A few days later.
"Yesterday, an F-22 Raptor unfortunately suffered an accident during an exercise. Fortunately, there were no casualties."
On television, Colonel Rhodes was telling an interviewer the lie he had prepared long ago.
"So, you were behind what happened in Gulmira Village?" Li Ang addressed Tony, who was nearby.
He was covered in bruises and looked a complete mess, like someone who had been beaten up for stealing dogs.
Tony held up his glass. There was no exhaustion in his eyes; instead, he looked as spirited as a general returning in triumph.
"Yes." Tony made no attempt to hide it.
After that kidnapping, he no longer wanted to squander his life.
After seeing the news on television, he had immediately set out, charging in wearing his newly upgraded Mark III Armor.
The armor had received numerous upgrades, making it a dimensionality-reduction strike against the terrorists.
One smooth little combo had wiped out the terrorists.
As he left, those eyes filled with hope and gratitude had made him feel reborn!
But a new problem had emerged as well.
"You might be right. After the last investigation, I discovered that weapons were still making their way outside, so... the mole is most likely a senior executive."
Tony spoke hesitantly. He had begun to suspect Obadiah, too.
Otherwise, no one would have been capable of selling weapons under his scrutiny and JARVIS's surveillance.
Seeing Tony finally catch on, Li Ang felt like an old father watching his child grow up.
"You finally caught on!" Li Ang rolled his eyes.
During the month and a half he had spent helping Tony build the armor, he had dropped hints. When those proved useless, he had outright said there was something wrong with that baldy Obadiah.
But their many years together had left Tony full of trust in Obadiah. A sentence or two was not enough to make Tony act against him.
"In that case, what are you planning now?"
"Gather evidence. His computer isn't connected to Stark's network. It uses an independent server, so it's difficult for JARVIS to collect anything. Someone has to get close to the computer."
As Tony spoke, he had already worked out his plan.
He leaned against the bar, his gaze vacant, as though the glass in his hand was all that remained of the world.
Li Ang tipped his head back and drained his drink. "You want me to go?"
"No, you don't have company clearance. I have a better candidate."
Just as Tony finished speaking, the door opened and Pepper walked in wearing a uniform. She smiled when she saw Li Ang.
"I thought for a long time about what you said yesterday. You're everything to me, too, so... I agree to this crazy plan of yours."
Li Ang's hand froze around his glass. Watching Tony and Pepper gaze affectionately at each other, he felt as though he was giving off light and heat.
The romantic atmosphere made Li Ang suspect that the moment he left, those two would start watching Earth Online's recruitment animation.
So...
He coughed, set down his glass, and said, "I'm a little sleepy. I'll nap here for a while."
Tony's mouth twitched. With the mood already set, how could he be so oblivious?
He glared at Li Ang, then turned his head and mouthed behind Pepper's back, "If you don't leave, you're not getting any Iron Man Armor!"
[Gained Tony Stark's anger: +500 Presence]
Oh-ho, an unexpected bonus!
Tony was practically his little golden piggy bank, the kind that dropped gold coins whenever he whacked it.
Li Ang gave a faint, ill-intentioned smile and made to lie down. Beside him, Pepper pressed her lips together, remaining unusually silent.
"All right, I'll stop teasing you. I've been tired lately, too. Time to head back and get some rest."
Li Ang also knew just how annoying a third wheel could be in this situation.
Seeing that Li Ang was leaving, Tony gave him a grateful look.
With such a good opportunity to deepen their relationship, having a third wheel like Li Ang around would make him uncomfortable all over.
Even if he was a playboy, he could not get it up with someone watching.
With JARVIS giving him the green light all the way, Li Ang walked out of Tony's mansion. "So next, Pepper investigates, and then Iron Monger shows up."
As he went out, sorting through the upcoming plot, Li Ang felt that if he wanted to pursue the system's hidden reward, Tony would have to suffer a little.
He had only just stepped outside when he heard someone nearby call to him.
"Mr. Li Ang?"
Hearing someone call his name, Li Ang looked up and saw Coulson.
"Wonderful. I was just wondering how to contact you. Director Fury asked me to tell you that the grave you requested is ready. If you have time, Director Fury would like to meet with you."
After last time, Nick Fury had given up on sneaking in.
He was quite certain Li Ang could detect him. Sneaking in rashly would very likely sour their relationship. As for sending people to watch him...
Seeing Coulson, Li Ang also knew his role in the upcoming plot. At the same time, he wanted to resolve the Hydra problem as quickly as possible.
"All right, tonight, then. I won't wait if he's late." As Li Ang spoke, he had already begun floating into the air.
Coulson still wore that standard smile. "I'll pass that along."
After watching Li Ang leave, Coulson took out his phone and notified Nick Fury, then knocked on Tony's door.
Meanwhile, Li Ang kept accelerating as he flew away. Along the way back, he also casually performed some acts of heroism.
He earned some more Presence-not much, only around 1,000, but even a mosquito had meat on it.
It was already night when he returned to the estate.
The bodyguards on either side opened the doors and bowed to welcome Li Ang.
When had he ever received treatment like this before transmigrating? His estate had not only the bodyguards Kingpin had sent, but also carefully selected maids.
Li Ang stretched. He had not been back in nearly two months, having spent all that time developing new armor with Tony. Of course, the pay had been substantial, too.
One million dollars a day!
Besides, he had barely needed to do anything beyond moving things and testing performance.
After so long, it was time to properly relax. Perhaps it was a habit left over from his previous life, but Li Ang always felt that only a hot bath counted as truly resting.
The estate's bathing pool could accommodate four or five people.
The water had already been heated. Li Ang stepped in and slowly lay back.
The hazy steam was relaxing. Leaning against the edge of the pool, he covered his eyes with a towel and enjoyed the relaxation and tranquility he had not experienced in so long.
While he was enjoying himself, the door was pulled open from outside. Someone walked in, the sound of high heels against the floor steadily approaching.
Soon, the footsteps stopped beside his ear. She could sense the person behind her taking off her shoes.
Then something silky settled over his shoulders and began rubbing slowly.
From his neck to his chest, then down to his lower abdomen...
Skilled movements combined with the wet, silky texture slowly traveled over his body, kneading his muscles and gently stroking the smooth areas.
Li Ang felt indescribably comfortable and satisfied. His enhanced nerves let him experience that wonderful sensation even more keenly, and he felt only a few words could describe how he felt right now.
"Holy shit, kimochi!"
It was not that he had never experienced this kind of bathing massage before; he had simply never experienced one this good.
Was she new?
Li Ang did not remove the towel. He raised his hand and caught the inquisitive little hand that was about to continue downward.
The hand felt moist, smooth, and tender in his grasp. Combined with the silk glove, it was something Li Ang savored carefully with his eyes covered.
"Are you new?" Li Ang asked.
"Yes, I arrived last month."
Hearing that voice, Li Ang's eyes suddenly widened. Why did it sound so familiar?
He sat up and removed the towel. What met his eyes was a gorgeous face with a hint of sharpness, red hair, and bright green eyes. A maid outfit perfectly outlined her striking curves.
Li Ang suddenly smiled, because he knew the person before him very well.
Black Widow, the Black Widow!