War Machine

In the hospital's intensive care unit, Tony saw Ivan lying on the bed, missing an arm and a leg.

"Your little gadget isn't bad, but its rotation speed is a little slow." Tony looked at Ivan, who was silently watching him. It was hard to imagine that just a few hours ago, this guy had been wielding two whips and trying to lash him. Lu Qi followed him in, looked at Ivan on the bed, and wondered whether he should just take him out.

But seeing surveillance cameras all over the room, Lu Qi silently gave up on the idea.

"Increase the rotation speed, then let the anti-energy pass through the ionized plasma channel. It'll be useful, but the efficiency is low."

Tony's usual approach was to first look down on someone in the field they were best at, then talk to them.

"I don't understand. With just a few minor adjustments, you could make a lot of money from it."

Ivan gave a scornful smile. "You come from a family full of robbers and thieves. You think you aren't guilty, that you can rewrite your history, but you've forgotten every person killed by Stark Group."

"You call me a thief, so where did you steal your technology from?" Stark said slowly, trying to learn something.

"My father, Anton Vanko."

"Sorry, never heard of him."

After being provoked a little, Ivan became somewhat angry.

"You didn't survive just because the guy beside you saved you. More importantly, because of my father!"

"I only survived because I have a good friend."

Ivan grew even angrier, yet he started laughing.

"Tony Stark, do you know? Once God bleeds, people will no longer believe in him. You said no one could recreate your technology within twenty years, but now... the false God has bled."

Tony's expression darkened. The moment he saw the reactor in Ivan's chest, he knew big trouble was coming.

"When blood appears in the water, it draws sharks. Not even your brother can save you from the world." Ivan glanced at the innocent Lu Qi before continuing to Tony, "And all I need to do is watch from here."

"Where are you going to watch from?" Tony said. "Prison?"

With that, he called out to Lu Qi and prepared to leave.

"Tony Stark, your time is running out. Dying from palladium poisoning is very painful."

Tony smiled. "Looks like you don't have a good friend."

After leaving the hospital, Lu Qi glanced at Ivan's ward and released several Shadow Ninjas into a few dark corners, hoping they could find an opportunity to deal with Ivan.

Tony got into the car in silence. Lu Qi glanced at Natasha in the driver's seat, then followed Tony into the back.

The atmosphere on the road was rather heavy, and Rhodey had called many times.

The military was like a swarm of annoying flies now, wanting to surround Tony and swallow him whole. But Rhodey had used every connection he had to block their assault.

After saying a few words to Rhodey, Tony silently considered a few things.

Back at the hospital, Ivan was out of danger, but he was sent back into the ward. Several mechanical limbs were quietly delivered to the hospital.

Early the next morning, Lu Qi watched the morning news while eating breakfast, but every report was attacking Tony.

It wasn't hard to guess who had put those people up to it. Lu Qi switched through many channels before finally settling on Tom and Jerry and Fake Old Practice.

While listening to elegant music and enjoying a delicious breakfast, Tony soon appeared in the living room as well.

Seeing the heavy dark circles beneath his eyes, it wasn't hard to guess that he had pulled another all-nighter in the laboratory.

"Is the situation that bad?" Tony glanced at the television and spoke to Lu Qi.

"Every TV channel is airing yesterday's incident. Only this channel is still showing what it was supposed to show," Lu Qi said helplessly.

"Those guys really love chasing trends."

"Tony?" A voice came from the doorway. It was Pepper, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.

Lu Qi knowingly carried his breakfast onto the balcony, leaving the living room to those two awkward people.

After enjoying his breakfast for an hour, Lu Qi looked back inside and saw Pepper and Tony leaning against each other.

"Looks like I need to find a place to live soon. But first, Big Apple is out."

Although he had become a billionaire through sheer good fortune, Lu Qi still didn't want to buy a little home doomed to be destroyed.

"JARVIS, show me some good houses in Los Angeles..."

At Hammer Industries, Ivan's missing limbs had been replaced with several mechanical prosthetics that looked extremely high-tech. He sat before an upscale dining table.

"I hope you like these mechanical arms. Their technology level is extremely high." Hammer wore a strange smile that made Ivan feel a chill down his spine.

Lowering his head, Ivan looked at the Stark Group logo that had not been completely wiped off the prosthetics, as well as the very conspicuous Hammer Industries logo painted over it. Then he looked at the man in front of him.

"I don't know whether you understand English. You can tell me. Maybe I can get you a translator?" Hammer continued in English as he watched Ivan remain silent.

Is this guy an idiot? Still, I can use him.

Ivan thought silently, while Hammer kept repeating words like resources and money like an imbecile, as though that would somehow make the other man learn English immediately.

"I think we can work together," Ivan said calmly, and Hammer burst into laughter.

"Of course, that's what I'm hoping for too. Whatever you want, I can give it to you, but you have to build me armor like Iron Man's."

Ivan looked at the foolish expression on the other man's face. "Good. I want my bird... and the video of Shadow Lord."

