Chapter 428: Guilt
Noticing Captain America's complexion growing increasingly grim as he spoke, Tony Stark immediately shrugged and spread his hands, expressing helplessness. "I was the one who was forced!"
"They?" Steve Rogers sharply caught Tony Stark's choice of words.
"Maybe three or four. When I woke up, this is how I was," Tony Stark rubbed Between the Eyebrows and sighed. "Usually, Pepper Potts handles these things for me before I wake up!"
Steve Rogers looked at Tony Stark, who was covered in lipstick marks and smelled strongly of perfume, and almost turned into Captain America, the master of sweet-talking.
"Listen, Mr. Stark, look at the state you're in. You volunteered to come here to investigate the Evil God's Information. We were all very moved. I even specifically asked Agent Natasha to order a memorial couplet for you. But nobody told me you came here to drink and fool around with women!"
"Order a memorial couplet? For me? Well, that's bad luck!" Tony Stark looked annoyed.
"I think that memorial couplet suits you perfectly right now!" Steve Rogers said, exasperated by his lack of self-respect.
"What exactly is the situation?" After glancing outside the Door, Steve Rogers lowered his voice.
Tony Stark rubbed Between the Eyebrows, his expression somewhat indescribable. "I was drunk, slept for a week. The Target admitted that the manpower was sent by him and the things were stolen by him, but he defined these actions as normal commercial dispute!"
"Commercial dispute?" Steve Rogers's face immediately showed an expression that said, 'Are you kidding me?' I'm talking about a calamity that could affect several Parallel Universes, and you're talking to me about a commercial dispute?! What connection is there between the two?! "He admitted to stealing the coordinates of the Parallel Universes we've experienced, as well as the manufacturing technology of the quantum transporter. He expressed his apologies to us and is willing to compensate us with a batch of powerful arms, said to be alien technology!"
"You accepted! Tony!" Steve Rogers's expression instantly became extremely solemn, even faintly showing anger. "This isn't a matter of compensation. This involves the safety of over a dozen Parallel Universes! That's a weight of life that cannot be measured by numbers! Nothing can be equivalent to them! We have no authority to exchange them for any compensation!"
"Of course, I know that!" Tony Stark gave a wry smile. "But at the time, I was drunk by him and accepted his apology in a daze!"
Tony Stark's face was full of regret at this moment. He hadn't expected to fall into a trap at a feast. Although he didn't want to admit it and knew he had been targeted, due to the pride deeply ingrained in his being from the Stark Family/Clan, he couldn't bring himself to swallow his words.
"Then you shouldn't be involved in this matter! I'll handle it. You accepted the apology, but we didn't. I've brought enough manpower this time. Even if we can't eliminate that Evil God, we will completely destroy the quantum transporter in his hands!"
Steve Rogers understood Tony Stark's thoughts at a glance. After years of getting along, he also knew that this "nephew" of his, like Howard back then, despite being cynical, possessed a strong sense of self-esteem. Thus, he skipped the step of asking for Tony Stark's opinion and made the decision directly.
Tony Stark looked at Steve Rogers. At this moment, the Captain's gaze was firm, just like when he faced Hydra back then. Tony Stark nodded, agreeing to Steve Rogers's plan, and then asked, "Right, how many people did you bring this time?"
"We thought you were in trouble. This time, it's the entire team, plus Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman!"
"Bruce Wayne came too!" Tony Stark was a bit in doubt. "According to the original plan, shouldn't he be collecting your combat parameters and formulating targeted countermeasures!"
"He said he owes us a life!" Steve Rogers said. "Bruce Wayne is a man of great principle, worthy of the title Batman. Of course, you'd better change your clothes and wash your face. Don't let him see you in this state!"
Captain America's gaze swept over the lipstick mark on Tony Stark's face, his expression of dislike completely undisguised.
Tony Stark lowered his head to examine his shirt. It was indeed covered in lipstick marks, and even his rear was full of lipstick marks. He didn't know how those women managed to mark these places.
"Wait a moment, I'll call someone to send me a set of clothes first!"
Every guest room in Lake Heart Island Manor was equipped with a communicator. Tony Stark walked directly to the communicator and pressed the communication button.
"Hello, Mr., what do you need?"
"Please send a set of clothes over!"
"Please wait a moment, we'll send it over right away!"
Seeing how skilled this guy was, Steve Rogers even wondered if he had come to the wrong place this time! "Right, Tony, did you find out where their Quantum Tunnel is built, and where they store their data/information database? To prevent other Universes from being damaged, we need to destroy all these equipment and data/information!"
