Rise of the Giants
It turns out that despite Tony Stark being a complete novice in architecture, being one of the brightest minds in the Marvel Universe...
He spent the entire night trying to grasp the basics of architecture, and he explained it as, "I've been feeling a bit off these days, so I've been slower in learning."
With Tony Stark's outstanding achievements in other fields and Jarvis's assistance, the virtual projection of the Stark Tower he created was very satisfying. Once built, it would become a landmark New York City building!
At least, that's how it stands for now.
...
"Madam, how about this one? It's exceptionally well-lit, equipped with various entertainment facilities, and has 24/7 security..."
The real estate agent continued, and Kurumi glanced at the villa. She used her spiritual power to assess it, and while it wasn't as exaggerated as the agent described, it was indeed excellent.
After all, having a standalone villa in New York City, where every inch of land is precious, says a lot.
Of course, Tony Stark's seaside holiday villa didn't fall into the same category. Just thinking about the engineering challenges of that kind of project would give architects a headache.
The agent was an older man, but that was only in comparison to Kurumi.
As a man, he naturally had to work hard for the sake of family and life. Although he was discontent being a real estate agent all this time, that's just how society works. Without accomplishments or connections, where else could an ordinary person go?
Kurumi's petite figure reflected in her eyes, and envy was more apparent than astonishment.
If only I could also have a family like this...
That thought was extinguished in an instant. She had her promotion and raise hinging on this, and she couldn't let it slip away like this!
"Alright, let's go with this one."
The middle-aged man was surprised. "Aren't you going to take a look inside?"
The girl shook her head, and her well-maintained, sleek black ponytail swayed with the movement, emitting a delicate fragrance that wafted into his nostrils.
"This one. When can I move in?"
"Three days! No, two days. You can move in within two days."
...
Kurumi lay on the large bed, and this description was accurate because the bed was truly massive.
It was much more comfortable than a hotel room. Kurumi opened her tiny mouth slightly, and a mist gradually formed in her big eyes. She was exhausted, really exhausted.
Don't be fooled by the fact that she spent all day lying on the bed. She had been constantly studying the divine inscriptions that could be engraved onto her own being.
The consumption of spiritual power was immense, but when it came to absorption... the Earth in the Marvel universe was indeed a pit!
Her spiritual power was less than one-tenth of its usual intensity. If she hadn't been concerned about possible "danger," her spiritual power would have likely dried up by now.
Performing magical experiments... it was indeed magic...
On the first day of moving in, Kurumi expended a lot of spiritual power to set up a large "Spirit Gathering Array" in the villa's basement.
Just by its name, it was straightforward and easy to understand. Even a magic apprentice could create a simplified version.
It could draw free-floating energy from the surroundings, and convert and purify it, allowing magicians to absorb and transform it into the magical power they needed.
And the concentration of Kurumi's spiritual power... was genuinely terrifying. Often, even after activating the Spirit Gathering Array madly all night, only less than one-tenth of the spiritual power in the surrounding area could be absorbed.
Not to mention the crazy activation that also required substantial consumption...
So... she just wanted to be a lazy fish now.
She had become so lazy that she handed over the theoretical knowledge to Red Queen. After the little girl completed her deductions, Kurumi conducted various experiments individually.
Even so... she hadn't succeeded at all.
On the contrary, those inscriptions attached to objects displayed some peculiar minor effects.
Another early morning arrived. New York City, this bustling metropolis, started to rev up, with countless money and sins being born and disappearing here.
Ordinary people went about their jobs, receiving their salaries, feeling bothered by mundane matters.
When the Stark Tower was about to undergo expansion and redesign, and it was announced that Tony Stark himself would be the designer and chief engineer, the entire news sphere was thoroughly ignited!
In this day and age, any news related to him sold like hotcakes. Even the click rates skyrocketed whenever his name appeared.
When the land opposite Stark Tower was acquired for redevelopment... people finally grasped what was happening.
Being able to build a building across from Stark Tower, especially for a newly established company... it was clear that they were pretty formidable.
And Tony Stark's reaction inadvertently emphasized this point! It also fits his personality perfectly, being high-profile and competitive.
So... the headquarters of this mysterious company that was yet to be built wholly set the whole of America ablaze!
Remember that in the entire US, Stark had a massive fanbase. Even famous Hollywood stars were only envious.
Girls dreamed of spending the night with him, while boys idolized him, imagining that they too, would become such a person one day.
Various major powers, abiding by their "principles," investigated the company that dared to challenge Stark.
However... apart from a basic profile, they uncovered nothing else.
This alone made many powers wary. They deployed numerous personnel to conduct thorough investigations.
As if... they feared that there was something they didn't know in this world, which would make them uneasy.
Compared to the construction team from China, the United States wasn't falling behind. With a massive injection of funds and round-the-clock work, two months later, the building started taking shape.
Of course, it was all thanks to the Marvel universe's advanced technology and Red Queen's streamlined design.
The entire building bore an eight-point resemblance to the Time Sawyer Conglomerate's headquarters. The construction crew worked day and night, presenting a different scene each day.
On the Stark Tower side, Tony Stark changed his design three times. Only a street separated the two projects. If the opposing company surpassed him, where would he put his face?
In these past few months, Tony Stark hadn't been seen with any women, another explosive piece of news!
People were growing increasingly curious about the company across from Stark Tower. Just as they knew that Tony Stark had an oversized ego yet kept on challenging him, it was simply... fantastic!
Ring ring~
"Hello, this is the news department..."
Before the worker could finish, the man on the other end of the line urgently said, "I have the general information about the company across from Stark Tower. How much do you think this news is worth?"
The woman on the other end widened her pupils and hurriedly said, "Sir, please don't hang up. I'll report this immediately, and I'll make sure to offer you a satisfying price."
Early the following day, as people were rousing from their sleep, they were bombarded with news everywhere: on television, in newspapers, and even on the streets.
"Shocking! New Giant Rises? Umbrella to Compete with Stark Industries!"
"Is Stark's Weapons Industry Being Coveted by Others?"
"...".