Rhodes watched the big guy across from him crack his knuckles and walk over. Hanging in mid-air, completely unable to move, Rhodes got anxious. "I'd advise against that, buddy. You should know I never work alone. I've got backup..." Rhodes took a hard punch mid-sentence, his eyes nearly popping out, his voice cracking. "Oh~"
"You've got what? Let's hear it!" After throwing a few punches, the big guy returned to the table by the door, opened a bottle and took some swigs, laughing. "You're in my hands now. I can do whatever I want to you!"
Rhodes gasped in pain. His eyes swept around and he froze for a moment, then immediately focused on the drinking thug. "Really? Then try it. I've got the military and Iron Man behind me. Aren't you afraid?"
The big guy laughed. "Then let him come! Perfect—you can hang together. See? I've saved the spot next to you!"
"You sure?" Rhodes looked at the thug with a strange expression.
"Of course I... you..." The thug was speaking when he suddenly saw Rhodes looking behind him. Before he could react, everything went black.
Tony lowered his wand and sighed regretfully at the thug on the ground. "Sorry, I don't think I'll need that spot you saved me."
"Tony! Stop dawdling! Get me down!" Rhodes tried to keep his voice low while shouting.
"I was just admiring your new position. Honestly, it's quite nice." Tony grinned wickedly, flicked his wand, and Rhodes dropped from mid-air as the ropes around his hands split.
He jumped up rubbing his wrists, glaring viciously at the thug on the ground. "Time for some payback!"
"I'd advise against it. What if you wake him up?" Tony said.
Rhodes' fist stopped centimeters from the thug's head. He turned to look at Tony incredulously. "That's it?"
Tony shrugged. "I could hang him up instead."
"Then hang him!" Rhodes immediately pulled back his fist, watching Tony wave his wand. The thug floated up, ropes wrapping around him automatically into a tight knot, then floating to hang on the hook.
"Never thought you had this in you," Rhodes said admiringly. "I thought you just knew people in this field. Who would've guessed you were one of them? Just so we're clear—I was unconscious when you arrived. That's what I'm writing in my report. Don't blow my cover!"
Tony couldn't help laughing. "No problem, good buddy. I've got another trick—I can erase this part of your memory. Then you won't know anything!"
Rhodes was shocked. "Really? Maybe you should give me a shot!"
Tony immediately raised his wand. "As you wish! But I should mention—I'm not very good with this spell. If you turn into an idiot, I'll take care of you for life, brother!"
Rhodes paled. "Oh no! I'll just write that I was unconscious in my report!"
Tony laughed and put away his wand. "Where's your War Machine?"
Rhodes' face darkened. "Killian took it. He's planning to kidnap the President. We have to stop him."
"Before that, we need to rescue Pepper." Tony headed for the door.
"Pepper? She's here too?" Rhodes quickly followed, grabbing the gun the thug had left on the table.
"By the way, do you know Dr. Hansen?" Rhodes suddenly asked.
Tony paused. "Barely. Why?"
Rhodes said heavily, "She tried to plead for me. Killian killed her."
"What? She's dead?" Tony was stunned. Someone he'd just had dinner with a few days ago—suddenly learning of her death. But Tony didn't freeze long and quickly recovered.
"Where's the body?"
Rhodes hesitated. "Killian had his men burn her to ash. Do you know if she has any relatives? Since she died pleading for me, I want to repay her somehow."
Tony pressed his lips together. "I'll have JARVIS help you check when we get back. We're here!"
Tony quietly crept to the window, looking at Pepper tied up tightly inside, and several people in white coats busily conducting experiments. Pepper's mouth was gagged, looking terrified at the white coats.
Tony carefully extended his wand. "Imperio."
One of the white coats immediately froze in place. The next moment, he grabbed equipment from the table and smashed it hard into another person's head.
The other person collapsed without a sound. The room erupted in chaos. Tony took the chance to take down another person. When it quieted down, no one was left standing.
Only then did Tony rush over, quickly untying Pepper from the post.
"Tony! Thank goodness you came in time! They were about to inject me with that virus!" Pepper said, still shaken.
Tony held Pepper comfortingly. "It's okay, I know. I'm here now, aren't I? Do you still have your earring? Go back first. I need to help Rhodes rescue the President! I promise you—Killian definitely won't get away with this!"
"You're not coming back with me?" Pepper asked in shock.
Tony patted Pepper's shoulder. "I can protect myself. If we really let Killian's plan succeed, none of us will have good days ahead. Listen—go back, find Gemini, explain the situation, and have her contact MACUSA. There are wizards involved here. They need to do their part too!"
Hearing Tony say this, Pepper immediately decided. "I'll go right now. You must be careful!"
Tony smiled and nodded. "Don't you know me? I've got plenty of ways to stay alive!"
Rhodes looked at Pepper curiously. "Need me to escort her? I can contact nearby military for a plane."
Pepper smiled at Rhodes, reached for the gem on her earring, stepped back two paces, and pressed hard. She disappeared from the room with a whoosh.
"What?! Where is she?! She just went back like that?!" Rhodes walked to where Pepper had been standing, looking around in circles, staring at Tony in bewilderment.
Tony rolled his eyes. "Time to go, buddy. We still need to save the President. You sure about Killian's plan? He was stupid enough to tell you everything?"
Rhodes shrugged. "Probably thought I'd never survive."
The two ignored the chaos around them and walked out together.
"By the way, don't you know that disappearing magic? Can't you take me with you and whoosh?" Rhodes asked eagerly.
