Tony's Gift?

"Yeah... that was true."

"But how should I put it? I only learned and thought a little faster. My capacity for innovation wasn't necessarily better than yours."

Leon thought it over, worried Tony might take a blow, and began analyzing his own abilities.

"The Iron Man armor was the culmination of your most comprehensive and cutting-edge knowledge. Every step represented the highest-level application of the relevant fields."

"And last night, you practically taught me hand in hand."

"That was why I could master this knowledge so quickly."

"What I did was simply copy your knowledge exactly as it was and make it my own."

Leon tapped his head. "Learning and processing capabilities as powerful as a supercomputer—that's the Super-Brain."

"But when it comes to innovation, I still have to rely on my own talent."

"And the Super-Brain had limitations in the comics, too."

"In some DC works, most of Superman's Super-Brain processing power was devoted to restraining his own strength."

"Though I hadn't run into that problem so far."

Leon held his index finger and thumb close together. "The brainpower I use to limit my superpowers only takes up a tiny fraction."

"So just wait, Tony. In three days, I'll use your knowledge plus my own innovation to beat you!"

Tony, slumped in his chair, felt slightly better after hearing the explanation.

Still looking unconvinced, he stood up. "Don't joke around, kid. Have you ever seen a plagiarist surpass the original author? My masterpiece will never lose!"

"Then we'll see, oh wisdom of mortals." Leaving behind that embarrassingly melodramatic taunt, Leon headed upstairs.

Tony's fighting spirit ignited again in the garage.

He would never admit defeat in his own field, especially not to that hateful little brother, Leon!

But before Tony could return to his workbench—

Leon suddenly reappeared behind him.

"Oh, right, I forgot something. Tony, you're in terrible shape. You can't keep working. Get some rest first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tony felt a numbness at the back of his neck and instantly lost consciousness.

C-cheating! This brat was using underhanded tricks!

Before passing out, Tony used his last shred of awareness to curse Leon inwardly for being unable to handle losing fairly.

"Look at that baby-like sleep." Leon commented, then hoisted Tony up and tossed him into the bedroom.

"Young Master Leon, this may be considered an unfair victory. Mr. Stark will not be convinced," JARVIS reminded him kindly.

"It'd be better if he isn't convinced. I was worried he'd suffer a mental blow after losing to me and never recover." Leon walked into Tony's laboratory.

"You seem very confident," JARVIS asked in a declarative tone.

"Of course I am." Leon switched on the power supplies at Tony's usual workbench. "After all, the most important thing in the early stages of armor development is refining its functions. It doesn't demand major technological advancement."

"And I happen to have several modification plans in my head that can be realized without using more advanced technology."

What a joke. Forget the dozens of Iron Man armors Tony developed in the movies.

Leon had even learned about the comic-book armors in his previous life.

The development concepts behind those armors had been fantasies in his former world.

But in this world, they were paths other Tonys had already walked.

He only needed to develop along those lines to remain one step ahead of his big brother.

Poor Tony. From now on, he would live in Leon's shadow.

In high spirits, Leon carried Dum-E and U up from the garage and began his work.

"Alright, Dum-E, first put away the Arc Reactor Tony finished on the table..."

"Young Master Leon!" JARVIS suddenly interrupted him.

"What is it?"

"Miss Pepper has arrived. She is looking for you."

"Not now. Tell her I'll come out in three days."

"But she has already come downstairs."

"Hm? Then tell her Tony is in the bedroom!"

"My apologies, but perhaps you should consider telling Miss Pepper that yourself."

As JARVIS finished speaking, Pepper came clattering down the stairs and appeared outside the laboratory's transparent partition door.

She spotted Leon awkwardly smiling and greeting her at once, then irritably smacked the glass partition, entered the password, and came in.

"Hi, Pepper. Good morning." Leon spoke first.

Pepper looked as though she had come to demand an explanation. "You didn't go to the company yesterday, Leon!"

Leon had been busy learning how to make armor yesterday and had long forgotten about it.

He gave an embarrassed laugh. "But Jobs went. Old Jobs is steady and hardworking; he can definitely share some of your workload."

"But that isn't a reason for you to hide at home!"

Seeing Leon's messy hair after staying up all night, Pepper could not help reaching out to straighten it.

"What were you doing last night? Your hair and clothes are so... Oh my God, don't tell me you copied Tony again and called those cover girls to come over to the house..."

Pepper's gaze turned dangerous.

Leon was like her child. If Tony had led him astray, she would make Tony so ashamed today that he would wish he could disappear!

"No, no, no!" Leon hurriedly cut her off. "What do you mean, again? I never did that before, and I never will. Pepper, you can rest absolutely assured!"

"My current state is all Tony's fault!"

He immediately distanced himself from Tony. "I came down yesterday to tell him to show his face at the company, but he dragged me into making armor."

His eyes flickered, and he snatched the oldest Arc Reactor from Dum-E's hands.

"Look, Tony even prepared a gift for you."

"A gift?" Pepper grew curious, her attention shifting to the Arc Reactor. "This is the thing in Tony's chest..."

"That's right, that one!"

Leon embellished the story. "This little thing is an Arc Generator, a brand-new cold fusion energy source. It represents humanity's future."

"This is what Tony has been researching these past few days."

"It's Stark Industries' next planned step—bringing greater benefits to the world!"

"And this Arc Reactor in my hand is a gift from Tony to you."

Leon took it upon himself to explain. "It was the life-saving device he made in that terrorist cave, and it was also the world's first miniature Arc Reactor."

"After replacing this little thing, he originally intended to give it to you."

"But you know his personality. Even in a hundred years, he wouldn't be able to say anything straightforward."

"So..."

Leon handed the Arc Reactor to Pepper. "You understand what this gift means, right?"

Pepper did not take it, nor did she speak.

She was simply too moved.

The significance of this gift was too great, too romantic.

Pepper covered her mouth with both hands, unable to say anything for a moment.

"H-he really gave this to me?" Pepper carefully accepted the Arc Reactor. The sudden happiness caught her so off guard that she did not know what to do.