Aeo thought about many things. He had also considered whether he should let events take their course: wait until Tony fell into utter despair and gained a deeper insight, then have S.H.I.E.L.D. step in and remind him that Old Stark—his father, Howard Stark—had known about the existence of a new element all along. This element was safe and effective, and could completely replace palladium and the other radioactive elements' roles in the periodic table! That way, the Iron Man we all knew would truly come into being!
But after running through the possibilities in his head, Aeo decided not to follow the so-called plot! After all, who the hell knew whether Old Howard had really discovered this element and left Tony a clue? This was the real world. What if Howard hadn't discovered the new element after all? Then Tony would be as good as dead.
Besides, Aeo's character and way of doing things meant that his cooperation with S.H.I.E.L.D. could only be temporary. They could never be that "in sync" forever. So, for the sake of the future, Aeo had decided not to give S.H.I.E.L.D. the chance to claim this enormous favor.
He refused to believe that, without this whole chain of events, Iron Man would still become as close to S.H.I.E.L.D. and mutually beneficial with them as he had in his past life!
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but Aeo showed none of them. He only smiled and said, "For a civilization on a cosmic scale, making something to replace palladium isn't difficult..."
Tony was overjoyed. "You're serious? Wait, you said... make?" It just went to show what an elite of Earth he was: once a way out was confirmed, Stark's remarkable intelligence came rushing back.
"A new element that isn't on the periodic table?"
"Tony, do you know how big the universe is?" The bumpkin from his previous life, now heir to a super-civilization, smiled. "You haven't even fully figured out the Solar System, let alone the entire Milky Way..."
Aeo stood up, his gray eyes gleaming with boundless brilliance in the sunlight. "Is an element you haven't discovered yet really that strange, Tony Stark?"
Iron Man: "..."
Aeo ignored him and started getting dressed. He also offered a piece of advice. "All right, Stark. If you don't want to get beaten up, I suggest you get ready..."
"Get ready for what?" Stark asked stupidly.
Aeo sighed and zipped up his clothes. "Bruce is back! Are you sure you want to keep standing there in a daze?"
He started putting on his shoes.
"Huh? Oh!" Only then did Stark react. His eyes instinctively turned toward the door.
Sure enough, the next moment, Bruce stormed in and kicked the door open. "Tony, I'm going to kill you!"
Sealing his faceplate, Iron Man declared, "Ready?"
Aeo smiled.
"Let's go!" Iron Man scooped up the boy and shot into the sky.
Aeo, meanwhile, spoke to the old man through the communicator by his ear. "Bruce, Tony and I have something to take care of. We'll be staying at his place for the next few days. Get in touch if anything comes up!"
Batman, who had rushed to the balcony, shouted, "Come back, you two bitches!"
Good grief, Tony really had managed to piss Batman off. Bruce Wayne, who always presented himself as a refined gentleman, had actually sworn for once. Tsk, tsk.
Under the sunlight, the two looked at each other and couldn't help bursting into laughter.
......
They flew all the way back to Stark's home in California. Don't ask why the boy didn't fly on his own. He was still keeping a low profile; the public didn't know he existed. Unlike other superheroes, he didn't have to rush around for a living or for his superhero work. There was no need for him to expose himself just to help Iron Man. So the boy simply lounged on Iron Man's back, enjoying the ride all the way to California, the jewel of the western Pacific coast.
With a thud, Iron Man landed hard at his home on the Malibu coast. "We're here. J.A.R.V.I.S., prepare the equipment for us. I'm going to create a new element."
"Hey, what do you want to drink?" Maybe it was because he knew his life was safe, but Stark had returned to his playboy ways.
"I have whiskey, champagne, vodka, rum, brandy, gin, sherry... Oh, and I can make cocktails too. How about it? Want to try one?"
"..."
"None of those work? Oh, I forgot, you probably aren't old enough to drink yet..." Tony Stark had a mouth as foul as Deadpool's or Spider-Man's.
"How about milk?"
"...Stark." Aeo finally spoke.
"What?"
"Sometimes I wonder..." Aeo gritted his teeth. "Why didn't I punch you to death that day? Then I wouldn't have to keep listening to you, you motor-mouthed bitch! Shut up. If you keep running your mouth, I won't help you make a new element!"
"Okay, okay!" Stark hurriedly raised both hands, even though he'd been about to say something else. He paused. "Your command is my guarantee!"
"..."
Aeo sighed. "Forget it. I'm done with you." He glanced at Iron Man and frowned. "Take off the armor and let me check how badly you've been poisoned."
"Do you really need to check?" Perhaps the boy's kind manner had made him feel he had no reason to keep arguing, but Stark started rambling again. "I heard you have X-ray vision. You've probably already examined me inside and out... Fine, I'll take it off!"
Aeo nearly punched him. "All right, get out of my way. I'll see what materials we need. Eiffel..."
The boy called the Smart Terminal in the secret base in Gotham City. "The element the Empire's Science and Technology Institute discovered to enhance the arc reactor—what's the manufacturing process, and what do we need? Make me a list."
Before the curious Iron Man could ask, J.A.R.V.I.S. reported, "Sir, a file has arrived from Gotham City. It was sent by Mr. Aeo Zod. Would you like to receive it?"
Stark stared at the boy in surprise. "How did you do that? Accept it!"
Aeo pointed to the earring by his ear. Ignoring him, he walked over to the application files and documents J.A.R.V.I.S. had projected, then studied them with a frown.
"All right, it looks like Earth really can produce the UnK element—the name used on Krypton... Tony, follow this formula and use these materials, and you'll be able to create an element that can replace palladium." Aeo looked at him.
Stark gazed at the revolutionary knowledge before him, revolutionary by Earth's standards. "What a beautiful picture. This is a groundbreaking... J.A.R.V.I.S., analyze it. Can this really create a new element?"
After running the calculations for a short while, the intelligent computer J.A.R.V.I.S. replied excitedly, if it knew what excitement was.
"Sir, according to the data, we're fully capable of manufacturing an element that has never been discovered before! Sir, I have to say..."
It addressed Aeo.
"You are a truly outstanding scientist, sir."
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