Chapter 36 I'm not, I didn't, I don't know!
East Coast, Stark Expo press conference.
At the main venue, at the Hammer Technology booth, CEO Justin Hammer was personally introducing his company's products.
He began by sarcastically belittling Tony's armor before presenting his own innovations.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what we are showcasing now is the latest creation from Hammer Technology – the Hammer Steel Soldier."
As Justin Hammer gestured, arrays of drone mechas slowly ascended from beneath the stage. These mechas were all equipped with the most advanced weapon systems developed by Hammer Technology.
Amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the audience, Justin Hammer pointed to the center of the stage and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the first prototype of the Iron Soldier, the Comprehensive Threat Response Combat Armor, and its pilot, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes!"
In the center of the stage, bathed in the spotlight, Rhodes, clad in the War Machine armor, slowly rose, then raised his hand in a salute. All the steel soldiers behind him mirrored his gesture.
The atmosphere reached its peak. Justin Hammer held the microphone, ready to speak further.
A fiery roar echoed from the sky, and Tony, wearing the sleek Mark VI battle suit, flew towards the venue, landing gracefully on his own booth.
The audience erupted in even louder cheers than before. Tony raised his hand to acknowledge the crowd, and the excitement intensified.
Tony approached War Machine and warned softly, "Listen, Rhodey, I suspect Justin Hammer is working with Ivan Vanko, and they're planning something here."
Rhodes was also surprised. "Ivan Vanko isn't dead?"
Tony, no longer concerned with the audience, walked directly to Justin Hammer and demanded, "Where is Ivan Vanko?"
Naturally, Justin Hammer feigned ignorance and denied any involvement.
However, at that precise moment, War Machine's weapon systems activated, its gun aiming directly at Tony. The weapons on all the surrounding mechas also whirred to life, targeting Tony.
Tony was shocked. "What the hell, Rhodey, what are you doing?"
Rhodes was equally frantic. "Tony, the system has been hacked! I can't control the armor anymore!"
Tony reacted instantly, soaring into the sky and flying out of the venue.
The weapon mounted on War Machine's shoulder fired directly at Tony, and the other drone mechas also opened fire. The bullets trailed Tony's flight path, shattering the glass skylight on the exhibition hall's roof. Broken glass rained down, hitting the panicked audience below.
The scene descended into chaos, with screams erupting and everyone scrambling to escape the exhibition in terror.
War Machine's flight thrusters ignited, and it pursued Tony, accompanied by several of the flying drone mechas.
Tony dodged nimbly in the air, the War Machine and drone mechas relentlessly chasing and attacking him.
"Lin, where are you?" Tony evaded an attack from a pursuing mecha while trying to contact Lin Yuan.
"I'm here, Tony. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. Get to the venue! There are still many non-flying ones at the booth!"
"Okay, be careful. I'll handle the venue." As he spoke, Lin Yuan was already soaring above the exhibition hall.
The army steel soldiers equipped with sniper rifles and the navy steel soldiers armed with rockets inside the venue followed the fleeing crowd outside.
Fortunately, Ivan Vanko's primary target was Tony, and the remaining drone mechas did not initially attack the audience.
But as the mechas moved outside, the Army Steel Soldiers began to lock onto Tony and fire their sniper cannons.
Tony skillfully evaded the bullets, one of which struck a drone following behind him.
The drone was destroyed, and its wreckage plummeted towards the scattered crowd below.
Lin Yuan flapped his wings, snatched the debris with one claw, and hurled it towards an empty area. At the same time, the navy steel soldiers began launching rockets indiscriminately at the surrounding ground.
"Fuck, this is brutal!" Lin Yuan had a headache. He had no way to intercept the rockets. Explosions erupted across the scene, and the panic intensified.
"Damn it, you useless system! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be getting beaten up every time I fight!" Lin Yuan made a decision and swooped down towards the group of mechas on the ground.
The moment the roc approached the ground, it transformed into a cute panda. With a mighty roar, the Challenging Roar skill was activated.
All the drone mechas within the skill's range instantly shifted their targets and aimed their weapons at Lin Yuan's panda form.
Ivan Vanko, secretly controlling the mechas, was dumbfounded. What was happening? All systems were reporting normal, yet all the mechas were inexplicably focusing their attacks on the panda!
Lin Yuan didn't care about Ivan Vanko's confusion as he was now under heavy artillery fire.
Intense explosions rocked him, and although magic protected him from serious injury, it still hurt.
He rushed towards the most concentrated group of drone mechas, using their own firepower against them.
Soon, most of the unmanned mechas were destroyed by friendly fire, and the remaining ones posed little threat, their heads easily smashed off by Lin Yuan's panda with a single swipe of his paw.
