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*****
Upon hearing the news, Pepper completely lost her desire to go out on a date. Filled with anxiety, she pressed Fini for more specific details about the matter.
Fini shared the intelligence he could recall with her. After listening, Pepper thought back to the Aldrich Killian in her memory and found it impossible to imagine how he could have transformed into such a person.
"Will Tony be in danger?"
Pepper asked Fini with a face full of concern, her eyes drifting toward Tony, who was busy reviewing the data Jarvis had gathered.
"Don't worry, I'll be there to help," Fini reassured her. Meanwhile, he privately contemplated the nature of the Extremis virus.
Killian was by no means weak; in fact, he was incredibly powerful. He possessed a near-immortal regenerative ability, and every part of his body could emit high temperatures capable of easily melting steel. Aside from his inability to fly, he was a direct counter to Tony's Iron Man armors.
Hearing Fini's words, Pepper finally breathed a small sigh of relief.
"This guy has a company, Advanced Idea Mechanics—AIM. Their research direction is biotechnology, and the project is... Extremis?"
At that moment, Tony walked over, holding the investigative files and looking at Fini as he spoke.
"Don't underestimate him," Fini cautioned, noticing Tony's dismissive expression. "You should research and build some high-temperature resistant suits. It might be more effective against him. Also, try to remember—you probably crossed paths with this virus years ago."
Despite the indifferent look on his face, Tony's hands moved obediently to record Fini's suggestion.
"I should head back to the office," Pepper said. After learning about these developments, she was no longer in the mood for romance. She hoped Tony could quickly manufacture a new armor to ensure his safety.
Though Tony was somewhat reluctant, he understood that the enemy wouldn't wait for him to finish a date before showing up.
After Pepper left, Fini followed Tony into the workshop. Looking at the rows upon rows of armor display cases surrounding them, he couldn't help but ask, "Just how many suits have you researched during this period?"
Tony paused, scanning the room before replying, "In terms of the Mark series, I think I'm up to the Mark 32."
"Impressive!"
Fini gave a thumbs-up, feeling a genuine sense of admiration. To be this busy and still find the time to develop so many armors—only Tony Stark could pull off such a feat.
Hearing Fini's praise, Tony didn't show much pride. Even with so many armors, he still felt a lingering sense of unease.
Tony sat down at his computer, redesigning the schematics for the Mark 33 based on Fini's advice, while simultaneously asking, "Did you come here for something specific today?"
"I want to borrow Jarvis," Fini replied. Although Tony likely didn't have the time to help study the Scepter, Jarvis was currently the most advanced artificial intelligence in the world and would likely be a massive help.
"You want to borrow Jarvis?"
Tony was slightly taken weapons-grade surprised. He hadn't expected Fini to ask for that. Jarvis was something he had developed personally; after so many years of companionship, the AI was far more than just a program to him. He couldn't help but probe further: "What do you want to borrow him for?"
"I want to do some research on Loki's Scepter. Jarvis might be able to assist," Fini stated frankly. Since he was asking for Jarvis's help, there was no point in trying to hide it from Tony.
"That Scepter?"
A look of curiosity flashed across Tony's face. In truth, he had also considered researching the principles behind how the artifact controlled people's minds, but he had been too overwhelmed with other matters to get around to it.
"I'll have Jarvis create a sub-program then. Do you have a laboratory?"
Hearing that it was only for research, Tony agreed quite generously.
"Not at the moment, but I should have one very soon," Fini said, rubbing his chin. He had acquired a significant amount of funding from Hydra; it was more than enough to either buy an existing lab or build a brand-new one himself.
"What are you planning to do with your research?" Tony asked, his curiosity piqued by Fini's sudden interest in the Scepter.
Fini looked at Tony, hesitated for a moment, and then answered, "That Scepter has the potential to draw out the hidden power within a person's body. Those siblings should have that power inside them. I want to help them awaken it."
"Them..."
Tony paused. Over the past few months, he had seen the twins quite often, but they rarely spoke. He still wasn't sure what they actually thought of him.
"Rest assured, they've already decided to give up on their revenge against you."
Fini looked at the silent Tony, sighed, and asked, "What about you? How is the investigation into Bucky Barnes going?"
"I can't find him."
Upon hearing Fini mention the name, Tony looked up at him and asked, "Do you know where he is?"
"I don't," Fini shook his head. He truly didn't know Bucky's current location. He then couldn't help but ask, "Have you really decided to kill him?"
Tony didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Fini with a complex expression and asked back, "What do you think I should do?"
"I think whatever you decide to do, you'll have your reasons."
Fini didn't try to persuade Tony to let go of his hatred again. He couldn't truly empathize with that kind of pain, so he could only offer advice from a "big picture" perspective once. Saying too much would be counterproductive.
Tony let out a deep sigh and lowered his head back to the computer screen, though he couldn't quite focus his thoughts.
In reality, after such a long period of cooling off, Tony had thought a lot. His hatred for Bucky was no longer as raw and intense as it had been at the start. Right now, he mostly wanted to find Bucky first; as for how to handle him, he hadn't actually made a final decision in his heart.
Seeing Tony's state, Fini stopped pushing the subject and changed the topic. "How is the research on the spaceship going? I'll probably be heading out to look for a map soon."
"Progress is at about sixty percent," Tony said, putting the issue of Bucky aside for the moment. He looked at Fini curiously. "Where are you going to find a star map?"
"I think Asgard should have one. I'll go and ask them in a while."
"With that guy Thor? The one who looks like the lead from Point Break?" Tony frowned and continued, "Will he even give it to you?"
Because the Battle of New York had essentially become Fini's solo show—and because he had beaten Loki into such a miserable state—Thor's relationship with the group was nowhere near as harmonious as it had been in the original timeline.
"Who knows? I'll just have to try and see."
Fini couldn't guarantee it either, but Asgard was the easiest solution he could think of, and it wouldn't be too dangerous. After all, he had the Ancient One standing behind him.
The two of them spent some more time discussing the ship. Fini requested a few more small-scale Arc Reactors before finally leaving the villa.
A few days later, in Seoul.
Inside one of the world's top biological science laboratories.
"Dr. Cho, why was the lab suddenly acquired?"
Several staff members inside the laboratory asked a woman with visible nervousness.
"I don't know either," the female doctor, surnamed Cho, replied with a shake of her head, her face also etched with concern.
"I heard the lab wasn't originally planning to sell," another staff member whispered, "but the buyer simply offered too much!"
(End of Chapter)