You Don't Really Think There Are No Aliens on Earth, Do You?

In the end, Feeney didn't leave. He simply deactivated Invisibility Mode. With his armor concealing him, Tony wouldn't recognize his face anyway.

Tony was clearly startled when he saw Feeney, but perhaps the locked door and the Iron Armor arm in his hand gave him confidence. He immediately asked:

"Would you mind identifying yourself, you... unknown creature trespassing in someone else's home!? Are you an alien? Can you talk? Did you steal that armor you're wearing from a museum?"

As he spoke, Tony began to look like he wanted to study Feeney.

"Hello, Mr. Tony Stark. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Remembering how the Ancient One had acted when they first met, Feeney tried to strike a composed pose. Unfortunately, his Face Mask concealed his face, depriving him of any facial expressions that might have made him look more impressive.

"Hmm... You can talk, and you know my name. So this was premeditated?" Tony said thoughtfully. As he quietly edged toward his computer, he continued asking questions:

"How did you do that? The Fire Ring? Is that your people's technology?"

"Yeah, it's a skill unique to us. Lots of people can do it. It's very convenient when you want to go somewhere." Feeney teased Tony with interest.

Portals seemed to be unique to Earth. There were so many people at Kamar-Taj, and lots of them could open portals. It wasn't even difficult, and they certainly were convenient.

"Then who are you, exactly? Why did you come looking for me?" Tony asked with a frown. If it weren't for the footage Jarvis had recorded, he would've already activated the mansion's Counterattack System.

This was the home of a former arms dealer. How could it possibly be unprotected?

"Hmm..."

Feeney quickly thought of something and blurted out a lie. "I'm a Cosmic Observer. I noticed you're building a special weapon that might make me reevaluate Earth, so I came to find out more."

Tony was momentarily stunned, seemingly taken aback. After a short silence, he asked, "Are you really an alien?"

Feeney didn't confirm it, but he misled Tony in another way. "What are you saying? You don't really think there are no aliens on Earth, do you?"

"Like the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, the Asgardian Gods of Asgard, the Kree from the Kree Empire, the Skrulls, and so on. They've all been to Earth."

Though he couldn't see Feeney's face, Tony could tell from his surprised, slightly mocking tone that he was being looked down on. For once, the man who was always needling others got to experience it himself.

As a genius recognized by the whole world, Tony was smart. Of course he wouldn't believe Feeney so easily.

"So, what did your observations tell you?"

Tony flexed the Armor Part Energy Cannon on his wrist while secretly using his other hand to control the computer. He had Jarvis create a file and scan Feeney, preparing to activate the Counterattack System at the same time.

Feeney's strange technology might make it impossible to restrain him, but as his father used to say, it was better to act first and figure things out later.

"Not bad. You're pretty impressive."

Feeney praised him. Tony Stark had plenty of flaws, but no one could deny his talent. After all, looking across the entire universe, Feeney hadn't seen anyone else build a Time Machine.

"I think so too!" Tony replied without a trace of modesty. Then, to Feeney's surprise, he unlocked the door and invited him in. "Want to come in and have a coffee?"

Feeney glanced at Tony in surprise. After a moment's hesitation, he walked into Tony's workshop. Projected above the table was what looked like the complete blueprint for the Mark II.

Noticing Feeney's gaze, Tony waved his hand and shut off the projection. Then he promptly called out:

"Jarvis, seal every room. Lock onto the target. Don't attack for now."

He also aimed the Energy Cannon on his arm at Feeney. Only after the room was sealed and various weapons emerged from the corners did he look at Feeney, who hadn't reacted at all.

"Mr... um... the gentleman who claims to be an alien..."

"If you don't mind, could you take off that armor that looks like you stole it from a museum? Then we can sit down and talk properly."

"Aren't you afraid of making me angry and bringing disaster upon the whole Earth?"

Watching Tony's actions, Feeney asked with some curiosity.

This was Tony's workshop, after all. He couldn't exactly install any large-scale weapons here. They were all Small Weapons with Limited Lethality.

They'd be enough against ordinary people, but if he wanted to fight Feeney, the Energy Cannon connected to the Arc Reactor on his arm was probably his best bet.

"Who knows? Maybe this 'alien' is just a human in a costume." Tony curled his lip. Keeping his aim trained on Feeney, he brought up a screen and said, "I still don't know how you got into my house, but did you think no one would notice you hanging around outside?"

"Damn it!"

Feeney couldn't help cursing when he saw the footage. It showed him looking around just after he'd found Tony's house. He hadn't even noticed the security cameras nearby.

"How many cameras have you put up around here?" Feeney asked irritably. He didn't bother denying it was him. There was no point. Tony would investigate as soon as he got suspicious, and sooner or later Feeney would be exposed. If something else happened in the meantime, it'd only make things more complicated.

"Who knows? I've got money. I'm even thinking about launching a few more satellites to keep an eye on my house."

Tony shrugged, looking so rich and smug that it was downright annoying.

"Okay, you win."

Feeney deactivated Possessed by Evil Spirit. His identity was already exposed, so there was no point hiding anymore. Besides, Tony hadn't finished building his armor yet, so there was no point fighting him.

To be honest, Feeney regretted coming here. If he'd known it would turn out like this, he never would have come.

Tony was surprised by how readily Feeney gave in. While cautiously trying to confirm Feeney's identity, he asked again, "Hmm... Your armor... Is it the latest Nanotechnology!?"

"Did you really get your hands on some new kind of alien technology?"

The way Feeney had appeared and then deactivated Possessed by Evil Spirit had been so unexpected that even Tony, known as the Da Vinci of the modern age, couldn't figure out what had happened.

"I thought you were going to offer me coffee. Are you planning to keep treating your guest like this?"

Feeney replied irritably. He was still upset about the cameras. Technology really was the enemy of magic.

Seeing Feeney's youthful face and how clean and neat he looked, with no weapons in sight, Tony hesitated. He lowered his arm and stopped aiming the Energy Cannon at him.

"All right, Mr. Hailsaiz. Now tell me why you broke into my home. Otherwise, I don't mind having my lawyers take your parents to court."

"Don't threaten me. The consequences could be serious." Feeney frowned. He didn't want anyone threatening his family. They were his Achilles' heel.

But Tony was Tony, Marvel's number-one tsundere. Even if he didn't mean it, he still had to run his mouth.

"You should be thinking about the consequences for yourself."

"You really think I can't do anything about it?" Feeney looked at Tony's smug face, breathed out softly, and focused his mind as he gave the order. "Jarvis, you will temporarily follow my instructions. Delete all video and image records of me, and confirm that they can't be recovered."

"Of course, sir. I'm happy to help."

My followers are increasing so slowly. At this rate, I might lose my recommendation spot next week. This is so depressing!