Having just resolved Erik's trouble, Stark found another trouble coming to his door. Because Pepper was still angry, Stark did not dare provoke her. After initially completing the first-generation armor, he drove himself back to his residence to fetch a change of clothes.
The moment he opened the door to his villa, he turned and saw a man in a sweater standing by the mailbox, looking like a neighbor passing by.
Stark glanced at him before looking away, but the man unexpectedly approached him, placed a hand on the open villa gate, and said, "Mr. Stark, wait. Could you spare me two minutes?"
"You're not an insurance salesman, are you?" Stark took off his sunglasses and looked the man up and down. "You know who I am, right? Whatever junk you're selling, I'm not buying it."
"We met once before, Mr. Stark." The man smiled.
Stark assumed he was another opportunistic investor from some banquet, here to seek funding. Growing impatient, he turned to close the door, but then he suddenly heard the man say, "At the base in Afghanistan, I was standing at the back of the crowd. Have you been well lately?"
"You're a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?" Stark immediately grew tense, staring closely at the man's face.
The man nodded openly, pulled a business card from his pocket, and handed it to Stark. "Hello, Mr. Stark. Phil Coulson, Level 7 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
To avoid appearing overly wary, Stark rested one arm against the door as well, adopting his old manner. He took the card, glanced at it, casually stuffed it into his pocket, and said, "I've been waiting for you people. After all, flying to Afghanistan isn't cheap. Just send the bill straight to my company. I have things to do, so I'll be leaving."
After saying that,