Tony Stark began manufacturing the Mark II Iron Man suit in the underground laboratory.
While he was modifying and perfecting Mark I's blueprints, Chen Mo watched from the side, incidentally offering some suggestions.
Only then did Tony Stark remember that his father Howard had said Chen Mo wasn't just a powerful warrior but also a super genius—his strength in technological R&D and biological sciences was extremely formidable, even surpassing Howard's.
He just didn't usually like staying in laboratories doing research, instead devoting more energy and time to combat. But his talent and strength in science remained unquestionable. Many cutting-edge technologies Stark Industries currently mastered had Chen Mo's participation back then.
Thinking of this, Tony Stark's gaze toward Chen Mo couldn't help but become fervent.
Being able to have someone of comparable ability to research together and discuss with was absolutely a happy thing for a genius devoted to technological R&D yet unable to find peers.
Tony Stark immediately displayed all his designs and concepts for the Iron Man suit completely to Chen Mo. Toward Chen Mo he needed no defenses. Besides his parents, Chen Mo was his closest person—also his only remaining relative in this world.
After comprehensively understanding Tony Stark's concepts and designs, Chen Mo had to admire his talent. This was truly genius design, far surpassing this era.
However, these were after all just preliminary designs with many shortcomings. Based on his own perspective and the film's plot, Chen Mo easily pointed out many deficiencies and directions for improvement, making Tony Stark listen with shining eyes, nodding constantly.
When Chen Mo had been with Howard back then, he'd mastered very strong technological R&D capabilities. But seventy years had passed—much of what he'd mastered was already outdated. Fortunately, behind him was Hydra's powerful R&D team.
During those days at the martial arts school, Chen Mo hadn't been idle, receiving massive amounts of Hydra's technological data through the tablet computer.
Although due to limited time and the data quantity being too vast, even with his terrifying learning ability he hadn't fully mastered it all, various technologies related to or potentially useful for the Iron Man suit had all been completely absorbed by him.
So now, researching the Iron Man suit together with scientific genius Tony Stark, Chen Mo didn't have much pressure. After all, what he had to do wasn't start from zero and independently develop an Iron Man suit himself.
Tony Stark had already completed the suit's main technologies and overall framework. What he had to do was modify and fill in this still-rough skeleton, making it more complete, perfect and powerful.
Considering the harsh pressure and temperature conditions of high-altitude flight, the suit's sealing, internal pressure regulation capability and high-altitude anti-icing ability were all deliberately strengthened.
The outer shell used gold-titanium alloy used by Seraphim military satellites. Its excellent metal properties and density could both ensure the Iron Man suit's performance while maintaining power-to-weight ratio.
The leg thrusters and flight stabilizers' power were all optimized and enhanced, with propulsion efficiency improved much over the original.
Additionally, at Chen Mo's suggestion, the suit added air filtration anti-poison gas functionality and underwater oxygen supply devices, enabling the suit to adapt to more complex and harsh diverse environments.
Although Tony Stark had completed the Iron Man suit's main design, many details inside originally still needed gradual perfection. Many problems even needed to be slowly discovered during use before further modification. But Chen Mo's guidance let him avoid many detours, saved massive time, and avoided many accidental incidents.
Envisioning in his mind the Iron Man suit manufactured according to Chen Mo's suggestions with improvements, Tony Stark's gaze toward Chen Mo couldn't help but be full of admiration.
Worthy of being my godfather! Having a dad is truly great!
Dr. Yinsen, originally also an outstanding scientist, completely became an assistant in front of these two geniuses Chen Mo and Tony Stark—or rather, an intern. A huge gap still existed between him and Chen Mo and Stark. He didn't quite understand much of what the two discussed.
However, Yinsen had no discouragement about this. Instead he was extremely happy, feeling this was an excellent learning opportunity. While assisting the two in R&D, he hungrily learned various profound theories and knowledge from them, continuously improving himself.
This day, the three were testing the just-improved flight stabilizer in the underground laboratory. Pepper Potts carried three cups of coffee and opened the password door to enter.
"Tony, Obadiah's here, waiting for you upstairs."
Looking at the three busily absorbed, Pepper somewhat helplessly set down the coffee and said to Tony.
"Okay, I'll go up right away."
Tony answered while continuing to work with his head down.
Chen Mo beside him heard this, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile. The weasel had come to pay New Year's respects.
