The 'mines' Fury had buried were basically cleared out under the thorough sweep of A.I.D, this precise machine.
The remaining odds and ends were merely dormant Agents who had been lurking for decades, or abandoned protocols that had long been archived, incapable of stirring up any major waves.
This kind of ongoing search work was far smaller in scale and less significant compared to the previous World-ending dimensional war or directly confronting Sentinel Bob.
Time flew by, and half a year passed in a flash.
Chen Tian's eyes, which had been temporarily blinded from using his Direct Death Magic Eyes, had long since recovered—Tony even said after an examination that they might have evolved a bit.
But for the sake of looking cool, that guy stubbornly kept his pure black eye patch welded to his face, never taking it off.
On the top floor of Stark Tower, the sun shone brightly.
Tony sat with his legs crossed, looking at Chen Tian, who was on the opposite sofa, wearing his signature eye patch and furiously mashing buttons on a handheld console. He couldn't help but complain, "Hey, I say, are you addicted to that shoddy eye patch? Your eyes are fine, take it off! It's an eyesore!"
Chen Tian didn't even lift his head, his fingers blurring over the buttons: "Why? Only you, Stark, are allowed to wear your flashy smart glasses all day to show off? My eye patch is environmentally friendly and energy-saving, and it saves me from looking at your punchable face."
"This is tactical gear! High-tech! Understand?!" Tony pointed to the gold and red glasses on his nose.
"Heh," Chen Tian sneered, "Sounds like no one else has anything similar."
"What do you have? A black cloth?" Tony rolled his eyes.
Chen Tian finally deigned to move his gaze from the screen, "Watch closely, bumpkin." He reached out and lightly pressed the side of his eye patch.
"Buzz—"
An extremely subtle mechanical whirring sound emerged, and the surface of the black eye patch instantly became transparent, revealing Chen Tian's pair of azure irises. (Six-Eyes—Azure Sky's Eye, no longer has the side effects of overuse.)
Immediately after, countless tiny light points rapidly swept across the inside of the transparent eye patch, forming complex path maps, data streams, and even a faint, almost imperceptible scanning beam.
"Stark Industries special sponsored edition," Chen Tian proudly shook his head, and the eye patch instantly reverted to its pure black, opaque state, "It integrates AR perspective, tactical analysis, low-light enhancement, information processing… Oh, and it has a built-in clone of Jarvis, 'Little Jar' (Jia Dongxu breaking in?). How about it? Better than your glasses that can only look cool, right? This is the 'salary' you owed me!"
Tony looked at the black-tech eye patch, choked for a moment, then put on an arrogant expression, lifting his chin high: "Hmph! That's because you're still somewhat useful, a friendly sponsorship! Who told you that you are my… cough… important strategic partner!" He awkwardly emphasized, "Besides, that's your reward for helping me!"
"Helping?" Chen Tian raised an eyebrow, intrigued, "Helping you replace your coffee machine with a super silent one? Or helping your body 'upgrade' again??"
Tony rarely showed a hint of… nervousness?
He cleared his throat, leaned slightly forward, and lowered his voice: "A little more important than that…" He paused, a rare seriousness appearing on his face, "I'm going to propose to Pepper."
The office was silent for a second.
"Huh?!" Chen Tian's voice suddenly rose, filled with incredulous schadenfreude, "Iron Man, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist… finally entering the grave of marriage? Tsk tsk tsk, Miss Pepper is truly a divine person!"
"Although I knew you'd do this sooner or later! But why so fast? Do you feel that the World is peaceful, so you're eager to build a nest of love for yourself?" Chen Tian chattered on.
"Shut up!" Tony retorted in exasperation, "This is called the ultimate destination of love! Destination, understand?! Romantic! Sacred!"
"Alright, alright, destination, destination." Chen Tian suppressed a laugh, "So? Do you need me, your 'important strategic partner,' to help you plan how to fill the top floor of Arbitrator Tower with a thousand and one roses, and then you descend from the sky in your armor and kneel on one knee?" He described it with an extremely exaggerated tone.
