Tony froze on the spot, staring at the familiar face before him, his heart rate instantly soaring to 190.
The thrusters have just shut down; if we force a takeoff now, we'll not only have to reheat the engine, but it will also make us look guilty.
More importantly, he couldn't outrun Chen Mo.
Tony licked his lips.
"Um, when did you get here?"
As he spoke, he lightly ran his finger along the inside of his armor.
The battlefield logs that had filled the screen quickly shrank back into the background. Chen Mo's energy curve, ability analysis, and risk assessment all disappeared, leaving only an ordinary map of the Chicago suburbs.
The map even marks a nearby pizza shop.
Tony casually raised his hand and tapped the map.
"I just got lost here."
Chen Mo looked at him.
"You mean, you were wearing a suit of armor that could fly across states, had built-in satellite navigation and artificial intelligence, and then you got lost in the suburbs of Chicago?"
"Oh dear, it's normal for tech products to malfunction occasionally. You don't understand high-tech stuff, oh, you might understand a little now."
"Heh, so when you turned around so stealthily just now, was there something wrong with your armor's joints?"
"This is my newly developed silent mode."
Tony spoke naturally, without even changing his tone.
As long as he doesn't admit he wanted to run away, it doesn't count as running away.
At most, it can be considered a strategic retreat.
Chen Mo walked halfway around Tony, his gaze landing on the back of the armor. A faint warmth still lingered inside the thrusters, but all the auxiliary nozzles were already closed.
"Your silent mode is good."
Chen Mo nodded.
"His movements do look a bit like a thief, Tony."
Tony turned his body so that he was always facing Chen Mo.
"Hey, I have to clarify, I was just passing by."
"Wearing battle armor and passing by?"
"The weather's nice tonight, so I'm going for a drive."
Chen Mo looked up at the sky.
Dust from the explosion still lingered in the night sky, and steam rose from several molten rocks in the distance. The air was thick with the smell of burnt metal and blood.
"You rich people's road trips are really hardcore."
"Please, Chen Mo, ordinary roads are no match for this suit of armor."
"Is that your reason for hiding behind the rocks and watching the fireworks for half an hour?"
"Free fireworks, why not watch them?"
Tony spread his hands, adopting a nonchalant expression.
Inside the armor, JARVIS had quietly shut down all active scanning programs. Even the analysis models that had just been created had been transferred to a separate storage module.
It's not that we're afraid of being discovered, but mainly we respect Chen Mo's privacy.
Chen Mo looked at him speechlessly.
If he hadn't already known that Tony had been hiding here, he almost would have believed it.
"Alright, stop acting."
Chen Mo patted Tony's shoulder armor twice.
"I have no interest in you, you tin can. You don't need to rush off or worry about me killing you."
Tony paused for a second.
"Um, although I know you're trying to be kind, this statement doesn't reassure me at all."
"How about I rephrase it?"
"Can."
"You have nothing but high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, why would I eat you?"
You should use the previous sentence.
Tony was about to continue speaking when his gaze suddenly fell on Chen Mo's palm.
Several strands of dark red blood vessels emerged from under the skin, intertwining with each other in the air. Golden mechanical patterns lit up, and tiny components pieced together layer by layer, quickly forming a silver object.
That thing was only the size of a thumb.
There are no markings on the surface, and the end is a standard data interface.
Chen Mo raised his hand and threw it.
Tony caught it instinctively and glanced down at it.
USB flash drive?
"Yes, a USB drive. I've put the Eternals ' mechanical construction technology, energy operation methods, and some technical data left behind by Phastos on it. Remember to find a computer with plenty of storage space."
Tony didn't put the USB drive away immediately.
He originally thought that Chen Mo's so-called sharing of technology was just an empty promise he made to get Fury and him to help find the Eternals.
After all, everyone was eaten.
No samples were left, and the battlefield was almost turned into a quarry. Chen Mo really wanted to turn against them, it seemed there was nothing they could do except put it on their books.
And surprisingly, this guy actually gave it to him.
Tony gripped the silver USB drive and examined it twice, turning it over and over.
"Is there a virus on your USB drive?"
Chen Mo looked down at himself.
"It depends on what kind of virus you're talking about."
"I'm talking about computer viruses, of course."
"Are you kidding? Would I give you a USB drive with a virus?"
"Tracking program?"
"No."
"Remote control module?"
"Are you trying to cause trouble? There's nothing there."
Tony became even more suspicious.
"You're so honest, I'm actually a little hesitant to use you."
Chen Mo reached out to take it back.
