When the private aircraft landed smoothly at a U.S.
military air force base in Afghanistan and Tony saw the smiling military personnel waiting below, he was left bewildered.
After all, he had originally thought he would definitely be several hours late, but in reality, he had arrived right on time.
Staring at the engine of his private aircraft, which had not yet stopped and was still slowly spinning, Tony felt for the first time that the aircraft manufactured by his own company was actually this incredible.
“You know, Tony?
At first, I thought I’d have to clean up your mess again, but this time you’ve made me very happy.”
Rhodes laughed happily beside Tony, because it was rare for him not to have to clean up after his wealthy best friend.
Patting Tony on the shoulder, Rhodes walked ahead to report to the general.
He was Tony’s friend, but he was a soldier first.
Tony somewhat confusedly looked at his private aircraft one more time before putting on his sunglasses and walking down.
He would never have imagined that the reason the aircraft had arrived on time was because Lancelot had been piloting it.
This aircraft was no longer an aircraft that burned fuel.
Instead, it had become a Noble Phantasm whose flight speed changed according to the supply of Mana from Lancelot.
“General, it’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.
I’m really looking forward to your weapons demonstration.”
“Then let’s head to the demonstration site now.”
Tony did not exchange too many pleasantries with the general.
After briefly exchanging a few words, they headed toward the demonstration site.
Meanwhile, Lancelot also began to make his move.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
On the western side of the globe, in New York, United States, it was already the following night.
However, in order to keep track of the situation, Amakusa stayed up late, waiting for news from Lancelot.
“He’s going to be attacked?”
“Yes.
Tony’s uncle, Obadiah Stane, is extremely jealous of him.
He plans to take advantage of Tony’s trip to Afghanistan and hire a terrorist group to kill him.”
“This is why Tony becomes Iron Man, and it is also the purpose of our mission this time.”
“In the original storyline, Tony should be hit by shrapnel from a bomb near his heart, which leads him to become Iron Man.
However, the condition of this mission is to make him become Iron Man safely.
So I need you, Lancelot, to prevent him from being shot, while at the same time allowing him to be captured so that he can become Iron Man.”
“I understand.”
Lancelot quickly understood Amakusa’s intentions.
He did not need Amakusa to tell him every step of the plan.
As long as he was given the objective he needed to accomplish, he could plan the process himself.
Temporarily ending his communication with Amakusa, Lancelot stood up and left the aircraft’s cockpit.
All the flight attendants on the plane had already fallen asleep on the sofas after drinking too much alcohol with Tony and the others during the flight.
As he passed by, Lancelot could not help glancing several times at the beautiful women.
After leaving the aircraft, Lancelot, who possessed the identity of Tony’s personal pilot, could move freely through several non-restricted areas inside the military base.
As a result, he directly left the military base.
Relying on his physical strength, he could move extremely quickly even without using any means of transportation, and he did not need to worry about his physical stamina.
Reaching the battlefield was merely a matter of time, and everything proceeded according to plan.
Tony’s weapons demonstration went perfectly.
This greatly satisfied the general, who immediately reported it to his superiors.
Not long afterward, Stark Industries received a new order, and the factory immediately began working overtime to produce it.
After completing the demonstration, Tony immediately climbed into a military jeep to return to the airport.
He had absolutely no desire to stay in Afghanistan any longer.
The kind of place he should be staying in ought to have beautiful women and fine liquor!
However, on the way back, the attack arrived.
Just as Amakusa knew, the terrorist group that possessed weapons manufactured by Stark Industries immediately attacked the convoy carrying Tony.
They intercepted the convoy and, in an instant, destroyed several jeeps in the formation.
The military jeeps, whose defenses were relatively sturdy compared to ordinary weapons, suddenly seemed completely defenseless against weapons designed by Tony’s own company.
“Oh, God!
Oh, God!”
Seeing the soldiers on both his left and right being gruesomely killed right before his eyes, Tony was so terrified that he lost control.
He jumped out of the vehicle and hid behind a rock while taking out his phone, preparing to call for help.
But there was no longer enough time to call for help.
A rocket came flying right beside him and slammed directly into the ground.
The igniter at its tail emitted an increasingly rapid flashing light, and Tony could clearly see the words printed on the rocket: Stark Industries!
“Oh, shit!”
*BOOM!*
Cursing loudly, Tony tried to dodge, but the rocket exploded immediately.
However, the injuries or death from being thrown through the air that he had imagined never happened.
Tony only felt a blast of hot air rushing toward him, sending him sprawling onto his back.
Other than the slight pain in his back from striking a rock on the ground, he felt no other pain.
“Mr.
Tony Stark, are you all right?”
A slightly echoing voice came from inside armor beside him, making Tony look up.
He saw someone wearing white-and-gold armor, with even his head completely covered by a metal helmet.
“Shit!
Who are you?!
Where did you come from?!”
The sudden appearance of the armored hero did not make Tony feel reassured.
Instead, it nearly scared him half to death.
After all, the man’s appearance was far too eye-catching and cool.
“Don’t worry, Mr.
Stark.
I’m here to help you.”
Lancelot removed his helmet, revealing his face so Tony could see him clearly while reassuring him.
Seeing Lancelot’s face, Tony felt slightly relieved, but he was still extremely surprised because he remembered who Lancelot was.
“Oh!
I remember you!
You’re that stage performer from last night!”
“No, you’re the sexual harasser from New York!
Oh, God!
Can you fly?!”
“No, I’m not a stage performer, nor am I a sexual harasser.
I am an honest and righteous knight!”
Lancelot’s expression darkened slightly.
“Besides, I cannot fly, and now is not the time to discuss this.
Mr.
Stark, I must help you out of this difficult situation.”
“Yes, yes!
We need to find help!”
Lancelot’s words diverted Tony’s attention.
He hurriedly searched for his phone on the ground, but when he found it, he discovered that it had already been completely destroyed.
“Damn it, damn it!
My phone is broken.
How am I supposed to contact Rhodey?!”
“Don’t worry, Mr.
Stark.
I have a way.”
Lancelot’s confident words filled Tony with doubt and confusion.
“Buddy, not that I want to discourage you, but you don’t actually think that armor of yours can withstand those weapons, do you?
Those are weapons made by Stark Industries.
Even military jeeps can’t withstand them!”
The moment weapons were mentioned, Tony’s anger flared up again.
“Oh, damn it!
Why are weapons from my own company in the hands of terrorists?!”
Lancelot did not hurry.
He helped Tony up from the ground, dusted off his clothes, then patted him on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Mr.
Stark.
My armor can withstand those weapons.
But I don’t need to go and withstand them, because you will be the one to withstand them.”
“What?!”
Tony felt as though he had heard wrong.
It sounded as if the man in front of him had just told him to go stand in the path of bullets!
“That’s right, Mr.
Stark.
Go on.
I’ve strengthened you!
Remember to use your arms to protect your head.”
Lancelot spoke with utmost seriousness before pushing Tony out from behind the rock, leaving him completely exposed in the terrorists’ line of sight.
At that very moment, Tony saw a rocket flying straight toward him.
He hurriedly raised both arms to protect his head while screaming hysterically:
“What the fuck!!”