Chapter 94: A Banquet?
With Tony Stark now safe and sound, and having awakened a potent new superpower, a sense of profound contentment washed over him. He couldn't help but wonder about the potential synergy between his new ability to control magnetic field and his iconic Iron Man armor. What new wonders could he create together? What kind of sparks would he ignite?
Yet, such considerations were for the future. For now, the successful conclusion of their special project was the focus. The experimental serum had worked wonders on everyone except Thor, whose unique constitution had caused an unfortunate failure.
Tony's tone was light and jovial as he addressed those who hadn't taken the serum, such as Bruce Banner. "Well, Bruce, you truly don't need this kind of thing" he said, his expression one of playful condescension. Tony had anticipated Banner's response, he didn't want him to inject the serum either, as he was unsure what its effects might be.
Would it make the Hulk even more uncontrollable?
Bruce responded with a sigh, "Stark, the Hulk already gives me enough headaches. I'm not sure if this injection will even work on me, so let's not waste it".
Tony then turned to the other three present, Anne, T'Challa, and Danny.
"But what about the three of you? Do you want to use it? You have to think about it. After all, there are only three potions left, and we can't make any more".
"Mr. Stark, I have already awakened my superpowers, so the serum would be useless for me. I won't waste this opportunity," Anne replied immediately.
Danny, the contemporary Iron Fist, also directly refused. He had already been granted the power of the dragon from Dragon Shou-Lao the Undying. Although he couldn't perfectly control that power yet, he had no need to awaken any other superpowers.
With two rejections, Tony's gaze fell on the last remaining person, T'Challa.
T'Challa's inner turmoil was evident. He had witnessed the superpowers awakened in both Tony and Captain America, and to say he wasn't envious would have been a lie. He had taken the heart-shaped herb, but its only effect had been to enhance his physical fitness. His current combat strength was on par with Captain America's before he took Compound V.
The thought of Captain America's recent exponential leap in power made him feel a sense of unreality, almost disbelief.
He desperately wanted to accept the serum, but a deep-seated reservation held him back. He knew that he would eventually assume the mantle of King of Wakanda. During the coronation ritual, a part of the ceremony required him to eliminate his physical superpowers. He would then face challengers from various tribes with the physique of an ordinary person. What if the elders discovered he had injected this new superpower serum?
What if there was a conflict between the heart-shaped herb he had already ingested and this superpower potion?
Wakanda was his home, the place he was sworn to protect, and he could not allow a single accident to happen.
"Mr. Stark, I don't need it either," T'Challa finally said, his decision firm.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to reject it. While I don't know your reasons, I respect your choice. If anyone changes their mind later, they can come to me. As long as the potion still exists, there will be no problem". Tony was genuinely surprised by T'Challa's refusal, but he didn't dwell on it.
Suddenly, Felix, who had been silent, spoke up. "Tony, please give me another potion".
Tony was momentarily puzzled, then a flicker of understanding crossed his face. "Huh? Felix, are you going to... Oh, I understand. Wait a minute, I'll be right back". He left the room without another word, on his way to retrieve the serum Felix needed.
A short while later, Tony returned with a silver-white metal tube in his hand. "This is a syringe made of special materials," he explained, passing it to Felix.
"Even if it falls from a great height, you don't have to worry about it being damaged, unless you deliberately destroy it yourself". A curious look on his face, he asked,
"So, Felix, are you sure she will use this?".
"I don't know," Felix replied, his expression unchanged. "But I think she should decide for herself".
Regardless of her choice, he would respect it.
"Now, with the successful conclusion of our special Justice League operation, how about we hold a party to celebrate my and captain's successful acquisition of superpower?" Tony said, a wide smile on his face. Having accomplished their primary goal, he was eager to suggest a relaxing activity.
"Alright, I think Stark's proposal is a good one!" Captain America, Steve Rogers, was the first to speak, surprising everyone. His support for Tony's idea, after having been so resistant to such things in the past, made everyone stare at him in astonishment.
"Could it be that his character has changed after acquiring the superpower of a Human Torch and is staring to become like him?" Felix wondered in his heart, puzzled by the captain's uncharacteristic behavior.
Steve, noticing everyone's bewildered expressions, chuckled. "What's wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that? I haven't been to a ball in nearly 70 years. I'm in a good mood after getting my new superpower today. Of course, I need to relax!".
"Cough, it's alright. Since you're so interested today, Steve, I'll go and get everything ready. We're all going to relax today!" Tony said, somewhat taken aback. He had only made a symbolic suggestion, assuming it would be rejected as his previous ones had been. But with Steve's support, and no opposition from the others, the matter was settled.
After spending more than a year cooped up in the lab, Tony yearned for a night of unbridled fun and celebration. However, since he had started his relationship with Pepper, such an opportunity had been nonexistent. This, he realized, was the perfect excuse, one that his beloved "Pepper" couldn't possibly refuse.
"Haha, a perfect chance!" Tony thought to himself, pulling out his phone to make arrangements.
"Sir, I just heard that Stark is holding a banquet at his private villa tonight, and he's inviting people from all walks of life. What should we do?" Hill asked Nick Fury.
"Oh? They're really having a party! Send some of our people in disguise to blend in with the guests. Find out what they were up to today, but tell them to be careful not to ruin the fun!"
