I'm Proud of You, Tony

As Kino walked through the experimental area, he also noticed Future Tony.

"I provide them with the funding, housing, protection, and benefits they need, and all they have to do is complete their own projects."

As long as a project is useful, reasonable, and feasible, the Demon Group will provide ample funding, materials, and equipment.

Within the Demon Group, there's no stealing of others' research findings, no meddling, and everyone can fully utilize their talents.

In return, their research findings will be harvested by the Demon Group, and they will gain corresponding honor, power, wealth, and even their lives.

Kino explained.

Ant-Man was a little envious; he even considered staying to work there.

"..."

"Are you planning to build an Utopia, Kino?" Future Tony asked after a moment of silence.

"No, it's just a transaction, a mutually beneficial arrangement. I give them what they need, and they give me what I want."

What are Life Extension Potion?

"A life-extending drug that can extend lifespan by ten years can be purchased with a loan by any researcher at level two or above. There is no interest involved, but it can only be used by their own family members. It's a company benefit."

Ant-Man was even more envious. Just imagine how expensive a potion that could grant ten years of life would be, yet here you could actually buy it with a loan.

"..."

"Can you sell me a few?"

Future Tony was also somewhat intrigued and asked after a moment of silence.

"Of course, but aren't you going to stop pretending, the other Tony Stark?"

Kino looked at him with a smile.

"There's no need for that. You figured it out from the beginning, didn't you?"

In the Future Tony's helmet opens, revealing a weathered face.

His eyes no longer held the vigor of before, but instead showed confusion, exhaustion, and fear.

"Yes, didn't you look up my information online?" Kino, somewhat puzzled.

"No, time was too tight; we only had time to see some major events."

"My ears can hear the sounds of the whole world. Although I don't like this ability, there's no denying that it's very useful."

"..."

"This one's fake too, right?"

In the Future Tony held up the Cosmic Cube in his hand.

"That's right, just an empty shell."

Ant-Man also jumped off Future Tony and grew bigger.

"Please, please help us. We just need to borrow it for a few minutes and will return it in a few minutes."

Ant-Man pleaded.

"Don't worry, I didn't say I wouldn't lend it to you. Come on, there's someone here you really want to see."

The next sentence was said to Tony.

In the Future Tony put away the Nanotech Armor, somewhat curious.

Someone you really want to see?

Pepper?

Or is it oneself in this world?

Kino arrived at a laboratory and knocked on the door.

"Please come in."

Kino opened the door and gently pushed Future Tony behind.

Ant-Man wanted to go in too, but Kino stopped him.

In the Future Tony glanced at the closed door behind him, then at the researcher with his back to him, Loki's Scepter still lying in front of him.

"Just say what's on your mind, I'm a bit busy right now..."

Howard is studying the materials of Loki's Scepter.

Although the Mind Stone is gone, the scepter itself is made of a superconducting material that can utilize the Mind Stone, making it worthy of research.

Howard never imagined he'd be broke one day. The stuff from the Devil's Shop was too tempting—all sorts of high-tech gadgets: Adamantium, Vibranium, Dionysus Factor, anti-aging potions...

If the Demon Group already has so many good things after only one year of operation, what about the future?

Contribution Points cannot be exchanged for knives unless you invent them yourself.

The new energy Arc Reactor was a gift for Tony; his previous inventions are still relevant today, but they can't be considered advanced either.

All they can do is sell themselves to the Demon Group to work and earn money.

Tony has a lot of Contribution Points, but Howard also has his own pride and doesn't use Tony's Contribution Points.

Tony thought the researcher's voice sounded familiar, but he didn't pay much attention and slowly walked over to him.

"This is Loki's Mind Stone Control Scepter, capable of firing powerful beams comparable to TNT. Most importantly... where's the ball on it?!"

In the Future Tony stared at the scepter without the Mind Stone, and everything went black.

"What ball?"

Howard looked up at the side.

"Tony, you're back."

!!!

Future Tony looked at Howard's face, his body went limp as he leaned against the lab table.

Dad?!

The father in this world is still alive, but his age doesn't match. Even if he hasn't died of old age, he should be an old man by now.

My mind is in chaos, with all sorts of thoughts popping up. Is this a hallucination, or do we just look alike? Or is this world fake, and I'm already dead in outer space?

My ears were ringing, my eyes were bloodshot, my heart was pounding, and my vision was starting to blur.

Huff, huff!

In the Future Tony was panting heavily, barely managing to stay upright by leaning tightly against the lab table.

Just as his consciousness was about to fade into darkness, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his arm.

Immediately afterwards, a large hand gently patted his back, and he heard a muffled sound.

"Take a deep breath, one, two, yes, one, two, think of something happy."

Following the guidance, Future Tony calmed down quietly, and his vision gradually became clearer.

"What did you call me?"

"Healing Potion."

"Anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, what did you experience in another world, Tony?"

Looking at Howard, whose eyes were full of worry, Future Tony took a step back uncomfortably, his eyes darting away.

"It's nothing, just a small problem, I'll handle it quickly."

Howard looked at the Future Tony seemed even older and more weary than Tony in this world, and felt a pang of sadness.

He also knew about Parallel Universe; there were other Parallel Universe within the Demon Group.

Howard was eager to know what Tony had gone through to become like this.

Seeing that he didn't want to talk about it, I didn't press him.

"Is that so? What's that on your chest?"

Howard changed the subject, reaching out to gently tap the device on Future Tony's chest.

"The Mark 85 nanometer Arc Reactor, powered by the new energy source you designed, can rapidly spread and cover the entire body to form armor once activated, greatly simplifying the donning process and making transformation more free and flexible..."

In the Future Tony talked about this at length, even taking off the Arc Reactor and handing it over, like a child showing off a toy.

Howard listened quietly, occasionally asking questions about how Future Tony.

Howard patted the Future Tony on the shoulder.

"You're even better than I imagined. In this respect, you've surpassed me, Tony. I'm so proud of you."

"..."

Future Tony.

His father never praised him.

"It's nothing, just some very simple little problems. I can solve them by thinking about them a few times. You could do it too."

In this respect, the two Tony are exactly the same.

Howard smiled slightly after hearing this and returned the Arc Reactor to his hands. (p1)

Future Tony naturally took it and pressed it back against his chest.

Knock knock knock.

"Please come in."

The door opened, and there was Maria.

"Mr. Kino said he needs my help here, is something wrong, Howard?"

Future Tony looked at the young beauty with some confusion.

Looks familiar.

Unlike Howard, Maria was not stubborn and readily accepted the gift from her son.

After all, almost no woman can resist the allure of looking younger.

(p1, Tony, who never accepts anything from others, accepted flowers from Howard in Avengers: Endgame.)

(Let me explain why Tony is so prone to breakdowns, so you won't accuse me of disrespecting the original work.)

First: The worlds are different. They came here thinking it was the past, but it turned out to be Parallel World.

Second: They didn't get a single gem; their plan to save the world has failed.

Third: When returning to the past in the original story, one should be mentally prepared, knowing that their father is still alive and at the same place where their father works, and that they might encounter him.

But this world doesn't have that.