Unfortunately, the development of the combat drone was only halfway done when Tony Stark "struck" again.
As the largest source of funding for Aurantius Industries, Hammer Industries' founder Justin Hammer was imprisoned on the spot. Even Hammer Industries itself was liquidated and divided, nearly causing Aurantius Industries to go bankrupt before it even had a chance.
This directly led to the drone project almost dying in the womb.
Although the development stumbled along for a year and the combat drone eventually went online...
This flagship product, which Gina had pinned high hopes on, could barely serve as the last lifeline for Aurantius Industries, keeping the company from bankruptcy but leaving it powerless to expand further.
As for the last one.
Naturally, it was the "Ion Containment Pistol," the core component of Luca's [Dominator] pistol.
Perhaps out of the romance of a scientific researcher...
Unlike Gina, who chose the "combat drone" based on her judgment of the company's existing resources and the market...
As the core person in charge of Aurantius Industries' R&D department, Luca's father, Hermann, hoped to create a truly epoch-making "sci-fi weapon."
It had to possess both the exquisite aesthetics of traditional weapons and the futuristic core essence found in sci-fi works.
A powerful energy weapon like the Ion Containment Pistol obviously fit Hermann's vision perfectly.
Of course, Hermann wasn't blindly pursuing romance; otherwise, Gina wouldn't have agreed to allocate R&D funds.
Compared to "combat drones," if an "Ion Containment Pistol" with practical combat capabilities could be successfully developed, then a series of products like "rifles," "submachine guns," and "sniper rifles" could also bring a larger industrial market to Aurantius Industries.
Moreover, this kind of high-end-looking weapon, whether in negotiating orders or discussing investments, was an extremely eye-catching selling point, making it easier to save Aurantius Industries from the awkward situation of potential bankruptcy at any time.
It could even be retrofitted onto drones, potentially boosting drone sales significantly.
Unfortunately.
Facts proved that Hermann's achievements in high-energy physics were clearly inferior to his expertise in electrical engineering and algorithmic programming.
Since Aurantius Industries couldn't recruit researchers of his caliber to cooperate with him in R&D, the "Ion Containment Pistol" always remained an "excellent toy" stuck in the laboratory.
Extremely high manufacturing costs, short ion containment distance, pathetic energy conversion rate—various problems remained unsolved until Hermann's death.
This was why, although these people came to visit this weapon test, most of them weren't optimistic about the brand-new firearm Luca mentioned.
While these people were chatting about gossip and anecdotes...
Several people walked over from the corridor connecting to this weapons testing ground.
Among them, the two walking in front were clearly the leaders.
However, one of them was a young woman who looked no more than 20 years old.
She wore a bright red gown, had dark brown curly hair, exquisite and beautiful features, and a temperament as sharp as a knife.
She walked with her chin slightly raised, giving people an impression of unapproachable arrogance from afar.
Her every move suggested she was the owner of this place, and coming here was merely attending a banquet for guests.
Such a temperament naturally attracted most people's attention.
However, many weren't admiring her beauty but frowned slightly.
"Why is she here too?"
"Who is this?"
A few who didn't recognize the woman in red immediately asked those around them in low voices.
"Who else could it be? The current head of Hammer Industries. She hasn't even cleaned up her own company's mess, yet she's in the mood to attend Aurantius Industries' internal testing meeting?"
"Oh? She's that Hammer Industries heir, Justine Hammer?"
Yes, the newcomer was Justine Hammer, daughter of the former Hammer Industries founder Justin Hammer.
In the past, during Hammer Industries' heyday, although far behind Stark Industries, ordinary people wouldn't dare discuss Justin Hammer's daughter so casually, let alone the helm of Hammer Industries.
However, since old Justin was arrested and imprisoned two years ago, Hammer Industries was immediately carved up by major competitors, the government, and the military, losing its former prestige.
Although this young Justine, whose name differed from her father's by only one letter, returned from overseas to take over the company...
Because of her considerable ability and tactics, coupled with her beautiful appearance, she made a name for herself for a while.
But ultimately, when surrounded by wolves, ability alone couldn't play a decisive role in the situation Hammer Industries faced.
Over the next two years, Hammer Industries remained in a stage of rapid decline.
Avoiding direct bankruptcy was already due to young Justine's desperate efforts to maintain it. Subsequently, few people paid attention to Hammer Industries' movements.
Of course, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. After all, it used to be a large military industrial group worth tens of billions. Even in its decline, it was still not something Aurantius Industries could mess with.
The reason people from Hammer Industries appeared here...
Was because when Aurantius Industries became a secondary OEM for Hammer Industries, it ceded some company shares to be acquired by Hammer Industries, facilitating Hammer Industries' management of downstream industries.
Stark Industries looked down on this, but in fact, this was a very common operation among other large companies.
However, later both companies fell on hard times together, each unable to fend for themselves.
Although Hammer Industries remained the third-largest shareholder of Aurantius Industries (after Gina and Hermann), it hadn't participated in any of Aurantius Industries' decisions for more than two years.
As for today, why Justine Hammer, who once stirred up trouble in the industry and fought for the last breath of life for Hammer Industries, would personally come here... the others present truly had no idea.
As for the middle-aged man following half a step behind Justine...
Although he looked very ordinary, with a gentle smile and humble demeanor, like a butler or waiter...
The others present were actually more familiar with him.
Heinrich von Stein.
The fourth shareholder of Aurantius Industries, representing Regeneration Capital.
A venture capital firm that invested not long after Aurantius Industries landed in the United States.
During this period, despite Aurantius Industries' ups and downs, this VC firm's shareholding fluctuated but always maintained a significant shareholder seat.
Although Regeneration Capital wasn't famous in the United States, it was actually very influential in Europe, more precisely in Eastern Europe.
The bulk of Aurantius Industries' current military drone sales were basically orders secured with the help of this investor representative's connections.
It could be said that he was one of the important pillars allowing Aurantius Industries to survive until now.