"Understood, General. I'll convince Stark to hand over the armor technology, but I hope you won't send tanks to take it. As far as I know, Tony is a very arrogant man. If you try to take it by force, he might delete all the data outright."

Rhodey sat in his car and finally managed to talk the general out of driving tanks over to seize Tony's armor. He let out a sigh.

Over the past few days, the public attacks against Tony had grown increasingly vicious, and the military was eager to make a move, wanting to seize all the armor for themselves. They no longer wanted a superhero who merely clocked in for work and occasionally slacked off. They wanted an army of armored suits entirely under their control.

Looking at the quiet Long Island Mansion outside, Rhodey was somewhat confused. Why hadn't Tony thrown an attention-grabbing party to celebrate his birthday like he did every year?

The moment he entered through the front door, Rhodey saw Tony. Just as he was about to greet him, a figure appeared from the side and covered his mouth.

Rhodey looked over in alarm, one hand reaching for the pistol at his waist, only to find that it was Lu Qi.

Rhodey gave him a questioning look, and Lu Qi gestured for him to take another look.

Rhodey looked again and discovered that Tony was actually watching a movie with Pepper, and it was a romance film he would never normally be interested in.

"What the hell?" Rhodey whispered. Since when had those two progressed so quickly?

Lu Qi gestured for him to follow, and the two went to the laboratory and garage.

Although Rhodey hated to disturb Tony, remembering the other reason he had come left him equally frustrated. Lu Qi naturally began talking with him.

"So if the military can't get armor of their own, they'll drive tanks over and take all of Tony's armor?"

Lu Qi nodded, roughly understanding the situation.

"Why not just take a suit from here? How about that Mark II? It's only a frame and has no weapons. You can modify it however you like."

Lu Qi pointed at one of the suits and spoke to Rhodey.

"Is that really appropriate?" Rhodey looked at the silver armor.

Jokes were jokes, but he didn't want to steal Tony's armor.

"Tony's armor is already up to the fifth generation, and he's developing the sixth. This suit is just a decoration to him. It's useless sitting here," Lu Qi said. Then he walked over, and the display case automatically opened. He directly hoisted the nearly one-ton suit of armor onto his shoulder and placed it before Rhodey.

"Want to try it?" Lu Qi said to Rhodey. "I wear this suit to play around whenever I'm bored too."

Rhodey was tempted now. Although he knew Lu Qi possessed many strange and powerful abilities, what attracted him more was Tony's high-tech armor.

"Can I really try it?"

Rhodey protested verbally, but his body had already prompted JARVIS to begin assembling the armor.

Looking at the newly assembled War Machine, Lu Qi silently pulled out a camera and took a picture.

"Send that to me later. I have to keep this photo as a memento."

After flying a few laps around the garage, Rhodey landed heavily on the ground.

"Hey, what are you two doing?" Tony, who had been showing affection with Pepper, had somehow arrived in the laboratory and spoke up.

"My God, I just rewrote this armor's program. Originally, all the registered wearers in its system had been deleted. Great, now this thing belongs to you."

"Uh, what does that mean?" Rhodey asked in confusion, glancing at the equally stunned Lu Qi.

"The program I wrote before allowed anyone who put it on to use my armor. A while ago, I thought that might be dangerous, so I rewrote the system so only one registered wearer could use it. Well, now you've become its sole registered wearer." Tony frowned and walked to the computer.

"Looks like I can't remove you from the registered wearers either. Nothing I can do."

Seeing Tony's troubled expression, Rhodey began to panic. He looked at Lu Qi and gave him a look that said, That's not what you told me. Lu Qi helplessly shrugged.

"If this thing can't be changed, just give it to Rhodey. Didn't you say no one could replicate your technology within twenty years anyway?" Lu Qi said casually.

Tony raised his head. "Saying twenty years was already giving them too much credit. After seeing the video from last time, the armor those guys built can't even manage basic movement."

After walking over to inspect the armor, Tony seemed somewhat at a loss.

"By the way, where's Pepper?" Lu Qi casually mentioned Pepper, who had originally been with Tony.

"Damn it, I told Pepper I was coming to use the bathroom! If this keeps up, she'll think I'm constipated." Tony looked at Rhodey. "Fine, Rhodey, this armor is yours now. I need to get back to Pepper, so I'm not talking to you anymore."

Tony pointed at the garage door and had JARVIS open it.

"Go out that way. Remember to fly carefully. Don't fly too fast, or there's a spot you might hit."

After saying that, Tony hurried upstairs.

Rhodey looked at the garage door, then at Lu Qi.

Lu Qi spread his hands. "I won't disturb them either. I might as well find a hotel to stay at."

He drew a door and left directly, leaving Rhodey alone.

Rhodey was somewhat confused, but the display automatically plotted a flight route to the military airfield.

"These two guys, seriously..." After thinking for a moment, Rhodey understood the truth of the situation.

With a sigh, Rhodey lowered his faceplate and flew out.

"Careful, careful." Rhodey flew slowly and safely exited the garage. Looking at a dent beside the door, he guessed that was probably the spot Tony had said was easy to hit.

After looking at the route planned by the armor, Rhodey controlled the suit and took off.