c31 - Demanding the Relic
"I've finished talking about my business."
"Let's go upstairs and talk about other things."
"I wonder if you could do me the honor of talking to Pepper?"
"Just so you know, I haven't told her what I talked to you about."
"Pepper just wants to talk to you, the one many rich women are after."
Tony Stark then spoke up.
"You don't mind?"
Harvey glanced at Tony and said.
"You're very handsome, but you look so much younger than Pepper."
"She doesn't have that kind of interest, and she's not someone who would get involved in something like that."
"As long as you don't deliberately flirt with Pepper, I don't mind."
Tony Stark waved his hand, not worried at all.
"Since you don't mind, then I'm even less concerned."
"As for flirting with beautiful women, that's never been my style. I'm always the one being approached."
Harvey shrugged, looking indifferent.
"Alright, let's go."
Tony Stark felt relieved.
Just as Tony Stark was about to leave the underground research lab with Harvey,
Jarvis's voice suddenly rang out.
"Sir, Agent Coulson is calling. Would you like to answer?"
"So fast?"
Tony Stark said, somewhat surprised.
Coulson was helping him investigate his father's belongings, and he had even anticipated that Coulson might use persuasion or delay tactics to gain goodwill on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.
He hadn't expected Coulson to call back in just over ten minutes.
This speed meant that Coulson had most likely already located information related to his father, Howard Stark.
"Perhaps their capabilities are a little higher than you imagined?"
Harvey remarked.
"Then let's answer it,"
Tony Stark said, stopping his steps to go upstairs.
This time, it wasn't just a voice call, but a video communication feed.
A black man wearing a black trench coat and an eyepatch stood beside Coulson.
When the man saw Tony's side and noticed Harvey Ambellaca, his single visible eye narrowed slightly, revealing a sharp and calculating gaze.
"Nice to meet you, Tony Stark."
"I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson's superior."
"And Harvey Ambellacar, regarding our agent's previous actions, I offer an official apology on behalf of the organization."
"I'm sorry."
Nick Fury took the initiative to introduce himself, his tone calm yet authoritative, consistent with his usual direct manner.
"Director Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Isn't it called the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division?"
Tony Stark found the name unnecessarily long, deliberately emphasizing its full title with a hint of sarcasm.
"Just call me Fury."
"Given that even you, Tony Stark, find the name excessive, you're not the only one."
"Internally, we've also been simplifying how we refer to it."
"'S.H.I.E.L.D.' is easier to remember and more practical in the field."
Nick Fury explained briefly.
"Whether the name S.H.I.E.L.D. inspires confidence is debatable, but it's definitely easier to remember than the original."
Tony Stark said bluntly, his tone as sharp as ever.
Harvey, on the other hand, simply sat down casually and took out his phone, showing little interest in the exchange.
Nick Fury couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed seeing Harvey Ambella completely ignore him, though his expression didn't change.
However, he understood that the earlier incident involving Natasha Romanoff had already left a negative impression.
Nick Fury wasn't particularly surprised by Harvey Ambella's presence at Stark Estate.
Harvey Ambella now held a significant number of shares in Stark Industries. Furthermore, almost everyone within New York's upper social circles knew that Harvey Ambella and Tony Stark had recently developed a close relationship.
Even without superpowers, Harvey Ambella's seemingly extraordinary fortune and influence would ensure his future success; both were wealthy and influential figures in New York's upper circles, so it wasn't surprising that they got along well.
"Let's put the name aside for now."
"Let's talk business."
"We did locate some of your father Howard Stark's belongings."
"However, your father held a highly classified position working alongside government and strategic agencies, so his belongings are still under restricted clearance."
Nick Fury leaned forward, crossed his arms, and placed them on the table in front of him, speaking with a serious expression.
"You're just beating around the bush, basically saying that if I want it, it won't be so easy, right?"
Tony Stark had dealt with military contracts and government oversight for years through Stark Industries and understood their usual approach.
"No, no, no, it's completely reasonable for your father's belongings to be returned to you."
"The main reason is that before handing them over, I wanted to ask you a few things."
"You're thirty-nine years old now, and in all these years, you've never tried to retrieve any of your father's classified research or personal archives."
"But now you've suddenly remembered. Can I ask why?"
Nick Fury shook his head slightly and said.
"Because of this."
Tony Stark opened his shirt, revealing the Arc Reactor embedded in his chest.
He chose to attribute it to the Arc Reactor itself, rather than mentioning Harvey Ambella's reminder.
"This device is called the Arc Reactor. It's a miniaturized clean energy source and also the core system that allows me to operate as Iron Man."
"It's just that due to certain limitations specifically the palladium core, I have to rely on it continuously and can't safely remove it."
"I've been trying to synthesize or discover a new element to replace it, but I've already tested all known elements on the periodic table."
"The outcome is obvious; none of them are suitable replacements."
"So I thought of my father, who was also a genius in energy research and advanced technology."
"I want to see if my father left behind any research, prototypes, or theoretical models that might give me some inspiration."
Tony Stark explained, a complex expression flashing across his face as he mentioned his father.
"I understand. I'll have Phil Coulson arrange for its delivery to you."
"Hopefully, your father's research will be of some use."
Nick Fury looked at the Arc Reactor glowing steadily on Tony Stark's chest, his expression remaining calm, as if he had already anticipated this situation.
If Tony Stark couldn't find a replacement element, S.H.I.E.L.D. did possess certain resources and compounds that could temporarily slow the effects of palladium toxicity.
However, such measures would only delay the inevitable; if Tony Stark wanted to truly survive and continue operating as Iron Man, he would have to solve the problem himself.
The Iron Man armor Tony Stark created was undeniably powerful.
It functioned as a fully integrated combat system comparable to advanced military aircraft, yet far more versatile and responsive, effectively elevating him to the level of a superhuman combatant.
But if Tony Stark's lifespan remained limited due to palladium poisoning, then a rare individual with the potential to become a key member of the Avengers Initiative would be lost.
"As soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, the complexity in Tony Stark's expression disappeared, and he nodded slightly.
....