Chapter 92: Ch.91 Tall, Rich, But Not Handsome

Chapter 92: Ch.91 Tall, Rich, But Not Handsome

As they continued down the corridor, the temperature kept rising. Even with his augmented body, Su Ming's sweat was pouring off him, evaporating before it even hit the ground.

But neither of them were ordinary people; they could just barely keep moving forward.

Finally, at the end of the corridor, they came upon an iron door.

Yes, an iron door, looking like the kind you'd find at the back of a small restaurant in a shady alley. The paint was peeling, and it was covered in rust. Who knew where Hephaestus, the god of forging, found such trash?

"This forging skill... can we even trust it?" Barry wiped his sweat with his uniform sleeve, his face flushed red. "Should I take you to Pittsburgh or Detroit instead?"

Seeing this shabby door, Su Ming also felt a bit awkward. But Hephaestus only played with forging as a personal hobby, and this door wasn't meant to be the storefront.

"It's fine. This is the best blacksmith we can find on Earth. Unless you can figure out a way to send me to New Genesis? The Life Equation could solve our problem. Are you close with Darkseid's brother?"

"Uh, I think we're better off here. Let's go in." Barry forced a couple of laughs. The New Gods from New Genesis weren't exactly the easiest to deal with.

Su Ming was just making conversation. The Life Equation, unlike the Anti-Life Equation, had some flaws. In its current state, it would only turn people into monsters.

He touched the iron door in front of him. It wasn't too hot. With a little force, the door creaked open.

What lay before them was a crimson world. Everything was red. The walls held enormous crucibles, each one as big as a basketball court. Searing lava cascaded from them, pouring into the furnaces below.

In the center of the room was a massive device of unknown function, radiating intense light, supplying metals and other materials. Hundreds of people in heavy heat-resistant suits were bustling around it, delivering various materials to different furnaces or taking forged items back to the warehouse.

Yes, there were hundreds of people moving back and forth, but only one person was forging.

He looked like a half-beast, standing three meters tall, grotesquely ugly, his entire body a purple-brown color, completely hairless. His hands were covered in ash and cinders, with molten lava swirling around them. He wielded a seemingly ordinary hammer, pounding something on the anvil.

The thunderous clanging echoed through the entire volcano, each strike as powerful as a bolt of lightning.

Su Ming immediately recognized him as Hephaestus, the god of fire, son of Zeus, and brother to Wonder Woman.

"Strongest is an overstatement, but I do need the help of the Olympian gods right now."

Su Ming remained calm. Although the environment was stiflingly hot, he knew that when dealing with gods, one had to be cautious. No matter how gentle a lion looked, it could still eat you.

"I've already prepared. Come with me." Hephaestus casually tossed his hammer, creating a small crater in the ground, then beckoned Su Ming and Barry to follow him.

They moved to another part of the volcano. Hephaestus opened a large door and led them inside.

"Wow, it's so cool in here." Barry perked up immediately. The surrounding walls were made of forged metal, reflecting light, and the temperature was incredibly comfortable.

"Oh, this is the living area. I've got central air conditioning installed here." Hephaestus responded without turning around.

"Cough, cough... air conditioning?" Barry was dumbfounded, almost choking on his own saliva.

Hephaestus gave him an amused glance, his eyes like molten lava about to burst: "What, do you think we old gods are all out of touch? Or do you think I can't make something as simple as air conditioning?"

"No, no, I absolutely don't think that, ha ha, how could I?" Barry smiled awkwardly, trying to be polite.

Hephaestus wasn't angry. He turned a corner and took them to the warehouse, showing off his finished products one by one.

"This is a supercar I made. It's completely forged from divine metal, indestructible, with a top speed of 1,800 kilometers per hour."

"This is my private jet, also encrusted with divine metal and gems. It's powered by divine energy, flies autonomously, can turn invisible, and can even break through the atmosphere."

"This is a satellite I forged for the gods. With just one, Olympus can receive global television broadcasts. Skyfather is coming to inspect it in a few days."

One by one, shining, high-tech items were displayed, not only beautiful but also functional. Finally, Hephaestus showed them a half-assembled cosmic warship, which left both of them stunned.

Building a spaceship by hand—only a god could pull that off.

No wonder he could marry the goddess of beauty. Having money really does let you do whatever you want. Su Ming had thought Bruce Wayne was wealthy enough, but it turned out the real rich guy was hiding in a volcano, playing with his handmade collectibles.