Inside the Venue
"The honey-glazed grilled steak here is a must-try,"
Hammer said, pointing at the item on the menu as he enthusiastically made a recommendation to the boss sitting across from him.
He had finally gotten his chance.
To share a meal with the boss he admired most—
to deepen their bond
This would become one of the fondest memories of his life.
Unfortunately…
That excitement was destined to collapse into nothing.
"Don't forget why we came here."
"Have the people you sent out found Ivan Vanko yet?"
Renjie casually tossed the menu onto the table and questioned him in a low, heavy voice.
He hadn't come here just to relax.
There were far more important matters at hand.
Hammer forced a bitter, apologetic look onto his face.
The answer was obvious.
He hadn't found him.
"Useless."
"A country smaller than two square kilometers."
"I gave you three whole days."
"Finding one man—was that really so difficult?"
Renjie scolded him with open disdain.
Hammer shrank like a child who had made a mistake, not daring to utter a single word.
"…Forget it. Let's eat first."
Renjie had grown accustomed to it—
accustomed to Hammer's incompetence.
Hammer finally let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
After this meal, I'll double the search efforts—no, triple them!
Just then
Guests throughout the hotel suddenly stood up, staring at the giant screen in disbelief.
Even Hammer froze, mouth agape, pointing at the television behind Renjie with an exaggerated, incredulous expression.
"Tony Stark?!"
"Why the hell is that guy racing?!"
Hammer's shout was filled with frustration and rage.
That damn playboy always ruined his plans!
Renjie turned as well, his gaze settling on the screen.
There was an old saying:
Kind words cannot save someone courting death; boundless mercy cannot redeem one who seeks self-destruction.
To rewrite this part of fate—
to preserve Ivan Vanko and recruit him—
Renjie had already gone to great lengths.
Including restoring Tony Stark's hope.
But he hadn't expected all of it—
To be completely wasted.
Tony was still Tony.
Still that reckless, self-indulgent playboy.
Suppressing his anger, Renjie stood up without saying a word and began moving toward the scene.
He was going to stop this farce.
And while he was at it—
Beat the hell out of Iron Man.
Let this "genius whose feet never touched the ground"
finally experience what true powerlessness felt like!
…
Renjie had left the venue!
His destination was Tony!
Hidden near Tony Stark, Black Widow, who was responsible for his security, immediately prepared to act.
But just as she moved to intercept—
A deliberate cough stopped her in her tracks.
A stunning young woman with short blonde hair, dressed in an elegant gown, had appeared behind her at some point.
According to the intelligence she had received—
The woman behind her was the terrifying android—
Android 18.
Black Widow didn't dare make a reckless move.
She calmly shifted in the opposite direction,
pretending she was merely passing by.
Android 18 shot her a look of undisguised contempt
before following after Renjie.
She didn't trust him to go alone.
Without armor, Renjie was still flesh and blood.
…
Tony's participation made this year's race far more exciting than ever before.
Media outlets from all over the world focused their attention on the event.
Because the substitute driver was—
Iron Man.
The race proceeded as scheduled.
Once the cars launched, the entire track was sealed off.
A man in an orange maintenance uniform, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, wore an excited grin.
Using his credentials, he deceived security and successfully entered the restricted area.
He opened a temporary barrier along the track—
And under the cameras of the global media, stepped directly onto the deadly course.
The helmet concealing his face was casually tossed aside.
That scarred face
Captured perfectly by the cameras—
Was broadcast to every viewer.
Hammer stared at the figure on the screen, eyes bulging.
Ivan Vanko!
The very man his boss had ordered him to find!
My god
He had been disguised as a staff member the entire time
Lurking right under Hammer's nose!
…
On the track
Two metal whips slid out from his sleeves.
Ivan Vanko dragged the whips behind him as he walked against the direction of the race.
The moment the Arc Reactor on his chest activated—
His work uniform ignited in blazing flames.
Burning fragments of fabric rained down from the air.
Revealed beneath
Was a crude, prototype Iron Suit.
Just as Hammer had suspected
This man, too, possessed the ability to create Iron Man–level technology!
A red F1 car roared toward Ivan at terrifying speed!
At that velocity, changing direction was impossible!
Ivan Vanko didn't flinch.
The instant the car reached him, he swung his energy whip.
The scorching heat—
Like a blade slicing through tofu
Cleanly severed a section of the narrow chassis!
The destabilized car flew over the monster's head—
Slamming into the barrier
And exploding in a violent fireball!
And at that very moment
Unaware of what was unfolding
Tony Stark was still driving his blue Formula One car.
Racing straight down the road—
Toward his own death.