Tony's Preaching

"Tony, what on earth is going on?"

"Did you develop genetics?"

Pepper rubbed her eyes, took a few disbelieving steps forward, and looked closely at Tony's current appearance. Her heart was filled with astonishment, but her words carried a hint of excitement.

Because the genetics Tony had developed were highly likely related to lifespan.

As long as there weren't too many side effects, this would become a treasure that countless women would eagerly pursue.

"Shut up!"

Seeing Pepper's slightly excited expression, Tony directly snapped.

"..."

Pepper trembled all over at his words, startled.

This was the first time Tony had seemed angry enough to tell her to shut up.

"Pepper, you must have a lot you want to ask me."

"I'll tell you everything, but from now on, I'll tolerate your habit of talking to yourself in front of me."

"However, when we're out and encounter more people, you need to restrain yourself."

Tony walked towards Pepper with his hands behind his back, his expression serious and solemn.

Pepper's habit of talking to herself was fine in front of him, but if she acted that way in front of Harvey Anberaka, it might leave a bad impression.

"Is this a command?"

Seeing Tony say this, Pepper wanted to retort as usual, but upon seeing Tony exuding confidence and authority, she could only ask in a low voice.

"This isn't a command, it's a reminder."

"Because what I'm about to tell you will open up a new world for you."

"In the future, if you continue to stay by my side, you will inevitably attend some special occasions with me and meet some rather special people or things."

"Those people and things will be more special than anything you've ever seen or heard before."

"Sometimes, your own actions outside could bring about disasters that even I cannot resist."

"So, you must remember this."

Tony said as he walked step by step towards Pepper.

"Is this a proposal?"

Hearing about accompanying him in the future, Pepper's face showed an incredulous expression.

She knew very well that her relationship with Tony was more than friends but less than lovers.

However, Tony was a super-rich playboy. Although he was nearing forty, he didn't need to rush.

So, she had been waiting for Tony to finally settle down. She never expected him to say something like this so suddenly.

"You can think of it that way."

Upon hearing this, Tony did not deny it.

Pepper had expected Tony to make an excuse or deny it as he usually did, but she never thought he would be so direct this time.

"Okay, continue. I'm listening."

This made Pepper's heart flutter with joy as she said this.

"You asked me before why I suddenly became younger, and I didn't answer you then."

"It's because at that time, I hadn't fully decided whether to accept it."

"But now I can tell you the secret of why I became like this, including the world that ordinary people cannot access."

Tony sat down on a chair and began to speak.

Pepper found what Tony said a bit strange, but she just nodded, indicating she was listening.

"The reason I became younger is because someone allowed me to access a new world."

"It granted me a long lifespan and ever-increasing strength."

"I also understood the essence of life, the other side of the world, the vastness of the universe, and the truth of gods."

"And the one who led me into that new world was none other than Harvey Anberaka."

Seeing Pepper listening so attentively, Tony continued.

"Tony, did you get brainwashed?"

Hearing these words, which were usually not mentioned, Pepper paused for a moment before speaking.

Tony wasn't surprised by Pepper's reaction. Knowing that facts speak louder than words, he didn't argue.

Instead, he directly lifted his foot and stomped on the ground.

With a "bang!", the floor was directly shattered by Tony's stomp.

"How did you do that?"

Pepper's beautiful eyes widened as she saw the power of Tony's kick.

Tony wasn't exactly frail before; he often worked on inventions, so his strength was greater than that of ordinary people.

But Pepper knew Tony's physique was just average. He was stronger than most, but not by much.

Yet now, Tony had stomped and shattered the floor. This was clearly not a strength Tony could possess.

"This is power from the Void. Don't worry, I'll explain it to you bit by bit."

Tony casually crossed his legs, shaking off the pain in his foot, and said.

He had estimated that cracking the floor wouldn't be difficult, but he hadn't expected to use too much force and shatter it completely, which also made his foot hurt.

However, Tony soon felt the pain in the sole of his foot rapidly disappearing.

This discovery surprised Tony himself, but now was clearly not the time for surprise.

The important thing was how to persuade Pepper to believe in the Void and join it with him.

"Sir's physical condition has strengthened by at least several times compared to before, far exceeding ordinary humans."

Jarvis also spoke up, following Tony's prior instructions.

"..."

Pepper heard Jarvis's words and looked at Tony, who had returned to his youthful, handsome self.

She didn't understand what the Void was, but she knew what she needed to do now.

