Marvel: Genes of Power

Chapter 008: The Horrified Howard

Smair glanced around the exhibition hall, taking in the vibrant displays and the buzz of excitement. He knew that Tony Stark's father, Howard Stark, was present here and showcasing his latest inventions. If he could somehow connect with Howard Stark, it might make acquiring the serum much easier than he initially anticipated. His sharp eyes scanned the area until they landed on the section designated for Stark Industries.

Without wasting any time, Smair moved toward the Stark Industries booth, navigating through the throng of people. It didn't take him long to spot a familiar figure—a man with a sleek mustache and an air of confidence. That had to be Howard Stark, the future father of Iron Man.

It seemed Bucky and his group were also heading in the same direction. Stark Industries was well-known across the United States, and naturally, their booth attracted a large crowd.

"Hey, kid! Why are you tagging along? Maybe you should wait a few years and grow a little taller before coming back," Bucky teased as he noticed Smair struggling to see over the crowd.

Smair's eye twitched at the comment. His patience was wearing thin. He felt a strong urge to punch the future Winter Soldier square in the face, but he knew better. His height—or lack thereof—was a sensitive topic, and Bucky's joke had hit a nerve.

Instead of reacting outwardly, Smair gritted his teeth and began to push through the crowd. He wasn't about to let his height or anyone's words deter him. As he maneuvered his way forward, he absorbed the kinetic energy from the people around him, leaving them unable to push back against his progress. Slowly but surely, he made his way to the front.

Bucky, watching from a distance, blinked in surprise. How had the kid managed to squeeze through the dense crowd like that? He had half a mind to lift Smair onto his shoulders so he could see better, but it seemed unnecessary now.

At the front of the crowd, Smair focused on the stage. There, Howard Stark was preparing to make his grand entrance. He exuded charisma as he stepped onto the stage, accompanied by music and dancing assistants.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Howard began, his voice confident and captivating, "in a few years, your cars may no longer need to touch the ground!"

With the help of his assistants, he demonstrated his latest invention—a car equipped with an anti-gravity device. The tires were removed, drawing murmurs of curiosity and skepticism from the audience. Howard activated the device, and to everyone's amazement, the car began to float.

But just as the crowd's astonishment reached its peak, the anti-gravity device emitted a bright spark. The car wobbled precariously, and it became evident that the demonstration was about to fail.

Smair, acting on instinct, extended his hand subtly. His powers stabilized the car, causing it to float steadily once more. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, oblivious to the true reason for the car's sudden stability. Cameras flashed as people captured what they believed to be a successful demonstration of Stark's groundbreaking technology.

Howard Stark's heart jumped. This situation was obviously short-circuited by the anti-gravity device. How could it float?

Suddenly he saw Smair who stretched out his hand and fiddled with the car. His pupils shrank. His instinct told him that the reason why the car floats must be because of him!

The people around were frantically photographing this suspended car, and they constantly heard praises. No one noticed Smair, except... Howard Stark.

As Smair retracted his hand, the car dropped abruptly to the ground.

Seeing the car hit the ground, Howard Stark looked at Smair. Smair had already retracted his hand, obviously! His instincts are correct.

Listening to the sighs of the audience, Howard made up his mind to get in touch with this mysterious little guy,

The crowd sighed in disappointment, but Howard, ever the showman, quickly recovered.

"Well, there you have it, folks! Thirty seconds of gravity-defying innovation. Just imagine what we'll achieve in a few years!" he quipped, earning a round of applause from the audience.

As the crowd began to disperse, Smair noticed Bucky and Steve heading toward the U.S. Soldier Recruitment Center with their female companions. It seemed there was a grand farewell event being held for soldiers preparing to head to the battlefield. Beautiful women and fine wine awaited them, leaving Smair alone to explore the exhibition.

"Hey, kid, wait a second!"

Smair turned to see Howard Stark weaving through the departing crowd, his gaze fixed on him. Smair smirked inwardly, knowing he had caught Stark's attention. Pretending to be innocent and unaware, he looked up at the inventor with wide eyes.

"Uncle, is something wrong?" Smair asked, his voice soft and childlike.

Howard crouched down to meet Smair at eye level. "Little guy, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Smair replied, dropping the childish act and speaking with an air of maturity.

Howard's eyes narrowed slightly at the sudden shift in demeanor but pressed on. "Did you have something to do with that car staying afloat back there?"

"Yeah," Smair admitted casually.

Howard leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. "What kind of ability do you have?"

"I can control magnetism," Smair said matter-of-factly.

Howard's mind raced. "Where did you get this ability?"

Smair's expression darkened slightly. He pushed up his sleeve, revealing a tattoo on the inside of his arm. "Nazi concentration camp," he said, his voice cold.

Howard's eyes widened, and his heart sank. The mere mention of a Nazi concentration camp was enough to send chills down his spine. The tattoo confirmed Smair's story—a mark of horror and inhumanity.

The excitement and curiosity that had filled Howard moments ago were replaced with a deep unease. The idea that this seemingly innocent boy had survived such a hellish place was almost incomprehensible. And yet, here he was, standing in front of him in the heart of the United States.

Howard's heart suddenly flashed, and his eyes flashed with horror, Nazi concentration camp, this is synonymous with the devil place, this innocent and cute little guy actually ran out of the Nazi concentration camp, can run out of the Nazi concentration camp, and come In the United States, did he meet a ghost? ? ?

The heart that was originally hot, as if being poured with a basin of cold water, was so cool and soaring.

Howard forced a smile, but his mind was already racing with questions. Who was this boy, and how had he escaped the Nazis?

What else was he capable of? One thing was certain—Smair was no ordinary child, and Howard intended to learn more.

*****

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