The Planned Target

"Inferring that the target's behavior is rational human emotion. Regarding your excessive surveillance... protective behavior towards Miss Morgan, reasonable suggestions have previously been put forward. Would you like to reconsider adopting my suggestions, Sir?"

Tony could not help slamming the table again. "JARVIS, whose side are you on?"

He stood up angrily, pacing back and forth twice as if to mask his emotions.

Finally, his steps halted as he walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a drink, and gulped it down. He wanted to vent a bit more, but his expression gradually faded into dejection.

"I didn't want this either..."

"I know... but I can't bear to lose little Morgan again, Pepper she..." Tony slumped back into his chair like a soul leaving its body, his eyes vacant.

If it were Pepper, she would probably blame him for his current methods too, but he no longer had the capital to gamble.

"Sir..."

"I know, don't comfort me, I don't need comfort." Tony waved a hand, sprawled out in the chair like a dead fish.

"That's not it, Sir..." JARVIS said in a calm tone. "The target individual appears to be preparing to forcibly take Miss Morgan away. They are leaving the tower. Shall we take action?"

"What?" Tony executed a dead-fish bounce, his gaze sweeping toward the screen.

On the display, Lin Yi was carrying Morgan on his shoulders, walking toward the outside of Stark Tower. As he passed every security camera, he even flipped each one off.

On the second floor, Morgan offered no resistance at all, hanging over Lin Yi's shoulder like a noodle.

"Give up, there's no way we're walking out of here. Daddy's probably already downstairs." Morgan sighed mournfully, as if she could already see daddy's stern face appearing before her.

"Your daddy? Why would you think I'm afraid of him?" Lin Yi let out a hum of amusement.

"Such a little kid, where do you get so much melancholy and worry? If you aren't letting me play today, I'm taking you to play!"

"Let you experience the kind of joy a kid is supposed to have!"

Morgan let out a soft chuckle. "Can you beat my daddy? He's got... never mind."

"Got what?" Lin Yi sneered. "Does he have that suit of scrap metal? Or that Mind Stone on his reactor that makes people unable to perceive your existence?"

Morgan on his shoulder abruptly stiffened. "How do you know about the Mind Stone?"

"I know plenty of things. Are you curious? If you're curious, I'll tell you slowly."

"As for your old man, don't worry, he won't be walking out of that room today!"

"I checked yesterday, are you going to the biggest amusement park in New York or not?"

"The biggest amusement park, is that the Sun God Amusement Park?" Morgan's attention was diverted.

"Yeah! Since you know, then are you ready?!" Lin Yi used both arms, shifting from carrying her on his shoulder to cradling her in his arms.

"Ready for what?"

Lin Yi split his mouth wide, his pearly white teeth flashing in the sunlight.

"Of course, boarding the Lin Yi Express!" The moment those words fell, Lin Yi bolted into the sky with Morgan in his arms.

A bio-field wrapped around Morgan, breaking the speed of sound within two seconds and leaving only her sudden scream echoing in place.

...Back in Stark Tower, Tony was already doubting reality.

He had pushed the door open the moment Lin Yi carried Morgan away.

As a result, pushing the door open made him realize he was back in this exact same room. Pushing it again, the scene before him was identical.

Looking back, there was another version of himself behind him also pushing the door open and looking back.

What the fuck!

"JARVIS?"

"An unknown spatial fold has been detected. Analyzing the energy source: it shares the same magical system as the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj."

"Sir, the looping point cannot be located. However, analyzing the energy magnitude, the energy will likely be depleted in approximately two to three hours, and the current anomaly will naturally dissipate."

"So you're saying I'm going to be trapped in here for three hours?" Tony gripped his fist with dissatisfaction.

"You could also utilize the power of the Mind Stone, but it would cause a degree of destruction."

"How much is a degree?"

"You would likely need to schedule a construction crew to completely rebuild Stark Tower."

"Sir, according to updated analytical data, the target individual exhibits no hostility. It is recommended to update the primary course of action to observation."

"...hnn."

He wanted to swear. Tony looked at the monitoring screen where Lin Yi was flying with little Morgan at a speed approaching Mach 2. It was somewhat hard to take.

This kid could fly, too...

"Sir, shall we activate the Mind Stone?" JARVIS's voice sounded.

Tony slammed the door shut with a bang.

"Point the Authority Satellite at him! For now... just leave it like this for now."

Tony sat down in his chair, losing his strength as if making this decision required immense courage.

He had not relaxed his vigilance against Lin Yi, nor did he harbor any thoughts of suddenly changing his mind after a single night.

He still believed Lin Yi was a massive threat, but after thoroughly analyzing Lin Yi last night, he found that he was currently the entity that best fit one of his planned projects.

The information brought to him by that unknown entity from the Quantum Realm.

"JARVIS, do you think... will he be that person..."

"Sir, are you referring to the information mentioned by the Quantum Man?"

On the screen, a metallic object popped up, rotating slowly.

"Based on observation, no signature items were found on the target, but the target's appearance timing is correct, and the capability description similarity is 10%."

"It is not excluded that the target possesses spatial storage technology. The capability threat exhibited by the target has been updated to Level 6, and no hostility has been detected."

"Synthesizing currently known information, on a data level, the match rate between the target and the entity mentioned in project STW-2501 is 17.6%."

"However, Sir..." JARVIS's voice paused.

"Based on the comparison of the target's behavior and emotions from appearance to the present, he displays immense goodwill toward Morgan and you."

"Oh? Flipping me off expresses goodwill?" Tony sneered. "JARVIS, does your emotional system need maintenance?"

"Sir, his attitude toward you is more akin to... a friend. Two... frenemies. Yes, this description is correct. Also, my emotional system underwent maintenance and updates a week ago and is operating without any issues."

Frenemies. Tony quietly tapped on the tabletop.

"Synthesizing behavior and emotion, what is the match rate?"

"36.8%."

"Fuck, just watch him for now. Morgan, she... whatever."

"Woohoo!"

High in the air, Morgan threw her arms up excitedly.

"Faster, go even faster, Lin Yi!"

This flight experience was different from wearing the Nano Suit.

The suit didn't have this level of mobility, nor did it offer such a free perspective and sensation.

The feeling of the breeze brushing against her skin (don't worry about it, the bio-field isolation ratio was adjusted), the warmth of the sunlight spilling over her body, and the air devoid of any metallic taste!

Simply put, the flight of the Nano Suit completely paled in comparison to this!

"I can't go any faster! We're almost at our destination!" Lin Yi smiled cheerfully. The fastest way to divert a child's attention was through sudden external events, and taking Morgan on a sudden flight accelerated to nearly twice the speed of sound was partly for that reason.

See, wasn't she temporarily forgetting those unpleasant things right now!