"Pay to save your life? What are you talking about?"
Stark gave the young man before him a strange look. Pay to save his life?
What a joke. The man facing them had a nuclear reactor and whips coursing with powerful electric currents. He could slice through sheet metal with ease.
Mercer was unarmed. How could he possibly deal with him?
"Kid, this isn't a game. I'm his target. You still have time to leave."
As he spoke, he hesitated briefly, then got up and stepped in front of Mercer, shielding him.
He didn't know why he had done it. Perhaps, deep down, he had begun to think of himself as a superhero-a superhero who put himself on the line for ordinary people.
Looking at the man standing before him, Mercer was slightly moved. People said that, with a mortal body, Stark stood shoulder to shoulder with gods.
That final snap had certainly moved many Marvel fans.
But the early Stark had been downright rude and arrogant, so Mercer was a little surprised to see him stepping in front of him.
"Since you stood up for me, I'll give you fifty percent off this time."
After saying that, Mercer turned to Whiplash and spoke.
"Kneel and sing 'Conquest,' and I'll spare your life."
Both Whiplash and Stark froze at those words. Mercer had spoken in flawless Russian, not like a foreigner who had learned the language, but like a native speaker.
"You've got to be kidding!"
Whiplash tightened his right hand, flooding the slender whip in his grip with a powerful electric current. He twisted his wrist, swinging his arm and lashing viciously at Mercer's face.
Everyone nearby felt their hearts clench when Whiplash suddenly attacked. Oh no!
Stark could only watch helplessly as the whip drew closer to Mercer.