Jack put down the fruit tea. The sound of the cup hitting the table made everyone realize he was displeased.
"Nick Fury, what do you mean? You want to arm-wrestle?"
Nick Fury didn't back down, his voice even carrying a hint of playfulness: "A fired intern agent wants a showdown with the King of Spies?"
Jack leaned forward and proposed directly: "How about a game of Russian Roulette?"
Nick Fury smirked. "You want to go? Agent baby Jack?"
Jack: "Need me to go easy on you and start first?"
Nick Fury didn't hesitate.
"You want to go first? Fine, I can take two shots later."
Jack paused for a moment. Why did he agree? Shouldn't he have insisted on going first?
A second later, Jack returned to his usual composure and asked Tony for a revolver.
"Tony, get me a low-power revolver—the NAA mini-revolver SQ from Pepper's bedroom. I don't know exactly where it is, so go find it. I'm afraid someone's brains might splatter everywhere otherwise."
This was something Jack had learned while chatting with Pepper; they had discussed how a total gun ban could be implemented in the U.S. at the time.
Tony wanted to refuse, but seeing Jack's firm gaze and a playful wink, he relented.
A few minutes later, Tony found the pistol and clicked his tongue.
"It's indeed very low-power, but it's still enough to kill. Are you sure you want to 'play'?"
Tony emphasized the word "play," but Jack nodded casually.
"That's right. Hand it over."
Seeing Jack's grin, Tony felt a little more at ease. He sat down and habitually picked up the fruit tea in front of Ethan.
"Great Guardian of the World, how many bullets do you choose?"
Although Nick Fury knew Jack was teasing, he enjoyed the title. "Since you're going first, just one. You can survive one more round."
Jack arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Our Director friend is brave. I don't know who gave you that courage. Fine, I'll humor you and put in one bullet."
Jack loaded one bullet. "One shot, leaving four blanks."
Nick Fury: (̿▀ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀ ̿)̄ Does 'one bullet' mean taking one out? You really don't want to live.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider? Natasha might be very upset if she finds out."
Jack: "Continue. Natasha won't lose a husband, but she might lose a black-hearted boss."
Seeing this, Nick Fury stopped trying to persuade him. "Then you go first."
Jack spun the cylinder and held the muzzle about twenty centimeters from his head, tilted slightly above his temple.
Although confident, he still avoided the most vulnerable spots.
The cylinder stopped. Jack fired immediately.
Bang.
Tony, expecting a clever trick, dropped his fruit tea. Before he could shout, Nick Fury screamed.
"Wha~t the f…! Motherf…er!"
Nick Fury clutched the back of his hand, where the bullet had grazed his skin, and stared at Jack's head.
The three on the sofa rushed to check him.
Apart from a patch of hair rubbed off and a small red mark on the scalp, Jack was unharmed.
All three stared at him like he was a monster.
"You're not human," Tony concluded.
"You're the one who's not human. Wanda and I have no reproductive isolation. Natasha even wants a kid," Jack replied.
Ethan: "How did you do that? A normal human couldn't take a bullet to the head."
Rhodes whispered, "Are you related to that big green guy Ross is tracking? Even a Barrett couldn't pierce him."
"I'll explain later. Now, it's the next person's turn."
Jack handed the pistol forward, but Nick Fury was gone, clutching his hand and retreating.
"Hey, your gun!"
"Motherf…er!" Nick Fury flipped him the middle finger as he ran off.
Jack emptied the cylinder. Four shots—three bullets, one blank.
"Ah! Bastard! Motherf…er!"
The bullets were small; Nick Fury's enhanced body could handle them at thirty meters, but rolling on the ground in pain was unavoidable.
"Jarvis, close the gates."
"Now we need to have a good look at you, my friend."
Jack waved and lounged on the sofa. ╮( •́ω•̀ )╭
"No need for research. It's just the Super Soldier Serum developed by your father and Dr. Erskine, but mine is enhanced."
Tony drew a large vial of Jack's blood.
