The Grand Proposal Operation!

The mines Fury planted have been largely cleared away by the meticulous work of AID.

The remaining nooks and crannies are nothing more than dormant agents who have been lying in wait for decades, or abandoned agreements that have long been sealed away, and they are not capable of causing any major trouble.

This kind of slow and steady Search is far smaller in scale and not worth mentioning compared to the previous Armageddon dimensional wars or the head-on confrontation with Sentry Bob.

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Tian's eyes, which had been temporarily blinded by the 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception', had long since recovered— Tony even said after examining him that they might have evolved a little.

But this guy, for the sake of looking cool, stubbornly kept the pure black eye mask welded to his face and never took it off.

The top floor of the Stark Tower was bathed in sunlight.

Tony, legs crossed, glanced at Chen Tian on the opposite sofa, who was wearing his signature eye mask and furiously fiddling with his handheld game console, and couldn't help but complain, "Hey, I said, are you addicted to this stupid eye mask? Take it off as soon as your eyes are better! It's an eyesore!"

Chen Tian didn't even raise his head, his fingers leaving afterimages as he pressed the buttons. "Why should I, Stark, be allowed to wear your flashy smart glasses and act cool Tenten? I'll wear an eye mask; it's environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and saves me from seeing your punchable face."

"This is tactical gear! High-tech! You understand?!" Tony pointed to the gold and Red Eye on his nose.

"Ha," Chen Tian scoffed, "As if nobody doesn't have one."

"What do you have? A piece of black cloth?" Tony rolled his eyes.

Chen Tian finally deigned to look away from the screen. "Watch closely, you bumpkin." He reached out and gently pressed the side of the blindfold.

"Buzz--"

An extremely subtle mechanical whirring sound rang out, and the surface of the black blindfold instantly became transparent, revealing Chen Tian's eyes with their azure blue irises. (Six Eyes - Heavenly Eye, no longer suffering from the aftereffects of overuse.)

Immediately afterwards, countless tiny points of light rapidly swept across the inside of the transparent goggles, forming complex path maps, data streams, and even a barely perceptible scanning beam.

"Special sponsorship from Stark Industries," Chen Tian said smugly, shaking his head. His eye mask instantly returned to its pure black, opaque state. "It integrates AR vision, tactical analysis, low-light enhancement, information processing... oh, and it even has JARVIS's clone, 'Little JARVIS' (Jia Dongxu makes a cameo?). How about that? Better than your glasses that are only good for looking cool, right? This is the 'salary' you owe me!"

Tony stared at the high-tech goggles, choked for a moment, then flashed a smug expression, raising his chin high. "Hmph! That's only because you're still somewhat useful, a friendly favor! Who told you to be my... cough... important strategic partner!" He awkwardly emphasized, "Besides, it's payment for helping me!"

"Help?" Chen Tian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Help me replace your coffee machine with a super- Shizune one? Or maybe give your body another 'upgrade'?"

Tony rarely showed a hint of... nervousness?

He cleared his throat, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice. "A tiny bit more important than that." He paused, a rare seriousness appearing on his face, "I'm going to propose to Pepper."

The office fell silent for a second.

"Huh?!" Chen Tian's voice suddenly rose, filled with incredulous schadenfreude. "Iron Man, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist... finally going to walk into the grave of marriage? Tsk tsk tsk, Miss Pepper is truly a genius!"

"Although I knew you would do this sooner or later! But why so soon? Do you think the world is at peace, so you can't wait to build yourself a love nest?" Chen Tian kept rambling on.

"Shut up!" Tony snapped, enraged. "This is called the destination of love! Destination, you understand?! Romantic! Sacred!"

"Alright, alright, home, home." Chen Tian suppressed a laugh. "So? You need me, your 'important strategic partner,' to help you plan how to fill the top floor of the Arbitrator Tower with 1,001 roses, and then you descend from the sky in your armor, kneeling on one knee?" He described it in an extremely exaggerated tone.

"That's so outdated!" Tony immediately retorted, but then scratched his head in frustration. "I...I haven't finalized the specific plan yet. I need help! Rhodes, that nice guy, will handle logistics and emotional support, you..." Tony pointed at Chen Tian, his eyes threatening.

"You're responsible for providing creative support, ensuring the plan goes flawlessly, and... in case it all goes wrong, you need to have the ability to force a restart!"

"Wow! This proposal is like fighting Thanos? You even have to the Snap? I don't have the Soul Stone." Chen Tian laughed.

"Much more important than fighting Thanos!" Tony declared firmly. "And it's a battle we absolutely cannot afford to lose! Man, I need you! And your all-powerful eyepatch!"

