Amidst the ruins of the exhibition booth, Tony struck three different poses.
First, he put his hands on his hips, then turned his body to the side, and finally raised one hand, aiming the palm cannon at Ivan had already been dragged away by the agents.
Reporters surrounded the police cordon, their flashes almost constantly going off.
"Alright everyone, that concludes the photo session."
He straightened his collar and gave the camera a friendly smile.
"That was just an unannounced live-fire exercise. As you can see, Stark Industries ' security system is very sophisticated. I've already thought of a headline for tomorrow's headlines: ' Iron Man's Crushing Victory.' Remember to make the font big."
" Mr. Stark, what are your thoughts on this attack?"
"View?"
Tony turned to the reporter who had asked the question and said seriously, "First of all, I suggest that Stark Industries raise the aesthetic standards of its employees in the future. Especially hairstyles. Long hair isn't a problem, but at least remember to wash it."
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.
Another reporter quickly asked, " Ivan claims that the Arc Reactor is his father's technology. How do you plan to respond?"
I'm going to send him a patent application form.
Tony spread his hands. "By the way, remind him that craft assignments don't count as patents, and tying two wires around your chest doesn't count as technological innovation."
Do you think this attack will affect Stark Industries ' stock price?
Tony looked up at the screen, which was now only half full.
"Oh, of course."
The surroundings fell silent instantly.
Tony paused for two seconds, then slowly opened his visor, revealing his smug face.
"It will rise by at least five points tomorrow."
The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air once again.
Tony then turned around with satisfaction and swaggered towards the VIP area.
Chen Mo was leaning against the railing, his consciousness connected to the clone network. Countless Blacklight Clone had completed their first round of fission and were searching for absorbable energy in different universes.
Upon reaching a star, the clone enters an energy cycle.
Absorb, store, and then return to the host.
The energy provided by a single star is already terrifying, and such nodes are constantly increasing. As long as the clones continue to expand, there is virtually no limit to the energy he can mobilize.
In comparison, that big fight just now really resembled two kids fighting over power strips at the entrance of a residential complex.
"Seriously, do you know how much it costs to replace this floor?"
Tony walked up to Chen Mo and pointed to the ruins behind him, "That was custom-made alloy flooring, installed less than a week ago, and now it's been cut up like a pizza."
"Fine."
Chen Mo casually remarked, "At least he didn't ask you for a cutting fee."
"Hey, that's not the point."
Tony then pointed at Coulson, "The point is he brought a bunch of thugs in suits and stole my loot. No authorization, no contract, not even a thank you."
Coulson said helplessly, " Mr. Stark, first of all, thank you for your cooperation. Secondly, Ivan Vanko is not a prize; he is a dangerous suspect."
"He stormed into my exhibition, was defeated by my armored vehicle, and even smashed my floor."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "According to the most basic principles of ownership, he should belong to me now."
Chen Mo nodded. "That makes sense."
Coulson looked at him. "Mr. Chen Mo, population cannot be divided according to ownership."
"Then how do you explain your actions of snatching him just now?"
"This is a lawful takeover."
"Got it, America licensed robbery."
Coulson opened his mouth, but ultimately gave up trying to explain.
Tony deactivated his armor, and the red-gold metallic particles rapidly contracted and reassembled into the device on his chest.
"Strange, why are you so quiet today?"
He looked Chen Mo up and down. "Under normal circumstances, you should already be laughing at my missiles for being inferior to fireworks."
"Actually, I have something urgent to attend to."
Chen Mo patted Tony on the shoulder, "By the way, hurry up and get my custom armor done. Don't mess with the color scheme, don't cut corners on the functionality, and don't try to fool me with your spare parts."
"That's a work of art, not a mass-produced product."
Tony frowned and said, "Moreover, the design needs to be adjusted. You're asking the armor to withstand the temperature of a star; that's not customization, that's deliberately making things difficult."
Can you do it?
"Of course I can! I'm Stark!"
"Then hurry up."
Chen Mo turned to Coulson, "Also, go back and tell Fury that I'm not interested in this person, and I won't be spending time with you writing the accident report today. I have an even more important old man to see."
Coulson gave a wry smile.
"May I ask who it is?"
"Cannot."
