Tony's Last Stubborn Pride

"Perhaps for a girl, sir," JARVIS replied considerately.

"So it was for a girl. Then it's no surprise. That kid has the same gentlemanly manners I do, 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 Eagle forces? Or did some girl he met locally get bullied by them?" Tony became interested.

"It was a local little girl. You could say she was being bullied by the Eagle forces, sir," JARVIS stated objectively.

"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 the information now... Shafika Mazzari, seven years old, born in Kabul, Afghanistan..."

"Hm? Wait, that can't be 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 he was committing a crime?"

"Sir, while Master Leon killed two terrorists when helping the Mazzari family escape the Ten Rings' harassment, that should count as an act of righteousness, not a crime."

"Oh? You mean nothing happened between him and that little girl... Uh, what I mean is, he felt pity for her, so he attacked the Eagle base?"

Tony felt slightly embarrassed, deeply ashamed of the filthy thought that had just arisen in his mind.

After spending so much time in the world of fame and fortune, he had started seeing everything through a dirty lens. That wouldn't do. From now on, he needed to quit drinking and gambling!

"That is correct. Did you have another interpretation?" JARVIS asked in confusion.

"Ahem. Actually, that's 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 20. 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 an Eagle garrison 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 awaited rescue, and 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've told me sooner."

"Now let's go to his next destination... No, his final destination!"

Tony gritted his teeth. "Looks like he plans to destroy every base outright. Then we'll get there before him and deal with his target!"

Tony did not need to think to guess what Leon was planning.

—To destroy every Eagle garrison base!

That way, even if he did not kill a single soldier,

the bases the Eagle forces had spent years building would all be reduced to nothing.

Even if the Eagle forces did not want to withdraw afterward, they would have no choice but to leave.

That plan happened to align perfectly with Tony's own thoughts.

However, his original plan had merely been to destroy the weapons and ammunition inside the military bases.

Compared to Leon's method of pulling the rug out from under them, his own plan seemed like child's play.

"Sir, I'll navigate for you now. However, you seem somewhat 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 Eagle bases to vent your anger indirectly. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Of course it is. I'm practically moved to tears!" Tony felt stifled. "But I just feel frustrated, JARVIS. Do you know what frustration is? Hm? Analyze it for me."

"Frustration refers to being unable to confide in someone or vent one's negative emotions after encountering setbacks."

"Yes! That's exactly it! Leon didn't leave a single enemy for me, and it's frustrating!" Tony suddenly raised his voice. "Don't you think he's treating me like a child?"

"I don't 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 twisted his neck. "Speed up, JARVIS. We have to reach the last military base before Leon and take care of it!"

"Yes, sir!"

Although Tony's plan was admirable, his determination to preserve his dignity as an older brother was firm, and his ability to act was strong.

Unfortunately.

When he arrived at the final Eagle base, all he saw was another field of frozen ruins.

All the battle plans in Tony's mind and the fighting spirit filling his chest cooled in an instant. He felt colder than the soldiers below, who were trembling like sieves.

"JARVIS, where is he?" Tony asked blankly.

"He is above you, sir."

"Hm? Above me?" Tony immediately perked up. Looking up, he saw Leon descending with his cape billowing.

"Tony, you finally made it." Leon teased him as soon as they met. "I thought you'd wait until I took a nap before showing up."

Tony snapped, "You're still talking about naps? You woke me with JARVIS and had me rush over here, but then you charged ahead like a train, chugging along, and didn't leave me a single enemy!"

Leon spread his hands. "I had JARVIS tell you already. If you want revenge, head west. There are still plenty of Ten Rings waiting in the Middle East."

"How is that the same?" Tony held 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 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 enemies either die or shiver from the cold?" Flames burst from beneath Tony's feet. "Listen, I'm heading west now. The Ten Rings there are all mine."

Although Leon had already taken care of Afghanistan,

Tony still wanted to do something.

The harm he had unknowingly caused the world in the past could no longer be undone.

But he still wanted to make amends as best he could.

Even if it might look as though 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 time, Tony. I'll have lunch ready at home and wait for you to come back."

"Then maybe you should 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 pierced through the clouds and saw a large cluster of satellites several hundred kilometers away moving into position overhead.

"They caught up pretty fast."

He remarked.

Then he shouted to Tony, "Tony, my Superman identity has already drawn the attention of every country. Remember not to interact with me while I'm in uniform for the time being, so they don't get suspicious!"

Tony, already flying west, waved a hand behind him to show that he understood.