GUARDIAN OF THE MARVEL REALM

Behind every successful man stands an exceptional woman.

For playboy Tony Stark, that woman is undoubtedly his sharp, confident, and fiercely capable assistant—Pepper Potts.

So, if there's anyone Tony might actually fear when angry, Pepper would be high on the list.

"Are you kidding me?"

Pepper stormed into the laboratory, dragging a heavy box on a trailer. Her frustration was evident from the way her voice carried through the room. "What the hell are you thinking, Tony? You lost your company, walked away from your job, and locked yourself in this lab for four days without stepping outside! Do you have any idea how chaotic things have gotten? The company entrance is swarmed with reporters every single day!"

"Alright, alright. First, take a deep breath." Tony raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Jarvis, pull up the latest news on Stark Industries."

"Yes, sir."

The lab's holographic interface lit up, instantly displaying news reports.

The primary footage was a replay of the battle that had taken place on the streets days ago. The camera focused heavily on the enormous mech—a 'mirage' of sorts—that had captivated the media. News headlines flooded the screen, speculating about the mysterious pilot and their connection to Tony Stark. One particular drone had captured footage of the mech landing at Tony's residence, fueling even more speculation.

"Sir, the news coverage has been overwhelmingly focused on your 'guest.' Every reporter is scrambling to uncover the identity of the mech's pilot and their relationship with you," Jarvis summarized. "A drone even recorded footage of the mech arriving at your estate."

"Oh, great." Pepper exhaled sharply, then her eyes landed on something else in the lab. "Wait a minute… is this the mech?"

"Yes, yes. That's what I've been working on." Tony waved off her concern, shutting down the news feeds. He clearly didn't care about media gossip.

"Wait. What about the pilot? Did you keep them here?" Pepper's instincts told her there was more to the story. Her expression shifted. "Are the tabloids right? Is it some mysterious blonde woman you've been hiding away in your villa?"

Tony smirked. "Oh, if you mean him, he's standing behind you."

"Wha—?!"

Pepper turned on her heel in shock.

Standing casually at the entrance of the lab, dressed in pajamas and holding a wine glass, was a man.

"Hello, Ms. Potts. I'm Shen He," he greeted smoothly as he walked in. "For now, just a guest."

Pepper's brows furrowed. "…Right."

"Yes, it's that simple." Tony was already back at his holographic controls, swiping through structural schematics of the mech. "Pepper, ignore the media. They're always looking to stir up trouble. Meanwhile, I'm actually busy."

"So, you've locked yourself away to study this mech?"

Pepper sighed, some of her frustration dissipating. She knew Tony well—when he was deeply engrossed in a project, he could disappear for days.

Still, she couldn't voice her full annoyance in front of a stranger.

"Of course. This isn't just any mech."

Tony's eyes lit up as he gazed at the Mirage. "It's not on par with my Mark suits, and the operating system is terrible—but the defense field? That's something else entirely. Give me a week, and I'll integrate its best features into my next-generation Mark armor."

Pepper massaged her temples. "So… I take it that means you won't be attending the cocktail party in three days?"

"Nope. You go for me." Tony waved dismissively.

"Me?" Pepper's jaw tightened. "I'm just your assistant! That event is for CEOs of major companies!"

Tony finally looked up. "Then you'd better start acting like one."

"…What?"

"I said—you're the new CEO of Stark Industries." Tony spoke with finality. "Starting now. Legally, there'll be paperwork, but as the owner, I choose my successor. And it's you. Congratulations." He smirked. "You can scream now, or throw yourself a promotion party."

Pepper was stunned.

"I—I…"

She struggled to find words, but a smile crept onto her face. She and Tony locked eyes, and for a brief moment, the years of effort and dedication felt worth it.

Shen He watched the exchange in silence, sipping his wine.

Ugh. Another dose of romance right in my face.

Still, something else was nagging at him.

Based on everything he had gathered over the past few days, the upcoming cocktail party was a key plot event. That day, there was supposed to be a high-profile race, during which Tony—desperate and reckless because of his worsening palladium poisoning—would participate and then come face-to-face with the movie's main antagonist, Ivan Vanko.

But now?

Tony Stark had no intention of attending.

What's Ivan Vanko supposed to do now?

"Alright, then. That's settled."

Tony exhaled, as if a weight had lifted off his shoulders. His eyes landed on the heavy box Pepper had dragged in. "What's in there? Looks serious. A fan gift?"

"No," Pepper said absently, still processing everything. "Agent Coulson asked me to bring it over. He said it's… your father's personal belongings."

"My father's belongings?" Tony's brows furrowed. "Why now?"

Shen He, however, was frozen.

This timeline is a mess.

Tony's birthday party—where he was originally supposed to receive this box—was half a month later. The discovery of his father's old work and the solution to the palladium poisoning should come after his downward spiral.

Did I just cause the butterfly effect?

Shen He sighed internally.

Still, seeing the hesitation in Tony's expression, he decided to nudge him along. "Howard Stark was one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. He was a brilliant man, Tony. And you… were his greatest pride."

Tony's eyes snapped to Shen He.

"…What did you just say?"

To Tony, his father had always seemed cold and distant. A man too wrapped up in work to show affection. And then, one day, he was just gone—killed in an accident on a deserted road.

"Everything you need to know is inside that box." Shen He motioned to it. "Your father left you his life's greatest achievement. And that, Tony, is the key to saving you."

Tony crouched beside the box, hesitant yet curious, fingers brushing against its worn edges.

"You know…" Tony murmured, "…you sound like you knew him better than I did."

Shen He chuckled. "Didn't I tell you? We've been watching. The past, the future… all of it."

Tony's fingers tightened on the box.

This was going to change everything.

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