Chapter 177: Ch.176 Expo

Chapter 177: Ch.176 Expo

Gin saw them coming and crushed his cigar under his shoe. Early spring in Brooklyn always had a peculiar stench, the result of the filth hidden under the winter snow finally thawing.

"You guys figured it out?" he asked.

"Yeah, we're all set," Bucky replied with a grin, followed by a mischievous chuckle. "Thanks again—those passes are going to be perfect tonight."

Gin gave him a strange look but quickly seemed to understand. Smiling, he reached over and plucked a wilted lettuce leaf from Steve's back.

"Alright, but Steve should probably head home to change first. You don't want to go out with a girl while wearing a coat covered in garbage."

Steve sighed. He wanted to find a girlfriend, but every time he went out with Bucky, the girls only had eyes for his tall, handsome friend, treating Steve like he was invisible. Tonight, he could only hope for better luck.

"Thanks, Mr. Gin," Steve said.

With Bucky's arm draped over his neck, Steve was led out of the alley. Bucky could barely wait to start giving Steve advice on how to talk to girls, but Steve suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, what happened to that guy?"

Gin adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing as if catching the light. He replied casually, "I had my men take him to the police station. The charge? Environmental pollution. You won't see him for a while."

Steve was confused. Sure, the guy had knocked over a few trash cans, but since when was "polluting the environment" a crime? Was there even an environmental protection law?

Before he could make sense of it, Bucky dragged him off. Gin watched them disappear around the corner, heading toward their home.

Gin, meanwhile, turned toward the movie theater. His job, assigned by Su Ming, was complete, and now he could do what he enjoyed—watching a movie.

That evening, the World of Tomorrow Expo was packed with people. Every major company was showcasing its latest products, with all sorts of strange and fascinating inventions grabbing attention at every corner.

Perhaps the looming shadow of war made people yearn for celebration, and the name "World of Tomorrow" inspired hopeful fantasies of better days ahead.

But Steve's fears came true.

Many women dreamed of becoming Mrs. Stark, hoping to win his heart. But Howard was only interested in fleeting flings, never discussing emotions, and those women all failed.

Yet that didn't stop more from throwing themselves at him. Howard lived each day in blissful indulgence, surrounded by beauty.

After his customary flirtation with the stage girl, Howard wiped the lipstick from his mouth with a handkerchief and began introducing his latest invention.

"What if I told you, that in a few years, your car could hover above the ground as it drives? How would you feel?"

Howard gestured to the girls to remove the wheels from the red sports car on stage. As they moved a control panel into place, he asked the crowd his mysterious question.

Steve seized the opportunity to try and talk to the blonde girl Bucky had paired him with. He hadn't had much experience talking to girls; his frail health had always kept him off their radar.

"Do you want some popcorn?" His bony hand offered her a small bag.

Predictably, the girl rolled her eyes and turned away, completely ignoring Steve. She was much more interested in Howard on stage.

Howard, too, wasn't expecting any answers from the audience. Grinning smugly, he adjusted some settings on the control panel and winked at the girl he had kissed earlier.

"Thanks, Mandy." He then turned back to the crowd and, with a flourish, placed his hand on the control panel, revealing the answer. "With Stark Industries' anti-gravity technology, anything is possible!"

With that, he slowly pushed the lever upward, and the tireless car began to float above the stage, drawing gasps from the crowd.

It was magical! Steve and the others' eyes widened as they watched in amazement. People around them started to clap, and as the applause filled the air, Howard's smile grew even broader.

But just as the car hovered for a few glorious moments, the anti-gravity device sputtered with sparks, followed by a puff of smoke. The car dropped back to the stage with a loud crash, causing the crowd to recoil in shock.

Howard, however, was unfazed. As a researcher, he knew the technology wasn't yet complete. Getting it to float for even two seconds was an overachievement.

Smiling confidently, he raised the microphone to his lips. "I told you—it's for the future."

The audience didn't mind. Whether it hovered for two seconds or indefinitely, it was still a miracle in their eyes. Thunderous applause erupted once again.