Chapter 81: Collaboration with Iron Man
The next morning, the X-Jet appeared invisibly above Tony Stark's mansion.
George spread his wings and, along with Wolverine, bypassed the mansion's guards, descending directly onto the balcony from the air. Using the Unlocking Charm, they entered the mansion's living room.
At that moment, Tony, who had been sound asleep, was abruptly awakened by JARVIS's alarm.
"Sir, intruders have been detected in the living room. Should I notify security to remove them?"
"No need, I'll handle it myself... George?"
Tony, startled by the alarm, quickly got up, intending to test his newly assembled suit. However, he was surprised to see George, his savior from before, on the surveillance feed.
After getting dressed and having JARVIS prepare a cup of coffee, Tony made his way to the living room.
"The miraculous magician. I never expected to see you again in my living room."
"I know who hired the terrorists to attack you."
George didn't waste any time and dropped a bombshell.
This bombshell immediately made Tony's expression turn serious:
"Who?"
"Obadiah Stane!"
George's answer caused Tony's pupils to contract.
"How can you be sure it's him?"
"Because I'm a mutant with psychic abilities. I used my powers on Obadiah Stane before."
George replied calmly.
Tony, however, smiled:
"I figured you were a mutant. I thought mutants had disappeared from this world, but it seems they're still around."
At his level of influence, the government's methods of deceiving ordinary people were ineffective. Although he hadn't paid much attention to mutants before, he had some general knowledge about them.
So, when he saw George display those extraordinary abilities, he had already begun to suspect.
After returning, he had specifically researched mutants and learned a lot about their history.
"And this gentleman, if I'm not mistaken, must be the famous Wolverine. By the way, can your hands really pop out steel claws, like a cat?"
Turning to Wolverine, who was casually smoking a cigar and drinking his expensive liquor, Tony recalled the information he had read and asked half-jokingly.
Wolverine didn't answer. Instead, he raised his right hand and swiftly extended three claws, then slowly retracted two, leaving only the middle one, as if giving a middle finger.
"Alright, next time you come, there won't be any drinks for you."
Tony turned back to George:
"So, what's the condition for you coming all this way to share such important information with me?"
Based on his previous interactions with George, Tony knew George wasn't the type to help others unconditionally. Plus, he had just discovered yesterday that George might be connected to the Leon family.
George asked with some surprise:
"You don't doubt the authenticity of this information?"
After only meeting once, he didn't believe Tony would trust him so easily.
Tony plopped down on the sofa:
"First, you saved my life. Whether it was for money or not, I don't think you'd come all this way just to deceive me.
With your abilities, you could have easily threatened or manipulated me for greater gains, but you didn't. You only made a small profit from the stock price difference.
Second, I also suspected Obadiah was involved in the kidnapping. After all, if I died, the company would be his. And those missiles sold to the terrorists—who else but him had the authority to do that?
Finally, I trust my instincts and judgment."
Even in the terrorists' cave, he had suspected Obadiah, but their years of friendship made him reluctant to believe it.
However, after last night's gala, where he personally heard that Obadiah had joined forces with the shareholders to remove him from his position, he knew something was definitely wrong.
"You're quite clever."
George wasn't too surprised. He never underestimated Tony Stark. The man's intelligence was among the top tier of all superheroes.
If it weren't for his knowledge of the plot, George might not have been able to maintain the upper hand.
"I do need your help with something and for you to create something for me."
"Creating something isn't a problem. As for collaboration, you'll need to tell me what it involves and what exactly we'll be doing."
George had saved his life, and despite the monetary motivation, Tony was deeply grateful. As long as it didn't violate his principles, he was willing to help.
"No problem. Take a look at this first."
George tossed a USB drive to Tony, who plugged it into the living room projector.
Soon, a video began playing on the wall.
The footage showed the evidence Gabriela had secretly recorded in the Mexican lab, detailing the horrific experiments.
After watching, Tony's expression turned grim. He hadn't expected such inhumane labs to exist in the world.
Using innocent women as surrogates to birth mutant children, then forcing those children to become killing machines—it was utterly barbaric.
"Tony, to be honest, I'm also a product of that lab. My original designation was Subject 757, with multiple mutant genes fused into me.
Later, I escaped the lab with the children and found Logan, who helped us get to New York.
But A.I.M. has been hunting and trying to kill us ever since.
So, I want to collaborate with you to destroy A.I.M. and prevent them from continuing their cruel experiments on innocent children..."
George shared the story, mixing truth with a few omissions. He didn't mention the mutant school or Professor X, focusing instead on the evil of A.I.M.
As expected, with the video evidence and George's account, Tony didn't doubt him and was filled with anger.
Recalling his decision in the cave and the purpose behind creating the Iron Man suit, Tony slammed the table and declared:
"I will help you destroy A.I.M.!"
"Done."
With Tony's firm commitment, George smiled.
In truth, based on his understanding of Tony, even without his involvement, Tony wouldn't stand by if he learned about A.I.M.'s atrocities.
Superheroes, for all their flaws, generally had good hearts.
"By the way, before that, I need you to make something for me."
George then explained the requirements for the wand shaft he needed.
"Can you make it?"
"A metal rod that allows special energy to flow freely? That's not too difficult. But I'll need to test the properties of this energy first to design it properly."
Tony thought for a moment and replied.
George nodded and handed Tony a marble containing some of his magical energy.
"This is the energy."
"Alright, follow me!"
Tony took the marble and immediately led George and Wolverine to the basement.
He then began running tests with the machines, and soon, the results came in.
"No problem. According to my calculations, fusing these materials into a special alloy should meet your requirements."
(End of Chapter)