The next day, the skylight squeezed in through the gaps in the floor-to-ceiling windows, stinging Tony's eyelids.
He woke up from the sofa, his head felt like it was being stuffed into a tightening iron hoop, and he felt a dull pain.
The sour smell of alcohol, perfume and vomit mixed in the air, making his stomach churn. He moved, and the cold metal rubbed against his skin, and then he remembered that he was still trapped in the Mark 4 suit with no power.
Like a sardine stuffed into a can, unable to move.
The images from last night were like broken glass, bit by bit, stuck in my mind.
Rhodey's face full of disappointment.
Two tough guys fought each other savagely in their own house and smashed his beloved sports car.
And...Chu Hang's calm and infuriating face.
"It's... so ugly."
These words were heavier than Rhodey's fist, like a red-hot steel needle piercing his most sensitive self-esteem.
What made him angry the most was not being beaten by Rhodey, or even being robbed of Mark2.
It's Chu Hang.
The guy just stood on the lawn, holding a glass of red wine, and waved casually like a theatergoer.
Then, his and Rhodey's battle armors, two pieces of War Machine that represented the earth's top technology, became two pieces of scrap metal that lost power and fell straight from the sky.
What does that feel like?
He, Tony·Stark, the most dazzling genius, billionaire, playboy, superhero of this era... lost so much that he didn't even have his underpants left in front of a "business partner" whom he personally supported.
Chu Hang not only stole the Mark2 easily, but also gave his hard-earned work to the military in a charity-like tone of deciding the ownership of the company's property.
That's not a discussion, it's a notification.
"JARVIS." Tony's voice was dry and hoarse, like sandpaper rubbed across the throat.
"Good morning, sir. It has been detected that your heart rate is high and your blood pressure is unstable. It is recommended to replenish water and electrolytes immediately." JARVIS's gentle voice sounded in the helmet.
"Loss report." Tony closed his eyes, he didn't want to look at the garbage dump around him.
"Seventeen percent of the main structure of the villa was damaged, and the exterior walls need to be re-reinforced. The repair cost is estimated to be US$1.72 million.
The interior decoration, furniture and artwork were damaged, including a piece of "Dream" by Picasso, with a total value of approximately US$4.53 million.
In addition, the 1965 Shelby Cobra antique sports car in your collection has been completely scrapped and cannot be repaired."
"That's enough."
He doesn't care about money. It's just a bunch of numbers.
What he cares about is the feeling of being completely controlled and played with.
Chu Hang knows all his weaknesses, but he knows nothing about Chu Hang.
The source of that guy's power, that guy's purpose, everything is a mystery.
"Asshole..." Tony squeezed out two words through his teeth.
He asked JARVIS to activate the emergency escape procedure.
The armor made a series of "clicking" mechanical sounds, and the chest armor, arm armor, leg armor... pieces were peeled off from his body and fell to the ground, making a dull sound.
He stood up shirtless and looked around.
There were empty wine bottles and a high-heeled shoe floating in the swimming pool, two big holes were made in the lawn, and the living room was in a mess, as if it had just been looted by an army.
After the carnival, there is only emptiness and chaos.
He staggered to the liquor cabinet and subconsciously wanted to grab a bottle of whiskey.
The hand stopped in mid-air.
His face was reflected on the bright glass door of the wine cabinet.
Pale, haggard, sunken eye sockets, unshaven, and cloudy eyes.
Is this the "invincible" Iron Man?
Is this the Tony·Stark who announced vigorously at the press conference, "I am Iron Man"?
He remembered what Yinsen said to him in the cave before he died, "Don't waste your Life Law."
I remembered Chu Hang's cold warning again. "You are destroying my investment with your stupid behavior."
He clenched his fists, and his joints turned white from exertion.
He turned around suddenly and punched the wine cabinet.
Wow!
