The Collision of Steel and Steel

"Actually, I did more than that." Luke was completely encased in a somewhat bulky, silver-white Iron Armor standing two meters tall. "I even created an online ghost identity called The Maker. While leaking information, I gave Obadiah a little technical help. Of course, I was paid for it!"

"What are you going to do?" Ina Sandra asked in confusion as the silver-white helmet lowered, concealing Luke's face beneath steel.

"Testing." Luke's Iron Armor began its final module self-check. The exposed component modules stacked and combined within the limited space in a manner both complex and precise. Anyone could see the extraordinary industrial capability contained within it. Unfortunately, Ina Sandra was the only audience present.

"What about Pepper Potts? Her place in Stark's heart isn't ordinary. If Tony Stark gets out safely this time and happens to notice some clues, aren't you afraid he'll take it out on you?" Ina Sandra asked. She rather liked Pepper Potts.

"The White Queen and Terra will erase every trace online. That Maker identity has nothing to do with me, either. What is there for him to take out on me? For giving him clues? For making him learn and face the cruel reality?" Luke's voice sounded through the armor's external speakers. Deliberately altered, it came out muffled and distorted, with none of his original voice recognizable.

"He's at least a generation older than me. He can't possibly be more childish than I am, can he?"

"As for Pepper, don't worry. Someone will rescue her. If no one does, I have another safeguard. Didn't I have you leave two Mechanic Squads behind in California? The White Queen will assign them a mission."

"It seems you've arranged everything perfectly." Ina Sandra watched the Iron Armor finish its self-check. Before she could say anything else, a metal gale whistled past her, making her instinctively raise a hand to shield her windblown hair. When she looked back, Luke and his Prototype had already vanished from the laboratory.

Stark Industrial Park.

"You have been targeted by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They will be coming to deal with you shortly. Good luck! Your faithful partner—The Maker."

Obadiah Stane stared at the message on his phone, his expression darkening. The instant he read it, the message swiftly vanished and deleted itself. This was not the first garbled message Obadiah Stane had received signed by The Maker. The other party was like a ghost online; even with Stark Industries' capabilities in electronic Information Technology, they had been unable to uncover the slightest trace of him in the real world.

But The Maker was remarkably capable. During their first contact, Obadiah had been troubled over reproducing Tony's Iron Armor. The Maker had helped resolve many technical problems, even improving it—or rather, using Mark I as a model and foundation to redesign an Iron Armor from scratch.

Except for the power source.

In The Maker's own words, he was an online technology broker and an online technology thief. He did not reject technical exchanges, assistance, or support with any organization, corporation, or even individual, provided they could offer something he wanted. Fortunately, when dealing with The Maker, all he wanted was money.

Obadiah very much wanted to recruit The Maker. After all, if Tony was gone in the future, it would be best to have a replacement. That replacement could not hold too many shares, much less threaten Obadiah's position and authority, while his technical ability had to be top-tier. The Maker was the ideal choice in Obadiah's mind.

However, he simply could not contact The Maker. Every time The Maker contacted him first, he acted like a cold, rigid machine. Their exchanges consisted of raising a problem, solving it, and then waiting for the next contact. All information unrelated to technology was wiped clean from the internet.

The Maker had also been the one to tell him that Hebron Industries was secretly investigating his weapons orders. Therefore, despite Obadiah's deep suspicion, he instinctively placed a degree of trust in The Maker's information. Especially after the other party mentioned S.H.I.E.L.D., Obadiah became utterly convinced.

As someone who had founded Stark Industries alongside Howard Stark, he naturally knew of the shadowy organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. A series of accidents that day had thrown his emotions into turmoil. With the new-generation Arc Reactor in his hands and a bright new future about to arrive, all of Obadiah's former calmness and experience vanished at that moment. Only one sentence filled his mind.

No one can stop me!

He had to take a gamble!

As long as he could get away, with the Arc Reactor and Iron Armor technology in hand, his connections would be enough to guarantee his safety. As it happened, the military was also dissatisfied with Tony Stark for no longer selling weapons, causing their former darling to fall from grace. But first, he needed to demonstrate technology that would tempt them! With that thought, Obadiah Stane looked at the approaching Stark Industrial Park and made up his mind.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was indeed troublesome, but as long as he could gain the military's support, everything afterward would be nothing more than haggling and exchanging benefits.

Malibu Villa.

"Thank you for your help."

Under Phil Coulson's guidance, Tony Stark had finally reinserted the first-generation Arc Reactor, which had been displayed as an exhibition piece, into his chest. Feeling some sensation return to his body at last, he stood up, hurriedly thanked Coulson, and ordered J.A.R.V.I.S. to help him put on his Iron Armor.

"Where are you going?" Phil Coulson asked from the side as mechanical arms assembled the pieces of Iron Armor onto Tony's body.

"To save Pepper, and stop Obadiah." Tony replied without blinking, his face grim.

"Actually, our people have already gone over there. You don't need to worry about Ms. Potts' safety," Phil Coulson said.

"That's a huge help." Tony Stark did not place all his hopes on the unfamiliar man before him, even though the man had indeed saved him. Once the assembly was complete, the dim eyes in the metal face beneath the faceplate lit up. Then, while Phil Coulson still looked as though he wanted to say something, Tony directly controlled the Iron Armor and flew out, stirring up a flurry of papers in his wake and leaving Coulson alone amid the drifting sheets.

Stark Industrial Park.

An Iron Giant over three meters tall violently burst up from beneath the ground. The components in its feet shifted, gradually spitting out fierce flames that slowly lifted its bloated, heavy-looking body toward the sky. Yet before it could adjust its orientation, another steel figure in the distant sky streaked forward with a long trail of flame and slammed into the newly airborne Iron Giant, driving it straight back toward the ground.

"Boss, another armored man has arrived. Do you need us to intervene?" The Captain of the Mechanic Squad, Snoke, who was hiding nearby, sent Luke a message.

"If the newly arrived armored man gets in danger, then step in and help him. Do you understand what I mean by help? You can assist from the side, but you can't take the kill."

"Understood." Snoke ended the communication.