I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

Depp knew he needed to get Tony back on his feet and get him to do what he wanted to do most.

He also knew that Tony wouldn't die because the secret to the new element that could replace palladium was in Pepper's office.

"Take off this suit of metal? Tony, then you're still a billionaire, a playboy, a philanthropist, and the fucking smartest person in the world. And you are Iron Man, regardless of this suit."

"You are Iron Man! You are Anthony Edward Stark, not this lifeless suit of armor!"

Seeing Tony's red-rimmed eyes and his biting lip, Depp patted Tony's shoulder hard and encouraged him, "Come on, Tony! Remember to be sweet-talking later, girls all fall for that."

"I'll try my best." Tony, wearing his armor and carrying a mango, nodded nervously.

He then strode into Stark Tower, eliciting gasps of surprise from inside the building.

Depp put his suitcase on the ground, plopped down on it, and took out a donut to eat.

Watching Tony's retreating figure, he couldn't help but sigh, "Sure enough, men are always at a loss when they meet their true love, even a playboy like Tony."

"Are you friends with Mr. Stark?" a magnetic voice asked.

Depp looked up and saw a person dressed in a white researcher's coat standing in front of him.

"I guess so. Is there something you need?" Depp put the Mirror of Introduction on his glasses and looked at the other person.

Quentin Baker

Chapter 7 Depp, the Tool

In front of Stark Tower, Quentin Baker said to Depp warmly, "Sure enough, um... I mean you can sit in the lobby on the first floor of the building to avoid catching a cold."

He knew, of course, that the handsome young man in front of him was Tony Stark's friend; he had been secretly observing him from the corner for quite some time.

This young man talked with Mr. Stark for so long, and even patted Mr. Stark on the shoulder affectionately. How could he do that if they weren't friends?

Therefore, he wanted to seize this opportunity. If he could build a good relationship with Mr. Stark's friends, his research might be able to obtain more funding and support.

Seeing that Depp did not get up, Quentin Baker sat down next to him and handed Depp a business card: "I am Quentin Baker, a researcher at Stark Industries."

I also know that you'll become the supervillain "Mysterio" in the future... Depp took the business card and said, "My name is Depp. Can you tell me about your research?"

Quentin Baker was overjoyed to hear this; he hadn't expected Depp to be interested in his research.

"My current research focuses on holographic projection and memory reconstruction, which is not the kind of simple two-dimensional special effects like those in movies. I also have some minor research in chemistry, but it's not very important."

Faced with Quentin Baker's eloquent speech, Depp was somewhat overwhelmed; the guy was a bit too "enthusiastic."

Finally, Quentin Baker glanced at his watch before reluctantly saying, "I have to go hand in my report now. Let's talk again another time."

Goodbye, Mr. Baker.

Goodbye, Depp.

Before leaving, Baker added Depp as a friend on social media.

Depp thought that if this guy hadn't turned evil later on, he would have been quite an interesting character. Later on, due to his personality, he became increasingly extreme after being fired by Tony.

At that moment, Tony came out dragging two huge models of the 1974 Stark Industries Exhibition.

Ignoring the strange looks from the surrounding employees, he excitedly said to Depp, "Guess what I found?"

"You've discovered something related to the new element?" Depp laughed.

Tony looked disappointed and said, "Why are you always right? Is psychology really that amazing? I feel like you can read minds!"

Depp stepped forward and offered his hand: "Of course, quite impressive."

However, it's still a bit inferior to movies and comic books. Depp now regrets not watching the movies more often and reading more comics back then.

Otherwise, I would have a better understanding of these two worlds and the heroes and villains within them.

Tony asked, "I just saw you chatting with my researcher. Are you old acquaintances?"

If Depp and that researcher are old friends, Tony wouldn't mind asking them about Depp's situation.

Depp shook the business card in his hand and said, "I just met researcher Quentin Baker. He's very talkative and his research is quite interesting. You can keep an eye on him."

Depp's thinking was simple: if Tony had given Quentin Baker more attention and support, at least not fired him, then perhaps the guy wouldn't have become the villain Mysterio, and Spider-Man would have suffered less.

Expectations dashed, Tony replied dismissively, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on his research once I'm done with what I'm doing."

Turning to look at the sand table model in his hands, Tony felt like he had grasped the last straw, and his eyes were filled with hope.

"Let's go, Depp, back to the City of Liberty."

The last rays of sunlight cast a faint golden glow on the Blek beach.

In the villa in Liberty City, Tony looked at the protons and electronic projections surrounding him and couldn't help but laugh.

“Father, you’ve been dead for twenty years, yet you’re still lecturing me.”

For the next three days, Tony was busy transforming the studio to create new elements.

Depp, on the other hand, helped Tony with his tasks and picked up the experimental equipment via express delivery.

Looking at the people playing on the beach below the villa, Depp felt that this was the state he should be in now.

