Walking through the lab area, Kino could see that the future Tony was full of doubt.
"I provide them with the funding, housing, protection, and benefits they need," Kino explained. "In return, they only have to work on their own projects."
"As long as the projects are useful, reasonable, and hold potential, the Demon Corporation will fully fund them with money, materials, and equipment."
"In the Demon Corporation, no one steals the research results of others. No one meddles in your work. You are free to give your all and unlock your full talent."
"In exchange, the Demon Corporation will harvest their research results, but they gain honor, power, wealth, and even life."
Ant-Man looked on with envy. He was even tempted to stay and work.
"…So, are you trying to build a utopia, Kino?" future Tony asked after a moment of silence.
"No, this is just a transaction," Kino replied. "Each gets what they need. I give them what they want, and they give me what I want."
"What's the life-extending drug?" Tony asked.
"It extends life by ten years. Every researcher above level two can take out a loan to buy it. No interest. But it can only be used for their family members—company benefit."
Ant-Man grew even more jealous. Just imagining how expensive a drug that grants ten extra years of life made him shake. Yet here, they could buy it on loan.
"…Can you sell me a few doses?" future Tony asked after a pause, clearly moved.
"Of course," Kino replied, smiling at him. "But aren't you going to keep pretending, Tony Stark from another world?"
"No need," future Tony said, his helmet opening to reveal a face full of fatigue and sorrow, far removed from his once-confident self.
"You didn't look me up on the net?" Kino asked, somewhat puzzled.
"No. There wasn't enough time. I only had a chance to review major events."
"My ears can hear every voice in the world," Kino said. "I don't like this ability, but I won't deny—it's quite useful."
"…This is fake too, isn't it?" future Tony raised the Tesseract in his hand.
"That's right. It's just a shell," Kino confirmed.
Ant-Man jumped off Tony and enlarged back to normal.
"Please, help us," he pleaded. "We just need to borrow it for a few minutes. We'll return it afterward."
"No rush," Kino replied. "I didn't say I wouldn't lend it to you. Come. There's someone here you've been wanting to see."
He was speaking to Tony with the last part.
Future Tony retracted his nanotech armor, curious.
Someone he really wanted to see?
Pepper?His alternate self in this world?
Kino led them to a lab and knocked.
"Come in," a voice answered.
Kino opened the door and gently pushed future Tony inside.
Ant-Man tried to follow but was blocked by Kino.
Tony looked back at the closed door, then turned to face a researcher who had his back to him. On the table in front of the researcher was Loki's scepter.
"Say what you need to say. I'm a little busy right now…"
Howard Stark was studying the material of Loki's scepter.
Although it no longer had the Mind Stone, the scepter itself was crafted from superconductor materials that once amplified the stone's power—it still had immense research value.
Howard never imagined he'd be so broke one day. The items from the Demon Store were just too tempting—high-tech gear, adamantium, vibranium, Dionysus serum, rejuvenation medicine…
To think that the Demon Corporation had acquired all this in just one year. What about the future?
Contribution points couldn't be exchanged for items unless they were earned through one's own inventions.
Howard had gifted the arc reactor to Tony. Though his inventions weren't outdated, they weren't exactly groundbreaking anymore either.
So, he had no choice but to sell his skills and work under the Demon Corporation.
Tony had lots of contribution points, but Howard had his pride. He wouldn't use his son's.
Tony found the researcher's voice familiar but didn't think much of it. He slowly walked closer.
"This is Loki's scepter," Howard said. "It can fire powerful beams, comparable in force to TNT. But the most important thing is… Wait, where's the orb?!"
Future Tony's vision darkened when he realized the Mind Stone was missing.
"What orb?" Howard asked, looking up.
"Tony… You're back."
!!!
Future Tony looked at Howard's face and nearly collapsed, leaning weakly against the lab table.
Dad?!
His father was still alive in this world?! But the age didn't match. Even if he wasn't dead, he should be an old man by now.
His mind spun with confusion. Was this an illusion? A look-alike? Or was this entire world fake? Had he died out in space?
His ears rang, his eyes grew bloodshot, his heart pounded like a drum, and his vision blurred.
Huff… Huff…
He gasped for air, struggling to stay upright by clinging to the table.
Just as his consciousness was about to slip away, a sharp pain shot through his arm.
A large hand gently patted his back, and a voice came through the haze.
"Breathe… One, two. That's it. One, two. Think of something happy."
Tony followed the rhythm, calming down, and his vision slowly cleared.
"What did you inject me with?" he asked.
"A healing serum," Howard replied.
"Anxiety. Post-war trauma. What happened to you in that other world, Tony?"
Tony averted his gaze, uneasy with the concern in Howard's eyes, and took a step back.
"It's nothing, really. Just a small problem I'm working through."
Howard's heart ached seeing this version of Tony—older and visibly exhausted.
He understood parallel universes. After all, the Demon Corporation had members from other realities.
Howard wanted to know what his son had gone through to end up like this. But since Tony didn't want to talk, he didn't push.
"I see. So, what's this on your chest?"
Howard changed the subject, gently tapping the device on Tony's chest.
"Mark 85 nano-reactor," Tony answered, perking up a little. "Powered by the clean energy design you created. Once activated, it instantly spreads and forms armor over my whole body, making the transformation quick and smooth—"
Tony spoke with pride, even removing the nano-reactor and handing it over like a kid showing off his favorite toy.
Howard listened attentively, occasionally asking questions about how Tony solved various technical challenges.
He patted Tony on the shoulder.
"You're even more brilliant than I imagined. In this field, you've already surpassed me. I'm proud of you, Tony."
"…"
Tony's eyes reddened.
His father… had never praised him before.
"It's nothing," Tony muttered, voice low. "Just simple stuff. Nothing too hard. You could've done the same."
In this, both versions of Tony were exactly the same.
Howard smiled faintly and handed the reactor back.
Tony instinctively took it and reattached it to his chest.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened—it was Maria.
"Mr. Kino said you needed my help. Is something wrong, Howard?"
Future Tony stared at the beautiful young woman, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
She looked… so familiar.
Maria, unlike the proud Howard, accepted the gift her son had given. After all, few women could resist the temptation of rejuvenation.
Quote of the Chapter:
"A father's pride can heal wounds deeper than any battlefield scar."
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