He pointed to the high-tech gadget on Chen Tian's face, "Use it! Design an absolutely perfect, absolutely romantic, absolutely touching proposal plan for Pepper that will be completely uninterrupted!"

Looking at Tony's face, which was unusually filled with "earnest plea for help," and then at the "deposit" on his wrist that Tony had just transferred to him, which far exceeded the cost of the eye patch, Chen Tian slowly curled up a meaningful smile.

"Okay, Tony." He lay back down on the sofa. "I'll take this 'salary.' I guarantee your proposal will be...unforgettable."

Looking at Chen Tian's confident demeanor, Tony felt a sudden unease, wondering if there was something wrong with entrusting the creative guarantee to this guy.

But with the die already cast, he had no choice but to trust this most unreliable yet most powerful "frenemy."

"Great! Friday!" Tony shouted into the air. "Get the information on the world's most romantic proposal spots! Also, prepare an emergency plan on 'how to ensure the engagement ring doesn't fall into the toilet in extreme situations'!"

Chen Tian sighed, "... Tony, isn't your focus a little off?"

Tony's hunch was right—entrusting the "creative guarantee" to Chen Tian was inherently risky. In the days that followed, Tony experienced firsthand what "sweet torment" truly meant.

Chen Tian has completely changed from his usual lazy self, becoming a workaholic!

The top floor of the Arbitrator Tower practically became his command center.

Under the pure black blindfold, the "Six Eyes" were in full power, with countless AR projection screens floating in the air, displaying densely packed site analyses, path simulations, emergency plans, and various "Plan BZ" that made Tony's eyelids twitch.

"Tony, which suit did you wear that day? The shiny fabric of the Tom Ford will reflect the sparkle of your ring. I suggest you switch to a matte wool one from Brioni, or a vintage Gieves & Hawkes three-piece suit for a more formal feel."

"Rhodes, reposition your 'emotional interference team' to ensure Pepper's gaze is absolutely fixed on Tony, without a single stray eye!"

"Friday! Contact Vergil for me and double-check the weather control agreement! Make sure there aren't any monstrous clouds over Malibu that day!"

Tony watched Chen Tian issuing commands to thin air, meticulously refining the virtual model down to the millimeter, and even beginning to study the effect of the earring style Pepper might wear that day on light reflection...

He couldn't help but nudge Rhodes beside him. "Isn't this guy... taking this a little too seriously?"

Rhodes, dressed in casual clothes and clutching a pile of emergency gear (including the anti-water-drop magnetic suction cup that Tony had insisted on), looked utterly dejected. "It's more than just excessive! Tony, I bet he wasn't even this serious when he fought the Sentry! Last night he dragged me through twenty-seven possible routes and reaction patterns Pepper might take! Twenty-seven!"

He lowered his voice, "Now even the reflection in his goggles makes me think it's some kind of tactical scope."

Tony's lips twitched, but the unease he felt strangely dissipated.

The more serious Chen Tian was about this, the more it showed how important it was to him—although Tony really wanted to punch him for it.

Finally, the "proposal day" arrived.

The location was chosen to be the open-air garden on the central platform of the Arbitrator Tower.

The setting sun casts a warm glow over Malibu, bathing the entire city in a golden light.

The meticulously arranged sea of flowers swayed in the gentle breeze, accompanied by the faint sound of a violin. (Yes, Chen Tian even used the Space Stone to adjust the wind's intensity.)

Tony, dressed in a sharp, custom-made suit (matte finish, which passed Chen Tian's reflectivity test), was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

He gripped the nano ring box tightly.

"Target has entered the designated area. Distance: 100 meters. Heart rate: slightly elevated. Environmental parameters: perfect. Interference elimination rate: 99.997%."

Chen Tian's voice came through the miniature headset, as calm as if he were commanding an interstellar battle. "Rhodes, Team A, in position. Tony, take a deep breath, don't mess up your 'absolute victory campaign'."

"Shut up! I'm getting into character!" Tony hissed back, trying to control his expression.

Below, Pepper, accompanied by Happy, is gracefully walking along a path strewn with rose petals.

She seemed a little puzzled by the "romantic atmosphere" here, but wore a charming smile.

Tony took a deep breath, watching his lover's figure getting closer and closer, and all the tension seemed to subside.

He straightened up, adjusted his tie, and prepared for the most important moment of his life.

Unbeknownst to him, on the rooftop opposite the building, Chen Tian, wearing a pure black blindfold and with Six Eyes open, was scanning the movement of every molecule within several kilometers like the most sophisticated Dragon Radar.

