"Oh? Go on."
Saitama lifted his eyelids slightly.
Pepper sipped her milk curiously while watching.
"Can I ask you to serve as a spokesperson for our U.S. Department of Defense?"
Rhodey said seriously.
Until now, he hadn't revealed any news about Saitama to the higher-ups. Besides, those old geezers probably wouldn't even believe Saitama existed.
But if Saitama himself showed up, it would confirm everything—and Rhodey would become the man who led the entire U.S. military world into a higher, terrifying level!
With Saitama around?
Iron Man was nothing! Though Rhodey had long coveted that armor himself.
"Pffft!"
The milk in Pepper's mouth sprayed all over Rhodey's face.
Now the colonel's entire head was drenched in white, like a soaked chicken. His look toward Pepper was utterly speechless.
"S-sorry… I-I couldn't hold it in just now…"
Pepper hurriedly tried wiping him down with tissues. "Rhodey, are you out of your mind like Stark? Saitama… Saitama may be strong, but… he's not at the level of a national spokesperson, right?"
It was hard to comprehend.
Back in the 20th century, the Department of Defense's figurehead was none other than Captain Steve!
He symbolized absolute justice and freedom.
But in recent years, Captain Steve had mysteriously disappeared. Now, the country urgently needed a new face. Iron Man Stark?
Forget it.
That guy spent his time partying and womanizing—a total mess.
Rhodey firmly believed that if Saitama showed his might in an international military setting—
For example, single-handedly destroying a military base or blasting fighter jets from the sky—
The entire world would go insane!
This was far more powerful than any atomic bomb or the Iron Man armor the Senate kept bickering about.
It would be a once-and-for-all solution!
"Not interested. If there's nothing else, I've eaten enough. I'll just get this packed to go."
Saitama licked the corner of his mouth, expressionless as he stood up.
He wasn't stupid.
Bruce Banner was a perfect example—too outstanding, and the world would cut you open like a lab rat.
He had no fear of anyone here, but unnecessary trouble was just too annoying.
And since Stark had been good to him, there was no need to drag the guy into more problems.
"Uh… Saitama, you don't have to do anything. Just represent the country. That's all, okay?"
Rhodey refused to give up, already regretting his impatience.
"Rhodey."
Saitama paused, sighing. Before coming here, he had watched Iron Man 2, and after dealing with him firsthand, Rhodey was at least half a friend in his eyes.
"I'm not interested. But… since you went through the trouble of asking, tell Stark to give me a set of Iron Man armor sometime."
After all, in the story Stark gave him one anyway. Saitama was just taking it in advance.
Leaving that behind, he walked out with Pepper.
Rhodey froze in place. After a while, his face flushed with excitement as he shouted—
"Yes! Yes!!"
The Senate hearing ended with Stark wrapping things up.
That guy even made a low-key national announcement—Iron Man was America's shield, armed with technology twenty years ahead of the world!
One man was enough to protect an entire nation!
Inside the seaside mansion—
Saitama lay on the couch, binging his soap opera while Pepper sat beside him helplessly.
Tony Stark emerged from his lab, his expression not looking too good. But he still forced a smile.
"Saitama, I'm so glad to see you. Tonight I must throw a grand party to welcome you! You can't refuse. Pepper, you're coming too!"
Saitama burst out laughing without a care.
Meanwhile, Stark's lab was filled with expensive liquor. The guy had really fallen into despair.
But Saitama understood.
After being poisoned by palladium, Stark had tried everything.
Without a substitute element, he was doomed.
The palladium kept him alive, but also killed him.
Either way, he was dead—so he might as well live it up before the end!
"Stark! This isn't how an executive should behave! You've thrown twenty-seven parties this month already. If you keep this up…" Pepper scolded angrily.
"Hey! You're wrong—it's thirty-seven! And I say—Pepper!"
"You're insane. Keep this up and you'll destroy the company!"
"No, Pepper, the stock price keeps climbing. The company won't collapse—it's only getting stronger. And now that Saitama is here… Oh, right, I need to tell you something. From now on, Saitama is the company's CEO."
"Shares have nothing to do with running a company. As a leader… huh?!"
Pepper froze, thinking she'd misheard.
Stark was really crazy. Not only had he given Saitama shares, but now this?
"Dummy, I'm not managing any company. Don't dump that on me," Saitama said irritably without looking away from his show.
For him, snacks, TV dramas, and no financial worries were the peak of life. CEO of a company?
No thanks. That sounded like a migraine.
Stark: "Uh…"
Looking at the dumbfounded Pepper, Stark nudged his lips toward her. "Since Saitama's not interested, then from now on, you're the CEO."
"Stark, you're insane!"
"I'm not insane, Pepper. I'm serious. I've always been searching for the right successor. Saitama won't do it, so you're the only one who fits. Trust me."
He poured himself a drink, calm as ever.
Pepper needed time to process everything.
Glancing at the endless bottles of liquor and the board chairman glued to his dramas, she suddenly realized—
Becoming CEO didn't feel all that glamorous after all.
The villa's week-long partying continued.
Pepper had officially become CEO. Stark and Saitama were both absentee bosses, while countless women threw themselves at Saitama.
Boys really had to protect themselves outside.
With so many tall, blonde beauties launching surprise attacks, it was dangerous out there!
One week later—
"Hey, brother, let's go to the Formula One race!" Stark shouted early in the morning, looking more excited than ever.
He had completely flipped his schedule.
Saitama had advised him about using chlorophyll to slow his poisoning, and even reminded him of his father's industrial model.
But who knew if Stark listened—he seemed drunk every day, and now he wanted to go racing.
Before Saitama could speak, Stark had already given Jarvis full permissions to him—equal to Stark himself!
Was he planning to hand Jarvis over too?
Well, whatever. Saitama happened to need Jarvis for a few things anyway.
(End of Chapter)
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