After testing the flight stabilizer's effects, Tony greeted the two and went upstairs. Not long after, he came back down carrying a box of pizza.
From Tony's expression one could tell the conversation just now hadn't been pleasant.
The commotion upstairs completely couldn't escape Chen Mo's ears. Just like in the film, Tony was signed with a prohibition order by the board of directors citing post-traumatic stress disorder, stopping his work and no longer letting him manage the company.
Subsequently, Obadiah persuaded Tony to hand over the miniature arc reactor to him to bring back to the company for engineers to research and mass produce. Using its huge profits to prompt the board to change their decision—but was firmly refused by Tony.
Of course all this was Obadiah's self-directed and self-acted play. The purpose was to kick Tony out and control Stark Industries himself while obtaining the latest technology Tony mastered.
Although Tony Stark was somewhat angry, obviously the Iron Man suit's development now held much higher importance in his heart. Company matters were set aside as he again devoted himself wholeheartedly to Iron Man suit manufacturing.
Soon, through the joint efforts of two geniuses and one outstanding scientist, the first formal version Iron Man suit—Mark II—was finally born. Tony Stark couldn't wait to stand on the equipment platform and begin donning it.
Mechanical arms extended from around the platform, assembling Iron Man suit components onto Tony's body, connecting and fixing them together. Silver steel parts gradually wrapped Tony, ultimately forming a sharp-angled steel warrior full of sci-fi beauty and mechanical power.
"JARVIS."
Tony called up the suit's auxiliary operating system transplanted from the villa's intelligent management system.
"At your service, sir."
Artificial intelligence JARVIS's voice sounded in Tony's ear.
"Activate heads-up display."
"Received."
"Import all selected programs."
"Yes, sir."
As Tony's commands issued one by one, a virtual light screen appeared in his vision. Without affecting his sight, it projected various external information like maps and altitude, plus suit performance and energy values, displaying them all before him.
And targets locked by his gaze would also be automatically analyzed with relevant data listed, able to play a large auxiliary role in combat.
"Upload complete, sir. We're ready."
"Good. Begin simulation run."
"Reset priority and calibrate working conditions."
"Check all control surfaces." Looking at the suit status displayed on the virtual screen, Tony ordered.
"As you command, sir."
Next, armor all over the Iron Man suit began moving one by one. Silver steel armor pieces moved, expanded and ultimately returned to normal like Transformers.
"Test complete. Prepare to shut down power and begin data analysis."
After several minutes, all tests finished. Tony Stark impatiently activated the thrusters beneath his feet. The Iron Man suit slowly rose into the air. The flight stabilizers at both palms also jetted white flames, helping him adjust posture and maintain balance.
After some attempts, Tony stood steady in the air, hovering smoothly over a meter above ground.
"I want to go out for a good flight to test flight performance."
The high-altitude icing problem had been solved in advance, so Chen Mo wasn't worried about his safety and didn't stop him.
"The suit doesn't yet have capability for outer space flight and survival. You be careful."
Chen Mo really feared he'd keep flying toward high altitude. Although not afraid of icing, they hadn't yet solved vacuum and radiation problems. This wasn't diving—not something simple sealing could handle.
"Got it, Dad!"
After Tony Stark excitedly agreed, his figure leaned forward. The foot thrusters and palm flight stabilizers simultaneously increased output power, accelerating through the curved passage leading from the garage outside.
Chen Mo and Dr. Yinsen returned to the computer to check real-time images and various data transmitted back by the suit.
Unlike the brief flight in Afghanistan last time, the brand new Mark II was much stronger than Mark I in power, controllability, endurance and comfort. Operation was very smooth. While flying freely through the air, Tony excitedly shouted loudly.
"This is amazing!"
"It's like a dream."
Through the computer screen, Chen Mo could see that as Tony's gaze moved, the helmet automatically magnified an image he was watching—a distant Ferris wheel—clearly seeing people in the gondolas. The auxiliary functions were extremely powerful.
"Okay, let's see what this Iron Man suit can do!"
Tony said excitedly, then changed direction and flew straight up toward high altitude.
"What's the SR-71 record?"
"The SR-71 Blackbird high-altitude high-speed strategic reconnaissance aircraft's altitude record is 85,000 feet, sir."
"Records are made to be broken! Let's go!"