"Phew, finally done." Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and hurried towards the backstage area to find Pepper.
Upon reaching backstage, he saw Pepper urging the Hammer Technology staff to repair the system as quickly as possible.
Lin Yuan was about to greet her when Natasha and Tony's avatars appeared in the communication window on the computer screen.
On the other side, backstage at the exhibition, Natasha followed Pepper as she confronted Justin Hammer about what had happened. Justin Hammer tried to evade the questions, but Natasha, losing her patience, shoved him onto a table. After forcing him to reveal that Ivan Vanko was in his laboratory, she left Pepper to call the police and deal with Justin Hammer while she went directly to the source of the problem.
Happy drove Natasha to Hammer Technology Headquarters. Natasha changed into a tight-fitting outfit in the car, almost causing Happy's eyes to pop out of his head.
After breaking into the laboratory, Happy managed to subdue one guard. Just as he was about to show off to Natasha, she had already cleared the entire area.
Looking at the unconscious guards scattered across the floor, Happy was dumbfounded.
When Natasha located the room where Ivan Vanko had been, he had already fled, but the control computer was still there.
As a top-level agent, Natasha easily rebooted Rhodes's armor.
In the sky~
Tony dodged the attacks and, using the surrounding structures for cover, destroyed several of the unmanned mechas. However, he was unexpectedly struck from the side by War Machine, and the two armored figures tumbled down into an ecological botanical garden.
War Machine pinned Tony down and fired its shoulder-mounted machine gun at him.
Fearing he would harm Rhodes, Tony refrained from using high-powered weapons, merely holding the muzzle of War Machine's gun to prevent it from firing directly at him.
Suddenly, War Machine sputtered and lost all power. Tony quickly shoved it off him.
Then Natasha's communication window appeared in front of Tony.
"Your partner is back online!"
"Thank you, Agent Romanoff!" Tony hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
"You're welcome. Your new equipment has stable energy and is more powerful. Also, your vital signs are normal."
"Yeah, I won't die for now, thank you!"
"What? Tony, were you dying? How could you hide something so serious from me?"
Pepper's voice reached both of them, filled with anger.
Tony was startled and quickly explained, "I'm sorry, so sorry, Pepper. I wanted to tell you before, but so many things happened, and I didn't have the time. I'll explain everything to you later."
At that moment, Natasha also noticed on the surveillance radar that several drone mechas were surrounding Tony and quickly warned them.
Pepper knew this wasn't the time to discuss personal matters, so she suppressed her anger for the time being.
Then she turned and looked at Lin Yuan, who was approaching, gritted her teeth, and asked, "My dear brother, did you know about this too?"
Lin Yuan's heart sank, and he quickly denied, "I'm not, I didn't, I don't know! That sister, I'm going to help Tony brother!"
After Lin Yuan finished speaking, he quickly transformed into a large roc and flew towards Tony~~.
Chapter 37: ADC is weak, support takes over
Lin Yuan had just taken off when he suddenly had a thought and returned to Pepper.
Under Pepper's confused gaze, Lin Yuan changed back to human form, cast Wild Growth and Rejuvenation on her, and then said, "Sister, stay away from those mechas at the entrance when you go out. They might explode."
Pepper nodded, indicating she understood. Lin Yuan then felt relieved and hurried towards Tony.
Flying over the botanical garden, Lin Yuan saw that Tony and Rhodes were surrounded by countless drone mechas. He quickly cast buffs on both of them and then observed the situation from the air.
It wasn't that he didn't want to go down and help, but he truly felt powerless in a direct fight. After all, he was primarily a support character. The damage dealing should be left to the two ADCs below!
Tony felt a familiar surge of energy coursing through him. He looked up and saw Lin Yuan in his roc form in the sky.
Tony immediately felt more confident. He had backup. These mechas were nothing but fodder. He could easily crush them. He excitedly yelled to Rhodes beside him, "Rhodey, feel that? Our support's here! Let's get them!"
With that, Tony charged forward.
It was the first time Rhodes had experienced Lin Yuan's buffs. He felt the injuries he had just sustained and the physical exertion he had endured rapidly fading away! Although he didn't know who the "support" Tony was referring to, when he saw Tony already rushing into the fray, he didn't hesitate and followed suit.
The battle intensified as all the drone mechas swarmed towards the two armored figures.
They coordinated well, using various weapons back-to-back, effortlessly destroying the drone mechas.
However, the sheer number of mechas was overwhelming, and even with Lin Yuan's buff protection, the two were beginning to tire!
Finally, Tony couldn't take it anymore. Fighting them one by one was too slow and too troublesome.
He yelled, "Rhodey, get down!"
The bond between these two friends was evident in that moment. As soon as Tony shouted, Rhodes immediately crouched down. Their teamwork was remarkably intuitive!