In the Bathroom, Tony Stark's reply came through the rushing sound of running water from the shower: "No, I was drunk as soon as I got here. I just woke up today!"
"And do you think they would tell such an important location to an outsider!?"
Tony Stark carefully scrubbed the lipstick marks off his body. After taking off his clothes, he discovered that the lipstick marks were not only on his shirt but also on his rear and body. Even the turtle he raised had been painted with other colors.
"What about your artificial intelligence partner? Didn't he decipher the security program here!?"
Steve Rogers sat on the sofa. The glass door of the Bathroom gradually filled with white water mist. "You mean FRIDAY? I suspect there's an artificial intelligence here that's even more powerful than FRIDAY. It can easily block FRIDAY's signal!" Tony Stark said while cleaning the lipstick marks off his body.
"You mean FRIDAY was blocked? Then isn't our communication channel exposed?" Steve Rogers's look suddenly changed.
"If it's really as I think, you were probably targeted by them the moment you arrived in this Universe. As long as you connected to this world's internet signal, there's a possibility of being invaded by them! Once invaded by this artificial intelligence, your actions are almost like being naked in front of it."
The Bathroom Door was pulled open at this moment. Tony Stark, wrapped in a bath towel, wiped his wet hair and walked out of the Bathroom.
"More dangerous than Ultron!?" Steve Rogers frowned. If it was really as Tony said, then coming to this Lake Heart Island Manor was like walking into a trap.
"Those are two different concepts. And compared to this artificial intelligence, the person behind it is even more dangerous!"
Tony Stark picked up a hairdryer and styled his hair in front of the mirror.
At this moment, the guest room door was suddenly knocked.
Steve Rogers was about to activate the Ant-Man transformation device when Tony Stark suddenly stopped him. "Captain, it should be the clothes delivery. Help me get the clothes!"
Captain America: "..."
Tony Stark turned back to look at him. "I think the mistress / female head here already knows about your arrival!"
Steve Rogers gave Tony Stark a deep gaze, then walked directly to the Door. After a slight hesitation, he opened the Room Door directly.
Standing outside the Door were two Maids wearing black and white maid outfits. One Maid held a new suit and shirt in her hands, and the other held a pair of new leather shoes. Both Maids were young, looking no older than twenty-four or twenty-five. Steve Rogers noticed that when they saw him opening the Door, their expressions showed little surprise. Clearly, just as Tony had said, the Manor's mistress / female head already knew about the visit of these uninvited guests. They even clearly knew their specific location.
"Give the things to me, please. Thank you for your trouble!"
Steve Rogers walked out of the Room Door, completely unaware that his action exposed Tony Stark, who was tightly wrapped in a bath towel, to the eyes of the two Maids.
The two Maids' gaze was instantly drawn to him. It wasn't that they liked older men like Tony Stark, but rather that there were two men in one Room, and one of them seemed to have just finished showering... Both Maids had received professional training before starting work. They quickly controlled their gaze, which was almost melting, and maintained the required etiquette as they spoke to Steve Rogers:
"Mr., our Boss has arranged a feast at the Lake Heart Pavilion and is waiting for the two of you to come over—"
Steve Rogers felt that the two Maids' gaze had become strange. He took the clothes, nodded at the two, turned around, and entered the Door with the clothes.
The two Maids did not leave but stood Guard at the entrance, waiting for the two to change clothes and come out, ready to lead the way for them. The two standing Guard at the entrance exchanged no words, but their mutual eye contact could almost convey an entire Oxford Dictionary.
"See? Two men, one Room..."
"Saw it. The one who just walked into the Room has a nice rear!"
"The one inside isn't bad either. Just looking at his side profile gives off a sort of Yandere vibe..."
"Ahhh, they're practically made for each other—"
It must be said, once women become 'rotten' (fujoshi), the scene is like a ripe mango, completely yellow when cut open!
Tony Stark and Steve Rogers did not have mind reading abilities and had no idea what they were being made into in the minds of the two Maids outside the Door.
The two briefly discussed it and finally decided to attend the feast. After all, with Superman as their trump card, even if Tang Song wanted to turn hostile, they weren't without the strength to fight back. Plus, with Dr. Banner, Wonder Woman, and Thor, it was still unknown who would emerge victorious!
