"Did you spend the night with Happy after the explosion that night, or with Maya Hansen? Personally, I think you should have gone to the roof and tried it with that somewhat scruffy Killian; that way, he wouldn't hold a grudge against you, or even covet Pepper."
Tony looked at Ethan, then at Jack.
"Jack, I've always wanted to know why you know so much. Setting aside the matter of my parents, back in 1999, you should have still been a…"
Tony sized Jack up and continued, "…still a kid in middle school. Moreover, I can't find any information on you at all. So why do you know so many things?"
Jack gave a smug smile. (☛՞ ꇴ ՞)☛
"It would be a miracle if you could find anything. You can try investigating Ta-Lo, or 177A Bleecker Street. If you can find those two places, I'll consider you impr…"
Smack!! Smack!!
"Waaaooh!"
As soon as Jack finished speaking, a miserable cry rang out.
Tony ( ° △ °?): "Ethan, did you see that?"
Ethan (* ⁰̷̴꒨⁰̷̴): "I saw it. A pair of flawless, fair hands—slender, firm, and radiant."
Jack: (ﾉ)beneficial(ヾ)
Jack clutched his face in pain and took back his previous words: "Tony, just investigating Ta-Lo is fine. Whatever you do, do NOT investigate 177A Bleecker Street. This is the consequence."
Tony: (•́ω•̀ ٥)
"Jarvis, delete all footage and audio from these last few minutes. Eject and destroy the hard drives storing this content."
"Sir, destruction is complete."
Immediately after, Jarvis's voice spoke again: "Sir, I seem to have just lost a portion of my data. It is likely a hard drive failure."
"It's fine, Jarvis. I did that. There are some things others shouldn't know."
After settling things with Jarvis, Tony continued to ask Jack his previous question: "Now, can you tell me why you know so many things?"
Jack rubbed his cheeks, which were left with two red marks. Jarvis even thoughtfully brought over an ice pack wrapped in a towel.
"It's just a small trick for peeking into the past, nothing worth mentioning. Besides…"
Jack told a casual lie. Like someone who gains weight just by drinking water, the lies came naturally.
"If you don't want to get slapped, don't ask."
Tony and Ethan obediently shut their mouths and said no more… The next day, when Jack came again, he was quite confused to see the two of them with bruised and swollen faces.
Jack took out his phone and, with a face full of mock sorrow, recorded the injuries of the two.
(⑉ԾжԾ⑉)ﾉ|✧| Click
"What did you two go and do? I can understand Tony getting beaten up, but Ethan, why did you get beaten up too?"
Ethan put down the device Tony had made last night that could promote rapid healing of injuries and answered hesitantly:
"We didn't do much, just… just went for a stroll on the streets and, incidentally… acted as Good Samaritans?"
Tony supplemented Ethan's story from the side: "That's right. We rescued a little girl who was being harassed by some black thugs. But then they went to call for backup. They had numbers on their side, and after we resisted, we were pinned to the ground and given a beating."
Jack didn't believe Tony's words at all, but he went along with it anyway: "Maybe you should bring Happy along next time you go out."
Tony painfully closed his eyes and sank into the memories of last night.
Last night, unable to contain his curiosity, Tony took Ethan in disguise and searched Bleecker Street three times, but still couldn't find 177A.
In the end, Tony called in Jarvis's drones and scanning vehicles. With a coordinated land-and-air effort, he forced a group of people out of 177A.
Then came the one-sided thrashing. At that moment, Tony really regretted not bringing the unfinished Mark II with him.
Finally, that black man left them with a warning: "This is a warning from the Sorcerer Ancient One. I hope there won't be a next time."
Tony even had the nerve to quip back: "You guys don't look like sorcerers. What kind of sorcerer has muscles that big?"
Those sorcerers felt insulted and proceeded to test various spells on the two of them repeatedly.
Ethan also suffered this undeserved calamity because of Tony's remark.
Jack ignored the two and started playing with the newly completed Hand Thrusters.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Pepper brought two guests.
