Not long after JARVIS's support armor set off, Tony called him.
As soon as the call connected, Tony's voice, full of resentment and lingering fear, came through the receiver. His tone was a mix of relief and frustration. " Lynn, next time you know there's a deadly danger, even if you won't tell me the specific plot, can't you at least hint at how dangerous the opponent is? I almost really got myself killed this time, and you almost never saw this genius inventor again."
Lynn was speechless after hearing this. Leaning back on the sofa in the theater, she retorted helplessly, her tone blunt and hurtful. "You have the nerve to blame me? Can you stop shifting all the blame onto me every time something goes wrong?"
" JARVIS has told me the whole story. You knew your armor was almost out of power, yet you were so arrogant as to lift your mask and lower your guard to interrogate the enemy. If you had just kept your mask on, even if you couldn't beat those fluorescent warriors, you could have easily escaped using the armor's flight function. You wouldn't have been taken down by a single shot."
He didn't dwell on Tony's underestimation of the enemy, and went straight to the point. "Enough with the chit-chat, do you know where the plot is now, and what the situation is?"
Tony on the other end of the phone was silent for two seconds, suppressing his frustration, and quickly and concisely reviewed the current situation based on what he knew, his words clear and logical:
"I've already discovered the fake the Mandarin's deception. That the Mandarin created terrorist threats and released war declaration videos in front of the whole world was just an alcoholic actor pushed to the forefront from behind the scenes, a mere puppet used to attract public attention."
"The real mastermind is Aldrezi Killian, the mastermind behind the Extremis Virus. He orchestrated all the suicide bombings and terrorist attacks. He wants to overthrow the existing order, control the military's weapons resources, and completely seize control of the country's armed forces."
" Rhodey is right here with me. Killian's Extremis have stolen the War Machine. According to their plan, they've already set off to kidnap the president."
Lynn responded calmly, his tone composed. "I understand. I already ordered JARVIS to fully charge and inspect your entire armor suite, ensuring all weapon systems and energy cores are at maximum capacity, ready to take off and support you at any time."
He paused, then said with a hint of lighthearted teasing, "How about that? Pretty thoughtful of me, huh? I've already prepared a backup plan for you."
Tony paused slightly upon hearing this, his tense emotions easing a little, but he still refused to admit defeat, casually replying, "It's alright, barely passable."
His tone then turned serious again as he returned to the battle. "I'm currently using JARVIS's backend to trace the enemy's precise coordinates in reverse. Signal interference at sea is very strong, so it will take some time to pinpoint their exact location."
Okay, feel free to contact me if you need anything.
Tony immediately hung up the call. Colonel Rhodes grave. Tony then dialed the White House hotline to contact the current Vice President directly.
After the call connected, Tony cut to the chase without a word of pleasantries, issuing the highest-level warning. "Mr. Vice President, please activate Level 1 security immediately. The President is currently on Air Force One and is about to be subjected to a deadly attack. The enemy has seized the War Machine and intends to kidnap the President."
The Vice President's reply came through the receiver, seemingly calm and impeccable, his tone steady and flawless. " Mr. Stark, there's no need to panic. Air Force One has maximum security, with dedicated personnel escorting the entire time. The President is absolutely safe, and I will arrange air support immediately."
Rhodey took the phone directly from the side, his tone icy as he cut to the chase. "Supporting them is pointless; the Iron Patriot armor protecting the special plane has already fallen into enemy hands."
Even after hearing this crucial reminder, the vice president remained reassuring, repeatedly promising to expedite the deployment of fighter jets for escort, before hastily hanging up the phone, revealing not a single abnormality throughout the entire process.
Tony stared at the black screen of his phone, a strange unease rising within him, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. JARVIS simultaneously accessed classified data in the White House backend and reported in a low voice, "Sir, according to my investigation, the Vice President has not issued any air support orders."
Tony didn't have time to delve into the Vice President's secret collusion with the enemy. His expression suddenly turned serious, and he immediately piloted his battle suit into the air to reinforce the high-altitude battlefield.
Inside the private cinema in Stark Tower, the call was completely disconnected. The soothing film continued to play on the screen, but the relaxed and leisurely atmosphere of the room had long since vanished.
Natasha turned her head to look at Lynn, whose expression had remained unchanged and who was calm and composed throughout, a knowing look in her eyes. "Is it about to begin?"
