Traveling and Striking It Rich

The one who landed was naturally Wang Bert. He got to his feet and sneered at the bedraggled Tony. "Tony, this is how you planned to save yourself?"

Tony was both frustrated and furious. "Why didn't you come sooner?"

"Because someone wouldn't let me come! What, you make a mistake and still want to blame someone else?"

Wang Bert mocked him. Tony had no reply. At that moment, Raza eyed him warily and shouted, "Who are you?"

Wang Bert said, "The one here to save Tony Stark!"

"Save him? Dream on! Kill him!"

Raza gave the order directly. Just as the Terrorists were about to fire, Frank pulled the machine-gun trigger from inside the armed helicopter and excitedly sprayed bullets downward—knowing there would be a fight, Wang Bert had found someone else to fly the helicopter! Several Terrorists were riddled with holes on the spot. The others were alarmed, firing upward while scrambling for cover.

At that moment, two more armed helicopters flew in to join the battle, while the U.S. Military launched an assault from below the mountain. The entire base immediately descended into chaos, filled with gunfire and explosions everywhere!

"You're U.S. Military?"

Raza was shocked and furious. No longer caring about Tony, he stepped forward and slashed at Wang Bert with his scimitar, the blade tearing through the air with a piercing whistle.

What exactly was in that potion he drank? His physical abilities have increased by at least two or three times!

Wang Bert sidestepped Raza's scimitar and punched toward his elbow. Raza raised an arm to block, and the two exchanged blows in a fierce, accelerated battle.

"Why did this suddenly go from a sci-fi movie to a kung fu movie?"

Tony grumbled from inside his armor. He tried to get up, but the armor was too heavy, and one of his legs was crippled. The moment he managed to rise, he thudded back onto the ground and made a complete fool of himself! Tony fumed, "I'm definitely destroying this defective piece of junk afterward. This is too embarrassing!"

"You're just a novice. You're no match for me!"

After exchanging a few moves with Wang Bert, Raza immediately understood his situation. With a cold laugh, he launched a rapid series of lightning-fast attacks with his scimitar! Wang Bert blocked several strikes, leaving himself wide open. Raza seized the chance and viciously slashed at his chest!

Just then, Wang Bert's right fist lit up with a dazzling red glow. He immediately threw a punch like a thunderbolt, directly smashing Raza's scimitar back against his chest. Raza screamed, vomited blood, and flew backward into the Mountain Wall, shaking loose countless clumps of dirt! "Still can't control it properly. Otherwise, I should have driven the blade into his body!"

Wang Bert shook his head. Raza fell to the ground and pulled the scimitar away from his chest. Ignoring his bleeding wound, he roared furiously at Wang Bert, "Who the hell are you?"

"Iron Fist! And just so you know, I only used twenty percent of my Iron Fist Power!"

Wang Bert stood with his hands behind his back and spoke like a true master—he was not lying. He really was Iron Fist. As for whether the other side would connect that to the Iron Fist of K'un-Lun, that was not his problem! "Iron Fist? The Iron Fist of K'un-Lun?"

Raza had clearly made the connection. He shouted angrily, "You people from K'un-Lun want to oppose our Ten Rings Gang?"

"Like K'un-Lun is afraid of the Ten Rings Gang!"

Wang Bert sneered. He was still not lying. K'un-Lun truly did not fear Mandarin.

Raza gritted his teeth. Turning around, he saw the Terrorists steadily losing ground under the combined assault of the helicopters and the U.S. Military. After thinking for a moment, he shouted in the local language, "Blow up the ammunition depot! We'll escape through the Secret Passage."

The Terrorists retreated toward the cave while throwing torches at the Stark Arsenal—the fire was ready-made, since Tony Stark had stocked plenty of it! "Damn it, Bert, get on my back now! Everyone else, retreat too!"

Tony knew the power of his own weapons very well. As he struggled to get up, he shouted loudly. Wang Bert glanced at Mark I and said disdainfully, "Too ugly. I refuse!"

Tony was furious. Mark I really was ugly, but was this seriously the time to care about that?

"Lower the rope ladder! Pick me up at the cave entrance!"

Wang Bert ignored Tony. He turned and rushed into the cave, carrying Yinsen's "corpse" over his shoulder. He then returned outside, pushed off hard with both feet, leaving two deep footprints in the ground as he shot into the air. He grabbed the rope ladder lowered from the helicopter and hung in midair.

Seeing that Wang Bert was aboard, the helicopter immediately sped away into the distance. At the same time, the U.S. Military rapidly retreated under Colonel Rhodes's command!

"I hate guys who know kung fu!"

Tony cursed and activated the flight system. Huge flames and clouds of smoke erupted from beneath Mark I's feet as it slowly rose into the air! The moment Mark I lifted off, the Stark Arsenal exploded. Amid the thunderous blast, several enormous clouds of flame billowed upward, while columns of air shot skyward all around. Wang Bert looked back and clicked his tongue in admiration. It was far more spectacular than in the movie!