"Tony, these are the people you asked me to invite: Helen Zhao and Dr. Selvig."
Tony remained his usual casual self. "You two, this is your primary contact. He'll be the one talking to you next; I have some things to attend to."
Tony shouted toward the upper floor: "Jack, come down and receive the guests. Now that he's down, I'll be making my exit."
Tony called for Pepper, having promised her to handle an hour of company business.
"Hi, you two. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am interested in investing in your research. Do you have any questions?"
Dr. Selvig was the first to voice his concern.
"My research must remain my own property. I don't want to be like Dr. Connors, researching solely for a corporation."
Jack nodded in agreement: "That's not a problem. Dr. Connors is indeed quite pitiable, working so hard to treat his own severed arm. I hope his research succeeds. However…"
Hearing the 'however,' Selvig felt that today's investment might fall through. Usually, the conditions proposed by people like this were very harsh.
"However, even if you leave, the technology researched during your time at the company must be shared with the company. In exchange, I won't prohibit you from doing related research after you leave. Furthermore, you cannot obstruct any further research the company performs on that technology."
After hearing this, Dr. Selvig felt the conditions weren't very harsh.
"I think your conditions are acceptable, but I want to add a clause: without my permission, the research is prohibited from being used for warfare."
Jack extended his hand, "Of course, no problem."
Dr. Selvig smiled and shook Jack's hand.
"It's a pleasure working with you. In one month, the funds will be fully in place. However, you may need to be meticulous in reviewing the use of funds, as we will have dedicated personnel investigating fund usage to prevent misuse and embezzlement by subordinates."
"Of course, that's no problem. I'll try to use them as sparingly as possible."
Dr. Selvig's face crinkled into a smile like a chrysanthemum. After all, he didn't even know how to spend a hundred-million-dollar investment. His previous largest investment was only one million dollars, and the payments were sluggish before funding was eventually cut off.
This time, the first installment was 10 million dollars. He could buy a lot of experimental equipment he had wanted for a long time.
As expected, Chinese "coal bosses" were generous; they not only respected science but also didn't micromanage it.
Jack: "Suddenly I feel like producing a movie."
Dr. Selvig went to the waiting area, giggling to himself in the lounge: "What equipment should I buy? Should I pre-order some?"
"Dr. Helen Zhao, you can state your conditions."
The young Helen Zhao spoke politely, much better than when she faced Tony in Avengers: Age of Ultron: "Mr. Jack, you should be Chinese, right?"
Jack (·•᷄ࡇ•᷅ )?: "Is my name not obvious enough?"
Helen Zhao explained: "I wasn't sure if you were ethnically Chinese, but I instinctively felt you were a native Chinese from the mainland. That aura of yours is very similar to the soldiers who drove tanks to Seoul as described by my grandfather."
Jack was curious: "Thanks for the compliment. So, what are ethnic Chinese like in your impression?"
Helen Zhao smiled: "Other ethnic Chinese at least wouldn't be as confident as you are when facing Tony Stark. 99.99% of Koreans and Japanese, no matter how rich they are, wouldn't have this kind of relationship with Tony Stark; they wouldn't be as natural as you."
Jack: "You're a good judge of character. So, do you want to accept my investment and change the world with me? This world shouldn't be like this; we need to correct it."
Helen Zhao lightly brushed her hair. "If the conditions are the same as Dr. Selvig's, I can certainly accept. However…"
Jack gestured for Helen Zhao to continue.
"However, my research funding might be very large. I don't want an investor whose capital is unstable."
Jack understood; she was testing his financial situation.
Jack made a grand gesture: (︶mouth︶〃)ﾉ
"You don't need to worry about that at all. If the money isn't enough, I'll just kidnap Tony Stark and extort another ransom."
Helen Zhao: (⌒﹏⌒;)
"Mr. Jack really loves to joke. No wonder Mr. Stark became friends with you; it turns out your personalities are equally mischievous."
