Treating Tony Stark

"Putting aside its functionality, is its appearance really that different from a lightbulb?"

Seeing Tony Stark about to jump out of frustration, Harvey said with a smile.

"Well said, 'putting aside functionality'..."

Tony Stark was amused to hear Harvey's attitude of disregarding facts. He had originally intended to explain the capabilities of the Arc Reactor to Harvey.

However, he quickly realized that Harvey Anberaka was just deliberately saying things like that to stop him from being so negative.

"Although what you said isn't very pleasant to hear, thank you anyway."

So, Tony Stark, having realized this, offered his thanks.

"And you're right, this Arc Reactor does put a strain on my body."

"I've tried replacing some elements, but I haven't found any suitable replacements yet."

Immediately after, Tony Stark pulled open his shirt, exposing the Arc Reactor on his chest, and said with a hint of helplessness on his face.

Although the palladium element hadn't caused any problems for his body yet, nor did it affect him in any way.

He knew himself, however, that if he continued to use the current Arc Reactor, palladium poisoning would kill him before long.

"Besides finding a replacement element, there's another way to restore your body to normal and extend your lifespan."

Harvey's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he spoke.

"If you're going to suggest removing the shrapnel from my heart and stopping the use of the Iron Man armor, then don't bother."

"Knowing there are external threats, without the Iron Man armor, I'd be no different from waiting to die."

Tony Stark waved his hand and said directly.

If Rhodey had agreed to be the pilot of the Iron Man armor back then, and if he hadn't experienced the power and feeling of piloting it, then even without anyone else telling him, he would have found a reliable doctor to perform surgery to remove the shrapnel.

But he had already experienced the Iron Man armor, and he also knew that Earth would face many dangers in the future.

How could he be willing to be just an ordinary person, even if that ordinary person was very wealthy?

But Tony Stark knew that when true crises arrived, money wasn't omnipotent.

"I certainly wouldn't suggest surgery and quitting the Iron Man armor, something so trivial."

"But since you don't want to hear it, I'll pretend I didn't say anything."

Harvey, hearing this, also decided not to say any more.

"It's not surgery... then what is the method?"

Tony Stark looked at Harvey Anberaka, full of confusion.

"Let's talk about your masterpiece, the Iron Man armor."

"Your original intention in asking me to come over was probably to show me your technological achievements, right?"

Harvey, ignoring Tony Stark's question, walked with great interest towards a suit of armor.

"..."

Tony Stark looked at Harvey Anberaka, who had no intention of discussing that matter, and felt a pang of regret.

Harvey Anberaka was an incredibly mysterious person, seeming to know countless things. If he said there was a way, it must be extraordinary.

Yet, he had just arrogantly missed the opportunity to find out.

"Let's not talk about the armor for now, how about we continue our previous conversation?"

Tony Stark struggled internally, wanting to steer the conversation back to how to resolve the palladium poisoning, his tone carrying a hint of negotiation and plea.

"Fine, I'll help you out this time. Hold out your hand."

Harvey turned and glanced at Tony Stark, feigning a moment of contemplation before speaking.

"Does this have anything to do with solving my physical problem?"

Tony Stark extended his hand, asking as he did.

"According to my estimation, you'll be unconscious for a minute or two. It'll be quick."

Harvey grasped Tony Stark's hand with his left, giving him a heads-up.

Before Tony Stark could even react or say anything about being unconscious for a minute or two, his vision went black, and he instantly lost consciousness.

Then, Harvey's left hand began transmitting some life energy to maintain Tony Stark's vital signs.

At the same time, Harvey's index finger made a slight motion, cutting open the skin on Tony Stark's chest.

Tony Stark's heart was exposed. Most people would feel uncomfortable seeing a living heart and other internal organs.

However, Harvey's eyes showed no change upon seeing this bloody scene. Instead, he focused his mind.

To him, the blood vessels within Tony Stark, enveloping everything else, were all perfectly clear.

The Void Power condensed in Harvey's right hand emitted a purple glow, transforming into countless threads as thin as silk. These threads penetrated Tony Stark's body, extracting the remaining shrapnel.

Then, with the infusion of life energy provided by Harvey, some of the minor injuries within Tony Stark's body, as well as the wounds on the surface that had been cut open, began to heal at a visible rate.

Harvey laid Tony Stark on the ground, placing the shrapnel removed from his body directly onto a nearby table.

He tore open Tony's chest, removed the shrapnel, and healed him – all within ten seconds.

With the infusion of life energy, it took less than two minutes for Tony Stark to regain consciousness.

Tony Stark felt like his vision had gone black for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the ceiling.

Tony Stark immediately got up. Strangely, he found himself standing with surprising ease.

