Tony Stark stood speechless for a moment, while Yinsen expressed his gratitude for the unexpected help. Faced with Xu Mo's fiery display and the imposing T-800, Tony knew he couldn't refuse the offer. Trembling slightly, he finally spoke up.
"Okay, I'll do the commercial. Stark Industries' Chairman, Tony Stark," he said, setting aside his reservations.
Xu Mo extended his hand. "Chairman of Marvel Comics, Xu Mo." They shook hands firmly.
Tony was taken aback, realizing that Xu Mo's offer was genuine. "Really? A comic book company?"
Tony could hardly fathom the idea of collaborating with a comic book company. It seemed like an April Fools' joke to him.
Xu Mo, smiling, didn't elaborate further. The partnership with Stark Industries would indeed boost Marvel's fame.
With Marvel Comics having a massive share of the American comic market and the upcoming network broadcast of "One Punch Man," Xu Mo was aiming for global expansion. The comic magazines might not be published in the U.S., but separate editions could be created.
By featuring Tony on the cover of their comic magazines, Marvel would gain significant attention. The publicity would be immense when Iron Man made his debut.
This collaboration would solidify Marvel's global presence and allow them to leverage Stark Industries' influence. Stark Industries was a major player in arms, energy, and civil technology, much like how the Samsung Group dominated various sectors in Xu Mo's past life.
Xu Mo asked, "Tony, you can either wait here for a formal rescue, or you can come to New York with me."
Tony, tired of his current predicament, chose to forgo the rescue. "Forget the rescue. I'm heading straight to New York. Yinsen, you should come with me. We'll have a much better time there."
Yinsen, having been Tony's savior with the electromagnet, declined, preferring to stay in his hometown and hoping for change.
"You go out and take care of the rest," Xu Mo instructed the T-800, who then left to deal with the remaining threats. Yinsen thanked Xu Mo and exited the cave.
"Let's head to New York," Xu Mo said, leading Tony through a portal. They emerged in a small alley in New York.
"Hey, is this a door? What kind of technology is this? Warp phase technology?" Tony began analyzing the portal with his scientific curiosity.
He examined the portal, noting its hidden mechanisms. "I must say, your taste is questionable. Such advanced technology painted in pink? It should be red and gold!"
"Stop," Xu Mo interjected, somewhat irked by Tony's critique of the portal's appearance. The portal was designed as it was, and changing it wasn't feasible. The technology was beyond simple explanations, even for Skynet's AI.
"Well, Tony, you're back in New York. The area outside is the red-light district."
Xu Mo waved his hand, retracting the portal, and guided Tony out of the alley. The bustling streets of New York greeted them.
Tony was preoccupied with the portal's technology and hurriedly said, "Don't you still have someone in the desert? How will they get back if the door is gone?"
Xu Mo assured him, "Don't worry about that. He has other tasks."
Tony was persistent. "Let me study your technology for ten days. I'll even rent a space for it."
"I'm not short on money," Xu Mo replied, dismissing Tony's request. "One advertisement is enough. You don't need to be a spokesperson for the comics."
Tony continued his pleas, but Xu Mo had no interest in extending the partnership further. He gave Tony a gentle push.
"Ah, who?!"
Tony stumbled and collided with a street vendor, causing her to scream. Passersby stared, taken aback by his disheveled appearance.
Tony quickly apologized and tried to retreat, only to find himself surrounded by curious onlookers. "How is this possible?" he muttered, baffled by how quickly the alley had vanished.
"It seems to be Tony Stark!" someone shouted.
The crowd erupted in excitement, swarming Tony. The vendor, feeling slighted, saw this as an opportunity for compensation or notoriety.
Tony, overwhelmed, ran through the street. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Xu Mo's portal technology, hoping to reconnect with him.
Meanwhile, in the Gobi Desert, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military, led by Hawkeye, continued their search for Tony Stark.
"Is he joking? We've scoured the desert!" Hawkeye exclaimed, frustrated.
On the other end of the line, Coulson responded, "He was spotted in the red-light district. He looked quite disheveled and was involved in some sort of altercation."
Hawkeye, exasperated, muttered, "Maybe the rich are just experiencing life differently."
Despite their exhaustive search, Tony had already returned to New York and was causing a commotion in the streets, much to the chagrin of S.H.I.E.L.D.