Chapter 65: Tony’s Frustration

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Tony’s Frustration

Daniel returned to college with a thoroughly irritated expression. So much had happened that by the time he got back to the dormitory, it was already deep into the night. He landed directly on the rooftop.

Ever since the rooftop had been renovated, he hadn’t really stayed in the dorm rooms anymore. The place was spacious, packed with entertainment equipment, and far more comfortable than the dorms below. Aside from Susan, the three of them practically spent every night up here.

As for Tony and T’Challa, those two freeloaders had practically turned the place into a luxury penthouse. To make it easier to bring girls, they’d even installed an elevator, the only elevator in the entire dormitory building and it only went to the rooftop.

A lot of students had complained and protested because of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t accomplish anything. Once the complaints reached the college’s administration department, they disappeared without a trace.

In that regard, the million dollars Tony and T’Challa donated to the college every year was proving remarkably effective. Daniel actually hated it when Tony and T’Challa brought back girls, his hearing was far too good. So, any little sound in the middle of the night reached his ears with perfect clarity.

And considering he was seventeen now, well, there were some things a teenage boy really didn’t need to hear. Eventually, after Daniel’s relentless complaints, Tony and T’Challa had upgraded the soundproofing around the bedrooms. Combined with a pair of earplugs, life had become barely tolerable.

The rooftop lights were still on. Daniel pushed open the door and stepped inside. The three of them were still sitting on the living room couch, waiting for him.

"Well?" Susan immediately asked as soon as she saw him. "What happened?"

"I went to see an ancient person."

Daniel deliberately kept his tone light.

"She told me Carol will be back in six years."

He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe Carol’s off taking a vacation somewhere in the universe right now."

"That’s good," Susan visibly relaxed. "As long as she’s safe. Six years isn’t that long, it’ll pass before we know it."

Everyone let out a sigh of relief. Then all three pairs of eyes turned towards Daniel. Aside from Tony, both Susan and Carol had always gotten along quite well.

"Go ahead and ask," Daniel said with a smile. "I can tell you’re all dying to..."

The three of them had clearly been holding back a flood of questions. Tony opened his mouth first.

"How are you able to..." He struggled to find the words. "...do so many impossible things?"

Before Daniel had returned, he’d already questioned T’Challa extensively about Daniel’s abilities.

Daniel grinned, "Probably because I’m just that outstanding."

Tony immediately raised a middle finger. He’d spent hours thinking about this and that was the answer he got?

"Really?" Tony shot back. "Last time I checked, a certain someone has never had a girlfriend."

With Susan sitting nearby, Tony gave Daniel a particularly meaningful look. Daniel wasn’t remotely fazed.

"Maybe, but I also get asked out more than anyone else. Girls hand me their phone numbers every day. Honestly, it’s exhausting."

The two instantly slipped into their usual routine of verbally attacking each other. After a minute, Daniel waved his hand.

"Alright, enough."

Mutual destruction wasn’t accomplishing anything. His expression became more serious.

"Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on either. One day my abilities just awakened. After that, sunlight started making me stronger."

Tony nearly jumped out of his seat.

"That makes no scientific sense!"

He stared at Daniel.

"Are you sure you’re even human?"

"You should ask that question to my dad."

Daniel rolled his eyes.

"See if he doesn’t chase you across the state with a shotgun."

"That’s impossible!"

Tony still couldn’t accept it.

"You’re basically some kind of absurdly efficient solar battery. You’re converting solar energy directly into your strength.

There has to be a mechanism behind it, something we’re missing."

His eyes began to shine.

"Daniel, give me some blood. Let me study it."

Grabbing Daniel’s arm, Tony looked as excited as a child on Christmas morning. Daniel had known this was coming. There was literally a laboratory on the rooftop and given Tony’s personality, there was no way he’d pass up the opportunity to use him as a test subject.

Refusing outright would only make Tony more persistent. The best solution was to let reality crush his hopes, so Daniel just smiled.

"Sure."

The moment he agreed, Tony practically dragged him into the lab. The scientist buried deep inside his soul had awakened.

Inside the laboratory, Daniel stretched out an arm.

"Go ahead."

Tony didn’t waste any time.

