"With all due respect, Ma'am, I am willing to exchange all the shares of Stark industries for this recipe."
Compared to Luke's bland praise, Howard's exaggerated remarks were more likely to please the President's wife.
This was the strength of the prodigal son, the dating expert and the heartbreaker.
A direct attack on the President's daughter was too obvious and a bit too hasty.
Using roundabout tactics to please the President's wife was a wiser choice.
Of course, this was just to give Luke a break.
Howard was equally not interested in becoming the President's son-in-law.
He was an indulgent prodigal son. He couldn't walk into that grave called marriage -- even if the President's daughter was also called Mary.
"One teaspoon of cumin, one cup of brown sugar, two teaspoons of smoked red pepper, three teaspoons of dried mustard ..."
The President's wife, who was a bit fluttery, happily revealed the secret recipe.
Howard made a serious face as he listened, and took notes on paper.
As if, he really cared about this secret recipe.
The President was bored and silent next to them, inwardly wanted to smash the steak on his plate in the person's face.
'Why was this guy trying to impress my wife?'
The President remembered the two jokes before and somehow felt like the unlucky innkeeper.
The 20-minute meal was filled with Howard's bullshit praise, compliments, and laughter from the President's wife and her daughter.
As for the president?
Like an outsider, he couldn't get a word in at all, so he had nothing to do but talk to Luke.
The marriage plan to introduce his daughter was thus disrupted by Howard, who came out of nowhere and made a forceful effort intrude on their dinner.
After dinner, the living room was full of people.
While the President's wife was cleaning up in the kitchen, the President finally found an opportunity.
He deliberately ignored Howard, who was befriending his daughter, and affectionately pulls Luke, acting like an enthusiastic elder.
"Lieutenant General Cavill, what do you think of family and marriage?"
The President beat about the bush and winked at his daughter.
However, the latter was talking to Howard about the latest Agatha Christie novel and didn't notice her father at all.
"I'm still young, not experienced enough, not knowledgeable enough, so I don't have any opinions yet."
Luke smiled lightly and avoided the topic.
"Are you talking about this... to introduce me to someone, Mr. President? I don't have any ideas about this for now, but Howard has always wanted to find the ideal partner."
"If there's a suitable lady, you might as well introduce him."
"Right, Howard?"
Howard, who had already talked about Agatha Christie to Arthur Conan Doyle, nodded decisively.
He had a sincere look in his eyes and his voice was low, "That's right, I have long wanted to settle down and live a quiet life. I just couldn't find my dream soul mate."
"Mr. President, although there are various rumors about Howard, it's said that he dates three or four women a week, working during the day and spending the night in hotels, is a master of time management, and had an affair with many Hollywood actresses."
Luke took the conversation further and further off topic and said, "But I can assure you that Howard is nothing like what the newspapers have written about him. He is honest, addicted to science, and a friend worthy of association. I believe that he can be a qualified husband and an excellent father in the future."
Before the stunned President came to his senses, Howard modestly said, "Luke is the role model I need to follow. Don't look at his young age, he is totally clean and not close to women ..."
The two cheeky guys were acting like comedians, bragging about each other commercially, leaving the President with no room to interrupt.
After a night full of unexpected surprises, the President was a little exhausted and finally gave up on the idea of pushing his daughter to him.
He waved his hand, showing the meaning of sending off, "It's getting a little late, Lieutenant General Cavill, and ... Mr. Stark, I won't keep you overnight."
Luke smiled and immediately got up.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, he led Howard away.
"How's that? Good acting, right?"
Walking out of the Blair House, Howard said triumphantly.
"Not only good, I was worried that if I stayed any longer, the President would smash the red wine I brought, on your head."
Luke said with a smile.
Howard deserved to be a friend of women. Even the President's wife was skillfully manipulated.
"So, I paid a heavy price. Luke, don't forget what you promised."
Howard couldn't help but felt a chill on his back when he remembered the way the President looked at himself before he left.
But, in order to step into the legendary world of magic, to experience those female warlocks, female demons, centaurs …
Even if the President notes down his name, it was worth it!
"I have said that we're friends, and I wouldn't lie to you."
Luke promised.
Anyway, he was going to Kamar Taj after the Paris Peace Summit, so having Howard with him was no big deal.
...
...
Blair House, the Presidential Suite.
After sending away those two troublesome guys, and the President returned to his study.
He needed a cigar to calm down.
"Who are you?"
Just sitting in the chair, a strange figure suddenly appeared in the room.
The opponent had his hands behind his back, wore an odd purple helmet, and wore a purple and green vintage robe.
"You don't need to know who I am."
The stranger's voice was hoarse, and his face, which was grayish, revealed a hint of arrogance.
"I have been the pharaoh of Egypt and the monarch of the Persian Empire ... but I haven't tried being President yet."
The frightened President tried to make a sound, but found his mouth tightly shut.
"The young Lieutenant General, is very strange. I've never heard of his name, and there shouldn't be such a person in history."
The stranger spoke to himself, pulled out the chair and took the cigar in the President's hand.
"Ah! I also like the smell of tobacco. Howard Stark, he's a famous person, and is worth noting. As for Superman ... I need to be careful."
"I've been observing this timeline for a while, and it's different from the world I once conquered. It's a good thing, it's more interesting to me."
"It's not easy to avoid the Sorcerer Supreme. After hiding for so long, I found the opportunity to take advantage of the game between the Ancient One and Dormammu."
"..."
The strangers talked to himself, saying things that the President couldn't understand.
By the time the cigar was a third of the way through, there was a shout from outside the study.
"Harry, dear, the bath water is ready."
The President's wife knocked on the door.
"Okay, I'll be right out."
A stranger fiddled with his throat, his voice was just like that of the President's.
"An interesting life is about to begin."
He stood up, took a drug out of his belt and shot it into his neck.
Invisible nano-mites were injected into his body, and in just a few seconds, they transformed his appearance into that of the President.
The latter sat in his chair, motionless, but his eyes were full of fear.
The President, as if looking into a mirror, saw the stranger gradually become himself.
...
It's 200th chapter y'all!