area51novel Chapter 48 Clark: His Identity Exposed but Failed
Chapter 48 Clark: His Identity Exposed but Failed
And just as Tony finished speaking, Jaeger heard the sound of achievement being accomplished, a sound he hadn't heard in a long time:
[A new achievement has been unlocked!]
[Achievement Completed - "Iron Man"]
[Unlock condition: First encounter with Iron Man.]
[PS: Although this isn't a superhero from your universe, it still deserves an achievement award—okay, let's recall a famous line: I am Iron Man!]
"Without further ado, let's begin the first step of our plan." Since they hadn't found the energy-devouring worms yet, keeping the suit on was pointless except for making him look like a cross-dresser and wasting energy, so Tony put the suit away again, which he thought was just for show.
Meanwhile, he casually walked to the table in the room, picked up a razor from the table and examined it: "First, I need you to help me collect some things."
"As I just mentioned, I can make a basic energy detection device in half an hour, but the parts can't just appear out of thin air, so I have to take them from some commonly used electronic devices..."
"Wait a minute," Jaeger suddenly spoke up, "So ultimately, you need some mechanical parts, right?"
"Hmm." Tony's gaze shifted to Jaeger, and he suddenly tossed aside the razor. "Judging from your eyes, you have some better ideas?"
"That's right." Jaeger cleared his throat. "As we all know, cooperation is based on honesty, so I'm going to announce something to you."
— In the context of cooperation, concealing useful abilities only hinders the efficiency of the collaboration. Taking the initiative to be honest is more likely to earn the trust of others than being forced to use them later.
This is also why Jaeger proactively informed Batman of his magical abilities when they collaborated before.
As it turns out, if Jaeger hadn't revealed this at the time, it would not only have affected his cooperation with Batman, but also Batman's attitude when he later fought the imposter one-on-one.
However, Jaeger does not intend to reveal everything now.
As he said before, the poison fog is his best card, and it's his current lifeline as Langdon Parrells. If he can't use it for the time being, there's no need to rush to tell others.
But another ability can come in handy now.
"By the way, what parts do you need?" Jaeger didn't directly explain his abilities, but asked Tony first.
Tony raised an eyebrow: "Interesting—let's start with a power module, either 3.3V or 5V will do."
As an engineering student before his time travel, Jaeger instantly recalled the components needed to construct a basic power supply module: power supply, voltage regulator chip, buck-boost module, and a bunch of capacitors for stabilization or filtering...
These elements, after being abstracted using LEGO bricks, were quickly transformed into a corresponding building instruction manual with the assistance of LEGO Builder's capabilities.
—Incidentally, Jaeger actually wanted to go straight to the point and create a module instruction manual for Tony's energy detection device...
However, unlike Jaeger, who understands the structure and can directly construct the power module, Tony's simplified version of the Energy Detection Device, which he claims is incredibly ingenious, is not within Jaeger's grasp, so he cannot build it directly.
This is also a minor drawback of the LEGO Builder's ability; you at least need to know roughly what the module you want to build is, otherwise it's difficult to come up with the corresponding brick structure just by thinking.
Getting back to the main point, after completing this step, Jaeger glanced around, then, under the watchful eyes of Tony and Clark, walked to the side and picked up a mug from the counter—
Then he crushed it into small pieces.
Tony, Clark: ?
One second it was made of ceramic, the next it turned into a set of building blocks.
Meanwhile, Jaeger was still picking and choosing, as if he could tell exactly what parts he needed, and he precisely picked out the parts he needed from the pile of blocks.
Next, he repeated the same steps several times, harming several innocent items in the room, until he finally collected all the building blocks he needed.
Now comes the crucial assembly part.
30 seconds, just 30 seconds... This is Clark's estimate of the time it took Jaeger to assemble a model in an instant with those blocks.
As the other party finished assembling the model, they tapped it lightly with their finger, and the block model transformed into a real power module.
[Assembly complete. You have obtained one 5V power module.]
Jaeger tossed the item to Tony, and as Tony caught it, he asked, "How's it? Does it meet your requirements?"
Tony weighed the object in his hand, finally showing a rare look of surprise. He examined the power module thoroughly, narrowing his eyes: "This is impossible... How did you do that?"
"So," Clark asked Tony cautiously, "he really used a pile of blocks, and blocks that even came from real objects... to assemble a working power module?"
"..." Tony looked at the module in his hand, then couldn't help but look up at Jaeger's innocent face, his lips twitching. "This is not scientific. I can name ten basic scientific laws that you just violated..."
"So you're only allowed to have amazing industrial technology in your world, but not our world can have its own special features, Mr. Stark?" Jaeger laughed. "Just tell me if you actually managed to get a power module for me."
This statement finally eased Tony's furrowed brows somewhat—indeed, different worlds shouldn't be judged the same.
Besides, his world wasn't without similar anti-scientific things, such as the Sorcerer Supreme who was a cloak-clad being.
Sigh, materialists who become superheroes always feel incredibly weary from the countless bizarre things hidden in this world...
Tony remarked with such emotion, while Clark, standing beside him, dared not utter a sound.
He was thinking: if his superpowers hadn't disappeared, it actually seemed quite unscientific at first glance...
By the way, speaking of superpowers...
Clark looked at Tony, who was initially unable to accept it but was now smoothly getting together with Jaeger to seriously discuss what modules they needed to build as an energy detection device, and Jaeger, who was gradually losing his smile and playing the role of a cold module production device. Clark was a little conflicted.
They both revealed their identities or special abilities to me, but what about me?
But he had never before revealed his superpowers to a stranger he had known for less than half a day...
After hesitating for a minute, Clark finally made his decision.
He wanted to try to trust the two of them.
These two people would at least think of everyone on the ship, and like him, they also possess special abilities or special identities...
So, Clark took a deep breath: "Um, I wanted to say..."
"It's done!" A voice suddenly interrupted, cutting off what Clark was about to say.
In just a short while, Jaeger and Tony had already assembled all the necessary modules by frantically dismantling the house and collecting building blocks—no one remembered that this was actually Bruce Wayne's room anymore—and even put together a simple energy detection device.
"Let's go, everyone, time is of the essence!" Tony pulled out a pair of sunglasses from somewhere and pushed them up his nose, while his other hand pressed the activation button on the energy detection device. "Let's catch the energy-devouring worms!"
After saying that, the guy rushed out the door impatiently.
"Here we go! ...By the way, Clark, did you have something to say just now?" Jaeger ran after him, not forgetting to turn back and ask Clark.
Clark, who had failed miserably in his attempt to expose himself, could only follow in their footsteps with resentment: "No, it's nothing, just pretend I didn't say anything..."