Under the resentful stares of countless overworked employees, Daniel walked toward the elevator with his head held high. The security guards, seeing that he currently wore Stane's face, naturally didn't dare question or stop him. They simply let him pass as he swiped the access card and entered the elevator without obstruction.
With Stane's identity as the perfect cover, Daniel sailed through every checkpoint and soon arrived at Tony's luxurious office.
He walked straight to the desk, turned on the computer, and inserted the silver USB drive Tony had given him.
A notification immediately popped up on the screen.
[Cracking security protocol…]
[Crack successful. Searching for hidden drive…]
Before long, a deeply encrypted hidden drive was unlocked, and a large number of classified files appeared.
One video stood out: footage of Tony being kidnapped by terrorists in the Middle East.
From the narrative in the video, the mastermind was none other than Tony's uncle, Obadiah Stane. Not only had he been conducting long-term weapons business with terrorist groups, he had also directly ordered the attack on Tony.
"Good grief. So this is what a plain and simple American workplace rivalry looks like?"
Daniel exclaimed inwardly. And the best part was still coming.
Stane had somehow recovered the wreckage of the Mark I armor built in the Middle East and secretly mobilized Stark Industries' top engineering team to reverse-engineer it, aiming to create a suit of armor called Iron Monger.
Judging from the engineering progress and blueprints, the project was already nearing completion.
After scanning through everything, Daniel immediately reported to Nick Fury.
Fury remained silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "The strategic importance and potential threat of an armored exosuit are far too great. We absolutely cannot let this fall into the hands of someone like Stane—or anyone with questionable intentions. I'll send Coulson and a team to Stane's research facility. S.H.I.E.L.D. will take control of the site and all its technology."
As for where "protection" meant the tech would go, Fury didn't say it outright, but the implication was obvious: it would be brought back to S.H.I.E.L.D.
There was no safer place—at least, that's what Fury believed.
Whether others bought that or not, Daniel certainly did. After all, Hydra weren't amateurs either.
Following Fury's instructions, Daniel copied all hidden files twice, removed the USB drive, and left the office.
But the moment he opened the door, a sexy woman in office attire approached him.
"Mr. Stane, I heard you returned. There's an urgent funding request for a major research project that needs your approval."
Daniel glanced at her outfit and guessed she was Stane's assistant. He took the folder and looked through it.
Good grief—fifty million U.S. dollars.
"Ahem."
Daniel put on a stern expression. "This project is temporarily suspended. Transfer all the funds into this account. I have a new project that needs the budget more urgently."
He quickly scribbled down his own bank account number on a slip of paper and handed it to the assistant.
The assistant froze, confused. "Suspended? Mr. Stane, this project has high priority… What's your new project?"
"Hair-regrowth technology."
"…Alright."
Seeing his shiny bald head, she immediately understood. Then she added, "By the way, you haven't forgotten tonight, right?"
"What tonight?"
"Our date, of course. Didn't we agree yesterday to have dinner together tonight?"
The woman licked her lips suggestively. Clearly, the "dinner" was going to be quite… seafood-oriented.
Daniel's mind screamed good grief!
Was this some special tradition among Stark Industries executives? Why did they all like having office romances with their assistants?
Daniel brushed her off. "Another day. My wife's coming home tonight."
"Liar. Mom told me she went to Hawaii for vacation this week."
"???"
Was this circle always this messy?
After much effort, Daniel finally shook off Stane's assistant—or rather, Stane's daughter.
Then he returned to Tony's seaside mansion.
"JARVIS, open the door!" Daniel called out habitually as he reached the entrance.
But JARVIS didn't respond.
Daniel instantly sensed something wrong. He pulled a diamond pickaxe out of his game inventory and swung it hard at the wall.
The solid wall broke apart like tofu, and in moments he had carved a square hole.
Daniel crawled through and entered the hall—only to see a bloodless figure crawling weakly on the floor, chest hollowed out in a terrifying way.
"Holy crap—Kayako?" Daniel blurted.
The figure twitched at his voice and rasped weakly, "It's… it's me… hurry… get the arc reactor from the lab…"
"Tony?"
Recognizing the voice, Daniel said, "Alright, wait here."
He immediately used the pickaxe to smash through the floor and jumped down into the underground lab.
He quickly found the old arc reactor Tony had used before, then returned the same way, leaping back into the living room.
"Here! Catch!"
He tossed the reactor toward Tony.
Tony caught it with the last of his strength, as if grasping salvation itself. His trembling hands pressed it into the cavity in his chest.
The light flickered on again. A trace of color returned to Tony's face, his breathing steadied, and he collapsed on the floor, gasping as cold sweat soaked through his clothes.
"Huff… thanks, man. You saved my life again," Tony said gratefully.
"No problem."
Daniel waved a hand dismissively. "What happened to you? Where's your reactor?"
Tony's expression immediately turned cold and furious. "Stane. He broke into my home and stole my new reactor!"
Daniel asked, "Why didn't you suit up?"
"I… didn't have time."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Tony's face. This was the second time he'd been ambushed without wearing the armor.
Grinding his teeth, he added, "Damn it! I swear I'm going to develop a suit that can deploy instantly and stay on me at all times!"
"Perfect timing. I finished your task too."
Daniel pulled out the silver USB drive and tossed it to Tony. "Everything was Stane's doing—including the order to have you kidnapped. All the evidence is in there."
[Mission 'The Mole in Stark Industries' completed!]
[Rewards: EXP +500, Tony's Favorability +10, Item: 'Honesty Red Bean Bun']
[Item: Honesty Red Bean Bun (After eating it, you uncontrollably tell the truth for one minute.)]
"That bastard! I'll make him pay!"
Tony grabbed the USB drive, anger burning uncontrollably.
He immediately reactivated the JARVIS system Stane had shut down, then staggered toward the basement lab to don the Mark III armor.
At the same time, the system chimed in Daniel's mind.
[Player attention: BOSS Event has officially begun!]
[Objective: Defeat the Iron Monger—Obadiah Stane!]
[Rewards: Based on the damage you deal to the BOSS. The higher your contribution, the better the rewards!]
"A BOSS event!?"
Daniel's eyes lit up, excitement surging.
After playing this game for so long and fighting nothing but mobs and small fry, he was finally getting a real BOSS battle.