More Eye-Opening Than "Eye-Opening"

The next day, Bruce Lee visited Lin Hao's estate again. The two drove to the Li family's airport on the outskirts of San Francisco and took a private jet to Los Angeles.

The banquet was held at a seaside chateau, not far from San Pedro Bay where Hollywood is located. It was clearly a very suitable venue for a party.

Since the organizers wanted to signal the intersection of Los Angeles conglomerates and Stark Industries to the outside world through this banquet, they invited many reporters for formal publicity.

As a result, the banquet naturally turned into a fashion show before it even began.

A large number of male and female stars from Hollywood seized the opportunity to compete for the camera's attention on the red carpet in front of the chateau's main entrance, smiling sincerely on the surface but with hidden barbs everywhere.

"Many people here don't have invitations; they're just here to ride the wave of popularity," Bruce Lee explained to Lin Hao with a smile while sitting in the car. "As long as a banquet is open to the public, you'll always find these people flocking to it like flies to a stench."

"This is the world of fame and fortune!" Bruce exclaimed with the same expression as "Boss Ma regretting creating Alibaba," a look of deep emotion on his face.

Lin Hao had attended many similar banquets over the past five years, both discreet and extravagant. Of course, in the past, androids had attended in his stead, but now he was attending in person. In any case, he wouldn't touch his former female companions.

The two arrived at the chateau's side entrance in a low-key luxury car, which was the true entrance for guests.

At this point, those who had competed for attention at the main entrance would be cleared out after going through the motions. Only a select few willing and invited male and female stars could enter the latter half of the event, while others, even if they wanted to squeeze in, were not qualified.

However, the main guest of honor tonight was an exception. Although Tony Stark knew the rules, he still chose to make a dazzling entrance under the spotlight.

He just loved that sort of thing.

This left the organizers feeling helpless, so they had to lead a group of guests to the main entrance to welcome him.

Bruce Lee and Lin Hao were among the welcoming guests.

Stark Industries held a pivotal position in the Marvel universe, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that kicked off with Iron Man.

Unlike in reality, in the Marvel universe, Stark Industries almost monopolized the supply of high-end weapons to the American military. Thanks to the genius weapons designers Howard Stark and Tony Stark, Stark Industries' position in weapons manufacturing was almost unshakeable.

This was why the stock price plummeted when Tony announced the closure of Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division. It was akin to all of America's top ten conglomerates suddenly declaring bankruptcy.

Local Californian conglomerates, eager to curry favor with Tony Stark, could only put on smiles and fawn over him. Bruce Lee also wanted to get closer, but he didn't even have the qualifications to get to the front row.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in assets sounded like a lot, but it was the accumulation of generations of the Li family's wealth. Bruce Lee's readily available liquid assets were less than Lin Hao's.

Compared to Bruce next to him, this Bruce was indeed a bit shabby.

However, Bruce and Lin Hao, with their rare Eastern features, still managed to catch Tony Stark's eye.

"Wow, it seems the atmosphere in California is quite open-minded. The news from a few days ago almost made me think that people of color here wouldn't dare to go out," Tony said, deliberately stepping forward and extending his hand to Lin Hao.

This was their first meeting, and it was clearly not going to be their last.

At this time, Tony Stark, though a playboy, did not discriminate against people of color. Compared to those arrogant traditional conglomerate figures, he was very open-minded.

"Hello, my name is Lin Hao," Lin Hao said as he shook Tony's hand, introducing himself. "I'm a Singaporean Chinese, a shipping merchant."

This was another identity Lin Hao had maintained for a long time.

"For some reason, I feel like you're more of a scientist," Tony Stark said, glancing at Lin Hao's head.

Lin Hao remained unfazed and said with a half-smile, "Indeed, I am a scientist dedicated to the research of life sciences."

All the men around who knew Lin Hao revealed subtle, knowing smiles.

Tony, sensing a kindred spirit, immediately understood and felt a flicker of curiosity.

