Chapter 159: Tony, the Master of Overthinking, Dancing on a Minefield
Rewind to when Tony Stark first entered the small shop.
At that precise moment, Tony Stark hadn't noticed anything amiss. In his mind, he was still traversing the hallway of his Malibu mansion, or perhaps stepping into one of his private break rooms at Stark Tower. He walked in leisurely, his attention entirely consumed by a holographic projection hovering above the transparent tablet in his hand.
"Jarvis, run the diagnostics on the flight stabilizer again. I'm seeing a 0.04% variance in the thruster output," Tony muttered, swiping a finger across the glass surface. He didn't look up. He didn't need to. The world usually rearranged itself to accommodate him.
He took another step, expecting the familiar cool air of his workshop. Instead, he was greeted by a scent—subtle, warm, and distinctly analog. It smelled of aged wood, simmering broth, and a faint, sweet floral note that definitely wasn't machine oil.
But after walking a few steps, Tony Stark casually called out, "Jarvis, why is the lighting this color today? It feels like we're in a sepia filter. Reset to daylight settings."
Silence.
"Jarvis?"
Tony stopped. His finger hovered over the tablet. The AI, usually a constant voice in his ear, was gone. No static, no error message, just a void where his digital butler used to be.
Tony Stark finally realized something was wrong. He looked up and saw the true appearance of the place.
If his genius brain hadn't taken a temporary vacation due to caffeine deprivation, the data would have been obvious. The sleek, futuristic curves of his lab were gone. In their place stood a cozy, traditional interior. Wooden beams crossed the ceiling, soft amber light filtered through paper lanterns, and a gentle breeze stirred the wind chimes near the window.
It was clearly a restaurant. And not just any restaurant—it felt like a place out of time, a hidden gem tucked away in a Kyoto alleyway or a forgotten corner of Shanghai.
"Okay," Tony murmured, his eyes scanning the perimeter. "No exit signs. No security cameras. Atmospheric pressure is normal. Gravity is standard one-G."
While Tony Stark was still pondering how he got here—was it a kidnapping? A hallucination brought on by palladium poisoning? A surprise birthday party?—he suddenly saw them.
Sitting at a table in the center of the room were Ren and the five of them, including Lucifer and the Cerberus sisters.
Upon seeing Lucifer and Cerberus, Tony Stark's eyes lit up.
Tony Stark could swear on the one-nanometer outer shell of his soon-to-be-released new mech's fingertip that he had never seen such beautiful and elegant women. And Tony Stark had seen a lot of beautiful women. He had graced the covers of magazines with supermodels and actresses, but the women before him operated on a different frequency entirely.
Lucifer, with her silver hair cascading like moonlight and her crimson eyes holding a regal, imperious depth, looked like royalty. No, she looked like a goddess who had decided to slum it among mortals. And the triplets—identical, energetic, with an uncanny synchronization—were undeniably cute in a way that defied genetics.
However, despite his initial appreciation, he had no other thoughts. It was clear, even to a narcissist like him, that these women had a very good relationship with the man sitting amongst them. Their body language was gravitational; they orbited Ren. Tony wasn't so shameless as to interfere in a happy relationship—unless it was really funny, but today he had business to attend to.
Tony Stark wasn't stupid; on the contrary, he was a genius. Although Jarvis wasn't present to run facial recognition or threat assessments, he still had his brilliant mind.
At this moment, Tony Stark quickly analyzed his surroundings.
Hypothesis 1: I've been drugged and moved. Unlikely. He had biometric sensors that would have alerted him.
Hypothesis 2: Simulation. Possible, but the resolution was too high. The smell of the food was too distinct.
Hypothesis 3: The Setup.
He looked at the lights. They were electric, but the fixtures were old-fashioned. He looked at the wind chimes, the potted plants—orchids, he noted—and the layout.
This is a restaurant similar to those in my world, Tony concluded. It's an Earth-based establishment. The craftsmanship is human. The botany is terrestrial.
Finally, he looked at Lucifer and the others. They were wearing Western suits—sharp, tailored, professional. Ren, the man in the center, looked like a person from the Celestial Empire, calm and unassuming.
It was confirmed. Although he had arrived in an unfamiliar place through some inexplicable method, he must have appeared in a restaurant somewhere in the world. He attributed all of this to an ultra-rare supernatural phenomenon—or, more likely, extremely advanced technology he hadn't invented yet.
However, as long as he knew he was still in that world, it didn't matter. He still had his phone with him. He could call Pepper Potts to pick him up at any time. The GPS would triangulate his position, Happy would drive the car around, and they'd be home in time for dinner.
After confirming this, Tony Stark completely ignored Ren. In his mind, Ren was likely just an actor or a fellow technician in this elaborate play. He walked straight towards Lucifer.
Any normal person who wasn't afraid of women would choose to talk to a beautiful woman. And Tony Stark was fearless.
He adjusted his suit jacket, put on his best 'magazine cover' smile, and approached the table.
