Join Us, Tony!

Delayed by a certain Egghead, Tony did not arrive at the laboratory until four hours later.

He had just climbed out of the Mark 6 when Old Wang’s voice rang out. "You refused?"

"I have no interest in working for S.H.I.E.L.D."

Tony answered reflexively, then suddenly grew wary. "How did you know? Did you tell him to come find me?"

"I guessed." Old Wang smiled.

Coming this late, he had definitely been delayed by someone or something.

Tony had always been self-centered, arrogant, and dismissive of everyone else. Since he was interested in the Quinjet, even if Stark Industries’ board held an emergency meeting or the Senate summoned him, he would still refuse to go. If he made you wait, then you waited.

There were not many things that could hold him up.

A few days ago, he had given Egghead part of Whitehall’s memories. That guy would definitely be scrambling to recruit reinforcements. There was no way he would let a "Super Hero" like Tony slip away.

Most importantly…

I’m not telling you that Skye’s hacking skills have improved by leaps and bounds. She had long since tracked Egghead’s movements. I even know where he went to buy breakfast this morning, let alone when he went looking for a troublesome middle-aged man like you, who is also one of Skye’s key targets.

"Looks like this S.H.I.E.L.D. director has been having a hard time."

Tony was clever. In an instant, he had guessed quite a bit. He shrugged. "He came looking for you too?"

"Just like you, I refused. Our ideals don’t align."

Old Wang did not want to waste time on this topic. He jerked his chin. "Come on. I’ll show you around."

The two arrived at the central plaza. Tony gave it a casual glance and snorted. "An old retired model?"

"You seem to know quite a lot." Old Wang was somewhat surprised.

"Stark Industries is the world’s largest arms manufacturer. I know something about every aircraft currently in service. Besides, I’m planning to build aircraft myself, and satellites too."

Tony was not polite about it. He circled the Quinjet, commenting as he walked.

"People still use engines this outdated?"

"The design is ugly. It doesn’t conform to aerodynamics."

"Folding wings? A very common idea."

"The propulsion system is obsolete."

"Overall, it’s not bad."

Old Wang smiled. "I have some ideas."

He combined the advanced technology of newer Quinjets and the Sky Carrier with some ideas of his own, then explained them to Tony.

"Turbine engines? Vertical takeoff and landing technology? Those place high demands on both energy and materials."

Tony stroked his goatee. "The weapons system is simple, and high-altitude, all-weather flight wouldn’t be difficult either. But supersonic cruising and spaceflight also require suitable materials and energy… Wait!"

At last, he caught on. He looked at Old Wang and raised an eyebrow. "Wang, did you take inspiration from my suit? You want to use Gold-Titanium Alloy and Arc Reactors?"

"Gold-Titanium Alloy is too expensive. I can’t afford it. For now, I’ll use Titanium Alloy or other materials. My laboratory is developing new materials, and once we get results, we’ll replace them… No, by then, we’ll directly develop a new fighter aircraft, one better than the Quinjets currently in service."

Old Wang shook his head slightly before continuing. "As for energy, nuclear power is barely enough, but it still falls short. I hope you can sell me some Arc Reactors… I can promise that I will never dismantle one for research."

Tony narrowed his eyes as he studied Old Wang.

The Arc Reactor itself was not particularly technologically advanced. Otherwise, Tony could never have built one in a cave with the most rudimentary equipment. What was truly valuable was its design.

As long as they got an Arc Reactor, any top domestic laboratory could study it thoroughly and replicate it.

But Tony was not worried, because the most valuable part was the new element. His father had discovered it, and Tony had created it. This new element was not so easy to replicate.

Although Stark Industries was committed to clean energy, it would never sell Arc Reactors. They were its core competitive advantage.

Of course, Master Wang was trustworthy. After all, the technologies he possessed, whether Brain Mapping or Memory Upload, were no less valuable than Arc Reactors. There was no need for him to steal anything.

"I can sell you Arc Reactors. The weapons systems can be bought too. I still have quite a bit of stock in my warehouse, and the other components can all be custom-made."

