On Harry's floor, the apartment was exactly what one would expect from a wealthy heir. The space appeared to have at least two floors, with flooring made of some kind of expensive-looking stone. There was even a small reception area featuring a wooden table in its center, a crystal vase filled with stunning blue orchids, and a luxurious chandelier hanging above it. In front of this table stood a butler.
"Welcome, everyone. It's an honor to host the young master and his friends," he said.
Harry smiled at him and asked, "And my father?"
His question visibly made the butler tense for a brief second, but he quickly recovered, smiling as if nothing had happened. "The master is upstairs. I'm not certain if he'll join for lunch."
"That's fine," Harry replied, not seeming too bothered as he nodded in agreement.
I could have used my eyes and Haki to locate his father, but I refrained out of respect for others' privacy, especially my friend's—unless, of course, circumstances dictated otherwise.
We spent some time in the living room playing war and animation games until lunch was ready. Once it was prepared, we headed to the dining room. The space featured a large table made of refined wood with exquisitely crafted carpentry. The food was already served: a grand roasted lamb with sauce in the middle of the table, bowls of rice, fried vegetables, baked potatoes, and pasta with white sauce. There was also a platter of oven-roasted chicken thighs.
To the side, a separate table displayed an array of desserts: an apple pie, small servings of petit gâteau, and the ever-popular brownies.
Lunch proceeded smoothly, with conversations, laughter, and lively exchanges. However, just as we were enjoying the best part—the dessert—Harry's father arrived.
"Well, it seems we have a lot of guests today. Apologies for the delay; I was tied up with some matters. At least I made it in time for dessert—your favorite part, isn't it, Adrian?" he said with a smile.
I returned the smile to Harry's father, invited him to sit, and called him over. But my demeanor shifted the moment my eyes met his figure. I directed my mental energy to my eyes and activated my Haki.
I directed my mental energy to my eyes and activated my own Haki. I could discern the unusual aura surrounding his body and the disruptive process affecting his mental power. His physique appeared much stronger and healthier, but there were traces of madness within the vast sea of his mind. Furthermore, I noticed his ears starting to elongate slightly, and even his skin seemed to take on a faint green hue.
"Uncle, are you okay?" I asked, feigning the innocence of youth.
"Of course! I'm perfectly fine! Why do you ask?"
"Your skin looks a little green," I replied.
At my words, his entire body tensed, and others began to notice the strangeness too. However, before Harry could ask if everything was alright, his father regained his composure and responded, "It's nothing. By the way, did you hear about those vigilantes? It's absurd—this so-called Spider-Man and the Immortal."
"But, Dad, both have done a lot to help the city, especially with the recent event involving two individuals wreaking havoc. I heard that not only did they stop the culprits, but the Immortal even helped rebuild the city," Harry said, echoing what our entire group believed—that vigilantes and heroes had potential, at least within certain limits. Of course, Peter and I had obvious reasons to support this stance.
"Absurd! In the end, civil protection should be provided by the military and official organizations. The idea of a group of individuals with powers and abilities doing whatever they please is preposterous. I don't know which is worse—the Immortal, who disappears and seems to have a vast range of abilities, or Spider-Man, swinging around the city, appearing and vanishing as if he owns the place, patrolling at will. Imagine if mutants were allowed to use their powers however they wanted!"
"In the end, they're all irregulars."
We tacitly agreed, though in truth, his argument was justified to some extent. However, this world isn't as simple as that. Earth, at least as it seems—though I can't speak for other planets—is divided by forces that extend beyond nations and territories.
There are mutant groups, organizations like the Hand and S.H.I.E.L.D., the seven mystical and martial arts societies, witches and sorcerers. Not to mention entities like demons, gods, and even extraterrestrials.
Therefore, using the term "irregular" and leaving everything under the government's control is highly unrealistic. At the very least, something like a unified S.H.I.E.L.D., bringing together members from all these factions, would make more sense. Who knows how that would even work?
Since The Hand is a criminal organization itself, some of them would likely have to face each other, just as my alliance fought against The Hand, and maybe wars and more wars, is gone happen.
Regardless of that conversation, things flowed normally afterward, but I noticed some odd behavior from Harry's father and Harry himself.
At the end of the meal, before heading out with Peter, I pulled Harry aside and discreetly cast a small soundproofing spell.
"Adrian, what's going on?" he asked.
"Harry, remember that Peter, Ned, and I have known each other since childhood. You're also aware—though maybe not entirely—that Peter and I aren't exactly ordinary. So, if you ever need anything, we're here for you. And do you recall what we joked about as kids? 'Heroes of Justice, even if not 100% heroic first.'"
I looked directly into his eyes, even using my *tunistic* voice to emphasize the seriousness of my words and ensure they stuck with him.
My words seemed to calm his chaotic mind.
"I know... thank you. I'm not sure yet, but I might come talk to you in the next few days. And if it comes to that, I'd really appreciate it if you and Peter were a bit more honest with the rest of the group."
"We're here for you, brother. If you need anything, just tell us."
I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of tears.
Something was definitely going on, and while I wanted to investigate personally, I chose to hold back. Before leaving, I subtly cast a confusion spell on him using my wand, then enchanted a small Protego spell onto a necklace he always wears.