"That's too old-fashioned!" Tony immediately countered, but then somewhat deflatedly ran a hand through his hair, "I… I haven't finalized the specific plan yet. I need help! Rhodes, that good guy, will handle logistics and emotional support, and you…" Tony pointed at Chen Tian, his gaze demanding.
"You're responsible for creative assurance, ensuring the plan is foolproof! And… if it gets messed up, you need to be able to forcibly reset the situation!"
"Hoh! A proposal made to look like fighting Thanos? And you want to snap your fingers? I don't have the Soul Stone." Chen Tian chuckled.
"It's much more important than fighting Thanos!" Tony said decisively, "And it's a battle that absolutely cannot fail! Buddy, I need you! And your omnipotent eye patch!"
He pointed to the black-tech on Chen Tian's face, "Use it! Help me design an absolutely perfect, absolutely romantic, absolutely tear-jerking, and absolutely free from any unexpected interference ultimate proposal plan for Pepper!"
Chen Tian looked at Tony's face, which for once was filled with "serious plea for help," and then at the "deposit" Tony had just transferred to his wrist, a sum far exceeding the cost of the eye patch. The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a meaningful smile.
"Alright, Tony." He leaned back on the sofa, "This 'salary,' I'll take it. I guarantee your proposal… will be unforgettable for a lifetime."
Tony looked at Chen Tian's confident demeanor, and an inexplicable jolt went through him. He couldn't shake the feeling that entrusting creative assurance to this guy might not be entirely appropriate.
But with the arrow already on the string, he could only choose to trust this most unreliable yet most powerful "troublemaker friend."
"Excellent! Friday!" Tony called out to the air, "Pull up data on the World's most romantic proposal locations! Also, prepare an emergency plan for me on 'how to ensure the engagement ring doesn't fall into the toilet in extreme situations'!"
Chen Tian massaged his forehead: "…Tony, isn't your focus a bit off?"
Tony's premonition was correct—entrusting "creative assurance" to Chen Tian was inherently risky. In the following days, Tony deeply experienced what was called "sweet torment."
Chen Tian completely changed his usual lazy demeanor, becoming practically a workaholic!
The top floor of Arbitrator Tower almost became his command center.
The "Six-Eyes" under his pure black eye patch were at full power, with countless AR projection screens floating in the air, densely packed with site analysis, path simulations, emergency plans, and various "Plan B-Z" that made Tony's eyelids twitch.
"Tony, which suit are you wearing that day? The glossy fabric of Tom Ford will reflect the ring's sparkle. I suggest you switch to Brioni's matte wool or a vintage Gieves & Hawkes three-piece suit for more ceremony."
"Rhodes, re-calibrate the position of your 'emotional interference team,' ensuring Pepper's visual focus is absolutely locked on Tony, not a single stray light!"
"Friday! Help me contact Vergil, reconfirm the weather control protocol! Ensure that not a single cloud appears over Malibu that day!"
Tony watched Chen Tian giving orders to the air, meticulously refining virtual models down to the millimeter, even beginning to study the impact of the earring styles Pepper might wear that day on light reflection…
He couldn't help but nudge Rhodes next to him: "This guy… isn't he taking this a bit too seriously?"
Rhodes, dressed in casual clothes, was carrying a pile of emergency props (including Tony's strongly requested magnetic suction cup to prevent the ring from falling into water), looking utterly resigned: "More than a bit? Tony, I bet he wasn't this serious when he fought Sentinel! Last night he dragged me through twenty-seven different possible routes and reaction patterns for Pepper! Twenty-seven!"
He lowered his voice, "Now when I see the reflection in his eye patch, I think it's some kind of tactical aiming sight."
Tony's mouth twitched, but the unease in his heart strangely dissipated for the most part.
