x40 – The Reason for Making Money
Tony Stark ate an astonishing amount of food, and the more he consumed, the stronger the power flowing through his body became.
This sensation, raw strength increasing in real time was something even the enhancements from his previous exposure to advanced treatments couldn't compare to.
It was far more direct than anything achieved through technology, even surpassing the efficiency of the Arc Reactor that sustained his life and powered his Iron Man Armor.
The feeling was intoxicating.
But suddenly Tony Stark realized something was wrong.
All the food was gone.
"I remember preparing lunch for at least a hundred people to invite you."
"Where did all that food go?"
Tony Stark froze, clearly stunned.
"What did you think I was doing just now?"
Harvey, hearing this, casually patted his still flat stomach and asked in return.
"…Right."
Tony Stark paused, then immediately reacted.
"Jarvis, prepare more food for me, enough for at least four hundred people."
"Today, I'm hosting Harvey Ambellaca."
Tony Stark said with a smile, completely unconcerned about the massive amount of food that had just disappeared.
He had already accepted the rules of the Void.
Although Harvey had mentioned that devouring living beings would accelerate evolution, Tony Stark had no intention of going down that path.
Even knowing that consuming enhanced beings such as those altered by gamma radiation like Hulk or cosmic energy users could drastically speed up his growth,
he rejected the idea without hesitation.
He would not abandon his principles.
After all His lifespan was no longer limited to a mere human century.
He now had time.
Time to grow stronger.
Time to innovate.
Time to push science and his own existence beyond limits previously unimaginable.
"Understood, sir. I will make the necessary arrangements immediately."
J.A.R.V.I.S. responded promptly.
Even on a holiday, with Stark's resources and wealth, organizing large-scale catering on short notice was entirely feasible.
"Harvey Ambellaca, could you share some insights about evolution with me?"
Tony Stark asked, turning toward Harvey as he walked over.
"To be honest, I can't be your reference point."
"Because you and I are fundamentally different."
"You might not understand that now, but you will soon."
"This difference doesn't mean you're flawed. You also possess a long lifespan now."
"It simply means your abilities, your path, and your limits… will be entirely your own."
"I don't know what you will ultimately become."
"You'll have to discover that yourself over time."
Harvey sat down on the sofa, clearly in no rush to leave now that Tony had decided to host him properly.
"I understand you can't be my reference point."
"I just want some guidance… something to start with."
"And besides me… are there others who have joined the Void?"
"If I could exchange ideas with them, maybe I could accelerate my understanding"
Tony Stark said as he approached the sofa.
But the moment he sat down, He forgot to control his strength.
Crunch.
The sofa collapsed instantly under him.
"Holy—!?"
Tony Stark exclaimed, instinctively bracing himself.
But there was no pain.
Only shock.
The reinforced structure of the furniture, something that could easily support multiple adults had been crushed effortlessly by his own body weight.
"Don't be alarmed. You're just beginning."
Harvey didn't even look surprised.
"You need to learn how to control your power."
"Otherwise, everyday actions like sitting down, picking up objects, or even shaking someone's hand could cause unintended damage."
"Besides your scientific research, you'll need to dedicate time to mastering your physical abilities."
"Or you might end up destroying things around you… without even realizing it."
Harvey spoke calmly, as if stating something obvious.
Tony Stark looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly.
For the first time—
He truly understood what it meant to possess power beyond human limits.
"As for companions, currently, no other beings besides you have joined the Void as your companions."
"But there will be more in the future, and then you can exchange your experiences on your respective evolutionary paths."
Harvey looked at the shocked Tony Stark and spoke calmly.
"So… that means I'm the first?"
Tony Stark struggled to stand up from the collapsed sofa, pointing at himself in disbelief.
Harvey nodded slightly.
"Thank you for your recognition, Harvey Ambellaca."
Tony Stark said sincerely, already understanding the implication behind this.
Earlier, Harvey had mentioned those geniuses who once shone brightly in history but were ultimately limited by their short lifespans.
Figures who could have reshaped entire eras yet faded because time did not allow them to go further.
That comparison alone made it clear.
In Harvey's eyes, Tony Stark belonged to that category of individuals
A genius capable of leaving a lasting mark on the world, much like legends such as Howard Stark or even contemporaries like Reed Richards.
Tony had always believed in his own brilliance.
From building the first Iron Man armor in a cave to miniaturizing the Arc Reactor,
he already knew he would change the world.
But now this opportunity changed everything.
He no longer had to race against time.
He could write his own history without limits.
"Although I gave you this opportunity, don't act so restrained."
"Just talk to me normally."
"It's natural for you to want like-minded individuals to exchange experiences with."
"While I can't serve as your evolutionary reference, I can at least guide you on what accelerates your growth."
Harvey said calmly.
"Then tell me quickly."
Tony Stark immediately responded, not bothering with formalities anymore.
He remained standing, since there was no longer any furniture capable of supporting his current strength without risk.
In Tony's mind, Harvey Ambellaca was no longer just a person—
He was the closest thing to the will of the Void itself.
And having direct access to such a being?
That was an opportunity no genius would waste.
"The Void's evolution follows two primary paths."
"One is continuous evolution through absorption and devouring."
"The other is adaptation—evolving in response to environments, pressures, and conditions."
"The stronger the lifeform you consume, the faster your evolution progresses."
"For example, on Earth, creatures with high կենetic vitality like cattle, bears, tigers, and deep-sea organisms contain far more life energy."
"However, if you don't want to attract unnecessary attention—from governments, S.H.I.E.L.D., or even global organizations"
"it's better to avoid protected or rare species."
"Stick to common sources like beef and pork. They still provide substantial energy."
Harvey explained patiently.
Tony Stark immediately understood the hidden meaning behind that advice.
If he started hunting endangered predators or rare species, it wouldn't just be animal protection agencies—
Organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. would intervene without hesitation.
And now that he himself had become something beyond human, he needed to avoid unnecessary exposure.
"...No wonder you're so focused on making money."
Tony Stark said thoughtfully.
With Harvey Ambellaca's terrifying appetite, maintaining that level of consumption required immense financial support.
Without wealth, sustaining such evolution would be impossible without resorting to extreme measures.
And someone like Harvey who could easily overpower entire squads of agents xlearly didn't rely on brute force to survive.
He chose control.
"Exactly."
"I make money so I can eat what I want without attracting attention… and still enjoy life."
Harvey replied with a faint smile, not hiding his reasoning at all.
.....