Scientific Truth

Inside the base fortress, through floor-to-ceiling windows of a special material, they could look down over the entire island below and the seascape beyond.

"The fortress’s overall security system is monitored in real time around the clock by Jarvis, the intelligent butler. The island is fitted with numerous Skynet cameras, working in conjunction with external satellites. Any outside intrusion will trigger a warning before it even reaches the island."

"Of course, with Wakanda’s full-disguise projection equipment, this island can be completely camouflaged as a deserted island with an erupting volcano, a massive iceberg drifting across the ocean, a formed black tornado, and so on. Combined with the Dragon Turtle itself, which can move through the sea, this island has effectively been erased from the world since the day construction was completed."

Howard spoke confidently as he strode into the fortress, leading Kyle and Lucy ahead.

Inside the fortress, smooth, spotless floors stretched out beneath them. The daytime lights overhead switched on one after another, while the projected screens flickered with hazy light and shadow throughout the hall.

As Kyle walked down the spacious, metallic corridor, he felt as if he were strolling through a spaceship from a movie. The interior was brimming with advanced technological style, and from that alone, it was obvious—this had undoubtedly been designed by Howard, that technology fanatic, himself.

"The first floor of the fortress has fifty independent rooms. Each is furnished to the highest hotel standards and can be provided to ordinary family members. They can only gain access after registering their personal information with Jarvis. The second floor has five rooms for core members, three guest rooms, a control room housing the supercomputer, and a round-table conference room for family meetings."

"The top floor contains the sole master suite. At present, only you have authorization to enter it." Howard paused as he spoke and looked at Lucy beside Kyle.

"Then raise Lucy’s authorization level," Kyle said calmly. Lucy’s face flushed red, and she was completely unable to say a word.

"Every floor of the fortress, including the rooms, requires a sufficient authorization level to enter. The three floors above are the everyday living areas, nothing particularly special. I’ll take you down below."

Howard smiled mysteriously and led the two of them to the elevator on the first floor.

The elevator was located at the exact center of the fortress. It was cylindrical, seemingly made entirely of glass, so transparent that they could see outside, with only faint metal frames and steel cables visible.

"Jarvis, slow the elevator down so we can get a good look at the fortress’s underground structure."

Howard issued the command. The semi-Artificial Intelligence butler system verified the user’s authorization while analyzing the content of his instruction through its programmed system.

‘Understood, sir.’

The elevator doors closed. After a slight tremor, it started up and slowly carried the three people inside downward.

"What is this…" Kyle’s eyes widened.

Before them was a hollow expanse of darkness. Beneath the fortress’s three aboveground floors, it was actually completely empty!

No, rather, the mountain body of the island on which the fortress stood had been hollowed out, with underground levels built far more spacious than the floors above.

The elevator moved slowly downward through the center of the dark void. Then all the lights on the first basement level abruptly lit up, forming a brilliant ring of light around the elevator.

"The first underground level is the training area. It can accommodate over a hundred people training at once, with fitness rooms, firearms rooms, combat rooms…"

Before Howard could finish, Kyle eagerly asked, "Is there a Gravity Room?"

A Gravity Room was the ideal place for superhuman physical training!

"Of course the Gravity Room you wanted wasn’t left out." Howard shrugged, proudly stroking his mustache. "After my modifications, that Gravity Room can accommodate up to ten people at once and reach a maximum of twelve times gravity!"

"Twelve times?" Kyle was immensely surprised. Even he had yet to adapt to that level of gravity. Forget the disciples who had only recently gained Super Agent abilities—even Logan, Natasha, and the others would have to crawl once they entered.

Howard nodded. "It could actually be raised to fifteen times, but twelve is already more than enough. For ordinary people, three times is already the limit they can adapt to through training."

"Fifteen times… That would kill people!" Lucy patted her chest, her heart still racing.

Kyle nodded. Fifteen times gravity was already a forbidden zone of life for ordinary people.

The terrifying gravitational pressure would crush a person to the ground. Even if they did not die immediately, blood circulation throughout their body would become severely obstructed. While standing, even their brain would receive insufficient blood, leading to oxygen deprivation.

The elevator continued descending, reaching and passing through the second underground level.

"This is the scientific strategic research area, right?" Kyle said with a smile. Through the transparent elevator, he could already vaguely see plenty of scientific research equipment in the several illuminated rooms.

"That’s right. The second basement level houses research rooms for cutting-edge scientific fields. For now, it’s my personal workspace. After our cooperation with Wakanda, New Element Energy, Artificial Intelligence, and other projects will all be developed and perfected here."

With those words, Howard had effectively tied his future to the family territory on this island.

He knew that although Dragon Turtle Island lay in the distant outer seas, once fixed portals were established, traveling to and from Stark Industries and Wakanda would become extremely convenient.

Safe, concealed, fully equipped, and convenient for travel—this was simply the research facility Howard had always dreamed of.

"Here, I’ll be able to explore Scientific Truth in peace." Howard rubbed his hands together, suppressing the excitement in his heart. He could hardly wait to go in immediately and continue the unfinished accelerated experiment for the new element.

Kyle was his guide, constantly opening one door after another that led to the truths of the scientific world.

Wakanda’s abundant advanced scientific resources, the future technological products and theories Kyle provided, the stable and comfortable research site on Dragon Turtle Island, and the Infinite Equation that prolonged his lifespan…

Howard suddenly realized that he had officially embarked on an unknown scientific path that surpassed countless scientists who had come before him.

With such an excellent environment and such favorable conditions, even a pig, given enough time, could glimpse the gateway to Scientific Truth.

Not to mention a genius engineer like Howard, who believed his talent was no worse than that of any top scientist in history.

"Kyle, if you head into the universe and the worst happens—you never return—I will do everything I can to explore Scientific Truth and strive to use the power of science and technology to save you."

Howard looked at Kyle solemnly, his tone serious and resolute.

Having witnessed mystical techniques that crossed space, Howard had not abandoned science. Instead, he had become even more obsessed and fervent about it.

He did not believe that technological power taken to the end of the universe could not cross space, or even reverse time and space.

"Good, buddy. Then it’s settled." Kyle wrapped one arm around Lucy, whose face was filled with sorrow, patted Howard on the shoulder, and said sincerely, "The Karl family is in your hands."

The path he had paved for the Karl family was basically complete—

It was time to cast aside every concern and set foot on the path he was meant to walk.