The chaos of the airport private terminal was a world away from the sterile silence of Arthur's safe house. Happy Hogan stood by the sleek private jet, a clipboard in his hand, looking stressed. A black sedan pulled up, and Tony Stark emerged, sunglasses already on, a suit jacket slung over his shoulder.
"You're late, boss," Happy said, his voice a low grumble.
"Relax, Happy. The plane leaves when I say it leaves," Tony replied, giving Arthur a quick glance before heading up the stairs.
Happy turned to Arthur, his expression serious. "Listen, you're on the ground as a legal presence. You're there to watch. You don't ask questions, you don't talk to anyone but Tony or me, and you don't touch anything. Understood?"
Arthur nodded, a small, confident smile on his face. "Understood. Watch, don't talk, don't touch. My specialty."
Happy gave him a hard, unblinking stare. "This isn't a joke, kid. This is Afghanistan."
"I know," Arthur said, the smile fading to a grim, pragmatic look. "I'll be fine."
_________________________________
The flight to Afghanistan was a blur of opulence and dread and guilt. Arthur sat in a plush leather seat, a thin layer of sweat on his brow, trying to mentally prepare for the ambush he knew was coming. Across from him, Tony Stark was holding court, a glass of whiskey in his hand, a group of military generals hanging on his every word.
"You're a long way from the courtroom, counselor," Tony said with a smirk, finally turning his attention to Arthur. "You get nervous flying?"
Arthur met his gaze, his Rhetoric skill working on a subconscious level. "I'm not nervous, Mr. Stark. I'm pragmatic. The odds of a plane crash are low, but the odds of a military contract going wrong are high. I'm just here to make sure we're covered."
Tony let out a short, surprised laugh. "I like you, lawyer. You're not boring. But don't worry, my planes are the safest in the world. And my contracts are ironclad."
Arthur said nothing. He just smiled.
The jet landed in a dusty, sun-baked military base. The air was thick with the scent of sand and fuel. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes was waiting for them on the tarmac, a broad, genuine smile on his face as he greeted Tony.
"Rhodey, my man! You look good," Tony said, giving him a firm handshake.
"You too, you son of a gun. You always know how to make an entrance," Rhodey replied, his eyes scanning the crowd of military personnel and reporters. His gaze landed on Arthur. "And who's this?"
"My new lawyer. Arthur Steele," Tony said, his voice dripping with playful disdain. "He's here to make sure no one sues me for the demonstration. And for stealing one of my best lines, apparently."
Rhodey raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "A lawyer in Afghanistan. Now I've seen everything." He offered Arthur a handshake. "Colonel James Rhodes. Good to have you here."
"Good to be here, Colonel," Arthur replied, his voice calm and professional. Tony, standing on a stage in front of the assembled generals, gave his classic, witty, and arrogant speech.
"Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" he said, a showman's grin on his face. "I've brought the future of warfare to you today. The Jericho. A missile so powerful it can hit a target in a different timezone and a drone that..."
Rhodey, standing with Arthur at the back of the crowd, just shook his head. "He's a menace. A damn genius, but a menace."
"He's a man of his word," Arthur said, his voice low. "He did say he'd clear the path for progress. I just don't think he meant it literally."
Rhodey let out a short laugh. "Don't get too close to him, counselor. He'll suck you into his world, and you'll never get out."
After the demonstration, a small group gathered in the briefing tent. Tony, looking over some documents, turned to Arthur.
"So, counselor," Tony said, a hint of genuine interest in his voice. "This Jericho contract. Anything I should be worried about?"
Arthur's mind, using his Legal Insight skill, instantly processed the contract. "Not with the missile itself. The contract is solid. But there's a clause about the maintenance and logistics. You're giving Obadiah Stane too much control. He's a good man, but he's a businessman. He'll cut corners to increase profit."
Tony just waved a hand dismissively. "Obie? Relax. He's a father figure. He'd never do that. He's been running the company since my parents died."
Just then, Tony's phone rang. It was Obadiah Stane. Tony put it on speaker.
