One by one, the lights in the suite flickered on.
The moment Renjie stepped into the living room, he froze—utterly stunned by the sight before him.
Destroyed 「listening devices」 and 「pinhole cameras」 were piled inside the ashtray.
At a glance, there were at least seventeen of them.
Android 18 sat curled up on the full-grain leather sofa, hugging her left leg to her chest. She wore nothing but a sheer, skin-hugging nightdress.
She had just finished bathing.
A faint blush lingered on her cheeks, and her lips curved into a dangerously alluring smile.
She had been waiting for Renjie for a long time.
Before the car had even reached the hotel, Android 18 had already gotten off.
After arriving at the presidential suite ahead of time, she had begun a meticulous sweep for 「surveillance devices」.
Inside the walls.
Under the bed.
Within the cushions.
Beneath the floorboards.
Mirrors.
Wardrobes.
Kettles.
Decorative ornaments.
Even inside the TV panels… and more.
To probe Renjie's true identity, those agents had truly gone insane.
Yet to Android 18's perception, every single one of those so-called "precision instruments" had been glaringly obvious.
"You're wearing so little," Renjie said awkwardly, deliberately averting his gaze.
"Aren't you cold?"
Right now, Android 18 was far too dangerous.
He knew it all too well.
She had always had her eyes on him.
Young and wealthy.
A once-in-a-generation prodigy.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and undeniably handsome.
No woman could resist a man like that—especially not someone with Android 18's personality.
"Can you… hold me?"
Her voice dropped deliberately, softer and lazier than ever before—seductive to the extreme.
"We still have things to do tomorrow…"
Renjie forced a bitter smile, yet his body betrayed him, stepping closer to her on its own.
"Is it really… more important than me?"
Android 18 lifted her long, elegant leg, hooking it behind Renjie's back and pulling the young man forcibly into her embrace.
"I'm not that kind of man," he stammered.
"I… I long for…"
"Something pure…"
"Love—"
Before he could finish, Android 18 sealed his lips with her own.
The last shred of reason was swallowed whole.
Heavy breaths filled the air, low and feral—like the growl of a tigress.
Even the suite's soundproofing systems couldn't contain the ferocity of the battle raging within.
Outside, a female agent disguised as 「cleaning staff」 rolled her eyes in utter speechlessness.
The night passed in silence.
…
The next day.
Morning.
5:50 a.m.
Hammer pushed a luxurious dining cart forward and pressed the doorbell.
The private car had already been waiting downstairs for quite some time.
At any moment, they could depart for 「Queens」—his proudest achievement, his research base.
The door opened.
Standing there was Android 18.
Hammer's mouth fell open in shock.
He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but the girl before him seemed… even more captivating than before.
Just as Hammer seemed to understand something and prepared to offer a compliment, steady footsteps echoed from the living room.
"Skip breakfast. We're leaving now."
"And what about the 'Ivan Vanko' investigation I asked for?"
Renjie's voice sounded first—then he stepped into view.
Today's Renjie felt even more composed than yesterday.
A black overcoat layered over a black suit gave him a sharper, more mature presence.
Hammer immediately straightened, making a respectful gesture as he pulled out his phone and presented the collected information.
"I've already confirmed Ivan's background."
"But he's like a cunning rat—hiding far too well."
"Please give me a little more time. I'll uncover everything."
Hammer spoke with visible shame.
Finding someone who had erased all traces of himself for nearly twenty years…
was like searching for a needle in the ocean.
"As expected."
Renjie's reply carried a trace of mockery. He had known it wouldn't be that easy.
It seemed he would have to wait until the antique car grand prix half a month later to finally meet Ivan Vanko.
…
Meanwhile.
On a watchtower across the ocean.
Tony Stark, clad in his Iron Armor, stood alone, a mojito in hand, gazing toward the rising sun.
Food crumbs still clung to the corner of his mouth.
The stench radiating from him resembled that of a severely hungover drunk.
Just moments ago, his body had suffered another rejection reaction.
This condition had first appeared about a month ago.
The cause: palladium poisoning.
The most obvious symptoms were violent nausea and diarrhea.
He needed to find a new element to replace palladium as soon as possible
or he would die a slow, miserable death.
As his life entered its countdown phase, the once-playboy genius finally began to understand the meaning of protection.
This was the first time he had ever calmly admired a sunrise so beautiful.
However
There were always idiots who lacked any sense of timing.
Idiots who showed up just to ruin the moment.
"Oh?"
"So our Iron Man has a romantic side now?"
Nick Fury appeared out of nowhere.
The one-eyed man stood behind Tony, a teasing smile on his face.
"You again?"
"I told you—I'm not interested in your 'Super Boy Program.'"
Tony rolled his eyes, firing back without mercy.
"I'm here to tell you something," Fury said calmly.
"You've been noticed."
"The one watching you is the man who created androids."
"Younger than you. Better looking. Smarter."
"And possibly… even richer."
Fury sighed helplessly.
He said it on purpose.
Only this kind of provocation could make Tony Stark take things seriously.
He understood the man before him well.
An arrogant, solitary genius.
Someone who would never allow another to steal his crown.
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass made Fury's heart tighten.
He hadn't expected such an intense reaction.
Fury frowned, staring at the silent Tony Stark.
"If you need help," he said slowly,
"S.H.I.E.L.D. will provide it."
"That mysterious man holds the power to destroy the world."
"He's not just your personal problem."
"He's a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D.—"
"And to the entire planet."