Chapter 1096 Father and Son (Twenty-Five) (Patreon)

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"Hello, Dr. Schiller, nice to see you again."

Looking somewhat dusty, Howard stepped forward and shook hands with Schiller. He smiled and said, "I was originally on the main star of Sulphur Dwarf, updating the security robots made for Tony. But as soon as I heard you were here, I hurried back..."

Schiller chuckled, "I hope it didn't delay anything major?"

Howard shook his head as he followed Schiller's lead to the sofa beside the office. Once Howard sat down, Schiller walked to the cabinet and asked, "Tea, coffee, or perhaps alcohol?"

"Anything but alcohol," Howard unbuttoned his suit jacket and leaned comfortably against the sofa's backrest. "I've sworn to Maria that I won't drink again."

However, Schiller brought two slender champagne glasses and placed them in front of Howard, saying, "I don't recommend abrupt cessation for patients with addiction. It might increase the likelihood of relapse. If it's not life-threatening, gradual withdrawal is advisable."

Howard hesitated, reaching out to the glass but retracting his hand as if shocked. He shook his head and said, "No, I need to stay sober. Getting drunk won't help with work."

Schiller didn't put away the glasses but didn't pour himself any alcohol either. Instead, he brought a pitcher of water and poured cold water into the champagne glasses.

Before he could speak, Howard explained as if making amends, "Of course, the work isn't that demanding. It doesn't require my full attention, just some repetitive tasks..."

"I've heard from Tony that you're the founder of Stark Industries. I'm very eager to chat with such a great scientist," Schiller said, taking a sip of water from the champagne glass.

"I know many people feel nervous about seeing a psychologist, as if stepping into this office turns them into mental patients. Oh, can't I have any identity other than being a doctor?" Schiller raised his hand in a gesture of resignation, displaying a wry smile. "I actually prefer a friendlier relationship over the doctor-patient one. Though I'm Tony's friend, we should be peers in a way..."

"I've heard about that, truly fascinating," Howard said, looking into Schiller's gray eyes. "I know there are all sorts of extraordinary individuals in this world with powers beyond the understanding of ordinary people, but it's my first time making friends with an immortal."

"Oh, you're being modest. Captain America and Natasha are also immortals, they just can't live forever, like me," Schiller shook his head.

"I suppose having a longer lifespan than most must have provided a lot of help in your career," Howard brought up a topic related to Schiller's profession.

Schiller could sense that this old Stark was much more articulate than his son, but it wasn't surprising. Tony Stark leaned more towards being a scientist, whereas Howard Stark was fundamentally a businessman.

Though in those days, Stark Industries hadn't grown into the behemoth it was today, it couldn't be denied that this founder possessed a broader range of abilities than Tony.

"In fact, like Natasha, I didn't suddenly wake up after many years of sleep. I witnessed the changes of the times firsthand."

Schiller put down the glass in his hand, lightly wiped his lips, and said, "It has its ups and downs. A richer life experience than others has given me more professional expertise, but it has also dulled my sharpness and inspiration."

"For psychologists, inspiration isn't particularly important; we lean more towards logical analysis. But for a scientist, inspiration for invention and creation is still significant. So, a younger psychological age has its advantages, doesn't it?" Schiller remarked to Howard.

A muscle twitched at the corner of Howard's eye, a subtle change that Schiller still caught.

Unlike Tony Stark, who wore his emotions on his sleeve, Howard was adept at concealing his feelings. He made no unnecessary movements, just smiled and said, "Correct. Watching Tony and the younger generation create things, I deeply feel that every era has its geniuses, and each era's world has its own brilliance. It makes me feel both happy and sad..."

"I'm listening," Schiller interjected.

He had already noticed that Howard was the type of patient psychologists preferred – they understood the value of their and the doctor's time, didn't like excessive small talk, and were unwilling to beat around the bush or conceal their ailments.

They valued efficiency, had clear goals, and disliked wasting any time on meaningless chatter.

Since they stepped into the psychologist's office, it was to seek treatment. They didn't need the doctor to lead; they would do their best to explain their situation, often hoping the doctor would understand their condition better than they did.

People like Peter and Clark preferred to express their emotions when facing a psychologist, saying things like "I've been very happy lately" or "I've been feeling down." At most, they would explain why they felt happy or sad.

But people like Howard preferred to start from the facts, talk about logic and reality, and analyze the contradictions in their inner states with the psychologist. It was almost like self-diagnosis, saving time and effort.