Mark VI activated the energy in its hands, spun its body, and unleashed searing red lasers, instantly slicing all the surrounding mechas in half.
Lin Yuan watched from above, amazed. This move was incredibly powerful and undeniably cool. What should I do to be that awesome?
Rhodes looked at Tony with a hint of resentment and said, "That's a powerful move! Use that first next time!"
Tony detached the laser emitter from his hand and explained, "Can't do that, buddy. This is a one-time use only, for critical moments!"
Rhodes was about to respond when Natasha's voice rang out again: "Be careful! Another mecha is approaching! This one's different. The energy signature is too strong!"
The two men instantly became alert, watching the mecha descending from the sky. The mecha landed, and its mask opened, revealing Ivan Vanko.
Ivan Vanko landed with an arrogant smirk. He swung out two whips in each hand. High-voltage electric currents crackled around the whips, emitting a menacing sound.
When Rhodes saw the ultimate boss arrive, he immediately perked up. It was finally his turn to shine.
He shouted, "Let me handle this! Watch me take him down with my 'Ex-Wife' missile!"
Lin Yuan watched from the sky, expectant. "Here it comes! The famous scene is about to unfold!"
A missile launcher popped out from Rhodes' shoulder. A small missile ignited and flew towards Ivan Vanko.
Ivan Vanko didn't bother to dodge. He had already looked up the specifications of the "Ex-Wife" missile and knew exactly what to expect.
Sure enough, the missile struck Ivan Vanko's mecha, then fell to the ground with a pathetic thud, a few sparks sputtering before it went completely silent.
Lin Yuan was laughing so hard in the sky, while Tony stared at Rhodes as if he were an utter fool. "HammerTech?"
Rhodes was embarrassed. "Yeah..."
"I'll do it!"
Tony took the initiative. The mecha's automatic targeting system instantly locked onto Ivan Vanko's exposed head and chest, and bullets were fired in rapid succession.
Unfortunately, Ivan Vanko was prepared. His hood snapped shut just in time, deflecting the bullets.
The battle erupted. Ivan Vanko swung his electric whips directly at Tony and Rhodes! They both quickly dodged and immediately retaliated.
However, Ivan Vanko was now wearing a full suit of armored plating and was completely unfazed by bullet attacks. He swung his whip and cleanly severed the weapon mounted on War Machine's shoulder.
Tony tried to take off and attack from the air, but Ivan Vanko lashed him with a whip, pulling him down. He then struck Tony several more times, leaving deep scratches on Mark VI's armor.
Rhodes rushed to help, but was caught by a whip and yanked to the ground. The War Machine armor offered no protection against the electric current, and its control system was clearly being disrupted by the strong electrical surges, rendering it unable to launch an effective counterattack.
Ivan Vanko stepped on the prone War Machine, intending to deliver a final blow. Tony lunged forward to attack, but was swatted away by a whip. Then, the whip snaked around Mark VI's neck. Tony grabbed the whip and pulled with all his might, causing Ivan Vanko to stumble. Rhodes seized the opportunity to escape. But Ivan Vanko swung another whip, ensnaring War Machine.
In an instant, both Tony and Rhodes were entangled by two electric whips, left and right, immobilizing them. They both gripped the whips tightly, creating a precarious balance between the three.
Ivan Vanko, likely feeling confident in his victory, removed his mask and looked at them both with a mocking grin.
Tony yelled, "Rhodey, do you remember what happened at the party?"
Rhodes understood immediately.
Both men raised their hands, and the energy emitters in their palms began to charge. They planned to use the powerful energy explosion generated by the collision of their repulsor beams to eliminate Ivan Vanko.
When Ivan Vanko saw their actions, he instantly slammed his helmet back on and pulled hard on the whips with both hands. Both Tony and Rhodes staggered, and the repulsor beams fired wildly off target.
Lin Yuan was dumbfounded. How come this villain actually has a brain?
This was different from the plot! What should they do next?
Ivan Vanko exerted more force on the whips, and both Tony and Rhodes were thrown aside. He ignored the War Machine behind him and walked directly towards Tony, lashing Mark VI repeatedly with his whips. Tony was knocked back again and again, unable to mount any effective resistance.
Lin Yuan sighed. My own ADCs are terrible, while the enemy's ADC is incredibly strong. It looks like I, the gold-medal support, am the only one left to carry.
The roc swooped down and grabbed Ivan Vanko's head with its sharp talons.
Ivan Vanko was caught off guard and stumbled.
He reacted quickly, swinging a whip towards Lin Yuan. Lin Yuan easily dodged the attack and transformed into a panda upon landing.
"Charge~~"
Ivan Vanko only saw a panda rushing towards him, and in an instant, it was right in front of him.
