Tony finally put on the down jacket and looked around. "Tennessee, huh? Not too far. Where are we going?"
Keener (to distinguish from the other Harry, let's call him Keener!) said happily, "To my house! Unless you have somewhere else to go around here?"
Tony was silent for a moment. "Alright, I'll follow you. I really don't have anywhere else to go. Need to check what's wrong with my armor at your place. Can't just leave it here."
"It?" Keener asked curiously. "Do you see your armor as a person too?"
Tony had a headache. What was wrong with kids these days? One question after another?
"Now, shut up. Let's hurry along! Why is Tennessee so cold?" Tony forcefully changed the subject.
Keener shrugged, following behind Tony who was dragging the armor. "It's always cold here. By the way, you still haven't..."
He kept talking as they walked—actually, Keener talked nonstop by himself. They finally reached Keener's house.
"Come in! This is my secret base—our family garage!" Keener pushed open an old warehouse door.
Tony struggled to drag the armor inside, looking around. An abandoned farm vehicle sat against the wall. Everything else had been converted by Keener into a mechanical workshop.
"You really like machinery?" Tony murmured.
"Of course! My dream is to surpass you!" Keener said confidently. "But everyone thinks I'm talking nonsense."
Keener fiddled with small things he'd made on the workbench, looking dejected.
Tony leaned his armor against an old sofa facing the door. "Looks like you're much worse than I was at your age. When I was your age, I'd already built my first intelligent robot. If you want to surpass me, you've got a long way to go. Now let me see what's wrong with my armor."
Tony began examining his armor while Keener put down his things to watch.
"This doesn't seem purely mechanical?" Keener immediately noticed something wrong.
Tony muttered while examining. "You know about the magical state news recently? This armor combines magic and mechanics!"
"Cool! Do you know magic too?" Keener looked envious.
"Ah, found it! Don't know if I can fix it!" Tony finally found the damage—the magical patterns had been worn down crossing spatial barriers. Tony frowned. He couldn't find materials here—how could he repair it? Maybe he should contact George? He couldn't delay now—there was still no news about Pepper!
Unfortunately, Tony didn't remember anyone's phone number. He could only connect to Keener's house power to charge JARVIS first.
Meanwhile, Pepper had relaxed after seeing those armed helicopters destroyed. She followed Tony in seeing off all the guests, then returned to her room to shower. She carefully removed all the jewelry she wore. Gemini had said these things couldn't be removed even when sleeping, but when showering, it was better to take them off, right?
Necklace, rings, hair tie—Pepper looked at herself in the mirror. The earrings weren't in the way, so she'd leave them for now. Thinking this, Pepper unconsciously picked up the nearby comb, wanting to tidy her messy hair.
The moment she touched the comb, Pepper immediately sensed something wrong. The familiar Portkey feeling left her no time to shout before she disappeared from the bathroom, leaving only the sound of running water.
Pepper tumbled into a pitch-black room with no light anywhere—she couldn't see anything. She immediately dropped the comb and reached for her ears.
"Petrificus Totalus!" A hoarse voice rang out. A light hit Pepper. She immediately became rigid all over, falling straight onto the floor.
"Killian, we brought you the person you wanted. When can you deliver the results we want?" The hoarse voice asked directly, completely ignoring Pepper's presence.
Pepper lay on the ground, only able to move her eyes slightly. She could only see a black-hooded shadow in the light from the doorway.
The next moment, someone she knew walked in—Killian. "Don't rush. Didn't you already send people to intercept? If you succeed, we can change conditions. If you don't succeed, then I'll act. How about that?" Killian smiled.
"Hmph, even with your strange abilities, you're just a Muggle. Remember your words. If you dare deceive us, we'll show you what's worse than death." The hoarse voice threatened viciously. With a snap, it disappeared.
Pepper was helped up by Killian. "Oh my, look at me—I forgot to have them release you. Bear with it a bit longer, Pepper, until the spell's duration ends." Killian laughed neurotically, gently stroking Pepper's face.
The disgust in Pepper's eyes nearly overflowed. Killian's expression instantly turned vicious. "Ha! I almost forgot—you're already with that bastard! Just wait! I'll soon bring his head to see you!"
Killian waved his hand. A group of people in white coats rushed into the room, directly lifting the rigid Pepper and tying her to a post against the wall. Because she was petrified, they simply tied Pepper up straight. Pepper groaned inwardly—now she was completely finished. She couldn't reach the Portkey in her ear.
Soon someone came to report to Killian. "Hansen was captured and brought back. Tony Stark and his friend escaped. Stark was hit by black light and is now missing. No one knows his whereabouts."
Killian raised an eyebrow. "Missing? Can you confirm if he's dead or alive?"
"No."
"Useless! And they call themselves dark wizards—in the end, we still have to act!" Killian sneered, looking at Pepper in front of him, controlling his emotions and beginning to use his American channels to investigate Pepper's disappearance and Tony's whereabouts.
Based on informants' messages, George frowned. These people had appeared from nowhere. Ever since the magical state was approved and the American magical world was exposed to ordinary people, these people had appeared, causing magical destruction everywhere. Fortunately, MACUSA had anticipated accidents and handled things promptly, preventing major disturbances. Otherwise, society would be in turmoil again.