I came here on vacation!

Finally, on the third day, everything was ready.

Depp shoved the half-finished Captain America shield into the tube of the small particle collider, and Tony checked it with a balancer and exclaimed, "Perfectly balanced."

Outside the door, Agent Coulson walked in and said, "Friends, I'm leaving. I'm being transferred to New Mexico."

“A fascinating place,” Tony said.

Coulson agreed, "That's what everyone says."

Depp asked, "A secret mission?"

Coulson nodded: "More or less, but don't ask too many questions."

Depp expressed his understanding: "After all, you're a secret agent, so of course you have to keep things confidential."

But I don't need to ask to know that you're going to study Thor's hammer. Be careful, Thor might give you a good whack.

After seeing Agent Coulson off, Depp and Tony returned to their workstations.

Tony blew on his hands, which were covered in black lubricant, and said, "So, what's Agent Coulson's new mission?"

Tony was both excited and nervous about starting to create new elements, and he prepared to find some random topic to ease his nerves.

Depp said directly, "I guess he has a hammer mission."

Tony laughed and said, "I'm going to start, Depp."

"I'm serious, what are you laughing at..." Depp said, "Wait, I'll go out first!"

Depp knew that Tony had used a laser to cut up half of the studio while creating the new element, so it was not a good place to stay.

A moment later, Tony looked at the triangular reactor core emitting a pale blue light and knew he had succeeded.

Once you put on the tested new Arc Reactor, you will be reborn!

"Congratulations, you've been reborn!" Depp walked into the smoke-filled studio.

Sweating profusely, Tony said with a complicated expression, "Yes, Depp, I... I don't have to die."

Tony carefully placed the new elemental core into the Ark Reactor. Jarvis's voice rang out: "You have created a new element. The reactor is a better match for the updated core. I will begin testing immediately, and it is expected to be ready for use in a day."

Tony breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and slumped into his chair.

Three consecutive days of hard work had left this mortal exhausted, and he lay down on the chair and drifted off to sleep.

Up to this point, the plot hasn't deviated much from the original story.

This gradually put Depp at ease. He knew that, according to the plot, the next step should be at the Hammer Industries press conference, where Ivan Vanko would use intelligent combat robots to create chaos, but they would ultimately be defeated by Tony and Rhodes working together.

Counting the days, I realized I had three days left on my vacation, and Hammer Industries' press conference was in two days.

In other words, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he could enjoy his vacation for the next three days, which made Depp very happy.

However, his good fortune didn't last long. Only half a day later, or to be precise, five hours, thirty-two minutes, and seven seconds later, Tony woke up.

Tony, now awake, rubbed his face vigorously, gradually becoming more alert. He looked around at Depp and said, "That was a really good night's sleep. Do you know anything about mechanics and electronics?"

Upon hearing this, Depp put down his PS5 controller and said, "A little bit."

This knowledge is limited to the crafting of the Mark 5 briefcase armor.

"You're amazing." Tony stood up and said, "I think we've got this job."

Hmm? Depp keenly sensed the problem. Was someone trying to use the new core testing as an excuse to work overtime and produce the new armor?

This guy wants to take away his last three days of vacation!

Depp immediately added, "I think my limited knowledge is only at the primary and secondary school level, and it's a real shame that I can't help you at all."

Tony handed Depp a wrench without further ado, saying, "That's enough. In fact, all I need you to do is follow my instructions and do some heavy lifting."

Damn Iron Man, do you really think I'm just a tool?!

“Okay... sir.” Depp took the wrench and said in a drawn-out tone with a look of utter despair.

After that, Tony completed the first draft of the armor design in just half an hour, and then the two of them carefully reviewed it.

On the workbench, Tony, worried that the task might be too difficult for Depp, deliberately slowed down the speed of operating the robotic arm and said, "The BD6 welding gun is the third one from the right on the fourth shelf of the toolbox. Don't tell me you can't find it."

Fearing Depp wouldn't be able to find him, Tony made sure to explain in great detail; he thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of directing and instructing others.

This made him feel a great sense of accomplishment, especially since the object of his affections was Johnny Depp.

However, Depp didn't grant the wish of Marvel's greatest inventor, saying, "It's already on your right, didn't you see it?"

"Uh... okay, you always seem to anticipate my every move!"

You guessed right once, but the tools needed to make the armor are not just a few dozen.

After the initial welding was completed, Tony continued, "Screwdrivers number 6, 10, 13, and 17, do you need me to tell you where they are?"

Depp rolled his eyes at Tony: "It was right on the workbench above your head, damn it! Didn't you see I just put it there?"

“Uh… okay, you guessed right again!” Tony said. “You’re really lucky.”

"Bullshit, it's because I'm good at it!"

"Hehe, three screws each of sizes 7, 9, and 16."