As the panda's paw connected, a magical force surged into his brain. His vision went black, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Lin Yuan the panda seized the opportunity, raising his claws and launching a furious barrage of attacks on the defenseless Ivan Vanko, his panda paws leaving afterimages.
Five seconds later, Ivan Vanko regained consciousness, completely unharmed.
Lin Yuan yelled at Tony helplessly, "Brother Tony, you absolutely have to make me a battle suit after this! I am so frustrated with fighting like this!"
Tony struggled to his feet and replied, "No problem, I'll build you one after this is over."
While Lin Yuan was dodging Ivan Vanko's attacks, he was frantically thinking of countermeasures.
Under the current circumstances, Ivan Vanko's electric whips completely overwhelmed Mark VI and War Machine. Their close-combat abilities were no match for him, and ordinary long-range weapons couldn't penetrate his armor.
Lin Yuan's own attacks were as effective as throwing pebbles at a tank; they couldn't inflict any real damage on the fully armored Ivan Vanko.
Looks like that's the only way I can go!
Chapter 38 Are You Crying?
"Brother Tony, Brother Rhodey, I can hold him in place for 10 seconds! Use that move again!"
Lin Yuan dodged the whip's attack while yelling instructions at Tony and Rhodes.
"No problem!" they both answered simultaneously, raising their hands and aiming at Ivan Vanko.
Ivan Vanko didn't know what they were planning, but a strong sense of danger made him abandon his attack on Lin Yuan and rush towards Tony.
Lin Yuan would never allow that. He transformed into human form and unleashed the Entangling Roots skill.
Thick vines instantly wrapped around Ivan Vanko, immobilizing him. Ivan Vanko was shocked and raised his whip to sever the restraints.
Lin Yuan chuckled, transformed back into a panda, and shouted, "Hey, Sun Thief~!"
Challenge Roar activated!
Ivan Vanko felt a surge of uncontrollable anger flood his mind. The whip's trajectory changed, swinging directly towards Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan hadn't anticipated this sudden speed. He couldn't evade in time and was ensnared by the whip. His entire body convulsed uncontrollably. "Numb... numb... so numb! Brother... Tony, move... move!"
Seeing Ivan Vanko entangled, Tony and Rhodes aimed their hands at each other, and two beams of laser energy collided directly in front of Ivan Vanko.
The violent explosion sent Ivan Vanko flying backward. When the smoke cleared, he was clearly dying.
There was no fear of death in Ivan Vanko's eyes. He simply said to Tony, inexplicably, "You lose!", and then he died.
Immediately, the mecha on his body glowed red and emitted a beeping sound. Following suit, all the drone mechas also flashed red.
Rhodes understood the danger. "Those mechas are going to explode! Get out of here, now!"
"Brother Tony! Sister Pepper is at the venue!" Lin Yuan reminded Tony urgently.
Tony understood instantly. Flames erupted from his gauntlets, and Mark VI flew towards the exhibition hall at full speed.
Lin Yuan watched Tony fly away in a hurry, a chuckle escaping his lips.
"Brother Tony, don't blame me. I'm doing this for your own good. Consider this a little nudge in the right direction for your relationship."
Meanwhile, Pepper, who was backstage at the venue, handed Justin Hammer over to the arriving police officer and walked out of the building.
As she stepped outside and saw the wreckage scattered across the ground glowing red, she suddenly remembered Lin Yuan's warning. Subconsciously, she took a few steps back, but it was too late.
"Boom~!" With a deafening roar, all the wreckage exploded simultaneously.
In the blink of an eye, Pepper was engulfed by a raging inferno.
At that very moment, a figure was hurtling towards the scene. It was Tony. He watched in horror as the woman he loved was consumed by flames.
"No!!!!" A heart-wrenching roar tore from his throat, his voice raw with unimaginable grief and despair.
Tony propelled himself towards Pepper as fast as his armor could carry him, his eyes filled with despair and terror. When he saw Pepper lying there motionless, his heart felt as if it had been ripped apart.
"No! This can't be happening!" Tony couldn't accept the reality before him. He knelt beside Pepper, stroking her cheek with trembling hands, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
"Pepper... you'll be okay, you'll be okay!"
"I can't lose you. I can't imagine a life without you. I need you. Please don't leave me!"
Tony knelt on the ground, cradled Pepper in his arms, and wept.
A gentle hand touched his face, and a familiar voice asked softly, "Are you crying?!"
Tony was completely stunned, staring blankly at the beautiful woman in his arms. Pepper had a warm smile on her face and looked at Tony with deep affection in her eyes.
Tony snapped back to reality, hastily wiped away his tears, and said stubbornly, "I'm not crying! You must have seen it wrong!"
