"Crowdfunding to save the world? Only he could come up with something like that."
After ending the call, Lee Stein shook his head with a helpless smile.
"Pandora, get me Phil Coulson."
Tossing a few odds and ends from his hands onto the workbench, Lee lay down on a nearby sofa to rest and gave the order.
Before long, the call connected.
"Mr. Lee Stein, what can I do for you?"
Coulson's voice came through, but there was no video feed—only the sound of passing traffic in the background.
"Coulson, I heard you've been working on some big project lately. How come you didn't invite me?"
Lee crossed one leg over the other with a smile, took the glass Pandora handed him, and had a sip.
"I knew his mouth wasn't reliable."
"What, Tony already told Lee Stein?"
Coulson's and Pepper Potts's voices came from the other end of the line.
After grumbling, Coulson added apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Lee Stein. That was a decision from above, and I have no authority to interfere. If you want to participate, you can contact Director Nick Fury."
"Come on, Coulson, that's a pretty lousy excuse."
Feeling thoroughly bored, Lee curled his lip. "Since you don't want me involved, there's no need for me to make a nuisance of myself. But as a member of Earth, I've still decided to offer you some support."
"Support? For free?"
Astonishment and suspicion entered Coulson's voice. "It's hard to imagine hearing something like that from you."
"That's because you haven't recognized who I truly am. I'm not someone greedy for money, and I have no interest in it whatsoever. The only reason I put on that merchant face I despise is because I have to answer to my shareholders and my employees."
Lee smiled indifferently. "In fact,