Chapter 162: Base, Lake Bottom
Chapter 162: Base, Lake Bottom
Modern interior style, wooden floors, sofas, chairs, small desks, kitchen and bedroom, all complete.
The cabin floor provides a better view, while also offering more storage space.
Inside the cabin, a big cat occupied a large portion of the space, its belly rising and falling as it slept soundly.
Snoring like thunder echoed inside this RV.
Beside the big cat, a Hornless Black Jiao as thick as a bucket was coiled.
The Hornless Black Jiao was coiled in a snake formation. Its black scales were the size of small bowls, triangular, and the edges were full of sharp serrations.
The scales opened and closed rhythmically, one after another, and streaks of black light continuously flowed over its body.
"Who is this person?"
Tang Song held a wine glass, leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed, and took a sip of cocktail as he looked at the photos Lane had pulled up on the tablet computer. The photos were clearly candid shots, with the background being inside an office. A brown-haired woman was sitting sideways on the sofa, only half of her face visible.
Across from her sat an ugly man wearing a mask...
The ugly man's identity was helpfully labeled on the photo as Cobra Commander.
Tang Song didn't find the woman familiar; she was clearly not a very famous figure.
"Boss, her name is Zoe Barnes!
She used to be a reporter for the Washington Herald and is now Francis Underwood's secretary!"
Lane introduced the woman's identity.
Tang Song twirled the wine glass in his hand and chuckled:
"Francis Underwood?! Looks like our Secretary of State also has his little secrets!"
Francis Underwood, the current Secretary of State of the Federation.
Like Moon, the current Governor of New York State, he is a member of the Federal Republican Party.
Francis Underwood is not only the current Secretary of State of the Federal Government but also the Republican Party Whip.
In the eyes of outsiders, Tang Song, this City Councilor of New York City and the new magnate of the Federal Underworld, is the black glove pushed forward by the Republican Party.
In fact, Tang Song has given no small amount of bribes to the high-level staff of the Republican Party through Moon's connections.
For Francis Underwood alone, he has given away nearly twenty million in bearer bonds.
At his instruction, Lane used Tang Group's connections to handle some troublesome matters for certain Republican Party Important Figures that were inconvenient for them to appear in.
Attacking some political opponents, disrupting their campaign speeches, silencing some Newspaper Offices and media outlets,
Helping to transfer property to foreign banks. From this perspective, it's not wrong to see Boss Tang as the Republican Party's agent in the Underworld.
Having a protective umbrella over your head is actually not bad; the sun doesn't shine on you, and the rain doesn't fall on you...
The premise is, don't be a donkey grinding a mill, and don't be a chamber pot.
Taken out when needed, and casually stuffed under the bed when not.
"You said the FBI has our criminal evidence. What kind?"
Tang Song looked at the woman in the photo and took a sip of wine.
The Federal Government using the FBI to collect evidence on him naturally couldn't be hidden from him.
After all, he also had "good friends" among the FBI high-level staff.
Although those friends told him that these were just balancing measures by the White House to prevent accidents,
His predecessor, Kingpin, the emperor of the Underworld, had enough criminal evidence with the FBI and CIA to fill an entire archive room.
In the end, he wasn't acquitted; he just had bad luck and was murdered outside the Court of Law.
These good friends told him not to worry...
However, Boss Tang was clearly not that reassured.
Unfortunately, the people in the White House are subjected to security checks by secret government departments periodically.
To prevent senior government officials from being controlled or infiltrated by supernatural powers.
Boss Tang would at least need to leave a space for the owner of the White House to sign on the Snake Skin Scroll.
"It's about car smuggling and our fake alcohol business!" Lane replied.
"Cut these two businesses out. From now on, we'll only take dividends, and the specific matters will be handled by the people below!"
Hearing Tang Song's words, Lane nodded beside him.
"Tell Storm Shadow to find out the exact relationship between our Secretary of State and the Cobra Organization!"
