I work as an editor at Marvel.

Jess stood up straight in the elevator, his face flushed, looking as if he had been angered by the person who set the exam questions.

Where is he? Why hasn't he come to stop me? Did I overdo it? I guess I'd better just stand there and wait for him to give me an explanation.

Maintaining his outward demeanor, Jess stepped out of the elevator, his mind still racing with unresolved thoughts.

Come quick! Even if you don't want me to stay, you have to give me back my things! If that thing gets into the general public, my advisor will definitely expel me from the institution!

Jess clenched his fists and slowed his pace. He was torn. He wanted to go back and get the things back, but that would be too undignified.

"Mr. Jess! Mr. Jess!"

Hearing someone call his name from behind, Jess breathed a sigh of relief. He was genuinely afraid that those people lacked discernment and wouldn't see the excellence in his work.

Turning his head, Jess maintained a serious expression as he looked at the HR staff. "Madam, is there anything else?"

"Mr. Jess, I'm very sorry, it was an error on my part. Your name was on the wrong list. Those are all exams for very ordinary researchers, you don't need to participate." The HR staff member wiped the sweat from his brow and gave the excuse he had just made up.

"Well, for people like you, making mistakes is inevitable, so what?" Jess was quite assertive now, showing none of the trepidation he had when he was about to leave. He knew these people had finally recognized his value.

"We have arranged a new interview for you, with Ms. Pepper as the interviewer. Please forgive our oversight." The HR staff adopted a very humble attitude. Although the list and exam questions were decided by Pepper and had nothing to do with him, he would be in trouble if he didn't take the blame for his boss at this time.

"Okay, lead the way," Jess said casually.

Genomi, who overheard the conversation through the communication device outside, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Good heavens, he had wasted so much of his money; if things hadn't gone through, it would have been a huge loss.

Pepper and Tony are currently at Stark headquarters, with Jess inside and him outside, so they are definitely safe. It's just that Stan is a mystery; Genomi hasn't seen him all day, as if he's vanished.

Chapter Sixty-Four: Warhammer Charging

After meeting Pepper, Jess still did not immediately agree to join Stark Industries. Although Stark Industries and Hextech were on the inside and outside of the organization respectively, Jess was not sure if this would be against the rules, given the lack of precedent.

After watching the video of the exam, Pepper was determined to bring Jess into Tony's camp, so even though Jess's words were unclear and his attitude was uncertain, she still remained enthusiastic.

Around noon, Pepper had someone take Jess to lunch, and she hurried to Tony's office.

Although it's called an office, it's really no different from a mansion; the top two floors of the entire Stark Group headquarters are Tony Stark's offices.

“Tony! I think you should watch this video!” Pepper said as she stepped out of the elevator, looking at Tony Stark, who was leaning back on the sofa, eating a hamburger and watching the projection screen.

"Video? What video?" Tony's expression softened slightly when he saw Pepper, and he asked.

Pepper swiped lightly on the tablet in her hand, and the relevant video of the multi-functional transforming tool was displayed directly in front of Tony's eyes.

Watching the video, Tony straightened up, his brows furrowed. As a top scientist, Tony saw more than the people in the exam room.

This material! This integration method! How could two people suddenly appear who know how to use it!

“Tony? Tony?” Pepper called out twice.

Tony Stark snapped out of his daze.

“Is something wrong? Is that guy a conman?” Pepper asked.

Tony shook his head, waved his hand, and brought up another video.

The video initially showed an extremely short laser emitter. After being activated, the emitter, which was about the size of a middle finger, expanded to the size of an arm. The visible parts alone were already larger than the original size, as if the thing had been compressed like a compressed package.

"Are you sure this person has nothing to do with Stan?" Tony asked after a moment of silence. He had watched the video for a long time but still couldn't figure out how the creator made it. Moreover, he had searched all the material companies and institutions but couldn't find any similar products.

“I’m not sure. I can’t find any information about Hextech Research Institute at all. It’s like the institution doesn’t exist,” Pepper said, shaking her head.

“That’s interesting. Stan just sent me this video; he shared some good news—he’s found a weapons-making master.” Tony stood up and walked to the window. “Where is he?”

"I had someone take him to a restaurant."

"This afternoon, Stan said he wanted to introduce me to the new person he recruited. The meeting was at the New Energy Research Lab. He asked me to invite that person too. By the way, his name is Jess?"

"Yes, the business card only has the name 'Jayce' on it."

Tony nodded, mentally dissecting and recombining the names Jess and Victor, trying to find the connection between them.

In the afternoon, Jess received a message from Pepper and, accompanied by staff, left Stark Industries from the underground parking lot in a private car, heading to a temporary research facility in the suburbs.

The moment Jess got out of the car, he saw Tony Stark getting out of another car.

The moment their eyes met, they both sensed a kindred spirit in each other—a confidence in their skills and abilities built up through countless victories.

“Let’s go, Stan is already waiting for us inside,” Tony said, looking away from Pepper.

Jess, unconcerned, put his hands in his pockets and followed behind the group.

"Hey Tony, you're finally here! I've been waiting for you to give me your feedback." Obadiah Stane walked up to Tony with a big smile, clearly pleased to have gained such a valuable asset.

"Victor!"

Tony hadn't even spoken when he heard Jess's voice.

When everyone turned around, they found Jess staring intently into the research lab. Following his gaze, they saw a thin man standing there, his face expressionless.

“Long time no see, Jess.” Victor spoke calmly. He had not yet completed his transformation, or rather, he had only transformed a part of it, such as the metal arm on his right hand.

