"Hey, boy! What brings you to see Uncle Tony all of a sudden today?"
Perhaps it had been too long since they'd last met, but Tony Stark seemed unusually enthusiastic about Solomon's unexpected visit. Although Solomon's arrival at Stark Tower was just as abrupt as ever, Stark had already gotten used to the uninvited comings and goings of the arcane master. As far as he knew, Solomon traveled between London and New York daily using teleportation gates, so it made perfect sense that he would use one to arrive in Manhattan as well.
During the recent period, Stark had only interacted with the managers and a few executives under Solomon Industries. Most of these people coordinated with Pepper Potts and had little to no direct contact with Tony Stark, who was responsible for tech development. As a result, he still didn't know the name of the blond girl who came to discuss business—he didn't care to remember the names of those constantly coming and going anyway. All he knew was that she was in charge of overseeing all of Solomon's investments. After S.H.I.E.L.D. was dissolved, Stark, having sheltered many agents through lobbying funds and political influence, had declared himself the successor of S.H.I.E.L.D. Most of his energy had been focused on eliminating Hydra, and the pace of technological research had slowed significantly.
Solomon rolled his eyes.
"Ms. Potts has already signed an agreement for the exchange of brain-computer interface technology, Stark," he said coldly as he accepted a drink handed over by the slow-witted robot named Dummy in Stark's lab. "I know what you've been busy with lately," he added, "but the integration of virtual reality and brain-computer interface technology is—"
"Oh my God! How old are you again? You're starting to sound just like those old geezers on the board!"
Stark looked Solomon up and down. For some reason, he once again sensed a quality in Solomon that was entirely unlike that of Americans. Under the education of Eton College and the guidance of Athena, Solomon had learned how to dress, how to be disciplined, how to converse like a gentleman. He looked like Old Money from 1920s New York. Stark studied him repeatedly and finally realized it was the British-style suit, striped tie, and the unassuming ruby lapel pin that gave Solomon the appearance of an Oxford political economy student—like a character straight out of The Great Gatsby.
This made Stark, standing in a garage full of luxury cars, seem like a nouveau riche. And that was indeed the case—the Stark family was definitely New Money. Even Howard Stark had been called a parvenu more than once.
"And that brain-computer interface technology is actually yours? Since when have you been researching neuroscience? Is this also magic? Why didn't I know about this?" Stark was first shocked, then immediately put on a displeased expression as he poured himself a drink.
"What do you need this technology for?" he asked, feigning indifference. "Even I can tell that this technology lacks widespread appeal—after all, not everyone is willing to undergo brain surgery. It's too advanced to be accepted by the market. Stark Industries is only keeping it in reserve—we're not going into production anytime soon."
"I need this technology, Stark. I'm not short on money, and I'm not doing this for profit. On a galactic scale, gold and diamond mines are everywhere. Earth's financial games mean nothing to me. Technology and resources are the only things that truly matter." Solomon didn't beat around the bush. "Injecting signals into the brain externally and enhancing certain neural links—this allows one to rapidly learn specific knowledge. That's the real purpose of the brain-computer interface: auxiliary learning."
That was precisely why Stephanie had come to Stark Industries—the auxiliary learning function of the brain-computer interface. Ordinary people can't be expected to learn how to operate a several-kilometer-long space battleship through ten years of education. Therefore, Solomon needed this technology to input vast amounts of piloting knowledge directly into someone's brain. Of course, the average human brain can't process such massive data, so they also needed the brain science department of the bio-lab to assist—using the brain-computer interface to connect with external machinery for augmented thinking.
"Who are you planning to use it on? Yourself? Aren't you afraid you'll fry your brain?" Stark found Solomon's explanation hard to believe.
"The ones using this technology aren't human—at least not 100% human, Stark. If you're willing to do the development, I can grant you access to some of my technical reserves—the kind where magical technology is converted into modern science."
Stark smacked his lips. He wasn't quite sure what Solomon meant by that.
What did he mean by not 100% human? Was there some kind of purity percentage for humanity?
But he didn't want to ask that question now. What really intrigued him was the bait Solomon had dangled.
"Like your chemical composition analyzer? That thing was modified from magical tech, right?" Tony Stark's interest was instantly piqued. "Ever since you licensed me that patent, I've been researching your analyzer. Some key components still have to be produced in-house by Stark Industries. I really don't get how you managed to build that thing when you were still in middle school."
"Just wave a wand," the arcane master shrugged.
"You're joking, right?"
"No, that's the truth."
People new to the world of magic often have a misconception—that powerful magic consists of spells that create explosions, earthquakes, or collapse city walls. But truly powerful spells often manifest in the smallest, most unnoticeable ways. Creating a semiconductor that doesn't yet exist on the material plane is far more difficult than casting a fireball. A grenade can do what a fireball does—and often better. But creating a non-existent technological product requires not only advanced theoretical magical knowledge but also expertise in many other disciplines.
The elevator chimed crisply, and Maria Hill, dressed in business attire and holding a file, stepped out. She immediately spotted Tony Stark and Solomon standing face to face.
"Stark, there's a document here that needs your signature." She walked over, gently pushing aside Dummy's outstretched mechanical arm without even looking at Solomon. She avoided eye contact with him as much as possible—a rule set back when Nick Fury still led S.H.I.E.L.D. Except for Natasha Romanoff, all agents above level eight were prohibited from making eye contact with Solomon, to prevent intelligence leaks.
"Consent form for modifications to the Avengers' supersonic Quinjet. Ms. Potts asked me to bring it."
"Oh! The old man's getting impatient?" Stark took the pen and signed the document after glancing over it casually. He had already heard that Steve Rogers was eager to hunt down Hydra remnants, but at the time, the White House had not yet authorized Avengers operations, so many things had to be done covertly. "Wanna join in?" he looked up and asked Solomon, "I get it—young people always want to go where they can show off their power..."
"No, thanks." The arcane master coldly shook his head. "I'm not interested in the petty squabbles of mortals."
"Hah! 'Mortals'?" Stark handed the document back to Maria Hill. "You sound just like Thor now. No—more like Loki, that golden-horned bastard."
"I have my responsibilities, Stark. Kamar-Taj doesn't concern itself with the petty conflicts of mankind. As long as humanity continues to exist, nothing else matters. If Hitler could have repelled aliens, do you think Kamar-Taj would've supported him?"
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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