Tang Song raised his wine glass and looked out the car window, "I think our Secretary of State will give me a big surprise!"
About half an hour after Tang Song's RV drove away, four black commercial vehicles and twelve escort vehicles left the Alley, drove along New York Avenue, and headed towards the Outskirts.
"Shit! These escort vehicles must be carrying valuable things, either US dollars or gold!"
On the rooftop of a tall building next to New York Avenue, a large black man with a buzz cut and bare chest held binoculars, staring intently at the moving convoy.
"Sam, are you sure we're not going to rob them? Judging by how flat the tires look, if we just rob one vehicle, it'll be enough for us to live comfortably and lavishly for the rest of our lives!"
"Jim! You just got to New York, you don't understand the situation!"
The white youth named Sam also held binoculars, staring intently at the moving escort vehicles.
"In New York, no one has dared to touch anything belonging to Tang! He's much more overbearing than Kingpin, and even more ruthless!
Don't forget our rule, don't touch the local bosses' things. If you want to die, don't drag me into it!"
Sam put down his binoculars, glared at the large black man, and signaled him not to act rashly.
In fact, the two of them were the Federation's recently notorious duo of thieves.
Their business is very extensive; their main operation is robbing armored cars and vaults from banks. Occasionally, they also sneak into wealthy businessmen's homes to break into safes, and if there are people in the villas, they don't mind moonlighting as robbers! Both of them are Mutants.
The black man Jim's mutant ability is enhanced durability, able to withstand shots from ordinary caliber rifles.
And Sam's ability is lockpicking; his hand can turn into a master key, allowing him to open bank vaults and safes at will.
The security guards and police officers of ordinary escort vehicles are simply no match for the two.
Compared to the black man Jim, the lean and capable Sam is undoubtedly the smart one.
The two of them committed crimes across various areas of New York State, never staying in one place for too long.
And every time they arrived in a new city, Sam would inquire about the information of the local bosses to avoid provoking any ruthless people.
This time they came to the rooftop not for this escort vehicle convoy, but to target the vault of the commercial bank in the building opposite! "Stop looking, did you remember the time the patrol police cars passed by? I've contacted a few colleagues in New York, we'll act together this time!"
Seeing the large black man still holding the binoculars and kept staring intently at the escort vehicle convoy.
Sam directly turned around and kicked him.
The thick-skinned black man wasn't angry, he just rubbed his head:
"Working with others? Haven't we always worked alone?"
"New York is different from other places. The patrol police cars here are too dense. Just the two of us don't have enough manpower, we need to find a method!"
Just as Sam said, the new king ascended the throne by stepping on countless corpses and bones.
The Hand, Kingpin, Mexican Gang, South Korean Golden Gate...
The piles of white bones made all the gangs in New York submit to Tang Song's rule.
As for targeting Boss Tang's escort vehicle convoy, apart from some audacious outsiders, none of the local gangs in New York had the guts to do it yet.
The escort vehicle convoy drove smoothly all the way to Raccoon City.
The convoy did not drive into the construction site in Raccoon City, but instead went through a completed garden area and detoured to Raccoon City's Back Mountain.
Behind Raccoon City, it was backed by a considerable area of mountain forest.
This place was also bought by Tang Song. The convoy drove into the mountain along a gravel road. The gravel road led directly to the mountain slope behind.
Between the mountain forest and woodlands, on a rocky slope, a mechanical door creaked and slowly pulled open, revealing an alloy steel gate.
The black commercial vehicle led the way, followed by the escort vehicle convoy. The convoy drove inside the gate.
Inside the Mountain Interior, as the convoy drove in, automatic lights every ten meters automatically lit up, illuminating a base spanning tens of thousands of square meters.
Jeeps, bulletproof sedans, and even Armed Humvees mounted with machine guns. At least twenty to thirty various vehicles were parked in the parking lots on both sides.