Rhodes quietly asked, "Are you really unrelated to the big guy Ross is tracking? That guy cost him a lot."
"I told you, it's the Super Soldier Serum. Similar to Captain America's, just stronger."
Jack patted Ethan's shoulder silently.
[Check-in successful. Today's reward: Holy Blessing Potion *1]
Jack smiled. Checking in on Ethan yielded a much higher chance of recovery items.
Holy Blessing Potion: After death, resurrects the user after ten seconds, restores some vitality, and clears all negative effects.
Watching Tony analyze his blood, Jack reminded him, "No computer backups. Keep it in your head only."
Tony gave an OK gesture.
Past midnight, Jack approached Tony's armor and detached a mechanical arm.
"You know how to operate that?" Rhodes asked, eyes wide, as Jack attached the armor's arm to his forearm.
Jack fitted the other arm onto Rhodes.
"Oh, magical feeling… though a bit heavy," Rhodes said, lifting with effort.
"Of course. Tony's first test flight ended in a roof crash. Luckily, I moved his cars out of the way."
Jack put on the armor arm and checked in.
[Check-in successful. Obtained Master-level Hamburger Making]
Jack: (≖益≖ ) As expected of Iron Man—ultimate cheeseburger lover. Maybe I should open a burger shop.
In bed, Jack checked the Ten Rings on his arm, wondering about Tarot. He guessed it was still in the U.S., where disasters were normal, and a Soul-Eater invasion wouldn't be surprising.
The next day, Jack was jolted awake by an explosion in Tony's underground lab.
Grumbling, he got out of bed.
"Tony, did your house get blown up? That black guy from last night?"
Jack kicked open the lab door; the sturdy glass flew off its hinges.
Tony swallowed hard. "Man, if you're that frustrated… I know a few cover girls with… high demands."
"Get lost. I'll tell Wanda about this. Next time she sees you, she'll whip you with a red energy lash."
Tony tried an excuse: "What happens between men stays between men. No family involvement."
Jack slammed his fists. "Then let's have a duel between real men."
Hearing the clang, Tony slowly moved toward his armor.
Jack sneered, "I'll let you wear that tin can, but if you lose, you make me an AI butler like Jarvis."
"And if I lose?" Tony asked as the mechanical arms fitted the armor.
"Me lose? If I lose, I won't lock you in the underground lab."
Tony: (▼益▼)
"Total scam. If you lose…"
Before Tony could finish, Jack charged, sending him flying. The open faceplate snapped shut from the impact.
Rhodes and Ethan, in pajamas, sipped tea, watching.
Rhodes knew the armor could withstand tank shells—no big deal.
Ethan was terrified. Jack could go head-to-head with Tony's armor.
Tony tried to rise, but Jack grabbed both hands. Their strength clashed.
Tony's thrusters fired, launching him upward to kick Jack in the abdomen.
Jack wanted to pull back, but the armor's palms held fast. The kick hurt slightly, but his feet didn't budge.
He exhaled, used his waist, and spun the Mark II armor around.
Tony felt weightless, but the centrifugal force prevented free control.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, sir. Taking control of the armor."
Jack smiled wickedly. "Here comes the giant pendulum!"
He lifted the Mark II and slammed it heavily onto the ground. Rhodes and Ethan felt the house shake, tea spilling.
Jack twisted, swung, lifted, slammed.
"80! 80! 80!"
The floor cracked, the ceiling bulged.
"Alright, I give up! I give up!"
Jack stopped. Tony lay flat. The spinning and slamming churned his stomach.
The faceplate popped open. Tony calculated his losses.
Jack guided Tony to the mechanical arms to disassemble the armor.
"Jack, the armor on my thigh is stuck. Help."
Tony's voice was weak, carsick.
Jack pried the plating open and helped him to the sofa.
"Weakling Tony, the armor's so-so. What about the Vibranium? Didn't use it?"
Tony didn't argue. He had lost, but he wasn't a loser forever.
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