Unlike Wang Bert, who was still in the mood to enjoy the blockbuster scene, Tony had it much worse—Mark I was hurled away by the shockwave, then slammed into the sand like a Meteorite, kicking up huge clouds of dust and sand!

Once the dust settled, Mark I had fallen apart, leaving only a miserable Tony buried beneath sand and parts! The helicopter flew directly above him. Wang Bert let go and jumped down with Yinsen, sneering, "So this is the quality of Stark Industries? Not very impressive."

"I cobbled this together on the spot. It doesn't count!"

Tony climbed out of the sand. He had wanted to snap back at Wang Bert, but when he saw Yinsen's "corpse," his entire body slumped! Wang Bert sneered. "Why are you putting on that expression? Didn't you personally get him killed?"

Tony defended himself, "I didn't get him killed. If he had followed the plan..."

"Even now, you still refuse to admit your mistake? Tony Stark, you got him killed. If you weren't so willful and so obsessed with saving face, he never would have died!"

Wang Bert harshly rebuked him. Tony wanted to argue, but looking at Yinsen's body, he covered his head in despair and said painfully, "That's right. I got him killed. I should have accepted your help from the beginning!"

Wang Bert patted Tony's shoulder and said, "Tony, cherish this life of yours. Many good people sacrificed themselves for it!"

Tony solemnly promised, "I'll cherish my life. I'll never let Yinsen die in vain!"

"Then Yinsen can rest in peace!"

Wang Bert said with satisfaction. Tony was about to say something when he saw the "dead" Yinsen turn to look at him. He jumped in fright. Was this a corpse coming back to life? Yinsen looked at Tony and said weakly, "Um, Tony, I'm moved by what you said, but I'm not dead!"

Wang Bert carefully laid Yinsen down and burst into laughter. "You're awake? I thought you'd be unconscious a while longer!"

Tony shouted incredulously, "Not dead? That's impossible! You were shot so many times!"

Yinsen said, "I think your friend saved me! Though I have no idea how he did it!"

Wang Bert smiled. "In a not-so-scientific way!"

Tony finally caught on and angrily pointed at Wang Bert. "You little punk, you tricked me?"

Wang Bert sneered. "So what if I tricked you? Do I need to pick a date for it?"

Tony gritted his teeth in rage. He had originally wanted to thank Wang Bert for saving Yinsen, but now? Not a chance!

Still, whether he thanked him or not, Tony remembered the favor and would repay it someday. However, this guy was so rich that the favor would not be easy to repay! In the past, Tony simply threw money at anyone he wanted to thank, but that clearly would not work now.

At that moment, the U.S. Military's helicopter arrived. Colonel Rhodes was the first to jump down. Looking at the bedraggled Tony, he said irritably, "Going to ride the Happy Jeep again next time?"

Tony lay on the sand and said, "Can you get me a cheeseburger? I'm exhausted!"

Rhodey was speechless. The place was too close to the Terrorists' stronghold, so he did not dare linger. After getting Tony and Yinsen onto the helicopter, he immediately led everyone away!

Wang Bert did not remind Rhodey to bring back the Mark I parts because he wanted Iron Monger to make an appearance. That was also why he had not killed Raza and the others! If Wang Bert had truly gone all out, he could have killed every Terrorist within a minute. This time, from beginning to end, he had merely been sightseeing!

A one-day tour of the "Iron Man" filming set!

Wang Bert sneered. "If Obadiah doesn't become Iron Monger, how am I supposed to swallow up his shares?"

On the plane, Tony asked Wang Bert a question. "Bert, who sent you to save me?"

Wang Bert said, "Peggy Carter and S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Aunt Carter? S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Tony was stunned. This guy actually had ties to Aunt Carter? And wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. an intelligence agency? Why would they send someone to rescue him? Peggy Carter had been close friends with Tony's father, Howard, so Tony and Carter were quite close. In fact, Carter had even disciplined Tony for a period of time, and Tony was rather afraid of her!

Wang Bert said with a smile, "Your connection to S.H.I.E.L.D. goes far beyond what you imagine!"

Tony said unhappily, "Wouldn't I know whether I have any connection to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Wang Bert looked at Tony with pity. Tony was greatly annoyed. He wanted to ask more but could not bring himself to swallow his pride, so he could only sulk by himself! Wang Bert could not help laughing. "He really is just a little brat!"

On the third day, everyone returned to New York on a military plane. Little Pepper and Tony's bodyguard Happy were already waiting at the airport, while Wang Bert's assistant Mercury had brought the High-tech Mask to pick him up.

When the bandaged Tony saw Little Pepper, his expression immediately changed. He hurriedly stepped in front of her and shouted at Wang Bert as he came down the stairs, "Bert Wang, don't look!"

"Tony, what are you doing?"

