On the way back, Leon said to Tony, “Bro, remember to prep a miniature Arc Reactor for me when we get back.
Otherwise, using my flight superpower is way too inconvenient.”
“Oh, that?
Actually, I already prepped an extra one before we set off,” Tony replied.
“Say what?” Leon demanded.
“Then why didn’t you give it to me?”
“Well, you didn’t ask.” Tony’s helpless tone couldn’t hide his craftiness as he played innocent.
“I thought you didn’t need it.”
“Tony, you jerk…” Leon laughed in frustration.
He had originally planned to tell Tony about the new element as soon as they got back.
Now, great—you didn’t ask either.
Suffer a bit longer, dear brother.
May the Ancient One bless you.
As long as that powerhouse is alive, it would be hard for you to die even if you wanted to.
“Hey, hey, hey!
Leon, what are you doing?” Tony cried in alarm, seeing Leon reach for the Arc Reactor on his chest again.
“Tony, my dear brother, if you don’t want to be shot down like a sitting duck by Rhodes’ fighter jets, stay still and let me fly.”
Without waiting for Tony’s consent, Leon took control of all the electrical energy outputting from the Arc Reactor.
Then, activating the Starlight Template’s superpower, he grabbed Tony.
The golden light transformed into a rainbow, rapidly sweeping past a patrolling fighter jet.
Arcee was taking Ho Yinsen’s wife and daughter back via a safer, more stable waterway.
They agreed to meet at the seaside villa.
“What the fuck?!” the pilot of an F-22 patrolling at Mach 1.5 couldn’t help but swear.
“Did something just fly past?!”
Detecting a bizarre golden arc of light flashing past, he immediately notified Edwards Air Force Base in California.
But the intel he got back was that the other party’s speed was too fast—conservatively estimated to be over Mach 5—and their radar cross-section was so small that it only appeared on the radar for a split second before vanishing completely.
At this moment, Edwards Air Force Base was in absolute chaos over Leon’s fleeting appearance.
A high-speed stealth UFO that did not belong to their country hung over their heads like a sword of Damocles.
If this was enemy technology, they might as well not even fight.
“Damn it!
What on earth was that?
Does the NSA have an explanation?
What about the CIA?
What?
They called to ask if it was us?
Shit!
Get Colonel Rhodes from Weapons Development over here right now!”
If they didn’t figure out what that UFO was today, probably no one at Edwards Air Force Base would be sleeping tonight.
Soon, Colonel Rhodes rushed over.
“What happened?” he asked.
“See for yourself!” An officer brought up a jet’s onboard video of less than 2.5 seconds on the command center’s main screen.
It captured the image of Leon flying far ahead with Tony. Find the original chapter at g.com.
However, because the golden light radiating from Leon was too blinding, the screen only showed a golden arc of light flashing past the fighter jet.
That straight, highly directed flight path was absolutely not a natural phenomenon.
“What are the projected flight paths of the UFO?” Colonel Rhodes asked suddenly after watching the video on loop.
“Mid-Pacific, the Malibu coastline, Los Angeles…”
Hearing the Malibu coastline, Colonel Rhodes’ brow twitched, and he stopped listening to the locations after that.
Because Tony and Leon’s seaside villa happened to be built on a cliff along the Malibu coastline.
“You guys wait a second.
I need to make a call.”
On the other side.
Having arrived home, Tony was struggling to strip off his Mark 3 armor with the help of Leon and Dum-E when Rhodes called.
*Beep beep beep—connected!*
Tony: “Hey, Rhodes.
What’s the good word?”
Rhodes: “Tony, I need your help with something.”
Tony: “Intriguing.
Do tell.”
Rhodes: “Just now, a UFO radiating golden light overtook one of our patrolling fighter jets.”
Leon: “Cool.
Sounds like he’s pretty fast.”
Rhodes: “Leon?
You’re there too?”
Leon: “Yeah, I was drag racing with Tony outside just now.”
Rhodes: “Right.
Well, I need to tell you guys that the UFO is heading straight toward your place.
If you know anything, I need you to tell me ASAP so I can coordinate a response.”
Tony: “It’s fine, ow—Leon, be gentle!”
Rhodes: “What on earth are you two brothers doing?”
Leon: “Nothing.
Tony’s legs just went weak when he got out of the car and he took a nasty spill.
I’m putting hydrogen peroxide on him right now.”
Tony: “That is complete slander…
Sss!
Ow, gentle, gentle!
Watch out for that spot, Leon, for the sake of your future nieces and nephews!”
Rhodes: “…”
Rhodes: “Tony, please don’t tell me you bruised your corpus cavernosum.”
Tony: “Aaaah, don’t!
That hurts like hell!
Rhodes, I’m a bit busy here.
Gotta hang up.”
*Beep beep beep—disconnected!*
“Right then.” Looking at his hung-up phone, Rhodes curled his lip.
Before the call, he was only ninety percent sure the UFO was Tony.
Knowing Tony’s temperament, he was absolutely tinkering with some high-tech weapon again!
Rhodes was certain of it.
Otherwise, Tony would have already begged him to send a fighter squadron for protection.
“The UFO is one of ours.”
Leaving behind those words, Rhodes shed his military uniform and rushed over to Tony and Leon’s home.
He had to figure out what these two brothers were cooking up to put his mind at ease.
…
Stark Tower.
Scientific Research and Development Department.
Sitting in his office as a research consultant, Ho Yinsen watched the live stream playback on his computer over and over, unable to stop sighing.
“The fifteen-mile perimeter surrounding Gulmira can only be described as a living hell on earth.
It has become a modern depiction of bloody colonization.
Farmers and herders in the villages have been forced to flee their homes, while even more children are being coerced into joining terrorists.
Their lands have been seized by warlords.
The armed warlords are allegedly backed by Obadiah Stane, who committed suicide to avoid prosecution.
Refugees are displaced and homeless, forced to live in the ruins of neighboring villages…”
“Maya, Aiyah, I’m coming to find you.”
“Yinsen, who are you looking for?” Leon and Tony walked right in, seeing the door open.
“Tony, I don’t think I’m suited to continue as Stark Industries’ chief scientific advisor.
As a husband, as a father, I…
Maya?!
Aiyah?!”
Yinsen was about to tender his resignation to Tony, but the words died in his throat.
His wife and daughter were standing right there behind Leon and Tony, completely unharmed.
“How are you here?!” Yinsen emotionally pulled his wife and daughter into a tight embrace.
Leon and Tony watched from the side, smiles of warm satisfaction plastered on their faces.
“Mr.
Leon and Mr.
Tony saved us,” Maya, Yinsen’s wife, explained through tears.
His daughter Aiyah added, “And Sister Arcee.”
“Tony, Leon, I really don’t know how to thank you,” Yinsen choked out, his eyes red.
“That’s easy.” Tony snapped his fingers and smiled.
“I’ve established a non-profit Gulmira Relief Foundation, and we just so happen to have an opening for the position of president.”
“Yes!” Yinsen agreed without hesitation.
At this moment, he would gladly walk through fire and water for Tony, let alone take on a job that would rebuild his homeland.
“The Gulmira Relief Foundation?” Leon asked in confusion, looking at Tony.
“When did this happen?
How come I didn’t know?”
“Just now.” Tony turned and waved, leaving Leon, Yinsen, and the others with a cool, dashing view of his back.
“Damn it, he got to show off again!” Leon spat in mock annoyance and chased after him, leaving Yinsen and his family to their private reunion.