Chapter 63

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Synthesizing a New Element is Actually Quite Easy!

"Jarvis, that's purely for functional reasons!"

Tony Stark immediately interrupted Jarvis with a solemn emphasis, "But just because it's designed, doesn't mean I'll need to use it! It's like the watch I'm wearing now, designed to withstand being run over by a car, but would I actually run a car over it?"

"That's not the most appropriate analogy, sir, but I understand your point."

"You understand? What do you understand? I've said nothing!"

Iron Man was slightly rattled by his own artificial intelligence.

"sir..."

"Alright, let's not waste time on trivial things; analyze the diary instead!"

Jarvis was about to say more when he was mercilessly interrupted by Tony Stark.

The conversation about the "Armored Suit Peeing" was thus forcibly terminated by Iron Man.

His gaze returned to the diary in front of him.

The part about sitting on a giant donut while eating donuts, was quite understandable. 

Tony Stark remembered a donut shop with a huge donut sculpture on the roof.

Clearly, his future self – no, his alternate world self – had been sitting inside that donut sculpture eating donuts.

It had to be said, that was quite a spectacle.

However, Iron Man didn't dwell on such unimportant matters for too long.

He quickly concentrated on the "Clash of Iron Giants" battle that he and Rhodey were to have.

"Clash of Iron Giants."

It seemed straightforward enough, obviously referring to a battle with both he and Rhodey suited up in their armor.

That wasn't the issue.

The real question was, where did Rhodey get his suit of armor?

Iron Man knew well that the technology of the armored suit was at least twenty years ahead of the current era! Besides himself, no one else could produce an armored suit like that.

Could the battle mentioned in the diary be set in a far distant future?

So distant that others had begun to produce armored suits?

But clearly, that didn't align with the timeframe of his palladium poisoning which was nearing a fatal stage.

Considering the time factor of the palladium poisoning, the battle mentioned in the diary should be occurring in the near future.

In other words, at the time of his and Rhodey's battle, the armored suit technology was still Tony Stark's exclusive.

So~

Could it be that Rhodey's suit actually originated from him?

Why would that happen?

Considering Rhodey's military background and the uniqueness of the armored suit, could it be that in the future, he succumbed to pressure and the military forcibly took possession of some suits?

Hmph!

With this thought, Tony Stark couldn't help but snort in disdain.

Whether it's Hydra, the military, or any other demonic forces after his suit of armor, to hell with them all!

He, Tony Stark, would never let anyone succeed as that other version of himself did in the other world.

Not even the military!

[It's just too painful to watch!]

[Knowing he's about to die, Stark becomes recklessly wilful, giving up on treatment altogether!]

[He's started to let himself go and act rashly!]

[He's even begun planning his affairs for after he's gone.]

[It's undeniably a dark chapter in Stark's life that he'll never be able to wash away.]

[If not for Nick Fury's timely intervention, Stark would have undoubtedly been doomed!]

???

What the hell?

A question mark crawled onto Tony Stark's forehead.

Why would Nick Fury be entering the picture at this time? Didn't the diary mention before that it was my own father, Howard Stark, who 'transcended time and space' to guide me in synthesizing a new element that saved my life?

Why does it say here that it was Nick Fury who intervened?

Could it be...

Iron Man sorted out some of the fragments and managed to construct a basic logical thread.

According to the diary.

My father, Howard, left clues years ago to guide me in synthesizing a new element.

But with him passed away, how could he guide me after so many years?

Clearly then, the actual executor must have been Nick Fury.

One was the founder of SHIELD, the other, the current Director of SHIELD.

Considering their roles, it's unsurprising that Nick Fury got involved.

So, it seems.

That I, Tony Stark, didn't synthesize the new element through my own research of the arc reactor technology, as I had previously thought.

Did Howard really leave something for me?

But if that's the case...

Iron Man's brow furrowed slightly.

How did Nick Fury know about my palladium poisoning?

Could it be that the spy chief has been covertly watching me all this time?

Damn it!

Tony Stark suddenly felt uncomfortable all over.

"It looks like it's necessary to upgrade the security level."

Tony Stark secretly made this decision.

[But I have to say, Nick Fury's timing was impeccable.]

[Even though he held onto something that Howard left for Stark, knowing Stark would face palladium poisoning,]

[He kept it to himself until Stark was nearly dying before making a grand entrance.]

[Handing over to Stark what Howard had left for him.]

[In a way, he became Stark's life-saving benefactor.]

Tony Stark couldn't help but nod to himself in acknowledgment.

So did my father, Howard, really leave something for me at SHIELD?

This was in line with his previous speculation.

Only, there was one thing Iron Man couldn't understand, no matter what.

He didn't know what exact thing his father left that could guide him in synthesizing a new element. Why didn't he just leave it directly to me?

Instead, it was left at SHIELD.

Could it be that his own son was not as trustworthy as this Nick Fury?

And to think Zhou Cheng always said Howard loved me very much.

Is this what it amounts to?

Tony Stark slightly curled his lip in disdain.

He didn't think highly of the way Nick Fury showed up at the moment of his near death.

That man looked cunning and not like a good person, and indeed he proved to be so!

[But Stark doesn't know, actually synthesizing the new element is very simple, right?]

[He just needs to visit Stark Industries, have a look around his office.]

[The answer is right there, waiting for him!]

[The most valuable thing Howard left for Stark is just laying there.]

[With no concealment whatsoever!]

Tony Stark couldn't help but sit up straight.

The key to synthesizing the new element was in his office?

The answer he had been desperately researching and seeking, yet never obtaining, had been right there from the start?

It must be said, Iron Man was truly caught off guard.