January 1944
A month had passed, and the Hudson Dusters's collapse had caused a ripple—gang leaders, mercenaries, and the law enforcement community all started to take notice. But none of them knew who was behind the sudden shift.
They just saw a vacuum, an opening, and for now, I was happy to let them think it was a rival gang, a competitor, anything but me.
As the weeks rolled on, I continued my dual pursuit of knowledge and power. I'd built up an impressive arsenal of expertise. My body moved with a fluidity and grace that was unmatched. Combat flowed naturally, but so did academic knowledge.
By now, I had copied enough knowledge to elevate myself to a different level. I had a mental library of every skill I'd ever copied—martial arts, law, military strategy. Subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and more than 30 different languages and still adding more.
Yet, even with all this power, I knew one thing: I had to be careful. This is Marvel. Here just on Earth there are many beings more powerful than me.
But that didn't matter. I wasn't in a rush. I was biding my time, learning, adapting.
Soon, very soon I would gain more powers and before Thanos maybe even before Tony became Iron Man I would be ready for all of it. Because this world has many Mutants to offer. Many ways for power up and I am gonna crab them all.
***
March 1944
It had been two months since I first stepped foot into the realm of legitimate power, and in that time, I'd transformed my existence from a nobody in this war torn world into a sophisticated businessman with a carefully constructed identity.
By now, I was no longer the disheveled, aimless man I once was. I had become a shareholder in one of the most influential companies in the world: Stark Industries.
The clean background, the new persona—it was all thanks to the knowledge and skills I had absorbed from the person who forged my identity for money before. I copied similar abilities and then merged them to get a high level ability which helped me forge a very strong identity.
I have been copying skills from everyone I come across. My body, my mind, every part of me had been transformed by the knowledge I had copied, honed to perfection.
My new identity was as spotless as it was convincing.
Magnus Brooks, a wealthy young investor from Boston, who inherited a modest fortune, studied abroad, and bought his way into Stark Industries with a clever hand and good instincts.
The modest fortune was actually the wealth I had accumulated from my dealings with the criminal underworld. And that wealth was enough to become a shareholder.
It was March of 1944, Stark Industries had become a cornerstone of global power, and I had seamlessly integrated myself into that world. I'd spent the last two months attending board meetings, networking with the right people.
Today was no different. Another shareholders meeting was being held at Stark Industries headquarters. The boardroom was filled with the usual mix of influential individuals—men and women whose fortunes were tied to the success of Stark Industries.
There were the expected corporate sharks, like Obadiah Stane, who had an air of arrogance about him, always seeking to maneuver his way into the CEO's chair. He had his eyes set on more power, and I could see that in his eyes because I already knew the future.
But my focus was on one man: Howard Stark.
The moment he entered, the room seemed to hum with energy. Howard was the kind of man who exuded confidence, the kind of energy that could command the attention of an entire room without saying a word.
I wasn't here to engage in a friendly chat or strike up some corporate partnership. I was here to absorb every ounce of information I could, and to copy every skill I could get my hands on from Howard. Howard's sharp intellect, knowledge of different fields and blueprints of inventions skills were invaluable.
And then there was his playboy persona—the way he knew exactly how to charm and manipulate those around him, both in and out of the bedroom. I didn't need to do anything I just had to sit andd let my system do the rest.
[Copy Active]
Advanced Mechanics (Lv. 8)
Applied Chemistry: Weaponized Compounds (Lv. 6)
Energy Systems Design (Lv. 3)
Metallurgy Knowledge (Lv. 8)
Blueprint Drafting & 3D Visualization (Lv. 4)
.
[Many more omitted]
[All knowledge merged with existing skills]
.
I could feel the pulse of information starting to flood my mind as I activated my Copy ability. My mind rapidly processed Stark's innovation and inventions. I copied his understanding of advanced engineering, his knowledge of weapon development, and his ability to read people like an open book.
At the same time, I couldn't help but notice the subtle techniques Howard used with his charm. His playboy persona was more than just a casual part of his life; it was a tactical advantage. He understood exactly how to make people feel important, how to play with their emotions just enough to get what he wanted. I copied those techniques too—the ability to read social cues, to make someone feel like they were the only person in the room, to drop just the right words to make them trust you.
As the meeting began, Howard leaned forward, his fingers tapping the table with an almost methodical precision. He was speaking about a new development, one that seemed to be on the verge of changing the course of the war.
Midnight Oil.
And yes I had it's formula in my brain already.
******************************************
You can get access to early chapters on patr*on.
If you like my work and you want to support me then you can become my patron on patre*n.
My patr*on account is S_Pandey_0170