Environmental Protection Foundation

"Analysis test number 10021, analyzing..."

Tony stared wearily at the Holographic Display before him as data flickered across it.

His mechanical arm, Dummy, approached with a cup of coffee clamped in its pincers. Tony casually took it.

"Good job, buddy. But I haven't forgotten about you spilling coffee all over my workbench."

Dummy opened and closed its claws, making a series of strange mechanical noises as it slowly returned to its original position.

"One last time..."

Tony frowned as several key figures suddenly turned red, and Jarvis's voice rang out.

"Analysis failed, sir."

A huge "FAILURE" appeared on the Holographic Display before Tony. He irritably waved the display aside.

"Is there any other way?"

"We have tried every method, sir."

Jarvis's tone remained calm.

"The sample contains a peculiar form of energy radiation that current detection equipment cannot detect.

This energy radiation is highly beneficial to the human body. It can greatly accelerate metabolism and replenish physical energy expenditure, completely unlike any currently known form of energy."

"What about those green plants?"

Tony rubbed his chin and took another sip of coffee, feeling much more alert.

"Those plants have such high purification efficiency. How are they different from ordinary plants?"

"Those green plants also possess special energy radiation. It is 99% similar to the energy radiation in the serum sample. It can be assumed that the remaining 1% difference accounts for the different effects."

"What about replication?"

"Attempts to replicate the Recovery Serum based on existing data have been completely ineffective. The result is merely an ordinary beverage rich in protein, fiber, and chlorophyll."

"Like vegetable juice?"

"Precisely, sir."

Tony let out a breath, set his empty coffee cup on the workbench, and ran both hands through his hair.

"All right... I admit defeat. It's only a little sponsorship money. It's nothing."

"Should this work be marked as concluded, sir?"

"Mark it."

"Yes, sir."

Jarvis put away the remaining Holographic Displays, then projected a new display before Tony.

"Miss Pepper will arrive in five minutes."

"Five minutes?!"

Tony abruptly looked up and rubbed at his darkened eye sockets.

"Is there any serum left?"

"It has all been used up, sir."

"Why didn't you keep any in reserve?!"

"One week ago, you used up both samples for personal reasons. This batch was provided by Mr. Happy and was only barely sufficient."

"..."

Tony stood, but suddenly felt weak.

"Did Pepper... say what she was coming for?"

"Her application states that she needs your approval for an unplanned medical expense, as it will be charged to your personal account."

Jarvis projected Pepper's application before Tony, leaving him stunned.

"Medical? I'm perfectly healthy!"

"It concerns those cover-model actresses, sir."

Tony watched in horror as Jarvis projected a lengthy list of medical expenses.

"Their agencies stated that, due to attending your party, their bodies... suffered some minor injuries that will affect their work over the next week.

Miss Pepper only reached an agreement with several agencies yesterday regarding their medical and other expenses."

Tony slapped a hand against his forehead.

"Oh, shit!"

Tony's way of soothing his female assistant's anger was to take her to Oaks's Emerald Dream, hoping the miraculous serum could calm the beauty's mood.

Of course, the female assistant also had to draft a sponsorship plan for New York City's environmental protection efforts in the car.

And Tony came up empty-handed.

"He isn't here? When will he be back?"

Tony looked at the wildly excited Zhang, secretly glanced at his smiling female assistant, and gave a light cough.

"Um, do you still have any of that serum? I'll take all of it!"

"Ah, of course, Mr. Stark."

Only then did Zhang realize that the "driver" he had previously seen with Miss Carter was actually the famous Tony Stark.

And he had even ridden in his car!

No wonder Tony had said his car generally didn't carry men. Today, he had come with a beautiful woman.

But didn't beautiful women get carsick either?

"Mr. Oaks went to the Amazon Rainforest for an on-site inspection three days ago. The samples he uploaded last time caught the interest of botanists."

Zhang took out ten bottles of Recovery Serum from beneath the counter, placed them in an exquisite gift box, and handed it to Tony.

"Mr. Oaks left these behind earlier. He emphasized that, um... buying more doesn't come with a discount, but you can get coffee beans as a gift."

"Thank you. Just give them to me. He isn't used to taking things handed over by others."

Pepper smiled as she accepted the gift box and a large bag of coffee beans from Zhang. Tony squeezed out a one-second smile.

"Yes, that's right... I'll pay the full amount."

Pepper handed Zhang a credit card, while Tony turned to examine the shelves once again filled with green plants and tilted his head.

"Then I'll come back after Oaks returns. Also, you should buy tomorrow's New York Times and keep it as a souvenir."

"The New York Times?" Zhang asked, puzzled.

"Because tomorrow's paper will report that the great Tony Stark has personally invested ten million dollars to establish an Environmental Protection Foundation in support of New York's environmental protection efforts."

Pepper put away the card. Though there was some sarcasm in her voice, her gaze at Tony became much gentler.

"And Mr. Oaks Lin will be Tony's partner."

"Ah!"

While Zhang stood there dumbfounded, Tony had already left with Pepper.

"Pepper, get me Rhodey."

"Colonel Rhodes? Tony, you still have a meeting to attend."

"Postpone it."

After getting into the driver's seat, Tony took the phone Pepper handed him.

"Hey, Rhodey."

The call connected, and the teasing voice of Tony's best friend, Colonel James Rhodes of the US Air Force Weapons Development Division, came through the line.

"Hey, Tony. Did you settle things with the ladies?"

"...Pepper dialed the call for me."

"Oh~ The great Tony Stark actually cares about this sort of thing?"

Rhodey made a deliberately surprised jab before getting to the point.

"With a beautiful assistant around, why would you still think of me?"

"I need you to check a friend's exit records."

Tony fell silent for two seconds before continuing.

"After I started considering him a friend, I decided not to investigate his information anymore. But this time there's a special reason—

You only need to tell me whether this friend of mine has any record of leaving the country during the three days before today."

"Oh, thank goodness you called me instead of hacking into the Immigration and Customs Bureau's servers yourself."

Rhodey's tone turned serious. It was not easy for Tony to call someone a friend.

Normally, Tony only played along with people. As for true friends... perhaps only Happy and Rhodey counted now?

Who knew how this newcomer could endure Tony's bizarre way of thinking.

"Hey! Rhodey, are you thinking something bad? I'll apologize to him afterward."

"...Fine. Send me the name. I'll send you the results later."

The call ended. Tony sent Oaks's name to Rhodey and started the sports car.

"If this guy still has no exit record, then things will get interesting."