Then he hugged Pepper tightly. "I'm so incredibly glad you're alright!"
Lin Yuan and Rhodes were enjoying the unfolding drama from nearby.
Rhodes shouted excitedly, "He's crying! He's crying! Did you get a picture of it?"
Lin Yuan raised his phone with a proud grin. "Of course! High-definition and uncensored! I'll send you a copy later!"
Tony helped Pepper to her feet, and when he saw his two companions snapping photos of his vulnerable moment, he became so incensed that he lunged towards them to grab the phone.
How could Lin Yuan let him succeed? Rhodes also stepped in to help Lin Yuan fend off Tony.
Pepper watched the three of them playfully bickering, a genuine smile gracing her lips.
She had never liked Tony going out to fight for peace. She was constantly afraid that one day he wouldn't come back.
But today, she had witnessed Lin Yuan's magic firsthand. It was unbelievable that she was completely unharmed after such a violent explosion!
Her perspective had shifted. She now believed that as long as Lin Yuan was with Tony, Tony would be safe.
Since Tony was determined to fly around in his armor, she would alleviate his worries and watch his back.
After a while, the three of them stopped their playful scuffle. Tony hugged Lin Yuan tightly and said gratefully, "Thank you, Lin! You saved me again, and you saved my future."
Lin Yuan knew Tony was thanking him for saving Pepper. He smiled and said, "Hey, what's the point of saying thank you between us brothers? Besides, Sister Pepper is not only my sister but also my future sister-in-law. I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. The same goes for you, Brother Tony. I won't let anything happen to you either."
Rhodes watched the two brothers hugging, a pang of playful jealousy hitting him. "Looks like I'm the only one who's the odd man out here!"
Lin Yuan walked over with a smile and playfully punched him in the chest.
"Brother Rhodey, I didn't forget about you! I gave you a buff during the fight too!"
Rhodes suddenly realized. "Oh~ You're the support Tony was talking about! Your abilities are really amazing! And you can even turn into a bird and a panda! Can I learn that magic?"
Lin Yuan smiled and said, "No, those are my unique skills. But I have even more powerful ones! Would you like to experience them?"
Rhodes puffed out his chest.
"Bring it on! Let me feel how strong you are!"
"Alright then, here it comes!"
"Come on, I'm ready!"
As soon as Lin Yuan raised his hand, the Nourish spell was released.
Rhodes felt something, but couldn't quite describe it. He asked in confusion, "Is that it? Is that the more powerful one? I don't really feel anything."
Lin Yuan explained, "This skill will continuously improve your physical fitness and save your life when you are in mortal danger. How about that? Powerful enough for you?"
Rhodes nodded quickly, his eyes wide with excitement. "That's awesome! Thanks, brother!"
Tony came over and asked, "Lin, is this the same skill that saved my life before?"
Tony remembered the sudden surge of power he had felt when Obadiah had ripped the arc reactor from his chest.
"Yes, Tony. This skill is called Nourish. Pepper has it too!"
"Ah? I have it too? No wonder I've been feeling better and better lately, even though I haven't had time to exercise! Thank you so much, Lin!"
Pepper thanked Lin Yuan with a surprised and grateful look.
"Hey, what are you thanking me for? I won't let anything bad happen to you, Miss Pepper!"
Lin Yuan waved his hand dismissively, indicating it was no big deal.
Tony's mischievous voice came from the side. "So, you already knew Pepper would be fine, and you just wanted to see me make a fool of myself?"
"How can you call it embarrassing? If I didn't do that, how would Sister Pepper truly know her importance in your heart? I was helping you out, okay?"
Lin Yuan looked quite pleased with himself.
"Okay, okay, okay, you were helping me, right? Then I'll help you too!"
Tony gritted his teeth, turned to Pepper, and said, "No matter what it takes, I want to see him back in a school classroom next week!"
Lin Yuan looked at Tony in utter shock, realizing his act of kindness was being repaid with a cruel twist of fate!
"No~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!"
Chapter 39 Have you heard that people say
The KB attack, in which only Ivan Vanko and Lin Yuan sustained injuries, came to a successful conclusion!
Rhodes did not return the War Machine armor to Tony. He knew that Tony had given it to him intentionally, even if it was initially because Tony believed he was dying.
But now, Rhodes had no intention of giving the armor back. He was a military man utilizing a war machine. In a way, this mecha belonged to the military, and it could help Tony shoulder a significant amount of pressure.
Tony and Pepper had just reconciled and were deeply affectionate. Lin Yuan felt it best to give them space and not intrude. He had noticed that his Tony could be a little possessive, so he planned to visit his own home for a few days.
After saying goodbye to Tony, Lin Yuan flew towards his home.