"Give it back if you don't want it."
Tony immediately clenched his fist and put the USB drive into the sealed compartment on the side of his armor.
"The transaction is complete, and I cannot accept returns."
"You're quite principled about contracts."
"I learned it from you."
Tony remained nonchalant on the surface, but in his mind he began to calculate the value of the information.
Just now, Phastos's mechanical structure could directly divide Ikaris's energy torrent, and even absorb that level of attack. As long as the data on the USB drive is complete, he can redesign the armor's energy circuit.
Even if it's impossible to achieve the same level as before, completing even one-tenth of that will significantly improve the armor's survivability against energy attacks.
Not to mention that it may also include space folding, mechanical structures, and ways of using Cosmic Energy.
This is a complete set of technologies that surpasses the existing systems on Earth.
" Tony, don't even think about pocketing it."
Chen Mo suddenly spoke.
Tony's thoughts were interrupted, and he looked up at him.
Do I look like that kind of person?
"Picture."
"My God, you didn't even hesitate! Is that how you see me?"
Because the answer is obvious.
Chen Mo pointed to the side of the armor.
"Remember to give Fury a copy of the data; this is a deal I negotiated beforehand. You can study it yourself, or add a few Stark Industries logos to it, but the S.H.I.E.L.D. is essential."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
So I also have to be responsible for delivery?
"Weren't you just about to go back?"
"Who said I wanted to go back?"
"Then you can stay here tonight, I'll make the trip myself."
Chen Mo reached out his hand again.
Tony took a half step back.
"Okay, I'll take it."
He finally understood why Chen Mo hadn't handed the data directly to Fury.
S.H.I.E.L.D.. has just lost over two thousand people, and its internal command system is almost paralyzed. Even if the technology is handed over to them, they won't be able to find a completely trustworthy research team in a short period of time.
It's different when you take it upon yourself.
JARVIS can complete the testing and backup first, and then send one copy to Fury. This ensures that the data is not lost while maintaining cooperation between the two parties.
Chen Mo was actively maintaining this relationship.
This discovery put Tony at ease.
An invincible monster that only knows how to kill will destroy the Earth.
But Chen Mo is good at trading, keeps his promises, and knows what to use to keep his partners on the side, so there's still room for negotiation.
Chen Mo turned and looked at the end of the wasteland.
No new golden lights appeared under the cover of night, and no Eternals were detected approaching in the life force perception.
"There are still a few people who haven't arrived."
"Maybe they live far away, or maybe they're just smarter."
Tony looked towards the battlefield.
"So, their first reaction after seeing the warning wasn't to rush over and get themselves killed."
"It doesn't matter."
Several golden arcs of electricity lit up Chen Mo's body.
If the food delivery isn't made to my door, I can go pick it up myself.
Tony understood what he meant.
Chen Mo didn't have time to continue the discussion, nor was he prepared to answer any questions right now.
That sentence was meant to shut him up.
If Tony is sensible, he should take the data and leave now. He should go back to Fury, analyze the Eternals' technology, and prepare contingency plans for this newly emerging cosmic-level risk.
Tony didn't activate the thrusters. He stood still, his gaze passing over Chen Mo's shoulder, looking at the now quiet wasteland.
The scratches Makkari left on the ground have not yet been covered by dust.
The bloodstains left by the Sprite after its legs were pierced by the energy blast still lingered on the edge of the ravine. Further away, among the rubble, Ikaris had repeatedly tried to prop itself up, but in the end, nothing remained.
Those who wielded golden energy and called themselves the Eternals are all dead.
Less than half an hour.
Chen Mo, however, acted as if he had just finished a normal dinner, and even had the mood to discuss with him who would be responsible for delivering the USB drive.
Tony had prepared a lot of jokes.
For example, complaining about Chen Mo damaging the environment, telling him to remember to apply for a construction permit before fighting next time, and asking him if he would have indigestion after swallowing so many people.
But the words caught in my throat, and I couldn't say them.
Chen Mo turned to look at him.
" Tony, is there anything else?"
Tony paused for a moment, then raised his hand and pressed the switch on the side of his armor.
The mask was pulled up, revealing his face.
The armor did not activate its weapons, and the palm cannon remained pointed at the ground.
Tony stood in front of Chen Mo, and for the first time, there was no probing in his eyes, nor did he deliberately use jokes to cover up his wariness.
"I still want to know, why did you have to kill them?"
Tony glanced at the bloodstains on the wasteland, then looked back at Chen Mo.
"Because before today, I always thought you weren't the kind of person who would take killing for fun."