There, I saw a small silver light with dark streaks appear, and after that, the armor was split in two.
"Do you really think you can escape so easily… like this? Ice Make: Eagles."
Right after, another light-blue magic circle appeared, and this time, small bluish ice eagles flew at high speed, starting to attack the armor. I couldn't let myself be caught here or allow this person's information to remain. Thus, I hesitated no longer and pushed my armor's energy output to the maximum.
I no longer cared about my subordinate or the fact that the armor behind me had also been split in half by that same silver light.
After flying for many, many meters—perhaps even kilometers—at full speed, I finally landed. The armor had run out of fuel and was essentially out of power.
I landed, took a deep breath, and quickly attempted to connect to the communications system to reach the base's central command.
"Can anyone hear me?"
"I need to report something urgent!"
I kept trying for a few minutes, and fortunately, it finally seemed to work.
"Leader I-4, what happened? Was the mission accomplished?"
A slightly deep and refined voice came through, one I recognized as one of the base's primary leaders, which unsettled me.
"There was a setback. I need to report information about a specific individual and request a rescue—"
"Report," his voice came through more forcefully, with a cold tone.
I began to respond, but before the words could leave my mouth, I heard a sound resembling a door being opened.
When I turned around, the image of that terrifying person appeared, somehow prying open the metal as if it were a simple door.
"He's here! Help me!"
"Who's here?"
"That person—"
But I couldn't say more. I saw him pointing some kind of wooden item with a colorful stone at the tip.
"Stay quiet for now, little one. Petrificus Totalus."
I felt something enter my body, rendering me completely immobile. I couldn't move a single part of my body as I watched him grab me with one hand and throw me out, as if I were garbage—or perhaps a statue.
---
MC's POV
I sat back in my chair, feeling quite relaxed as I played with my wand.
The fight had been quite entertaining; I even got to use my *Tuner's Voice* a bit in combat, employing some of the tricks and abilities I'd recently developed and unlocked.
I picked up the communications device and cast a small spell to repair it.
"Good afternoon. Who am I speaking to? And by the way, could you clarify what kind of organization I.M.A. is and what its goals are?"
The voice paused for a moment, then asked with a cold and arrogant tone,
"Who are you?"
Unbothered, I replied,
"A mercenary. So, what about you? What kind of organization are you?"
"Being a mercenary, you could change jobs. I can pay well and offer benefits. Help me steal from Tony Stark."
I was surprised by his audacity and even laughed for a moment.
"Hahaha, what a curious proposition. You didn't even answer my question. A bit rude, huh? I'm not interested. Now, will you answer me?"
My response seemed to irritate him, and I could sense he was about to yell.
"How dare you go against the Mo—"
Not wanting to listen further, I unleashed an energy blast that destroyed his communication system.
Outside, I grabbed the paralyzed individual lying on the ground and threw him against the metal wall.
"Excuse me."
I placed my hand over his head and invaded his mind.
In just a few seconds, I collected all the information I needed.
"A highly advanced organization of scientists, with influence across the globe... including governments," I muttered.
"Annoying."
The person didn't have much detailed or specific information about the organization's locations, but they did hold some general knowledge. Among that, there were details of specific missions, which gave me a solid base of information. However, one detail caught my attention.
It was a specific scene in which he appeared to visit the base of a temporary ally for the delivery of an object. What intrigued me was the image of a skull with red tentacles.
"Hydra? Is this ally a remnant of that old organization? Or is it connected to I.M.A.?"
I murmured, puzzled but slightly concerned. Unlike the current S.H.I.E.L.D., the organization Hydra was supposed to have been dismantled after World War II.
My father, in particular, had given me what he called "world history lessons," including those of S.H.I.E.L.D., which he claimed to have learned in a supposed academy.
"Anturian. Log this as a future debt and potential topic for discussion with my father. Investigate Hydra. While researching I.M.A., also look for any related clues."
"Understood, master," Anturian's voice replied from my watch.
Still keeping the individual pinned against the wall, I used *Obliviate*, erasing his memories of recent events—especially anything related to me.
"Well, last survivor. Good luck."
"Aparatar."
My body distorted in space, and I vanished from the location.
.....
The Next Night
My body warped through space, and I reappeared on a small landing base at the top of a tower with the name *Stark* emblazoned on it.
I made no effort to hide my presence, so as soon as I appeared, the lights focused on me.
I walked slowly toward the interior. Inside, sitting casually on a sofa with a few injuries on his face, wearing casual clothing, was Tony Stark. He held a glass of strong yellow liquor in one hand.
"Well, an official conversation with the immortal individual who once saved my life and helped me out big time now," he said.
"And for me, a chat with the billionaire, playboy, and—according to some—a genius, Tony Stark," I replied in the same playful tone. I sat down on the sofa.
"Want a drink?" he asked, gesturing toward the bottles behind me.
"I'm not a big fan of that kind of drink, thanks," I replied, pulling out a bottle of juice instead. I relaxed, waiting patiently. I could feel his gaze on me, as well as some scanners at work. I had a good idea why, but it didn't bother me much—it was reasonable to be cautious with visitors in his home.
*Sigh.*
I saw him exhale and finally speak.
"Honestly, I don't know what kind of mystery you are. None of my data can see through you. There's some strange and mysterious energy preventing me from even identifying your height, let alone anything else. The same goes for how you just appear out of nowhere."
"Anyway, who are you, and what do you want?"
His question, following his little monologue, made me smile behind my mask while my body remained completely relaxed.