His eyesight also seemed to have improved. Not only that, but the persistent dull ache in his chest, which had been causing him headaches, was now completely gone, leaving his mind exceptionally clear and relaxed.

Tony Stark felt as though his body had been completely healed.

Tony Stark wasn't exactly young anymore; he was thirty-eight. He didn't have any major health issues.

However, as one aged, various senses and bodily functions naturally declined. Minor ailments, like a persistent ache in a certain part of the body, were common.

But now, that subtle, lingering ache had completely vanished.

"What's the principle behind this?"

Tony Stark looked at Harvey Anberaka, asking in disbelief.

"You don't need to worry about the principle."

"I've removed the shrapnel from your body, and I've also completely cleared the palladium poisoning."

"This should give you more time to find a replacement element."

Harvey had no intention of explaining, simply stating what he had done.

He possessed the ability to absorb life energy from living beings to heal himself.

Naturally, he could also separate that life energy to heal others.

There were several steps involved in trying to win Tony Stark over to believe in the Void.

However, the initial and most crucial step was to make Tony Stark feel his body healed, rejuvenated, and even enhanced.

No one could resist the prospect of extended lifespan, rejuvenation, and increased strength.

Once Tony Stark experienced this, even if he found his father's notes and created a new element, freeing himself from palladium poisoning, he would never forget this feeling.

Therefore, when the time was right, Tony Stark would proactively seek him out for opportunities to enhance his physical body, without Harvey needing to persuade him.

At that point, a formal explanation from Harvey would easily ignite Tony Stark's desire, naturally leading him to believe in the Void and join it.

Upon hearing that the palladium element was completely gone, Tony Stark rushed to the nearby table, opened a case, and retrieved his palladium testing device.

He ran a test and discovered that the trace amounts of palladium in his body had indeed completely vanished.

Tony Stark's eyes widened in disbelief.

Immediately after, Tony Stark caught a whiff of something metallic and bloody.

Following the scent, Tony Stark saw small, slightly darkened pieces of shrapnel on the table about ten meters away.

Tony Stark closed his eyes and sensed his chest. He found that there was no longer any abnormal sensation.

"Mirror."

Tony Stark walked over to a screen and called out.

Jarvis immediately transformed the display into a mirror, reflecting Tony Stark's current appearance.

Tony Stark pulled open his shirt and looked at his chest.

There were still a few spots of blood on his chest, but he couldn't see any wound.

"Jarvis, how long was I unconscious?"

Tony Stark asked after seeing this.

"Sir, you were unconscious for a total of 72 seconds."

Jarvis, who had been observing, answered directly.

"Harvey Anberaka, is this your superpower?"

Tony Stark looked at Harvey Anberaka, ten meters away, and asked incredulously.

"That's just a minor technique, but based on your understanding, you can think of it as a superpower."

Harvey nodded calmly upon hearing this and replied.

"In the future, if we're in a fight and someone gets injured, if you can heal them, wouldn't that make us invincible?"

Hearing this, Tony Stark's heart surged with excitement. He strode rapidly towards Harvey, saying with immense anticipation.

"Tony Stark, I know you're excited right now."

"But don't forget what I told you earlier."

Harvey knew Tony Stark would be excited, but he hadn't expected him to be this enthusiastic. He reminded him.

Hearing this reminder, Tony Stark's previously excited mind instantly calmed down considerably.

"Harvey Anberaka, I don't even know how to repay you."

Tony Stark clasped Harvey's hand, his expression incredibly serious.

He had originally just wanted to gather information from Harvey Anberaka and show off his achievements.

But tonight's experience had taught him so much, and Harvey Anberaka had even healed his body.

"I only bought Stark Industries Shares not long ago."

"I'm counting on you to drive up Stark Industries Shares."

"If you, the chairman, die and the stock plummets, I'll be at a huge loss."

"So I just helped you out casually, it's nothing to be grateful for."

Harvey said with a hint of jest.

Of course, he couldn't directly ask Tony Stark how to repay him. Compared to directly demanding something, favors and gratitude are often harder to repay.

"But..."

Tony Stark wanted to say something upon hearing this.

"Alright, no need to talk about this anymore. Just remember not to reveal my name."

"And I came because you said you had food here."

"It's been so long, where's my dinner?"

Harvey interrupted Tony Stark's attempt to speak and directly changed the subject.

"Jarvis?"

Seeing that Harvey didn't want to continue the topic, Tony Stark followed suit.

"Dinner has been prepared and placed on the second floor."

"It's just that, sir, you were chatting so enthusiastically that I didn't want to disturb you."

Jarvis responded immediately.

"Then let's go up and eat."

Tony Stark looked at Harvey and said.

Harvey nodded and followed Tony Stark upstairs.