"Really? I'm eager to see the results of your research."

Tony continued to greet others, but Lin Hao cast a deep glance at his retreating back.

"Someone cursed by knowledge... can they truly sense their own kind?"

"Sigh..." Bruce's sigh beside him interrupted Lin Hao's reverie. "Tony Stark actually took the initiative to greet you."

"What?" Lin Hao teased with a smile. "Are you jealous?"

"It's nothing. My family's business isn't managed by me anyway," Bruce said with a touch of melancholy.

Even a playboy wanted to prove himself!

With Tony Stark's arrival, the first half of the banquet officially began. Several local conglomerate leaders took the stage for brief speeches, followed by a performance from a renowned Broadway music ensemble. Men and women danced on the dance floor.

Around midnight, the organizers politely began to clear the venue. Reporters and celebrities who hadn't received entry tickets had no choice but to leave.

After the extraneous guests departed, the atmosphere in the venue suddenly changed.

The lights dimmed, everyone put on masks, and a group of young, attractive men and women appeared on stage, dancing energetically as their clothes gradually slipped off.

Lin Hao, also wearing a mask, brought a bronze censer to the center of the venue and dropped in a "One-Stick Wonder."

Instantly, a subtle fragrance filled the air.

The atmosphere in the venue became noticeably more heated.

"Old Lin, I'm not staying with you," Bruce said, his blood boiling. He put his arms around two young and beautiful girls and went to a nearby room.

"Wow, it seems your research results are quite effective," Tony Stark said, walking up to Lin Hao with his mask on, smiling as he extended an invitation. "I'm having a banquet in New York next week. You must come!"

"Sure!" Lin Hao replied with a smile.

The effects of "One-Stick Wonder" began to take hold, leaving the venue in disarray, even more eye-opening than Eyes Wide Shut.

Lin Hao didn't stand on ceremony. He put an arm around a blonde beauty who bore a striking resemblance to Amber Heard and held Emma Roberts, with her doll-like face, in his other arm as he headed towards the bedroom.

He had other business to attend to tonight, so he needed to conserve his energy. Otherwise, he would have aimed to gather five golden flowers.

With Lin Hao's current combat strength, the two blonde beauties quickly surrendered their weapons and fell unconscious.

Lin Hao, still uneasy, sealed their sleeping acupoints using a pressure point technique.

Yes, the same kind Ouyang Feng used to seal Little Dragon Girl.

He had the little devil open the mysterious space. A moment later, Lin Hao, having altered his appearance and physique with the Life Return technique, donned a black outfit and left the Chateau, his feet stepping on Geppo.

By this time, the night was deep.

Outside the Chateau, a military vehicle was parked, with two Black men inside.

"Colonel Rhodey, are we going to wait here until dawn?" asked Will Fortson, who had just been promoted to Captain, looking dejected.

Listening to the decadent music coming from the Chateau, they could only endure the cold wind outside. Who could stand this feeling?

"We don't have an invitation, so we can't get in." James Rupert Rhodes, the future "War Machine," commonly known as Rhodey, was equally frustrated.

"Then let's go back to the city; at least there are hotels to stay in," Will Fortson suggested.

"No, if we don't intercept Tony here, who knows where he'll fly off to first thing tomorrow morning." Rhodey knew his good friend's habits well.

"But..."

"No buts. Don't forget you're an Air Force fighter!"

Rhodey said sternly, "If you can't get Tony to design a multi-purpose land, sea, and air weapon for you, General Ross will definitely find another excuse to transfer you again."

"Transferring is fine too..." The young Will Fortson hadn't yet experienced the factional struggles within the American military.

"If you want to go hunt that green monster, I can help you submit the application," Rhodey said faintly.

"Uh..." Recalling the scenes he had watched yesterday, Will Fortson cowered. "I was just kidding."

War Machine's real name is James Rupert Rhodes, an Air Force Colonel, often called Rhodey. From now on, he will be referred to as "Rhodey."