Nick Fury's expression was one of keen interest. He wouldn't have bothered with such a request if it weren't for the unusual reports of inexplicable dark clouds and flashes of lightning hitting Stark's villa earlier.
The banquet proceeded smoothly, but Felix and the others were surprised by the scale of it. They had expected a small, intimate gathering among the Justice League members. Instead, Tony had turned it into a lavish affair, a grand banquet. As it was hosted by Stark himself, countless people from various social strata were desperate to attend. There were business elites and well-known Hollywood celebrities in attendance.
Tony, the famous Iron Man, had been focused on his research for over a year, and as a result, had faded from the public eye. But his return to the public stage immediately stirred up a storm of speculation and attention. The banquet was of such a high caliber that only elites and financial predators were invited. It was an event where business deals of great value were often brokered.
To even be considered, one needed to have hundreds of millions in assets. It was a nigh impossible feat to sneak in without an invitation. The US military had even deployed its most elite troops to ensure security. As Tony's friend, Colonel Rhodes, was given the order to oversee the security without question.
Rhodes felt a little down. He hadn't seen Tony much since their last meeting in Washington. Even when he did visit the villa, Tony would only come out to greet him for a few words before excusing himself to return to the lab. Tony would never tell him what he was working on, only smiling cryptically. Rhodes had no idea that because of Felix's presence, the Mark 2 armor that should have been his, and would have been transformed into the War Machine, had been erased from his destiny a year ago.
What would he do if he knew? Would he desperately seek out Felix and ask for an explanation?
The banquet was opulent and luxurious, yet Tony himself did not spend his time mingling with the so-called business and government power players. He made a brief, symbolic appearance at the beginning and then disappeared. His status now allowed him to ignore them, they were the ones who had to curry favor with him. This, he knew, was the true benefit of money and status.
Felix hadn't forgotten his girlfriend, Louise. He had brought her to the party using his ability to create a portal. Although a bit overwhelmed by the occasion, Louise was relieved they didn't have to meet all the important guests. They simply ate and drank with the members of the Justice League. Felix introduced everyone to her, revealing their identities without hesitation.
Louise greeted the others politely, but when she was introduced to Captain America, the hero of World War II, she was stunned. That the hero was still alive after all these years was a shocking revelation. As a reporter, her first thought was the sensation this news would cause if it were ever made public. She was also fascinated to learn that T'Challa and Anne were the new superheroes. The fact that Felix knew them and that they had formed a secret alliance was equally astounding to her.
"Tony, what happened? I thought this was supposed to be a small party," Steve complained when Tony entered the room with a man and a woman beside him.
"Uh, hello, Ms. Potts! Tony, who is this next to you?" Steve asked, recognizing Pepper but not the other person.
"This is my friend, Colonel Rhodes. I brought him over today so everyone could get to know each other. Rhode, everyone here has a special identity, so don't forget the secret I made you promise to keep!".
"Cough, Steve, do you think I wanted this? It's not because of..." Tony started to say, glancing at Pepper. He had only wanted to invite a few beautiful women, but his "pepper" had found out and put a stop to his plans. Pepper, seeing an opportunity to promote Stark Industries' upcoming transformation into a clean energy company, had used the media to expand the banquet's scale, turning it into the grand affair it was now.
"Hello, everyone. I'm James Rhodes, and I'm so happy to meet you all!" he said, greeting everyone. He was surprised to see Tony with so many friends, as he'd always believed Tony had very few. Tony had also made him promise to keep whatever he saw here a secret, which confused Rhodes. After all, Tony had not been so secretive about his identity as Iron Man.
"Haha, Colonel Rhodes, I'm Felix. I've heard Tony mention you before. He said you're his best friend, and you would almost give your life for each other. It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" Felix said with a smile. He was fond of Rhodes, the "Story King" among the group.
"Felix, when did I ever tell you that?" Tony interrupted, leaving Felix speechless for a moment.
"People with low EQ shouldn't talk so much!" Felix said, shaking his head at Tony's inability to understand the nuances of conversation.
Pepper only stayed long enough to say hello before heading back out to the main banquet hall. As the president of Stark Industries, she had responsibilities to attend to, as the banquet was also a working event. Unlike Tony, she couldn't simply ignore the business contacts outside, as she needed to prepare for the company's new direction.
Just as everyone was becoming more comfortable with each other, the atmosphere was shattered by a serious tone from Jarvis.
"Sir, I have bad news. Several helicopters are ignoring all warnings and are approaching the villa quickly. They are very likely carrying heavy weapons. They are expected to arrive in less than a minute. Please prepare yourselves!"
Everyone in the room heard the alert, including Rhodes. Knowing that these unauthorized helicopters meant trouble, he immediately stood up. "Tony, I will immediately order my people to evacuate the guests and intercept those helicopters. Everyone, quickly find a place to hide to avoid injury! You need to put on your armor and get ready to fight!".
"Cough, Rhodes, please sit down. Don't be so nervous! They're just a few planes; they can't cause that much trouble. They've chosen a terrible time to attack me, right when we're all gathered here! They've practically walked right into a trap."
Tony stopped Rhodes from leaving, his words baffling the Colonel. Tony saw this as an opportunity for his new abilities to be tested. These people, he thought, were simply coming to be his guinea pig.
......…
E/N : Please support me and read atleast 10 chapters ahead at my patreon for $5.
patreon.com/PrimorDious
I'll be really grateful and it would mean a lot to me. Thanks.