Tony: Was This Within Your Calculations Too?

When Egghead Fury Howard) found Tony with Howard's belongings.

The kid was comfortably wearing sunglasses, lying on a giant donut and eating it.

Life is just that unrestrained.

Egghead Fury turned his head and glared at Natasha with his only remaining eye, as if to say: This is what you meant by "dying"?

He seemed quite at ease.

"I don't know."

Natasha was stunned too. Just a few days ago, this kid was indulging himself, running around in his armor, blasting watermelons with his Repulsor Ray, and drinking his filtered excrement like water...

Nick Fury, his face dark, looked up and yelled at Tony, "Get down!"

What are you doing?

Nick Fredoni didn't give him a very friendly look.

This person is practically synonymous with trouble.

Tony was annoyed just seeing him.

"What are you doing?" Nick yelled. "Has no one told you that it's extremely rude to eat on someone else's shop sign?"

"Yeah?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, muttered something under his breath, and a minute later, he looked at Nick Fury again defiantly, saying, "It's my shop now."

Nick Fury:...

To be honest, it's just a small donut shop, and in such a remote location no less. It wouldn't cost much to buy it, but Tony's behavior really broke Nick Fury's nerves, who had to submit expense reports and request funding every year.

If only all this money could be used to build Safe House for myself!

However, the angrier Nick became, the more he wanted to bring Tony into his team.

For no other reason than to solve the funding problem.

The Security Council had been critical of his idea to reorganize a team of Superpowers individuals, but after Animo's rampage in Manhattan, they softened their stance. However, it remains to be seen how much funding Nick will receive.

Without money, you can't move an inch!

We can't expect him to pay for it himself, can we?

Not only Tony Stark, but also the newly emerging CEO of Primus, Ben Parker, was on his radar.

Putting everything else aside, if we could bring Ben into the team, we'd never run out of Self-Healing Serum!

Nick Fury's main selling point is getting things for free, like buying things for zero yuan; it's a racial trait he's known for.

Of course, the bill still needs to be settled!

How can you swindle money from the Grandpa if you don't keep accounts?

At worst, we can split the profits 50/50 with Primus.

He felt his plan was perfect.

With Stark lending a helping hand in their time of need, and given Stark's pride and arrogance, the Avengers' future funding will be plentiful.

As for Ben Parker...

What does a teenager, especially one who has money, want most?

Isn't he just like Tony, dreaming of becoming Super Hero who saves the world?

Easy to handle!

Then I'll take Tony's armor and tell Ben Parker that if he joins us, we'll provide him with free potions, and he'll immediately get the armor. Then I'll take the potions and tell Tony that if he gives me the technology for the armor, I can immediately remove that thing from your chest.

Enjoying both sides, perfect!

It can only be said that Nick Fury's ideas are beautiful, but reality may not be as he wishes.

Just like now.

Tony came down from the roof, took off his armor, whistled at Natasha, and then went into the store with Nick Fury.

He wanted to see what kind of good nonsense this black guy could come up with.

"Tony Stark, the Palladium poisoning isn't going to be pleasant, is it?" Nick, confident he had the upper hand, leisurely sipped his drink.

Tony, however, raised an eyebrow in surprise when he heard Nick Fury say those words.

It seems that Ben Parker was right after all; anyone with a modicum of ability probably knew he was nearing the end.

However, that was in the past.

"So what?"

"We can help you!" Nick said frankly.

But this made Tony a little unhappy.

What's the meaning?

One after another, they all jumped out saying they could help me. So you've all discovered New Element, but I'm the only one who hasn't?

Is his reputation as a genius undeserved?

Thinking of this, Tony looked at Nick Fury with displeasure and said, "What, you guys have discovered New Element too?"

"Also?"

Nick Fury astutely grasped this word.

He didn't believe anyone else in the world could discover New Element, and thought Tony himself had surpassed his father Howard Stark.

If that's the case, then he's miscalculated.

However, Tony quickly changed the subject and avoided discussing the matter further.

Although he admitted that he lost to Ben in the discovery of New Element, he didn't go so far as to publicize his defeat so much.

But Tony didn't want to talk about it, while Nick Fury couldn't avoid the topic.

All his goals and leverage today are pinned on the New Element. If Tony actually discovers it, wouldn't New Element be over?

So he pressed on, asking:

"You didn't actually discover New Element, did you?"

Tony didn't speak, but his eyes showed a hint of hostility. Nick became even more anxious, and in his panic, he resorted to the oppressive communication techniques he usually used with his subordinates—a technique commonly known as PUA—and immediately said:

Do you think you're the first person to discover New Element?

