The racetrack was filled with the acrid stench of scorched rubber and gunpowder.
Ivan let out a pained grunt, as if he’d been struck by a speeding truck.
He stumbled back several steps before crashing into the guardrail.
The energy whip in his hand instantly lost its glow as the power supply was severed, falling lifelessly to the ground.
Lin Xuan gave him no chance to recover.
Closing the distance in a blur, he drove his elbow forward, executing a clean and decisive chokehold that completely neutralized the now-defenseless Ivan Vanko.
The moment Ivan hit the ground, the System’s cold, mechanical voice echoed in Lin Xuan’s mind.
[System Notification: Mission “Technical Reference” Complete! Target Defeated.]
[Mission Reward: +50 Tech Points.]
[Current Tech Points: 50.]
Lin Xuan dropped to one knee beside Ivan Vanko, watching as the man struggled to breathe, his chest heaving in agony from the damaged reactor.
His gaze then drifted to the wreckage of the energy whip lying nearby, still crackling with faint, dying sparks of electricity.
Kneeling beside the defeated and gasping Ivan, Lin Xuan quickly began to assess his gains.
“But this design philosophy—using a miniature reactor as the exoskeleton’s core power source to drive energy weapons… it’s highly valuable.”
“At least, it provides a good starting point.”
He could use it as a foundation to build the framework for his own first-generation armor.
*Screech—*
The piercing sound of brakes echoed.
Happy Hogan, driving the elegantly lined Rolls-Royce, drifted into the chaotic track and came to a halt nearby.
His face was still pale with shock, carrying the relief of a narrow escape as he hurriedly grabbed the silver briefcase from the back seat.
“Sir! Quick!” Happy ran urgently toward Tony, handing him the Mark V.
However, Tony just stood there.
He looked at Lin Xuan, who was completely unharmed—his clothes not even dirty—and then at Ivan, who lay immobilized on the ground.
The expression on Tony’s face shifted from initial shock to an indescribable complexity.
*This guy… is he really just a “researcher”?*
*Did he just dismantle a Gundam with his bare hands?*
*No, he dismantled a “low-spec energy whip exoskeleton” with his bare hands.*
Tony felt his worldview being shattered once again.
*Swoosh—*
The door of another car opened.
Pepper Potts and Natasha (Natalie) rushed onto the scene.
Seeing the devastated racetrack, the wrecked race car, the fallen attacker, and…
Lin Xuan, who had subdued him single-handedly, both women were stunned.
Natasha’s icy blue eyes, for the first time, shed their carefully crafted calm.
In its place was a thick, impenetrable mix of shock and scrutiny.
She stared intently at Lin Xuan.
It wasn’t just because of the superhuman strength and speed he had displayed.
It was because of *how* he had fought!
That pinpoint-accurate evasion, the way he always seized the gaps in the opponent’s energy output to counterattack…
That was something no amount of raw strength or speed alone could achieve!
It was more like… real-time analysis and prediction based on terrifyingly precise calculations!
*His combat prowess… it’s improving too fast!* Natasha’s heart hammered in her chest.
*This can’t be explained by simple physical enhancement.
That fighting style… it’s almost like data analysis!
Has he combined technology with combat instinct?*
This Lin Xuan hid secrets far deeper than S.H.I.E.L.D. had ever assessed!
Tony’s gaze shifted away from the crude, damaged, and flickering arc reactor on Ivan’s chest, his expression turning grave.
He turned to Lin Xuan, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible gravity.
“It seems we have another ‘cautionary tale’ for our energy problem…”
The shadow of palladium poisoning once again loomed in his mind.
Ivan’s crudely made reactor could still power an energy whip, which spoke volumes about its potential.
But it also highlighted the critical importance of core stability!
“Once we clean up this mess,” Tony said, his gaze fixed on Lin Xuan, his eyes turning resolute, “we need to hurry. We *have* to synthesize that New Element!”
*Wooo—wooo—*
In the distance, sirens wailed, growing louder as they approached.
Several police cars and ambulances, their red and blue lights flashing, screeched to a halt at the scene, quickly cordoning off the area with yellow tape.
A few Monaco police officers strode forward, their expressions grim as they took in the chaotic scene.
“What happened here?!”
Tony instantly slipped back into his persona—the playboy billionaire.
He patted Happy’s shoulder, signaling him to stay calm, then stepped forward, positioning himself between Lin Xuan and the officers.
A signature smile, a blend of feigned helplessness and absolute control, played on his lips.
“Just a little accident, officer.”
Tony skillfully began negotiating with the police, leveraging Stark Industries’ immense influence to minimize the fallout.
Pepper immediately stepped forward to assist with the aftermath.
The scene quickly became a hive of organized activity.
While everyone’s attention was fixed on Tony and the police, Lin Xuan remained still, his gaze calm as he watched Ivan Vanko—now restrained by officers—continue to snarl and struggle.
His consciousness sank deep into his mind, connecting with the upgraded, power-surging *Xiongxin* core.
*System,* Lin Xuan asked mentally.
*Given my current resources, what do I need to build a truly unique exoskeleton armor of my own?*
The cold, mechanical voice of the System responded almost instantly.
[System Response: Compatible Technical Reference detected—[Ivan Vanko’s First-Generation Exoskeleton and Energy Whip System (Damaged Version)].]
[To construct the prototype [Black Armor] exclusive to the user, the following basic conditions must be met:]
[Condition One: Complete a deep reverse-engineering analysis and data optimization of the Technical Reference.]
[Estimated Cost: 20 Tech Points.]
Lin Xuan glanced at the 50 Tech Points he had just acquired, his mind already processing the implications.
*Analyzing Ivan’s crude technology would cost very little.*
[Condition Two: Requires an energy core that is stable, efficient, and surpasses all currently known power sources.]
[System Suggestion: Prioritize the research and stabilization of the [New Element], designating it as the core power supply unit for the [Black Armor].]
Lin Xuan’s consciousness swiftly processed the system’s feedback.
*The New Element.*
*Reverse-engineering Ivan’s crude yet inspiring equipment only cost 20 points.
This was equivalent to bypassing a massive amount of basic trial and error.*
*As for the second condition… the New Element.*
*This aligned perfectly with Tony’s recent thoughts.
To forge a truly powerful first-generation exclusive armor, solving the energy problem was the top priority.*
*The clues left by Tony’s father, Howard Stark, indicated that only a joint effort between him and Tony could create this New Element.*
*It would become the beating heart of the Black Armor.*
Lin Xuan looked up, his gaze sweeping over Tony, who was currently engaged in “friendly negotiations” with the police.
A knowing smile touched the corners of his lips.
“It looks like after the ‘surprise’ in Monaco, our lab is going to get busy again, Tony.”
The priorities were clear.
*Deal with the immediate trouble, then focus all efforts on conquering the New Element.*
(End of Chapter)