"Hello, beautiful lady," Tony Stark elegantly said, his voice smooth as silk. "I am Tony Stark, the controller of Stark Industries, Iron Man, et cetera. I assume you know the name. Now, I have to ask... where is this place? And who signed the purchase order for the decor?"
Lucifer paused. She slowly lowered her fork. She could sense that Tony Stark wasn't a simple child like Mutou Yugi, nor was he a warrior. He was something else—a chaotic ball of ego and intellect. If he were a simple fool, he wouldn't have come straight to her with such confidence.
However, Tony Stark hadn't said anything out of line. He was polite, in his own way.
Lucifer simply said, "This is a restaurant in Another World."
Hearing this, Tony Stark paused. A flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.
"Another World?" Tony smiled, shaking his head. "I didn't expect you to be such a witty lady. Committed to the bit, are we? I like that. Dedication to the theme is important in business."
He leaned closer, resting a hand on the back of an empty chair. "Are you the owner of this shop?"
Lucifer casually said, "One of the owners. What do you want to say? Spit it out, mortal."
Tony Stark looked at Lucifer, then at Ren, and finally at the Cerberus sisters, who were watching him with playful expressions, munching on snacks as if this were a midday soap opera.
Tony Stark, with his genius thought process, was truly unique. He connected the dots that only he could see, drawing a straight line through a maze of misunderstandings.
He covered his forehead with one hand, letting out a dramatic sigh. "I think I understand. Okay, you got me."
He looked back at Lucifer. "Then you must have used some kind of device to transfer me here—quantum tunneling? Spatial folding? You grabbed me from my hallway and deposited me here, all just to get my attention and apply for a job at Stark Industries."
The room went silent.
Cerberus's ears twitched, a look of confusion on their faces.
A device? What device? Was he talking about the door?
Ren, on the other hand, said nothing. He simply leaned back, crossed his arms, and watched Tony Stark's performance with the patience of a saint watching a toddler play with a hand grenade.
Tony Stark smiled, visibly pleased with his deduction. "If you were trying to show me your technology and intelligence, you succeeded. I admit it. I'm impressed. The transition was seamless. No nausea, no visual artifacts. It's better than my Mark II deployment system."
He pointed a finger at the group. "Tomorrow, you can all start working at Stark Industries. I'll have HR draw up the contracts."
He gestured to Ren. "That gentleman can go to the technology department. We need engineers who think outside the box."
Then, he turned his charm back to Lucifer and the triplets. "And these ladies... you can be my technical secretaries. I need people who can keep up with my schedule, and if you engineered this abduction, you're certainly qualified."
Lucifer raised an eyebrow.
Secretary?
He wanted the Queen of Hell, the Morning Star, the Ruler of Demons... to be his secretary? To fetch coffee? To schedule meetings?
Did he really think she didn't know what a secretary did? She had watched enough human television to know it involved taking orders. And Lucifer never took orders.
Although she couldn't sense any malicious intent—in fact, she sensed a genuine appreciation for talent—Tony Stark's previous playboy personality leaked through his words. It made Lucifer instinctively dislike him. He was arrogant, presumptive, and he treated Ren like a background character.
And he even directly arranged a job for her man? Without asking?
The Cerberus sisters tugged on Ren's clothes, their three heads leaning in. "Master! This guest doesn't seem very smart!" 1
"He's talking nonsense!"
"Is he broken?"
"Master?!" Tony caught the word. His eyes widened.
"Hey! Sir!" Tony's voice dropped, losing its playfulness. He stepped forward, placing himself between the women and Ren. "You'd better say that's a joke. 'Master'? Really? Otherwise, this behavior is criminal. I don't care where we are. I can have you arrested and sent to the best prison—or the worst one—at any time!"
Ren's eyebrow twitched.
He could tell this was a boss, and a capable one at that. Tony Stark had a strong moral compass beneath the ego. He was trying to "save" the women from what he perceived as a cult leader. But his thought process was indeed a bit peculiar.
Just as Ren was about to say something to diffuse the situation, he saw Tony Stark turn his head to look at Lucifer.
Lucifer's face was now completely dark. Shadows seemed to pool around her eyes. The air pressure in the room dropped noticeably. She was trembling—not with fear, but with the sheer effort of not incinerating the man in the expensive suit.
Tony Stark saw the slightly trembling Lucifer and, thinking she was scared of Ren's retribution, became even more convinced of his guess.
She's terrified, Tony thought. He's controlling them.
He then walked up to Lucifer. He moved with the gentle confidence of a savior.
Using the softest possible tone, he said, "Lady, there's no need to be afraid. I'm here now. Tony Stark is here."
He stood tall, shielding her from Ren. "Since I've seen it, I won't ignore it. You and those ladies over there can start working directly tomorrow. You'll be safe at Stark Tower. You'll be responsible for following me and doing technical research. Your intelligence will surely make the research smoother. I'll double whatever he's paying you."
