The three bums were nothing more than chess pieces Ryden had placed on a whim.
If it worked, great.
If it didn't, it cost him nothing.
Either way, he was already standing at the center of the storm.
With some free time on his hands, he made a trip to the Stark Industries building.
The sweet receptionist immediately recognized the small shareholder and stood up.
"Good morning, Mr. Hunt. How can I help you?"
"Hey, beautiful. Is Howard upstairs?"
Ryden smiled, looking perfectly harmless.
"Yes, the boss is in his office. Should I call him for you?"
The receptionist smiled sweetly, her heart fluttering.
In this era of America, money equaled charm.
Without money, even a handsome face couldn't fill a stomach.
"No need. I'll go up myself."
Ryden waved and stepped into the elevator.
Inside the office, Howard was in the middle of flirting with his secretary again.
"Katy, come with me to the cocktail party tonight. Be my date."
Ryden pushed the door open just in time to see the scene.
Then immediately pulled it shut.
Click.
Howard, just about to steal a kiss, froze.
A loud knock followed.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Ahem. Can I come in?"
"Eek!!"
The secretary squealed, covered her face, and fled in embarrassment.
She wasn't some loose socialite.
Howard stared at the door, furious.
And when he realized who it was-
"Argh! You little brat! Give me one reason I shouldn't cancel your shares! This is outrageous! Why didn't you knock first?!"
"Didn't I just knock?"
Ryden walked in casually.
"Fine, Uncle Pervert. I've got serious business. You can flirt later. Hehe. I'm just worried your future kids might inherit your... enthusiasm."
"Ugh! That's not being horny-that's being a man of the world! America's greatest scientific engineer, Howard!"
He sighed.
"Fine. What is it? You never let anyone have peace."
Howard gave up.
After all, this was his colleague's kid.
And still a teenager.
"How's the weapon marketing going?"
Ryden sat down across from him.
"Pretty well. The first batch of experimental weapons has been tested by the military. Results were excellent. We should receive our first order soon."
Howard's frustration vanished instantly.
The first step toward dominating the arms industry felt good.
In this era, the lethality of a portable, rapid-fire assault rifle was terrifying.
Standard heavy machine guns required entire squads and were massive.
They were only useful in large-scale battles.
The AK-47 was different.
Light enough to run with.
Durable.
As long as the parts weren't warped by an explosion, it would still function.
Soldiers understood weapons.
After just a few test shots, they grasped its value.
"Of course, the orders won't be huge," Howard added gloomily. "America isn't at war."
Arms dealers feared nothing more than peace.
Peace meant shrinking profits.
Not bankruptcy.
But close.
"Hehe. Uncle, you're a businessman. America isn't at war-but Europe is on fire."
Ryden leaned back.
"Looking at the Nazis' momentum, they won't stop easily. Appeasement only feeds ambition."
Howard frowned, thinking.
"I know that. But are you suggesting we sell to the Nazis? They won't buy from us. They only trust their own weapons."
That was when Ryden revealed his true nature.
"Then don't sell to them."
Howard paused.
"Provide a batch to Czechoslovakia instead."
"They're fighting the Nazis, right? Let them be our billboard."
Weapons only prove their worth on the battlefield.
What was the point of endless testing?
"If Congress won't buy, other countries will. Haha. Once I design more weapons, do you think we'll ever lack money?"
Howard stared at him differently now.
"Where do you come up with these wicked ideas?"
He scanned Ryden from head to toe.
"Heh. That's a damn good plan."
"If it works, we'll be counting money until our hands cramp."
"Not bad. Not bad at all."
Then Howard's excitement faded.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You didn't come here just to teach me business."
"Ryden. Say it. What kind of trouble did you get into this time?"
"Haha. Nothing gets past you."
Ryden shrugged.
"I just wanted to ask if you know a guy named Kachit. Third Division, New York Military District."
"At school today, I beat up his son. Heard the kid's close with the Dasco gang."
"You know how spoiled brats are. Who knows what they'll pull."
He spoke lightly, as if beating up Rocca was routine.
If anything, he sounded more like the bully.
"Kachit?"
Howard thought for a moment.
"Never heard of him. I'll have someone warn him later."
He smirked.
"What? You're scared? Heh. You're not afraid of bombs, but you're worried about a minor officer's kid?"
Howard looked amused.
For once, this calm kid seemed to be showing cracks.
"I'm not afraid of him."
Ryden shook his head.
"I'm worried about the gang getting involved."
He changed the topic smoothly.
"Oh, right. Here's yesterday's improved blueprint. With some external modifications, you can add a bayonet-or even a grenade launcher."
He handed it over.
Just a few hints were enough.
If Howard couldn't handle the rest, he wouldn't deserve the word "genius."
Howard scanned the blueprint.
It was an upgraded AK-far more practical and versatile.
"I have to say, this structural design is brilliant."
He looked up.
"I'm looking forward to what you'll make after MIT's School of Engineering."
"Don't worry. You'll never lack funding."
Ryden disassembled a rifle, packed it into his bag, and stood.
This was his ultimate self-defense tool.
One burst.
No matter how many came, they'd all drop.
He checked the time.
His date was about to start.
Just thinking about it made him feel a little excited.
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