Ch. 218 Inventing a New Element

Since Tony announced the closure of the weapons development department, Stark Industries' market value had dropped significantly. Coupled with the fact that Stark Industries no longer accepted new military orders, its already declining market value worsened.

After the initial plummet, Stark Industries managed to stabilize its market value, thanks to its technological advancements that kept it at the forefront of the defense industry.

However, Stark Industries had evolved into more than just a defense contractor; it had become a conglomerate involved in various industries. Although Tony's shares were no longer as valuable as before, owning half of them was still a massive fortune.

To put it simply, Octopus Monster Industry total market value was roughly equivalent to half of Tony's shares.

While Octopus Monster Industry had risen like a rising star in the defense industry over the past six months, it still had a long way to go compared to Stark Industries, an established giant with decades of history.

If there truly was a "Howard" by his side, Russell wouldn't mind granting Tony's wish and accepting his generous offer.

However, the problem was, there was no "Howard" by his side.

For simple communication, he could have No. 3 impersonate someone, but it was evident that Tony wanted to discuss highly specialized topics, which was beyond the capabilities of even a powerful AI like No. 3.

Both No. 3 and Tony's J.A.R.V.I.S. shared a common weakness: creativity. While they excelled in calculations and data analysis, they lacked the innate creativity that was exclusive to humans. It was a domain that artificial intelligence could never reach—the unique realm of humanity.

After a few seconds of silence, Russell looked at Tony and said slowly, "I understand your desire to meet Howard, but I'm sorry, I can't arrange for you to meet him."

"Howard is not under my authority, and I cannot make decisions on his behalf."

"However, I can relay your request to Howard, and if he agrees to meet you, I'll provide you with his contact information."

Upon hearing Russell's response, Tony's expression quickly dimmed. Palladium poisoning wasn't the only reason he wanted to meet Howard, and neither was it about the arc reactor used in the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor.

The real reason Tony wanted to meet Howard was simply because he wanted to meet a true genius who had outpaced even himself.

Although Tony often referred to himself as a genius, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was the smartest human being alive. More importantly, he viewed Howard as another version of himself—a version who had gone even further than he had.

Out of curiosity, a longing for someone who could truly understand him, or perhaps the challenge of finding an equal, Tony desperately wanted to meet Howard.

Even if it were just to sit down face to face, have a drink, and chat about the weather, he wanted to meet Howard in person.

Russell couldn't read minds, so he couldn't know Tony's true thoughts. Even if he did know, he wouldn't tell Tony that the Howard he was looking for was an evil version of himself from another universe.

"Alright, since that's the case, I won't push you any further."

"As for meeting Howard, you can't decide that, but you can decide what happens with the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor."

"I want to study your armor, or more precisely, the reactor inside it. What kind of compensation do you need for you to agree?"

Tony didn't doubt Russell's words. If he were Howard, he wouldn't easily follow someone else's orders either. There was no choice but to focus on studying the reactor in the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor.

"Well, have you ever considered that you haven't found a substitute for palladium because you've been looking at existing elements?"

"The miniaturized arc reactor is a tremendous invention, and I'm sure you're well aware of that."

"But using existing elements to power such a groundbreaking invention—doesn't that seem off to you?"

Russell wasn't planning to hand over the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor for Tony to research. However, he didn't mind offering Tony some guidance.

In terms of the MCU's storyline, this advice should have come from Nick Fury. However, since Nick Fury was currently unavailable to deal with Tony, who hadn't become "Iron Man" yet, Russell had to step in.

"Are you suggesting inventing a completely new element on Earth to replace palladium?" Tony frowned at Russell.

"Is that even possible? Inventing a new element isn't as simple as you might think. It's not something that can be achieved with today's technology."

"You're already using an arc reactor in your chest that shouldn't exist in this era," Russell pointed to Tony's chest.

"Do you know something? I don't like playing guessing games. If you know something, you can tell me directly."

Tony was starting to become impatient.

"You don't have the attitude one should have when seeking help. But fine, for the sake of our acquaintance, I won't argue with you," Russell said, putting down his glass. "Although I know how to invent a new element, I won't tell you directly. This is a father-son conversation that crosses time and space."

"Huh... Conversation in front of a grave?"

"Whether or not you seek your father's help is your decision."

With that, Russell stood up, leaving the living room without looking back, and flew back to Octopus Monster Industry.