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Sharon nodded.
"If it can save Tony, they will."
Ethan looked at her.
"Does S.H.I.E.L.D. want me to save Tony?" he asked.
Sharon nodded again.
"Yes. They want to help Tony Stark. He's the son of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders—someone who was extremely important to the organization."
She paused briefly, then added,
"Letting him die isn't an option for them."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"That explains it," he said. "But still—this has to come from him. I won't force myself into his life just because S.H.I.E.L.D. wants it."
Sharon studied his face.
"So if he doesn't ask…?"
"Then I do nothing," Ethan replied calmly. "I gave him the warning. That's enough. If he wants help, he'll come to me."
She sighed softly.
"You're stubborn."
"I'm careful," Ethan corrected. "There's a difference."
"And I like to keep myself out of other people's business," Ethan added.
Sharon looked at him for a moment, then simply nodded. Ethan turned to her and said casually,"By the way, I've prepared a gift for you."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly."Hm? You prepared a gift for me? What's the occasion?" she asked, already somewhat knowing—Ethan's "gifts" were usually gadgets he made for her and Storm.
He lowered his voice."You can't tell anyone about this one. Not even S.H.I.E.L.D."
Sharon's expression turned serious as she asked."…Is it dangerous?"
Ethan nodded once."If it falls into the wrong hands, it very well could be."
Sharon studied his face for a long moment, weighing his words. Then she let out a slow breath.
"…Alright," she said quietly. "If you're telling me this much, I know you mean it."
She glanced around the bar out of habit, confirming no one was close enough to listen, then leaned in slightly.
"So what is it?"
"I'll show it to you when we're home," Ethan said. She nodded in agreement.
"By the way, how is the purchase going?" Ethan asked, referring to the land around the Alaska tower. He had instructed her to buy up as much of the surrounding area as possible.
"We're buying it steadily," Sharon replied. "There's no opposition. We're paying double to everyone."
Ethan nodded.
"I don't care about the money," he said calmly. "Just get me all of it."
Sharon nodded and asked, "What do you plan to do with it?"
"Expand the Arasaka Tower," Ethan replied calmly. "Maybe add some scenery around it."
Sharon accepted the answer with a small nod. It sounded ordinary enough.
But in reality, Ethan had far larger plans.
He intended to reinforce the entire area with concealed defense systems—advanced weapons inspired by metallic war-machines from Horizon, especially the Slaughterspine. Arasaka Tower stood dangerously close to the future site where Loki would open the portal and summon the Chitauri army.
When that day came, Ethan planned to reveal the true Fangs of Arasaka—weapons and systems no one in the world even knew existed.
That moment would mark a turning point.
From then on, the world would change. Superpowers would stop being rare or hidden, especially after Jiaying released the Terrigen Mist. Inhumans would awaken across the globe, unlocking abilities that had been dormant for generations.
And when that happened, attention would shift.
Ethan knew many eyes would turn toward Arasaka. It was massive, wealthy, and visible—a prize everyone knew about. Even now, people watched it carefully.
The only reason no one dared move was Storm's presence, keeping potential threats at bay.
But power changed people.
Give a madman abilities, and sooner or later they would believe themselves untouchable. And when that happened, they would attack something big.
The New York invasion would be Ethan's answer.
It would be a public display of strength. A warning. Proof that Arasaka's security did not rely on Storm alone. Anyone watching would understand that attacking Arasaka came with consequences they would not survive.
After all, even Tony Stark had been targeted. His arc reactor technology had been stolen by the Vulture, and Stark was an Avenger—someone who fought in the Battle of New York itself. If his company could be attacked, then no corporation was truly safe.
Ethan understood that reality well.
That was why Arasaka would not merely defend itself.
It would make an example.
He also understood something else: power always attracted attention.
Once superpowers became common, chaos would follow. Some would become heroes. Others would turn to crime. And a few would decide the world owed them everything.
Those people would look for symbols of power.
Arasaka would be one of them.
That was why Ethan planned ahead. The invasion would not just be a battle—it would be a message. Governments, satellites, and cameras around the world would see it clearly.
Arasaka was not prey.
It was not protected by a single individual.
It was a fortress.
Anyone who attacked it without understanding that truth would be erased before they even realized their mistake.
No one is going to destroy my perfect second life, Ethan thought as he looked around the grand floor.
Even after an hour, the party showed no sign of slowing. Guests still admired the architecture, their voices low, their eyes wandering in quiet awe.
Ethan intended to keep Arasaka that way—untouched, unchallenged, and standing—for as long as he lived.
"It's a marvelous floor, Mr. Cliff."
Ethan was pulled out of his thoughts as someone spoke beside him.
"Thank you," he replied with a polite nod as he turned to face Black Widow.
She didn't waste time with small talk.
"Can you help with the arc reactor problem?" she asked directly.
Ethan studied her for a moment.
"Is S.H.I.E.L.D. really that desperate to save him?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "Tony Stark, aside from his lineage, is a genius this world needs. Like you, he's someone S.H.I.E.L.D. values greatly. And he could be part of something bigger in the future."
She paused, then added, "You might be part of that future too—if you ever decide to build weapons like Iron Man's exoskeleton armor."
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"And what makes you think I don't already have something like that?"
For a brief moment, Black Widow's expression shifted—subtle, but noticeable.