The expensive tempered glass shattered to the ground, and hundreds of bottles of priceless wine rolled out and fell to the ground. The amber liquid mixed with glass fragments flowed everywhere. The rich aroma of wine instantly filled the whole room, pungent and ironic.
"JARVIS." Tony gasped. The back of his hand was scratched by the glass and blood oozed out.
"Yes, sir."
"Clean this place up. Also, cancel all parties and appointments for the next three months."
"Understood, sir."
Tony didn't look at the mess again, turned around, walked into the underground studio with his bare feet, stepping on the glass shards and liquor on the ground.
The studio was also a mess. The place where Mark 2 originally stood was empty. There was a shockingly large hole in the wall, and cold wind was pouring in from the outside.
He walked to the central console, took a deep breath, and called up the Mark 4 design drawing.
The holographic projection unfolded in the air, and the red-gold armor that he was once proud of was full of flaws in his eyes.
Looking at his "masterpiece", he felt so displeased for the first time, "The energy system is too fragile. What kind of Iron Man is this? A tin toy!"
He needs to be faster, stronger and more agile.
He needs a brand new energy system, one that can resist unknown attacks.
He raised his hand and swiped hard in the air. The design drawing of Mark 4 was roughly scratched aside and turned into a pile of garbled characters.
There was light in his eyes again.
A paranoid, crazy flame that only belongs to genius.
He wants to build a brand new armor. A armor that can silence everyone.
He wants Chu Hang to know who is the smartest person in the world.
Technology is the real power.
At the same time, Stark Industries Building, top floor, 88th floor.
This place is completely different from any floor below. There is no open office area, no noisy phone calls and keyboard tapping. There is only a long corridor covered with dark gray sound-absorbing carpet, so quiet that you can hear your own heartbeat. At the end of the corridor, there is a Black Noir alloy door without any markings.
At 7:59:55 in the morning, the figure of Natasha·Romanoff appeared at the entrance of the corridor on time.
She wore a well-tailored Black Noir suit and skirt, which covered her almost perfect figure. Her iconic red hair was tied into a neat bun on the back of her head, and her face was professionally light-makeup, showing no emotion.
She walked to the door and stood still. The sensor on the door flashed an invisible blue light and silently scanned her irises and palm prints.
At eight o'clock, exactly one second later, the heavy alloy door slid inwards.
In the office, Chu Hang was standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window with his back to the door, overlooking the newly awakened New York at his feet.
"Mr. Chen, good morning." Natasha spoke, and his voice broke the peace.
"You are on time, Miss Lashman." Chu Hang turned around with a faint smile on his face.
"The report you want." Natasha walked to the table and gently placed a card-thick Black Noir U disk on the table.
Chu Hang picked up the USB flash drive and inserted it into the groove on the desktop.
In the air in front of him, a blue three-dimensional data flow instantly unfolded, like a virtual waterfall.
Complex charts, intertwined capital flows, huge company structure trees... all data are presented in a visually impactful way.
The level of detail in the report far exceeds the capabilities of an ordinary assistant, and even exceeds the level of a top-level commercial espionage.
There are not only all public financial statements and project information of Hammer Industries, but also records of their secret fund transfers through dozens of overseas shell companies. Every transaction is clearly traceable. The report even attaches several call recordings of private transactions between Justin Hammer and Middle East arms dealers. The sound has been processed, but the content is clear.
Finally, there is a separate folder that is triple encrypted and titled "Whiplash".
Chu Hang tapped his finger in the air, and the folder opened.
Inside is all the information about Ivan·Vanko. From his father Anton·Vanko and Howard·Stark's grievances, to his own educational background and technical expertise at Russia, to the list of a batch of high-purity palladium and military-grade capacitors he recently secretly purchased through Hammer Industries's channels.
This report is equivalent to turning Hammer Industries and Ivan·Vanko upside down and laying all their cards on the table.
