If 2B had intervened, given Iron Monger's defenses, it would have lasted a minute or two at most.
After all, 2B hails from the world of Nier: Automata, and is most adept at fighting robots. Although Iron Monger is a bit larger and has more updated armor, at its core, it is still a humanoid machine, and in terms of type, it's precisely the kind 2B excels at.
If it were Kanna, the battle duration might even be shortened to one or two seconds.
In comparison, Shi Xiaolei's efficiency was indeed much lower.
However, besides the family of three, no one knew 2B and Kanna's true identities, nor their actual combat capabilities. Therefore, after the incident, the only one who truly garnered attention from various factions was Shi Xiaolei, who had personally intervened in the fight.
"See you later, no need to escort."
"Alright, alright, welcome back next time."
"No problem, contact me when you're free."
Accompanying the little girl Kanna, Shi Xiaolei saw off her several little friends and their accompanying parents. He lowered his gaze and stroked the little girl's head: "Kanna, did you have fun today?"
"Mmm~." Kanna looked up, her face full of satisfaction as she responded. Perhaps she had too much fun with her friends, as two patches of lingering blush still adorned her fair, tender cheeks.
The old saying was indeed true: children are forgetful. Less than a day had passed, and the little girl had already forgotten the incident she encountered in Central Park yesterday, returning to her usual cute and lively self.
"Let's go back. I'll tell you a secret: I still have three puddings hidden that I haven't brought out yet. How about one for each of us?"
"Mmm mmm~." With a sparkle in her eyes, the little girl grabbed Shi Xiaolei's thick finger and waddled her short legs, eager to run into the house.
Just then, an extremely flashy sports car pulled up on the road in front of the door, screeching to a halt right in front of them.
Tony Stark, wearing sunglasses, opened the car door and stepped out.
Shi Xiaolei had guessed that Tony Stark would come calling sooner or later, but he hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly. To be honest, Shi Xiaolei was indeed a bit surprised.
"Little one, you weren't scared yesterday, were you? This is my apology gift for you." Instead of talking to Shi Xiaolei first, Tony Stark approached the little girl Kanna, squatted down, and pulled out a small gift box tied with a ribbon from behind his back.
Kanna looked at Stark, then looked up at Shi Xiaolei, biting her finger, her small face showing some hesitation: "Xiaolei, can I accept it?"
"Take it, but don't forget to say thank you."
"Mmm." Only then did Kanna take the small gift box, giving Stark an adorable smile: "Thank you."
Even Tony Stark, who was arrogant to the point of conceit and accustomed to looking down on others, couldn't resist the little girl's cuteness. He instinctively reached out and stroked Kanna's head, an unbidden warm smile appearing on his face.
However, it only lasted for a short while... By the time he stood up, his expression had returned to its usual demeanor. And sure enough, despite coming to express gratitude, his tone carried a hint of irreverence: "We meet again, big guy. What should I call you? Medieval gladiator, or..."
"Locke."
"Alright, Locke." Stark looked around, raising an eyebrow: "I assume I don't need to introduce myself, do I? I'd like to talk to you. Can we find a quieter place?"
"Let's talk inside." Tilting his head to signal him to follow, Shi Xiaolei turned around and led Kanna into the house.
With a storefront in front and living quarters in the back, the area for daily life was a bit small. Plus, having only moved in two or three months ago, many things hadn't been bought yet, and there were fewer household items... Even ordinary people would find it a bit simple, let alone Tony Stark, who was accustomed to a luxurious life.
'I'll just add another zero to the check later,' Stark thought to himself.
"Have a seat. What would you like to drink?" After sending Kanna back to her room, Shi Xiaolei pointed to a chair by the table: "All I have here are cola, instant coffee, and strong liquor from China."
..."No, thank you."
Declining Shi Xiaolei's offer, Stark, feeling slightly uncomfortable, sat down on the folding chair and immediately stated his purpose: "I've come to see you today for two reasons..."
He only mentioned 'repaying the favor from yesterday' and 'not disclosing the information to outsiders.' In truth, in Tony Stark's heart, there was also a strong sense of curiosity—whether it was his ability to instantly don and doff armor like a transformation, the special effects embedded in his weapons, or his physical prowess that allowed him to leap dozens of meters in a single bound, all the abilities Shi Xiaolei displayed in battle yesterday were like a beautiful and mysterious woman, possessing an unparalleled allure for Tony Stark.
Out of his inherent pride, Stark didn't voice these thoughts.
"So, this is hush money?" Shi Xiaolei looked at the check Stark pushed towards him and chuckled speechlessly.
"No, this is just a thank-you gift." Stark retorted, "I never stoop to the level of buying silence."
"That's true. You're not even afraid to talk about which women you've slept with. Given your personality, it's really unnecessary."
"In any case, if you don't want to cause yourself trouble, you'd best not tell anyone." Stark nodded smugly, "I'm not afraid. Whether it's the CIA, the FBI, or those paparazzi, no one dares to disrespect me. But given your situation... I'm sorry, I can't permanently assign people to specifically help you deal with those troubles."
Coulson's already got his eyes on me, what good is asking you for help... Wait, will yesterday's incident attract Hydra's attention? Ugh, I shouldn't have been so impulsive.
Not knowing what Shi Xiaolei was pondering, seeing him remain silent for several seconds, Stark assumed he was worried about the subsequent troubles.
After some thought, Stark still couldn't resist his inner desire, and a proposition slipped out: "Or how about this: I'll fund a team specifically to handle your subsequent troubles. In exchange, you cooperate with me on a few experiments?"
"Hmm?" Coming back to his senses and hearing the word 'experiment,' Shi Xiaolei couldn't help but become wary, a hint of hostility appearing in his eyes.
"To be honest, I'm quite curious about the abilities you displayed yesterday." Since he had already started, he wasn't afraid to say a few more words. Stark continued to ask, "Can you tell me? How did you manage to change clothes instantly, and what's the deal with those weapons you used in combat?"
To tell, or not to tell?
In a flash of thought, Shi Xiaolei made his choice.
"You really want to know?"
"..." Looking into Shi Xiaolei's eyes, Stark said nothing, but simply pulled out his checkbook again from his pocket.
"Heh heh, since you're so straightforward, I'll tell you a little bit."