Chapter 144

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The diary mentioned a long time ago that Tony Stark is indeed one of the smartest people in the world, but not the absolute smartest.

Zhou Cheng even ranked them, placing Iron Man in the top five, but not even in the top three!

He shamelessly claimed that there were at least two people smarter than Tony Stark.

There were others about as smart as Tony Stark.

Tony Stark was well acquainted with Zhou Cheng's style of belittling him and never took his rankings seriously.

Nevertheless, Iron Man was quite curious about who could be smarter than him, as determined by Zhou Cheng.

Finally, the diary has provided a concrete answer.

Mr. Fantastic, is it you?

Haha!

Tony Stark couldn't help but laugh aloud.

According to the diary's spoiler, this person's research failed to secure investment, and it was evident that they were in the same league as Stark, likely another scientist.

So the question is, if they're so smart, why can't they secure investment?

There's only one answer: they haven't produced anything of real value!

Why is that?

Obviously, they are not smart enough!

What? Scientific research needs funding, and without investment, you can't produce anything significant?

For an average scientist, that indeed makes sense, but for someone of Tony Stark's caliber, it does not.

After all, he forged a suit of armor in a cave with a box of scraps!

Even the most basic Mark I Iron Man suit would cause a frenzy if put on the market.

So, if Mr. Fantastic can't secure investment, it simply means he's not smart enough!

Moreover, if there were scientists at Tony Stark's level, wouldn't Iron Man know about them?

Claiming to be the smartest on Earth is laughable.

Even Tony Stark only dares to claim he's the smartest in the country, not on the entire planet.

What is this?

While scoffing, Iron Man's eyes continue to scan the diary and are struck by another detail.

Rocket Raccoon?

By the name, it should be a raccoon named Rocket?

Is this a joke?

The diary claims this raccoon is smarter than Mr. Fantastic, who in turn is smarter than Tony Stark. Does this mean that Tony Stark is less smart than a raccoon?

That's absurd, right?

Could the diary be referring to a raccoon not in the typical furry mammal sense?

Well, considering it's interstellar, Mr. Fantastic being the smartest on Earth but extending to the cosmos now makes Rocket the most intelligent.

Clearly, Rocket must be of an alien species that resembles a raccoon.

And with that, Tony Stark quickly dismisses Rocket Raccoon from his mind.

After all, what happens on other planets is beyond the Earth's reach, and he doesn't care to pay it any mind.

He silently resolves to look into who this Mr. Fantastic is and gauge his true capabilities.

Zhou Cheng seems to hold him in high regard.

As for Rocket Raccoon, could he be the smartest creature in the universe?

Even the High Evolutionary, who envied and feared him, couldn't comprehend problems that Rocket, who had barely mastered language, understood just by overhearing fragmented discussions.

Truly, this level of intelligence is extraordinary.

Unfortunately, such a brilliant mind is wasted on Rocket Raccoon, who never takes on serious matters and focuses on pranks.

Even in urgent situations like prison breaks, he doesn't miss a chance to play tricks, much like the mischievous god Loki.

The smartest creature in the universe?

That's quite an exaggeration!

Tony Stark can't help but click his tongue in disbelief, considering the enormous breadth of life in the cosmos.

So Zhou Cheng believes that Rocket Raccoon is the smartest?

Just how smart could he be?

"The High Evolutionary? Who's that?"

The name High Evolutionary also captures Tony Stark's keen interest.

Without prior mention in the diary, Iron Man naturally can't know who it is.

But the name alone suggests a significant figure, as not just anyone would include "High" in their title.

As for "Evolutionary," the term's direction is relatively clear.

Is this High Evolutionary an interstellar scientist who specializes in biological evolution?

Tony Stark naturally arrives at this conclusion.

As for what the High Evolutionary actually studies, Iron Man can only guess that it's not something simple.

After all, with a name like High Evolutionary, researching mundane issues would seem beneath the grandeur that term suggests.

And yet Rocket Raccoon, without full mastery of language, was able to quickly grasp things, which is certainly impressive.

Language is a means of communication, and comprehension without it means missing out on vital information can be deadly in scientific research.

Despite this, Rocket's uncanny ability to understand fragmented discussions is truly special, a point Iron Man admits.

It appears that Rocket Raccoon might be quite smart; even if "the smartest creature in the universe" is a stretch, being among the top in the cosmos might not be far-fetched.

But Star-Lord?

The diary had mentioned this name before; Iron Man knows he's a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Could Rocket Raccoon have some connection with them?

However, just the fact that Rocket pranks Star-Lord is not enough to conclude anything definite.

After all, the diary clearly states Rocket Raccoon is akin to Loki, known for his penchant for mischief.

For such guys, playing pranks on people they know or don't know is always a possibility.

"However, one could only say that all this is destined."

"When the unreliable Rocket Raccoon met the equally unreliable Star-Lord and others."

