In the video, the press conference has entered the Q&A session.
The reporters' questions came flying out one after another.
Most of it revolves around the technical details of the Arc Reactor and the medical upgrade plan.
Tony answered with ease, occasionally throwing in a few comments that were both funny and exasperating.
Just as the questioning was halfway through...
A young female reporter suddenly stood up.
" Mr. Stark! I have a little question that's unrelated to the main topic!"
Tony glanced at her and nodded generously.
"Please speak."
"Why didn't Mr. Luca attend the press conference today? After all, the pharmaceutical upgrade plan is a project he's in charge of; his absence..."
Before the female reporter could finish speaking, everyone present turned to look at Tony.
yes.
As one of the joint successors of Stark Industries, and as the direct head of the Life Sciences Division.
Moreover, he was the absolute core member who performed the most explosively in last night's battle.
Why didn't Luca Stark show up at such an important press conference?
Is this reasonable?!
Tony was taken aback when he heard the question.
Then, he slowly revealed a meaningful smile.
That smile was practically identical to the one Luca usually wore when dealing with women.
They really are brothers.
"The reason Luca didn't come today...?"
Tony shrugged and teased.
"Can you really expect someone who's out of a pool party at 4 a. m. to show up at a press conference in a suit and tie at 7 a. m. the next morning?"
Everyone was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Tony continued to deliver the finishing blow.
"As far as I know, last night he invited two beautiful ladies to his villa for a so-called late-night research project."
"So, I'm guessing he's most likely still in bed, probably with one or two experimental subjects... oh wait, I mean research partners lying next to him."
This remark elicited even louder laughter.
The reporters laughed so hard they were doubled over, and viewers in front of their televisions also joined in the discussion.
When Luca saw this scene inside the villa, his face immediately darkened.
"Damn it! That bastard!!"
" Tony Stark! You just wait! I'm going to tear your new armor apart and turn it into a doghouse! No, I'll turn it into a toilet!"
"I suggest you calm down first, Mr. Luca," JARVIS interjected at the opportune moment.
"And in fact, what you said, sir, is not untrue. You did indeed have a pool party that ended at 4 a. m., and you did indeed invite two female models..."
JARVIS!
"Yes, sir, I'll shut up."
In the video, the laughter gradually subsided.
Tony also dropped his teasing expression, silently looking at the camera, his tone suddenly becoming more serious.
"But to be honest..."
He paused for a moment.
"The real reason Luca didn't come today is that I didn't tell him."
"Last night, to protect Los Angeles, he almost single-handedly withstood the monsters' fiercest attack. Although his physical abilities far surpass those of ordinary people, the continuous high-intensity combat took a huge toll on his mental and physical strength."
"He's my younger brother. As his older brother, it's my responsibility to let him rest for an extra day."
After saying that sentence...
The laughter gradually subsided.
Many reporters wore expressions of emotion.
Even the veteran reporters who had been frantically taking notes stopped writing and quietly watched Tony.
When this sharp-tongued Playboy gets serious, he can be quite touching.
Inside the villa.
Upon hearing this, Luca's face, which had been as black as the bottom of a pot, softened.
After staring at Tony's deliberately nonchalant face in silence for several seconds, he smiled.
"Okay."
"The idea of dismantling armor to make a toilet... remember that for now. Postpone it."
The press conference is still ongoing.
More reporters raised their hands to ask questions, and more topics were discussed.
But Luca had already lost interest in watching.
Tony's performance was perfect; his ability to control the situation was top-notch, and he didn't need to worry about anything.
But now, he has something even more important to do.
Luca turned off the screen, walked through the living room, and headed towards the stairs leading to the underground garage.
The scanner lit up with a blue light as the glass door was opened.
"Drip."
"Identity confirmed. Welcome back, Mr. Luca."
This is the secret base shared by Luca and Tony.
What appears to be their garage is actually their laboratory.
The laboratory was divided into two large areas.
The left half was Tony's territory, filled with various robotic arms, welding equipment, armor modules, and holographic design tables.
The remains of the Demon Armor lay in the corner, mostly dismantled, with scattered parts strewn all over the ground.
Typical Tony style: he takes things apart like a Beast, not caring whether they can be put back together.
The right half is Luca's territory.
The art style is completely different from Tony's; Luca's place is more like a biological laboratory.
On the lab table were dozens of labeled petri dishes and test tubes, filled with liquids of various colors.
In the very center, there is a transparent whiteboard.
The top was covered with densely packed data written in red, blue, and black markers.
