First Time, Second Time.
As expected, some things still couldn't be said aloud.
And you still couldn't open champagne during halftime.
Tony quietly put the champagne back in the corner and continued watching the screen.
…
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Director Nick Fury immediately understood the problem.
Why Tony's armor had frozen mid-flight.
The main reason:
It was still made of the same armor material.
It could fly safely only up to 40,000 feet.
Above that, the cold high-altitude air was enough to destroy the entire suit.
"If Tony's armor is meant for space combat…"
Fury murmured to himself.
Black Widow raised an eyebrow at this.
"Alone, in space, wearing that suit?"
"Impossible! Humans can't survive in space unaided."
"Even Tony, during the future Battle of New York, only made it into space briefly with a nuclear missile before passing out from lack of oxygen."
"Although he ultimately destroyed the Chitauri mothership, it was the nuke itself that did the work, not the human inside!"
It was no wonder Black Widow thought this way.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D. could operate in space,
but they did it with a spacecraft—a small command fortress of a ship, fully equipped with personnel and systems.
They were professionals.
They had prepared for this years in advance.
Even S.H.I.E.L.D. needed a vessel of that size to fight in space.
Black Widow couldn't imagine surviving in space alone in just Tony's armor.
Nick Fury said nothing.
He knew Black Widow hadn't been around long and didn't know all the history.
From Fury's experience, he knew only one person capable of flying into space and fighting alone.
That person had even given him a pager-like device, telling him to call if anything went wrong.
But…
Fury squinted, remembering that comet-like figure.
He wasn't sure she could even still be called human.
Hawkeye interrupted.
"Let's not worry about whether Tony can eventually fight in space with this suit.
For now, he's proven he can fly the Mark II to high altitudes.
All we need is better material to handle the cold at those altitudes."
"If mass production is possible…"
The three fell silent.
Each imagined the terrifying possibilities:
A weapon as powerful as the strongest missile on the market;
Small enough to evade radar;
Fast, able to reach extreme heights…
If Tony produced dozens, or even hundreds of such weapons,
They could sweep across Europe.
Fury finally said, "Let's not think about that yet.
We should first solve the problem of the armor failing at high altitudes.
To replace the regular materials, we could use the gold-titanium alloy from the S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical satellites.
If something more exotic is needed…
We could even get some Vibranium from Wakanda.
When Tony joins the Avengers, we can give him a new member gift."
Hawkeye and Black Widow nodded, agreeing.
…
On the screen.
Scene switched.
[Famous Scene 7: Mark II, First Battle!]
…
Stark Tower.
Tony was excited.
Curious too.
Besides his refined flight skills, he wondered what surprises military combat might bring.
But…
Why was he piloting the Mark II into battle?
Was that even allowed?
Tony's eyes widened.
No way…
Tony Stark…
Had been kidnapped… again!
…
[After uncontrollably falling from the sky.]
[Tony seized the moment, activating the emergency mechanical switch.]
[With a soft click.]
[The ice covering the armor cracked.]
[Mark II regained flight capability.]
[Finally,]
[Tony landed safely.]
[Back at his residence.]
[As he shut down the thrusters,]
[With a loud crash, he shot like a meteor straight into the underground garage, hitting a sports car.]
[Seeing this, the dumb robot resumed its part-time firefighter duty, spraying dry ice.]
…
Stark Tower.
Pepper laughed so hard she fell backward.
"Tony, that robot Bubba is adorable!
You have to keep it. I want to see it spray dry ice on you again!"
Tony laughed awkwardly.
Inside, he was furious.
"Next time, I'm tossing that broken robot onto the scrap heap!
So embarrassing!"
…
Back in the basement lab.
[Tony learned from TV reporters that tonight marked the third annual charity gala he hosted for firefighter families.]
He asked J.A.R.V.I.S. to check the guest list.
His name wasn't on it.
Tony grinned mischievously.
So he drove a luxury Audi to the event.
Arriving at the venue, he surveyed the gala.
It looked less like a charity event and more like a mashup of a ball, a bar, and a press conference.
Feeling slightly bored, Tony went to the bar to order a cocktail.
[At that moment, Christine—a journalist who had once shared a one-night encounter with Tony—approached.]
Christine: "Tony Stark, nice to see you. Tell me how you feel about me."
Tony, flustered: "Uh… panicking. Where's the drink? Bartender, give me a drink!"
Christine: "Don't dodge! Are you nervous because I pointed out your company's involvement in the unrest?"
Tony was momentarily confused. He assumed she was trying to extort him for a hush deal to sleep with her.
Tony: "Don't look at me—I was invited tonight… I don't know anything."
Seeing Tony's attempt to dodge, Christine laughed indignantly.
Christine: "I was naive at first. I believed everything you said—about making weapons for defense."
Tony looked serious.
Tony: "I've been away for two months. I truly don't know what you're talking about."
The journalist remained aggressive.
Christine: "Is this what you call taking responsibility?"
(She handed him a stack of photos.)
Christine: "This town is called Mikula. Ever heard of it?"
Tony's expression darkened instantly.
Mikula was Ethan's hometown—the friend he had in the cave.
Tony examined the photos.
[In the images]
Livestock lay dead all over the village.
Terrorists carried weapons everywhere.
[One large weapon bore the Stark Industries logo.]
[And… the latest missile—the Jericho missile!]
Tony's face fell.
Tony: "When were these photos taken?"
Christine: "Yesterday."
Tony shook his head.
Tony: "I didn't approve any deals."
Christine: "Your company did."
Tony: "It's my company, but that doesn't mean I have the final say."
Christine froze.
She clearly understood it was internal conflict and found an excuse to leave.
Scene change.
Tony arrived at the charity entrance and met Ōba.
His words were filled with anger.
Tony: "Did you see these photos? What happened to Mikula?"
Ōba smiled as usual.
Ōba: "Tony, Tony, don't be so naive."
Tony: "Yes, I know I was very naive and childish before.
But selling weapons to terrorists?
That's our line. This line must never be crossed. That's our principle!
But if we were the masterminds…"
Tony spoke rapidly, like a machine gun, then took a deep breath, cautiously asking:
Tony: "Did we…?"
Ōba remained silent, offering no answer.
He ignored the reporters, putting an arm around Tony's shoulder, and said to the camera:
Ōba: "Come on, let's take a photo."
Though confused inside, Tony smiled and posed, shoulder to shoulder with Ōba, acting affectionate.
Flashes from cameras in the audience tried to capture the bond between them—more intimate than father and son, though not related.
At that moment, Ōba whispered to Tony:
Ōba: "Tony, do you know who stopped you from working?
I petitioned the board to impose the ban.
I'm also one of the people who sold weapons to terrorists."
After saying this, Ōba wrapped a white silk scarf around his neck, got into a luxury car, and drove off, chased by reporters.
Tony stood alone, his smile gone.
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