He was still silently repeating in sync:

"Wind speed stable... Aerial drone formations on standby (for showering flower petals and creating romantic flashes if necessary)... Ground security team normal... Street traffic temporarily controlled by AID... Stark Industries network firewall upgraded to highest level... No abnormal energy fluctuations in planetary orbits... Dimensional barriers stable..."

At this moment, Chen Tian was more like a guardian than ever before—protecting Tony's insignificant yet crucial romance.

Tony took a deep breath and looked at Pepper as she walked up to him. The golden light of the setting sun bathed her in beauty, making his heart skip a beat. He knelt down on one knee, his movements a little stiff.

"Pepper Potts," he began, his voice a little strained, "After a long period of evaluation and... uh... market research." A clear "pfft" came through Chen Tian's earpiece, and a suppressed cough echoed from Rhodes's end.

Tony ignored it, forcing himself to continue, his mind blank, left only with instinct and... strange business jargon?

"I, Tony Stark, hereby formally propose a... long-term strategic partnership agreement. The terms include: exclusive ownership, unlimited liability, sharing of all assets of Stark Industries... and all of my future profits."

He opened the nano ring box, and the dazzling diamond ring shone in the sunset.

"As an initial investment, I'm willing to inject this... uh... core asset representing Eternity value..." He paused, finally remembering the most important sentence, trying to rekindle some romance. "Are you... willing to sign this... lifelong commitment agreement?"

"..."

The air fell silent for a second.

On the rooftop across the street, Chen Tian, Rhodes, and 2B, who had been with Chen Tian the whole time, all moved in unison—they slapped their foreheads hard with their right hands!

Tony was stunned after he finished speaking.

Holy crap! What the hell am I talking about?! What agreement terms and core assets?! This is a million miles away from the romantic draft of dialogue that Friday printed out!

Oh no! I messed it up!

Pepper was stunned, staring at the man in front of her, dressed in a suit and tie but so nervous that he was incoherent and made the proposal sound like a merger and acquisition deal.

A few seconds later, she burst out laughing, and her eyes instantly filled with glistening tears.

It wasn't sadness, but a bittersweet feeling of being deeply touched and warmed.

"Oh~ Tony ..." Pepper's voice was thick with nasal tone and laughter as she reached out her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly.

"You idiot... you're always like this..."

She looked at the ring, then looked up and gazed deeply into Tony's eyes, which were filled with regret and anxiety. All her tension and business jargon turned into the most sincere awkwardness.

She knows him too well.

"Deal." Pepper smiled through her tears, nodded firmly, her voice clear and resolute. "I sign this agreement. Indefinitely, no additional terms!"

She held up her finger.

Tony's brain was still stuck in a loop of "I'm doomed, I messed up," and he only snapped back to reality when he saw Pepper's outstretched hand.

Overwhelmed with joy, he instantly overwhelmed everything! He frantically pulled out the ring, nearly dropping it, but managed to slip it securely onto Pepper's ring finger.

The moment the ring was on, Tony stood up abruptly and pulled Pepper into a tight embrace, so strong it felt like he wanted to meld her into his body.

Pepper hugged him tightly back, tears finally streaming down her face, but her smile was brighter than the setting sun.

"Friday! Fireworks! Music! Plan A! No, Plan S-for-success! (Activate Plan S!) Now!" Tony, holding Pepper, shouted excitedly into the air, his voice cracking.

"Received, Boss! Congratulations!" Friday replied with a smile.

The melodious music instantly transformed into a joyful symphony, dazzling fireworks exploded in the pink and purple sky, and petals rained down.

On the rooftop across the street, Chen Tian removed his black eye mask, rubbed his temples, and smiled broadly.

"Finally... done. It was even more tiring than Eye Demon."

Rhodes wiped his face, still shaken. "Thank God Pepper understands him. Tony's mouth... it's so unreliable!"

Tony held Pepper in his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder, overwhelmed with the ecstasy and immense happiness of having her back. Only one thought roared in his mind:

"It's done! Pepper said yes! Although my proposal was a textbook example of a public relations disaster! Whatever! I did it!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

As Tony lifted Pepper off the ground and spun her around, champagne corks shot into the sky like cannonballs. Golden liquid exploded like miniature fountains, instantly filling the air with a sweet, fruity aroma and joyful chatter.

Wow!

Congratulations, boss!

"Well done, Iron Man! Even though that line was awful!"

May you have a long and happy marriage!

A group of figures suddenly jumped out from behind the carefully arranged flower bushes, beside the pillars of the viewing platform, and even from the transparent platform suspended in mid-air!

The top floor of the Arbitrator Tower was instantly transformed into the opening ceremony of a superhero club.

Captain America wore a fatherly smile, holding up the empty champagne bottle he had just sprayed.