He had spent several months in Asgard this time. Upon returning, just as he was looking forward to a good meal, Tony had urgently called him back. After all that trouble, he could finally enjoy a proper meal.
"Wahahaha, delicious food, here I come!"
He arrived in a small town south of his home just as dawn was breaking. The bustling atmosphere of the city filled Lin Yuan with a sense of comfort.
"This is the life!" Lin Yuan was genuinely happy. He cherished this kind of peaceful existence. His home in this world was just like his original world – tranquil and calm.
Although he really wanted to stay there, the system had warned him that due to the influence of the world's will, various events would inevitably find him. Therefore, it suggested he stay near the "Eagle's" residence, as that area had an abundance of "superheroes"! (Dog head)
Lin Yuan found a breakfast shop bustling with customers and thoroughly enjoyed his meal.
A middle-aged man in a suit and tie sat down next to Lin Yuan. Assuming he was another breakfast patron, Lin Yuan shifted slightly to make more room.
"Hello, Mr. Lin Yuan! May I have a word with you?"
Surprisingly, the middle-aged man actually called out Lin Yuan's name.
Lin Yuan was a bit puzzled. He had no Chinese relatives in this world, and he didn't even possess an official identification card. How could this man know him?
However, he wasn't afraid. The man seemed friendly enough and likely had no malicious intentions.
"Okay, just a moment. Let me finish eating," Lin Yuan said while continuing his meal.
"Please, take your time. We're not in a hurry," the man replied gently.
Lin Yuan quickened his pace but still savored his food. He finally put down his cutlery after the last bite. Wiping his mouth, he stood up.
"Alright, now we can talk business. Where should we go?" Lin Yuan asked the man.
"This way, please, Mr. Lin!"
The man led Lin Yuan out of the breakfast shop to a black car. He opened the door, inviting Lin Yuan to get in. Lin Yuan entered without hesitation, and the man got in and sat beside him.
The car started, and the man extended his hand to Lin Yuan, introducing himself. "Hello, Mr. Lin Yuan, I am Zheng Xian, the director of the Shenmao Bureau of the Rabbit Nation."
Lin Yuan was taken aback. It was the Shenmao Bureau! He calmly shook the man's hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Director Zheng."
Zheng Xian looked at Lin Yuan and asked, "What does Mr. Lin Yuan know about our Shenmao Bureau?"
Lin Yuan shook his head, indicating his lack of knowledge.
Zheng Xian smiled and explained, "Our Shenmao Bureau is a department responsible for handling special events, similar to the Eagle Nation's S.H.I.E.L.D."
Lin Yuan nodded and asked directly, "So, what does Director Zheng wish to discuss with me?"
Zheng Xian maintained his smile and said calmly, "Mr. Lin, from the moment you first set foot in our territory, our monitoring department keenly detected your arrival and immediately launched a comprehensive investigation into you. After an in-depth inquiry, we made an astonishing discovery – we couldn't find any information about you in our population database! This has left us quite perplexed and curious. According to our records, your identity was first documented when Stark Industries assisted you in declaring your information. Before that, the world seemed to hold no trace or record of your existence. This situation is exceptionally rare and quite puzzling..."
Lin Yuan asked calmly, "What is Chief Zheng implying? Are you planning to apprehend me?"
Lin Yuan had anticipated such a situation. He had arrived in this world without any prior identity, leaving no trace of his life. He had initially expected the relevant department of the Eagle Nation to be the first to seek him out. Now, it seemed they weren't necessarily uninterested, but likely had been preempted by Tony.
Zheng Xian quickly clarified, "No, no, no, Mr. Lin Yuan, please don't misunderstand. After our observation, we are all convinced that Mr. Lin Yuan harbors no ill intentions towards our nation, and we intend to treat you with utmost respect. What I mean to ask is whether Mr. Lin Yuan would be interested in joining our organization."
Lin Yuan remained silent for a long moment before replying, "Director Zheng, to be honest, I deeply desire to return and live here, but due to certain unique circumstances, I cannot stay for an extended period. Therefore, I regretfully must decline your kind offer." Lin Yuan paused, then added, "But please rest assured, whenever our nation requires my assistance, I will undoubtedly come!"
Although Zheng Xian had anticipated this response, he still expressed his regret. "Well, that is a pity. While we may not have the opportunity to work alongside Mr. Lin Yuan, we still warmly welcome you to visit our nation frequently."
Lin Yuan smiled and nodded. "Thank you, I will visit often. By the way, Director Zheng, I have a small favor to ask, if it's within your capacity to help."
Zheng Xian promptly replied, "Mr. Lin Yuan, please don't hesitate! As long as it is within our capabilities, we will do our utmost to assist you."
Lin Yuan smiled and said, "It's not a significant matter. I simply wish for your assistance in obtaining an identification card."
