MTLNOVEL Chapter 81: Chapter 81
To fully cure Tony Stark's condition, Ethan had poured an immense amount of effort into his preparations.
After spending over half a month in the New York Sanctum refining his treatment plan and creating the necessary potions, he had now been stationed there for a full month.
During this time, Arthur had fully mastered both the mechanics of driving and the traffic laws of the city. He was now able to navigate the streets of New York freely, even scouting several "escape routes" in case they needed to evacuate during an unexpected battle.
"So, you've pretty much memorized New York's road network?" Ethan asked.
"More or less," Arthur replied confidently.
Ethan nodded, handing him a slip of paper with an address. "Do you know this place?"
Arthur took one look and nodded. "Yes, I've passed by it before. Looks like something's going on there."
"Exactly. It's the Stark Expo, organized by Stark Industries."
Upon learning about the event, Ethan decided to set aside his remaining experiments. While there were still some unresolved details in his treatment plan, there was no time left to waste. From the information he'd gathered, it was clear that the events of Iron Man 2 were about to begin.
This was the period when Tony Stark's life began to spiral from its peak to its lowest point. If Ethan wanted to approach the billionaire genius, this was the best opportunity to do so.
After all, Tony Stark was not the most approachable person. Arrogant, prideful, and often abrasive, his attitude towards ordinary people could border on disdain. In many ways, he wasn't the easiest person to befriend.
Of course, no one was without flaws. Tony had his redeeming qualities, his reliability in critical moments and his strong moral bottom line. Those traits were why Ethan was willing to extend a helping hand.
"We're heading there?" Arthur asked.
"Yes, we'll go on the day of the opening ceremony," Ethan replied.
That would be the best time to meet Tony Stark. He would undoubtedly make an appearance, and Ethan wanted to ensure their meeting happened on neutral ground.
If he had wanted to, Ethan could have used other methods, such as sneaking into Stark's mansion but that would leave a terrible first impression. Breaking into someone's home wasn't exactly a great way to earn their trust.
With his plan in place, Ethan continued refining his preparations while keeping an eye on the calendar. Soon enough, the day of the expo arrived.
Arriving early, Ethan and Arthur stood among the crowd, watching as Tony Stark made his usual grand entrance.
"This is the man we're supposed to meet?" Arthur asked, his tone skeptical.
"Yes, that's him," Ethan replied.
"I don't like him," Arthur said bluntly.
Ethan chuckled. "You're not alone. I don't like him much either."
While Tony Stark might have seemed entertaining in the movies, dealing with him in real life was an entirely different matter. His sarcasm and cynicism weren't just reserved for his enemies; even his closest friends often bore the brunt of it.
Ethan pointed out how even someone as loyal as James Rhodes had frequently been on the receiving end of Tony's antics. "To be friends with Tony Stark, you either need a heart of steel or enough patience to not strangle him in frustration."
"We're not here to make friends with him anyway," Arthur said.
"Exactly," Ethan agreed.
Though Arthur had adapted well to modern life, he wasn't content with relying on others for everything. He wanted to earn his own keep but lacked the practical skills to find work outside combat.
As Tony finished his speech and left the stage, Ethan said, "Alright, he's stepping down. Let's go introduce ourselves."
Tony didn't linger long at the ceremony. After his brief appearance, he quickly left to attend to other matters. However, as Ethan had expected, the billionaire was surrounded by a tight circle of security at all times. Even as he exited the expo to get to his car, the guards ensured a secure perimeter around him.
Ethan remembered the details from his memory vividly: Tony's car was always surrounded by a team of guards, except for a brief moment when a law enforcement officer handed him a summons.
"So, how do we approach him?" Arthur asked.
Ethan sighed. "That's the tricky part."
Initially, Ethan had thought the chaotic environment of the expo might make it easier to approach Tony. However, the heavy security presence made direct interaction almost impossible. Even if he managed to reach Stark, gaining his trust in such a setting would be far more difficult.
"I should have picked a quieter time to meet him," Ethan muttered.
"So, what now?" Arthur asked.
"We'll have to adjust the plan."
When Tony finally appeared in front of the crowd to greet his fans and prepare to leave, Ethan saw his chance. Blending into the chaos, he moved closer and slipped a small message onto Tony's person before retreating into the crowd unnoticed.
Watching Tony speed off in his car, Ethan knew what would happen next. Tony was headed to Washington, and the infamous slapstick scene involving the subpoena would play out. After that, Tony would likely retreat to his home lab for a couple of days, a perfect window for Ethan to visit.
"Actually, we don't have to find him, do we?" Arthur asked.
"Yes," Ethan admitted.
