"You are my Boss and it was my duty."
Amber-like gemstone eyes stared intensely at Kyle as the water-like gaze reflected his figure. Raina smiled faintly and spoke in a soft and charming tone, and her icy and elegant face seemed to melt, displaying a myriad of charming manners.
The once innocent girl had not only grown into a queen of beauty but also learned to tease people.
A slight warmth inexplicably surged through Kyle's body. He discreetly averted his gaze, not daring to look too long. The fiery temperament of the God of Fire was naturally intense. This fiery disposition stemmed from his genetic makeup at the fundamental level, manifesting in every aspect of his body, divine power, and soul.
"By the way, Boss, I want to show you something," Raina said, her voice sultry as she took a step forward. Her fair, delicate hands encircled Kyle's left arm, and she began leading him downstairs to the Fortress base.
"That... Raina, you've grown quite a lot," Kyle said, feeling a subtle warmth at his elbow. Even with Kyle's typically indifferent demeanor, he felt a bit awkward at this moment, passively allowing Raina to hold his arm and guide him downstairs.
"Is growing up a bad thing? It just means I can't sit on Boss's shoulders like before," Raina stuck out her pink tongue, her eyes, which seemed to see through the hearts of others, crystal clear.
Despite being a powerful and mature Black Queen, in front of Kyle, she still seemed like the same straightforward little girl from before.
Kyle could only smile helplessly at this. The emotions that had stirred earlier were now dissipating, allowing Raina to cling to his arm as they walked toward the elevator in the Fortress base.
"God, we're going to the third underground floor, to the technology production factory," Raina commanded the round camera in the elevator corner as they entered.
The elevator's speaker immediately responded with a gentle voice similar to J.A.R.V.I.S., saying respectfully, "Of course, Supervisor."
With that, the elevator started its descent to the lower floors.
Kyle watched this scene with a series of wry smiles. The title "God" had caught him off guard once again.
J.A.R.V.I.S. had become Earth's unique artificial intelligence more than twenty years ago, around the time when Howard and the others left.
Before Howard left, he split the original system program into two parts. The half with the Family's data was named "J.A.R.V.I.S." and became his son Tony's personal butler. The other half, which retained the Carl Family's records, was tasked with handling all of the Family's affairs and was given the new name "God."
God serving as the Family's steward was truly... Kyle didn't even know where to begin with this irony.
The elevator continued its descent, passing through the gravity training room and the high-tech research lab before arriving at the newly built third underground floor.
Clicking and buzzing sounds filled the air.
Kyle and Raina stepped out of the elevator and into the third underground floor. Automatic lights illuminated the surroundings, revealing a plethora of complex technological devices. Tiny circuitry and pipelines crisscrossed like an anthill.
"What is it manufacturing?" Kyle's pupils contracted, and he instinctively asked.
"Just follow me," Raina said with a light laugh. She held Kyle's arm tightly and led him to the deepest part of the underground factory, stopping in front of a wall made of Iron grade material.
"God, open the factory's vault."
At Raina's command, the Iron wall vibrated violently and then automatically lifted like a rolling shutter, revealing the hidden chamber behind it.
"What is this..." Kyle widened his eyes, and dazzling blue-white beams of light shot out from the vault, filling the entire field of view like a tidal wave.
Inside the vault were individual items, each with its own light source, which was a circular core. Each item was neatly stored in a glass box, arranged in rows and columns, filling the entire spacious chamber.
It was Kryon Stone!
Kyle's heart was filled with an indescribable shock as he looked at this. The piles of Kryon Stone, if you were to consider the entire universe, would be an almost priceless treasure.
You see, on Planet Sakaar, just one Kryon Stone was enough to buy several small Interstellar Spaceships.
Raina spoke calmly, "Fifteen years after you left Earth, Howard used vibranium ore as the primary material to build this underground production facility. Over half a century, until yesterday, the accumulated production of Kryon reached approximately ten thousand pieces."
Ten thousand Kryon Stone pieces...
Kyle's lips twitched when he heard this. Not only did you need production facilities for Kryon Stone, but you also needed a significant amount of energy.
If Kyle were to convert it, he could draw the Blue-Grade cards a thousand times over!
However, using Kryon Stones for card draws would be extremely extravagant. Kryon, as the ultimate power source for Iron Man armor, was an indispensable core component!
If in the future, they obtained a perfected remote control system and self-assembling Iron Man Mark-model suits, these ten thousand Kryon could create an invincible mechanical army!
To rule the Earth... no, to resist future extraterrestrial invasions would be a piece of cake!
"You've been a great help, Raina. It seems that the Family's treasures have been accumulating quite profoundly over these years," Kyle sighed, instinctively raising his hand to touch Raina's shiny, black hair, offering an encouraging pat.
Raina didn't resist, her crescent-shaped eyes narrowed, and a beautiful smile appeared at the corner of her delicate lips.
"By the way, seeing this Kryon reminds me of something," Kyle withdrew his hand, thought for a moment, and then smiled calmly. "Raina, accompany me for a trip, will you?"
"Of course. No matter where you go, I will come with you," Raina said resolutely, her eyes shining with a bright silver light as if her decision was unwavering.
…
United States, New York, Stark Industries Headquarters.
After a busy day, night had finally fallen, and the lights in the skyscraper office building were still on.
In the acting chairman's office, Stane sat with a furrowed brow. The office desk was covered with various newspapers, and the computer screen was displaying news articles about two different Iron Man, one positive and one negative.
"That bastard couldn't hold back any longer," Stane snorted coldly, looking annoyed as he watched the news report about Iron Man wiping out terrorists in the Middle East.
The news report was mostly praising, calling Iron Man the new symbol of peace after Kyle, another shining figure of the century.
On the other hand, the articles about Iron Man were filled with curses, condemnations, and high-level wanted notices from various agencies and the military.
Stane was irritated by what he saw. He turned off the computer screen directly. Just then, the office door suddenly opened, and his golden-haired and charming female secretary rushed in, looking flustered.
"What are you doing? Why are you so frantic? Can't you knock?" Stane couldn't help but roar when he saw her. He slammed both palms on the desk, sending several newspapers flying.
"Chairman, there's a visitor!" The female secretary leaned against the wall, steadying herself, and answered with a frightened expression.
"Who? I didn't have any appointments tonight!" Stane furrowed his brows. He had just stood up from his seat when he saw two people walking in one after the other outside the door.
The one in front was a silver-haired young man in a black trench coat, and the one behind was a captivating woman with black hair. Both of them appeared calm and at ease as if they considered this skyscraper their own.
"You... You are!?"
Stane looked as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world. His face turned pale in an instant, much paler than the female secretary's. He staggered backward and sat back down in his chair.
(End of this chapter)