Chapter 4: No Overtime, Off to Hell's Kitchen
"Then prioritize Pym Industries and Oscorp for now. Avoid confronting this world's AIs, and keep yourself hidden."
Jiang Feng continued his work with practiced elegance.
At the same time, he gave a command to the AI Linglong stored in his glasses, as if talking to himself.
"I understand, Master. Everything will be done as you wish."
The ethereal female voice replied once more, then fell silent, faithfully executing Jiang Feng's orders.
This trial world was Iron Man 2.
It was also the second world Jiang Feng had entered since becoming a Reincarnator. Dozens of other Reincarnators had entered this world as well.
Unlike the main god Jiang Feng had read about in novels—
The one in this Reincarnation Space ignored them after sending them into the trial world.
No fixed missions, no restrictions on freedom.
Reincarnators could lay low the entire time, or even quit the trial halfway with no punishment.
At most, they might trigger some side quests issued by the main god while exploring the world.
Freedom was extremely high.
However, that didn't mean Reincarnators could slack off the entire time.
After every three normal trial worlds, there would be one special trial—
Where the difficulty spiked sharply, the death rate soared, and quitting halfway was impossible.
Only a fraction survived.
The first three free trials were basically time granted by the main god for growth.
If a Reincarnator only focused on staying alive, was cowardly and unmotivated—
They would only die more miserably in the end.
Only those who risked everything, who strove to develop across different worlds, had even a sliver of hope.
Reincarnation Space had existed for countless ages, with an unending number of Reincarnators.
After so much development and exploration—
The plotlines of most trial worlds had already been thoroughly dissected by Reincarnators.
Even though Jiang Feng's Earth was the only one filled with multiverse-based films, comics, and games...
It wasn't a situation where only he knew the story, and everyone else was clueless.
At most, the others lacked Jiang Feng's depth of detail.
Marvel, as a universe with countless parallel versions—
Was a place Reincarnators often entered.
---
The plot of Iron Man 2 had already been deeply studied by Reincarnators. The intel had even been compiled into booklets—costing just 5 Reincarnation Points, cheaper than a handgun.
This time, all the Reincarnators entering the world—
Had already done their research and came prepared.
Most had simple goals: throw everything they had into getting into Stark Industries.
Others chose a more unorthodox route, heading to Oscorp.
Both companies held immensely valuable technologies. Learning even a little could bring lifelong benefits.
Some ambitious Reincarnators didn't even bother with surface-level companies—
They wanted to take their chances with organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra.
After all, with knowledge of Iron Man 2's plot and some superhuman methods in hand, they might be able to achieve something.
Reincarnators were a prideful bunch—
Only wanting to join high-profile powers.
No one even considered Hammer Industries.
After all, it was a joke of a company. It couldn't be taken seriously. Any Reincarnator with ambition would look down on it.
Only Jiang Feng went against the tide.
Though he had a cheat system, superior abilities, and was far more developed than most Reincarnators—
He didn't bother with powerful factions. Instead, he chose to join Hammer Industries.
His thinking was simple:
Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.
Joining a huge company full of elites didn't guarantee success.
Just working under others, playing the subordinate, made it hard to stand out.
But at a mediocre place like Hammer Industries, it was easier to rise and access resources.
The villain Whiplash (Ivan Vanko) used Hammer Industries' resources to build his own powerful armor—strong enough to fight both Tony Stark and Rhodes.
After Tony shut down Stark's weapons division—
It wouldn't be long before Hammer Industries became the military's new partner.
Though it seemed like a clown compared to Iron Man and Stark Industries—
In reality, globally speaking—
Hammer Industries was still a giant, more than capable of feeding a parasite like Jiang Feng until he was fat and content.
---
The Iron Man 2 timeline wasn't long.
Once the plot reached its end, Reincarnators would be forcibly ejected from the world.
Jiang Feng was self-aware.
Even with his extraordinary talents, it was impossible—
To immediately secure a top position at Stark Industries, Oscorp, or S.H.I.E.L.D. in such a short time.
This wasn't Iron Man 1—
There was no "rescue Tony from a cave and farm goodwill" opportunity.
Compared to the shrewd heroes and villains—
Jiang Feng thought that the foolish, rich Hammer was a much easier boss to exploit.
He didn't like overly clever ones.
As long as the plot moved as expected, he would encounter Whiplash at Hammer's place—someone who knew how to create miniature Arc Reactors.
Jiang Feng's first class was "Mechanic."
He had learned some skills back in Night City, but they weren't enough in the Reincarnation Space.
In this world—
He had to acquire the unreasonably advanced technology of the Marvel Universe.
Iron Man armor wasn't his focus. What he truly wanted was the miniature Arc Reactor as a power source.
Anyone could build a metal shell—
But mastering compact and portable high-powered energy tech wasn't something average people could do.
Jiang Feng joined Hammer Industries—
Not just because he liked dumb rich bosses—but also because he wanted to obtain the tech through Ivan Vanko.
Then, he could craft his own Iron Man suit.
His current fuel cell technology still wasn't good enough.
---
As soon as he entered the trial world—
Jiang Feng pulled out his reward from the first world:
[Name: An Ordinary Letter of Introduction]
[Quality: Green]
[Type: Favorability Item]
[Effect: Usable on any ordinary faction. Grants instant entry. Choose your position freely depending on the faction's strength.]
[Description: Still foolishly going to interviews? Young man, have you heard of a shortcut called 'pulling strings'?]
Jiang Feng's target was naturally Hammer Industries.
The moment he made his choice, a burst of information surged through his mind.
[As a graduate of MIT and a top student, Jiang Feng passed Hammer Industries' entry assessment with outstanding performance. He caught the personal attention of CEO Justin Hammer.]
[He was immediately promoted to a team leader in the Weapons R&D Department. Upon joining, he received a private workshop and was tasked with developing Hammer's version of the Iron Man armor.]
Luckily, even among mortal forces, Hammer Industries wasn't particularly strong—
Which allowed Jiang Feng to join with some influence.
That's what led to the earlier scene where he pulled out the exoskeleton arm and earned Hammer's trust.
---
A while later.
Night fell. Most of Hammer Industries' staff were still working overtime to meet the CEO's impossible demands.
Only Jiang Feng was the exception.
He had shown off his first product that morning—and by afternoon, had become Hammer's new golden boy.
He had no intention of working late.
As the newly appointed Head of Weapons Development, Jiang Feng clocked out and left. No one dared stop him.
The building Jiang Feng was in—
Was Hammer Industries' headquarters, with top-tier labs, not an industrial production site.
Located in the heart of New York City—one of the most expensive areas on Earth.
After exiting the building—
The scene around him shifted instantly. Neon lights blazed.
People in suits passed by—most were elite professionals like Jiang Feng, just finishing work at major firms.
But downtown NYC wasn't Jiang Feng's destination.
"Linglong, set navigation to Hell's Kitchen. Guide me."
Jiang Feng muttered quietly, drawing no attention from the passersby.
"Yes, Mr. Jiang. Navigation to Hell's Kitchen initiated. Please walk straight for 507 meters, then turn right at 'Papa's Burger' after the first traffic light."
Linglong's voice echoed directly in Jiang Feng's mind.
At the same time—
The seemingly normal glasses he wore displayed a detailed map of New York in his vision.
The route to Hell's Kitchen was clearly marked.
"Good. Alter the security camera footage along the way. Make sure no one sees I was ever there."
Right after that—
Jiang Feng adjusted his glasses without drawing any attention and silently made his way toward Manhattan, New York.