"Tony! My boy! The demonstration was incredible! We're celebrating back here. What can I do for you?" Stane's voice was jovial, but Arthur, with his foresight, heard the subtle, sinister undercurrent.
"Nothing, Obie. Just wanted to let you know the missile was a hit. We're celebrating here too. I'll see you when I get back," Tony said, clearly trying to get off the phone.
"I can't wait. You be safe out there, Tony," Stane said, his voice a little too saccharine. "The world is a dangerous place."
The call ended. Arthur just looked at Tony, a grim expression on his face. He knew what Stane was. A wolf in sheep's clothing. He knew what was coming.
"See? Nothing to worry about," Tony said with a nonchalant shrug, but a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "Now, if you'll excuse me, counselor, I have some photos to take."
Tony, Rhodey, and Arthur walked out to a convoy of Humvees. Tony opened the passenger door to a Humvee at the back of the convoy.
"Tony, wait," Arthur said, his voice urgent. He knew this was an act of major interference, but he had to try. "Get in the lead car with Rhodey. It's safer."
Tony just looked at him with a playful smirk. "Safer? I'm Tony Stark. I don't do 'safe.' Besides," he said, pointing to the back of the Humvee, "back here is where the fun is. This is the funvee. You go sit with Rhodey."
Arthur, defeated, shook his head. "Don't worry," Tony said, his voice a little softer, a little more genuine. "If anything happens, I'll let you tell me 'I told you so.'"
Tony dismissed him with a final, confident nod and climbed into the back of the Humvee with the soldiers. Arthur, defeated, climbed into the lead car with Rhodey.
Rhodey started the engine, a grim expression on his face. "He's an idiot. A brilliant idiot. The world's most brilliant idiot."
Arthur said nothing, his mind a whirlwind of dread and guilt. He had just watched Tony walk into a trap he couldn't prevent. The System's warning about "Timeline Correction" was a cold, hard truth he couldn't ignore. He was a passenger in his own life, a silent observer of a tragedy he knew was coming.The convoy set off.
_______________________________
The ambush was sudden, violent, and chaotic. A hailstorm of gunfire erupted from the hills, a terrifying symphony of destruction. Arthur, from the lead Humvee, watched in horror as a rocket, a single, devastating blast of fire and steel, hit Tony's Humvee at the back of the convoy. He saw the vehicle flip, the explosion a burst of red and gold. He knew it was over. Tony was gone.
The lead Humvee, with Rhodey and Arthur inside, sped away from the chaos, narrowly escaping the worst of it. They arrived back at the base, shaken and covered in dust.
Rhodey, his face a mask of shock and fury, turned to Arthur. "You okay, counselor?"
Arthur, still numb from the shock, just nodded. "I am. What about you, Colonel?"
"I'm fine. We're fine," Rhodey said, his voice tight. He looked at Arthur, his gaze intense. "That wasn't random, was it? That was a setup. The intelligence was wrong."
Arthur, using his Rhetoric skill, kept his composure, his voice a low, shaken whisper. "Colonel, all I know is that a tragedy like this often has a pre-determined legal outcome, no matter what the investigation finds."
Rhodey's eyes went wide, the pieces clicking into place. He didn't ask any more questions. He just turned, walked over to a secure communications tent, and came back with a satellite phone. He handed it to Arthur.
"You're a civilian," Rhodey said, his voice a low grumble. "You're a loose end. Military intelligence will be all over this. You should call your office. Tell them what happened. Don't tell them anything more than that. I'll make sure you get on the first flight back."
Arthur took the phone, his mind already racing. He knew he had to do it. He found a quiet corner of the base, his mind reeling. He had survived.
A new notification appeared, a welcome light in the darkness.
[System Notice: High-Risk Event Survived. Luck Stat Increased by 5.]
[Your survival of a high-risk event has increased your luck stat. This is a failsafe to ensure you have a higher chance of survival in future events.]
Arthur smiled, a dry, humorless sound. He had survived due to a healthy dose of luck. He opened his main menu, a translucent screen appearing before him.
