No One Owes You Their Help

"Oh!? Then tell me what you think will happen."

Tony looked eager to see what Feeney would do, but his eyes were quietly studying Feeney's every move.

"I have a feeling your chair's about to break, and you're going to fall flat on your face!"

As soon as Feeney finished speaking, the front legs of the plastic chair beneath Tony snapped. Caught off guard, Tony pitched forward with the chair. Just as he was about to take a nasty fall, the Palm Ejection System in his palm suddenly activated, steadying him.

Feeney watched from the side, sorely disappointed. Tony couldn't possibly have reacted in time. Artificial Intelligence Jarvis must have adjusted his position for him; otherwise, he would definitely have fallen.

Once he had steadied himself, Tony stared in astonishment at the broken chair behind him. Still refusing to admit defeat, he asked, "How did you do that?"

"Jarvis, run a Frame-by-Frame Analysis. What little trick did he just pull?"

A few Instants later.

"Sir, Mr. Feeney was only talking to you. He didn't do anything particularly unusual."

"Impossible!"

Looking at Feeney's beaming face, Tony paused, then finally said with a reluctant air, "Fine, I admit your Sorcerers have a few tricks. But they're just party tricks."

Feeney didn't take offense. Looking at Tony, who was still standing, he thought for a moment and asked, "Now that you've built the armor, what are you planning to do next?"

Tony didn't answer. Instead, he pulled over another chair and continued, "First, tell me about the Mystic Arts Mages."

"How many of you are there? Are you a special organization? Are you registered with the government?"

"I don't know exactly how many there are. Not many, anyway. I guess you could call us a special organization. Registered with the government? Probably not."

Feeney didn't think it was anything important, so he answered as best he could.

"Then what's the purpose of your organization? Secretly ruling the world?" Tony continued his 'interrogation.'

"Yeah, right. It's the exact opposite. We exist to protect the world." Feeney glared at Tony, then explained, "The Earth is actually a dangerous place. The Science Side's dangers are handled by people on the Science Side, like the military, Captain America, or you. Maybe some genetically mutated people will join them in the future, too."

"But dangers from the Mystic Side are handled by those of us on the Mystic Side, like the Mystic Arts Mages. If not for my teacher, the Earth would've been doomed long ago."

"Dangers from the Mystic Side?" Tony stared at the Wine Glass in Feeney's hand, his gaze questioning.

"For example, collecting dangerous Magic Equipment from different places, or stopping some Dimension Master who wants to devour the Earth."

"Dimension Master!?"

Tony could understand Magic Equipment, but he wasn't sure what a Dimension Master was.

"Ah, that's hard to explain." Feeney scratched his head in frustration. After a moment, he said, "Anyway, they're incredibly powerful beings, beyond the Life Tier of ordinary creatures. All you need to know is that if one of them showed up, a few nuclear bombs wouldn't do a thing."

Tony fell silent. He chose to believe Feeney, figuring it was better to accept that such an enemy existed than to dismiss the possibility.

In one way, Tony was a lot like Feeney: he didn't like relying on others. If the enemy was really as powerful as Feeney said, then the Iron Man Armor he'd made seemed completely useless. At least, he couldn't survive a nuclear blast right now.

He'd thought he was about to become a max-level powerhouse who could protect the Earth. But who could've guessed the enemy would be that strong? By comparison, the Iron Man Armor was just beginner's gear.

Noticing Tony's expression, Feeney worried he'd scared him and quickly reassured him, "But don't worry. With us Sorcerers around, that guy can't come to Earth. And my teacher is still here!"

"What if your teacher isn't around anymore?" Tony retorted. At this point, he trusted almost no one but himself.

"Didn't I tell you? She knows Time Sorcery and can see the future. She'll make sure everything's taken care of before she's gone."

Honestly, Feeney trusted The Ancient One a great deal. He didn't even want her to step down. Doctor Strange's 'bargaining' didn't feel nearly as reassuring as The Ancient One did. If he could, he'd definitely stop The Ancient One from choosing to die.

Tony opened his mouth, unsure what to say. Feeney's idea seemed absurd, and he trusted his teacher far too much.

"Anyway, I've told you what you needed to know. What are you planning to do?" Feeney asked curiously.

He'd actually noticed Tony didn't trust him, but so what? If Tony really managed to build an 'Anti-Dormammu Armor,' Feeney would be over the moon.

Still, judging by the future Hulkbuster Armor Tony would build, there wasn't much hope of him making an 'Anti-Dormammu Armor.'

"My plans..."

Tony's eyes were clouded with uncertainty. The Iron Man Armor had been his hope and goal for making up for his past mistakes, but now that he'd built it, he really hadn't decided what to do next.

Looking at Tony's troubled expression, Feeney thought it over and decided to give him a hint.

"You could go after terrorists, like the doctor who treated you before—"

"You know Yinsen!?" Before Feeney could finish, Tony shot to his feet and cut him off. His Face Mask sealed shut, and the Energy Cannon in his hand aimed at Feeney. "Are you working with them!?"

"Have you lost your mind?"

Seeing Tony's reaction, Feeney frowned in displeasure and stood up too. "That's right, I know Yinsen. I even know who kidnapped you. I know plenty of other things, too. Does that prove I'm working with them?"

Tony realized right after speaking that he'd overreacted. If Feeney really had been working with the terrorists, Tony wouldn't have stood a chance.

But Yinsen was one of the most important people in Tony's life. He'd sacrificed himself in front of Tony just a few months ago, and Tony hadn't told anyone about it. That was why he'd reacted so strongly when Feeney mentioned him.

But Tony still wasn't the kind of person who could swallow his pride and apologize. He merely lowered the Energy Cannon and demanded, "How do you know him?"

"None of your business!"

Feeney snapped. Anyone would be unhappy if someone suddenly aimed an Energy Cannon at them. It was even more powerful than a gun, and if it hit him while he wasn't wearing 'Possessed by Evil Spirit,' he wasn't sure he'd survive.

He'd trusted Tony enough to deactivate 'Possessed by Evil Spirit' earlier. Unlike the Iron Armor, it wasn't powered by energy, and wearing it constantly drained his stamina.

Tony's actions just now had clearly betrayed that trust, and ruined Feeney's good mood.

"Tony Stark, remember this: everyone has their own path in life. Not everyone wants someone interfering with it. And no one owes you their help."

After saying that, Feeney, still in a foul mood, didn't wait for Tony to answer. He quietly murmured "portal" and stepped through one back home.

Tony was left alone in the mansion. He stood there in silence for a long time, then finally said, "Jarvis, I need somewhere to have a drink and clear my head. Any suggestions?"

"Sir, the third annual charity ball you're hosting for the Firefighters' Family Fund is currently being held at Disney Concert Hall. Ms. Potts is there as well."

"Fine. Get things ready. I'm going out!"

"By the way, sir, you weren't invited to this ball!"

That only made Tony feel worse. Since when did they stop inviting the host to his own ball? If he couldn't act tough in front of Sorcerers, could he at least show off in front of ordinary people!?

...It was already Friday!