"Perhaps it was for a girl, sir," JARVIS answered thoughtfully.
"So it was for a girl. Then it's not strange. That kid has the same gentlemanly manners as me, toward all girls..."
"Wait, what did you say? A girl?" Tony cried out belatedly.
"Could one of his ex-girlfriends have been kidnapped by the United States? Or was a girl he met there bullied by them?" Tony began to take an interest.
"It was a local little girl. You could say she was being bullied by United States forces, sir," JARVIS stated matter-of-factly.
"Wow, now that's earth-shattering news. Tell me about the girl. I'll share it with Pepper when I get back." The gossiping instinct of a parent began to stir.
"Searching for her information now... Shafika Mazzari, seven years old, born in Kabul, Afghanistan..."
"Hm? Wait, that's not right. How old?" Tony's eyes widened.
"Seven years old. Is there a problem, sir?"
Tony fell silent for a moment. "Didn't you tell Leon that he was committing a crime?"
"Sir, although Master Leon killed two terrorists while helping the Mazzari family escape the Ten Rings' harassment, that should count as righteous self-defense, not a crime."
"Oh? You mean nothing happened between him and this little girl... Uh, I mean, he took pity on her, so he attacked the United States base?"
Tony felt slightly embarrassed and deeply ashamed of the filthy thought that had just crossed his mind.
After spending so long in the world of fame and fortune, he saw everything through a dirty lens. That wouldn't do. From now on, he had to quit drinking and gambling!
"That is correct. Did you have a different interpretation?" JARVIS asked, puzzled.
"Ahem, actually, that was what I thought too. All right, JARVIS, navigate me to Leon's current location." Tony changed the subject.
"Sorry, Master Leon is currently traveling at over Mach twenty. Locating him is somewhat difficult."
"He's in that much of a hurry? Then navigate me to where he's headed."
"Yes, sir."
Five minutes later, Tony Stark arrived above a United States military base.
He looked down at the ruins blanketed in ice crystals, as well as the large group of soldiers wrapped in wool blankets and shivering as they waited for rescue. He fell silent.
"JARVIS, you said Leon was here?"
"Sir, this was Master Leon's destination five minutes ago. He left three minutes ago."
Tony complained, "You should have told me sooner."
"Now take us to his next destina... no, take us to his final destination!"
Tony gritted his teeth. "Looks like he plans to destroy every base outright. Then we'll get there before him and take out his target!"
Tony did not need to think to guess Leon's plan.
—He was going to destroy every United States garrison base!
That way, even if he did not kill a single soldier,
the bases the United States had spent years building would all be reduced to nothing.
Afterward, even if the United States did not want to withdraw, it would have no choice but to do so.
This plan happened to align perfectly with Tony's own thoughts.
However, his original plan had only been to destroy the weapons and ammunition at the military bases.
Compared to Leon's method of pulling the rug out from under them, his own plan seemed rather small-scale.
"Sir, I'll navigate for you immediately. However, you seem a little unhappy?" JARVIS asked.
It could analyze Tony's emotions from his tone and expression, but it was deeply confused.
"Master Leon wiped out all the Ten Rings bases to avenge you, then destroyed United States bases to vent your anger indirectly. Isn't that a good thing?"
"Of course it is. I'm practically moved to tears!" Tony felt a tightness in his chest. "But I just feel stifled, JARVIS. Do you know what it means to feel stifled? Hm? Analyze it."
"To feel stifled means that when one encounters setbacks and develops negative emotions, one is unable to confide in others or vent those emotions."
"Yes! That's exactly it! Leon didn't leave a single enemy for me, and it makes me feel stifled!" Tony's voice suddenly rose. "Don't you think he's treating me like a child?"
"I do not quite understand. Legally speaking, you are Master Leon's older brother..."
"That's exactly the problem! I should be the one protecting him. I should be the one doing these things!"
Tony rolled his neck. "Speed up, JARVIS. We have to reach the last military base before Leon and deal with it!"
"Yes, sir!"
Although Tony's idea was wonderful, his resolve to defend his dignity as an older brother was firm, and his drive to act was strong,
unfortunately,
when he arrived at the last United States base, all he saw was another frozen ruin.
All the battle plans in Tony's head and the fighting spirit in his chest cooled instantly. He felt colder than the soldiers below, who were shaking like sieves.
"JARVIS, where is he?" Tony asked woodenly.
"He is above you, sir."
"Hm? Above me?" Tony immediately perked up. Looking up, he saw Leon descending with his cape billowing behind him.
"Tony, you finally made it." Leon teased him the moment they met. "I thought you'd wait until I took a nap before showing up."
Tony snapped, "You're still talking about sleeping? You woke me up with JARVIS and had me rush over, but then you charged ahead like a train, chugging along, without leaving a single enemy for me!"
Leon spread his hands. "I had JARVIS pass along a message. If you want revenge, head west. There are plenty of Ten Rings members left in the Middle East."
"How is that the same?" Tony said, holding back his frustration.
"What's different about it?" Leon did not seem to care. "They're all Ten Rings scum. They don't have ABC carved into their foreheads. They're all equally guilty."
As he spoke, he glanced at the Super Mark I being controlled by JARVIS nearby.
"Still, I can tell you were serious this time. You even brought my armor. Were you planning for a prolonged battle?"
"A prolonged battle where the enemy either dies or freezes while shivering?" Flames burst from beneath Tony's feet. "Listen, I'm heading west now. Leave all the Ten Rings over there to me."
Although Leon had already dealt with Afghanistan,
Tony still wanted to do something.
The harm he had caused the world in the past, without knowing it, could no longer be undone.
But he still wanted to do everything he could to make amends.
Even if it looked like he was merely moving himself, or soothing the guilt in his own heart.
"Fine, it's all up to you. I won't interfere over there for now!"
Leon checked the time. "But watch the clock, Tony. I'll have lunch ready at home and wait for you to come back."
"Then you might want to prepare dinner instead!" Tony declared that he could fight the Ten Rings all day.
Leon shrugged. Just as he was about to say something else, he suddenly looked up at the sky.
His gaze passed through the clouds and saw a huge cluster of satellites moving into position overhead from several hundred kilometers away.
"They caught up fast."
He remarked.
Then he shouted to Tony, "Tony, my identity as Superman has already drawn the attention of every country. For the time being, remember not to come into contact with me while I'm in uniform, so no one gets suspicious!"
Tony, already flying west, waved back to show that he understood.
Before you continue