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*****
Having finished everything, Fini looked down at the avalanche below. He felt that if Obadiah still managed to escape after this, he'd just have to accept it.
Although it was rushed and he couldn't concentrate his thoughts perfectly—meaning the effect of "The Golden Ars Magna" likely didn't last very long—it should have been enough for the accumulated snow to bury Obadiah.
Frenziedly stuffing the Iron Monger with "Violet Melon Fried Chicken Rolls" wasn't out of fear that Obadiah would go hungry; it was to restrict his movements. One had to realize that even for Tony, taking off his suit was no easy task, let alone for Obadiah with his inferior technology.
Once caught in the avalanche, if he dared to open his faceplate, he would be choked with snow. If he didn't open it, the interior was packed with fried chicken rolls, which would similarly make breathing and moving difficult and unbearable.
"What did you just do?"
Tony asked while being suspended beneath Fini. Earlier, he had been low on energy and focused entirely on controlling his flight, so he hadn't noticed Fini's actions.
Fini gazed at the massive scale of the avalanche, inwardly marvelling at the raw power of nature. Hearing Tony's question, he replied casually: "Nothing much. Just treated him to some fried chicken rolls."
"Uh!?"
Tony wore a stunned expression, seemingly failing to grasp the meaning. He had actually expected Fini to have some sophisticated method of stopping Obadiah.
"Do you think he can survive?"
After dozens of minutes had passed, Fini suddenly asked. The grand avalanche was still continuing. Given his actions, it was highly likely Obadiah wouldn't survive—which meant he had just personally killed someone.
"..."
Tony remained silent and did not answer. Deep down, he might have still hoped for Obadiah to survive, but he also knew the possibility was slim. Though he didn't know exactly what Fini had done at the last moment, he knew it wouldn't have been a useless gesture.
"I'll handle this matter. But before that, could you find a place to set me down?"
Due to the lack of power, Tony could no longer maintain flight. He was currently in a state of being dangled in the air by Fini's hands.
"Alright!"
Fini didn't feel like staying any longer either. After setting Tony down, he opened a portal. Ever since Obadiah was buried by the avalanche, the battle had technically been over; he had already received his experience points, and it was more than he had imagined.
Returning to Tony's workshop, both were somewhat exhausted. Fini immediately deactivated his skill, much to Tony's envy; Tony still needed the help of machines to strip off the Mark II.
Once Tony had removed the armor, Fini prepared to leave. However, before going, he thought back to the reporters earlier. Without S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intervention this time, he was curious about how things would develop, so he asked:
"Thought of an explanation for tomorrow yet?"
"Explanation?" Tony paused, then realized: "You mean those reporters?"
"I took a look just now. The internet is already covered in reports about you. You couldn't delete them all if you tried."
In this information age, even S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't omnipotent. If they had caught it at the very beginning before it spread, they might have controlled it, but now that the word was out, it would be difficult to suppress.
Hearing this, Tony immediately said to JARVIS: "JARVIS, play tonight's reports."
"Certainly, sir."
"At approximately 8:40 PM tonight, a massive explosion occurred at the Arc Reactor project site under Stark Industries. Our reporters risked their lives to capture the following footage."
The television played the battle between Tony and Obadiah. Since Fini had been hiding to the side, there weren't many shots of him. The clarity of the video was almost like a movie; someone seeing it for the first time might mistake it for a film promotion.
"Although Tony Stark announced the closure of the weapons division not long ago, several reports suggest they are actually still selling weapons. Is this another one of the new weapons they are developing? As you can see, they..."
"Regarding Tony Stark..."
"This is not a movie promo, nor is it CGI. Stark is definitely planning some secret conspiracy in the dark. I call for a strict investigation into them, we must..."
On TV, on the internet, even in bars and on street corners, people everywhere were discussing the incident.
"I'll deal with it when the time comes." Tony had a look of indifference, his inner thoughts unreadable. He was currently more concerned with the issues regarding Pepper and Obadiah.
"Right, if you can, come by again tomorrow. We need to go back and check the site."
Regardless of whether Obadiah was dead or alive, Tony couldn't just leave it be. But if he were to fly there in his armor tomorrow, it wouldn't be nearly as convenient as Fini opening a portal.
"Okay."
Fini nodded and agreed. A job should be finished properly.
If Obadiah luckily survived and escaped, Fini would need to guard against this hidden enemy. If he was dead, Fini bore a part of the responsibility, so helping settle the aftermath was only right.
"Then I'll head back first."
As Fini bid farewell to Tony, in another location, a certain black, bald man was flying into a rage.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, the Triskelion.
"I want to know who exactly they are. Where are they now? Tell me, Agent Coulson, what is your investigation? Are you waiting until the whole country knows before I do?"
"My apologies, Director!"
Looking at the one-eyed bald man whose spit was nearly hitting his face, Coulson apologized with the air of a punching bag.
"I suspect one of them is Tony Stark. From the behavioral analysis of the video, the other seems to be an old acquaintance turned enemy. As for the third one, I currently have no data on him whatsoever, Director!"
"Then go find it!"
Nick Fury glared with his single eye, his face as dark as a braised egg.
After Coulson left, Nick Fury opened the video in his office and watched it again without blinking. When he saw the end where Fini opened a portal to take the three of them away, his brow finally furrowed.
"Who exactly are you?"
Nick tapped his finger on the desk, his remaining eye full of caution. Although the fight between Tony and Obadiah had been intense, in his view, it wasn't nearly as dangerous as Fini's final act.
Meanwhile, Coulson, having been severely scolded by his boss, was racking his brain for a solution. Asking Tony directly was obviously out of the question, so he had to take a detour. Thinking this through, Coulson opened his phone and found a number.
"Hello, Ms. Potts. This is Agent Phil Coulson. I'm wondering if you have some time; there are a few things I'd like to follow up on with you."
...
Back home and finished washing up, Fini lay in bed thinking about everything that had happened today. He might have killed a person today, yet he didn't feel much of anything about it.
No fear, no unease, and not much guilt. Perhaps it was because he didn't know Obadiah well, and because the man was so evil!?
Fini didn't know. He hadn't had much contact with Obadiah—hadn't even spoken a word to him—but that didn't stop him from knowing the man was a villain.
Maybe that was why he didn't mind!?
Fini let out a short laugh and shook his head. Ever since he realized this was the Marvel world, he had thought about the issue of killing people or aliens.
While he thought he would eventually adapt, he hadn't expected to pass through it so calmly. Regardless, it was a good thing; there was no need to get all sentimental over a villain.
Pushing these matters aside, Fini began to study today's harvest—the most important thing: the experience.
(End of Chapter)