"Try my new invention, you jerk!"
Young Tony Stark suddenly lunged from around the corner, both hands fitted with metal gloves as he charged at Marcus.
Upon first meeting Marcus, Tony hadn't noticed anything exceptional about him—he seemed completely ordinary, not at all the remarkable individual his father had described.
However, after a casual insult, Tony had learned firsthand about Marcus's capabilities when the man grabbed him and delivered a thorough beating.
Smack! Thud!
Just as Tony was about to reach Marcus, he found himself kicked aside and pinned underfoot.
Marcus slid his hands into his pockets, leaned over, and smirked at Tony sprawled at his feet.
"Look, Mr. Playboy—I'm flattered, but I don't swing that way. If you really can't hold it in, maybe try your luck at a bar with a rainbow flag. I hear the dancers there are much more accommodating to your... needs."
Hearing this, Tony struggled to get up, shouting:
"Get lost! I don't swing that way either. You can enjoy those yourself! Now, take your foot off me immediately!"
Tony was furious. He couldn't accept that he couldn't beat Marcus even once.
Now was his chance!
The moment he felt the pressure lift from his back, Tony spun around and grabbed Marcus's legs. He had been waiting for this opportunity—all he needed was physical contact to secure victory.
The metal gloves ejected several arcs of electricity. He had cranked his invention to maximum power.
"Hahaha, I've got you now, bastard!"
The moment he grabbed Marcus, Tony laughed triumphantly. The current flowing through the gloves was sufficient to paralyze an adult's entire body.
Mid-laugh, he suddenly realized something was wrong. Marcus's leg wasn't convulsing from the electrical current as expected.
"Tell me, Mr. Playboy, what exactly are you laughing about? Perhaps you could share the joke so I might enjoy it too?"
Marcus's voice came from above as Tony's grip on his leg was effortlessly broken.
For Marcus, the young Tony Stark barely qualified as an opponent. The reason Tony kept antagonizing him was twofold: partly to prove himself, and partly to avenge the beating Marcus had given him.
Seeing Marcus completely unfazed by his invention, Tony sat on the ground, staring at his hands in confusion.
"Could something be wrong with the shock gloves?"
Touching his own arm to test them, a sharp crackling sound filled the air as Tony collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing violently.
"Hahahahaha!" Marcus laughed heartily, looking toward Howard as he entered the room. "Your genius son certainly thinks differently than most!"
It was the first time Marcus had seen someone sabotage themselves so effectively—testing the power of their electric gloves on their own body.
Howard seemed helpless as he watched his son lying on the ground with his body twitching. Although Tony was smart, he still had the common problem of young people, always being a little irritable.
The same was true in experiments. Every time he made a new invention, he would conduct experiments as soon as possible, and most of the experiments would leave him covered in injuries.
"Jarvis, take Tony back to his room to lie down," Howard said with a glance at Marcus. "He's my only son—can't you cut him a little slack?"
Although he knew that Marcus was just playing with Tony, he couldn't help but complain to Marcus when he saw that Tony was always being teased.
"That won't do. This is the only fun I can find, and doesn't your genius enjoy it too?"
Marcus's answer left Howard speechless. Whose child likes to be beaten every day?
It had only been a week since they met, and Tony had been caught and beaten by Marcus more than a dozen times. If Howard and Maria hadn't known it was Tony's own fault, they would have confronted Marcus much more directly.
However, the couple also recognized that Marcus's presence had ignited Tony's competitive spirit. He challenged Marcus daily, which was a marked improvement from his previous behavior of arguing with Howard and throwing impromptu parties at home.
Watching Jarvis escort the still-twitching Tony back to his room, Howard handed a document to Marcus.
"This is what you requested."
The document contained Marcus's legal identity papers and a certificate of ownership for a farm.
"By the way," Howard added, pointing to the farm deed, "I purchased two farms. This one is yours, and the adjacent property is mine. Maria and I are planning to spend some time in the countryside!"
Marcus immediately understood Howard's intentions. To acquire more Kree technology, the man was willing to become a farmer himself.
But Marcus didn't mind—in fact, he welcomed Howard's decision.
Though his primary goal was a peaceful farming life, Marcus still needed to craft armor and equipment.
With Howard as his neighbor, he could easily access the scientist's various instruments and facilities for manufacturing his gear.
"Your personal choices aren't my concern, but what happens to Stark Industries if you leave? Aren't you concerned your genius son might destroy it?"
"Tony may be somewhat childish, but he's not as reckless as you suggest," Howard reflected. "It's time for him to take over Stark Industries, and Obadiah will be there to guide him."
Their conversation shifted to discussing Tony's education and upbringing.
Howard produced a new document covered in Kree writing that resembled circuit diagrams.
He had obtained it from S.H.I.E.L.D.—the only document in Dr. Lawson's files written in the Kree language.
Everyone had assumed it was a circuit diagram drawn by Dr. Lawson, supposedly the core design of the light-speed engine. After the crash, however, all research had been abandoned and Dr. Lawson's information sealed.
As a consultant, Howard had understood the document's true content after learning the Kree language from Marcus.
It was indeed related to the light-speed engine. The document recorded some of Lawson's—or rather, Dr. Mar-Vell's—design concepts for the revolutionary propulsion system.
"Are you interested in technology from this field?" Marcus examined the document thoughtfully. "I have similar information, but the light-speed engine was Dr. Mar-Vell's independent design. The Kree haven't mastered this technology yet—only certain energy technologies."
The Kree's energy technology was quite advanced. Had the Kree Empire not been so expansionist, they wouldn't have needed to pursue the light-speed engine so aggressively.
After reviewing the Kree energy technology, Marcus produced a hard drive containing their most basic energy innovations.
"This contains Kree controlled nuclear fusion technology—at a level that Earth's current technological foundation can actually implement."
Seeing the hard drive, Howard was ecstatic. He had been researching controlled nuclear fusion for years, but social and technological limitations had prevented meaningful progress.
The technology Marcus offered could potentially help him perfect controlled nuclear fusion entirely.
"Your timing is impeccable," Howard declared. "These technologies are beyond monetary value. Instead of cash, how about 5% of Stark Industries' shares?"
Five percent of Stark Industries was worth far more than any lump sum payment. Naturally, Marcus accepted without hesitation.
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