Tony looked at Rhodes with mixed feelings. He hadn't expected anyone to want to try this, but remembering his own excitement when he first tried it, he wasn't surprised. "You'll experience it soon. I can't fly you while wearing my armor, can I?"
Rhodes immediately perked up, following Tony to where he'd hidden his armor. Watching Tony suit up and open a section of arm armor, exposing his arm. "Hold tight, Rhodes. I don't want to drop you halfway."
"That's all? No preparation needed?" Rhodes excitedly reached out with both hands to grab Tony's arm.
"Of course. Get ready—keep your mouth shut and don't puke on me!" Tony said.
"What? That's..." Before Rhodes could finish, Tony began Apparating.
"Ugh!" Tony quickly jumped back a step, pushing Rhodes toward a nearby tree to lean against the trunk and vomit violently.
"How was it?" Tony grinned wickedly, quietly activating his suit's internal circulation system.
Rhodes leaned against the trunk, trying to stand straight. "Never again, never again... ugh!"
Tony laughed. "Hurry up and puke! We've got a long way to go!"
Rhodes looked at Tony desperately. "I'd rather you carry me flying!"
"Dream on!" Tony cruelly refused Rhodes. "You'll get used to it. Let's go! Delay any longer and the President will die because of you."
Rhodes grabbed a leaf to wipe his hands, looking like he was going to his execution as he grabbed Tony's arm. "Let's... aaaahhhhh!"
After several Apparitions, Rhodes had nothing left to vomit. When they reached the location he knew, Rhodes was nearly collapsed on the ground, unable to get up. Tony had to place Rhodes somewhere safe and head toward the container-filled dock himself. It was getting dark—he wondered if MACUSA was ready.
Tony activated his magical armor's invisibility function, silently approaching the War Machine hanging in mid-air. The President was supposedly inside.
Halfway there, Tony saw no one—not even Killian's men. Tony felt something was wrong, but with the President right there, he had no time to think. Tony revealed himself, had JARVIS hack into War Machine, opened it directly, and released the unconscious person inside. Tony saw it was indeed the President and immediately grabbed him to fly out.
"I'm just... what happened?" The President woke up from all the movement, looking bewildered at the empty ground below.
"You were kidnapped, Mr. President, but it's fine—I rescued you." Tony placed the President on the ground near Rhodes. "Colonel Rhodes is nearby. I need to go back and deal with those terrorists. Mr. President, please..."
Before Tony could finish, the President in front of him showed an evil smile, holding something familiar pointed at Tony. If he wasn't mistaken, that was a wand?!
Green light shot from the wand. Tony couldn't react in time. His magical armor opened from behind, throwing Tony out. The green light hit the magical armor, instantly exploding it.
"You're not the President!" Tony quickly drew his wand, firing spells without thinking. They were easily deflected.
"Polyjuice Potion—what a wonderful thing, isn't it?" "Mr. President" smiled evilly, spell after spell flying toward Tony.
Tony had never experienced formal dueling training and could only barely cope.
"Oh my, I didn't expect the Polyjuice Potion's timing to be so perfect. If you'd come just a bit later, you would've seen me open War Machine and drink the potion myself. So you see—fate is on my side!" "Mr. President" laughed, his facial muscles beginning to flow. He turned, and his clothes became a black hooded cloak covering him completely.
"Who are you?! Where is the President?!" Tony demanded while defending.
The dark wizard laughed smugly. "You'll have to ask that Killian. We divided the work differently. Whether that Muggle President lives or dies is none of my business! My willingness to take his form was already his blessing!" A fierce curse shot toward Tony.
Tony dove behind a nearby container. The curse hit the container, and the struck area silently disappeared, making Tony shiver. If that hit him, there'd be nothing left!
Before Tony could get up, the dark wizard Apparated right in front of him, looking leisurely at Tony on the ground. "Let me think—how should I deal with you? A half-blood wizard? And a big shot in the Muggle world! This is too delightful!"
Tony sneered and spat at the dark wizard. "Bah! Come on then! You better kill me in one shot! As long as I don't die, you rats will have no room to operate!"
The dark wizard flew into a rage. "Filthy half-breed! How dare you!" His wand pointed steadily at Tony, the tip beginning to emit ominous light.
Tony looked at the dark wizard's wand in terror, his mind instantly flashing with images of Pepper, Maria, Seraphina, Gemini, and others. He couldn't help thinking this time he was really done for.
Crack!
Lightning suddenly struck from the clear sky, hitting the dark wizard precisely. He screamed and Apparated to a distant container.
Tony swore he smelled barbecue.
"Boss! Are you okay?!" A clear voice rang from the sky, full of concern.
Tony looked up to see Sun Xiaoxiao in blue and white Daoist robes, fingers forming lightning seals, standing on her flying sword looking at him.
"How did you get here?!" Tony jumped up and Apparated to a nearby container top.
"George said you were in trouble. As friends, we naturally couldn't stand by. It's not just me—others came too!" Sun Xiaoxiao pointed to the distant sky where several figures were rapidly approaching. "I'm just the fastest, so I came ahead. Good thing I arrived early! Otherwise I'd only be able to perform last rites for you, boss!" Sun Xiaoxiao said with a smile.
Tony stared at those figures in a daze, then smiled after a moment. "Thank you all. Do you have a phone?"
Sun Xiaoxiao handed over her phone in confusion. "Yes. Want to tell Pepper you're safe?"
"No. I want to officially start fighting back." Tony dialed a number. "JARVIS, can you hear me? All hands on deck!"
"Yes, sir. At your service," JARVIS's voice came through the phone. "Estimated arrival at battlefield in 3 minutes. Please ensure your safety, sir."
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