Chapter 136: Internal Strife or External Threat?
That day, Tony called Harvey, knowing he was spending New Year's alone, and invited him over for a big meal.
Harvey didn't refuse. After days of eating fast food, he was ready for a change of pace.
During the year Harvey had been away, Stark Industries had paid him dividends totaling 1.8 billion dollars.
With Stark Industries firmly established in the energy sector, its annual profits were growing larger. Harvey's available funds had now swelled to over two billion dollars—he was practically making money while doing nothing.
Harvey arrived at Tony's home, where Pepper had prepared a lavish feast.
"Happy New Year, Mr. Harvey. Please take care of Tony this coming year," Pepper said politely, bowing slightly when she saw Harvey arrive.
Over the past few days, after spending some quality time with Tony, she had learned a lot about Xandar.
She also realized that Tony had received significant financial support from Mr. Harvey, without which the development of his gravity device would not have progressed as quickly.
Additionally, she had seen the footage JARVIS recorded. Although not as impactful as witnessing it in person, she had seen hundreds of people bowing in reverence to Mr. Harvey.
The sight of Harvey's massive 200-meter-tall form left a lasting impression on Pepper.
"There's no need to be so formal, Miss Pepper," Harvey replied with a smile. "Tony's talented enough that he hardly needs my help. It's his genius that's made me a lot of money. You don't need to worry about liquidity anymore."
Pepper appreciated Harvey's modesty, though she knew better. "Regardless, I'm still grateful to you. You've given Tony the chance to explore the universe."
"Pepper, go ahead and bring the rest of the food," Tony interrupted, noticing her continued politeness.
Pepper glanced at Tony, seeing his serious expression, and nodded in agreement.
"My apologies, Harvey, I didn't mean for you to feel uncomfortable," Tony said once Pepper had left. "It's just that I mentioned the New Year's ceremonies on Xandar and showed her the footage. Ever since she saw it, she's been acting this way. I hope you don't take offense."
"Pepper's not like you. She's never left Earth to see the wider universe, so it's understandable," Harvey replied casually. "No need to worry. I've been through more troublesome situations than this."
On Xandar, Harvey had the freedom to come and go as he pleased—like returning to Earth whenever he wanted. Sonia rarely raised objections, and even asking when he would return was an exception for her. However, if Harvey wanted to take a stroll around the island, Sonia would be much more cautious, constantly reminding him to mind his actions. Even if she left for just half a day, she'd still be worried.
"No wonder you said you wanted to come back to Earth for a while," Tony remarked thoughtfully. "You're free over there, but not completely free, huh?"
In the Void Island, Tony had befriended many members of the Void cult, but only a handful had ever had the privilege of meeting Harvey. Kassadin's identity required Harvey to be mindful of his actions.
"Exactly," Harvey said, settling into a chair at Tony's dining table. "On Xandar, I eat well, drink well, and sleep well. But in terms of freedom, this identity here on Earth gives me more autonomy."
"I feel more at ease on Xandar," Tony admitted. "I don't have to hide the fact that I'm getting younger, and I can display my power without restraint."
On Earth, Tony always had to wear his Iron Man suit when going out, never removing it in public to avoid revealing his secret.
"Tony, you only just got back a few days ago. Even if you want to head back into space, you need to stay home for at least six months," Pepper chimed in, bringing more food to the table and overhearing his remark.
"I know, you don't have to worry so much," Tony reassured her. "I might have to leave for even longer next time."
"Tony, if there's something you need to ask me, just say it," Harvey said as he continued eating. "I'm not fond of people beating around the bush in front of me."
"Alright, you got me," Tony conceded. "I wanted to ask if I'll run into any trouble this year."
"I know you can't reveal the future in detail, but can you at least give me a general direction? It's been keeping me up at night."
Harvey, sensing Tony's intentions, wasn't surprised. After looking up at him briefly, he decided to offer a hint. "The main issue will involve the Avengers."
"External enemies?" Tony asked, his brows furrowing at the mention of the Avengers.
Currently, the Avengers only consisted of him, but Tony understood what it would take to activate the team. External threats to Earth were the criteria. As for conflicts between nations, Nick Fury couldn't get him involved.
"Whether they count as external enemies depends on how you define it," Harvey replied thoughtfully, pausing mid-bite. "Technically, Earth is under Asgard's protection. Loki is an adopted prince of Asgard, after all. But, then again, he'll also bring Thanos's army with him."
Harvey wasn't sure if it was better to describe it as internal strife or external invasion.
"Won't Odin or the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One, get involved?" Tony asked, his expression growing more serious.
"They won't," Harvey answered with certainty.
Odin was fooled by Loki, and the Ancient One allowed Thor to handle it, knowing it wasn't appropriate to intervene. That's how Loki was able to get away with so much.
"In that case, I can handle it," Tony said, visibly relaxing. If neither Odin nor the Ancient One was involved, the threat couldn't be that dire.
"You should be able to manage, barring any surprises," Harvey confirmed.
Loki would grow much stronger after studying numerous spells in his later years. But the Loki they were about to meet still relied mostly on his physical abilities. While he could toy with some heroes, he wasn't powerful enough to contend with truly strong opponents.
Thor, on the other hand, was different. In his normal state, Thor's power was manageable. But once Thor went into what Harvey called "Dad mode," his strength would spike to absurd levels.