Chu Hang quickly scanned the information, but there was still no expression on his face.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Ace Agent, if he can't even do this, Nick Fury can retire early and go home to raise cats.
"Well done." Chu Hang waved his hand to turn off the holographic projection. He raised his head and his eyes fell on Natasha, "It's better than I expected. Miss Lashman, your ability should not only be used as an assistant serving tea and water."
"It's my honor to work for you, sir." Natasha's answer was as precise as a textbook.
"I'm very curious," Chu Hang leaned forward slightly, crossed his hands on the table, and his eyes were as sharp as scalpels, "Where did you get these things? Especially those recordings and purchase lists, which cannot be found on Google."
Natasha could feel her heart skipping a beat, but the poker face she had trained over the years did not change at all.
"I have some... special access to information, sir."
"Special channels?" Chu Hang smiled. He stood up, walked slowly around the table, and walked to Natasha.
He was nearly a head taller than Natasha and looked at her condescendingly. The distance between them was less than half a meter. He could smell a faint, cold perfume coming from her body.
"Miss Lashman, you are like a treasure hiding countless secrets." His voice was very low, with a strange magnetism, "I have also developed a strong interest in you personally."
Natasha did not retreat. She met Chu Hang's gaze with a slight curve at the corner of her mouth. "It is my honor to be appreciated by you. However, sir, it is working time now."
"Of course." Chu Hang nodded, took a step back, and distanced himself.
In this delicate atmosphere of confrontation, the office door banged and was roughly pushed open from the outside.
Tony·Stark barged in with an unhappy look on his face. He put on a casual suit, but the fatigue and anger on his face had not dissipated.
"Anthony! We have to talk! Regarding Mark2, you can't just..."
Halfway through his words, he got stuck in his throat. He saw Natasha in the office, and saw the inexplicable atmosphere between Chu Hang and her.
Chu Hang was lowering his head, looking at a paper document handed over by Natasha (a backup she had prepared just in case). The two of them were very close, and their posture seemed a bit intimate.
"Oh haha." Tony's face immediately showed that iconic smile, "It seems that I came at the wrong time? Did I disturb you?"
He looked up and down Natasha's hot body exaggeratedly, then looked at Chu Hang's calm face, and whistled frivolously.
"Anthony, I can't tell. You move very fast. I remember China there is an old saying called 'carpe diem'. You learned well."
He deliberately said the words "carpe diem" very strongly, not only to mock Chu Hang, but also to vent the anger accumulated last night.
Natasha's brows wrinkled almost imperceptibly.
But Chu Hang didn't even raise his eyelids. He still looked at the document in his hand and said casually, "Tony, your Chinese level has deteriorated? I remember there is another saying, 'Don't look at anything inappropriate'."
He paused, finally raised his head, and looked at Tony calmly.
"However, since you are so concerned about my personal life, shouldn't I also take care of yours as a shareholder? For example, find a time to talk to Pepper? Let's talk about your recent 'heroic performance' at the party and your newly scrapped sports car."
The smile on Tony's face froze instantly.
These three words "Pepper Potts" immediately choked his life.
He can not care about anyone, but he cannot care about Pepper.
"You... you are cruel." Tony held it in for a long time, his face almost turned the color of pig liver, and finally he squeezed out these words through his teeth.
He stretched out his finger and tapped Chu Hang in the air, then pointed at Natasha who looked innocent, and finally waved his hand angrily.
"You go on! Pretend I haven't been here!"
After saying that, he turned around and left, his back looking as embarrassed as a rooster that had just lost a fight.
In the office, silence returned again.
Natasha looked at the furious back of Tony, then turned to look at the man next to him who had always been calm and calm.
Deep in her eyes, there was a trace of unprecedented curiosity and high vigilance.
This man not only possesses unfathomable mysterious power, he can also control the arrogant Tony·Stark in just a few words.
What on earth does he want to do?
S.H.I.E.L.D. may have to completely overturn his evaluation and start over.