[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman":3,"chapter-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-398":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1722004,2198,"Chapter 398 - 398 — The Aftermath of Old Affairs","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-398",398,"\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For 40 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patreon - Twilight_scribe1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel Lambert was born in 1910—three years younger than Katharine Hepburn. The two women could be considered of the same generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet now, someone she could practically call \"big sister\" had returned to her enviable twenties—radiant and luminous on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could she not feel a trace of envy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it existed only in film, not in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel covered her mouth in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can something like this truly be done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The limits of computer technology lie in imagination and hardware capability. Whether it's color fading due to aging, or a film that was originally shot in black and white—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Subtle differences in grayscale correspond to different colors. We only need to analyze those tonal variations and restore the original hues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the amount of data involved is enormous. It's beyond the processing power of commercially available home computers. This result was only possible thanks to Stark Industries' supercomputers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, ordinary machines could do it too—if one were willing to let a single photograph render for days on end. But there was no need to dive into that level of detail. Mrs. Lambert wasn't an engineer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh… I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel's expression dimmed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing her disappointment, Henry quickly added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you have old photographs or films you'd like restored, we can handle them as a special project.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\" Rachel brightened, then hesitated. \"What if there's only a single photograph left? No negative?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It must be a precious memory. If you're concerned, you can bring the original to Stark Pictures. If there aren't too many items, scanning and archiving would only take a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can take the originals back immediately afterward. The digital restoration timeline would depend on your requirements and the volume involved. Would that work?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry was smoothly building goodwill when Tony Stark's voice cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, hey. I built the supercomputer. Shouldn't you ask me before volunteering it? What am I, a grandfather clock you only acknowledge when it strikes the hour?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel turned to Tony with wide, pleading eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that not allowed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Tony Stark wasn't immune to that look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, alright—don't look at me like that. Go talk to Mr. 'Women's Best Friend' here. He'll solve everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry let out an awkward chuckle at his new title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul Mellon, meanwhile, had not been idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Brown,\" he asked calmly, \"what would such a supercomputer cost?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry answered without overthinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The one Stark Pictures uses was custom-built by Stark Industries. Many components were bespoke, so pricing is difficult to calculate precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But based on current requirements for image processing, a suitable supercomputer would likely fall within the ten to thirty million dollar range. Since we're not competing in performance rankings, we don't need to pursue absolute top-tier specifications.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thirty million dollars? That's not expensive at all,\" Paul said lightly, glancing at his wife with understated extravagance. \"Shall we build one ourselves?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Tony Stark was briefly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't the future world's richest man yet—just a newly minted heir still finding his footing and feeling triumphant over squeezing Sony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry quickly stepped in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Mellon, if it's only for this purpose, please allow us to handle it. Supercomputers come with significant maintenance costs and specialized staff salaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you have concerns, we can draft a formal contract outlining all terms clearly to avoid future disputes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul nodded mildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would be acceptable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One round of subtle sparring—decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young future Iron Man still couldn't quite overpower America's old blue-blood aristocracy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing tension, Rachel changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Henry, we actually came to see you for a reason.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? How may I help?\" Henry asked directly. He knew people like this did not attend parties for idle conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you remember,\" Rachel said gently, \"mentioning at our home that the painting Lady with an Ermine might be authentic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do. Though that was three years ago. In hindsight, I may have been presumptuous. If I was mistaken, please forgive youthful indiscretion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel patted his hand reassuringly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There's nothing to forgive. After your remark, we gathered those who claimed to possess the original for authentication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That process wasn't simple. Museums were involved. It took until mid-this year to organize a formal evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We invited over a dozen trusted experts. Their collective conclusion was that the painting you identified most closely matched the characteristics of the original.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"'Most closely matched'? What kind of phrasing is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The prevalence of forgeries is beyond imagination. Even museum pieces have been exposed as copies. Sometimes the original artist created multiple nearly identical works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Without clear records, how can later generations determine authenticity? In many cases, if no obvious flaws exist, the judgment becomes a matter of which piece best aligns with the era's characteristics.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's… complicated,\" Henry admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel accepted a wrapped bundle from an attendant and carefully unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside lay the famed image—Lady with an Ermine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry instinctively refrained from taking it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rachel explained calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The authenticated original has been donated to the National Gallery in Washington. Borrowed museum pieces were returned according to contract.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the private collectors declined to reclaim their forgeries. Those remain with us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This entire authentication process began because of your comment. Without it, the true masterpiece might have remained hung among imitations on our wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My husband and I agreed to gift one of the replicas to you. It is not the original—but do not underestimate it. Experts believe it to be a seventeenth or eighteenth-century copy. An antique in its own right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry finally accepted the painting, visibly surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I truly accept this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\" Paul Mellon replied. \"Your insight prevented us from making a foolish mistake. I only hope you won't use this reward unwisely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry answered sincerely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Mr. Mellon. I will preserve it carefully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Publicly accepting it also meant he could never pass it off as authentic—but that had never been his intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some gifts weren't about value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were about doors quietly opening.p\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🎉 Power Stone Goal Announcement! 🎉\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll release one bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones we hit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me know what should I do\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support means everything—let's crush these goals together! Keep voting, and let the stones pile up! 🚀\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>",1060,"2026-06-06T15:31:22.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","e5d54326163db001aeefd80dadca2cfc26294cf3721069755177bb7504ca19dc","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-399","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-397",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-cover.jpg"]