- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 413
The man who just happened to pass by wasn’t a stranger; it was Leo, who had been watching nearby the entire time.
In fact, as soon as Tony and the others appeared in this world, Leo sensed them from the sky. However, to avoid detection by Tony’s advanced nanotech suit, he initially chose not to approach. It wasn’t until he saw Banner leave for the Sanctum that he deliberately made his entrance, pretending to pass by.
Steve and Scott were momentarily stunned as they looked at the man who suddenly appeared, mainly because they had no idea who he was.
Tony, on the other hand, subtly tapped his glasses, allowing them to quickly scan Leo’s appearance. Hacking into the local network, he pulled up some information about Leo:
“Name: Leo Chen. Currently the hidden CEO of the world’s largest biotech company, Li Group, and a globally renowned philanthropist. His medical innovations have cured many terminal illnesses, and his low-cost medications have advanced the global pharmaceutical industry by at least a century.”
Tony continued reading, “He is reportedly close friends with Tony Stark of Stark Industries, and every suit of Iron Man armor features ads for Li Group’s medicines.”
“Incredible. The me of this world actually agreed to have those ad slogans plastered all over my suit!” Tony muttered, unable to help a grimace. But he quickly recovered, putting on a casual smile and waving at Leo.
“Oh, it’s you, Leo! What a coincidence! Fury sent Cap to bring me to help out with something over at S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Tony figured that if this version of Leo was his friend and knew both Steve and Fury, he must also be familiar with S.H.I.E.L.D. So, to avoid any trouble, Tony pretended to be his counterpart from this world, hoping to fool Leo.
“Yes, that’s right!” Steve raised a hand and immediately played along.
By now, Steve had long ceased being the straight-laced soldier fresh out of the ice. The harsh experiences he’d gone through had taught him the value of flexibility, and telling a white lie was no big deal.
“And this guy?” Leo’s eyes landed on Scott, who looked a little confused.
“Oh, he’s an agent from S.H.I.E.L.D.—Agent Scott,” Tony replied with a smile.
Scott puffed out his chest, trying to appear sharp and capable, though the effect came off as somewhat comical. Tony couldn’t help but add, “A rookie agent.”
“Is that so? Well, is it serious? Do you need my help?” Leo asked with apparent concern.
Tony quickly waved his hand. “Oh no, it’s just some system and machinery repairs. You know, a lot of their tech and software were designed by me. I’m their security consultant, after all.”
“Security consultant? Didn’t you tell me last time you rejected Fury’s offer?” Leo asked, his face showing some confusion.
Tony’s face froze for a moment, but then he burst into laughter, trying to cover his awkwardness. “Well, he begged me a few more times, and you know me—I’ve got a soft heart. I felt sorry for the guy, so I agreed. Haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.”
As Tony scrambled for a plausible explanation, Steve subtly moved behind Leo, deciding that they should handle this situation more efficiently given the time constraints.
Taking advantage of Leo’s focus on Tony, Steve swiftly raised his right hand, aiming for the vagus nerve at the base of Leo’s neck for a quick knockout strike.
*Smack!*
But to Steve’s surprise, Leo didn’t flinch.
“How is that possible?” Steve thought, bewildered. As a seasoned fighter with honed combat skills, knocking someone out was usually child’s play for him, and he had never missed.
*Smack! Smack! Smack!*
Not giving up, Steve delivered three more precise strikes. Yet, Leo remained completely unaffected, only showing a hint of surprise on his face.
“Steve, is this some new way of greeting people? It’s quite unique. But don’t try this on regular folks—they don’t have bodies as strong as mine. You’d knock them out for sure.”
“Y-Yeah, it’s my new way of saying hello. Ha… haha,” Steve laughed awkwardly, realizing that this Leo wasn’t an ordinary person. His body was remarkably resistant to hits.
Tony quickly jumped in. “Leo, right, Fury’s waiting on me to help fix things. We really shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
“Alright, you should get going then,” Leo smiled and nodded.
Just as the trio turned to leave, Leo suddenly called out, “Wait!”
They froze, exchanged glances, and Tony turned back, forcing a smile. “Leo, is there something else?”
“Tony, I know you and Pepper have a great relationship, but you should exercise some restraint. Too much of that, and your body will start to feel it. It’s only been a few months, and you already look like you’ve aged ten years. Remember the special three-color pills I gave you—take one before the act to boost your performance and another after to replenish your energy. It’ll help you stay young.”
Leo spoke earnestly, and Steve and Scott couldn’t help but suppress their laughter while Tony awkwardly nodded.
“Got it, Leo, I’ll make sure to take them,” Tony replied, signaling his teammates to move quickly.
But just as they reached the alley’s entrance, Leo’s voice stopped them again. “Tony, hold on!”
Sighing in resignation, Tony turned back, trying to keep his smile intact. “Leo, I swear, what Fury’s asking for really is important. Let me handle this first, and we’ll catch up later, okay?”
“Of course, no problem. I just wanted to remind you of something—don’t forget, we agreed to study the Mind Scepter together.”
Leo casually pulled out the Mind Scepter, the one embedded with the Mind Stone, from a small pouch at his waist.
Tony’s eyes widened in shock.
“Well, actually, Fury’s thing can wait. Leo, how about you hand me the scepter first? We can study it right now,” Tony said hastily, as the trio rushed back toward Leo.
Feigning confusion, Leo handed over the scepter. “Sure, no problem. But are you sure? I thought Fury’s request was urgent.”
Tony and the others were overjoyed, not believing their luck that Leo was handing over the scepter so easily. It felt like finding a treasure without any effort.
But just as Tony was about to grab the scepter, Leo’s phone rang.
The caller ID? None other than—Tony Stark.
An awkward silence immediately filled the alley.
(End of Chapter)