The news of both Tony and Pepper's disappearance couldn't be hidden. War Machine Rhodes was asked by the President to investigate. Tony's importance wasn't just in magic—they needed to see him alive or see his body.
Rhodes took the mission. After finding that ordinary methods yielded no clues, he found the shop using the address Tony had given.
"I can only tell you he's alive, but I don't know where!" Gemini looked impatiently at Rhodes standing straight in the living room.
Rhodes pressed his lips together. "But before in Afghanistan, you found him, didn't you? I heard Pepper mention it!"
Gemini sighed desperately. "How can I make you understand? Ever since he became a MACUSA congressman, his location information has been interfered with! No one can randomly spy on a congressman and his family's location!"
"Isn't there any other way?!" Rhodes asked persistently.
Gemini took a deep breath, trying to maintain a smile. "Of course there is—when he comes to his senses and contacts us, then we'll know where he is!"
Rhodes wanted to say more but was interrupted by George bursting in.
"I found her! Pepper! Based on the Portkey she's carrying, I found her location!" George said excitedly, holding up a parchment.
Gemini finally relaxed. "Where is she?"
"Florida."
Gemini had a sudden realization. "I should have known—AIM headquarters is there!"
"Then I'll set off immediately! To rescue Pepper!" Rhodes saluted the two and quickly walked out the door.
Gemini reached out. "Wait!"
Rhodes didn't hear at all. The sound of him running downstairs echoed, and in a blink, he'd left the shop.
Gemini opened her mouth. "I just wanted to remind him there are wizards there."
George shrugged. "Should we go?"
Gemini hesitantly looked at her phone. "My intuition says we shouldn't go now—we should wait for news."
George frowned. "Wait for what news? You mean Tony?"
"Probably. Intuition—how can you explain it clearly?"
They sat silently facing each other on the sofa, both staring at the phone on the table between them.
"No, I can't wait like this. I'll go contact allies who can act. I feel this won't be much smaller than the last alien incident." George couldn't sit still after a while, standing up to leave.
Gemini didn't even look at him, just stared thoughtfully at the phone.
In Tennessee, Tony had a lollipop in his mouth and wore a baseball cap, walking down the street with Keener. Seeing the bombed house by the roadside, Tony realized this wasn't just happening in New York, so he immediately investigated. Though he was careful, he was still discovered by Killian's people. Tony had no choice but to enter escape mode. Fortunately, he carried his wand with him and didn't mess up. After two days of shaking off pursuers and using some dark magic to obtain useful information, Tony Apparated to Keener's garage.
"You finally appeared! I thought you were captured!" As soon as Tony landed, Keener rushed over and hugged him.
Tony roughly ruffled his hair. "Don't worry! I'm Iron Man! How's my armor charging?"
"Sir, long time no see!" JARVIS's voice sounded.
Keener couldn't help complaining. "Mom's already getting suspicious—the power consumption has been too fast these past two days!"
Tony scratched his head embarrassedly. "Don't worry, when I get back, I'll help you pay the electric bill. Now, JARVIS, contact Gemini!"
Gemini absent-mindedly looked at the book in her hands, glancing at the phone on the table every few seconds. Though she knew Tony should be fine, she still worried.
Ring ring ring!
The phone rang. The caller ID showed JARVIS!
Gemini immediately answered. "Tony! Where are you? Rhodes went to rescue Pepper! But there's been no news since!"
"What?!" Tony hadn't had time to report he was safe. "Damn! How could he be so impulsive?! No, I need to get there quickly!"
"Do you know where?"
"Of course! I wasn't just sitting around during my disappearance!" Tony said, putting on his armor with JARVIS's help. "I'm going there now. Are there any people available? I'm afraid Pepper might get hurt!"
"I'm not sure. George went to find help, but I don't know where they are," Gemini said. "You go to Pepper and Rhodes first. I'll try to notify George."
"I'll stop talking then!" Tony finished putting on his armor, hung up, and waved at Keener. "I'll help you pay the electric bill when I get back! Remember your dream! I hope to see you in New York!"
Tony struck a standard takeoff pose, closed his faceplate, and shot into the sky from Keener's yard.
At full speed, Tony only took a few minutes to reach Florida airspace. Using the address from Killian's subordinate's memory, he found what looked like an abandoned castle.
Landing in a corner, Tony happened to see Killian leading a group of people out of the base. Tony hid in the bushes, watching Killian lead people onto a truck and leave the castle before carefully removing his armor. First, he had to find Pepper and Rhodes' location. If he appeared here openly and Killian's people got desperate and did something to them, he'd regret it too late.
Tony had no other weapons—just a wand. He took a deep breath. "Alright, Tony, you can do this. You've studied for so many years—time to put it to use!"
After psyching himself up, Tony first cast a lightening charm on himself to make his footsteps inaudible, then used silent Stunning Spells on everyone he saw. After clearing an area, he'd use Binding Curses to tie them up.
"Wow, magic is really useful!" Tony looked excitedly at several big men tied up in the room, stroking his wand. "Next comes the inappropriate content! Legilimency!"
Soon Tony knew where Pepper and Rhodes were being held. He immediately put away his magic and shivered. "Dark magic really is uncomfortable!"
After magically sealing the room holding people, Tony followed the route from those men's memories, clearing as he went toward where the two were held, swaggering without any concept of stealth.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨patreon.com/DarkGolds]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━