"I hope this helps…" I murmured as I walked away. After this, Peter and I are going to pick up my brother from school since he's also coming to the event.
....
Stark Expo
That evening, Peter, Kurt, and I headed to the event. As expected, there was a massive crowd, though Tony Stark himself was supposedly not attending. I also recalled some unusual news about him recently—he'd been attacked in Italy, and there had been reports of some kind of disturbance at his home.
The expo was packed with people, featuring countless booths showcasing all sorts of scientific and technological innovations. Alongside Stark Industries, other notable companies were present: Osborn, Pym, Randy, Future Foundation, Hammer Corporation, smaller enterprises, and even the unique Doom company from the sovereign nation of Latveria, which is renowned for its significant scientific advancements.
We passed by Pym Technologies' booth, which was demonstrating long-promised innovations involving the mysterious Pym Particle—this time showcasing the ability to increase the size of food items. Osborn Industries maintained its focus on genetic advancements and serums. Randy Corporation appeared to be unveiling a new type of communication device. The newly formed Future Foundation was developing a device for detecting new forms of cosmic energy. Lastly, Doom's booth featured an intriguing device capable of generating small energy shields. Unlike some military prototypes I'd encountered before, this one was said to be significantly more protective.
Personally, I was most intrigued by the Future Foundation's cosmic energy detector and Doom's energy shield device. Cosmic energy, needless to say, is a fascinating concept, while the technological shield piqued my curiosity—particularly in terms of how it might compare to magical protective matrices.
Finally, there was Hammer Corporation, a rival of Stark Industries, which promised a grand show involving military-grade robots.
We gathered in the central area for the demonstration, and within minutes, the show began. Fireworks and confetti in red, blue, and white lit up the sky. At the center of it all, a man in a suit appeared, exuding confidence and cheerfulness—Justin Hammer.
After a lackluster speech, several large curtains were pulled back to reveal towering armored suits. They resembled a bulkier, less refined version of Iron Man's suits, with technology that seemed slightly outdated and designed to emphasize durability over flexibility. Hammer also touted their ability to be remotely controlled.
They also had colors representing different military forces, such as the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Soon, the show began, and I cast a small magical soundproofing spell around us.
"Brother… this doesn't seem that impressive. Your drones seem smarter and more useful," my little brother remarked beside me.
"Their focus is different," I replied. "They might have a weaker AI compared to my droids. Their technology is also crude and far inferior to Iron Man's armor, but they could still have their uses. It's better than a man with a submachine gun or something like that."
"The fact that they can be controlled remotely also has its benefits. It would be great if I could get my hands on a few… Anturian could probably control them. They'd be useful for base defense and even other locations…"
My eyes gleamed at the thought. Of course, I wasn't planning on outright stealing them, but if some criminals happened to acquire one, or if I could find a way to buy some, it would be worthwhile.
Hearing part of my explanation, my brother seemed to understand and nodded.
Peter also joined the conversation, offering ideas on how to protect and improve our hidden base.
While we talked, I noticed something unusual, my eyes glowing as they locked onto the stage.
Peter seemed to notice as well; his gaze was fixed, and I saw the small hairs on his arms standing on end. Kurt, however, looked the most confused.
"What's going on? Why aren't they obeying me?" Justin Hammer sounded confused, and a distinct voice came from one of the robots.
"Tony Stark must be punished for what he's done. This entire event deserves complete destruction."
The voice was deep and unsettling.
Before anything else could happen, I glanced at the sky, a subtle smile crossing my face. Someone familiar was flying in with jet thrusters, landing directly on the stage.
Accompanied by a rock tune, Tony Stark—Iron Man—arrived to spice things up.
"Ivan, there's no need for this. We can settle things calmly," he said.
"Hahaha, as if! Stark, you and everything you hold dear will be torn apart by me. Prepare yourself!"
Ivan didn't waste time with further words. His eyes glowed red, and the armors began firing and attacking. Tony quickly took to the air, dodging the danger.
The crowd descended into chaos, fleeing in panic.
I dispelled my barrier and raised my voice, infused with my *tunistic* power, to calm the masses.
"Stay calm. Move slowly to avoid hurting others."
The effect was successful, and the panic slightly subsided.
I made eye contact with my brother and Peter, establishing a telepathic link between us.
"Peter, you and I will suit up. We'll focus on containing the damage from the armors and helping people avoid serious injuries. Kurt, use your ability to teleport home."*
"But brother… I can help! If it's about my identity, I can use your mask to disguise my appearance."
I didn't like the idea and was about to refuse when he countered with another argument.
"I'm skilled with my teleportation. I won't get hit, and I'll be discreet. I'll only intervene in the most critical situations."
In the end, I sighed. My parents couldn't stop me at his age, and I couldn't stop him now. I placed a tracking bee on him, and Shady merged with his shadow.
"Keep the small ring I gave you safe. And remember, I don't care about anything else—your safety is my priority."
"Okay."
With that, the three of us moved to a discreet area. Once I ensured no one was around, we prepared. Peter and I donned our suits, while Kurt used the mask to change his appearance and aura.
"Aparatar."
In the blink of an eye, I teleported alongside Kurt, while Peter stayed invisible, moving swiftly with his webs.