These are the results of his and Tony's research yesterday.
Luca walked to the lab table and sat down.
He rested his chin on his hands, his gaze fixed on the whiteboard, lost in thought.
My serum has two core components.
The first one is an improved formula of the Super Soldier Serum left behind by his father Howard Stark.
The second is a mysterious serum that can alter the energy absorption structure of human cells.
The fused serum triggered a genetic mutation in his body.
It not only endowed him with a superhuman physique, but also gave his cells the ability to absorb and convert energy.
This is the fundamental reason why he becomes stronger by sunbathing or absorbing energy.
The sun's energy is like food; with each bit absorbed, his strength, speed, defense, and perception will increase.
Theoretically speaking, as long as the sun doesn't go out, he can continue to grow stronger indefinitely.
Of course, he can also absorb other energies to become stronger, but he needs to be careful not to explode and die.
But that's where the problem lies.
His fusion serum could not replicate.
Specifically, portions of the Super Soldier Serum can be extracted and replicated separately, as can portions of the energy-absorbing serum that enhances strength.
However, the fusion reaction of the two sera cannot be artificially reproduced.
In other words, Luca's current state is the result of a fusion that could only occur under specific conditions.
The outcome would have been different if the person or the environment had been different.
He is unique and one of a kind.
This discovery left Luca slightly disappointed, but he didn't dwell on it too much.
Because he quickly shifted his attention to another direction.
It's okay if the fusion serum can't replicate.
Super Soldier Serum can be extracted and developed separately.
That's enough.
" JARVIS, retrieve the research files for the Super-Soldier Serum."
"Yes, Mr. Luca."
A huge holographic document unfolded in the air above the experimental platform.
The sheer volume of data would send shivers down the spine of any of the world's top biologists.
But for Luca, these things were as easy as looking at a menu.
That's his idea.
Enhanced Super Soldier Serum.
It was also the version he injected into his body himself.
Although it is a mutated version, this does not affect the serum's strength.
What Luca wants to do is create serum that can modify the structure of human cells at the genetic level.
Or rather, it's an ultimate enhancement serum that comprehensively boosts the human body's limits in all aspects, including strength, speed, reaction time, endurance, and recovery.
It's even better than the Captain America version.
And it's much stronger.
Luca already had a candidate in mind for the first user of the serum.
That's Tony.
Luca wasn't unaware of it.
In yesterday's battle, he had a great time, relying on his superior physical abilities to dominate the fight.
But what about Tony?
The Mark Armor boasts powerful firepower and excellent mobility.
However, the armor's protection proved insufficient against Superman- level monsters.
Luca didn't want to think about it anymore.
He can accept being injured.
I can accept the whole world calling him a scumbag.
He can accept any scandals and gossip thrown his way.
But he couldn't accept that something had happened to Tony.
This was his only remaining family member in the world.
My parents are long gone.
He can't lose his brother too.
Absolutely not.
Therefore, he wants to make Tony stronger.
It's not just about getting stronger at the armor level.
Better armor and firepower— Tony can handle those things himself.
What Luca needs to do is strengthen Tony on a physical level.
He wanted Tony to already possess Superman physical abilities.
In this way, even if the armor is completely destroyed one day.
Tony can also smile and tell the enemy, "Congratulations on unlocking your second form."
" JARVIS, retrieve yesterday's analysis report. Then conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis with previous reports."
"Okay, Mr. Luca. Comparative analysis in progress... estimated time: 30 seconds."
JARVIS's notification came quickly.
"Sir, the comparison is complete."
Numerous data charts were displayed on the screen.
Luca glanced at the data and confirmed the general results.
But he didn't rush into a deeper analysis.
"JARVIS, save the data for now."
"Sir? Aren't you going to continue your analysis?"
"The serum issue isn't urgent."
Luca stood up and paced a few steps in front of the lab bench.
"Anyway, I already know how to successfully develop it, so it doesn't matter when."
"Understood. The data has been archived. What do you need to do next?"
Luca stopped in his tracks.
After a few seconds of silence, his gaze fell on Tony's territory.
There, a three-dimensional holographic model of an Arc Reactor is suspended.
The blue light swirled quietly, looking quite beautiful.
But Luca knew that behind the beautiful radiance lay a fatal problem.
Palladium.
The core material of the Arc Reactor.
This is also the culprit who is slowly poisoning Tony to death.
JARVIS.
"Yes, sir."
"Retrieve the technical model of the Arc Reactor. Full parameter version."