Chapter 128: October
With this, Harvey's routine on Xandar, aside from eating, drinking, and having fun, gained another leisurely activity. Whenever Sonya wasn't tied up with other responsibilities, the two of them would head to a private, uninhabited island for some sparring matches.
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Time flew by, and before they knew it, three months had passed. It was now October.
The gravity device Tony had been working on was successfully delivered, and after thorough inspections, the clients transferred the remaining balance.
After taxes, Tony was left with 720 million credits.
Of that, he only kept 120 million for himself, planning to use it to buy various models of starships for research and to cover his usual extravagant lifestyle. The remaining 240 million, which was rightfully Harvey's, Tony paid back to him.
For months, Tony had been living off Harvey's wealth, staying in his villa, so he knew he owed Harvey more than just money. He had always kept track.
It had now been ten months since Tony arrived in space, and there were only two months left until his planned return to Earth.
In that short time, he had gained a wealth of knowledge. His understanding of nanotechnology had grown deeper, though he hadn't yet been able to apply it to his suits. However, Tony wasn't worried — it was just a matter of time before he developed a fully functional nanotech armor.
Over the past nine months, Tony had four major accomplishments.
First, he had forged strong friendships with several members of the Void Sect, particularly Reno, the Seer, Kael, and Lacy. He knew that in times of need, they would come to his aid without hesitation.
Second, he had discovered that the Void's power was indeed something mystical. It could enhance various materials, although there was one significant downside. Any object infused with Void energy would have its durability reduced and could only last for about ten minutes in battle before disintegrating. Even if unused, the object would crumble within ten to fifteen days.
Tony wasn't sure if this was due to the material being too weak to withstand the Void's power or for some other reason, but it was something he still hadn't figured out. However, he had found a way to temporarily enhance his Iron Man suits using the Void's power, a feature he called "Void Mode."
Currently, his latest version of the Iron Man suit, now in its 45th iteration, was more than capable of handling most threats, so Tony didn't feel the need to rely on Void Mode.
Third, Tony had begun his journey toward financial independence in the universe. In a year or two, he would have the means to transport large quantities of resources and elements, which were scarce on Earth, back to his home planet.
Fourth, thanks to the special training from Reno and the others, Tony had significantly improved his control over his own strength. Even without his Iron Man suit, he was now a formidable fighter.
Everything was going according to plan, and Tony was steadily working toward the goals he had set before coming to space.
However, the thought of returning to Earth and having to constantly wear his Iron Man suit to conceal his identity left Tony feeling a bit frustrated. If only he had Harvey's Void magic to transform his appearance at will, things would be so much easier.
Tony had even asked Harvey for help with this, but Harvey admitted that his control over Void energy wasn't good enough to teach Tony.
Still, the idea of hiding his identity was only a temporary concern, which made Tony feel a little better about it.
"Mr. Stark, we've received a new order."
"This time, it's for 2.4 billion credits, and they've already sent over a 1.2 billion down payment."
"I heard that in two months, you're planning to return to Earth. Will you be able to complete the final phase of production before then?"
Sonya had taken the initiative to contact Tony that day. It had been a month since Tony had delivered the last gravity device, and after extensive testing, the clients couldn't stop praising his work.
The device not only allowed a medium-sized warship to implement different gravity zones in various areas, but it also adapted to environmental changes automatically. Most impressively, it could release a gravitational field around the warship, aiding in more precise acceleration and deceleration. It was, by all accounts, a masterpiece of gravity control technology.
To purchase such a high-end device on the market would cost between 8 to 10 million credits, and even then, you'd have to pull some strings with the manufacturing company just to get one.
But Tony Stark's device was not only fully functional and affordable, but Tony's attitude also set him apart — he wasn't arrogant at all. Once an order was placed, the production time was short, and the quality was never compromised. Unlike other manufacturers, who often delayed delivery even after receiving full payment, sometimes sending flawed products with no room for complaints.
"Of course, I can. I'll just create an advanced AI to handle the final steps while I'm gone."
Tony looked up at Sonya, nodded, and responded with a smile. He had always planned to bring JARVIS back to Earth with him, so leaving JARVIS behind was never an option.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I'll need to check the timeline. If it's going to be a while, I'll make a list of everything, and you can review it when I'm gone."
"You can verify the accounts, and I'll send the remaining funds accordingly."
Sonya replied with a serious tone.
"I'm not sure yet, but I'll probably be on Earth for a few months."
"As for the financials, you don't have to worry. You're Kassadin's assistant — I trust you."
Tony laughed.
Of course, how long he'd stay on Earth would also depend on Pepper's feelings. After a year apart, Pepper would undoubtedly want him to spend some quality time with her before allowing him to return to space.
"Even if you trust me, Mr. Stark, this is still business, and we're dealing with significant sums of money. It's better to keep everything transparent."
Sonya shook her head lightly, her expression serious.
"Alright, I'll take a look at the list when the time comes and settle everything then."
Tony glanced over at Harvey, who showed no sign of disagreeing, so he nodded in agreement.
"Kassadin, will you be visiting Earth as well?"
Tony turned to Harvey. He chose the word "visit" carefully, knowing that none of the Void Sect members knew Kassadin's true origins. He wasn't about to make a rookie mistake in front of them.
"Yeah, I'll probably drop by for a bit."
Harvey nodded.
2011 was the year when Captain America was set to make his return, and the Avengers were close to forming. There was no way Harvey could miss that.
Sonya, standing nearby, heard that Harvey would be leaving for Earth as well. Though she felt a bit reluctant, she kept her feelings to herself.