Chen Mo raised his hand and made a sweeping motion in front of him, instantly causing the space to crack open.
Tony looked at the dimly lit wooden hall beyond the crack and immediately took a step forward.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Let's find out just how many weirdos there are in this universe."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Mo stepped into the rift.
The space then closed.
Tony stood there silently for two seconds, then turned to look at Coulson.
Does the pervert he's referring to include your bureau chief?
I suggest you ask him in person.
"Never mind, I still want Stark Industries to continue receiving government orders."
New York Sanctum.
Chen Mo stepped out of the spatial rift, his feet resting on a circular carpet with intricate patterns.
The hall was quiet.
The walls on both sides were filled with ritual implements, and the views outside the windows were all different. Some showed the New York night view, some showed a sky full of yellow sand, and one window showed heavy snow falling.
Chen Mo glanced around and his gaze settled on the center of the hall.
The Ancient One had been waiting for a long time in front of a low table.
He wore a loose robe, his white beard hung down to his chest, and a freshly brewed tea set was placed in front of him.
You arrived a little earlier than I noticed.
The Ancient One picked up the teapot and slowly poured two cups of tea.
Chen Mo walked over and sat down.
That means the version you're seeing needs to be updated.
"The future is never fixed."
The Ancient One pushed the teacup towards him, "Especially when someone who doesn't belong here possesses power enough to influence the universe."
Chen Mo picked up the teacup and took a sniff.
"Was it poisoned?"
"Given your physical condition, what would be the point of poisoning you?"
"It's mainly to liven up the atmosphere."
Chen Mo took a sip; the taste was a bit bland, but it was still better than the champagne at the tech expo.
The Ancient One didn't rush to speak.
He looked at Chen Mo, his aged eyes revealing little emotion.
Chen Mo didn't urge him.
The two men drank tea across a low table, neither bringing up the main business, as if they were competing to see who could pretend better.
Finally, it was the Ancient One who put down her teacup.
"Your clone is leaving the Solar System."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "You saw it?"
"I cannot see all your clones, but the flow of energy in the universe is changing."
The Ancient One said calmly, "The change in one star is insignificant, but when thousands of stars show anomalies simultaneously, it becomes very difficult to hide."
Chen Mo was not surprised.
After all, he is the Sorcerer Supreme who protects the Earth, so it's normal for him to have some means of monitoring the starry sky.
"So you mean you can't park illegally in outer space?" Chen Mo asked.
The Ancient One shook her head. "I'm just suggesting that you stop devouring stars here and go find food in other universes instead."
Chen Mo paused slightly.
It was somewhat strange that these words came from the Sorcerer Supreme.
"When did you start caring about Hengxing's food expenses?"
"This universe is at a dangerous juncture."
The Ancient One looked out the window. "Some beings have already set their sights on Earth, while others are waiting for the right opportunity to enter this place."
Chen Mo put down his teacup.
"Old man, can't you speak like a human being?"
"I need you to stop this behavior temporarily."
The Ancient One stated directly, "Your appearance has already made those who were maintaining the balance uneasy."
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes.
The Ancient One wouldn't have said things to this extent without a reason.
The fact that the Sorcerer Supreme personally advised him to find food in another universe clearly indicates that the other party was no ordinary character.
Who is it?
The Ancient One didn't answer, but simply looked up at what was behind Chen Mo.
The next second, the entire New York Sanctum trembled violently.
The night sky outside the window was illuminated by lightning, and a muffled rumble pressed down from the roof. At the same time, the magical artifacts on the walls trembled, and the golden protective array unfolded on its own.
A terrifying pressure descended upon the hall.
Chen Mo did not turn around.
The power within his body circulated rapidly, and his million clones simultaneously transmitted energy.
The Ancient One remained seated, her expression unchanged.
Thunder roared again.
A deep and authoritative voice came directly from behind Chen Mo.
"No need to be nervous, new guest from Midgard."
I have not come here to accuse anyone.
Odin, wielding the Gungnir, stared at Chen Mo with his single eye, golden divine power enveloping the entire hall.
" The Sorcerer Supreme and Asgard are jointly protecting this planet. I simply want to see for myself what kind of being would cause him to change our agreement ahead of schedule."