Chapter 7

"Will I die?" After a moment of silence, Tony asked.

"Close call." Zhou Chao replied.

"You didn't die, which means you solved the palladium poisoning problem in the future. That's great news." Tony let out a breath and smiled. Clearly, he wasn't as calm about the palladium poisoning as he appeared to be.

"But if I may ask, why did you come to me? We don't seem to have any connection, or rather... what do you want from me?" Tony's expression turned serious, and he looked straight into Zhou Chao's eyes, speaking softly.

"..., Yes, I do want something from you, in exchange for the information I have." Zhou Chao paused for a moment before answering.

"Please go on." Tony gestured, inviting him to continue.

"The finished Arc Reactor and related manufacturing technology, the finished Iron Man suit and related manufacturing technology that you will create in the future, and a copy of the AI JARVIS." Zhou Chao's heart tightened as he knew the conversation had entered a critical stage, and he tried to sound calm as he stated his demands.

"Aren't you asking for too much? You should know that excessive greed can lead to bad consequences." Tony raised an eyebrow, his tone full of sarcasm after hearing Zhou Chao's demands.

"I'll trade you the information." Zhou Chao said firmly.

"Oh?" Tony showed a hint of interest.

"The terrorist attack you suffered was not a random event but a premeditated one. I know who the mastermind is. How about that?" Zhou Chao said seriously.

"It has some value, but it can only get you the finished Arc Reactor." Tony thought for a moment and replied.

"Plus the solution to the palladium poisoning." Before Tony could speak, Zhou Chao continued, "Additionally, I can assure you that this method not only solves your future palladium poisoning problem but also provides you with a new energy source that is more powerful, safer, and pollution-free!"

"Are you sure?" Tony asked, somewhat disbelieving.

In the field of energy technology, although Tony wasn't an absolute authority, the initial version of the palladium Arc Reactor in his chest was enough to place him at the pinnacle of the world, surpassing all energy researchers. Even so, Tony could only improve the palladium Arc Reactor in his chest, not create a more powerful energy module. Therefore, he was absolutely unwilling to believe that there could be a more compact and powerful energy source than his Arc Reactor!

"Yes." Zhou Chao affirmed.

"In that case, I can agree to give you the finished Arc Reactor and a backup of JARVIS." Tony tilted his head, thinking for a moment.

Hearing this, Zhou Chao looked at Tony Stark for a while, then sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness, "Mr. Stark, what will it take for you to give me the technology for the Arc Reactor and the Iron Man suit?"

"Sorry, it's impossible under any circumstances." Tony firmly refused, "To be frank, you are too mysterious. I've searched through all the population information and found nothing about you. It's as if you appeared out of nowhere. I can't determine your intentions or actions. Also, what you said is too fantastical. Although one part seems to have been verified, it can also be explained by your having special sources of information. So you can only get the finished products from me."

Even the finished products Tony agreed to give, such as the AI JARVIS replication program and the Arc Reactor, seemed capable of achieving great things but were actually useless until they were cracked. They were not like the Iron Man suit, which could be used immediately and accomplish great things, which was considered a weapon. This showed Tony's caution and prudence.

Seeing Tony's firmness, Zhou Chao couldn't help but feel anxious. Although getting the finished Arc Reactor and the JARVIS replication program was a huge gain, at least solving the energy supply problem for his magic array in the short term, human nature is inherently greedy. Even knowing the chances were slim, Zhou Chao still wanted more.

"What if I give up the JARVIS replication program in exchange for the manufacturing technology of the Arc Reactor?" After a moment, Zhou Chao said, his voice somewhat urgent.

"Do you really need it?" Tony's eyes lit up, and he glanced at Zhou Chao.

"To be honest, yes, it's even the key to getting me home." Zhou Chao sighed.

"Home? What's so difficult about that? I can easily get you through customs and send you back to China." Tony looked puzzled.

Zhou Chao shook his head with a bitter smile, not explaining.

