Chapter 58: [seeking Follow-up Reading!]
On the computer screen.
The face of Iron Man Tony Stark, pieced together from countless digital characters, was lifelike. Ian widened his eyes and rushed to the huge computer in two strides instead of three.
“Hiss!”
He reached out and touched the ice-cold metal shell of the huge host.
“This is the real Iron Man! As real as it gets!” Ian exclaimed in shock. Of course he was very surprised, but in such a ruined world, nothing that happened seemed all that unusual.
“Did you just touch my ass?” Digital Tony raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing, as if he didn’t mind Ian’s claim—he might have already adapted to his current identity.
“Do you want to touch back?”
Ian countered with a question.
Successfully silencing Digital Tony, who wanted to show off his humor.
And just at that moment.
“Tony, can you check this boy’s information?” Betty frowned and walked forward, pointing at Ian beside her. “He was able to unlock Gwen’s armory and open the base’s door.”
She probably knew she couldn’t get any useful information from Ian, nor did she want to hear his claims of questionable authenticity, so she chose to ask the existence she trusted most directly.
Hearing this.
Digital Tony seemed to retrieve all the data and memory in an instant, faster than humans could react.
“No record.”
“He’s not an S.H.I.E.L.D. employee, nor a member of the Avengers, nor anyone I knew when I was still alive.” Digital Tony shook his head firmly.
“No record!?”
“Not a single record!?”
Betty and Gwen were both shocked to an indescribable degree.
In response.
Digital Tony just nodded.
“Yes, he has the highest clearance, and I don’t know why.” The image on the screen flickered slightly, as if representing Digital Tony’s emotional fluctuations.
“How could something like this happen?”
Betty gasped.
“Of course it’s possible, dear Miss Betty Rose. Tony Stark was indeed my past, but I’m just Tony Stark’s incomplete future.”
“Many things unrelated to the plan, I didn’t upload them.”
Digital Tony shrugged.
“Maybe you can go dig in my grave for my missing brain—if you can still find it.” His words carried the indifferent attitude only a layabout king would have.
“What plan?”
Ian’s question went unanswered.
Gwen looked at him with an extremely strange expression.
“You’re such a weirdo!”
She grew even more suspicious of Ian’s innocence.
“A superhuman with no record data…”
Betty’s expression was one of shock and doubt as she looked at the boy beside her.
“Don’t look at me, I can’t even deal with the hundreds of viruses on my computer.” Ian raised his hands, sincerely indicating that his computer knowledge was limited to its daily life and everyday use.
“…”
Betty and Gwen were both speechless upon hearing this.
“But luckily, they get along harmoniously in my computer, not affecting my usual gaming and video watching. They just pop up bullet screens from time to time to curse at how bad I am at playing.”
Ian’s voice carried a hint of sigh.
The atmosphere in the base hall was exceptionally silent.
No one responded.
Making Ian too embarrassed to ask which antivirus software he should buy. He had tried most antivirus software on the market, but the viruses in his computer had instead increased by over a dozen.
Free stuff just isn’t reliable.
Ian really missed the days when only 360 could plague his computer.
Just at that moment.
“Doctor Rose, there’s a problem with the experiment project!” A staff member in a white coat rushed over hurriedly, his expression tense. His words made Betty’s face change instantly.
She didn’t even pay attention to Ian anymore, turning and quickly following the staff member. Gwen hesitated for a moment, then chased after them. The two disappeared behind a door with the staff member.
The hall fell instantly quiet.
Only a group of researchers tapping away at code Ian couldn’t understand.
“So, what are you all busy with here?” Ian looked around at the bustling staff. They even had snacks, not looking much like they were struggling to survive in an apocalypse.
Digital Tony’s gaze followed Ian’s movements.
“This is the ‘Survivors’ Alliance.’ Our only goal is to get the world back on track, correct our civilization, and fix the mistaken course of this entire universe.”
He spoke up with the answer, concealing nothing.
“Not bad.”
Ian nodded.
According to Miss Death’s statement.
If this was inside a broken universe, then these “remnants” of the universe’s past would indeed have such an obsession. He was already thinking about how to invite Tony to play Gwent with him.
What?
Human brain can’t beat a computer? That’s really underestimating Ian’s super intelligence. Him circling around Digital Tony right now—wasn’t he just looking for where to unplug Digital Tony’s power cord?
“Uh.”
Digital Tony waited a few seconds and saw Ian had no intention of continuing to ask, so he finally couldn’t hold back and spoke: “Aren’t you going to ask how we plan to achieve this?”
What an outstanding urge to share.
“Does your plan to continue civilization include assigning good-looking partners?” Ian’s sudden question left Digital Tony a bit dazed as he shook his head.
“Then I’m not really interested in knowing your plan.”
Ian shook his head.
Decisively refusing.
He felt this “remnant’s” bewitchment lacked a bit in technical sophistication. If he were to bewitch someone, he’d directly promise to assign the most beautiful wives, eighty-eight of them.
“…”
Digital Tony didn’t start smoking.
But he was indeed silenced by Ian.
Fully five seconds later.
“My database records every life in this world, including the most beautiful and sexy psychiatrist in the universe. Maybe I can wake her up and have her chat with you.”
For some reason.
Even a computer thought Ian had mental issues.
“Can she prescribe me meds?”
Ian asked curiously.
He actually wasn’t tempted, because he knew taking meds here wouldn’t give him the effect he wanted.
“No, but I swear, she’s really…” Digital Tony didn’t understand Ian’s inner thoughts and still thought he had a good grasp on a man’s psychology.
However.
“Sorry, no need, thanks. I have my own, two of them.” Ian’s decisive interruption and direct refusal caught the computer carrying Iron Man’s memories and thoughts off guard.
“…”
Digital Tony wanted to slap his forehead.
Unfortunately.
He no longer had a forehead.
“Roar!”
Just at that moment.
A deafening roar came from deep within the base. The entire underground space trembled along with it, the alarm blared instantly, and the red emergency lights flashed wildly.