The more serious Chen Tian was, the more it showed the importance of this matter to him—although his way of expressing it made Tony want to punch him.
Finally, "Proposal Day" arrived.
The location chosen was the open-air garden on the central platform of Arbitrator Tower.
The setting sun, like molten gold, cast a warm glow over all of Malibu.
The meticulously arranged flower sea swayed in the gentle breeze, accompanied by faint, melodious violin music. (Yes, Chen Tian even used the Space Stone to adjust the strength of the sea breeze.)
Tony, dressed in a sharp custom suit (matte texture, which passed Chen Tian's reflection test), was so nervous his palms were sweating.
He clutched the nano-ring box tightly.
"Target subject entering designated area. Distance: 100 meters. Heart rate: normal to high. Environmental parameters: perfect. Interference elimination rate: 99.997%."
Chen Tian's voice came through the micro-earpiece, as calm as if he were commanding an interstellar battle. "Rhodes, A-group in position. Tony, deep breaths, don't mess up your 'Absolute Victory Battle'."
"Shut up! I'm trying to set the mood!" Tony hissed back, trying to adjust his expression.
Below, Pepper, accompanied by Happy, was elegantly walking along the path covered with rose petals.
She seemed a little puzzled by the "romantic atmosphere" but wore a charming smile on her face.
Tony took a deep breath, and as his beloved's figure drew closer, all his nervousness seemed to settle.
He straightened up, adjusted his tie, and prepared for the most important moment of his life.
What he didn't know was that on the rooftop of the building opposite the tower, Chen Tian, wearing his pure black eye patch, with his Six-Eyes fully activated, was scanning every molecular movement within several kilometers around him like the most precise radar.
He was still silently synchronizing in his mind:
"Wind speed stable… Aerial drone formation on standby (for petal rain and romantic flashes when needed)… Ground security team, no anomalies… Neighborhood traffic temporarily controlled by A.I.D… Stark Industries network firewall elevated to highest level… Planetary orbit, no anomalous energy fluctuations… Dimensional barrier stable…"
At this moment, Chen Tian was more like a Guardian than ever—guarding Tony's trivial yet crucial romance.
Tony took a deep breath, looking at Pepper who had walked in front of him. The golden light of the setting sun fell on her, making her so beautiful that his heart skipped a beat. He knelt on one knee, his movements a little stiff.
"Pepper Potts," he began, his voice a little tight, "after long-term evaluation and… uh… market research." A clear "Pfft" came from Chen Tian's earpiece, and a suppressed cough sounded from Rhodes's side.
Tony ignored them, pressing on, his mind blank, leaving only instinct and… strange business jargon?
"I, Tony Stark, hereby formally propose a… long-term strategic cooperation agreement. Terms include: exclusive ownership, unlimited liability, shared ownership of all Stark Industries assets… and all my future earnings."
He opened the nano ring box, and the brilliant diamond ring sparkled in the sunset.
"As an initial investment, I am willing to inject this… uh… core asset representing eternal value." He paused, finally remembering the most important line, trying to salvage some romance: "Will you… sign this… lifetime binding agreement?"
…
The air was silent for a second.
On the opposite rooftop, Chen Tian, Rhodes, and 2B, who had been accompanying Chen Tian, all made the same gesture—their right hands slapped heavily against their foreheads!
Tony himself was stunned after speaking.
Damn it! What the hell am I saying?! What agreement terms, core assets?! This is miles away from the romantic script draft Friday printed!
It's over! I messed up!
Pepper was stunned, looking at the man in a suit who was so nervous he was incoherent, turning a proposal into a merger case.
A few seconds later, she let out a chuckle, and sparkling tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Not sadness, but a mix of laughter and tears, and a deeply touched warmth.
"Oh~ Tony…" Pepper's voice was thick with a nasal tone and amusement, and she reached out her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly.
"You big idiot… you're always like this…"
She looked at the ring, then raised her eyes to look deeply into Tony's eyes, which were filled with remorse and apprehension. All the tension, all the business jargon, had transformed into the most sincere clumsiness.