"Then why are you so determined to go?"
Arthur's question wasn't unreasonable. He couldn't understand why Ethan insisted on meeting Tony Stark in person.
Ethan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. In truth, he wasn't entirely sure why he was so determined to meet Tony Stark. Perhaps it was some lingering desire to participate in the Marvel plot, to live out a dream from his previous life.
"Maybe I just need something to do," Ethan muttered. "Don't you think it'd get boring, sitting around in a daze every day?"
While his daily practice remained uninterrupted, and he continued expanding his knowledge using the vast collection of books in the New York Sanctum, he still felt the need for a goal, a purpose beyond routine.
During this time, Ethan not only finalized the method to treat Tony Stark's palladium poisoning but also created a new main weapon. Though the Ancient One assisted with some materials and techniques, the core design was entirely Ethan's.
The prototype was complete, and testing was in its final stages. Arthur had volunteered as a sparring partner, helping Ethan assess the weapon's combat effectiveness. So far, the results were promising. The weapon was powerful and easy to use, though a few small adjustments were still needed. Once refined, it would become a reliable asset in Ethan's arsenal.
Perhaps it was the monotony of these long, quiet days that pushed Ethan to act. Or maybe it was his curiosity about the Arc Reactor and whether its energy could be adapted for his own use. Whatever the reason, after waiting two more days, it was finally time to act.
The message Ethan had left for Tony Stark was due to take effect today. And to ensure a memorable impression, he had enlisted the help of the Ancient One.
The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were notoriously old-fashioned and conservative. Based on his interactions, Ethan knew Daniel would never agree to assist him with something like this. Surprisingly, it was the Ancient One, the oldest "antique" of them all who turned out to be the most open-minded. She agreed to Ethan's request and opened a portal leading directly to Tony Stark's home.
"Let's keep this between us," the Ancient One advised, her tone calm but firm.
Ethan nodded. "Of course. I won't tell anyone. And don't worry, I owe you for this one."
Even without her asking, Ethan had already decided to help resolve the Ancient One's troubles someday, if such an opportunity arose.
This time, Arthur stayed behind. The Ancient One had offered to take him to Kamar-Taj, where he could observe how the other mages practiced.
As soon as Ethan stepped through the portal, he was greeted by the blaring sound of alarms. Almost instantly, dozens of red laser sights locked onto vital points on his body.
Spreading his hands to show he was unarmed, Ethan addressed the seemingly empty room. "I'm here to talk, Mr. Tony Stark. I believe you've already read the message I left for you."
Moments later, a figure emerged from the shadows, and the room's lights flickered on. Tony Stark stood before him, clad in full Iron Man armor.
"Sorry for the unannounced visit," Ethan continued, "but I didn't have a better option."
Tony regarded him cautiously, but perhaps sensing no immediate threat, he opened the faceplate of his helmet, revealing his expression, alert and mildly annoyed.
"Young man," Tony said, his voice tinged with sarcasm, "if you wanted a meeting, you could've just scheduled one with Stark Industries. Breaking into my home isn't exactly the best way to make friends."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Mr. Stark, if I went through normal channels, do you think I'd ever get the chance to meet you face-to-face, let alone have a private conversation?"
Tony hesitated. He couldn't deny the truth in Ethan's words. Realistically, this young man would never make it past the corporate gatekeepers. Still, Tony wasn't about to admit that out loud.
What intrigued him more was the method Ethan had used to deliver his message and gain entry. The seemingly ordinary stone that released a holographic message had already caught his attention, and now this, an aperture that seemed like some advanced teleportation technology.
Tony's curiosity as a scientist was piqued. Could this young man be here to pitch an invention? Or perhaps to seek investment?
"Alright, kid," Tony said, crossing his arms over the glowing Arc Reactor in his chest. "You've got my attention—for now. Tell me what you want, and make it good. If not, you're in for a world of trouble."
"I'm here to propose a deal," Ethan said directly. Without beating around the bush, he gestured toward Tony's chest. "I can cure the palladium poisoning that's killing you, caused by your own invention."
Tony's expression shifted, his usual smug confidence faltering ever so slightly. He instinctively glanced at the Arc Reactor embedded in his chest.
"How do you know about that?" Tony asked, his tone sharp.
"Does it matter?" Ethan countered calmly.
Tony frowned. Ethan's knowledge of his condition was unsettling, but not entirely implausible. Palladium poisoning was a known risk for anyone familiar with his work. Yet, given the sophistication of Ethan's earlier message and his mysterious method of arrival, Tony couldn't afford to dismiss him outright.
"Alright," Tony said, narrowing his eyes. "How do you plan to prove you can actually do what you're claiming?"
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