Tony's little tsundere mood didn't affect his enthusiasm for the party.
After making his decision, he suddenly realized that this would be the most relaxing birthday party he'd had in a long time—one where he could cast off the two burdens that had troubled him for so long.
However, neither Oaks nor Rhodey was particularly used to his style of celebration.
So the two of them found a relatively quiet spot, each holding a drink and savoring it slowly.
"Did I see that wrong? That's not how you were drinking just now."
Having completed his mission, Rhodey was in a great mood and even felt like joking around.
"The refined way you're drinking now is what reminds me of your profession."
"Cough... You must have been too preoccupied and seen wrong."
Oaks shot him a sidelong glance and curled his lip.
"I thought that as a soldier, you'd avoid alcohol, Colonel. Not to mention you drove here."
"I'm flying back later!"
Rhodey's eyes seemed to sparkle.
"Finally... That's so cool! And there aren't any laws in the U.S. regulating alcohol consumption for flying armor yet. Perfect!"
He raised his glass and clinked it against Oaks's.
"Thank you so much, Dr. Oaks. Without your help, Tony probably would've had a hard time getting out of this mess, let alone resolving it so perfectly."
"No, it isn't perfect, Colonel Rhodes."
Oaks took a sip of wine, glanced at Tony effortlessly working his way through a crowd of beautiful women, and chuckled.
"Tony gave you the armor as a personal gift... not to the U.S. Military. We made that very clear before."
"Right, it was precisely because of my special position that there was room for a compromise..."
Rhodey had to admire Oaks's mind.
"But armor needs weapons, and Tony has made it