The night wind in Manhattan carried a trace of fishy freshness from the Hudson River.
Corin stood quietly on top of a streetlight at a corner, forming a sharp contrast with the noisy scene below.
The nonstop honking, cars speeding away, crowds screaming as they ran for their lives, and drivers struggling to crawl out of overturned vehicles.
Iron Monger and Iron Man had already exchanged several rounds, yet the police were slow to arrive, shrill sirens sounding from far away.
Just as Tony shook his head and slowly got up, flames blasted from Iron Monger's feet as he leapt over the car blocking his way.
"Taste this punch!"
Twisting his waist, charging power, then punching out, flames sprayed from behind the elbow of the massive mechanical arm at the same time, instantly boosting an already heavy blow.
Clang!
The unguarded Iron Man was hit head-on, slamming into a car like a shell, crushing it and falling to the ground.
Just as Tony struggled to get up, Iron Monger grabbed him off the ground, lifted him high over his head, and slammed him down again.
"Thirty years… I've been holding you up all this time!"
Heavy feet stomped down again and again on Tony's chest, "I built this company from nothing, and I won't allow anyone to stand in my way!"
As if that still wasn't enough, he grabbed Tony again and turned to throw him toward a bus.
The bus's fragile metal paneling was instantly pierced by Tony's enormous momentum, the large vehicle swaying in place like it was made of paper.
"Especially not you!"
Obadiah continued his unfinished words as a missile rose from his left shoulder and, under a red laser sight, fired at the bus at close range.
BOOM!
Huge flames wrapped around the shattered vehicle, along with Iron Man tumbling through the air, lighting up half the street.
———
On the streetlight, Corin watched as his wallet seemed completely powerless in front of Obadiah's Iron Monger, realizing that it had been one-sided domination until now, and that this was a good chance to drum up business.
He shouted loudly, "Hey! Tony, need some help? Place an order now and you can still enjoy a 1% discount!"
Tony was blasted dozens of meters into the air by the missile, finally flipping nimbly at the moment he was about to hit the ground. Flames shot from his hands and feet as he barely steadied himself.
The roar of the explosion drowned out Corin's shout, but the loyal Jarvis automatically replayed the recording.
Hearing Corin's words, Tony's eyes lit up.
'Oh? The Crimson Silver Duke actually followed me here.'
'Hmm…'
'That guy Obie's armor really does have something to it, but… if it weren't for my armor running low on energy.'
'Taking him down would be a matter of minutes…'
'Anyway, if money can solve it, there's no reason to keep taking a beating here, oh no, to keep fighting bitterly.'
Tony seemed to have forgotten that he had just rejected Corin with, ("No! I'll handle it myself.")
"Gladly! Mr. Bounty Hunter. Same old rules, 50 million. Take care of him for me."
Recalling Corin's freakish abilities, Tony gave the price, thinking this round should be secured, Hearing Tony's offer, Corin curled his lip disdainfully, 'Tch~'
'Brother here is now a bounty hunter worth over a hundred million. A mere 50 million, are you trying to brush off a beggar?'
'I'm no longer that newbie who couldn't move his legs when he saw 50 million.'
'The price I quoted to the SHIELD director, looking back, was a bit low, but that was still starting at 100 million.'
'You, Tony Stark, someone who's never short of cash, offering that price. No sincerity at all!'
Shaking his head slightly, Corin said seriously, "Tony, Mr. Obadiah was my first employer and the guide of my career, and even my dearest family…"
Tony widened his eyes in surprise, "How come I didn't know you had this kind of relationship with Obie?"
Of course Tony didn't know, because the target Obadiah had hired Corin to assassinate back then was him, Tony Stark.
Before the words even faded, Corin said seriously, "Gotta add money!"
Tony: "!#%#%&...￥%@#%"
Obadiah: "..."*￥&...#￥..."
While Corin and Tony were talking business, the screen inside Iron Monger's helmet zoomed in and focused on the figure standing on the streetlight.
