"Tony, while I don't like your arrogant demeanor, I have to admit, you truly possess an enviable talent in the field of technology..."
Killian circled the Iron Patriot once, then entered the armor, muttering, "But times have changed. Compared to your armor, the future belongs to my gene technology..."
"Just wait! If your beloved woman can't soften your heart, then someone else will make you yield and even submit."
Killian activated the Iron Patriot, gave a few more instructions to his subordinates, then leapt up and flew out.
"What crazy talk is he spouting?" Watching the Iron Patriot leave, Tony had a bad feeling.
Analyzing his previous actions, Killian was not someone who made empty threats.
"Who knows? Let me think, who could make you submit..." Colonel Rhodes' expression was relaxed, still teasing Tony.
But soon, he seemed to remember something, his face changed, and he said, "I think I know who he's going to find."
"At this time, the President should be giving a speech at the White House. And the 'War Machine' is one of the 'people' who can easily get close to the President."
In other words, if Colonel Rhodes wasn't mistaken, Killian was probably trying to kidnap the President.
This time, things were really going to get messy.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Although I really don't want to say this, I still have to. Rhodes, you're finished this time. Afterwards, the President and White House officials might just skin you alive." Seeing his friend in trouble, Tony finally found an opportunity to retaliate, gloating, "Also, the armor I supplied to the country is called Iron Patriot. It's not some 'War Machine'."
Iron Patriot was the name Tony gave to the armor he contributed, representing a certain attitude of his.
And 'War Machine' was the nickname Colonel Rhodes privately gave to that armor.
Because he thought it sounded cool.
"No, I insist it's called 'War Machine'. And I already suggested to you that that armor should be given private access to me." Colonel Rhodes was still insistent.
And he always believed that since Tony had given away the armor, he should grant the user single-person access.
Instead of how it was now, where anyone could use it just by getting inside.
"That's my armor, even if it's given away, I should still have the highest authority." Tony felt that product patent rights must be made clear.
However, thinking about the current situation, he dejectedly said, "Forget it, now is not the time to pursue these things. I just hope your guess doesn't come true."
However, what you fear most is what happens.
Before Killian left, he seemed to have instructed his subordinates about something.
Just as Tony and Colonel Rhodes were debating and explaining, a few thugs brought a TV and placed it in front of them.
The TV was broadcasting the President's speech at the White House, and then, witnessed by everyone, the Iron Patriot went to the President's side without any hindrance.
Then it grabbed the President and soared into the sky.
Bringing the speech to an abrupt halt.
"I'm done for!" Colonel Rhodes knew what this meant.
After this mess, he would likely lose the President's trust, and even the right to use the Iron Patriot.
"Don't worry, if we can escape this ordeal. Afterwards, I will set permissions for the Iron Patriot, permissions that only you can use." Tony was uncharacteristically kind, comforting his fellow sufferer, Rhodes.
"Thanks, I feel much better." Colonel Rhodes forced a smile on his long face.
"No, no, no, you really don't have to do that, I don't like men..." Tony suddenly shrieked.
It turned out that at some point, Colonel Rhodes' hands, which were behind his back, had touched Tony's hand.
Tony, who needed Pepper to handle even connecting things, had obvious mysophobia, especially concerning men.
And with his relationship with Pepper progressing, he didn't want to get involved in anything gay.
Even if the third party was Colonel Rhodes, it was still a no-go.
"I don't like men either..." Colonel Rhodes also showed a look of disgust on his face.
Only then did Tony realize he had misunderstood his friend.
The two were tied back-to-back to a rack, their hands behind them not far apart, with plenty of room to maneuver.
Therefore, Colonel Rhodes was trying to help Tony untie his restraints.
It was just that because he couldn't see what was behind him, he inevitably had to probe a few times, which led to Tony's misunderstanding.
And after Tony understood Colonel Rhodes' intention, he didn't say anything more, but his expression remained very resistant.
Fortunately, the thugs in the room, after completing Killian's instructions before leaving, went off in twos and threes to chat and joke around.
They didn't notice Tony and Rhodes' little movements at all.
One could only say that they were indeed thugs; even with a leader, they still couldn't be taken seriously.
In the villa on the other side, Mike had already finished his after-dinner dessert.
The taste was unexpectedly good.
"Alright, Tony must be getting impatient, it's time for me to make my move." Mike put down his napkin and prepared to go to Tennessee.
He hadn't forgotten that he still had a mission.
"You just got back, where are you going again? No, this time you must take me with you." The ten-year-old girl was at a clingy age.
Seeing Mike open a portal, Hit-Girl immediately clung to him.
"Stop messing around, I have important business." Mike pushed away Hit-Girl, who was hugging his leg.
But the effect wasn't very good.
Hit-Girl held onto Mike tightly, blinking her big eyes and pouting cutely, "You said that last time too, and then you left for over two months. Anyway, this time, you're not fooling me again."
Although Mike was powerful, he still had no good way to deal with the little girl's tantrums.
"Mindy!"
Just then, Scarlet Witch, who was clearing the dishes, suddenly looked up and stared at Hit-Girl.
A red light flashed in her eyes.
"Alright, alright. I know," Hit-Girl, warned, released her hand with an awkward smile.
Immediately, a harmless and cute expression appeared on her small face.
Of course, this wasn't for Mike to see, but to confuse the Scarlet Witch behind her.
Hit-Girl had long noticed that as the Chaos Magic in Scarlet Witch grew stronger, her emotions also gradually became "moody."
Sometimes it was quite scary.
Conversely, when facing Mike, Scarlet Witch's emotions would inexplicably stabilize.
The precocious Hit-Girl had already decided to find a time when the Witch wasn't around to complain about her to Mike.
"Don't worry, if things go smoothly. I should be back tonight, maybe even have dinner with you all." Mike, who didn't use Mind Reading to pry into the thoughts of those around him, didn't know what Hit-Girl was planning.
After comforting her, he stepped into the portal.
"What's the big deal, acting like someone cares..." After Mike disappeared, Hit-Girl pouted arrogantly.
Expressing her dissatisfaction.
"Mindy, given your previous performance, you can play games for an extra hour today." Over there, Scarlet Witch, dressed in casual clothes, was finishing up for Mike.
"Really? I knew you were the best!" Hit-Girl, given permission, happily rushed to the sofa.
A handheld game console was there.
And Hit-Girl, now playing the game, decided again that complaining could be postponed a bit.
All in all, no big deal.
"Stop, Rhodes. Our savior is here!"
Inside the terrorist hideout in Tennessee, Tony looked at the unique pure white portal that appeared before him, a look of relief on his face.
Finally, he no longer had to endure a man's touch.
This was very important.
"Just bear with it a little longer, I'm almost done." Colonel Rhodes, whose mind was entirely focused on untying Tony, didn't notice the portal not far away at this moment.
He just thought Tony was being dramatic.
"Listen to me, don't do useless work. Mike is here to save us..."
"You mean the Guardian?"
...
After being reminded, when Colonel Rhodes looked up, he saw Mike, radiating a soft white light, stepping out of the portal.
Magic whips filled the air, instantly restraining all the terrorists in the room.
As the magic whips slowly contracted, the terrorists fell one after another.
"Cool!"
Colonel Rhodes, witnessing the power of magic for the first time, was stunned. This mysterious power was not only efficient but also very elegant to use.
Compared to it, the right to use the 'War Machine' didn't seem so appealing anymore.