Jack: ╮( •́ω•̀ )╭
"You don't believe me even when I'm telling the truth. Fine, forget it. I'll give you a tip so you can make a fortune on the side."
Upon hearing this, Helen Zhao unconsciously leaned forward a bit.
"Buy more Stark Industries stock. You'll make a fortune in a while." Jack stood up, preparing to see her out. "We'll talk again when the stock price skyrockets. At that time, I hope you can work for me wholeheartedly."
"I very much look forward to our next meeting, Mr. Jack."
After the two shook hands, Helen Zhao got into the elevator. Jack checked the system messages.
[Check-in successful. Obtained 2kg of Vibranium.]
After seeing off Helen Zhao, Jack began chatting with Dr. Selvig to learn more about his research.
"Doctor, if this Jane Foster is willing, I can provide investment for her as well."
Selvig: "Then I thank you for your sponsorship on her behalf. I believe she will be willing."
Jack invested in Jane Foster as well; she would likely agree to join.
Jack stayed behind, waiting for Tony to return so he could sell the Vibranium for a good price… An hour later, Tony, who was annoyed by various matters, was finally released by a satisfied Pepper.
"Tony, come look at the good stuff I brought you."
Tony leaned in, his gaze focused on the metal in Jack's hand.
"What metal is this? Jarvis, scan it."
"Sir, according to the scan results, this should be Vibranium. Your father once used Vibranium to forge Captain America's shield. The Vibranium in Mr. Jack's hand is estimated at 2KG, with a market value exceeding 20 million."
After hearing Jarvis's explanation, Tony imperiously claimed it all: "The money will be transferred to your account later. I'm buying this piece of Vibranium."
Tony's hand grabbing for the Vibranium was pressed down by Jack.
Jack slowly spat out two words: "Two hundred million."
"Deal." Tony thought for a second and agreed immediately. "Now, please take your hand off my Vibranium."
"Of course, no problem. You are my God right now. Friendly reminder: Vibranium is affected by ultrasonic waves."
…Jack returned to his cozy little home and saw Natasha's combat boots at the door.
"Natasha, when did you get back?"
As soon as he entered the living room, Natasha ran and jumped into Jack's arms.
"Where's Wanda? Is she not home?"
Natasha: "Wanda went to buy ingredients for dinner. She'll be back in a bit."
Jack gave a dangerous smile: "Then you should eat first."
Ten minutes later, Wanda stood outside the house and heard the sounds of two people frolicking inside. She awkwardly wanted to go in and remind the two big kids to keep it down, or they'd disturb the neighbors.
Several passing middle-aged women cast sympathetic looks at her.
One woman even came up, indignant.
"Little girl, I'll go in with you. We'll take that heartbreaker and the other woman and…"
Wanda quickly explained: "No, you've misunderstood. This is… this is… this is my friend's house. I'm just here as a guest."
One of the women stepped forward and said: "Little girl, you don't need to make excuses for that scumbag. I recognize you. Don't you and your boyfriend live here? You don't have to explain for him. A scumbag like that isn't worth it."
"It's fine, really. You've misunderstood."
Wanda quickly entered the house and closed the door. She then went to the second floor, but before she could speak, she was grabbed by Natasha to be a recruit.
"Natasha, what are you doing? Let go of me quickly, there are so many women listening outside."
"Sister, I need to take a break. Help me out now, and I'll let you have your way more often in the future."
"You big bad guy, there are so many people outside. Don't mess around."
Jack: "Jie jie jie~ If you two don't eat your fill today, what if someone says I'm mistreating my wives? Today you must eat until you're full and plump; your bellies must bulge."
The women outside the house all hurried away.
"Oh my, young girls these days are really something else."
"Indeed. If my man had that kind of ability, I wouldn't mind having an extra bedmate."
"I'm going back to find Jimmy and John. They've been waiting a long time."
Mei: "It's all the boss's fault, not even inviting me to dinner. Hmph~ I'm not going to work this afternoon."
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