Only when their footsteps faded at the top of the stairs did Tony turn to Henry, lowering his voice.
"Alright, can you tell me now? What's going on? You look like someone broke into the house."
"Something like that," Henry's smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression.
"But it's not a thief."
"Then what is it?"
"An Egghead came to visit."
"An Egghead?" Tony looked confused.
"What is that? A new nickname you made up? For whom?"
Before Henry could answer, the living room lights suddenly snapped on. The harsh glare made Tony instinctively squint.
When his eyes adjusted, and he saw the figure standing with his back to the living room, he froze. It was a tall Black man in a black trench coat, who slowly turned around. Most noticeable was the black eyepatch over his left eye.
Tony recognized him, connected him to the word Henry had used, and turned to Henry, his face showing a look of total understanding.
"Alright, you're right. It really is an Egghead."
The one-eyed Black man, Nick Fury, slowly walked forward. He first glanced at Tony, then locked his gaze onto Henry, his single eye flashing with sharp intelligence.
"We finally meet, Mr. Starks." His voice was low and commanding, full of authority.
"I am Nick Fury of the Strategic Homeland Defense, Attack, and Logistics Agency."
"The two of you have caused quite a commotion these past two days—the Armor reveal, the press conference. You successfully put Stark Industries' stock price on a rollercoaster," he paused, his tone growing serious.
"But that is not a license for you to act with impunity."
"Yeah, we finally meet. But honestly, I wish I hadn't." Henry shrugged, walking casually to the bar and pouring himself a drink.
Tony couldn't help but laugh. He walked over, poured himself a drink, and looked at Nick.
"I've asked once: when are you going to change that tongue-twisting name of yours? Can't you come up with something simpler? Like S.H.I.E.L.D. or something?"
The corner of Nick Fury's mouth twitched imperceptibly. He looked at the two unruly playboys, feeling his blood pressure rising.
Damn it, someone tell me what's happening?!
This wasn't the introduction I wanted!
Wasn't I supposed to be the one to assert dominance and control them?!
"Mr. Henry, that joke is not funny," he said, looking at Henry sternly.
"Perhaps our medical department has medication specifically for people with overstimulated minds."
"Good thing you don't rule the country," Henry looked relieved. He took a sip of his drink, then looked at Nick with a look of pure mockery.
"But for a 'Rainbow Unicorn' to become the head of an international organization, it looks like the World Security Council's management needs a complete overhaul. Stark Industries gives them so much sponsorship not for them to hire some strange person to blindly lead. By the way, where is your boss? Have him come out and talk."
Nick Fury felt his temples throbbing.
"I am the Director!"
He emphasized, trying to use his presence to overwhelm them.
"Please be serious, Henry Stark!"
"Alright, it seems I need to repeat myself," Henry put down his drink and exaggeratedly looked at Tony.
"Tony, I must be drunk and hallucinating. What era is this? This person is actually the leader! I really need to cut back on drinking."
Tony was stunned for a moment, then immediately caught on, nodding solemnly.
"You're right, Henry, you really should drink less. See, you're starting to talk nonsense."
As they spoke, Henry and Tony sat down on the sofa, crossing their legs and leisurely drinking, completely ignoring Nick Fury.
Nick Fury felt like he was about to pull his gun. He had been the Director for so many years, interrogated the most cunning spies, and confronted the most vicious criminals, but never had he felt his intelligence and dignity trampled underfoot repeatedly like this!
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He walked to another sofa and sat down, then looked at Henry, attempting a gentler approach: "I've never heard that Mr. Henry is a nationalist."
"Shut up! You Egghead!!" Henry put down his drink, looked at Nick, and suddenly shouted.
"Motherfucker!"
Nick Fury finally lost it. He jumped up from the sofa, pointing at Henry and roaring, "Do you know what people will say about Stark Industries if I record this and release it?!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Tony immediately retorted, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"They'd probably say that Stark Industries' security system needs an upgrade because some mysterious one-eyed man just waltzed into the world's richest man's house and tried to kidnap the owner. What do you think?"
Henry also smiled. He crossed his legs, looking completely relaxed.
"Get your facts straight, Director Egghead. We are Starks, the wealthiest people in this country, and arguably, the world. Public opinion? That's our family's pet. If I announce to the media tomorrow that you, the director of an international organization, privately broke into the home of the world's richest man and attempted a kidnapping because you were plotting against us. Guess what happens?"
Nick Fury imagined many possibilities: he would be suspended for investigation, the organization's reputation would plummet, and the World Security Council would be in chaos!
He was completely bewildered. He realized that all the tactics he prided himself on—power, intimidation, enticement—became a joke in front of these two unreasonable jerks.
Finally, he took a deep breath, slowly sat back down on the sofa, his voice filled with resignation.
"Alright, I was too abrupt, gentlemen. Perhaps we should talk properly."
"There's nothing to talk about," Tony refused directly.
"This is fine, though. Your attitude is better now," Henry nodded, then continued to mock him in a deliberately annoying tone.
"But I won't talk to a cotton picker. You can leave now. Honestly, that bald honest guy, Coulson, from last time was much better; at least he seemed more reliable. Seriously, is S.H.I.E.L.D. not paying its employees enough? They're all starting to go bald. If you're really short on cash, I might be generous enough to donate a little to your employee welfare fund. After all, money is the one thing I'm not short on."
Nick Fury felt utterly defeated. He stood up abruptly.
"We will talk properly next time, Mr. Henry. Goodbye." With that, he prepared to walk downstairs.
"I have a phobia of germs. You'd better not move," Henry's voice, lazy and dismissive, drifted from behind him.
Nick almost spun around and shot him. But he took a deep breath, remembering Henry's mysterious nature, and forced himself to hold back.
"Then what should I do?" his voice was strained with suppressed anger.
Henry snapped his fingers.
"Jarvis, escort the guest out. Give him a little rollercoaster ride."
"Affirmative, Sir." Jarvis immediately responded. The next second, the underground lab door silently slid open.
Immediately.
A red-and-gold Mark I Armor whooshed out with a mechanical roar!
To Nick Fury's stunned eyes, the Mark I grabbed him, lifting him like an eagle snatching a chick.
Then, the huge floor-to-ceiling glass window in the living room automatically slid open to the sides. The Mark I, holding him, flew straight out, circled the villa once, and then dropped him onto the first-floor lawn in a free-fall.
"Pleasant journey, Mr. Fury," Jarvis's gentle voice came from the Armor.
Then, the Armor flew back to the lab without a second glance.
Nick Fury lay on the soft lawn, looking up at the moon in the sky, feeling that his life had never been so messed up.
×××××××××××××××
If you're interested, you can read advanced chapters:
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