Chapter 43: The Spirit of Howard Stark

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"Coulson, you're right. I am indeed a genius, but the Arc Reactor, as I mentioned before, is a groundbreaking invention," Tony Stark said. "It wasn't developed by me; it came from my father's technology. I simply miniaturized it. Although I hate to admit it, I don't think I can create something to replace the Arc Reactor."

"Under normal circumstances, perhaps you couldn't, but Stark, the situation is different now," Clint Barton said. "You're currently poisoned, and your life is constantly under threat. You also know that people can unleash immense potential in times of crisis."

"Barton, you clearly don't understand the nature of scientific research," Tony Stark chuckled after listening to Clint Barton's words. "Do you think scientific research is like a mother's love for her child, able to lift a truck in a critical moment? Research is cruel, either you understand it or you don't. Yes, maybe some people can tap into their potential under pressure, making their minds clearer and their thinking more agile, allowing them to overcome previously unsolvable problems."

"That sounds a lot like your current situation, doesn't it?"

"It does sound similar, but do you know what it means to develop another form of energy supply? It means overturning the Arc Reactor, starting from scratch, from a completely new field..." Tony Stark seemed to feel that there was no need to explain too much to a bunch of scientific idiots, paused for a moment, and continued, "I know myself. If my life truly were on a countdown, there's a greater chance I would be reckless and foolhardy rather than unleashing any potential."

"So, is that why you're sitting on a donut eating a donut?" Phil Coulson said. "An act of recklessness before dying?"

"Perhaps," Tony Stark shrugged. "I've always been carefree and indifferent to others' opinions, so I can't distinguish whether it's my normal behavior or reckless behavior before death."

"Now all three options are eliminated..." Thor said. "It seems the correct answer has emerged."

The gaze of Thor and the others fell upon Tony Stark.

It had become an unspoken agreement that the person whose question it was would answer it.

"I choose option A: Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange, to intervene and use magic to heal me," Tony Stark gave his answer.

[Answer Incorrect. One year of life deducted!]

The result was unexpected—Tony Stark answered incorrectly.

"It's not using magic to heal?" Tony Stark furrowed his brow. "My father is no longer alive, so he can't help me, and Dr. Banner's blood is also not an option. Could it be that I really invented a completely new form of energy?"

"You see, Stark, I told you it was D," Phil Coulson said. "It seems you are even more exceptional than you imagined."

"Is it me?" Tony Stark began to doubt himself, based on his understanding of himself, the Arc Reactor, and the Iron Man armor, he believed it was impossible for him to come up with an alternative energy source.

But his perceived answer had been ruled out, and the other two answers were even more unlikely.

By process of elimination, it seemed that only D was left.

"Could it be true, as they said? Am I even more of a genius than I imagined?" Thoughts like this started to emerge in Tony Stark's mind.

"Sorry, isn't the answer obvious?" Thor's voice rang out at this moment.

"Thor, what do you think is the appropriate choice?" Phil Coulson couldn't help but ask. He found Thor's input quite strange since Thor, being new to Earth, didn't have much knowledge about the question or the options.

"Option C," Thor said.

"Option C?" Clint Barton was the first to question. "Did you not hear that Howard Stark has passed away?"

"I heard it, but does that mean we can't communicate with the departed?" Thor said. "For you humans, the notion that death separates the living and the dead may be a fixed belief. But here I am, a living god standing before you. Shouldn't you have a little imagination when it comes to communicating with those who have passed away?"

"Communicate with the departed?" Thor's words struck like a thunderclap, and it was true. In a world where gods, vampires, aliens, and magic exist, it didn't seem impossible to communicate with the departed.

At least it sounded more plausible than gods or magic.

"I do know of a profession called mediumship, claiming to communicate with the dead," Phil Coulson's mind was opened, and he spoke again. "I used to think it was nonsense, but maybe I should pay more attention?"

"If those charlatans can truly communicate with the deceased, S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't possibly be unaware," Clint Barton directly refuted Phil Coulson's statement. "If we can't even overlook the rare species of vampires, how could we miss the countless mediums on the streets?"

"I'm not talking about mediums," Thor shook his head. "I'm talking about magic. Although I'm not a sorcerer, I do know that there is a kind of magic that allows people to communicate with spirits." Thor's gaze fell upon Tony Stark. "Earth now has sorcerers, right? Perhaps one of them can help you communicate with the spirit of your father."

"That's indeed my oversight," Tony Stark nodded in agreement. "I was still thinking in my old ways, forgetting that this world is no longer the world I once knew."

"If we can truly communicate with the spirit of Howard Stark, as the inventor of the Arc Reactor, he should have a solution to the palladium poisoning," Phil Coulson pondered and found this inference to be reasonable, even more reasonable than using magic to heal Tony Stark.

Because using magic to heal would only address the symptoms, not the root cause. It would only solve Tony Stark's physical problem, while the cause of his palladium poisoning would remain unresolved.

As long as Tony Stark continued to be Iron Man, he would inevitably be poisoned by palladium sooner or later.

On the other hand, using magic to allow Tony Stark to communicate with Howard Stark and find a solution would address the problem at its source, tackling both the symptoms and the root cause.

"Thor, as a god with knowledge of a world completely different from ours, since you've thought of this, why didn't you say so earlier?" Clint Barton asked.

"That's because..." Thor wasn't embarrassed. "I just remembered it now."

Tony Stark was about to speak when the video started playing.

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