"Oh dear, it seems I've managed to recruit someone I know. What a coincidence!" Stan thought, and decided to try and build a relationship with Jess. In his opinion, if Victor was so capable, Jess couldn't be any less so.

Jess stretched out his right hand and shoved Stan aside with an irresistible force. Why is he blocking my way now?! So annoying!

"Why are you leaving?!" Jess shouted.

"Hmm? So it's my turn to give an explanation?" Viktor said coldly.

Jess was speechless for a moment. Indeed, he was the one who should explain, after all, he was the one who cut off the energy supply to Viktor's personal research lab.

Jess took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then opened them again. He bowed slightly to Viktor. "I apologize for my arrogance and recklessness. Come back with me. I will explain everything to my mentor and then receive my punishment."

Hearing this, Victor was first surprised, then became very disappointed. "Human emotions are indeed the biggest obstacle. Even you are affected by them. It seems that my choice was very correct. You have disappointed me, Jess."

“I’m sorry, but if you don’t come with me, I’ll have to resort to some methods I don’t want to use.” Jess extended his right hand, a small miniature warhammer in his palm.

"Are you sure you want to make your move here?" Victor asked casually as he quickly collected some crystals from the table. Jess was even more reckless than he had expected.

"Don't do anything! This isn't the Clock Tower! Nor is it on the Mystic Side!" Genomi shouted into the communication channel.

Jess tilted his head, and the energy in his body triggered the patch, causing the communicator to fall to the ground, where he stomped on it and shattered it.

At Stan's signal, the security personnel had already surrounded them. He was going to arrest both of them. As for their conflict, Stan didn't care. Maybe the conflict could even turn into a competitive advantage.

Tony, on the other hand, clearly sensed that something was wrong. He felt as if he had returned to that desert and quietly pulled Pepper back.

"Victor, I'm asking you this one last time: come back with me!"

Viktor carefully collected all the successfully recharged crystals, then glanced regretfully at the crystals still charging on the table.

Having received no response, Jess also gave up on the idea of ​​resolving everything peacefully.

"Warhammer Charge!"

Amidst a dazzling blue light, the miniature warhammer instantly grew dozens of times larger, its muzzle aimed at Victor.

Mercury's Hammer, cannon mode ready.

Chapter Sixty-Five: Eternal Machinery vs. Supreme Firepower

Power surges!

A strip-shaped acceleration array flashed across the top of the Mercury Cannon.

The compressed electric cannonball, after passing through the acceleration array, left a streak of light in the air and was fired towards Viktor's body, then precisely pierced through the wall next to Viktor.

Clearly, Jess hadn't completely disregarded the danger; he was still using cluster fire instead of explosive fire when attacking.

After all, they've already broken the rules, and if it causes a lot of casualties, Jess doesn't know what kind of punishment he'll receive.

Viktor dodged the attack and started running quickly. He had arrived earlier than Jess and knew the terrain better. In addition, Jess had no intention of killing, so for the time being, he was only a little disheveled.

Just as Jess cornered Viktor and was about to capture him alive, the wall behind Viktor turned bright red in an instant, and a ray pierced through the wall and shot in.

He used his backhand to block the Mercury Cannon in front of him, and under the influence of the electromagnetic field, the beam was deflected directly to the ground next to him.

Immediately afterwards, Jess felt a sudden suction force erupt beneath him, and he was slammed to the ground with a thud.

Victor took a few steps back and retreated through the hole pierced by the death ray.

The gravity field beneath Jayce can only serve as a surprise attack; given Jayce's abilities, he won't be able to control it for long before he breaks free.

Once he breaks free, at that distance, Viktor's chances of defeating Jess are less than one percent.

Boom! A brilliant light burst forth from the tip of the Mercury Cannon, piercing directly through the gravity field generator.

Jess braced himself on the ground, stood up, and rushed in the direction Victor had escaped. After breaking through the gap, Jess slowed down.

Before him stood a massive array of drones, each equipped with a death ray emitter poised to fire, its ray nozzles brimming with yellow energy.

Jess took a deep breath and launched the first attack.

Electromagnetic acceleration gate opens! Ten consecutive bursts of electrical energy surge!

Beams of energy struck the drone array, exploding violently and instantly shooting down swarms of drones. However, this number was only a drop in the ocean compared to the total number of drones.

"The human body is the greatest weakness of machinery, Jess. You'll realize that." Victor's voice came from behind the drone formation.

As he spoke, rays of light shot out, covering a large area in front of and behind Jess.

Mercury's Cannon, Warhammer Mode!

With a series of clicks, compressed energy bullets were loaded into the warhammer. As the spent cartridges ejected, the entire hammer was brimming with undisguised, violent energy.

Jess gripped the end of the warhammer with his right hand, raised his upper arm, and as his arm was extended to its maximum extent, a fierce burst of flames erupted from the end of the warhammer.

A thunderous strike!

A barrage of lightning struck Jess as he moved, the brilliant purple light obscuring the view of the hidden observer.

The diffused lightning formed a high, curved wall in front of Jess.

Every part of this wall is radiating its energy outwards without restraint.

"Mechanical equipment is nothing! Firepower is the most important thing!"

Jess roared, and the collision of the lightning and the death ray created a huge crater tens of meters wide.

Huff, puff, he gasped for breath. The pressure from the compressed energy blasts was too great. After using several in a row, even Jess's intermediate knight physique couldn't withstand it.

Viktor silently watched the smoke and dust before him, paused for a moment, then turned and left.

When Jess left Hextech, he took plenty of ammunition and charging crystals with him, but what about him? His current charging crystals were just recharged at Stark Industries' New Energy Research Lab.