Pleasant Cooperation

Chapter 31: A Pleasant Cooperation

"What kind of machine is this? The craftsmanship looks excellent."

As the most outstanding manufacturing expert among scientists, Howard could tell this item was no simple thing just by looking at the iPhone's exquisite metal casing.

He picked up the phone, weighing it in his hand, and began to fiddle with it from side to side.

"I call it a 'phone'," Kyle said with a faint smile, starting his sales pitch. "Don't let its small size fool you; it's actually a device with hundreds of functions. It has fingerprint unlocking, face unlocking, simple voice control, photo and video recording, storage and decompression, information transmission, time alarm, calculation, recording, games, music, calling services, search engines, and more."

"This tiny machine actually has such advanced practical functions?" Howard was greatly surprised and quickly began to examine it carefully.

Kyle chuckled inwardly, seeing the smartest and most outstanding manufacturing genius on Earth marveling at a phone, almost unable to contain his laughter.

This phone was just a green-quality Item Card, one of the common items he'd drawn from the Sacrifice Draw before.

Kyle had originally thought that since it was the era of World War II, with no widespread telephone signal towers or internet yet established, a phone would be useless.

It wasn't until he met Howard on the plane last time that an idea suddenly struck Kyle.

The phone was indeed useless to him now, but for the brilliant scientific manufacturer Howard, it was something entirely different.

No matter how you looked at it, this phone was commonplace in the 21st century, but in 1943, it was an advanced technological product that had leaped forward by more than half a century!

Howard operated the phone, watching the screen light up, his eyes growing brighter as his fingers rapidly executed various commands.

This greatly surprised Kyle. He hadn't even explained the basic operations of the phone to Howard, but Howard, with his keen intuition for technological products, quickly mastered the phone's operation on his first try.

As expected of the father of the man who would later create Artificial Intelligence and the Iron Man suit, he possessed the passive card for Tech Adaptation.

Kyle let Howard try out the phone. Most of the software on the phone had already been deleted, and the time records had been altered. However, even if Howard discovered any secrets from it, he didn't care.

This trial run lasted a full ten minutes.

Kyle refilled his fourth glass of wine before Howard finally turned off the phone screen.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then looked at Kyle seriously and said, "A color resolution screen, precise touch controls, and various practical soft functions that are currently unattainable. This machine, called a phone, originates from a planet with a technological level far beyond ours. Or perhaps, from the future."

"Regarding its origin, I'm afraid I cannot reveal too much. But I can guarantee a few things."

Facing Howard's doubts, Kyle smiled and held up three fingers, saying:

"One, its origin is absolutely safe.

Two, there isn't a second phone like this in the world right now.

Three, it will only bring you benefits, no drawbacks. As long as you can fully grasp the advanced technology and techniques of this machine, Stark Industries will have enough foundational capital to advance into the top-tier technology manufacturing industry after World War II."

"I understand," Howard fell into thought again.

Kyle wasn't in a hurry. He watched the gentlemen and ladies dancing freely before him and continued to savor the uniquely flavored vintage wine in his glass.

"Sir, would you do me the honor of a dance?"

During this time, many young women and ladies approached Kyle to strike up a conversation. After all, he looked young and handsome, and his perfectly fit physique paired with a suit and shirt made him incredibly charming.

"I'm sorry, my friend and I have something to attend to."

Kyle politely and gentlemanly declined, causing many young women to leave disappointed. However, some still bravely left their contact information.

After a long while, Howard tentatively asked, "To invest in this phone, how much of Stark Industries' shares do you want?"

With that one sentence, it meant they could continue the negotiation.

Kyle also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, clearly not as calm as he appeared.

Although he was very confident about the phone, this was, after all, the Marvel world. Currently, there were New Energy Weapons, Anti-gravity Devices, Laser Tanks, and self-piloted fighter jets, not to mention countless other pieces of Black Technology. He wasn't sure if he could impress Howard.

"I want forty percent," Kyle stated.

"Forty?" Howard, who was about to finish his first glass of wine, choked on it, coughing repeatedly and saying, "You, you're asking for the moon!"

"Since it's a collaboration, I'm not just investing this one phone," Kyle said with a calm expression, tossing out his second hidden card. "The phone I brought today is just a bargaining chip for our initial discussion. I have other things that are no worse than this."

"Can you briefly explain the function of that item?" Howard's interest was piqued again. The surprises Kyle had given him tonight were already more than enough.

"I can only say that thing is an introduction to the field of Artificial Intelligence." As soon as Kyle finished speaking, Howard trembled all over, his hand unsteady as he placed the glass down on the bar counter, spilling wine all over the table.

In an era where even computers were still under development, and systems were only in their infancy, what did Artificial Intelligence represent?

It represented the future!

"If what you're saying is true, then you're truly investing in the future," Howard trembled with excitement.

Kyle smiled and retorted, "Given this premise, do you still think forty percent of Stark Industries' shares is too much?"

"It's not too much. Absolutely not. Even if you wanted fifty percent, I'd give it to you!" Howard's previous hesitation vanished. He had no reason to refuse.

Money, fame, power, and beautiful women were all things Howard liked, but when compared to invention, they were completely insignificant!

"I only need forty. You'll still be the founder and the primary shareholder," Kyle said with a smile. Stark Industries would only develop into a top-tier industry according to the timeline if it remained completely under Howard's control.

His investment was a sure-fire profit, akin to raising a hen that would continuously lay golden eggs, freeing him from financial worries in the future.

"Then it's settled. You'll invest the phone and another item in exchange for forty percent of my Stark Industries' shares," Howard laughed heartily, happily ordering another drink from the bartender at the front desk and raising his glass high. "To our cooperation."

"To our cooperation," Kyle responded, raising his glass as well.

The two clinked their glasses together again, then tilted their heads back and drank them dry.

No one knew that the largest share transaction in the history of Stark Industries, a future top enterprise, had been agreed upon at the bar counter of this underground ballroom.