Chapter Sixty-Three: The Path Must Be Walked Broadly

The day after the board meeting concluded, Jace received a call from Stark Industries’ HR department, inviting him to join a new division within the company.

This was truly a case of having a pillow handed to you just when you need to sleep.

Without hesitation, Jace accepted the offer. After days of fruitless searching for Viktor, he’d begun to doubt his own deductions—either Viktor was never here in the first place, or he was hiding within Stark Industries itself.

In order to ensure he could search every possible corner before being dismissed, Jace took extra care with his appearance before reporting for duty, trying to make himself look as much like an ordinary researcher as possible.

Of course, all these expenses were covered by his own funds. The Ouroboros Society’s mission rewards did not include any dollars. The money he spent was what he’d accumulated during his time operating in the surface world.

Upon arriving at Stark Industries’ New Energy Division, Jace discovered that he was to undergo an examination.

This test was arranged by Pepper. The content was exceedingly simple—basic common knowledge any researcher should possess. Yet for Jace, it was an insurmountable hurdle.

As a regular person from the surface world, the answers expected in Pepper’s test conformed to the way ordinary people expressed things. While, with careful analysis, one could find corresponding theories or data at the Clock Tower, without prior preparation, not even the cleverest person could connect the dots out of thin air.

Observing the casual or even disdainful expressions of the other candidates, and the rapid speed with which they filled their answer sheets, Jace knew he could not participate in this test.

Embarrassing himself in another world was one thing, but to miss the chance to discover Viktor simply because he failed an exam—that would be a disaster.

So, Jace picked up his blank answer sheet and slapped it down on the examiner’s desk.

Before the examiner could even react, Jace took a small, round mechanical device from his pocket and tossed it onto the desk.

With a series of crisp clicks, the round object swiftly transformed into a variety of common tools—Jace’s own invention, a multifunctional transforming device.

“I can’t answer this test. If you insist on using it as the standard for evaluation, you’re insulting me!” Jace declared, then turned and strode off, giving the impression that he didn’t care in the slightest whether he joined or not.

The examiner glanced at the HR personnel beside him, completely at a loss for words. He too felt the test was absurdly simple.

Not to mention professional researchers—even undergraduates who hadn’t graduated yet could probably score quite well.

At the same time, Jace’s actions seemed to inspire the other candidates.

Most people interviewing at Stark Industries were at least outstanding graduates from some university or pillars in their respective fields. To be given such questions was beneath them—they were the sort of thing they’d give to kids in afterschool programs.

Suddenly, the sound of tearing test papers filled the room.

“Let Tony Stark write the questions! We refuse to do these!” someone called out.

Once the herd mentality set in, it spread instantly. The examination hall was thrown into chaos.

Bang! The examiner slammed his palm on the desk and glared at the crowd below. He recognized many of them—this industry was small, and everyone knew each other.

“Show us your independent work!” the examiner demanded, picking up Jace’s multifunctional tool. “If anyone can present something like this, you can skip the exam as well!”

At that, most of the candidates fell silent. In just a short demonstration, the transforming device had shifted into over twenty specialized tools. Integrating all these functions into such a small sphere by means of shared components and mechanical conversions was a testament to real skill.

Frankly, Jace’s casual display immediately outclassed the majority present. Anyone confident enough to compete with that sort of result wouldn’t be sitting in this exam room—they’d have special invitations.

Having restored order, the examiner pulled the HR manager aside and spoke in a low voice, “Report this to Miss Pepper at once, and bring that gentleman back. Leave the rest to me—I’ll have them retake the test. Frankly, this paper is useless for screening; anyone could get a perfect score!”

In the elevator, Jace straightened his back, his cheeks flushed as if infuriated by the test. Where are they? Why hasn’t anyone come to stop me? Did I overdo it? Maybe I should have waited until someone offered an explanation.

Maintaining his outward composure, Jace stepped out of the elevator, his mind still racing.

Come on! Even if you don’t want me, at least return my device! If that thing ends up circulating among ordinary people, my supervisor will expel me from the organization for sure!

Clenching his fists and slowing his pace, Jace wrestled with himself. He desperately wanted to go back and retrieve his invention, but that would be humiliating.

“Mr. Jace! Mr. Jace!”

Hearing his name called behind him, Jace finally breathed a sigh of relief—he had truly been worried that they’d fail to recognize the value of his creation.

Turning around, he maintained a stern expression as he faced the HR staff member. “Madam, is there something else?”

“Mr. Jace, I’m terribly sorry. There was a mistake in our arrangements—your name was placed on the wrong list. That test was intended for regular researchers only; you don’t need to participate.” The HR employee, sweating profusely, recited the excuse he’d just concocted.

“Hmm, mistakes are inevitable for people like you. So?” Jace replied with an air of indifference. By now, all his earlier anxiety about leaving had vanished; he knew they’d recognized his worth.

“We’ve arranged a new interview for you, to be conducted by Miss Pepper herself. Please forgive our oversight.” The HR staffer adopted the meekest possible attitude. Though both the candidates list and test paper had been Pepper’s decision, this was hardly the moment to avoid taking the blame for his superior.

“Very well. Lead the way,” Jace replied coolly.

Outside, listening in through his communicator, Jenomi finally relaxed. Good—it had cost him enough money. If things hadn’t worked out, it would have been a terrible loss.

With Pepper and Tony both present at Stark headquarters—and Jace inside and himself outside—the two were undoubtedly safe. As for Stane, Jenomi hadn’t seen any sign of him all day, as if he’d vanished into thin air.