Not just vehicles, several helipads were also planned inside the Mountain Interior. Four Federal Hercules Gunship Helicopters were parked there alone, along with two amphibious gliders recently commissioned by the Marine Corps.
"Boss!"
Lane got out of the commercial vehicle. Rows of burly men with fierce demeanors, wearing fully armed Black Demon Battle Armor, lined up to greet him.
This was an armed base that Boss Tang had Lane build, responsible for the security of Raccoon City.
Forty elites from the Special Service Gunman Squad were permanently stationed inside.
These gunmen were trained according to the methods used for training new recruits in the Dark Demon Special Forces. The base was completed slightly earlier than Raccoon City; perhaps Raccoon City's location was chosen because this armed base was already there.
The initial purpose of building this base was to deal with some sudden situations.
Such as nuclear bomb explosions, alien invasions, tungsten rod strikes, and meteorite falls.
In other worlds, any one of these things would be so unlikely as to be impossible, but this is the Marvel World.
And it's also New York, a disaster-prone area with frequent accidents!
This probability is magnified countless times, which is why Boss Tang built this base.
Once such a large-scale disaster truly occurs, the people in Raccoon City can evacuate to the base nearby.
This base took a full year and a half from the start of construction to complete, and it was only recently finished...
This construction progress was also thanks to the existing underground Cave in the mountain. The base has a total of three levels. The first level is the helipad. Various attack helicopters and fighter jets are kept in a fully loaded state, ready to take off at any time.
The second level is located in the Mountain Interior and is also the largest part. The living quarters, training area, weapons storage area, and weapons development area are all on the second level.
The third level is located at the bottom of the mountain, and it is an underground Vault...
Inside the mountain, at the beginning of the construction of Raccoon City, Tang Song had people add reinforced concrete structure inside.
Half a meter thick reinforced concrete, plus the thick mountain body outside as a barrier, this base is enough to withstand small-yield nuclear bombardment...
The elevator leading directly to the third-level Vault. The soldiers responsible for moving items into the Vault followed regulations by sticking Talisman Paper on their bodies and hanging Jade Tablets around their necks before starting to move boxes into the elevator.
"Have the items Ivan Vanko requested been delivered?"
After completing the fingerprint recognition and iris scan and opening the vault door, Kane arrived at the second level accompanied by a person in charge.
Inside the Weapon Research Laboratory specially partitioned off on the second level.
A burly Russian big man was concentrating on assembling an Arc Reactor!
"Ivan, how is the research progressing?"
Kane glanced at this Russian man. He wore blue work clothes and was covered in tattoos all over his body, looking exactly like a Russian gang gunman. It was hard to believe this was a top physicist!
Ivan Vanko, the person in charge of this Weapon Research Laboratory designated by the Boss. His main research project is the Arc Reactor.
Followed by Electromagnetic Weapons and the Iron Soldier Project.
"Tell the Boss, the energy supply reactor for the Hive Laboratory and here has been made.
The reactor he requested to supply the spaceship is somewhat difficult and cannot be completed in a short time! To support a spaceship for interstellar travel, it requires at least five large Arc Reactors.
This not only requires increasing the output power of the reactor but also considering energy overload. According to what the Boss said, the spaceship's volume is not enough. To accommodate five large Arc Reactors, the spaceship's volume would need to be at least two kilometers or more!"
Ivan Vanko had a lollipop in his mouth, looking at the calculation data on the computer, scratching his head, sending dandruff flying like snow.
"Okay, I will tell the Boss!"
Kane knew that Ivan Vanko had been placed under a magical Spell by the Boss and would not be disloyal to the Boss, so he was very reassured about him.
"What is this?"
Kane walked around the Weapon Research Laboratory. In the white passage, several Iron Soldiers as tall as humans stood solemnly inside the tempered glass.
These robots were as crude as if they were temporarily pieced together, but on their hands and shoulders were dark cannon barrels and gun barrels.