She knew him too well.
"Deal." Pepper smiled through her tears, nodding hard, her voice clear and firm, "I'll sign this agreement. Indefinite, no additional clauses!"
She held out her finger.
Tony's brain was still stuck in the "It's over, I messed up" loop, and he only snapped back when he saw Pepper's outstretched hand.
Immense joy instantly overwhelmed everything! He fumbled with the ring, almost dropping it, but finally managed to slide it onto Pepper's ring finger.
The moment the ring was on, Tony suddenly stood up and pulled Pepper into a tight embrace, with such force that it seemed he wanted to meld her into his body.
Pepper hugged him back just as tightly, tears finally falling, but her smile was brighter than the sunset.
"Friday! Fireworks! Music! Plan A! No, Plan S-for-success! Immediately!" Tony, holding Pepper, excitedly shouted into the air, his voice cracking.
"Received, Boss! Congratulations!" Friday responded with a smile.
The melodious music instantly turned into a lively symphony, dazzling fireworks exploded across the pink and purple sky, and a rain of petals drifted down.
On the opposite rooftop, Chen Tian took off his black eye patch, rubbed his brow, his eyes full of amusement.
"Finally… it's done. More tiring than fighting a demon, damn it."
Rhodes wiped his face, still shaken: "Thank goodness Pepper understands him. Tony's mouth… it's really unreliable!"
Tony held Pepper, his chin resting on her shoulder, feeling the euphoria of having her back and immense happiness. Only one thought roared in his mind:
'It's done! Pepper said yes! Even though my proposal speech was a textbook example of a PR disaster! Who cares! I succeeded!'
"Pop! Pop! Pop!"
Just as Tony lifted Pepper off the ground and spun her around, champagne corks shot into the sky from all directions like cannonballs. Golden liquid burst open like small fountains, and the air was instantly filled with a sweet fruity scent and joyous clamor.
"Wow!!!"
"Congratulations, Boss!!"
"Nice job, Tin Can! Even if that line was terrible!"
"May you live happily ever after!!"
A group of figures suddenly leaped out from behind carefully arranged flowerbeds, beside observation deck pillars, and even from transparent platforms suspended in mid-air!
The top floor of the Arbitrator Tower instantly became the opening scene of a superhero club.
Captain America had a fatherly, contented smile on his face, holding a freshly sprayed champagne bottle;
Falcon and Natasha deftly pulled open huge ribbon cannons, sending colorful confetti flying everywhere;
Dr. Banner pushed up his glasses, clapping heartily;
Daredevil, though unable to see, had a precise upward curve to his lips, directed towards Tony;
Ant-Man and Wasp were scattering petals in the gaps of the crowd;
Spider-Man excitedly swung on his webs, circling and cheering;
Cyclops and Iceman symbolically raised their glasses, standing coolly to the side;
Quicksilver's figure was so fast that only a silver blur and circulating wine glasses remained;
Wanda stood nearby, a gentle smile on her face.
Chen Tian's team of "monsters": Shadow stood with his arms crossed in the shadows, uncharacteristically not wearing a gloomy expression;
Vergil elegantly used Yamato to flick away a flying ribbon streamer headed his way;
Dante directly snatched the cannon from Falcon's hand and wildly pulled the trigger towards the sky;
Sun Wukong grinned widely, carrying a large meat leg;
Saitama rubbed his bald head, seemingly finding the commotion quite amusing;
Kiana and Bayonetta stood together, the former excitedly bouncing, the latter holding a wine glass, a smile playing on her lips.
In an instant, the Arbitrators' members filled the top-floor platform!
Cheers, whistles, and laughter echoed to the heavens.
Tony, holding Pepper, was startled by this sudden "ambush," then enveloped by immense warmth.
He looked at the familiar yet powerful faces. Had these people been holding their breath, ambushing him just now?