"They formed the most unreliable superhero team in the universe in the same unreliable way!"

"Looking at the entire Guardians of the Galaxy, except for Gamora, there is not a single normal person, each more unreliable than the last."

"It's a miracle that such a team has been able to roam around the galaxy without getting killed."

"But sometimes, a bunch of unreliable people coming together isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Just look at the time Ronan invaded Xandar; it was only someone as unreliable as Star-Lord who could come up with such an unreliable method to deal with Ronan, right?"

"And it actually succeeded! Ronan was defeated by a dance!"

"Who would dare to think of dancing to save the galaxy?"

Unreliable?

The journal speaks the truth.

Even at critical moments like breaking out of prison, Rocket Raccoon doesn't forget to play tricks on others – that's just his style.

But really, Rocket Raccoon is a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy?

Tony Stark's spirits lifted.

In addition to the previously revealed Drax the Destroyer and Star-Lord, the journal finally revealed new members of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Counting the mentioned Gamora as well.

Now Tony Stark knew of four members of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Actually, all along.

Iron Man had taken a keen interest in this team that fought alongside him on Titan.

Unfortunately, the journal had always lacked extensive descriptions.

Until this moment, Zhou Cheng finally became generous and revealed more relevant information to Tony Stark.

But Iron Man could never have imagined that Zhou Cheng would describe the Guardians of the Galaxy as "unreliable."

And not just once, the term "unreliable" was mentioned repeatedly in just a few sentences.

So just how unreliable were the Guardians of the Galaxy to leave such a strong impression of "unreliable" on Zhou Cheng?

The journal mentioned they were formed in an "unreliable manner," but Tony Stark naturally had no way of knowing exactly what that meant.

Could it be related to that prison break?

But without more details in the journal, Iron Man could not make any further judgments.

As for the team's "roaming around" the galaxy, Iron Man also had no way of knowing more, but the Guardians of the Galaxy actually dealt with Ronan?

Ronan was mentioned in the journal as someone who made a high-level civilization like Xandar tremble!

Even though he was once driven off by Captain Marvel, he was undoubtedly a very formidable figure in interstellar space.

But then, Star-Lord actually defeated Ronan by dancing?

What a joke!

Dancing?

Even with Tony Stark's superior intellect, he found himself struggling to comprehend.

What in the world is this dancing about?

The journal was clear—it was a war invader of a planet!

The word "dance" at this time seemed completely out of place!

What kind of thinking leads to dancing in an interstellar invasion?

It's simply ridiculous, completely off the charts!

No wonder the journal's author, Zhou Cheng, described the team as so unreliable; now Iron Man had experienced it first-hand.

And more astonishingly, this wildly offbeat method succeeded and truly defeated Ronan.

Just like a joke.

This round, Iron Man was genuinely at a loss.

His curiosity about the Guardians of the Galaxy, this amazing team, grew even more.

"It was precisely because of that battle that the unknown small-timer Star-Lord truly made a name for himself in interstellar space."

"He became a real-space legend."

"Even his father Ego had heard of Star-Lord's great renown."

"Speaking of Ego, one can't help but admire him; I'd call him the universe's number one procreator."

"He mated with so many races—or better said, creatures—and had so many offspring; it's truly incredible."

"That's inter-species!"

"Oh, but actually, to call it inter-species might not be quite accurate."

"Strictly speaking, Ego isn't a creature at all; he's just a planet!"

"Yes, the legendary outlaw Star-Lord, his father is a planet!"

And mated with countless creatures!

Gulp.

Tony Stark couldn't help but swallow hard, even breaking out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

The tastes of Star-Lord's father were so unusual?

He played across species?

And so many?

Even with his high intelligence, Tony Stark shivered at the mental image of a person and a pig, the whole concept making him shudder.

A warrior!

Star-Lord's father Ego was truly a warrior!

Although Tony Stark was not a historian, he had dabbled in some of the history of China.

He knew that some emperors in Chinese dynasties could have thousands of wives.

But compared to Ego, they were insignificant; Ego was on a whole different level.

Wait a minute!

As he was ranting, Iron Man's mouth suddenly opened wide, his face the very picture of confusion.

Ego is a... planet?

A planet?

Did Zhou Cheng make a mistake?

How is it possible for a planet to mate with a creature and have offspring?

Do planets even have that function?

Tony Stark couldn't make sense of this illogical, unreasonable event.

"Jarvis, about Star-Lord's dad being a planet, do you have anything to say about that?"

Clueless, Iron Man turned to his intelligent butler for an answer.

"A planet and a creature having offspring, according to the current knowledge system of human society, there is no theory that can explain this."

"Perhaps the author of the journal is using some kind of metaphor or exaggeration."

Jarvis provided such an answer.

Tony Stark instinctively shook his head.

Judging from the journal's tone, it didn't seem like the author was using rhetorical devices.

What the exact situation was, Iron Man feared he would only truly understand when the journal revealed more information.