Their entire bodies were covered in Weapon Bays, showing that each robot was a great killer weapon.
Many experts in weapon research were busy in the Weapon Research Laboratories on both sides.
They were all technical personnel from Tang's Arms Company...
"You mean these? I put together a few remotely controlled Iron Soldiers in just a few days. These robots are connected by electronic information for main control operation. You can set a predetermined target, and they can launch an attack!"
Ivan Vanko turned his office chair and said proudly:
"Compared to Tony Stark's Iron Suit/Armor that needs to be worn on the body,
These Iron Soldiers are more reliable. They won't fear, and we can remote control them to fight from a thousand miles away!"
Kane walked up to the tempered glass and looked at the Iron Soldiers inside.
As a soldier, he didn't really like these Iron Soldiers.
The appearance of this kind of robot on the battlefield meant that they, the soldiers, would withdraw from the battlefield.
But Kane had to admit that compared to ordinary soldiers, these Iron Soldiers who weren't afraid of death, didn't know fear, didn't know fatigue, and were incredibly mobile.
Were superior in all aspects.
Kane raised his hand and tapped the bulletproof glass. From the perspective of a combat commander, he thought of a crucial question.
"If someone hacks into the main control system, will these Iron Robots have problems?"
"These systems are multi-layered encrypted. Even a super hacker cannot crack them without the core code!"
Ivan Vanko grinned: "Safety is not a problem, don't worry!
These programs were jointly designed by me and the hackers from the Network Security Department. The underlying data has been encrypted by Red Queen, and no one can crack it!"
"The Boss said that Stark Industries has an Artificial Intelligence. Do you think the current encryption of the Iron Soldiers can withstand that kind of Artificial Intelligence invasion?"
As a rigorous German, Kane was very dissatisfied with Ivan's carelessness.
"Red Queen has done an analysis. Based on the frequency of attacks that Artificial Intelligence showed last time in Monaco, it cannot break through the underlying systems of these Iron Soldiers, unless Tony Stark develops a true intelligent life!"
Ivan Vanko shook his head: "Based on humanity's current technological level, it will take at least several decades to develop a true intelligent life. We don't need to worry about this at all!"
"You should ask the Boss for me when these items can be put into production. I need a large amount of materials!"
The arrogant Ivan Vanko didn't know that
In the later stages of the Marvel World, there were quite a few intelligent life forms capable of causing trouble in Cyberspace, such as Ultron, Vision, and even Hydra's Doctor Zola. For them, Cyberspace held no secrets!
Before his subordinate network team researches a truly secure network barrier, Tang Song would not mass-produce this kind of Iron Soldier.
He didn't want the Iron Soldiers he developed to be controlled by others and turn against him in a counterattack; that would be quite embarrassing.
A large part of the reason Ivan Vanko wanted to put the Iron Soldiers into production was still related to Tony Stark.
The feud between them originated from the previous generation. During the WWII period, the Allied Forces found Red Skull's Cosmic Cube and specifically established a department for research.
Howard Stark and Anton Vanko were both members of this department. Later, Howard Stark and Anton Vanko jointly researched the Arc Reactor.
As a result, Howard Stark reported Anton Vanko for trying to use the experiment for personal gain.
Anton Vanko was expelled from the experiment department and sent back to the Soviet Union.
Thinking back on the matters of that year, it's actually very clear and obvious. After WWII, it was the Cold War. How could a Federation-led project keep a top Soviet Union scientist?
Of course, the role Howard Stark played in it was also not glorious.
He accused Anton Vanko of trying to use the Arc Reactor for personal gain.
But he himself not only kept the Arc Reactor hidden but also never promoted his so-called energy revolution until his death.
Instead, the Arc Reactor directly allowed Stark Industries to successfully transform into an energy giant.
On this point, Boss Tang actually quite admired him.
After all, by relying on Stark Industries' stock, Boss Tang made a fortune.