Lynn looked up at the dark screen, his fingertips gently caressing the two imitation gems on his chest that shimmered with a faint light. He was aware of everything that had happened, yet he remained a detached observer.
He spoke softly, his tone calm and resolute. "Yes, it's time to wrap things up."
The long wait passed quietly, and several hours went by in the blink of an eye.
The holographic screen in front of Lynn suddenly lit up, and Tony's communication request popped up.
Lynn answered the call casually, and Tony's tired voice came through, with the howling and roaring of the sea wind in the background.
"I've located Killian's position, and the final coordinates have been sent to JARVIS." Tony spoke rapidly, his tone unwavering and authoritative. "The entire Warframe family is airborne and en route to the battlefield."
" Lynn, this is a personal matter. Don't interfere!"
He paused, suppressing the anxiety, anger, and long-suppressed inner demons that had been building up inside him, and spoke with exceptional clarity, word by word. "You only need to do me one favor: get the president away safely. As for the rest, I'll settle accounts with Killian myself."
Lynn understood immediately and showed no surprise.
"Fine, I promise you. I will not interfere in the main battle; you can settle your own scores."
After saying that, he hung up the call and turned to look at Natasha, who was sitting quietly beside him, his expression calm and composed.
"You just heard it too, Tony is determined to settle this score alone."
Lynn stood up, a faint light slowly emanating from his fingertips, pale golden magical energy flowing gently in his palm. "Right now, all the Extremis warriors on the platform should be tied down on the front lines by Tony and the Armored Legion, leaving their rear defenses undefended. Rescuing the president shouldn't be difficult for you."
Natasha immediately stood up, her usual gentle languor vanishing from her eyes, instantly switching to the calm and ruthless demeanor of a top agent. She nodded crisply, "Alright, I understand."
Lynn nodded slightly, his fingertips tracing a warm golden streak in the air, precisely locking onto an open space inside the drilling platform ravaged by the raging storm at sea. The portal led directly to a blind spot behind the live broadcast stands where the president was trapped, perfectly avoiding the surveillance cameras and the enemy's line of sight. "The portal leads directly to the blind spot of the battlefield. Go."
He paused, then explained his plan, "Just use the same portal to return. After you enter the battlefield, I'll rewrite the portal's return coordinates. Once you and the President step inside, the exit will be directly in the plaza at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters."
Natasha raised an eyebrow slightly, instantly understanding his intention.
Lynn didn't want to get personally involved in this mess. The safest and most worry-free way to handle it was to hand over the follow-up security, high-level accountability, and political turmoil directly to S.H.I.E.L.D.., which would also completely avoid the endless questioning and trouble from the authorities.
"Very thoughtful." Natasha didn't ask any further questions. She straightened her clothes and stepped into the golden portal with a swift and decisive movement.
The golden light screen trembled slightly for a moment before returning to calm.
Lynn remained in the quiet private cinema, looking up at the holographic surveillance screen floating in the air. On the screen, Tony's massive armored army had arrived above the dark sea. Countless Iron Man Armor pierced the night sky, swooping down towards the abandoned drilling platform. The roar of cannons exploded the waves, illuminating the entire night sky, and the main battle had officially begun.
Tony landed alone on the top floor of the platform, braving the biting sea wind, and faced the mastermind, Killian. The two confronted each other from a distance, and Tony's long-suppressed hatred and resentment finally erupted at this moment.
Meanwhile, in the blind spot behind the battlefield, Natasha appeared silently without causing a commotion. The frontline Extremis warriors were all pinned down by the armor's firepower, and no one paid any attention to the stands behind. With her top-notch stealth and combat skills, she silently took down two guards left behind and swiftly removed the restraints from the president.
The entire process took only two minutes.
Before the still-shaken president could even express his gratitude, Natasha led him around and stepped directly into the still-open golden portal.
The portal coordinates switched in the next instant. The night wind swept past the cold, massive emblem of S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters. Nick Fury had already received the message from Lynn in advance and was guarding the door with a group of elite agents, quietly waiting for their assistance.
Watching Natasha escort the president safely out of the portal, Lynn raised his hand and gently waved it, causing the two portals in front of the Far Ocean Battlefield and S.H.I.E.L.D.. to close simultaneously.
He sat back down on the sofa, his gaze returning to the surveillance footage of the battle raging on the sea. Watching Tony face off against a formidable enemy alone, his expression was calm as he murmured softly.
"Since you insist on not having my help, then I'll just watch quietly. This time you're well-prepared, let's see how you perform."