"It's him! That bounty hunter who scammed my money, Cockroach!"
At this moment, Corin wasn't wearing a mask, nor had he changed into the crimson suit.
That let Obadiah recognize this untrustworthy, despicable scumbag at a glance.
He forgot that the money had been something he himself had eagerly handed to Corin back then, all to make him stay as loyal as possible to the mission of killing Tony.
Who knew this hateful guy had no sense of contract at all, whoever paid more got his loyalty, and he'd drop a mission whenever he pleased.
"And now this guy even has the nerve to say I'm his guide, his dear family?"
"Absolutely shameless!"
In short, bounty hunter Cockroach had been added to Obadiah's kill list.
"After I take out Tony, I'll deal with you properly. Just you wait, damn bounty hunter!"
Ignoring Corin and seeing Tony successfully resolve the danger of falling from high altitude, Obadiah said stubbornly, "You improved your design, but I upgraded mine too!"
The components on Iron Monger's feet transformed with mechanical sounds, turning into giant thrusters. Pushed powerfully by flames, he shook free of the ground and charged toward Tony.
———
Tony didn't expect that even though he had clearly accepted the commission, there would be a problem with the price, "No, back then my own life was bought for 50 million. Now you're telling me dealing with Obie costs extra?"
Tony was a bit angry, not because Corin was asking for an outrageous price. Tens of millions made no difference to him.
What he couldn't accept was that in Corin's eyes, his own life was actually worth less than Obadiah's.
The slight resentment that had just risen in his chest vanished instantly when he saw Iron Monger flying toward him.
Tony Stark: "Very sorry, bounty hunter, I don't need your help anymore."
His genius brain instantly came up with an idea, freezing at high altitude to cause a shutdown.
Just then, Jarvis's voice prompt sounded, ["Sir, his armor appears to be able to fly…"]
Tony fixed his gaze on Obadiah, who was getting closer and closer, and gave the order, "Noticed. Take me to the highest altitude."
Jarvis mechanically analyzed Tony's command, ["With only 15% power remaining, the probability of reaching that altitude…
Tony looked at Iron Monger right in front of him and shouted, "I can do the math! Fly!"
Iron Man nimbly turned and shot upward into the sky, with Iron Monger close behind.
The flames beneath the two suits formed a spectacle over New York City at night, two meteors flying upward against gravity.
———
As soon as they pierced through the clouds, they were picked up by air force radar.
"Sir, that thing is back again," The radar soldier reported truthfully.
"Get me Major Allen. Send out fighter jets to intercept."
The officer on duty gave the order decisively.
Just as the phone was lifted, a black-skinned hand pressed the hang-up button. It was Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes.
"No need, gentlemen. Just a drill."
'This is as far as I can help you, Tony.'
"Yes, sir!"
Colonel Rhodes, who had raced back to the air force command center, managed to stop the air force from interfering.
Tony continued to climb, with Iron Monger's powerful engines keeping close behind.
As the altitude kept increasing, Jarvis faithfully carried out his duty to remind:
["Remaining power 14%"]
["Remaining power 11%"]
["Remaining power 7%"]
"Stop talking. Just show it on the screen," Tony couldn't take it anymore.
When flames erupted once again beneath Iron Monger's feet, he finally grabbed Tony's right leg.
He didn't realize that as the altitude increased, a thick layer of ice had already formed on the outer shell of his armor.
Pulling Tony in front of him and gripping the neck of Tony's armor tightly with both hands, "Your idea isn't bad, but my armor is more advanced in every way."
Tony's voice came through the armor, heavy with a mechanical tone, "Then… how did you solve the icing problem?"
Obadiah looked completely confused, "What icing problem?"
Before the words fell, Iron Monger's armor system shut down due to freezing, and the glow in the helmet's eyes went dark instantly.
"You should really look into that."
Tony casually punched Iron Monger's helmet, shattering a large chunk of ice.
Obadiah fell from the sky.
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