The data is gradually improving; does anyone have a suggestion for an extra chapter rule?
The call was abruptly ended, the last busy tone fading away, and the gentle, soothing mountain breeze of the evening suddenly turned icy cold.
Lynn put away his phone, the last trace of his languid smile vanishing from his face, leaving only a calm seriousness. He turned to Natasha, who was sitting quietly by the fire, and explained the emergency situation bluntly, " Happy was attacked by terrorists and is seriously injured in the intensive care unit. The enemy behind it has their sights set on Stark, and Tony is currently somewhat out of control. We need to get back to New York immediately."
Natasha's expression instantly changed, a hint of seriousness flashing in her cool eyes. Without asking any further questions, she simply nodded calmly. The peaceful two weeks away from the turmoil had come to a complete end, and they would eventually have to return to this turbulent place where there was never a moment of peace.
The two worked in perfect harmony, quickly setting up camp. They dismantled tents, collected campfire ashes, and packed up all camping gear. The cliffside clearing, which had been filled with the warmth of campfire, was soon restored to its original empty and desolate state, as if this gentle half-month of time had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.
A golden magical portal slowly unfolded on the grass, and the two stepped into it one after the other. In an instant, they were transported from the far north of Iceland back to the bustling, cold, and towering New York, landing inside Stark Tower.
Lynn turned to Natasha and quietly instructed, "There's a dedicated storage room downstairs. If you can't find it, you can ask JARVIS. Please organize and store the camping supplies first. I'll go to the top floor to find Tony."
"Okay." Natasha accepted the luggage without saying anything more, turned around and took the escalator downstairs.
Lynn stepped into the private elevator alone and pressed the button for the top floor.
The elevator doors slid open slowly to both sides, revealing the open-plan lounge on the top floor.
Tony was standing alone by the kitchen island, pacing anxiously back and forth, his fingertips tapping incessantly on the Dali countertop. His eyes were bloodshot, and his entire being was a mixture of hostility and panic, completely devoid of the composure and arrogance of his usual brilliant entrepreneur.
He was completely overwhelmed by anger, self-blame, and fear, and his composure was thrown into chaos.
Hearing the elevator move, Tony suddenly looked up at Lynn as she approached, his eyes still filled with anxiety, showing no sign of calm.
Lynn walked slowly to him, gently pressing his hand on Tony's tense shoulder. Her voice was calm and resolute as she spoke, each word carefully chosen to soothe the on the verge of collapse. " Tony, trust me. I assure you, Happy is not in any danger. Once he gets through this critical period, he'll wake up soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of guilt flashed in Lynn's eyes, and he took the initiative to apologize. "I also bear responsibility for this. I've been too comfortable and relaxed lately, which made me completely let my guard down."
"But it's too late now, and all the self-blame and anger are pointless. The more panicked you are, the more you're playing into the hands of the enemy behind the scenes."
Lynn looked at the out-of-control Tony and softened his tone, revealing his long-held observation. "Ever since the New York alien war ended, you and Ivan have been pushing yourselves too hard."
"I know that the alien invaders' arrival in the city, the enemy descending from the sky, made you truly feel for the first time that you couldn't control the situation. That deep-seated sense of loss of control and unease has always been hidden in your heart and has never dissipated."
"But you can't let this unease cause you to completely lose your composure."
He looked Tony straight into the eyes and brought up his old words again, his tone solemn. " Tony, don't forget, I said you're cursed by knowledge. You shouldn't let your emotions lead you by the nose."
"Put on your armor and come with me. Although many things have deviated from their original course this time, I still hope that person can inherit your mantle."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard light footsteps behind her. Natasha had finished getting ready, took the elevator to the top floor, and stood quietly at the elevator door, not interrupting their conversation.
Tony glanced at Natasha, still incredibly agitated, and abruptly waved his hand, his tone full of impatience. "All that you've said is nonsense. I don't want to hear anything right now, I just want to catch the mastermind hiding in the shadows and avenge Happy."
Lynn sighed helplessly, but still patiently advised, "I completely understand how you feel. Anyone would find it difficult to stay calm in your situation. But you must prioritize tasks."
"The place I'm taking you to holds all the clues to this terrorist attack, and can help you find the person behind it. I can guarantee that from this moment on, the safety of Pepper and everyone close to you is entirely my responsibility, and there will be no more accidents."
"But you need to discover the truth of the whole matter yourself, step by step, rather than me telling you everything directly."
Tony stared into Lynn's calm eyes, remaining silent for a long time. He knew Lynn never spoke without reason, much less joke at such a crucial moment. The anger and anxiety surging within him finally subsided.
"I can choose not to dwell on what you really want to do, and I can act according to your plan."
Tony spoke in a deep voice, his tone conciliatory. "But I hope you... their safety..."
"Don't worry," Lynn replied calmly.
Having received a reply, Tony didn't delay any longer and turned to head to the armor storage area to prepare to put on his armor.
Watching Tony's departing figure, Lynn turned to Natasha, who had just arrived, her tone softening from its previous seriousness to a more weary one. "I'm a little hungry. Why don't you stay and make some dinner?"
"I'll drop Tony off at his destination and be right back. I'll be home in no time; you don't need to come with me."
Natasha looked at him, her expression softening, and asked softly, "What would you like to eat?"
"A simple home-cooked meal will do," Lynn replied casually.
Natasha nodded in agreement, then turned and went downstairs to the kitchen alone.
Lynn waited quietly in the top-floor living room. It didn't take long for Tony was covered in a full set of metal armor, to strode in. The eyes of the armor shone with a cold white light, and he was fully armed and ready to rush to the battlefield at any time.
Lynn glanced at the brand-new armor, made no comment, and then opened a portal to another location. Behind the portal was a vast, open wilderness, with fresh air and far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Follow me."
The two stepped into the portal together and in an instant left Stark Tower in New York and landed on a country road near Rose Hill in the suburbs of Tennessee.
A cool evening breeze blew through the countryside, and all was quiet and deserted, with a few scattered country cottages in the distance.
Lynn stood still, turned to look at Tony beside him, who had removed his armor and mask, revealing a weary face, and pondered silently for a long time.
Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice clear and resonant in Tony's ears. "This area holds all the attack clues you seek. Besides, there's a child here, the one I believe is most suited to inherit all your legacy and will."
After thinking it over, Lynn returned the choice to Tony: "I don't want the plot to get out of control, but I don't want to force you either. I still want to ask you."
"Do you want me to tell you the whole truth right now and get the answer directly? Or do you want to take my advice, calm down, and personally investigate the clues step by step to find the mastermind behind it all?"
" Tony, the answer is yours to choose."