He grabbed a sterilized needle and jabbed it into Daniel’s skin, the needle curved immediately.

Tony blinked in surprise, then he grabbed a thicker one. He still failed, then he tried a surgical blade, still nothing happened.

Eventually, he even brought out a cutting machine, even then Daniel’s arm remained completely unharmed. There wasn’t a scratch, not even a mark.

Tony stared at the equipment in silence. Then he sat down heavily.

"I was such an idiot."

His voice was filled with despair.

"I should’ve realized it sooner."

He looked at Daniel.

"With the speeds you move at, if your body didn’t have corresponding durability, you would’ve torn yourself apart a long time ago."

"So..." Daniel yawned "Still need that blood sample?"

He was bored out of his mind.

"No..." Tony shook his head.

"You clearly don’t want to do this, and it’s impossible anyway."

Now that he’d calmed down, his brain had started working again.

"Let’s head back. Susan and T’Challa have been waiting long enough."

The two returned to the living room. Seeing Tony’s defeated expression, Daniel decided to say something.

"Tony, there are still countless mysteries in this world."

He sat down across from him.

"We’re young. We have plenty of time ahead of us. An entire lifetime to explore the universe."

Tony sighed, "It’s just... everything that happened today." He just shook his head. "It’s too unbelievable and too unscientific."

Daniel understood what he was saying, Tony was incredibly proud of his intellect. Today’s events had dealt a direct blow to his worldview, he’d always believed that any problem could be solved if he thought hard enough.

That every mystery had an answer. Then Daniel came along and no matter how many brain cells Tony sacrificed, he couldn’t explain any of it, that stung a lot.

The guy who spent his days calling everyone else scientifically illiterate was suddenly discovering there were things he couldn’t understand either.

"Then maybe that’s part of science too."

Daniel smiled, "Things we don’t understand today might become things we understand tomorrow."

"Meaning you’ll let me run experiments on you in the future?"

Tony instantly perked up.

"Fuck Off."

Daniel answered without hesitation.

"Still..." Daniel’s expression softened, "Thank you... all of you."

The room quieted.

"I appreciate the concern. Even if you didn’t actually help with anything."

Tony, Susan, and T’Challa had been about to say they hadn’t done anything useful. Then Daniel beat them to it, the three of them nearly choked.

"I have a suggestion."

T’Challa suddenly raised his hand.

"To celebrate Carol being safe, how about we go to a bar and have some fun tonight?"

Daniel rubbed his forehead. T’Challa was becoming increasingly hopeless. These days, the prince seemed to spend every waking moment thinking about entertainment.

Daniel was honestly worried he might not graduate. Tony spent just as much time partying. The difference was that Tony had practically reached the point where most professors at the college couldn’t challenge him academically anymore.

T’Challa?

T’Challa survived exams largely because his eyesight was good enough to peek at answers. When the king had sent him to America, what had he told him to do again?

Daniel thought about it, then he realized something.

Actually... T’Challa had fulfilled the assignment perfectly. The prince was now extremely familiar with America. He’d also made friends from every walk of life imaginable.

As for technological development? Maybe he didn’t know much. But he did happen to have a friend named Tony Stark, so it was good enough.

Daniel decided not to think about it anymore.

"Sounds good," Tony immediately agreed.

"No."

Susan’s voice cut through the room. Both Tony and T’Challa turned towards Daniel.

"Let’s skip it tonight."

Daniel glanced at the clock.

"It’s already late."

"Fine."

T’Challa made a helpless gesture.

"Then tomorrow let’s throw a party here instead."

A grin spread across his face.

"I’ve met several new girls recently. We’ll fill up the pool tomorrow."

He and Tony exchanged matching smiles. Daniel’s heart immediately wavered. Susan looked like she wanted to object.

Then she saw the eager expressions on all of their faces, so after a moment, she gave up. Turning around, she headed towards her room.

"Then I’m coming too."

She huffed angrily as she walked away. The three men looked at each other. Then they all burst out laughing before heading back to their own rooms. Lying in bed, Daniel stared at the ceiling, a hopeful smile slowly appeared on his face.

’Hopefully T’Challa’s taste in women has improved this time.’

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