Soon, Tony Stark, who had changed into a new outfit, walked out of the Room with Steve Rogers. The two Maids led the way in front. Only now did the two have the leisure to examine the Manor's layout—
They walked on a path paved with bluestone, with streams flowing gently on both sides. Under the water lilies in the stream, various white and red koi could be faintly seen swimming freely.
The surrounding architecture was typically Chinese in style, with meticulous attention to detail in shape and carving, truly deserving of the description exquisite and beautiful... Unlike Tony Stark, who focused on the Manor's scenery and architecture, as a WWII (World War II) veteran, Steve Rogers's gaze was constantly observing the Manor's security guard and advantageous terrain.
When several Black-clothed Bodyguards wearing earpieces passed by them, his gaze fell on the footsteps of these Bodyguards, and at the same time, his ears twitched, listening to their breathing rate... Tony Stark only realized that Steve Rogers had fallen behind when they walked through a Long Corridor following the two Maids.
He quickly stopped and waited for him, looking at the solemn look on Steve Rogers's face, he asked, "Captain, what's wrong!?"
"Those Bodyguards!" Steve Rogers's look was somewhat dazed. He looked up at Tony Stark. "How many Bodyguards have we encountered on the way here, the ones wearing black suits!?"
"A dozen or twenty, I guess. Is there something wrong with them?" Tony Stark hadn't paid close attention to the number or appearance of these Black-clothed Bodyguards. After all, as a Billionaire, hiring Bodyguards was not unfamiliar to him.
"These people are all very strong. Their strength, speed, and explosive force are absolutely no less than mine and Winter Soldier's!"
"Really!"
Hearing Steve Rogers's words, Tony Stark instinctively wanted to look up at the nearby Black-clothed Bodyguards.
Steve Rogers, however, grabbed him. "Don't look around carelessly. Quietly inform the others later and tell them not to underestimate these Bodyguards!"
"It's okay, Captain. We still have Thor. With the force of Stormbreaker in his hand, it's enough to clear out these miscellaneous soldiers!"
Miscellaneous soldiers! Steve Rogers looked at Tony Stark with a complicated look, then silently turned his head back.
Iron Man, completely unaware that his big move had accidentally injured his teammate, looked at the two Maids leading the way and was considering whether to use his male charm to go up and ask about the Manor's Security situation.
Suddenly, from another Long Corridor diagonally opposite, two figures, one tall and one short, one fat and one thin, staggered over.
Tony Stark's mouth was wide open, almost able to fit a duck egg. Looking at Thor, whom he had just placed high hopes on, the Stormbreaker was not in his hand at this moment, but rather a bottle of red wine in each hand.
"Thor, Rocket, why are you here!?"
Seeing Thor, who was drunk and staggering as he walked, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark exchanged glances and immediately understood that Thor was drunk again.
Ever since Loki and most of the Asgardian subjects died at the hands of Thanos, Thor had become a drunken alcoholic. He spent two-thirds of his day soaking in a wine barrel. Whether it was Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, or Jane, they had tried various methods to help Thor quit drinking, but all had failed without exception! However, fortunately, although Thor was an alcoholic, he never delayed serious matters. They eventually let him be, waiting for time to slowly heal the wounds in the Thunder God's heart.
They weren't surprised by Thor's alcoholism, but what was going on with the raccoon staggering next to him? Had Rocket Raccoon been led astray by Thor and developed a drinking problem!
"Rocket, you've been drinking!"
Rocket Raccoon clutched a bottle of sake in his hand and opened his groggy eyes, swaying. "Captain, Mr. Stark, are you also here for the feast hosted by Thor's brother-in-law?"
"Thor's brother-in-law!"
Steve Rogers and Tony Stark exchanged glances. Tony Stark walked up to Rocket Raccoon and snatched the sake bottle from his hand. "Rocket, when did Thor get a brother-in-law? Isn't his sister the Goddess of Death Hela? Didn't she die?"
"You're talking about Hela from our Universe. There's also a Hela in this Universe. She's Thor's sister and the mistress / female head of this Manor!"
Two pairs of eyes simultaneously looked at Thor. Thor seemed drunk, his steps unsteady, walking forward on his own, as if he hadn't seen Tony Stark and Steve Rogers at all. However, as he turned his back to the two, a trace of guilt flashed deep in his eyes.
"Thor!"
Tony Stark suddenly called out to Thor's figure.
Thor sighed, stopped his steps, and slowly turned around, his expression somewhat complex. "I'll give you an explanation when we get back. Believe me, this matter is best resolved peacefully. Don't even think about resorting to force! He's a very terrifying person!"
(end of chapter)