Experiencing the sheer intelligence of Tony Stark's villa left Hayate deeply envious.
Tony led Hayate straight down into the subterranean laboratory, while Pakkun trotted alongside, peering at every high-tech gadget with undisguised curiosity.
Scanning the cluttered workspace, Hayate's eyes fell upon the mechanical leg resting on a test bench. He was curious to see just how far along the Mark II development had progressed.
Tony stepped up to a holographic console and asked, "Hayate, did you ever manage to piece together that scrapped Mark I armor I left you?"
"Tony, I don't exactly have a master mechanic on my payroll," Hayate replied. "Your Mark I is still just a pile of scrap metal in my storage."
Tony let out a small sigh of regret. "That's a shame. It was my first suit—quite a collector's item. Tell you what, give it back to me. I'll have JARVIS reassemble it and then send it back to you for your collection."
"But," Tony added firmly, "don't expect me to include a Power Core."
Hearing that Tony was willing to do the assembly work, Hayate didn't hesitate. "It's a deal. I'll give you the parts before I leave."
"As for the core... Tony, do you really think I need to suit up in that clunker for a duel?"
Considering Hayate's own strength and his summoned beasts, Tony conceded the point. With a few swipes of his hand, the holographic rendering of the Mark II blossomed over the console.
"Take a look, Hayate. This is my latest vision."
"The Mark I was built under... let's call them 'suboptimal' conditions. Limited tools, limited materials, and a complete lack of aesthetic appeal. This? This is what the Mark II is supposed to be."
Hayate stepped closer. The shimmering blue hologram was remarkably similar to the iconic red-and-gold Iron Man he remembered, though currently, it was devoid of color.
"Impressive. It's certainly a lot more refined than the first one. Tell me, Tony, do you plan on selling these once the R&D is finished?"
"No," Tony answered immediately. "I won't be selling. This is private property; it doesn't belong to Stark Industries."
Hayate wasn't surprised. He merely wondered how a Mark series suit would fare against one of Sasori's puppets.
Sasori and Tony would probably have a lot to talk about, he thought. Too bad I haven't even summoned Kankuro yet, let alone a master like Sasori.
"I agree," Hayate said. "These things aren't fit for the public. The destructive power is far too great for ordinary people."
"Ordinary people?" Tony caught the phrase, his brow furrowing. "Are you implying there are a lot of 'extraordinary' people out there?"
Hayate nodded but offered no further detail. "The world isn't as simple as it seems, Tony. I think you'll find that out for yourself soon enough."
"Anyway, how is the progress? Compared to the Mark I, what have you actually improved? Or is it still just a boot on a table?" He gestured to the leg armor on the bench.
Tony grinned. "Innovation takes time. The Mark II isn't flight-ready yet. But once it is, I might just challenge you to a match to see who's truly superior."
"I've overhauled the propulsion and flight stabilization systems. Total individual flight is the goal."
Watching the billionaire talk, Hayate remembered the movie's timeline. This wasn't exactly Earth-199999, but the events were tracking closely.
"Tony," Hayate interrupted, "have you considered the icing problem?"
"Icing?" Tony blinked. It was a variable he hadn't yet calculated.
"High-altitude icing," Hayate clarified. "When you build the final version, you might want to use a gold-titanium alloy to prevent the suit from freezing up. Imagine being miles up in the air only to have your systems short out and your armor lock into a block of ice. You'd plummet ten thousand meters. Even if you hit sand again, you'd end up as a pancake."
Tony paused, visualizing the scenario. A visible shudder ran through him. "Thanks for the heads-up. That's an outcome I'd rather avoid."
Having dropped the necessary hint and assessed the progress, Hayate prepared to leave. "Tony, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Tony hesitated, then spoke up. "Actually, Hayate, there is something."
"I'd like to commission a mission. How much to have Pakkun protect me for a month?"
Tony figured a month would give him enough time to finish the Mark II and give him his own means of protection. Plus, it would give him thirty days to bond with Pakkun and see if there was a way for him to acquire a ninja dog of his own.
Pakkun looked up, stunned. He had never met a client so eager to pay for his services back in the Hidden Leaf.
Tony and Pakkun both turned their gaze toward Hayate.
"Pakkun," Hayate asked, "what's your take on this?"
Pakkun settled back onto his haunches. "I follow your orders, Lord Hayate. I have no objections."
"Alright, Tony," Hayate said. "I'll accept the commission. But a month is a long time; the fee won't be low."
Tony scoffed. "Do I look like I'm short on cash? Ten million dollars. Flat rate. What do you say?"
Ten million for a dog-sitting gig? Hayate shrugged. Fine, be a high-roller if you want.
He pulled a blank Mission Scroll from the system store, filled in the details, and handed it to Tony. "Sign here, make the transfer, and Pakkun is your bodyguard for the next thirty days."
Tony signed his name with a flourish and instructed JARVIS to transfer the funds to the Shiranui Agency account immediately.
Hayate took the scroll and fed it into the system's Mission Office.
[Mission Rank: C]
[Rewards: 500 Reputation, 50,000 Copper Coins, 1 Common Treasure Chest!]
With the paperwork done, Hayate found a clear space on the floor. With a wave of his hand, the disassembled parts of the Mark I clattered onto the concrete.
"The Mark I is in your hands, Tony. Don't forget—it's the first item in my collection."
Tony, who was already scooping Pakkun back into his arms, laughed. "Don't worry. Once JARVIS has it back together, I'll have it delivered to your agency."
"Item number one... you've got good taste, Hayate."
After a few more pleasantries, Hayate took his leave. He hadn't found a new gold source, but a C-rank mission, ten million dollars, and a front-row seat to the birth of Iron Man wasn't a bad day's work at all.