Saying this, Tony Stark turned his head and glanced at Ren, his eyes cold and hard. "As for you, Sir, you can just sit there. Don't move."
Tony tapped his wrist, forgetting for a moment that his watch wasn't connected to the Iron Man suit. "In a little while, I'll send someone to take you to the police station. Stark Industries doesn't need people who engage in illegal activities like this. Kidnapping is a felony, pal."
As he spoke, Tony Stark saw Lucifer's trembling frequency increase. The table rattled. The silverware clinked together ominously.
Tony Stark, thinking Lucifer was excited about her liberation, reached out to pat her shoulder to comfort her. "It's okay, you're free now—"
But as soon as his hand extended, it felt as if it was caught in an iron vice.
"Gah!"
Tony Stark cried out in pain. His hand stopped inches from Lucifer's shoulder. He tried to pull back, but his wrist was locked in an immovable grip.
He raised his head to see a smiling Ren standing beside him. Ren had moved faster than Tony's eyes could track.
Ren smiled, a gentle expression that terrified the Cerberus sisters more than any anger. "A very brilliant and interesting deduction, Mr. Stark. Truly creative fiction. But completely wrong."
Ren's grip tightened just enough to strain the ligaments without breaking them. "Also, there will be consequences for getting handsy. Do not touch the merchandise, as they say—except she is not merchandise, she is my partner."
Tony Stark struggled for a bit, twisting his body, using leverage, but he was unable to break free. Ren's arm was like a steel beam.
"I am the controller of Stark Industries!" Tony shouted, his face flushing red with exertion and indignation. "If you, a villain, dare to touch me, your end will be miserable! My lawyers will bury you! My suit will vaporize you!"
At this moment, Lucifer raised her head.
Her eyes were glowing red. Deep, demonic red. The shadows in the room elongated, stretching towards her like loyal subjects.
Although Tony Stark had been guessing from beginning to end, it could be said that every word was stepping on a landmine, dancing in a minefield of unimaginable explosive power.
He had called her a secretary. He had called her a victim. He had tried to "save" her from the only being she actually cared about.
Lucifer was about to make a move! She opened her mouth to speak a Word of Power that would unmake Tony Stark's constituent atoms.
But just as Lucifer raised her head, Tony Stark felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.
Thud.
Ren didn't wait. He knew that if Lucifer attacked, Tony Stark would be dead. So Ren attacked first.
A simple, controlled front kick.
Tony's entire body flew backward. He sailed through the air, defying physics for a moment, before crashing onto the wooden floor.
However, he wasn't Kure Raian after all. Tony Stark hadn't done anything truly wrong; he looked rather righteous, acting on a misunderstanding to protect women. So he was only given a slight punishment.
Ren smiled, dusting off his pants. "Mr. Tony Stark, your analysis was very logical, but everything was wrong~ And, next time, don't have any strange ideas about ladies who have partners."
Ren walked forward slowly. "Although I can see you meant to comfort her kindly, it's still best not to have thoughts of touching her~"
Tony Stark gritted his teeth and sat up. He clutched his stomach, wheezing.
"Okay," Tony gasped. "You want to play rough?"
Although he was a playboy, he wasn't someone who couldn't control himself. And after his previous kidnapping in Afghanistan, he had matured a lot. He had learned that sometimes, you have to fight.
Everything just now might have had elements of flirting, but it was more about his hatred for evil and his sense of justice. He genuinely believed he was fighting a slaver.
If it were purely for flirting, Ren was not a saintly person; Kengan Matches could kill people~ (Tony Stark: Thank you, kidnappers, for helping me grow! I actually know how to throw a punch now!)
This time, Tony Stark got up and fought back!
He lunged forward, throwing a technically decent right hook aimed at Ren's jaw.
"Ha!"
He threw a punch!
Whoosh. Ren sidestepped effortlessly.
Bang.
And he flew out again.
This happened five or six times!
Tony would get up, adjust his tie, analyze Ren's pattern, and attack. Ren would gently redirect his momentum, sweep his leg, or simply push him away. Tony bounced off the walls, the floor, and the furniture.
Finally, after one last futile charge, Tony Stark was hammered to the doorway. He slid across the polished floorboards, coming to a rest right at the entrance.
Ren opened the door.
Bright white light flooded the shop entrance. The "device" Tony had theorized about earlier was right there.
Ren smiled, looking down at the disheveled billionaire. "See?"
Ren pointed to the light, then back to the women, who were now eating popcorn and watching the show.
"Are you calm now, Mr. Tony Stark?"
Tony Stark lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling beams. His ribs ached. His ego was shattered. But his mind was clear.
If Tony Stark were hit one more time, he would probably need surgery. He knew when he was beaten. And he knew when the data didn't match the theory.
Tony Stark looked up at the white light in the doorway. It wasn't a screen. It was a portal.
He also knew that this Another World might not be a joke anymore.
He tremblingly held out his hand and made an OK gesture, then lay there motionless.
It was too embarrassing...
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