"A Kryptonian spaceship?"
Ethan nodded and briefly explained what he had done in the DC universe, which helped Tony understand where this Kryptonian spaceship had come from.
"Superman has appeared?"
"Yes."
Although the events in Diana's world and the situation with Superman differed significantly from the information he had known, Ethan didn't see a problem with it. There were too many parallel worlds, and any difference in choice, or even a particular event, could create a new timeline. That information could only serve as a reference.
"Do you have a sample of Kryptonite?"
"What do you want that for?"
"Just in case."
Tony shrugged. Although he wasn't from the same world as Superman, that didn't mean he wouldn't visit that world in the future. If he ever clashed with Superman, he needed a way to deal with him.
Considering the strength of that alien hero, the simplest and most effective countermeasure was Kryptonite. So Tony planned to build a batch of Kryptonite missiles for storage, just in case he found himself needing them and had none on hand.
"I didn't specifically go looking for it. If you want Kryptonite..." Ethan pointed to the Artemis below them. "The teleportation device on the ship is now connected to that universe. You can go find it yourself."
The Artemis was now essentially a transit hub between several universes. He didn't mind his friends using it to travel between worlds.
"This spaceship, aren't you keeping it for your own research?"
"I've already recorded all the data parameters. As for the physical object..." Ethan spread his hands helplessly. "You know I don't have the space here to research it."
Tony nodded in understanding and stopped being polite. After discussing it with Ethan, Ethan activated his teleportation magic again and made the spaceship disappear.
He then explained to Tony how to summon the exit, so he didn't need to worry about it anymore. With Tony's current level of magic, retrieving the Kryptonian spaceship after returning to the Marvel universe wouldn't be difficult.
"Jarvis, record this."
Even though he hadn't studied magic to enhance his mental power at the time, Tony was a super genius with excellent memory. But he was used to letting Jarvis handle trivial matters, and even though his mental strength had improved and his memory had become sharper, he had no intention of changing that habit.
After accepting the gift Ethan had brought back, Tony and Ethan returned to the Artemis. Tony was even more familiar with the ship, which he had modified personally, than Ethan was, so there was nothing for him to explore.
"Want to go see the teleportation device I built?"
Tony had come to find Ethan earlier to show off his latest work, but Ethan wasn't around at the time. Now that he was back, Tony wanted to show him.
"Let's check it out in a few days. I have a few things to deal with first."
Ethan had already planned out his next steps. Now that Diana was satisfied, it was time to get to work.
"What things do you need to do?"
In recent years, Tony had broken free from the constraints of Stark Industries. The company's operations had been handed over to his resurrected father, Howard. Currently, Howard was bursting with energy and drive, and Tony no longer needed to worry about the business.
As for product innovation? Stark Industries wouldn't have to worry about that for the next twenty years. Outsiders didn't know, but Howard and Tony were aware that their home was overflowing with advanced tech. Many products were already complete and simply waiting for the right time to be released to the public.
Under these circumstances, Tony could even take a break from research. He was now freer than ever, able to do whatever he wanted. That was why he came to Ethan's place for fun.
"Find a suitable world for Mordred to train in, retrieve a spaceship to visit the Transformers again, and maybe revisit a few worlds I've been to before."
These were the main tasks. As for gathering the crew and helping them get familiar with each other, that could be handled along the way.
For example, Ethan had already asked Luna to send messages to everyone, asking them to wrap up their current affairs and report how long it would take them to return to the Artemis for a meeting.
Most people responded right away, like Shirou, who could come over anytime. Annette, who was busy but could temporarily set things aside, also said she could return immediately.
The ones who needed more time were a few like Ada, who was occupied with something and probably couldn't drop it right away. But according to Luna's feedback, everyone could return within three days at the latest.
"A gathering?"
"And to discuss the next plan."
Ethan and Tony walked to the cockpit. Logan was supposed to be on duty, but he was currently in the DC universe, fighting for love, so the cockpit was empty.
Tony walked to the front, stood by the railing, and looked out at the vast void. After a long voyage, the Artemis had reached a new star system and was approaching the habitable zone. It had locked onto the nearest planet.
He stood there for a while. Although he could vaguely make out the planet's outline, it was still too far away to see any clear details with the naked eye.
"Shouldn't you finish those things you mentioned before?"
"Green Arrow?"
Ethan recalled Tony previously saying he wanted to meet Master Bruce, and then mentioning Oliver Queen.
"Once I've taken care of what's on my plate, I'll have time to take you to see Green Arrow."
He estimated that what he needed to do now wouldn't take long. Visiting Green Arrow's world afterward wouldn't be a problem.
Besides, there was something he wanted in that world too.
"No, no. Do you remember when you asked me to help you build a battleship, and you mentioned a variable-configuration atmospheric and space multi-role fighter jet?"
"VF?"
"Yeah."
Tony leaned against the railing, arms crossed, and nodded. Ethan might have just mentioned it casually at the time and didn't think much of it, but Tony remembered. He was very interested in something like that.
He didn't find it difficult to understand a fighter jet that worked in both space and atmosphere. Peter's Milano could be considered such a craft. The term "variable configuration" was the key detail.
He was especially curious about how this so-called variable configuration worked and what forms it could transform into. After learning that this aircraft type was used for military purposes, he really wanted to see it for himself. As a weapons expert, he knew how many technical hurdles had to be overcome for a transformable fighter jet to function reliably.
"Alright, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer."
"It's fine. I'm not in a hurry. I just wanted to remind you that I'm really interested in that."
Ethan nodded to show he remembered, and then the two began discussing spaceships again.
The Artemis was just a transitional ship. Ethan never intended to rely on this research vessel conversion for long. His goal had always been a better, more advanced, more powerful giant space battleship.
Or rather, what Ethan wanted was a mobile space city. And considering his personal taste, he wasn't very interested in artificial celestial bodies shaped like planets.
"Even if you wanted one, you couldn't build it in a short time."
Something like the Death Star in Star Wars, with a diameter of 160 kilometers, wasn't easy to construct. Even if Ethan used all the power he had access to, it wouldn't be enough to build such a massive technological marvel.
"With the current tech I have, I can build a space battleship several hundred meters long with some effort. Anything larger... unless I build a space base first."
Which brought him back to the previous issue. Before Tony built a space base, battleships over a thousand meters long basically couldn't be made in the Marvel universe.
But they could be built in the Starship Troopers universe. The Federation in that world already had mature technology and experience for constructing large battleships. According to the data they had gathered, the Federation's main fleet ships were all over a thousand meters in length, and even small transport vessels were in the six to eight hundred meter range.
"I was hesitant at first, but it looks like I'll definitely have to build my new ship in the Starship Troopers world."
"With your standards, there's no way you'd settle for the battleships that world already has, right?"
Tony already knew the Starship Troopers world well and had a detailed understanding of their battleship tech. Other than faster-than-light travel, their overall tech level wasn't impressive.
"Right, so I plan to collect as much 'advanced' tech as I can, then integrate it in that world to build a battleship that's entirely my own."
Thinking about it, he really needed to go to the VF world. The large-scale battleship technology there was also worth collecting, especially the famous Macross.
Tony rubbed his chin. Although Ethan didn't need his help to build the 'next-generation' battleship, he still wanted to get involved.
Besides, this didn't conflict with his Dyson Sphere project. Stark Industries had also been secretly preparing for that. Now, he would just add a giant space battleship construction plan alongside it.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)