Stark, of course, knew exactly how smart Lemu was.
They'd spent hours bouncing ideas off each other, and there were gaps in Stark's own knowledge that Lemu had effortlessly filled in.
His casual jab was nothing more than habitual teasing.
Pepper frowned.
"Wait—Lemu's that advanced?"
Her memory flickered back to the heated argument she'd overheard in the basement—something about mechanical designs and motion sensors.
She had chalked it up to Stark's eccentricity at the time, but now?
Was Lemu… actually a genius?
Lemu gave a casual nod, as if his words were the most natural thing in the world.
"Yeah, I already told you—I have photographic memory. I don't just know mechanics and algorithms. I also know medicine, aeronautics, civil engineering, materials science, and a bunch of other fields. Most textbooks and research papers are online, so it's not a big deal."
He shrugged, brushing it off like it was common knowledge.
"I'm probably qualified to be a Ph.D. holder in at least one of those fields. Nothing special—it's normal."
Pepper blinked, completely at a loss.
Her gaze flickered between Lemu and Stark, scanning for any hint of sarcasm or exaggeration.
But both men looked entirely serious.
Stark, on the other hand, nodded along thoughtfully.
A fellow genius.
Only people who had walked similar paths could truly understand each other—Lemu's words struck a chord.
After all, Stark himself had earned multiple Ph.D.s before most people even finished college.
"Not bad. About the same level I was at when I was younger."
Pepper, ever the realist, quickly picked up on a practical issue.
"If you're self-taught, you won't have any official degrees to back it up. That could cause problems later."
Skill is one thing—credentials are another.
Whether you were rich or talented, having the right papers mattered—especially in high society, where education doubled as status symbols and networking tools.
When wealth alone couldn't set people apart, things like backgrounds, academic records, and titles became the new dividing lines.
Ironically, the richer someone was, the more they cared about credentials.
Pepper's eyes sparkled with ambition as she began laying out plans.
"With your knowledge level, earning a degree shouldn't be hard at all. Start with one year at a university, apply for early graduation, and get your bachelor's degree.
"At the same time, prepare thesis papers for your master's and Ph.D.
"You could complete both within a few months of earning your bachelor's and potentially become the youngest Ph.D. holder in the world.
"That kind of record would open doors you can't even imagine."
Stark's gaze lingered on Lemu.
He leaned back, considering Pepper's idea.
Integrating an alien into human society…
It wasn't just smart—it was necessary.
Whether for Earth's safety or Lemu's own, giving him an anchor among humans might prevent a worst-case scenario.
Three seconds later, Stark made up his mind.
"I've got an old classmate who's now the vice president at Caltech Los Angeles. I can give him a call if you're interested in campus life."
Caltech wasn't far—less than 100 kilometers from Stark's Malibu mansion.
But that wasn't what caught Lemu's attention.
When did Stark start being so thoughtful?
Lemu's brow furrowed as he gave Stark a long, skeptical look.
He couldn't help it.
Was it paranoia? Bias?
Nope.
It was just Stark.
And Lemu planned to cling to his suspicions.
Still, the idea lingered.
He'd been in the U.S. for a while now, yet he hadn't even stepped foot on a campus. Most of his time had been spent locked in the basement, buried under blueprints and metal plates.
Not that armor wasn't amazing—because it was.
But life needed more than cold, hard steel.
It needed poetry. Adventure.
Even if it was just achievements in some invisible scorebook, he wanted to collect them all.
Go to school? Not a chance.
But getting a degree?
That sounded more like a side quest.
Show up for finals, crush the tests, and call it a day.
No big deal—just something fun to check off the list.
Once Lemu expressed interest in enrolling, Tony Stark wasted no time contacting an old classmate.
The video call connected quickly, revealing an elderly white man with silver hair, glasses, and a lab coat.
He looked every bit the quintessential professor—except for his ridiculously thick hair.
Despite his age, his hairline defied gravity, putting most young men to shame.
Tall and broad-shouldered, it wasn't hard to imagine that he'd been a force to be reckoned with in his younger years.
The man's booming laughter filled the screen as he greeted Stark.
"Tony! Long time no see! What brings a billionaire like you to an old fossil like me?"
Stark grinned.
"Hey, Amick! You're looking as sharp as ever—still kicking, I see."
Back in the day, Amick had been 42 when he and Stark studied under the same doctoral advisor. By Stark's estimation, the man was in his sixties now.
Still, he looked surprisingly robust for his age.
Wasting no time, Stark motioned for Lemu to step into the frame.
He got straight to the point.
"I want to recommend a student for your program. He's a super-genius. Consider yourself lucky—I'm basically delivering the second-smartest person on Earth straight to your doorstep."
Amick chuckled, unfazed by Stark's self-promotion.
"Tony, I'm old. My body's falling apart. I almost met God last year."
He spread his hands good-naturedly before leaning closer to examine Lemu through the screen.
The warmth in his voice shifted slightly, adopting the tone adults often used when humoring kids.
"Such a young face. Hello there! I'm Professor Amick. What's your name, young man?"
Lemu greeted him with polite confidence, his voice tinged with youthful earnestness.
"Hello, Professor Amick. My name is Lemu Echeverria."
Amick nodded, his eyes carrying just a hint of professional curiosity.
"I'd love to welcome you to our program. But first, tell me—what's your academic background? Why do you want to join us? Any preferred fields or plans for the future?"
He leaned forward encouragingly.
"Don't be shy. You can talk to this old man."
Lemu, ever the honest child, didn't hesitate.
"I don't have any formal schooling. I'm self-taught."
He said it like it was perfectly normal.
Power Stonezz… and Comments!!