However, Schiller didn't show any relaxation; on the contrary, he straightened his posture, sitting even more upright than Howard. He was well aware that such patients were good in every aspect but demanded a high level from the doctor.

These kinds of people had a deep understanding of their situation. Before seeking treatment, they had already analyzed everything themselves, identified key points, and even, based on their personality, deduced some conclusions.

If the doctor's skills were lacking, if their reasoning was too slow or their logic too cumbersome, and if they couldn't keep up with the patient's deductions, they would simply walk away, not wanting to waste time there.

Any patient so rational and intelligent was a great test of a psychologist's professional level.

Schiller began to focus, and Howard began his narration:

"What makes me very happy is that the future of humanity is better than I imagined."

"Perhaps you also know, Doctor, during the Cold War era, many people were very pessimistic. We didn't know when a terrible war would break out, and we didn't know when our peaceful lives would end..."

"But when I woke up, I found that not only did humanity not start the Third or Fourth World War, but we united instead, aiming to venture into space. And this isn't just empty talk; many plans have been put into action, and we've even achieved remarkable results."

"Humanity has stepped into the solar system, touched the sun, and even glimpsed deeper into space. And alongside the flourishing of science and technology, humanity has also embarked on the path of magic. Undoubtedly, this greatly increases our margin for development. Two paths progressing side by side, with competition driving each other forward, will be the best benign competition."

"In terms of diplomacy, I've heard that Asgard has close ties with us. I never imagined that a kingdom from mythological stories would become an ally of humanity. Their new king has a close relationship with humanity, even having experiences living on Earth. This will be the best card for the future diplomacy of our civilization..."

"Undoubtedly, this is the best era I've ever seen. I've been so excited these past few days that I couldn't sleep..." Howard's fingertips trembled slightly. As he spoke, he entered into a state of excitement once again.

Then, he gently picked up the glass, took a sip of ice-cold water, and gradually calmed down a bit as his emotions lowered.

"But I also feel a bit sad, which is why I've come to see you, Doctor. I don't know why I'm feeling this way, but I have some speculations. Would you like to hear them?" Schiller nodded in agreement, saying, "Of course. Besides speculations, feelings and emotions can also be emphasized, as they are important factors for consideration..."

Howard nodded, indicating his understanding. He also felt a bit nervous, so he set down the glass, sat up straight, and said, "The first night after resurrection, Maria and I celebrated. Both of us were very moved. We never imagined that after what we thought was a sadly ended life, we would have the chance to start anew. No one could be unhappy about a second chance at life."

"At dinner, we both had a little wine, though not much. Maria can't handle much alcohol, and she worried I might get too drunk. So, we only had half a bottle of champagne. But afterwards, we both got much drunker than we anticipated..."

"After an excited chat, we both began to feel tired. We lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time. After a while, she started crying, and I knew she was feeling sad about missing out on Tony's growth..."

"But at that moment, I found myself unable to console her, because an indescribable negative emotion rose within me."

"I guess it might be guilt. The decision I made back then hurt Maria and also hurt Tony."

Howard slowly closed his eyes, a hint of pain crossing his face. He said, "Between family and the world, I had no choice but to choose the world. I believe I've always been a good person, but I can't say the same about being a good husband and father..."

"How can I comfortably enjoy a new life? Can past wrongs really be offset by starting over?" Howard didn't seem to be asking Schiller but rather himself.

"Can not taking responsibility when it was needed and then making tenfold amends afterward make up for it?"

Howard leaned back on the sofa once again, looking somewhat dejected. He said, "Of course not. Each stage in a person's life can only happen once. Once missed, it can never be recovered."

"Maria and I should have been there for Tony, watching him happily go to college, joyfully finish his studies, meet like-minded friends and scientific research partners in university..."

"Tony should have been by my side, learning how to conduct himself from me, socializing with my old friends and their children, gradually learning the ropes of the business world, and slowly building his own personality and social style, just like I learned from my father."

Howard's words always seemed restrained, cautious, and polite. Though he didn't live much longer than Tony did now, he seemed a hundred times more mature than Tony.

"Some say I'm a bastard, a playboy who neglects his duties..." Howard chuckled, "That's just the social style I've cultivated. I need this style to gain an advantage in the business world."

"But Tony..." Howard shook his head. "From what I see now, he's gone through a considerably long period of chaos and decadence..."

"And it all stems from the lack of family education, the lack of parental care, especially... the lack of a father's guidance and example."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 1097: Father and Son (Part 26)