"JARVIS, scan Los Angeles's traffic surveillance network again! What, did that old bastard burrow underground?"
Tony Stark's frustrated voice echoed through the spacious underground laboratory.
He stood on the circular disassembly platform with his arms spread. Several Robotic Arms methodically removed the Mark III's heavy red-and-gold armor, piece by piece.
"Sir, I have already invoked the highest level of access, but Obadiah Stane's trail vanished completely near District 16. He left no electronic or thermal imaging traces." JARVIS's voice remained steady.
"Keep looking! Turn Los Angeles upside down if you have to!" Tony rubbed his aching brow and stepped off the platform.
The Malibu cliffside villa was quiet in the dead of night.
Pepper had driven to Stark Tower half an hour earlier. As the CEO's assistant, she needed to work through the night to sort out the mess Obadiah had left behind and prepare tomorrow's new energy proposal.
In a guest room on the second floor, Jessica and Trish slept soundly, lulled by alcohol and the sea breeze.
Yang Ming, who occupied the guest room on the east side, was still awake.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes closed. Although targeted medication had repaired the damage caused by opening the first of the Eight Gates, his physical senses had been permanently raised to a new level.
Through the white noise of waves crashing against the rocks, he could clearly distinguish the hiss of the Robotic Arms' hydraulics in the laboratory below, along with Tony's slightly rapid breathing.
Suddenly.
Bzzzz!
An exceptionally shrill, high-frequency sound wave beyond the range of normal human hearing erupted without warning in the underground laboratory.
Upstairs, Yang Ming's eyes snapped open, a cold glint flashing through his black pupils.
Two minutes earlier, in the basement.
Tony had just removed the last piece