Little Pepper was full of confusion. She also glanced at Wang Bert. So this was the Bert Wang Tony had mentioned. He was so young, but why had he returned with Tony? "Hello, Miss Potts!"

Wang Bert ignored the anxious Tony. Walking over to Little Pepper, he held out his hand and said, "I'm Bert Wang of the Blood God Group. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Hello, Mr. Wang!"

Little Pepper wanted to shake Wang Bert's hand, but Tony stopped her. As he glared at Wang Bert, he shouted at Happy, "Happy, get over here and block Little Pepper!"

"Tony, that's very rude!"

Little Pepper was quite displeased. Tony explained, "I'm protecting you. That guy can see through things!"

"See through things? Are you sure you're not joking?"

Little Pepper looked doubtful. Wang Bert withdrew his hand and smiled. "Miss Potts, I'd like to invite you to become the vice president of the Blood God Group. Mr. Stark knows about this and is afraid I'll steal you away, so he made up a lie that not even a three-year-old would believe!"

"Vice president?"

Little Pepper froze, then turned to Tony in displeasure. "Tony, that's too much. Whether I accept should be up to me!"

Tony hurriedly explained, "That guy said it himself! He can see through things!"

"I can't, it wasn't me, don't make things up!"

Wang Bert flatly denied it. Turning to Little Pepper, he said, "Miss Potts, if you're interested, we can set a time to have tea and discuss it slowly!"

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Wang, but I don't plan to change jobs for now!"

Little Pepper pushed Tony aside and proactively shook Wang Bert's hand. "Also, please forgive Tony. Sometimes he likes to throw little tantrums!"

Tony was furious. Little Pepper completely believed that guy but did not believe him. Then he spotted Mercury, and an idea came to him. He stepped forward and asked, "Are you an employee of the Blood God Group?"

Mercury glanced at Tony and replied expressionlessly, "I am Mr. Wang's assistant!"

"Come work for me. We can negotiate the salary!"

Tony said. Mercury gave him a disdainful look and could not even be bothered to answer. She strode over to Wang Bert.

Tony blinked. Had that been the look someone gave an insect? Tony Stark, dream man of countless beautiful women, had actually been treated like some disgusting bug by a woman? Tony was about to lose it!

"Tony!"

Little Pepper called out in dissatisfaction, then apologized to Wang Bert. "Mr. Wang, sorry you had to see that. Tony went through some things, and his mental state is a little unstable."

"No need to be polite. I understand him very well! Miss Potts, I'll take my leave first!"

Wang Bert smiled and left with Mercury and Frank. Before leaving, he even gave Tony a provocative look, nearly driving Tony mad!

That guy really was annoying! Mercury asked, "Blood God, Tony Stark has returned. Should we stop Short Selling?"

"No. In fact, the real money starts now!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Our Mr. Stark is about to announce something at a press conference that will shock the entire world!"

Frank laughed. "That dramatic? Don't tell me he wants to shut down Stark Industries?"

Wang Bert turned to him with a surprised expression. "How did you know?"

"That expression was convincing. I almost believed you!"

Frank sneered. "Even if Tony Stark got kicked in the head by a donkey, he couldn't possibly shut down Stark Industries!"

Wang Bert shook his head. "He isn't shutting down Stark Industries. He's shutting down the Weapons Department!"

"What's the difference?"

Naturally, Frank did not believe him, and neither did Mercury. Yet not long afterward, they saw Tony Stark announce on television before the entire world, "Starting today, Stark Industries' Weapons Department is officially shutting down!"

Frank was speechless. He said, "Now I suspect Tony Stark hit his head while escaping!"

Mercury, meanwhile, said excitedly, "Blood God, we're rich!"

Wang Bert truly had struck it rich. In just one day, Stark Industries' stock price fell by forty percent, wiping out hundreds of billions in market value!

Wang Bert, who had shorted the stock in advance, made a fortune, and his wealth surged dramatically! Wang Bert instructed, "Once Stark Industries' stock drops another ten percent, buy back the shares and return them to the broker to close the short position. Then purchase Stark Industries shares in the name of the Blood God Group. Not too much—four percent is enough. Any more and we'll have to make an announcement, and we might be investigated. Too troublesome!"

"Blood God, you aren't planning to acquire Stark Industries, are you? Human governments won't allow that!"

Mercury was startled and hurriedly shouted. Even she knew what Stark Industries represented! Wang Bert smiled. "Don't worry. I only want to make money. Stark Industries has no real value to me!"

Mercury sighed in relief, nodded, and went out to instruct the Financial Company to proceed!

At that moment, Wang Bert's phone rang. James said excitedly, "Blood God, I've found Anton Vanko and Ivan Vanko. They agreed to come to New York to meet you, but there's a problem with their identities. They can't enter America!"

"James, well done. I'll have someone bring you temporary entry permits. Bring them back as quickly as possible!"

Wang Bert said excitedly. Good things really did come in pairs!