In the interview room, there was a boxing ring that looked like it was where Tony Stark usually worked out.
This place looked very familiar to Blake. After a moment of thinking, he remembered that it seemed to be the place where Tony Stark interviewed Black Widow in Iron Man 2.
This was very much in line with Tony Stark's character; sitting in an office with a stern face wasn't his style.
"American?"
Tony Stark asked as soon as Blake entered.
"Me? I'm Asian!"
Blake pointed to himself and replied.
"YES!"
Tony Stark clenched his fist and made a victory gesture.
Next to him, Happy, with a dark expression, took out a ten-dollar bill and placed it on the table.
These two guys had actually bet on his ethnicity. Blake complained in his heart as he walked up to Tony Stark.
"Honestly, I don't really like facing people. It's nothing against you, I just don't like facing strangers, especially men."
"If it weren't for the fact that I promised everyone at the board meeting this year, I wouldn't have come here to look at your internship reports."
"So let's make this quick. First, congratulations, Mr. Blake, your internship report was quite outstanding."
"Your lab supervisor gave you an A rating, saying you were very helpful in the lab. So now there's only one question left: do you want to stay in the lab or go to the legal department to do the legal work you're supposedly good at?"
According to Blake's profile, he was a law graduate, which is why Tony Stark asked.
"Well... honestly, I don't mind either way. It's up to you. Also, Mr. Stark, I'm actually not good at law!"
Blake spread his hands as he spoke.
"Oh?"
Tony Stark looked down at Blake's profile, made sure he didn't read it wrong, and jokingly said,
"Could it be Martial Arts?"
"I do know a bit of Martial Arts, although I'm not particularly strong. For example, I could handle about ten people like your burly bodyguard here, but that's not my..."
"Wait, wait, I must interrupt you. Did you just say you could handle ten of me?"
Happy couldn't take it anymore and directly interrupted Blake.
"Sorry, boss, I have to interrupt your work. This concerns my dignity."
Happy had been with Tony Stark for over ten years and was one of the people Tony trusted most.
So he spoke more casually.
Their interruption piqued Tony Stark's interest.
Ignoring Happy, he looked at Blake with great interest and said,
"You haven't answered his question yet. Are you sure you could handle ten of him?"
Tony Stark appreciated Blake's confidence but didn't believe for a second that he could take on ten people. Young people often exaggerated.
However, Blake nodded seriously.
"About twelve, at most. After all, he looks pretty sturdy, so it would take some effort."
With Blake's current physical condition, even a hundred people like Happy wouldn't stand a chance against him.
But it didn't matter. Getting Tony Stark's attention and completing the task was the goal.
However, Happy was clearly a bit angry. As Tony Stark's personal bodyguard, it was one thing to have his combat abilities questioned, but especially by someone who seemed so young and weak.
"Kid, I don't know if your Martial Arts is as great as you say, but I'll give you a chance to take back your words, otherwise..."
Happy stepped forward and clenched his fist at Blake.
Blake smiled slightly, ignoring Happy, and went straight to a punching bag.
He twisted his waist, inhaled, stepped forward, and threw a powerful punch at the bag.
"Bang!"
The punching bag was directly smashed by a single punch.
"Oh my God!"
"Oh my God!"
Tony Stark and Pepper Potts exclaimed simultaneously in shock.
"The martial arts I learned aren't great for sparring with people. I can't control the power well. Are you sure you still want to continue? Just so you know, I can't afford to pay for medical bills!"
After Blake finished speaking, he could clearly see Happy's adam's apple move as he swallowed hard.
"Alright, stand down, Happy. That punch was strong nearly a world champion's. You don't have to worry about me firing you over this."
Tony Stark stood up, walked over to Happy, patted him on the shoulder, and smoothed things over.
Then he turned to Blake and asked.
"How did you do that? I mean, what you just did... I mean, it doesn't look scientifically impossible but is not highly possible either. Do you understand what I mean?"
Tony Stark was evidently intrigued.
Blake finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Because the system prompt had sounded.
[Congratulations, Host. Your performance just now made a deep impression on Tony Stark. He will remember your name. Mission accomplished, reward: 500 points.]
[System Points acquired. System shop now open!]
Having completed the task, Blake felt relieved but didn't have time to check what items were available in the shop.
He smiled slightly and said to Tony Stark.
"It's just a technique of explosive power that requires years of practice!"
"Years of practice, huh?"
Tony Stark mumbled a few words under his breath.
"If I, I mean hypothetically, learned this fighting technique from you, could I reach your level?"
As he spoke, he mimicked the motion of punching through the bag.
"Sorry, Mr. Stark, but to be blunt, these techniques require monotonous, painful, and repetitive practice every day. I don't think you can manage that..."
Blake shrugged.
Tony Stark was genuinely interested, and Blake had no real techniques to teach. He had gained his abilities from Isaiah's random blood transfusion, and surviving the mutation without the system was uncertain.
But to Tony Stark, Blake's words sounded like a challenge.
"You doubt me? You think I can't do it?"
Tony Stark said, slightly competitive. He had originally asked out of curiosity.
Though he was egotistical, arrogant, and self-assured, he wasn't entirely without self-awareness. He knew where his strengths lay.
But for some reason, Blake's words gave him a rare feeling of dissatisfaction.
It was like when his father used to praise Captain America, Steve Rogers, in front of him while criticizing him for being worthless.
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