After some thought, Tony said, "The hardest part is visual stealth."

"That’s why I brought you here."

Old Wang said, "I want to commission you to modify these three Quinjets to meet every requirement I give you, including visual stealth."

"Even though I’m rich, no one ever thinks they have too much money. You can’t afford the modification fees."

Tony lifted his chin. "So what can you offer me?"

"Virtual technology."

Old Wang smiled faintly. "True virtual technology, at least fifty years ahead of the entire world."

Though he did not believe such advanced virtual technology truly existed, Tony still followed Old Wang to the Virtual Laboratory.

This laboratory, dedicated to researching the "Framework," was under Skye’s charge. It had been studying the knowledge contained on a page of the Darkhold, but so far…

There had been no progress.

Although Skye’s hacking skills ranked among the best in the world, they still fell within the limits of current technological frameworks. To completely crack the "Framework," she would need at least three to five years.

Staring at the computer and reading the relevant knowledge Skye had uploaded, Tony quickly became absorbed.

For scientists, nothing was more alluring than cutting-edge science and technology.

He was confident that he was one of the world’s top scientists. Though computer science was not his primary field, the existence of J.A.R.V.I.S. proved at least one thing.

There were no more than ten people in the world who could match him in computer technology, and probably not even one who surpassed him.

Yet now, faced with this not particularly massive body of knowledge, Tony realized just how far behind he still was.

Every character on the screen represented knowledge fifty years ahead of the world. When those characters came together, they formed the most cutting-edge technology in the world, the most beautiful sight in a scientist’s eyes.

"So that’s how it is."

Tony sighed as he read. "I’d wager the people in the world who can understand this can be counted on one hand."

"There’s one right beside you." Old Wang pointed at Skye.

"…I can only understand a tiny bit." Skye remained very modest. She knew exactly where she stood.

"All right, I admit there’s also a tiny bit I don’t understand."

Tony felt that he should be modest too and not be so arrogant. "I just need a little more time."

"Then I’ll leave it to you two."

Old Wang looked at Tony. "If you have the time, that is."

Of course Tony had time.

Though he was the chairman and CEO of Stark Industries, he had handed most of the work to Pepper ‘Little Chili’ Potts. His main occupations now were picking up women, eating hamburgers, researching Iron Man suits, and being a Super Hero to maintain world peace.

However, considering that the "Framework" was extremely complex, even more complex than Brain Mapping and Memory Upload, and that he still did not understand more than half of it, Tony could only return to his mansion and study it slowly.

"Once the research is complete, I’ll start a social networking company."

Business was business, even between brothers. Old Wang felt it was better to make things clear first. "Virtual technology, Brain Mapping, and Memory Upload are all interconnected, and you’ll be involved in all of them. I’ll count that as a technical investment and give you 10% of the shares. How about it?"

These technologies were not solely Tony’s achievement. Skye, Fitz, and the other laboratory staff all deserved credit too.

Old Wang’s plan was to give Tony 10%, Skye 10%, Fitz 10%, and the remaining researchers 10%.

He had provided the Darkhold, and the entire company would be his, so he would hold 60%. Absolute control. That was good.

"Twenty percent."

Tony was not only a scientific genius but also a business genius. At a glance, he saw the potential profits of this technology. It might even surpass the Arc Reactor, so this was not the time to give ground.

He stared into Old Wang’s eyes, unusually serious. "At minimum!"

Old Wang smiled. "Nineteen percent, on the condition that you invest two billion and cover all modification costs for the Quinjets. After all, you’ll also be obtaining Quinjet technology, won’t you?"

"…Fine."

The allure of virtual technology far surpassed women and hamburgers. Tony memorized every part of the "Framework" after reading it once, put on his suit, and left without wasting a moment.

He could not wait to crack the "Framework." This would surely be more fulfilling than conquering women.

For a scientist, at least.

Sorry for the late update. There will be two updates today.

Thanks to "Ben Gong Li Xiaoan" for the 1,000 reward, and thanks to "Book Friend 20190129002046384" and "woofer" for the 100 rewards.