"Alright, just give me the JARVIS replication program, and I'll tell you who was behind the terrorist attack." After a moment, Zhou Chao, having recomposed himself, said.

"Alright." Tony nodded, but didn't move, still standing in place, waiting for Zhou Chao to continue.

Seeing this, Zhou Chao, not worried about Tony Stark reneging, didn't say anything. He raised his arm, drank the ice water in his glass, and said, "The mastermind behind the terrorist attack is none other than your trusted friend and partner, the vice president of Stark Industries—Obadiah Stane."

Instantly, Tony Stark's pupils contracted, and he glared at Zhou Chao. Zhou Chao, not lying and thus not feeling guilty, met Tony's gaze without flinching.

"Why?" After a dozen seconds of intense eye contact, Tony asked again.

"Because he wants complete control of Stark Industries." Zhou Chao, secretly relieved, answered, "In the entire Stark Industries group, he holds the most shares after you, and he has worked in the company the longest, spanning two generations—your father's and yours. To put it bluntly, Stark Industries grew and prospered under his management, not because of you, the unreliable playboy who is often absent."

"So he believes he should be the leader of Stark Industries, not you. As the CEO and majority shareholder, you are an obstacle to him."

"Also, you may not know, but Obadiah Stane has been secretly dealing with the terrorists—yes, the ones who attacked you—selling Stark Industries' weapons without your knowledge, lining his own pockets, and possibly more than just one organization."

"If you don't believe me, you can find an excuse to return to the company and hack into the network to check."

At this point, Zhou Chao seemed to remember something and added, "Hasn't Obadiah Stane told you to rest at home and let him handle the company affairs?"

Hearing this, Tony's expression changed, clearly acknowledging Zhou Chao's words.

"Then you need to be careful. If I'm right, he's already contacting the board members of Stark Industries, planning to propose a motion to remove you as CEO."

Tony didn't speak, his face darkening, and a heavy, oppressive aura emanating from him.

Seeing this, Zhou Chao didn't say anything more, turning to the side to let Tony think about his words.

"I'll check. I hope everything you said is true, or I'll make you pay." After a minute, Tony turned, looking at Zhou Chao, who was sitting on a bar stool drinking ice water, and said fiercely.

"We can make a bet." Zhou Chao, now completely relaxed, said.

"Hmph." Tony snorted, not speaking.

"Also, please give me a piece of paper and a pen." Zhou Chao said again.

"What for?" Tony frowned, but with JARVIS's help, he found some white paper and a pencil from a corner of the room.

"You doubt my foresight, don't you? Now I'll prove it to you." Zhou Chao took the paper and pen from Tony, placed them on the bar, and began to draw.

"Scratch, scratch, scratch..."

In no time, a metal figure almost identical to the future Iron Man suit appeared on the paper, catching Tony's eye.

"Here." Zhou Chao stopped drawing and handed the paper with the Iron Man suit to Tony.

"What is this?" Tony asked, surprised. Because Zhou Chao had arrived early, Tony hadn't even had time to rebuild the Arc Reactor, let alone redesign the Iron Man suit. So seeing the image on the paper, Tony only felt that the metal figure's design suited his taste, with no other reaction.

"It's a concept drawing of the Iron Man suit you will create. The drawing isn't great, but it's basically accurate." Zhou Chao smiled.

Hearing this, Tony frowned, tilting his head to examine the paper in his hand.

"I'll be staying at your place, so please take care of me." Zhou Chao jumped off the bar stool, stood in front of Tony, and extended his right hand with a smile.

"What, what do you mean?" Tony was taken aback. "Why should you stay at my place? We're not that close."

"But I'm homeless, and in America, I only know you. You wouldn't want me to sleep on the streets, would you?" Zhou Chao said, feigning helplessness.

"What does that have to do with me?" Tony exclaimed.

"Because we're good friends." Zhou Chao grabbed Tony's right hand, which was hanging in front of his chest, and grinned.