Monaco — the Hôtel de Paris.
One of the most luxurious hotels in Monaco.(I don't know if it's the most luxurious, but it is undeniably extravagant. I rewatched Iron Man 2 and confirmed—it really is this hotel.)
For the race, the Monegasque royal family had the entire hotel cleared out to host the team owners and the wealthy elites who came to watch the event.
Not only were exclusive rooms provided for them and their entourages, but a high-level bar overlooking most of the circuit had also been reserved as a private viewing area.
When Tony Stark arrived, Qin Xiao was already chatting happily with Justin Hammer at the bar.
Daisy and Jane had taken "this idiot" to a window-side table, where they were enjoying an array of top-tier delicacies.
"Hey! Tony! You finally made it. We've been talking about you this whole time!"
Justin Hammer had a sharp eye—he always seemed able to spot Tony in a crowd. The moment Tony and Pepper Potts walked in, Hammer recognized them instantly.
"Oh, and how could I forget you, dear Miss Potts. Congratulations on becoming the CEO of Stark Industries!"
Justin Hammer stepped forward, kissed Pepper's hand, then enthusiastically slung an arm around Tony Stark's shoulders.
By contrast, Pepper responded with a polite smile, maintaining impeccable social etiquette.
Tony, on the other hand, might as well have had I hate you written across his face.
He pried Hammer's arm off with visible disgust, didn't even spare him a glance, and walked straight up to Qin Xiao.
"I distinctly remember you telling me you weren't interested in racing. So why are you hanging out with this guy? I have to say—your taste in friends has been getting worse lately. Care to talk?"
"Sure."
Qin Xiao picked up two freshly mixed drinks from the bar and headed to an empty seat by the window.
What else do we even need to talk about?
Just as Tony was about to leave, Justin Hammer called out from behind him.
"I'll give Qin Xiao back to you. You sit here and have a drink, maybe admire the beautiful ladies around you!"
Tony patted Hammer's shoulder in an almost childish manner.
Then he walked straight over to Qin Xiao's table.
"Well, whatever. I've got an interview scheduled with a female reporter anyway!"
Hammer muttered weakly from behind.
I reached for the cocktail I wanted on the table—only to find it gone.
"Hey! That drink was mine!"
"Why are you hanging out with that guy? I hate that disgusting clown. Just looking at his face reminds me of when I was a kid and accidentally dropped an apple pie into the gorilla enclosure—and the gorilla stomped it flat!"
"Hahaha!"
Qin Xiao pictured the scene in his mind and burst out laughing.
"Damn it, I swear I'm never eating apple pie again. That guy actually wants me to endorse their upcoming armor—lose to it in front of everyone at your expo! Three hundred and fifty million dollars, hah! He must really hate you to be willing to pay that much!"
Tony had spent half his life dealing with government officials. He knew exactly how dirty those games were—and the political theater involved in deceiving the public.
"They want to beat me but don't dare face me directly. They can't build anything worthwhile, so they try to use money to knock you down instead? Damn it! That sounds about as respectable as a blonde working the red-light district in Amsterdam! You're not actually considering it, are you?"
"The contract hasn't been signed yet. When he sends it over, you can have your company's legal team look it over for me. After the performance is done—if I 'accidentally' break a few suits of armor, does that count as a breach?"
Tony's eyes lit up."I suddenly have a lot more interesting ideas."
The two leaned in, whispering to each other, occasionally breaking into unsettling grins.
In the movie, after the palladium poisoning incident, Iron Man began recklessly giving up on himself.
Many of his later actions were attributed to the poisoning.
For example, he appointed Pepper as chairman of Stark Industries and personally drove to Monaco.
But before Qin Xiao—the butterfly effect—arrived, Tony had already upgraded the arc reactor and eliminated the palladium threat.
Even so, Tony Stark remained obsessed with developing new armor in the lab, dumping every big and small corporate responsibility onto Pepper.
That was just his nature.If he could focus on running a company properly, he wouldn't be Tony Stark.
And something unexpected was always bound to happen.
Like now.
"I'm heading out. It's my turn. That driver on our team hasn't won a championship in five years—not even a podium finish. I'm going down there to show him what real racing looks like! Oh—and don't tell Pepper before I switch drivers!"
Tony stood up, glanced around guiltily to see if Pepper was watching, then hurried off.
"Tony! Be careful!"
Qin Xiao wore a mysterious smile.
Lei Shen was still chatting and eating with the two girls. Qin Xiao went over, said he was stepping out for a bit.
We went straight up to the hotel rooftop via the fire escape.
He needed a wide, unobstructed view—to properly enjoy the show that was about to begin.
…
In one team's staff rest area, Ivan Vanko sat there in a daze, chewing on a matchstick.
He had prepared for today for nearly half a year. Not only had he successfully built an arc reactor, he had made thorough preparations specifically for this race.
All for the chance to get close to Tony Stark.
He had observed Tony Stark for a long time and realized that his behavior was largely unpredictable. Except for this race—Tony came every year, and after the event, he always went down to take photos with his team.
This was his opportunity.
He wanted justice for his father—who had died in Siberia, in cold, pain, and unwilling submission.
Justice for the unfair treatment he himself had endured for decades.
The Stark family's wealth—and the title of "Iron Man"—had all been stolen from his father.
As memories of his father's unwilling gaze before death resurfaced, the television screen suddenly switched to a live feed of the track.
It was footage of the Stark racing team.
To his astonishment, Tony Stark was actually wearing a racing suit and climbing into the car.
In the photo, Tony waved from the car while a furious driver stood beside him, throwing his helmet to the ground.
"So you like the spotlight?" Ivan Vanko muttered, staring at the energetic Tony on the screen."Then I'll kill you right on the track. Iron Man? Ha!"
Half in disbelief, he unbuttoned his coat.
Under the dim blue glow of the arc reactor, Ivan Vanko suddenly burst into a fit of manic laughter.