[Name: Arthur Steele]
[Title: Legal Prodigy]
[Level: 2]
[Stats]
Strength: 15.5
Endurance: 17.8
Agility: 15.2
Intelligence: 30.2
Charisma: 25.8
Luck: 15
[Skills]
Passive Skills
Legal Insight
Rhetoric
Combat Skills (Intermediate)
Hand-to-Hand Combat (Cap Level Reached)
Weapons Combat (Cap Level Reached)
Evasion (Cap Level Reached)
Marksmanship (Cap Level Reached)
[Log]
Low-Impact Events:
Event: Player Transmigrated.
Event: Restoration Protocol accepted.
Event: Jericho Missile contract amended.
Event: Hammer Industries legal battle won.
Event: Nelson & Murdock Encounter.
Event: Combat skills capped at Intermediate.
High-Impact Events:
Event: Afghanistan Ambush Survived.
[Nexus]
Pepper Potts (Trust: 80%)
Happy Hogan (Trust: 30%)
Matt Murdock (Potential Ally)
Foggy Nelson (Potential Ally)
James Rhoades (Potential Ally)
Tony Stark (Status: Missing. Influence: 100%)
[Inventory]
Another notification appeared. This one was a reward.
[Reward: Financial Acumen (Active Skill)]
[Description: An active skill that allows for a detailed, instant analysis of any company's financial records, highlighting vulnerabilities, fraudulent activity, and opportunities for acquisition. This skill is a core component of your strategic toolkit and will be vital for your upcoming challenges.]
Arthur closed the menu. The System was right. He had survived, and he was now prepared for the fallout. He knew what he had to do. He found a secure phone and made a call to Pepper.
The call connected. "Hello? This is Pepper Potts."
"Pepper, it's Arthur," he said, his voice low and urgent.
"Arthur? Where are you calling from?" she asked, her voice tight with concern, As soon as her called her Pepper she right away knew something was wrong, he never calls her anything but Ms Potts.
Arthur had to be the calm in her storm. "Pepper, listen to me very carefully. I'm okay. I'm safe. But I'm not supposed to say anything to anyone yet, but you have to know. Tony is missing. There was an ambush."
A stunned silence hung on the line. "What? That's not possible," she whispered, her voice cracking. "What do you mean, an ambush? Tony... what happened to Tony?"
"Tony is missing, I'm sorry," Arthur said, his voice dropping to a low, urgent murmur. "But I need you to focus. Go to my office. Top-left drawer. The drive. You know the one."
"The drive? Arthur, what are you talking about? What is on that drive?" she demanded, her fear replaced by a desperate confusion.
"It's a plan, Pepper," Arthur said, his voice firm and authoritative, cutting through her protest. "A contingency, I made in case something like this happens. It's a plan for what happens next. The company, the board, the stock market—it's all going to fall apart.
This drive... this plan... it's the only way to ensure Tony is secure when he gets back. You hear me he will get back , he will He is too stubborn.You have to follow the instructions to the letter. You'll understand what it is once you see it."
Pepper was silent for a long moment, the shock of his words sinking in. "A plan? You knew this was going to happen?"
"I'm a lawyer, Pepper. I prepare for every contingency," he said, using his skills to provide a plausible, reassuring lie. "Now, listen to me. Find the drive. Read the instructions. And as soon as the news goes public you initiate the plan, no matter what."
"Okay... okay. I'll do it," she said, her voice still shaky, but a new resolve had replaced the panic. "I'll do it. Just... please come home safe."
"I will," Arthur said. "I will meet you as soon as I get to New York."
He hung up, his mind already racing. The plan was in motion.
___________________________________
A/N. And the merchant of death has been captured people, honestly I am not that happy with this one had very little room to maneuver.
"Damn author you think you are so smart, ohh I am gonna avoid making MC overpowered....ohh I can make it work," honestly I was so close to want to break canon.
But I can tell you that it will be worth it , some of you may have guessed what have in mind already, let's see who gets it right.
Le Webnovel Admin: "Is he delusional? He has even reached 15k words yet , who is there to guess, no one reads it"
Le grumpy author: "I am the GOAT here , worship me!!!!, It's 14,224 words Btw hmh!!