bared, and he shook his head slightly. The gray hair on his head swayed slowly.
"You're not fighting for me. You're fighting for yourself, for those missing girls you feel for, and for all of humanity."
He leaned in slightly.
"However, I'll also give you three rules. The most important things on the battlefield are to obey orders and be merciless. Even if the opponent is just a child who looks weak, you must be mentally prepared to kill them in advance. Hesitation is death."
He saw her flinch, just slightly.
"Forget it." He straightened up. "It's better for you to experience it yourself than for me to say too much. I think this combat armor is enough to protect your life."
Nolan, his expression calm, stared at Jessica, whose eyes were flickering as she grew nervous. A small, cold smile touched his lips.
Afterwards, he didn't say anything more.
Instead, he told Jessica to adapt to the weight and combat status of the armor as soon.
When Jessica walked out of the equipment room a moment later, her expression solemn as she headed for a training alcove to suit up, Nolan's cyan wolf eyes narrowed.
He set his sights on the Hunting Lord armor, standing like a dark, red-handed sentinel not far away.
He turned around, walked to a storage locker, and took out all the standard explosive bombs from the corner of the equipment room, checking the count.
Nolan, thinking he had consumed too much, reopened the simulator's salvage page on his datapad.
He chose a ten-round salvage.
Then, looking around, Nolan picked up the Necrons' Gauss Explosion Gun again. It was a weapon of impossible geometry and dark metal.
He carefully looked at the strange green light pulsing back and forth in the transparent pipes, casting a sickly glow on his face. The weapon hummed, a low, alien thrum that he could feel in his bones.
He subconsciously murmured with his fangs bared, his voice a low growl:
"A xenos and its super-powered guards? I want to see if you can withstand my firepower!"