“What?!”
Hearing Jones’s words, Tony was clearly stunned for a moment.
He then stared straight at Jones as though he had heard something incredibly ridiculous.
“What did you say?!
You want to go to America, and you want a legal identity?
Mr.
Terrorist, are you planning to turn over a new leaf?
Become a good person from now on?!
Hahaha!”
“Tony Stark!”
Jones’s face darkened at Tony’s words.
“Has anyone ever told you that your mouth stinks?!”
“Really?
The ladies have only ever told me I’m a great kisser.
They’ve never mentioned anything else!”
Tony didn’t care about Jones’s words in the slightest.
Perhaps because he believed Jones wasn’t carrying a weapon, perhaps because he thought Jones needed something from him, or perhaps because he simply wanted to vent some of his hatred toward Jones, Tony’s tone was completely casual.
“Listen, Tony Stark!”
Jones frowned and stepped directly in front of Tony.
“I know you hate me, and I also know you’re definitely not going to be that honest.
You might not honor our deal.
You might even be planning to kill me the moment we reach America!
But…
the leverage I have is far greater than you imagine!”
“What do you mean?!”
Tony’s brow instantly furrowed.
He stared intently at Jones, his expression turning serious.
At the same time, his mind began racing as he tried to figure out exactly what leverage Jones could possibly have over him.
“December 16, 1991!
You should know that date, right?
After all, it should be one of the most important dates in your life!”
Jones quietly looked at Tony, a mysterious expression appearing on his face.
Although Jones had watched every movie in which Iron Man appeared, there weren’t actually many things he knew that he could use to threaten Tony.
Palladium was one of them, but Tony probably hadn’t realized its danger yet, which meant it was practically useless for the time being.
The other was the truth behind Tony’s parents’ deaths.
Judging from Tony’s behavior in Captain America: Civil War, his parents clearly still mattered a great deal to him.
And just as Jones had expected, Tony exploded the moment he heard those words.
He instantly rushed in front of Jones, a fierce look filling his face.
“Kid, I don’t want to know what you’re planning, but I have to admit, you’ve pissed me off!”
“Then I guess you’ll calm down very soon!”
Jones curled his lip disdainfully.
He immediately pulled the pistol from his clothes and pointed it at Tony.
“Maybe this will help you calm down faster!”
“Hey!”
Seeing Jones suddenly pull out the pistol, Tony froze.
He instinctively raised both hands and said excitedly, “That’s not fair!
You never said you had that thing!”
….
Jones was instantly speechless.
He stared straight at Tony, so dumbfounded that he didn’t even know what to say.
But the look in Jones’s eyes clearly conveyed one message:
Are you an idiot?
As though he understood what Jones’s eyes meant, Tony’s imposing attitude immediately deflated.
He helplessly sighed and said, “Fine, I’m calm now.
Just tell me what you want to say.”
Jones nodded lightly, his expression becoming calm once again.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever had such a suspicion, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that your parents did not die of natural causes.”
This time, Tony showed no unusual reaction.
His expression remained calm as he spoke softly.
“How am I supposed to believe you?
You’re just a terrorist.
Your organization isn’t even one of the top organizations, and you’re not particularly important within it.
So how am I supposed to believe what you’re saying?”
“You have no choice but to believe me.”
Jones stepped in front of Tony and extended his right index finger, tapping the Arc Reactor in Tony’s chest.
“Before long, you’ll discover what this thing is doing to your body.
Palladium…
will gradually lead you toward death.
When that happens, you can make another deal with me for a way to stay alive.
Then you’ll believe what I told you about your parents.”
“Palladium?!”
Hearing Jones’s words, Tony fell silent.
He lowered his head and glanced at the glowing Arc Reactor in his chest, his face filled with confusion.
Jones’s words had left Tony with countless questions.
He didn’t even know what he was supposed to feel right now.
“Those are things for later!”
Looking at the completely bewildered Tony, Jones spoke directly.
“For now, let’s start with our first deal.
I’ll get you out of here, and you give me a legal identity.
America is basically your territory, right?
Once I reach America, are you really afraid that I’ll be able to threaten you?”