So, Pepper obediently found a chair and sat down.

"Before you peered into the Void, I believe you had questions about it."

"Because I was the same before. Without facing the Void directly, I couldn't understand what it meant."

"But now I understand. The Void is for evolution, adaptation, and survival."

"You might not understand these things now."

Tony Stark looked at Pepper's obedient demeanor and began to explain the situation.

As soon as he finished, Tony saw Pepper's confused expression. After a moment's thought, he switched to a more easily understandable explanation.

"To put it simply, it can grant you a superpower. Most importantly, it can give you a lifespan of at least several hundred or thousands of years, or even longer."

"As you can see, I have already joined the Void, so I gained power and became younger."

"Pepper, you're a woman. I know you might not desire power as much."

"But I ask you, do you want to stay young forever?"

Tony posed the question to Pepper.

"I want to stay young forever. No woman doesn't."

"But I still want to ask clearly, what's the price?"

"If you want to gain superpowers or a longer lifespan, there must be a price, right?"

Pepper heard the easy-to-understand words, thought for a moment, calmed down, and asked.

"The price is a huge appetite. You need to eat massive amounts of food every day."

Tony replied with a serious expression.

"Like Mr. Harvey Anberaka?"

Hearing about the huge appetite, Pepper immediately thought of Harvey Anberaka.

"Yes. But this can be considered a price, or it can be said to be something required for evolution."

"To evolve, you need to eat. The more you eat, the more you evolve, the more power you gain, and the longer your lifespan."

"The real price is a test of the mind, needing to resist the temptation of desire."

"Because with extraordinary power, one's mindset will change."

"Just like me now. In the past, I wouldn't dare to tell you my true feelings because of trivial thoughts like fear of embarrassment."

"But now it's different. I have a lifespan of at least a thousand years or more."

"And I've asked Harvey Anberaka to secure an opportunity for you to join the Void with me."

"I want you to join the Void with me now, so we can spend countless years together in the future."

"I hope you won't let my efforts go to waste, Pepper."

Tony looked directly at Pepper with intense focus, his words filled with utmost sincerity.

He knew this was his only chance. If Pepper refused.

It was uncertain if Harvey Anberaka would ever grant another opportunity.

And if Pepper refused no matter what, then they were destined to become people from two different worlds.

So, he also took this opportunity to express his long-held feelings.

"I'm indeed not that drawn to power, but for women, staying young forever is a natural pursuit."

"I also thank you for being willing to fight for this opportunity for me."

"But I have a question for you."

Pepper felt Tony's intense gaze. After a few seconds of trying to meet his eyes, she finally shyly averted her gaze and asked softly.

"Ask away."

Tony's heart sank slightly upon hearing Pepper's words, but he suppressed his surging emotions and asked.

"It's just that, if I also ate as much as Mr. Harvey Anberaka every day, would I get fat?"

Pepper voiced her question upon hearing this.

"...That's it?"

Tony had expected Pepper to have other concerns, so he had been racking his brain trying to figure out how to address them. He hadn't anticipated that Pepper's worry would be about gaining weight.

"What do you mean, 'that's it'? Having an appetite like Mr. Harvey Anberaka."

"It's easy to think about getting fat, okay?"

Pepper felt Tony's speechless look and earnestly defended herself.

"I can't give you an accurate answer to that question, but based on Mr. Harvey Anberaka's situation."

"These kinds of issues can be resolved. At least, his physique is something I envy."

"There are many things I haven't told you yet, but for now, please tell me your answer."

"Are you willing to join the Void with me?"

"To have a much longer lifespan and explore the other side of the world together."

Tony Stark smiled and extended a sincere invitation when he saw that Pepper wasn't giving him a strange look, but was earnestly defending herself.

"I'm willing, but how do I do it?"

Pepper asked softly, seeing Tony exude even more confidence and handsomeness.

"I'll go ask..."

Tony was overjoyed and wanted to say he'd take Pepper to meet Harvey Anberaka.

However, before Tony could finish speaking, he saw Pepper's eyes close tightly, her body lying flat and suspended in the air. Because she was wearing a skirt, some lace trim was even visible.

But none of that was important. What was important was that Tony noticed Pepper's body beginning to be covered in purple energy.

"The Void is truly mysterious and great,"

Tony said with some emotion upon seeing this.

The person he cared about most was allowed to join the Void with him and explore the other side of the world together. This tolerance and gift could only be described as great.

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