Los Angeles is located in the southwestern part of California, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the west.
It is the second-largest city in the United States and the largest city in the American West, often known as the City of Angels.
It could be said that this city was the economic and entertainment center of the American West, because Hollywood was here!
In such a prosperous city, business naturally flourished as well.
Amid the glittering nightlife and endless entertainment, countless people spent their entire life savings here.
Tony Stark was obviously not the kind of person who would spend his entire life savings in a place like this.
Not only did he have an enormous amount of money, but he was also extremely lucky—at least when it came to gambling.
“Come on, come on, go!”
Throwing the dice in his hand, the two dice rolled across the table before quickly coming to a stop.
“Ten!
Yes!”
The number that came up was the high number Tony needed, allowing him to win yet another round.
“Wow, amazing!!”
The spectators and beautiful women around him cheered excitedly, celebrating Tony’s victory.
Just as they were cheering, a man in a military uniform appeared behind Tony.
“You’ve gone too far this time, Tony.”
“Oh, Rhodey.
What brings you here?”
“You shouldn’t be here.
You’re supposed to be at the awards ceremony.”
“I had no interest in going to that thing.”
Tony answered casually, completely without a care in the world.
“They said that if I were the one presenting you with the award, you’d feel especially honored.”
“Yeah, of course I’d feel honored, since you’re the one presenting it to me.”
“So I brought the award trophy to you.”
As he spoke, Rhodes raised his right hand, which was holding a crystal cup.
“All right, thanks.
Now I don’t have to go to the awards ceremony anymore.”
Tony was slightly surprised when he received the crystal cup, then shook his head indifferently.
“But this thing is useless now anyway.”
With that, he immediately tossed the crystal cup toward the beautiful woman who had accompanied him to the casino.
“Come on!
Let’s keep playing!”
With Rhodes there, Tony obviously couldn’t continue playing like this.
After casually playing a few more rounds, he left the casino.
Rhodes, who was his close friend, left with him as well.
“By the way, why did you come here?
I don’t believe you came all this way just to bring me this trophy.”
As they walked out together, Tony asked Rhodes.
He also casually tossed the crystal cup from earlier to one of the casino staff members nearby.
“The military received your notification and knows that your new weapon has finished development.
So they asked me to inform you that tomorrow, we can go to Afghanistan for a live field test.
Judging by the speed of your factory, the weapons should already have been produced.”
“Oh, of course.”
“So we’re leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow.
The military will transport your missiles there tonight, understood?”
“Okay, got it.”
“Then don’t be late tomorrow.”
“Relax.
After giving Rhodes his assurance, Tony watched him leave.
Rhodes had to return to the military base, while Tony would head back to his seaside villa.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Surrounded by a crowd of bodyguards, Tony arrived outside his luxury vehicle.
This time, Happy was driving, so Tony wasn’t taking his own sports car.
Instead, he was riding in the Rolls-Royce that Happy usually used to drive him around.
However, before he could get into the car, a shout from behind made him stop.
“Mr.
Stark!
Excuse me for a moment!”
The shout made Tony stop in his tracks, and the bodyguards turned around as well.
A blonde woman wearing office-lady-style clothing was walking toward them while calling out.
The woman appeared to be trying to approach Tony, so the bodyguards immediately stretched out their hands to block her.
The blonde woman who was stopped became somewhat panicked and tried to push through the bodyguards.
However, she had clearly overestimated herself and was immediately shoved backward by one of them.
Forced several steps backward, the woman, who was wearing high heels, lost her balance and staggered.
However, she did not fall because someone behind her caught her.
“Miss, are you hurt?”
A slightly echoing voice came from inside a helmet behind her, making her turn around curiously.
What she saw was a white metal sphere.
No, not a white metal sphere—a white metal helmet.
And it wasn’t just the helmet.
Its owner was also wearing full white-and-gold armor that covered his entire body, completely encasing him from his hands all the way down to his feet.
It looked…
incredibly unique!
It was obvious that this armored hero was Lancelot, who had just arrived in Los Angeles.
“Oh, thank you.
I’m not hurt.”
Still somewhat startled, the woman quickly steadied herself before shifting one step to the side to put some distance between herself and the armored hero.
“Good.
I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
Lancelot nodded.
Because of the helmet he was wearing, his voice still carried a slight echo.
Passing the woman, he walked directly toward the two bodyguards.
Seeing someone dressed in full armor approaching them, the two bodyguards immediately felt that something was wrong.
One stepped forward and raised a hand to signal him to stop, while the other reached inside his jacket, preparing to draw his pistol.
“As men, have you forgotten your manners toward a woman?”
“Gentlemen, I believe you should apologize to this beautiful lady.”
Lancelot did not approach too closely.
Instead, he stopped where he was and reprimanded the two bodyguards.
The two bodyguards exchanged glances.
What was going on?
Were they dealing with some kind of chivalrous gentleman who loved helping people?
Tony, who had already turned around, watched the scene and pointed at Lancelot in amazement.
“Hey, stage performer over there.”
However, he received no response, so he walked closer from the car door.
“Hey, I’m talking to you!
Or are you just a hardcore armor enthusiast?”
“Me?
Are you talking to me?”
Lancelot pointed at himself and asked in return.
“Exactly, I’m talking to you.
Dressed like that…
are you performing here?
Or are you part of her group?”
Tony pointed at Lancelot as he asked, while simultaneously looking toward the blonde woman behind him.
“No, no, no.
Mr.
Stark, I don’t know him.
He just helped me a moment ago.”
Since Tony was looking at her, the woman immediately stepped forward.
This time, the bodyguards did not stop her.
“Mr.
Stark, I’m Christine from Vanity Fair magazine.
May I ask you a few questions?”
“No problem.
Of course.”
Tony removed the sunglasses he had been wearing and looked at Christine with a broad smile.
“But…”
Glancing at Lancelot beside him, Tony continued.
“I tend to talk about all kinds of things once I get started.
So…
I suggest we have our conversation inside my car.
That way, we can get to know each other more deeply.
What do you think?”
“It would be my honor.”
Christine immediately accepted Tony’s suggestion without hesitation.
She climbed into the Rolls-Royce with Tony, and under the escort of security vehicles in front and behind them, they left the casino, leaving Lancelot alone in the midst of the night wind.
Slowly removing his helmet, Lancelot stared blankly and absentmindedly in the direction the Rolls-Royce had disappeared.
「A woman that beautiful…
was taken away just like that by that man?」
Shaking his head regretfully at having once again failed to help a beautiful woman, Lancelot turned his gaze toward the casino behind him.
He had arrived here under Master Amakusa’s guidance, and now he needed to find the target of his quest.
What was his name again…
Tony Stark, right!
After taking a single step, Lancelot suddenly stopped again.
He seemed to have just remembered something.
「What did that beautiful lady call that man?
Mr.
Stark?
Stark!」
Putting his helmet back on, he leaped onto his motorcycle.
Under the curious gazes of the pedestrians, the motorcycle radiated a blue glow and shot forward, chasing after the departing Rolls-Royce.