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"She's taking over your authority and turning you into a blind ruler," Tony said earnestly, leaning forward. "Do you know what that means? Every decision, every command, every action—you'll have to run it by her. I've seen women like her before. Once they gain power, the next step is to isolate you from the others—especially your other women. Eventually, you'll lose your standing in your own home."
"That's a bit dramatic..." Shen He's eyes widened in alarm before he quickly shook his head as if brushing the thought away. "We're not in that kind of relationship."
"It's not about what you think," Tony said, giving him a look filled with pity.
"..." Shen He hesitated for a moment, unusually unsure.
Knowing the Empress's temperament, what Tony suggested... wasn't entirely impossible.
"Either way, you'd better act fast," Tony pressed while Shen He was still unsure. "I did some digging. The historical Semiramis—she's basically the Middle Eastern Wu Zetian. You don't want to end up as Tang Gaozong."
"You even know Tang Gaozong?" Shen He arched an eyebrow, amused. Then he glanced at Tony with a mockingly suspicious look. "Looks like you're also handing your company over to Pepper and playing the idle shopkeeper."
"I'm nothing like you," Tony replied smugly. "Pepper does it out of admiration and love. She doesn't have a thirst for power."
"..." Shen He instantly regretted bringing that up.
He had to admit, Tony definitely had the upper hand when it came to romantic balance. The Empress was certainly no Pepper Potts.
"Alright, I get your point. You didn't just come here to warn me, did you?" Shen He narrowed his eyes. He knew Tony too well—this wasn't just idle talk. If it were, a video call would've sufficed.
"You're right." Tony's smile faded. His voice lowered, more serious now. "She reached out to me. Sent a message. Gave me two options."
"What were they?" Shen He asked, stunned.
"Option one: hand over Stark Industries. Merge it into Chaldea. Submit to her command." Tony gave a bitter chuckle. "In all my life, no one's dared to say that to me."
"...She doesn't understand what Stark means to you," Shen He murmured with a sigh, his voice laced with apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't know she'd go that far."
To Tony, Stark Industries wasn't just a company. It was a legacy—his father's life's work and love passed down to him.
"You don't have to apologize," Tony said, resting a hand on Shen He's shoulder. "I know it's not your decision. That's why I came straight to you."
"So what's the second option?" Shen He asked, his expression grim.
"Treat Stark like any other company. Relocate to Sky Garden, but only under franchise terms." Tony's tone hardened. "Basically, if I don't merge, I get downgraded."
On the surface, it seemed reasonable. But in truth, it was a power play.
Back when the virtual reality company was created, Stark Industries provided almost everything—personnel, funding, facilities. Without Tony, the project would have never left the ground. He even held over 20% of the shares, making him the second-largest shareholder. And Shen He owned close to 10% of Stark Industries.
Their companies were bound in a deep partnership. Yet now, Semiramis was pushing Stark out—reducing a founding partner to just another subordinate.
"..."
Shen He slumped into his chair, deep in thought. The Empress had stripped away all pretenses. This wasn't about cooperation anymore. It was about control.
"You remember what you told me when you established the Chaldean Earth Division?" Tony asked, sitting down across from him.
"Of course I remember," Shen He replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "This power wasn't meant to be ours alone. It belongs to Earth's people. Even if we vanish someday, it should remain—to protect the world."
That was his vision: to create a safeguard, a legacy. Back then, Tony's support had made that dream possible. After all, the so-called Chaldean headquarters didn't even exist—it was all built from the ground up.
"So what changed?" Tony pressed, his voice sharp. "Because I know for a fact that Coulson's lost most of his authority. And he wouldn't have kept quiet unless you allowed it."
"..." Shen He fell silent again. But this time, his answer came slowly, with certainty.
"It hasn't changed. Our mission is still to protect this world—but now, I have... bigger ambitions."
His gaze locked with Tony's. The time for deflection was over.
"Ambition?" Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Shen He said, composing his thoughts. "For ages, we've guarded human civilization across dimensions. And every time we intervened, it was only to solve crises. We'd step in, fix the problem, and disappear. Sometimes we even erased all evidence of our involvement."
Guardians behind the curtain.
"That's noble," Tony acknowledged. "So what changed?"
"The very reason we protect humanity is because we believe in its potential. But somewhere along the way... we became stronger than the people we protect."
Tony's eyes widened slightly. He understood now.
They'd outgrown the role of silent guardians. Their power surpassed the very civilization they hoped to uplift.
"The threats Earth faces—multiversal, cosmic, existential—aren't ones other worlds typically endure. So I've been planning. Consolidating power. Preparing for what's to come. And in doing so... I saw another possibility."
"Using Chaldean influence to accelerate humanity's evolution?" Tony said, finishing the thought for him.
"Exactly." Shen He leaned back, exhaling. "This isn't Chaldea's official stance. It's my own goal."
If he could get Tony on board, then everything else would fall into place. Shen He was growing too skilled at these conversations.
"Doesn't that break Chaldean rules?" Tony asked cautiously. "They always emphasized minimal interference."
"Rules are meant to serve people, not the other way around." Shen He chuckled. "If it protects human rights—what's the harm?"
"Flexible enough," Tony smirked. "I like it."
True winners didn't follow rules—they rewrote them.
And this new vision... it was too compelling to ignore.
"So, I'll be blunt." Shen He's expression turned serious. "The Earth Division of Chaldea no longer exists solely for global defense. It's the vessel of my ambition. I won't push you out—not because of sentimentality, but because I need you. If you can keep up."
In short, Tony had to continue playing a leading role—not just out of friendship, but mutual gain.
Too much sentiment in business always eroded relationships.
In the past, Shen He had offered Tony advanced tech and influence. Not just from trust—but because Tony always delivered results.
"Interesting..." Tony's smile faded as he stood up. "Do you know who I am? There are three kinds of people—ordinary people, superheroes, and me, Tony Stark. You think I'll fall behind!? I'm the greatest genius of all mankind!"
"Haha!" Shen He laughed aloud. "Now that's the Tony I know."
He felt the tension drain from the room. Saying it aloud had lifted a weight from his shoulders.
"You should worry about yourself." Tony folded his arms and raised an eyebrow. "You're way behind me when it comes to women. Want me to give you a few tips?"
"Your so-called tips are only good for impressing naïve girls," Shen He scoffed. His eyes narrowed. "As Lord of Chaldea, I command my followers. Don't worry—I'll put the Empress in her place."
If he couldn't handle one ambitious woman, then he truly didn't deserve his title.
"Hope so," Tony said with a smirk. Then, with deliberate casualness, he added, "Oh, one more thing. That magic book you gave me? I think I finally mastered it."
"What..." Shen He blinked, caught off guard.
Tony said nothing more. He extended one palm across his chest. Concentrating, he summoned a glowing arc of golden sparks that began forming a mystical sigil in mid-air.
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