"Let me tell you, you think you're something special, a genius, but actually, someone already discovered the existence of this New Element!"

These two sentences are practically dancing in Tony's minefield!

He was already in a bad mood because of losing to Ben, but after all, he had been reborn, and he felt more relaxed than ever before.

But what about now?

Nick Fury's two sentences were like rubbing salt into his wounds.

"Enough!"

He slammed his hands heavily on the table, making Nick Fury realize that the person in front of him was not his sworn enemy, but his real benefactor.

I don't need you to remind me of my failures!

Upon hearing this, Nick Fury was stunned again.

What's the meaning?

Did this kid already know about Howard?

Nick Fury instinctively sensed something was off, so he rolled his one eye around in its socket and tentatively asked:

How much do you know about Howard?

"Who?"

Tony almost thought he had misheard.

"Howard Stark, your father," Nick said more clearly.

Why are you saying that to him?

Suddenly, the atmosphere between the two changed again. Tony's face was complicated, his expression showing some displeasure and confusion, but he was no longer so angry.

Nick Fury was even more confused.

The next second, the two spoke at the same time:

"So, the person you're talking about who discovered the New Element isn't Howard?"

"So you mean my dad also discovered New Element?"

At this, both of their expressions changed, and the words "Fuck you!" burst out of their mouths in unison.

For Nick Fury, the fact that an unknown force had made contact with Tony Stark before him and discovered New Element undoubtedly posed a potential threat.

Most importantly, his funding...

That's all!

For Tony Stark, this is undoubtedly another blow!

What he hated most in his life was being inferior to others, and what he hated even more was being inferior to his father.

Now, not only did Ben discover New Element, but that old guy, who's been dead for decades, has actually taught me a lesson.

I'm so angry!

Tony was so angry he refused to admit it.

His eyes widened, and he held out his hand to Nick Fury: "Where's the evidence?"

"What?"

"Give me the evidence that Howard discovered the New Element!" he said forcefully.

Nick Fury:...

He has absolutely no evidence!

Due to the limitations of the era and technology at the time, Howard never found the true form of the New Element; he only proposed an idea, waiting for future generations to discover it.

However, S.H.I.E.L.D.. withheld Howard's belongings, which is why Tony was completely unaware of the matter.

Now, he could only bite the bullet and say, "It wasn't really a discovery, but he did propose the idea of New Element..."

"Yeah?"

Tony's expression softened, and he said, "That's it? I thought he was something special."

"I hope you understand one thing: Howard was limited by his time," Nick said.

He wasn't just speaking well of Howard; he was emphasizing Howard's relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D..

Having lost the New Element as leverage, this was the only way he could deepen Stark's connection with S.H.I.E.L.D..

"Yeah?"

Tony said nonchalantly, "So, is he also subject to age restrictions?"

For him...

A loss is a loss. At worst, you can win it back next time. Making so many excuses won't help.

Howard may have been limited by his era, but is Ben Parker also limited by his age?

The fact that someone could invent Self-Healing Serum and discover New Element at the age of sixteen is enough to earn Tony's approval.

Of course, he absolutely refused to admit that Ben was smarter than him.

This is just a temporary win or loss.

Previously, he was the only one who lost, but now he's losing to two Stark.

Regardless, having someone to lose with made Tony feel more at ease, and he relaxed, leaning back in his seat.

"If there's nothing else, why don't you go back?"

He was about to kick them out.

But Nick Fury had one last question.

"I'm really curious to know who solved this problem and uncovered the true nature of this mysterious element?"

Nick Fury hadn't really expected any answers, but after hearing his question, Tony gave him a strange look.

He thought back to a few days ago.

After he finally decided to use the Corrodium, he contacted Ben.

At the time, Ben said that someone would definitely come to you in a few days and ask who provided you with the New Element.

"Don't try to hide it from him for me, just tell him directly."

Ben's voice still seemed to echo in Tony's ears.

Right now, only one thought flashed through Tony's mind: Ben Parker, was that also part of your calculations?

Since the person in question said there was no need to keep it a secret, Tony naturally didn't need to make a fuss.

"Ben Parker."

"Who?"

"Ben Parker, CEO of Primus, don't tell me your S.H.I.E.L.D.. didn't investigate him." Tony rolled his eyes.

He knew exactly what S.H.I.E.L.D.. was like.

At the time, in order to obtain information about himself, he even sent Natasha to his company.

It's a pity that Stark Industries' CEO at the time was already Pepper, so he never got to experience the Black Widow's charm.