"You? Applying to be a bodyguard?"
Tony stared at Daniel as if the man had just announced he wanted to be President.
Daniel nodded without hesitation."Yep. You're short a bodyguard, I'm short an employer. A match made in heaven, right?"
Too perfect, actually.
Tony didn't bother with the niceties."You're the one who injured Happy, aren't you?"
Daniel widened his eyes in dramatic innocence."Wild accusations! I've never even met your bodyguard."
"...I never said Happy was my bodyguard."
Tony felt a headache coming on."You're a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Why are you here applying to be my bodyguard?"
Daniel shrugged casually."Agent salaries are too low. Gotta hustle. Some agents even write webnovels on the side. One guy stopped updating—his readers found his house and broke his leg.But we recruited the reader afterward. A talent like that shouldn't be wasted."
Tony: "..."
What kind of cursed workplace is S.H.I.E.L.D. running!?
"I don't need a new bodyguard. I have more than just Happy."
Right on cue, J.A.R.V.I.S. chimed in:
"Sir, correction. Your other twelve bodyguards were also attacked and hospitalized this afternoon. The suspect description matches: black hair, black eyes, pink short-sleeved shirt, and beach shorts."
Tony slowly turned toward Daniel.
'How is this guy still pretending to be innocent!?'
Daniel, meanwhile, was examining his nails.
"...Artificial intelligence?" Daniel finally asked, genuinely surprised.
Even though A.I. was normal in his era, this world's timeline was 2008—Jarvis-level A.I. should've been extremely rare.
"Yes, sir. I am Mr. Stark's A.I. butler, J.A.R.V.I.S."
Daniel leaned forward with interest."Can you switch to a mature, sexy woman's voice?"
"...No, sir. Mr. Stark did not configure additional voice packs."
Daniel pouted."How boring."
He glanced suspiciously at Tony."What kind of man sets his A.I. butler to have a deep, magnetic British uncle voice?"
Tony inhaled deeply."I don't need a bodyguard. I can protect myself."
"Really?" Daniel arched a brow."Because last I checked, the stockholders outside want to chop you into eight pieces. They're more ruthless than terrorists. They might even cut off your little buddy and make soup with it."
Tony froze.
After two seconds of silent internal screaming, he growled:"Congratulations. You're hired."
"Pleasure working with you, boss," Daniel grinned.
Outside the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the red carpet glittered with camera flashes.Reporters scrambled for interviews like hungry wolves.
Suddenly—
ROOOOAAAAR!!
A silver-gray supercar approached at a terrifying speed, its engine practically screaming.
Just when everyone thought it would crash into the barricades, the car drifted beautifully—borderline arrogantly—and stopped exactly at the start of the red carpet.
The reporters instantly exploded.
"It's Tony Stark!"
"Tony actually showed up!?"
"Forget those B-list celebrities—aim the cameras at Tony Stark!"
In an instant, every lens turned toward the sports car like metal drawn to a magnet.
Tony stepped out, adjusting his suit with forced dignity.Unfortunately, his face was pale, and his steps weren't exactly stable.
Daniel exited from the driver's seat.He shut the door and looked at Tony with pity.
"You look a little weak. Can't even handle that speed?"
Tony screamed internally.
Who drives two hundred miles per hour inside the city!?
He forced himself to walk straight.At the entrance, he encountered a bald, burly man—Obadiah Stane.
"Look who it is," Stane said with a seemingly warm smile. "The man of the hour."
But his eyes darted around, calculating.
Then he noticed Daniel.
Tonight, Daniel wore a perfectly tailored pure white suit.
[Equipment: Charming Suit — Greatly boosts your Charm]
With that boost, Daniel—already good-looking—practically glowed.For a moment, he even overshadowed the billionaire beside him.
Almost.
Because Tony Stark had something even the system couldn't overpower—the aura of money.
Stane's eyes narrowed.This young man… was no ordinary person.
He asked, "And this gentleman is?"
"My new bodyguard," Tony replied.
Stane: "?"
Since when did bodyguards come in S-rank beauty packages?
Tony didn't bother explaining. He took Daniel inside.
Inside the hall, Tony immediately spotted Pepper Potts and walked over to her, slipping right into flirtation mode.
Daniel watched them."Mr. Tony truly deserves the title 'Playboy.' His flirting skills are maxed out."
He shook his head.No matter how he looked, he still couldn't understand why he'd been single before the game.
Just then, a stunning blonde beauty approached him with a bright smile.
"Hey, are you here alone?"
Daniel replied calmly,"Nonsense. Half a person might scare you to death."
"..."
She blinked.She didn't know whether to laugh or leave.