Falcon and Natasha deftly unleashed a massive confetti cannon, sending colorful confetti flying everywhere;

Banner adjusted his glasses and clapped his hands in a good-natured manner;

Although Daredevil couldn't see, the upward curve of his lips was precisely aimed in Tony's direction;

Ant-Man and the Wasp scattered flower petals through the gaps in the crowd;

The Spider-Man excitedly swung its Silk and circled around, cheering.

Cyclops and Iceman symbolically raised their glasses and stood coolly to one side;

Pietro's figure moved so fast that only a silver streak remained, accompanied by wine glasses being passed around the room;

Wanda stood to the side, a gentle smile on her face.

The "monsters" of Chen Tian's team: Ban stood in the shadows with his arms crossed, unusually not wearing a bitter and resentful expression;

Vergil gracefully deflected a confetti tube flying towards him with his Yamato.

Dante snatched the cannon from the Falcon's hand and fired it wildly into the sky;

Goku, carrying the giant meat leg, grinned widely.

Saitama touched his bald head, seemingly finding the commotion quite amusing;

Kiana and Bayonetta stood together, the former jumping excitedly, the latter holding a wine glass with a smile on her lips.

In an instant, the Arbitrators' members filled the top-floor platform!

Cheers, whistles, and laughter filled the air.

Tony, holding Pepper, was startled by the sudden "ambush," but was then enveloped in immense warmth.

He looked at the familiar yet powerful faces; these people had all been lying in ambush all around him, holding their breath.

He subconsciously glanced at Chen Tian, Rhodes, and 2B, who were the last to stroll up along the outer edge of the glass curtain wall.

"Surprise!" Rhodes laughed, patting him on the shoulder. "The most powerful security team in the entire universe! We guarantee not even a fly can get in!"

Tony looked at Chen Tian with a complicated expression. "Why all this fuss?"

Chen Tian put his black eye patch back on, concealing his Six Eyes, shrugged, and said in a calm but matter-of-fact tone, "You are Tony Stark, the core shareholder and CTO of Arbitrators. How could your 'Lifetime Bond Agreement' signing ceremony be anything less than high-profile? They..."

He pointed to the heroes running around the field, "These are my 'final line of defense,' ready to physically eliminate any fools who dare to disturb us."

He casually picked up a Coke from a passing waiter's tray (why another Coke?), "Although in the end, it only helped to redeem your utterly pathetic marriage proposal."

Tony: "..."

He looked around and sure enough, Captain America's uniform, Black Widow's bodysuit, Banner's specially made pants, Quicksilver's special running shoes, Vergil's blue trench coat... even Goku and Saitama were wearing comfortable outfits that allowed for easy movement!

This isn't a party; it's more like a war zone ready to break out at any moment!

An indescribable surge of warmth and exhilaration rushed through Tony's heart. He abruptly lifted Pepper's ring-adorned hand, snatched the bottle of liquor from Rhodes's grasp with his other hand, and roared at everyone:

"Guys! Tonight! All-you-can-drink! All-you-can-eat! Turn the music up to the max! To celebrate that I Tony Stark... uh, I mean, to celebrate that we've finally bonded!!"

"Awooo--!!!"

"Long live Tony!"

"Long live Pepper!"

The cheers were so loud they nearly lifted the roof off.

Everyone let loose completely, and the conveyor belt in the food area was instantly piled high with delicacies. The music blared, and champagne and drinks were sprayed out as if they were free.

Chen Tian just brought the rim of the glass to his lips, ready to enjoy a moment of peace...

Hiss--

A strange chill crept up my spine.

He instinctively turned his head, opening Six Eyes to the view.

At the edge of the bustling crowd, four distinct figures stood quietly, their gazes fixed on him like precisely guided laser beams.

2B: The optical mirror beneath the silver-white hair flickered slightly, the data flow was stable, but the core temperature inexplicably rose.

Kiana: Holding a juice glass in her hand, her eyes sparkled, filled with undisguised longing and a touch of grievance.

Bayonetta: Leaning lazily against the bar, she sipped her cocktail with her red lips, but her slightly narrowed eyes reflected a meaningful light through the glass.

Wanda: Crimson energy threads twined around her fingertips as she quietly looked at him, her eyes gentle yet carrying a calm pressure that you understand.

Four pairs of eyes precisely locked onto the enemy.

Chen Tian's hand holding the Coke cup stiffened almost imperceptibly. (Hey! You're in your twenties! Have a drink!)

He tilted his head back expressionlessly and downed the entire glass of cola.

Tsk, this guardian mission... seems like it's not over yet? It feels much more complicated than preparing for Tony's proposal.

Tony's "lifetime commitment agreement" is settled, but for him... the trouble is just beginning?