Chapter 71

"Obadiah... It's been a while since we last met. You left in such a hurry last time; I didn't get a chance to entertain you. I wonder if you'd grant me that opportunity now?"

As he spoke, Tony subtly nodded to Abel and extended his hand to the light curtain in front of him, secretly trying to track Obadea's location.

But just then, Obadiah's voice came through the phone, accompanied by a self-satisfied chuckle. "Tony, Tony, you're still the same—always trying to be clever. You claim not to make weapons, yet you've crafted the most powerful one in the world."

"You don't need to waste time looking for me. I'm at your Stark Industry Fair right now. Guess where I am? I have friends here who want to see you. They've asked me to convey that it would be quite painful for you to die from palladium poisoning, so they're generously offering you a way out."

Obadiah continued, "Also, I hope you enjoy the gift we sent you from Hanmer."

Before Tony could respond, Obadiah hung up, blocking the signal.

Turning to the light curtain, Tony saw the tracking signal flicker and vanish, leaving a serious expression on his face. He was uncertain whether Obadea and his associates were genuinely at the expo.

Even if they were, he knew it would be impossible to shut down the event halfway. Doing so would risk the reputation of Stark Industries, and the government would never agree to it. A world-class expo was a matter beyond corporate interests; it was a diplomatic issue that involved countries. This was no longer a concern for Tony's predecessor, Stark, who had faded from the scene.

Now, Tony had only one plan.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., begin remodeling and assembling Mark Ω. How long until it's ready?"

"Sir, Mark Ω is currently an experimental model and not yet confirmed for operational use," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied.

"Just tell me how long it will take to finish!" Tony insisted.

"Preliminary calculations estimate completion in about four hours and eighteen minutes."

"Alright, let's start the transformation and assembly of Mark Ω. Also, I need Mark VI assembled as well!"

"It will take two hours and twenty minutes to complete Mark VI."

"That's acceptable; I can wait a little over two hours."

"Understood, sir."

As J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice faded, the hidden manufacturing plant on the top floor of the Stark Building sprang to life, commencing the construction of two sets of armor. The Mark VI only required modifications to the existing Mark IV components, making it ready for immediate use. If not for the fact that Tony had recently completed a new arc reactor, those modifications wouldn't have been necessary.

Once that was settled, Tony grabbed his phone and motioned for Abel to follow him to contact Pepper. However, Abel quickly noticed that Tony seemed to be having a heated argument with Pepper. With a resigned sigh, Tony returned to Abel's side.

"Abel, I need to ask you for a favor."

"To protect Pepper and Happy?" Abel replied, surprised.

Tony chuckled helplessly. "Yes, you really know me well."

"But why not just keep Pepper and Happy from going to the fair? It would be safer for them."

"I suggested the same thing, but she insisted that if anything happened at the Stark Trade Fair, it would cause significant harm to Stark. As the manager, she feels she must be present. She's quite stubborn, but she does have a point—there are many innocent people involved."

"It's alright. As long as I'm there, I can guarantee Pepper and Happy's safety. You don't have to worry."

"Good. Pepper said they were leaving soon, and I still need to wait for the armor to be assembled. I've already contacted Rhodes; he'll act as a military representative to manage the war machine. You can find him as well."

"Rhodes? Colonel Rhodes?" Abel echoed, feeling a twinge of concern. He couldn't quite recall the specifics of Rhodes' role at the fair, but something felt off.

Though he couldn't remember the exact details, Abel sensed there might be a problem with Rhodes' involvement.

"Anyway, I'll be there. With my new wand, I can test my abilities."

"Abel, you still have some time. I have a suit you can change into. Also, you look a bit disheveled; you should freshen up."

"If you think we're disheveled, we're just a reflection of each other. As for showering, I don't think it's necessary," Abel replied casually.

"Not showering? So you can be even sloppier than I thought..."

Before Tony could finish, Abel waved his wand lightly over himself. A soft white light enveloped him, and he emerged looking impeccably tidy, even his clothes appeared as good as new.

"Now, who looks more presentable?" Abel grinned at Tony.

"Can I use magic as a substitute for showering? Show me how it works; I want to experience the difference," Tony exclaimed eagerly.

Raising an eyebrow, Abel asked, "You really want that?"

"Absolutely!" Tony nodded enthusiastically.

"No!" Abel replied, smiling.

"Hey, Abel, don't be so childish! Are you just holding a grudge because I called you sloppy?"

"I'm only seventeen; isn't it natural to be a little naïve?" Abel retorted, his tone playful.

Half an hour later, Abel, now dressed in a suit, climbed into the car driven by Happy, with Pepper at his side, as they made their way toward the fair venue.

Inside the car, Pepper couldn't shake her nerves.

Noticing this, Abel rolled down the window slightly and reassured her, "Pepper, don't worry. I promise your safety here is guaranteed."

Pepper took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Abel, but I can't help but worry. If Obad and his crew cause trouble, can you and Tony really ensure our safety? Maybe we should call the police! I know some people at S.H.I.E.L.D.; they could help."