Private Jet.
Renjie rested his eyes, while Android 18 sat quietly beside him.
Earth's technology simply couldn't match Android 18's flight speed.
But Renjie disliked rushing, and this being his first public appearance, he naturally required a grand welcome.
With Hammer's sharp planning, everything had already been prepared.
Moreover, in just half a month, the Stark Expo would open!
When the fireworks exploded and Iron Man descended from the sky, it would mark the beginning of the Iron Man 2 events!
This time, Renjie wanted to participate personally.
To do so, he would need the resources of Hammer Industries:
A brand-new laboratory, rare metals of immense value, and the creation of an exoskeleton-powered armor stronger than Tony Stark's.
For him, this was a trial.
From the moment he stepped off the plane, the eyes of the world would be upon him.
Any slip, any flaw, and the consequences would be devastating.
S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, or any other faction—none would hesitate to strike and devour him.
Naturally, Renjie felt some tension.
At that moment, a slender hand reached for his cold, large one, gently gripping it, as if to ease his nerves.
It was Android 18.
She could feel his tension and offered this silent support—the care he most needed.
Renjie was momentarily stunned. It had been a long time since he'd felt someone genuinely concerned for him.
The anxiety vanished as quickly as it came. Confidence returned, and a self-assured smile spread across his face.
He was not alone. He was not powerless.
Whatever the future held, Android 18 would stand by him. So would Android 16, Ada Wong…
And in the not-too-distant future, more powerful allies would join them.
"Thank you, Android 18."
"As long as you're by my side, I fear nothing."
Renjie gently clasped Android 18's small hand, lifting it to his lips for a soft kiss.
From this moment on, he would shed his immaturity and step into true adulthood.
The plane pierced the thick clouds, countless stars streaking past their vision.
Their destination was now just a few hundred kilometers away.
Airport.
The private jet landed smoothly.
Guided by ground control, it was parked in the designated area.
A crimson carpet had long been laid, stretching directly to the awaiting Rolls-Royce.
Hammer, in a sharp black suit, stood at the car holding an umbrella, waiting.
Once the passenger staircase connected to the plane, the flight attendants emerged, smiling, signaling passengers to disembark.
Android 18 naturally led the way as Renjie's bodyguard.
The moment she stepped out, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents disguised as staff were visibly startled.
This woman, the same who had once terrified the president, was merely security?
As the agent processed this, a handsome young man in a white suit emerged from the plane.
The target had arrived.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent snapped clear photos with a button camera and immediately uploaded them to the internal network.
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
All departments were on standby. Never had this specialized organization been so unified.
The moment Renjie's photo appeared on the big screen, chaos erupted.
Black hair.
Brown eyes.
Wheat-colored skin.
The high-value target is this guy!
From the start, they had been misled by the appearance of Android 18 and Android 16, instinctively assuming this was a domestic secret organization.
But seeing Renjie in person, they realized their grave mistake.
"Check! I want all his information within thirty minutes!"
Nick Fury slammed his fist on the command desk, issuing orders via Bluetooth to the information and intelligence departments.
Behind him, a weary sigh echoed.
An elderly agent, Alexander Pierce, stepped forward.
"Fury, we underestimated the heroes of the world… Have you really looked at this photo?"
Pierce, former S.H.I.E.L.D. director and Fury's mentor, now semi-retired but still wielding real authority, studied the image with a knowing gaze.
"Heh… Just like Hammer, he's one of those old monsters injected with Sun Ladder. Who knows how long he's lived?"
Fury scoffed, prejudging the man. Even someone as cunning as Justin Hammer could appear twenty years younger.
"No… you're wrong. Have you noticed his eyes?"
Pierce's insight surpassed his pupil's in both vision and experience.
"Beautiful peach blossom eyes… double eyelids too."
Fury squinted his lone eye at the photo, thinking Pierce was teasing him. His nickname was, after all, "The One-Eyed Fury."
Pierce ignored him, enlarging the image on the interface.
"It's the gaze. His eyes shine. Full of youthful spirit and determination. No weariness of adulthood, no weight of years. Like a hero, like a young, unstoppable general. These eyes… remind me of Tony Stark ten years ago. Without a doubt, he's here for the Stark Expo."
Pierce, true to his former role as S.H.I.E.L.D. director, had deduced Renjie's purpose from a single glance.
"You're saying… he's heading straight for Stark Industries?"
"It makes sense."
Fury, shocked, looked at his mentor. Logic seemed to fail him.
The old fox, Pierce, smiled knowingly.
"Android 18 first appeared three months ago during the Battle of the Giants. Before that, the biggest news? Our playboy declared himself Iron Man. Combine all recent events—you don't find it… too coincidental?"
Pierce's rhetorical question left Fury looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"