Zheng Xian was momentarily stunned, then he chuckled. "Haha, is that all? Of course, no problem at all, Mr. Lin Yuan. I will notify you when the documents are ready, and you can come and collect them."
Lin Yuan nodded. "Okay, thank you, Director Zheng!"
Zheng Xian waved his hand. "Mr. Lin Yuan, you are far too polite. This is merely a trivial matter. Is there anything else we can assist you with?"
Lin Yuan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Well, would it be possible for me to bring some friends to visit here in the future?"
Zheng Xian answered without hesitation, "Of course, as long as you inform us in advance."
Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's wonderful. I was concerned about causing any inconvenience."
Zheng Xian smiled and said, "How could it be troublesome? Mr. Lin Yuan's friends are also our friends."
Then Zheng Xian hesitated again before asking, "Mr. Lin Yuan, may I inquire if your friend you mentioned is Tony Stark?"
Lin Yuan didn't try to conceal the truth and said generously, "It's not just Tony, but also my friends from Asgard. That would include King Odin and his queen, their son Thor, the God of Thunder, and perhaps their youngest son, the God of Mischief – Loki."
Zheng Xian was utterly stunned!
Have you heard what people say? ! !
Chapter 40 The end of the world?
After seeing off Director Zheng Xian, who was still reeling from the information overload, Lin Yuan was quite pleased. He now had an official channel to resolve his identity issues in his homeland. Finally, he wouldn't have to shuttle back and forth between his home and Tony's every day. While the travel time wasn't significant, it was still a bit tiresome.
With an official ID card, everything would become much more convenient.
He called Tony and explained the situation.
Tony didn't object. He now had a great deal of trust in Lin Yuan, especially after Lin Yuan's extended stay on an alien planet. What was there to worry about with a simple trip abroad?
So, Lin Yuan began to enjoy his newfound freedom. After parting ways with Zheng Xian, he first headed to the Northeast for a hearty meal of chicken stewed with mushrooms. In the afternoon, he relaxed on the beach in Hainan, enjoying the sight of bikini-clad women and indulging in a delicious seafood dinner. Completely satisfied with his culinary adventures, he lay on the beach to bask in the warm sun.
Lin Yuan mused that this was the kind of life he had always wanted. He felt incredibly fortunate to have come to this world and met Tony. Putting aside everything else, the sheer wealth he now had access to was comparable to a time-travel cheat code.
Zheng Xian was efficient. He contacted Lin Yuan that evening to inform him that the ID card was ready. Lin Yuan flew over and obtained his official identification from his homeland in this world.
Holding the familiar-looking document in his hand, Lin Yuan was filled with emotion. This could be considered as establishing a sense of belonging in this strange new world.
After carefully putting away his ID card, Lin Yuan decided to celebrate.
"Boss, 20 beef skewers, 10 lamb skewers, 5 skewers... and a bottle of iced肥宅快乐水 (feizhai kuaile shui - 'fat-house happy water', a popular name for Coca-Cola among Chinese internet users)."
"Okay, find a seat first! I'll grill them for you right away!"
Lin Yuan found a vacant table and sat down, eagerly awaiting his skewers.
His phone rang.
"Hey, Tony, what's up?"
"Lin, I have something to tell you!" Tony's voice came through the line.
"What is it?"
"I've become a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Oh, well, what about it?" Lin Yuan remained calm.
"Aren't you even a little bit curious?"
"Why would I be particularly curious about that? Wasn't it inevitable?"
"Alright, let's drop that! There's a commendation ceremony the day after tomorrow. Do you want to come? I specifically asked that jerk to organize it. I want that idiot who gave me a hard time at the hearing last time to present the award to me in person!" Tony's voice held a note of pride.
"Brother Tony, you are so childish!"
"I'm not being childish! I'm just making sure gratitude and resentment are clearly defined!"
Lin Yuan thought to himself, "It's pretty obvious who's being narrow-minded here."
Of course, he only dared to voice this opinion internally and would never say it out loud.
"Brother Tony, I won't be attending. I'm still young and don't want to become too famous too quickly. I'll let you and Brother Rhodey have the spotlight."
"Okay, I'll leave you alone then." Tony hung up after saying that.
Looking at the disconnected call, Lin Yuan continued to enjoy his barbecue.
What was the point of fame? Wasn't it much nicer to simply enjoy barbecue in peace? He'd leave the fame and glory to the frontline ADCs; a support like him just needed to stay safely in the back.
For three whole days, Lin Yuan's figure could be seen all over the country.
He ate whatever he craved, wherever he happened to be.
Lin Yuan declared his love for the Druid's flight form skill!
Although, this flying wasn't quite as dazzling as the spinning maneuvers of Kamar-Taj. But he had other advantages. He could transform into a panda! Kamar-Taj definitely couldn't do that!
