JARVIS's electronically synthesized voice sounded in the air.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"The building's thermal imaging, infrared, air-quality exchange, and millimeter-wave radar monitoring showed that no object left through the elevator, windows, or ventilation ducts just now."
"That Mr. Solomon... seemed to have vanished completely from the space we occupy, leaving no information behind."
Hearing JARVIS's report, Tony instinctively clenched his fists. For the first time, an almost imperceptible crack appeared in the blind confidence deep within him.
Tony took a deep breath and turned, his gaze settling with utmost gravity on the Holographic Projection in midair.
Just then, the holographic screen floating in the air suddenly flickered, and the large, one-eyed face of Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., as black as the bottom of a pot, forcibly broke into the communications feed!
"Stark! I thought you'd died in your own home!"
The moment the connection opened, Nick Fury's deep, taut voice rang throughout the living room in accusation.
"Coulson said an extremely dangerous mystery man broke into your Penthouse Apartment. What's the situation now? Where is he?!"
Tony looked at the bald, black Nick Fury making such a fuss on the screen. Out of habit, he put away his grave expression and replaced it with his usual irreverent, mocking look.
"Relax, Director Fury. I'm still alive and well. I even just had a glass of '82 Lafite with the gentleman."
"As for where he went... he vanished into thin air exactly three seconds ago."
Nick Fury's one eye narrowed sharply as he stared hard at Tony.
"What exactly did he want from you?!"
With both hands in his trouser pockets, Tony strolled up to the Holographic Projection and looked at Fury with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"Nothing major. Mr. Solomon just took a liking to my Stark Tower and wanted