Happy drove the understated yet luxurious sedan, as steady as a moving rock.
"Mr. Hogan, Mr. Stark is looking for me so urgently, is there some new… surprise?"
Happy looked straight ahead, his voice steady: "You'll know when we get there."
Alright, are all big shot bodyguards this cool?
William wisely shut his mouth and began to rapidly calculate in his mind.
Had Tony Stark managed to synthesize the new element so quickly?
Or was he already impatient to bring me in and get full insurance on his pile of high-risk toys?
Whichever it was, for him, it was incredibly good news.
And an incredibly… challenge.
After all, that was Iron Man.
One wrong move, and he might really "die in the line of duty," getting his lunch box early.
The car smoothly drove along the winding coastal road, finally stopping in front of a modern Villa with an unbeatable sea view.
Sunshine, beach, waves… The overwhelming aura of "wealth" still made William take a deep breath, his heart filled with emotion.
The lives of the rich are just this simple, unadorned, and boring.
Happy led William through the spacious living room, large enough for a party, and directly down to a brightly lit underground space.
The strong smell of engine oil mixed with the scent of metal welding, forming a unique aroma belonging to a tech fanatic.
This didn't look like a laboratory; it was more like a fully equipped garage.
Expensive sports cars were casually parked in the corner, next to various disassembled precision parts and holographic projection equipment.
Several flexible mechanical arms were working methodically.
The entire space was filled with the hum of future technology.
William's Mechanical Induction was almost overloaded here.
Countless energy consumption points of equipment lit up in his mind, like a brilliant Nebula.
He could "see" the surging current in every circuit, and "feel" the rotation speed of every server fan.
And in the very center of this technological Nebula, stood an existence that made him gasp.
It was a humanoid armor made entirely of shiny silver-white metal.
Its lines were fluid and full of power.
Every seam of the armor plates was perfectly fitted.
The familiar circular indentation on its chest was quietly dormant at the moment.
But William could clearly sense that the reserved energy interface inside it yearned for a powerful heart to be installed.
This thing… William's pupils suddenly contracted.
The movie scenes he had watched countless times before his transmigration were now presented before him in a highly impactful and real way.
mark ii!
This was no longer a blueprint for a "personal enhanced exoskeleton system"; this was the finished product!
A War Machine capable of flying, burrowing, and unleashing full firepower!
William felt his throat go dry.
His previous clients, those street vigilantes, had a risk level that was kindergarten-level compared to this behemoth.
Once this thing was activated, any minor bump would result in an astronomical claim amount.
"Impressive, right?"
A familiar voice, tinged with a hint of triumph, came from behind the workbench.
Tony Stark walked out, holding a cup of coffee, unhurriedly.
He looked refreshed and ruddy.
The gloom in his eyes was swept away, replaced by that unique flame of creative passion burning in a genius.
Clearly, the new reactor core and antidote serum had worked wonders.
"I call it the 'mark ii'."
Tony walked to the armor, and like caressing a lover, ran his hand over the cold metal surface.
"Full titanium alloy construction, optimized aerodynamics.
Built-in flight stabilization system and a preliminary weapon mounting platform.
Oh, and a fantastic HUD user interface."
He turned his head, looking at the dumbfounded William with a playful smirk: "What's wrong, Mr. Insurance?
Scared?
Don't be like a country bumpkin who's never seen the world, it's just a personal flight suit."
William's mind was frantically scrolling: Flight suit?
You call this a flight suit?
This is a flying tank!
It's a walking dollar shredder!
The risk assessment report for this thing would probably be measured in tons!
He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said in a tone of assessing an asset:
"The design is very… bold, Mr. Stark.
The integrated metallic texture is highly visually impactful.
I imagine its maintenance costs and potential fault risks should also be as… eye-catching as its appearance."
"Ha, I knew you'd say that."
Tony chuckled dismissively, walking around the mark ii.
His eyes were filled with the pride of a father looking at his son.
"Risk?
Risk is meant to be managed. And I am the best risk manager."
He stopped, suddenly changing the subject, his gaze sharply fixed on William.
His eyes seemed to pierce through his disguise, reaching the core of all his secrets.
"So, my dear insurance consultant, Mr. William Rodriguez."
Tony's voice lowered, "You helped me solve the 'ailment' in my body, and I am very grateful. Now, it's your turn to demonstrate your true professional capabilities."
He extended his finger and heavily tapped the gleaming Iron Man Suit.
"Tell me, from the professional perspective of your amazing company, what is its…",
"greatest risk, or rather, its most fatal flaw?"