"I wonder if I could learn to spin in circles. Maybe I should visit Kamar-Taj?"
Lin Yuan shook his head vigorously, trying to banish that terrible thought!
"No, no, I can't waste time! I need to stay here. How could I even consider such a horrible idea!"
Lin Yuan patted his chest, which was pounding with a lingering sense of fear, and decided to treat himself.
"I don't think I've ever eaten poisonous mushrooms before. Maybe I should go to Cainan to try some?"
In his previous life, Lin Yuan had watched videos posted by bloggers on a certain audio platform, showcasing the unique mushrooms of Cainan. He had always wanted to try them, but unfortunately, he never had the opportunity.
Now, there was nothing to fear. He would simply do it!
Upon arriving in Cainan, he found a renowned local mushroom restaurant and began placing his order.
"Boss, give me a plate of each type of mushroom you have! The more poisonous, the better!"
He possessed the skill to dispel poisons and was immune to toxins. It was also rumored that the more poisonous the mushrooms, the more delicious they were. He absolutely had to try them!
"Sir, you must be joking. How can mushrooms be poisonous? The mushrooms we serve in our restaurant are definitely not poisonous!"
The boss refused to acknowledge his request.
"Okay, okay, my mistake. Just hurry up and bring the food!"
"Alright, please wait a moment!"
Soon, a large pot was brought to his table, filled with various kinds of mushrooms.
The waiter helped light the small burner beneath the pot, then placed an alarm clock on the table and gave Lin Yuan a series of instructions.
"Guest, you cannot eat until the alarm goes off! Please remember this!"
Lin Yuan agreed immediately, but he scoffed internally. "Tsk, as if I wouldn't know that! I'm not a child!"
However, as the mushrooms in the pot began to release bursts of fragrant aroma, Lin Yuan's mouth started to water. Seeing that there were still more than ten minutes left on the alarm clock, he couldn't resist the temptation.
"Just one little bite... would it hurt?"
Once the thought took root, it spread like a virus! When he finally regained his senses, his hand had already reached into the pot and plucked out a piece of mushroom.
"Don't blame me for this! It was the hand that acted first!"
Then, he ate the piece of mushroom.
Fresh, incredibly fresh!
Lin Yuan's eyes lit up. It truly lived up to its reputation. It was unbelievably delicious!
Lin Yuan couldn't help but grab a few more slices. If he hadn't been using chopsticks and his fingers weren't considered unhygienic, the entire pot of mushrooms would have vanished before the alarm even sounded!
As for poisoning?
Stop kidding yourself! He was a Druid, immune to all poisons. A mere mushroom was nothing to him!
After what felt like an eternity, the alarm finally rang. The waiter brought chopsticks, and Lin Yuan eagerly began devouring the food.
"Delicious, delicious, delicious! Next time, I absolutely must bring Tony and Pepper here to eat! I wonder if he could just fly over in his battle suit. Hmm~ probably not, it would easily cause a sensation."
Lin Yuan pondered while eating, his chopsticks never pausing. Soon, the entire pot of mushrooms was empty.
"Hiccup~!"
After consuming a whole pot of mushrooms, Lin Yuan let out a satisfied burp, rubbed his stomach, and looked utterly content.
"I should ask the waiter if they sell these mushrooms to take away. I'll buy some to bring back for Tony to try!"
After paying the bill, Lin Yuan inquired about purchasing mushrooms and then bought several varieties that he found particularly delicious to take back with him.
Lin Yuan leisurely flapped his wings, flying towards his home. He gazed at the scenery below as he flew, feeling utterly relaxed.
Suddenly, a figure that Lin Yuan never expected appeared directly in his path.
A figure with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a deer materialized in the air before him.
Lin Yuan in his roc form slammed on the brakes mid-air, even forgetting to flap his wings!
"What the hell? Cenarius?"
Lin Yuan rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Immediately afterward, another figure appeared next to Cenarius.
With demonic horns adorning his head, a pair of massive demon wings extending from his back, and two Azzinoth warglaives held in his hands – the image was instantly recognizable!
"Oh my god! Demon Hunter Illidan Stormrage!"
Then came the Moon Priestess Tyrande, wielding a moon blade and riding a majestic white tiger;
Arthas, the Lich King, clutching Frostmourne;
Deathwing Neltharion, covered in molten lava armor... wait!
Various iconic figures from his previous life's World of Warcraft appeared before Lin Yuan's very eyes.
Lin Yuan was completely dumbfounded. Emergency call system!
"System, you damn system, come out here now! Something huge has happened!"
"Come out and take a look! The world of Azeroth has invaded the Marvel world!"
"Oh my god! It's the end of the world!"