He subconsciously looked at Chen Tian, Rhodes, and 2B, who were the last to slowly ascend along the outside of the glass curtain wall.
"Surprise!" Rhodes laughed, patting his shoulder, "The strongest security team in the entire Universe! Guaranteed not even a disruptive fly can get in!"
Tony looked at Chen Tian with a complex expression, "Such a grand display?"
Chen Tian put his black eye patch back on, covering his Six Eyes, and shrugged, his tone flat but with a sense of matter-of-factness: "You are Tony Stark, the core shareholder and technical director of the Arbitrators. How could your 'lifetime binding agreement' signing ceremony be anything less than grand? They,"
He gestured to the heroes scurrying around the platform, "are my 'final line of defense,' ready to physically send to the afterlife any dimwitted nuisance who dares to interrupt."
He casually picked up a glass of cola from a passing waiter's tray (Why is it still cola?), "Though in the end, I only sent your terrible proposal speech to the afterlife."
Tony: "…"
He looked around. Indeed, Captain America's uniform, Black Widow's bodysuit, Banner's custom pants, Quicksilver's special running shoes, Vergil's blue trench coat… Even Sun Wukong and Saitama were wearing activewear!
This wasn't attending a party; it was clearly a stance ready for battle at any moment!
An indescribable warmth and pride instantly surged through Tony's heart. He suddenly raised Pepper's hand with the ring on it, and with his other hand, snatched the wine bottle Rhodes had just picked up, shouting to everyone:
"Guys! Tonight! Unlimited drinks! Unlimited food! Turn the music up to the max! Celebrate me, Tony Stark… uh, no, celebrate us finally being successfully bound!!"
"Awooo—!!!"
"Long live Tony!"
"Long live Pepper!"
Even louder cheers almost lifted the roof.
Everyone completely let loose. The conveyor belts in the food area were instantly piled with delicacies, music blasted, and champagne and drinks sprayed as if they were free.
Chen Tian had just brought the rim of his cup to his lips, preparing to enjoy a moment of peace…
Hiss—
A strange chill crawled up his spine.
He instinctively turned his head, Six Eyes fully open.
He saw four distinct figures standing quietly at the edge of the boisterous crowd, their gazes like precisely guided laser beams, firmly focused on him.
2B: The optical lenses beneath her silver-white hair flickered slightly, data flow was stable, but her core temperature inexplicably rose.
Kiana: Shaking a juice cup in her hand, her eyes sparkled, filled with undisguised longing and a hint of slight grievance.
Bayonetta: Leaned languidly against the bar, sipping a cocktail with her red lips, but her narrowed eyes reflected a meaningful light through the glass.
Wanda: Crimson energy threads entanglement her fingertips, she watched him quietly, her gaze gentle, yet carrying a calm pressure that implied "you know."
Four gazes, precise target lock.
Chen Tian's hand holding the cola cup (Hey! You're over twenty! Have some alcohol!) stiffened imperceptibly.
He tilted his head back expressionlessly and chugged the entire cup of cola.
Tsk, this Guardian mission… seems like it's not over yet? It feels much trickier than preparing for Tony's proposal.
Tony's "lifetime binding agreement" was settled, but for him… the trouble was just beginning?
-----------------------
Completed English PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
Guys, I've uploaded some High Quality english translated fanfic on my Patreon shop! Feel free to check it out-if you're interested, you can grab a copy and support me there.
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics:
New Addition
" Superman in American Comics "
" My World: My Daily Life in Marvel "
" The Cute King of the Marvel World "
" Marvel: I Am the Silver Age Superman, Joining Group"
" Lord of Hunyuan in Swallowed Star "
"Marvel: Deadpool Friendship System"
"A Super Player in Marvel "
"Marvel Automatic Humanoid Girl"
"Marvel DC: Become Aquaman from Black Robe"
many more are available 70+
Your support means a lot-thanks in advance, legends!
patreon.com/SuperTL
(End of Chapter)