"So, you've probably put some restrictions on your AI, right?" Harvey glanced at Tony as he spoke.
After all, Tony was the kind of mad scientist who eventually created Ultron. The Avengers weren't fully assembled yet, and Harvey couldn't be on Earth all the time. If Tony accidentally created something like Ultron ahead of time, sparking a crisis, the damage would be catastrophic, even if they managed to stop it.
So Harvey figured it wouldn't hurt to remind Tony of that danger.
"I mean, I built it, didn't I?" Tony replied, confidence oozing from his voice. "J.A.R.V.I.S. has several deep-level restrictions. There's no way he'd go rogue on me."
"As long as you're confident," Harvey nodded. "You've seen plenty of sci-fi movies. An AI uprising would be devastating, even if we manage to stop it."
Tony's expression flickered slightly at the mention of an AI crisis, and he nodded in understanding.
Seeing Tony had taken his words to heart, Harvey didn't press further. It wasn't something that worried him too much, especially now. The original Tony created Ultron because of his vulnerability as a mere human—constantly fighting on the front lines without sufficient firepower or protection. He built the Iron Legion and relied on AI because he felt powerless.
But now, Tony was aligned with the Void. As he continued to evolve, his own body would eventually surpass the power of his Iron Man suits. It was only a matter of time.
When that day came, tearing off Tony's armor wouldn't make him weaker; it would be the start of something far more terrifying.
Harvey couldn't help but feel a bit excited about what would happen when Tony finally met Captain America. Just imagining Cap's reaction when he realized Tony wasn't just a man in a suit, but an actual powerhouse, brought a sly smile to Harvey's face.
With Steve Rogers' revival about a year away, Harvey knew the day wasn't too far off.
If Captain America awoke, Harvey wouldn't even need to recruit him. Once Cap saw the modern world and caught a glimpse of the Void's power, if he thirsted for strength, he'd come to Harvey himself. If Cap didn't seek him out, well, Harvey wasn't about to go chasing him.
Cap was very different from Tony. When Harvey first recruited Tony, he was a man who had just undergone a major shift in perspective. Tony had only just created his Iron Man suit, a revolutionary technological marvel, but he still hadn't seen the bigger picture.
Sure, Tony was a genius, and filthy rich to boot. But those weren't the most important factors. What mattered was that Tony, at the time, hadn't yet experienced the vastness of the universe. And he still had something to fight for. Once Harvey had offered Pepper a chance to join the Void, Tony had immediately agreed.
Captain America, on the other hand, was an old-fashioned guy from a bygone era. He didn't share Tony's desire for more time to realize his ambitions.
On top of that, in the modern world, Cap had nothing left. The love of his life had passed away. No familiar friends, no comrades. His only remaining connection was Bucky, the Winter Soldier, and that relationship was fraught with its challenges.
Having already faced the pain of losing loved ones, Cap had no grand ambitions for which he needed more time. For him, immortality could very well be a curse, not a gift.
That's why Harvey wouldn't go out of his way to recruit Steve. But if Cap came to him seeking the Void's power, Harvey would certainly give him a chance.
Tony, noticing Harvey hadn't pushed the topic of AI further, took it as a reminder to tread carefully and make sure he didn't cross any lines without the means to control the outcome.
"By the way, Harvey, can you tell me what you've been up to in space these past few months?"
Tony finally asked the question that had been gnawing at him for a while.
"Not much. Just established the Void Church and got a few more believers," Harvey replied casually as if it were no big deal.
"You set up a Void Church?" Tony's eyes widened, his mind spinning as he processed the information. "So that means... I have comrades now?"
"You should think of them as members rather than comrades. Whether they're on your side or not, I can't say for sure," Harvey said, knowing exactly what Tony was thinking. "Remember, Void believers aren't bound by many rules. You'll have to figure out where they stand on your own."
"I like that there's no hard restrictions," Tony grinned. "It means I can form alliances with them, right? Get them to help out Earth when it counts."
Harvey's attitude toward S.H.I.E.L.D. and America's politicians had been clear for a while, so Tony knew the best way to get the Void Church involved in defending Earth was to build alliances on his own. He didn't expect Harvey to take on the responsibility of protecting the planet himself.
Plus, Tony vividly remembered Harvey mentioning a major crisis coming in 2017—a crisis so large that Earthlings and aliens would have to unite to survive. That only strengthened Tony's resolve to make as many allies as possible.
"If you can persuade them, I won't stop you," Harvey said, raising an eyebrow. "But don't say I didn't warn you. Earth isn't their home. If you invite them here without a way to control the situation, things might not go as planned."
"I know that," Tony said confidently, leaning back in his chair with a grin. "But as long as they have desires, there's always a way to motivate them. After all, I am a master negotiator."
Harvey chuckled softly. Tony's wealth and business savvy had always been part of his charm. But Harvey wasn't going to let him off that easy.
"You're rich, Tony, no doubt. But Earth's currency doesn't exactly have value in the cosmos," Harvey said with a knowing smile.
"I'm well aware," Tony replied, his mind already spinning. "Earth is classified as a lower-tier civilization in the grand scheme of things. We'd have to adhere to the currency system of more advanced civilizations. Which brings me to my request, Harvey."
It seemed Tony had already planned this out and was now just seeking Harvey's approval.