Chapter Thirty-One: A Pleasant Collaboration

"What kind of machine is this? The craftsmanship appears extraordinary." As the foremost expert among scientists, Howard immediately sensed this item was no ordinary object the moment he glanced at the iPhone's sleek metal casing.

He picked up the phone, weighed it in his palm, and began fiddling with it, turning it this way and that.

"I call it a 'mobile phone'," Kyle replied with a faint smile, his tone reminiscent of a salesman launching into a pitch. "Don't be deceived by its compact size—this device contains over a hundred integrated functions. It comes with fingerprint unlocking, facial recognition, basic voice control, photography and video recording, file storage and decompression, messaging, alarm clock, calculator, audio recording, games, music, telephony, search engine, and so much more."

"All these advanced practical features in such a small machine?" Howard was utterly astonished, carefully examining the device.

Kyle suppressed a chuckle, watching the most brilliant inventor of Earth marvel at a humble phone, nearly unable to contain his laughter.

This phone was merely a green-grade item card—one of the common draws from his previous sacrifices. Kyle had initially thought that, since this was the era of World War II, with no widespread telephone towers or internet, a phone would be useless.

It wasn't until his last encounter with Howard aboard the plane that the idea struck him: the phone might be insignificant to him, but to a genius like Howard Stark, it was an entirely different matter.

No matter how ubiquitous phones became in the twenty-first century, in the year 1943, it was a revolutionary technological leap by more than half a century.

Howard experimented with the phone, his eyes growing brighter as the screen lit up. His fingers moved swiftly, executing commands with impressive speed.

Kyle was amazed. He hadn't explained even the basic operations, yet Howard, with his intuitive grasp of technology, was already quickly mastering the device.

No wonder this man could father the creator of artificial intelligence and the Iron Suit, possessing the passive card of "Technological Adaptation."

Kyle let Howard test the phone. Most of the apps had been deleted, and the time settings altered. Even if Howard discovered any secrets, Kyle was unconcerned.

The trial lasted a full ten minutes.

As Kyle poured the fourth glass of wine, Howard finally pressed the screen off.

He thoughtfully stroked his chin, then looked at Kyle with serious intent. "A color screen with such resolution, precise touch controls, and a host of practical features we can't even imagine yet. This machine you call a phone must originate from a planet with technology far surpassing ours—or perhaps, from the future."

"As for its origins, forgive me for not revealing too much," Kyle replied, smiling as he raised three fingers. "But I can guarantee three things:

First, its provenance is absolutely secure.
Second, there is no other phone like it in this world.
Third, it brings you only benefit, no harm. If you can fully understand the advanced technology within, Stark Industries will have the foundation to push into cutting-edge manufacturing once the war ends."

"I understand," Howard murmured, again lost in thought.

Kyle was in no hurry. He watched the gentlemen and ladies dancing with abandon, savoring the unique vintage flavor of his drink.

"Sir, may I have the honor of a dance?" During this time, many young women and ladies approached Kyle, drawn by his youth, handsome looks, and the perfect physique accentuated by formal attire.

"I'm sorry, my friend and I are discussing business," Kyle replied warmly, a gentleman's refusal that disappointed many, though some still left their contact cards with courage.

After a while, Howard asked tentatively, "If I invest in this phone, how much Stark Industries stock do you want?"

With that question, the negotiation could move forward.

Kyle let out a silent sigh of relief; he wasn't as calm as he appeared. He was confident in the phone, but this was the Marvel universe, where new energy weapons, anti-gravity devices, laser tanks, and self-driving fighter jets already existed. There was no guarantee Howard would be impressed.

"I want forty percent," Kyle said.

"Forty?" Howard was about to finish his first glass, but he was so startled he choked, coughing repeatedly. "You're asking for the moon!"

"Since it's a partnership, I'm not just investing this phone," Kyle replied calmly, revealing his second card. "The phone is just the opening token for our initial collaboration. I have something else just as valuable."

"Can you tell me roughly what it does?" Howard was intrigued; Kyle had already surprised him enough tonight.

"I can only say, it's an entry point into artificial intelligence," Kyle declared.

Howard trembled, nearly dropping his glass, spilling wine across the bar.

In this era, computers were still being developed, systems mere prototypes—what did artificial intelligence represent?

It represented the future.

"If everything you say is true, then you're not just investing in the present, but in the future," Howard said, trembling with excitement.

Kyle smiled and countered, "Under such terms, is forty percent of Stark Industries really too much?"

"Not at all! Absolutely not! Even if you wanted fifty percent, I would give it to you!" All hesitation vanished from Howard's eyes; he had no reason to refuse.

Money, fame, power, and women—Howard loved them all, but none compared to invention.

"Forty is enough. It's best if you remain the founder and principal shareholder," Kyle replied, smiling. Only under Howard's full control could Stark Industries follow its destined timeline to become a technological giant.

His investment was truly one that would yield limitless returns—a golden goose that would never stop laying eggs.

"Then it's settled. You invest with the phone and another item, and you receive forty percent of Stark Industries," Howard laughed heartily, ordering another drink from the bartender. He raised his glass high. "To a successful partnership!"

"To a successful partnership," Kyle echoed, raising his own glass.

They clinked their glasses, then drained them in one gulp.

No one knew that the largest stock transaction in the history of Stark Industries, the future top-tier enterprise, had just been agreed upon at the bar counter of this underground dance party.