After Anton Vanko returned to the Soviet Union,
For certain reasons, he was directly exiled to Siberia. A top physicist, living by growing potatoes.
Down and out, he became an alcoholic in his later years, impoverished and destitute. After getting drunk, his favorite thing to do was beat his child, the unfortunate Ivan Vanko.
How could Ivan Vanko not hate the culprit who caused his suffering?
Having learned about his father's past grievances from Anton Vanko, Ivan Vanko had always held a grudge, wanting to compete with Tony Stark.
Boss Tang also didn't mind Ivan Vanko seeking personal revenge, provided it didn't affect his matters.
On this point, Boss Tang was happy to see it happen.
Having motivated employees is a good thing; at least you don't have to make empty promises.
At this time, Boss Tang's RV had already driven back to the manor.
Boss Tang returned to the manor just in time for lunch. The Chinese chef hired from Chinatown made authentic crab roe buns.
On the blue and white ceramic plate, paired with soft buns, the sight was pleasing. The white and tender buns were so soft they felt like they would burst with a light touch, and the crab roe inside was faintly visible.
Taking a bamboo straw, gently poking open the folded part of the crab roe bun, the delicious soup flowed into the mouth along the straw, filling it with freshness and aroma.
Unlike the crab roe buns sold on the street, one crab roe bun required more than three Chinese Mitten Crabs, all female crabs air-transported from Yangcheng Lake.
On the oak dining table, besides Chinese food, there were several other types of dishes, including a box of Beluga Sturgeon caviar for each person.
French foie gras, Italian handmade baked honey bread, German grilled sausages. Tang Song enjoyed his lunch.
In the Living Room, the large square table made of luxurious century-old pear blossom wood, covered with a thick purple velvet cushion.
And on top of that square table, there was a full foot thick of various gemstones! From necklaces to anklets, from rings to bracelets, from crowns to vests made of various strung gemstones! Sparkling with jewels, under the illumination of a spotlight, even in broad daylight, the entire Hall was filled with dazzling and beautiful light.
Skye, Fox, Selene, and the others were cheering and eagerly selecting various jewelry suitable for themselves! These jewels were finished products that Tang Song had Lane select from the vault of the Troll Black Market. It was clear that women, regardless of whether they were otaku girls, hitmen, female vampires, or modified humans,
Women's love for jewelry is etched in their DNA.
Tang Song came out of the restaurant and happened to see Gu Zi Yun trying on a gemstone bracelet on her hand. He shook his head and walked towards the Study.
In the Study, Tang Song took down a rare copy of Laozi's Dao De Jing.
After taking away this original Dao De Jing, which was said to have been discovered in an ancient tomb from the Han Dynasty, Tang Song aimed his palm at the fingerprint scanner on the bookshelf.
After a 'ding' sound of fingerprint recognition, the entire bookshelf moved aside, revealing a stepped tunnel leading underground.
The bluestone steps looked very new. Motion-sensor lights were installed on the walls of the tunnel. As Tang Song walked over, the induction lights ahead lit up one after another.
After walking about two hundred steps from the tunnel, an alloy security door appeared in front of Tang Song.
Fingerprint recognition, iris scan...
The fifty-centimeter thick alloy security door slid open to both sides, revealing a huge circular space.
A transparent dome. Water ripples swayed overhead, and one could even see fish swimming among rows of skeletons.
This was clearly the Lake Bottom of the Artificial Lake. Below the Lake Bottom, a circular Altar paved with bluestone. Thirty-six Fortune and Longevity Golden Coffins were still vertically arranged in their original positions.
In the center of the Altar, a Jade Vat more than half a meter tall had long been placed at the Spirit Eye's position.
The only difference was that the Great Yin Form Refining Array overhead, and the Jade Stone Beads used for Gathering Lunar Essence Qi, had all disappeared.
Instead, the entire deep Lake Bottom was filled with scattered starlight.
(End of chapter)