It wasn't long before two full beef feasts were delivered to the front gate. The payment had already been processed, so the delivery workers left quickly after dropping everything off.
Tony and Harvey each pushed their massive trays of food into the house. As soon as Tony was inside, he made sure to shut the door behind him.
Though he had mentally prepared himself for the idea of being viewed as an outsider, Tony had only just recently joined the Void. If he could keep things under wraps for a little while longer, he intended to do so.
Without giving Harvey Amberlock a second thought, Tony Stark immediately dove into his meal, using his hands to tear the meat apart and eat with reckless abandon.
The amount of beef they had would normally be enough to feed several people, but under Tony Stark's ravenous appetite, the food was disappearing at an alarming pace.
The life energy coursing through him continually enhanced his cells, making him stronger with each bite.
Tony had only just joined the Void, so his body was still quite weak, meaning every ounce of energy had a noticeable effect on him.
In just fifteen minutes, Tony had devoured an entire cow.
As he finished, Tony could feel the increasing power surging through his body, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
Of course, thanks to his aggressive eating, his face was smeared with oil and sauce.
Just as Tony was about to go wash up, he glanced over at Harvey Amberlock, who was a few meters away, eating in an incredibly refined manner, and nearly done with his meal as well.
What caught Tony's attention the most was that Harvey didn't have a single drop of grease on his face or clothes.
"You're not eating with your hands. How are you keeping up with me?" Tony asked, looking a bit puzzled as he compared their respective eating habits.
"Practice," Harvey replied with a smile, swallowing his last bite.
"Guess I could learn a thing or two," Tony muttered, eyeing himself before heading off to the bathroom.
Tony had never really cared about dining etiquette. He was usually the one hosting, so as long as his manners weren't outright offensive, no one would say anything. Even in front of women, he would often get compliments for being authentic or for having a healthy appetite.
But now, reflecting on his recent meal, Tony realized how downright crude his behavior must have seemed compared to Harvey Amberlock's display of elegance.
With the Void members bound to grow in numbers, Tony was sure that he would eventually host a dinner for the others. The idea of everyone enjoying a grand feast together, only for him to be wolfing down food in the most unrefined way, amused him but also made him think he should maybe be a bit more mindful in the future.
Harvey, on the other hand, didn't seem to care and continued eating his food.
When Tony returned from the bathroom, having washed his face, he noticed that his appearance hadn't changed drastically. But upon closer inspection, his vision had improved, and his brown hair looked healthier, almost as if he was regaining his youth.
These changes were subtle compared to the enhancements Harvey had casually given him earlier.
Tony couldn't help but wonder just how powerful Harvey Amberlock had become. Still, considering what he had seen within the Void, Harvey's strength was a given.
Tony had a long way to go, but the most important thing for him now was to not let his newfound power consume him.
After giving himself a mental pep talk, Tony walked out of the bathroom. Not long after, more food began to arrive.
The two of them managed to finish the feast, which could have fed hundreds of people, in just under an hour.
"I've never had such an appetite before," Tony said, lying on the floor without a care in the world as he patted his full stomach.
"I should be heading off. As for Pepper, you should talk it over with her. If she's willing, I can offer her an opportunity," Harvey said, standing up after finishing the meal, clearly satisfied.
"Alright."
"After Obadiah Stane's betrayal, the only people I can trust now are Pepper and J.A.R.V.I.S. Having great power and a long life is a blessing, but eternal life can get pretty lonely when you're the only one."
"So, I'll make sure to convince Pepper, no matter what."
"Harvey Amberlock, I know I've said this before, but I want to thank you."
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity. And thank you for offering the same to Pepper."
Tony Stark stood up, a sincere look of gratitude on his face.
"I understand. Just do your best," Harvey said, his eyes flashing slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment before turning to leave.
This visit to the Stark estate had not only filled his stomach but also brought him far more than he had anticipated.
Now, Harvey had some thinking to do once he got home—about which hero template would best suit his growing abilities.
Once Harvey had left, Tony headed to his underground lab.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., scan my body and compare it to my condition yesterday," Tony said, looking at his reflection in a nearby mirror.
"Sir, your current physical state is equivalent to when you were twenty-eight years old. You are completely free of any ailments, and your cells have undergone significant enhancement. They're still strengthening, albeit at a slower pace," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported after a quick scan.
"Where's Pepper?" Tony asked, smiling at the news.
"Miss Potts is in her room resting, playing games on her tablet. She mentioned that today was a rare opportunity for her to take a break, so I've blocked any external noise to ensure she isn't disturbed."
"Smart. But now, go ahead and wake her up. Tell her to come to the underground lab—I've got something to discuss with her."
"Understood. I've passed along your message."
J.A.R.V.I.S. quickly relayed the information to Pepper, who, upon hearing it, got out of bed and made her way downstairs.
"Tony?" Pepper called out, noticing his silhouette from behind.
But something was different. Tony's posture was more upright, and there was an air of vitality about him.
"Pepper, there's something I need to tell you," Tony said, turning to face her with an unusually serious expression.
"And I need you to promise me you'll keep it a secret. You can't tell anyone."
"Oh my God!" Pepper gasped as she took in his appearance. Tony now looked like a man in his twenties, vibrant and full of energy.