Chapter 161: Righteous Tony, A Good Guy
Actually, when Tony Stark mentioned that A5-grade beef earlier, he himself regretted it a little.
He knew that, first of all, this place—as clean and charming as it was—might not even have such a thing in its inventory. Simply getting true, certified A5-grade Wagyu wasn't that easy.
It was a logistical nightmare involving certifications, specific lineages of cattle, and strict import laws. Although for him, Tony Stark, it was a trivial matter; he could eat it whenever he wanted, perhaps served on a gold platter in his private jet.
But ordinary restaurants tucked away in a dimensional back alley probably couldn't get this, could they? He had likely just embarrassed the shopkeeper with an impossible request.
However, what he didn't expect was that Ren actually possessed this steak. Tony Stark was surprised for a moment, his eyebrows raising behind his tinted glasses, but he said nothing more.
Upon reflection, it made a strange sort of sense. If the man who was partners with Lucifer—the actual CEO of Hell—couldn't even produce a simple A5 steak, it would be unreasonable. If you can summon demons, surely you can summon a cow.
Thinking of this, Tony Stark suddenly felt a little excited. The narrative of his evening had shifted from a bizarre accident to an exclusive experience. He could actually have the partner of the legendary Lucifer, the master of the Hellhound Cerberus, make him a steak. He suddenly found it very thrilling, a story that even Thor would be jealous of.
Of course, Tony Stark didn't dare to say this thought out loud. Just a glance from Lucifer earlier had almost crushed him. The pressure she emitted wasn't just fear; it was a primal weight that bypassed his arc reactor and squeezed his heart directly. If he actually said it—if he made one of his trademark snarky comments—he might just disappear entirely from the timeline.
Lucifer had already returned to her seat, hugging a large glass bowl of fruit salad. She was eating it with delicate, rhythmic motions while watching a movie on a tablet Ren had provided. Anyway, she had decided that she would rest during the day and keep a hawk-like eye on Ren at night.
Her mind, however, was far from the movie. It was a whirlwind of territorial calculations.
First, there was Esdeath, that ice-obsessed General who had practically tried to pack Ren up and take him away like a piece of luggage. And then there was Mai Shiranui, the kunoichi who clearly revered Ren with those worshipful, puppy-dog eyes. Who knew if there were more people like that waiting in the wings? The multiverse was apparently full of harlots. She had to keep an eye on Ren here. This was her territory.
At this moment, Lucifer got angry just thinking about Esdeath. The memory of that woman's domineering attitude made her blood boil. Her whole mood soured instantly. She angrily forked a piece of melon and ate it in a huff, biting down hard as if the fruit were her rival's head.
Beside her, the Cerberus sisters started thinking again.
For Cerberus, three adorable heads piled together might not necessarily become wise—in fact, the collective IQ often seemed to average out rather than stack—but since she wanted them to think, then let them think. They were currently whispering among themselves, debating whether the metal man (Tony) tasted like tin foil or electricity.
Tony Stark recovered a bit after a while. The oppressive aura had lifted slightly as Lucifer focused on her fruit. He slowly picked up his documents, adjusted the holographic interface projecting from his wrist, and resumed working.
But biology is absolute. Hunger, thirst, and sleepiness—these three things can dull even the most intelligent brain, and high-level thinking is precisely something that burns calories at an exponential rate. It will make you hungry and sleepy faster than physical labor.
It was precisely because of this biological imperative that Tony Stark decided to come to the kitchen in the first place. He had intended to find something to eat and make a cup of coffee to fuel another all-nighter. In his opinion, he could solve the stabilizer equations for the Mark suit before morning, then eat a hot breakfast, and have a glass of champagne to celebrate. Life would be beautiful.
But all of this got stuck at the first step. The door to his kitchen had led him here.
Who would have known that such a low probability event—a statistical impossibility, really—would lead him to this specific establishment? However, as the shock wore off, his scientific curiosity took over. He realized he was very lucky. Not only could he go back (according to the shopkeeper), but he had also become a witness to Another World.
He had already decided that when he went back later, he would record the appearance of that door as he walked through it with his phone. Researching Another World... the concept made his engineer's heart race.
He only regretted now that he hadn't brought any detection devices. His E.D.I.T.H. glasses for monitoring environmental data were also sitting on his workbench in his studio. He only had a standard smartphone on him. Otherwise, if he had properly recorded the data of crossing dimensions—the quantum fluctuations, the energy signature, the spatial distortion—he might really be able to develop such a device to use on his soon-to-be-born brand new Mark armor.
Tony felt his whole body become excited just thinking about his future developed armor being able to achieve time-space travel. A suit that didn't just fly through the sky, but through reality itself. What kind of powerful force would that be? It would be the ultimate shield for Earth.
"Yeah! Nice!"
It seemed he had thought of something exciting, a breakthrough in the mental schematic he was building, and Tony Stark excitedly let out a cry. He slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing in the quiet shop.
Lucifer and Cerberus both looked at this seemingly not-so-normal guest with strange expressions. Their chewing stopped. Four pairs of eyes—one pair of crimson demon eyes and three pairs of dog-like eyes—stared at him as if he had just started barking.
Tony Stark now had a shadow over him from Lucifer's earlier intimidation. He froze, realizing his outburst. He quickly waved his hand with an awkward, media-trained smile, saying, "Sorry, sorry! I just thought of a solution to a problem. Eureka moment. You know how it is."
Hearing this, Lucifer also paused the movie. She didn't immediately return to it. She still held that large bowl of fruit salad, looking at him with a gaze that was analyzing his soul.
Lucifer forked a strawberry, examining its redness before looking back at him. She showed a hint of interest—rare for her when dealing with mortals—and said to Tony Stark, "Are you doing scientific research?"
