When Harvey stepped outside after finishing his meal, he saw Tony Stark standing on the steps outside the venue, looking somewhat melancholic.
"I told you, trust your instincts," Harvey said as he walked past Tony Stark.
"You're right, but Obadiah practically raised me," Tony replied after a brief pause, his voice tinged with hesitation. "Even though I had a gut feeling, I couldn't fully convince myself until I saw him act against me."
Tony had just confronted Obadiah Stane, only to find that Obadiah wanted to oust him from the company's board. It was clear now that Obadiah harbored ambitions of taking over Stark Industries. Tony couldn't pinpoint when Obadiah's intentions changed, but one thing was certain: the best way for him to seize control would have been to eliminate Tony.
Tony knew that the attack in Afghanistan wasn't a random strike by terrorists. It was too well-coordinated to be an impulsive attack on the U.S. military. This had to be a premeditated act. He'd been wondering who betrayed him, who revealed his whereabouts.
He never imagined it would be Obadiah Stane.
Harvey, though not having experienced betrayal like Tony's, understood that being backstabbed by someone you considered family wasn't easy to accept.
"If you've identified your enemy, don't show mercy," Harvey advised, his tone firm. "Otherwise, there might come a time when it's too late to act."
Tony was quiet for a moment, clearly wrestling with the internal struggle Harvey seemed to have seen right through. Although Tony had many questions, this time he didn't ask any of them.
Despite Harvey Amberlock's mystery and his apparent knowledge of everything, Tony was sure of one thing—they weren't enemies. At least, not yet. Harvey hadn't shown any intention of harming him. Tony had originally intended to gather more evidence against Obadiah before taking action, but Harvey's words had helped Tony make up his mind.
Without another word, Tony left the venue and headed back to his mansion.
Harvey also returned to his home. After the meal, the massive influx of evolution points allowed him to undergo his 265th evolution. A purple light engulfed his body, and shortly afterward, his Void Skin had successfully evolved for the 46th time.
Harvey decided to focus on upgrading his Void Skin to 100 evolutions before working on other abilities. In the Marvel Universe, many heroes might not have durable bodies, but their attacks are incredibly powerful. For him to survive in this world, physical resilience was paramount. As long as he wasn't killed in one blow, he could always come back stronger.
Originally, Harvey hadn't intended to interfere much with Tony Stark's fate. The reason he had given Tony that reminder earlier was because he had come to a realization. Aside from key moments—like Tony's transformation into Iron Man after his near-death experience—other minor events could be influenced without drastically altering the course of this universe.
After all, Obadiah Stane would still ultimately be defeated by Tony. Once that happened, Tony would have full control over the future of Stark Industries, without any external influence.
Harvey concluded that if a few words of advice were enough to shift the universe away from its "main timeline," then influencing Tony in other ways, like introducing him to the Void, would certainly have a similar impact. But it wouldn't be the end of the world. Even if this wasn't the main universe, it would only affect some of his future plans, not his own safety.
The only thing Harvey needed to avoid for now was openly promoting the Void and attracting the attention of people like the Ancient One or Odin. Other than that, he was free to act as he pleased.
Harvey felt the growing power within him as he began training in his basement. The Void Skin didn't just improve his physical defense; it also gradually increased his strength. While it wasn't as dramatic as directly upgrading active abilities, it was a steady improvement nonetheless.
This is why Harvey was so focused on enhancing his Void Skin at the moment. He knew that mental resistance was also important, but he wasn't in a rush. Magic-based opponents wouldn't appear until much later, at least not until someone on the level of Scarlet Witch appeared.
And even then, there wouldn't be much to fear. No matter how strong their magic, they wouldn't have the chance to engage him directly. Harvey would strike from the shadows, dealing a deadly blow before his enemy even knew what hit them.
Harvey had spent over $3 billion at once this time, leaving him with only about $100 million in liquid assets, after accounting for some fixed investments. So, he casually logged into the black market to see if there were any quick jobs to make some extra cash.
However, he found only smaller jobs offering between $1 million and $2 million, most of which involved bodyguarding assignments that lasted for a week or two. These jobs were typically handled by mercenary groups who liked to take their time, set up defenses, and eliminate threats as they came.
For many, earning $1 million in a week was no small sum, but for Harvey, these jobs were a waste of time. He'd rather spend that time eating more, evolving faster, and growing stronger.
After finding nothing worth more than $5 million, Harvey closed the black market site and headed into his basement for his usual training.
Meanwhile, Harvey Amberlock's voracious appetite at Stark Industries' charity gala had already begun circulating among New York's elite circles. Although the story hadn't spread citywide, it had certainly made its way through the upper echelon, where some looked down on him while others felt a bit envious.
Years of lavish living had spoiled their palates. Many in the elite could only nibble at their meals, finding themselves unable to eat much more without losing interest.
Most of the disdain came from the men in these circles, but many of the women were intrigued by Harvey Amberlock's enormous appetite. Previously, Harvey had stayed out of the public eye, not attending such events, which made it hard for them to find an excuse to approach him.
Now, however, things have changed. Harvey had started appearing at high-society gatherings, and even though the Stark Industries gala was the only one he'd attended so far, it sent a signal. They now had an opportunity to invite him to their events, just to see if he might show up.