A Conversation with Tony, Part Two

"Did you really think I was crazy? Or that I'd come all this way just to tell some unfunny joke and fool you?"

"You should know, Tony, that I wouldn't have come today without evidence!"

Ryan spoke calmly, and Tony stopped walking for the third time that day.

He turned around, his expression grave.

"I want to see the evidence!"

If what Ryan said was true... Thinking of his parents, Tony clenched his fists, a ruthless glint flashing through his eyes.

"I can, but I don't have it on me right now." Seeing Tony's expression change, Ryan hurriedly added, "But I know where the evidence is. You know, an organization like Hydra, which has lurked for years without being exposed, could easily be alerted by even the slightest move against them..."

"Don't tell me that. I want evidence!"

Tony abruptly cut him off, glaring at Ryan.

Anyone could make empty claims. Until there was solid evidence proving it was all true, he would not believe a single word.

"Shit! I knew you bastard would react like this. Sebas!"

After cursing, Ryan called out behind him. Upon receiving the order, Sebas calmly raised a hand, and lines of magic circles appeared, forming a portal.

"Th-This... what is this?"

Tony blinked hard, trying to see whether he was hallucinating.

"Just a little magic. I told you before—Sebas is a very capable butler!"

Ryan shrugged, rose from the sofa, and gestured. "Coming? The evidence you want is in there, though I don't recommend going to see it just yet."

Tony's face darkened. Without saying a word, he walked toward the portal.

With the appearance of this magical door that shattered his worldview, he believed about thirty percent of what Ryan had said. Still, he had to see the evidence for himself.

Seeing Tony enter the portal without so much as a greeting, Ryan did not mind. He and Sebas followed him inside, and in an instant, they arrived before a military camp.

"Where are we?"

Having truly arrived somewhere else in an instant, Tony pondered the principles behind it as he asked the question.

"Wheaton, New Jersey. Camp Lehigh, where Captain America was originally trained. It now belongs to the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division—and to Hydra."

Ryan put on his sunglasses and glanced at the locked gate.

Tony's expression did not change. He still did not know what kind of organization S.H.I.E.L.D. was. Looking at Ryan and Sebas, he asked, "The evidence is inside?"

"It should be. But if you want to go in, you'd better block all the signals nearby first. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you won't get blown into the sky by a missile halfway through!"

"Oh, right!"

"All information regarding Hydra is stored in special data similar to artificial intelligence. If you aren't confident you can handle it, you'd better not go down there."

Ryan offered the advice as if out of kindness.

"Those are minor issues. But how did you know all this? Through your so-called magic?"

Tony wore the pride of a genius on his face, along with a hint of probing.

"To survive in this dangerous world, you always need a few trump cards."

Ryan shrugged in response.

"Fine, let's not talk about that for now. I need to go back and get some tools."

Tony rubbed his face, deciding to deal with this organization that had suddenly emerged from the background first. Once he uncovered the truth, he could investigate Ryan's secrets.

"Sebas."

Ryan called again.

Sebas gave a respectful bow and created another portal.

"The Teleportation destination is still set to your living room.

Now you can get started." Ryan said to Tony, who had pulled out a pen-like device and was secretly scanning the portal. "Ahem, the living room? That's a really good idea!"

After making that awkward remark, Tony stepped through the portal. As the space around him changed instantly, he looked down at the sand clinging to his shoes and confirmed that he was not dreaming—he had truly crossed half the United States in an instant.

"JARVIS, analyze this portal."

Seeing that Ryan and the butler named Sebas had not come through, Tony hurriedly gave the order.

As a genius, it was difficult for something so unscientific not to stir his desire to research it. Besides, he could not tolerate people treating his home like a public place, entering and leaving whenever they pleased. Even if he could not replicate it, he at least needed to develop a device capable of interfering with the portal.

"Yes, sir. Scanning."

The scanning devices hidden throughout the house immediately emitted detection waves, thoroughly examining the portal standing in the living room.

"Put the scan data on my private server. I'll try to buy you some time."

Tony gave another order as he ran downstairs.

Although he cared greatly about the scan results, he had no time to study them now.

Outside the gates of Camp Lehigh, Ryan watched Tony make trip after trip, carrying only a few items each time.

He took a sun umbrella and a recliner from his private space, lay down, and watched quietly.

Getting to see Tony this busy was quite a rare opportunity.

For that reason, Ryan had even specifically recorded it on his phone.

Time passed second by second. When even the sunlight no longer felt so blinding, Ryan rubbed his brow and helplessly called out to Tony as he emerged from the portal.

"Tony! It's already been two hours. Is JARVIS still not done scanning?"

"How about this? Finish things over here first, and afterward, I'll have Sebas set up a pair of portals in your house. The kind that can last for a day!"

He did not mind Tony researching it, because he was also curious about what Tony might eventually come up with.

But his time was limited. He had mercilessly torn into the group's shareholders, and he could already foresee the storm of retaliation that would soon descend.

He did not care much about that, but with this time, he would rather go back and keep Annie company, or take a trip around Nazarick, than sit here getting sandblasted.

"Ahem, there are indeed quite a few things..." Seeing the contempt in Ryan's eyes, Tony's cheek twitched. He did not continue, readily admitting it. "Fine. After this, set up a pair of portals in my lab that I can use to travel back and forth freely."

"They're called Teleportation portals," Ryan corrected.

"Okay, Teleportation portals. Since you made them, you have naming—"

"God, since when did you become so long-winded, Tony? Just tell me how much stuff you still need. I'll have Sebas bring it all over at once. And there's evidence in there about your parents' murder. Are you sure you want to waste time here?"

Ryan impatiently cut him off.

Tony fell silent.

After a long while, he said, "There's nothing else. I don't need anything more."

He looked up. "Let's begin!"