"Yes," Tony nodded, tapping the documents. "I'm building a super armor."
Hearing this, Lucifer became interested. There were a few things she was particularly interested in every day: being alone with Ren (a rare luxury), reading the outrageous messages in the dimensional group chat, and a new hobby she had picked up these past two days—listening to stories from customers from Another World or interesting things from their worlds.
Lucifer forked a piece of fruit, eating it casually, and said, "Keep going. What is that super armor for? Conquest? Destruction?"
Tony was unusually serious and earnest this time. The playboy facade dropped, revealing the mechanic beneath.
Tony said in a deep voice, his eyes focusing on the arc reactor glowing beneath his shirt, "I was once captured by enemies. Terrorists in a desert. They locked me in a cave and told me to build a missile for them. But I created the first generation of armor at that time and escaped. Since then, I realized that this world has too many dangers and darkness. I saw my own weapons being used to kill the innocent. So I decided to use my technology and wealth to create armor that can combat the evil in this world, to make this world safer and better. To be the shield."
The room was quiet for a moment. The only sound was the faint hum of the refrigerator.
Hearing this, Lucifer's impression of Tony improved quite a bit. As the Queen of Hell, she was a judge of souls. She could smell lies and deceit. But this man, despite his arrogance, spoke the truth.
Lucifer nodded, then said with a somewhat casual tone, "I didn't realize you were really a person with a sense of justice. A hero, as you humans like to say."
Hearing this, Tony Stark felt a rare flush of humility. He subconsciously said, "I've always had a strong sense of justice, including before... uh..."
His eyes involuntarily flickered toward Lucifer's legs, which were crossed elegantly under the table.
Lucifer's eyes narrowed instantly. She scoffed, "Don't lie to a demon. Although you didn't have evil thoughts just now, you had some other ideas~. Your heart rate spiked."
Tony Stark said nothing, choking slightly on his coffee, because he indeed had some thoughts of wanting to get to know her better. No man—especially not Tony Stark—would think he knew too many beautiful women. And despite her terrifying aura, Lucifer was objectively stunning.
Just then, the sound of wheels rolling across the wooden floor broke the tension.
Ren also came out pushing a dining cart. Tony really loved Ren now; bringing the meal at this moment was truly a lifesaver, rescuing him from the awkward silence.
But as the cart drew closer, the awkwardness vanished, replaced by pure culinary lust.
Looking at the tempting aroma emanating from the A5 steak in front of him, Tony knew that this steak was the real deal. It wasn't just the smell of meat; it was the smell of perfection. The aroma was rich, nutty, and buttery—a scent specific to Wagyu fat rendering down. It relaxed his brain instantly, the smell triggering a release of dopamine that cut through his fatigue.
The steak sizzled softly on the hot plate. The crust was a deep, caramelized brown, promising a satisfying crunch, while the center remained a tender, blushing pink. It was garnished simply with roasted garlic and a sprig of rosemary, allowing the meat to be the star.
"Hey! Boss!" Tony exclaimed, his eyes glued to the plate. "I didn't order wine. Although steak of this caliber should be paired with champagne to cut the richness, I still have work and need to stay clear-headed and rational, so coffee is fine. I remember that wine and coffee shouldn't be drunk together. It messes with the heart rate."
Ren smiled, a calm and knowing expression on his face. He nodded, saying, "Of course I know. Just as you said, steak should be paired with champagne. Don't worry, this is non-alcoholic champagne. It has the acidity and the bubbles, but zero alcohol. It's almost like a high-end beverage, perfect for a working genius~."
He poured the golden liquid into a flute. The bubbles danced vigorously, releasing a scent of green apples and brioche.
Tony Stark was stunned for a moment. He looked at the glass, then at Ren. This attention to detail... it was impeccable.
Tony smiled, a genuine, unguarded smile, and said, "Boss, you really are a good guy, thank you."
"Then please enjoy your meal~."
As Ren spoke, he walked over to Lucifer. Before he could do anything, he saw Lucifer place her bowl in Ren's hand and say, "I can't eat any more. You eat it all. It's an order."
Ren looked at the bowl, which still had plenty of fruit left. "Didn't you say to cut more fruit specifically?"
"But I can't eat any more," Lucifer insisted, tilting her chin up.
"Alright~," Ren chuckled, shaking his head. He skewered a piece of melon and ate it.
"Hmph." Lucifer watched him eat, then her eyes darted to his pocket. "Huh? Your phone. It's vibrating. No contact name."
Ren took it and was also stunned for a moment. It was indeed an unfamiliar number. As soon as Ren answered, he was startled, recognizing the voice immediately. Then, he said with a smile, "It must be Mr. Joichiro~."
Ren listened to the phone, leaning against the counter.
"Coming tomorrow night? Okay, no problem. Not many people come here, so no reservation is needed."
He listened for another moment, nodding.
"Order when you get here. Miss Nakiri Mana's skill level should have made her forget the taste of cooking by now. Let her not even be able to think of what she wants to eat, and let her think when she gets here. Sometimes the body knows better than the mind."
"Okay, huh? Is the old man and Mr. Dojima coming too? That's fine. Then I'll see you tomorrow night~."
After hanging up the phone, Ren stretched lazily. The prospect of serving the Nakiri family was exciting, but for now, he had a more pressing matter: a sulking demon queen.
With Lucifer's displeased expression—likely because his attention had been diverted—he reached out. He pinched Lucifer's face, the soft cheek squishing between his fingers.
Ren said with a smile, "Looks like tomorrow night will be busy. Mmm, Lucifer's face feels really good."
Lucifer's face flushed red. She swatted his hand away. "Let go! I'll bite you! And there are outsiders here..."
"So you mean it's okay when there are no outsiders?"
"Say that again!"
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