Chapter 8
Tony swung open the door and boomed into the camera, "It would be a pity if you have a car to race and didn't go to the race!"
This quip ignited another wave of elation from the crowd.
The official staff managing the arena went so far as to rename one of the racers on the board to "Tony Stark." Not far off, Li Ye spotted Ivan Vanke near the track's edge, poised for the upcoming spectacle.
The engines began to purr, a low, rumbling sound that signalled the racers were primed and waiting. At the signal, the track's green light flashed, and with an explosive start, the cars hurtled down the track like missiles.
Ivan Vanke removed his hat, exposing his wild, unkempt hair. A reactor gleamed from his chest as he moved steadily onto the track.
"Sir, the race has already begun. You're not permitted to wander across the track like this—it will affect other spectators!" a nearby official exclaimed, hastening to stop him as he noted Vanke's bizarre behaviour.
But Vanke was unperturbed. He stood resolute, even as a speeding car zoomed towards him, showing no sign of either fear or intention to step aside.
As the vehicle neared, Vanke raised his arms, and two gleaming whips, charged by his reactor, appeared in his hands. In a flash, he brought one down with a thunderous crack, slicing the car in two as though it were paper.
The car was utterly destroyed, and its driver met a swift, brutal end.
"Oh my word!" the announcer cried, barely able to contain his shock.
The spectators erupted in horrified gasps, while police officers sprinted over to secure the scene.
At that very moment, Tony, ranking second in the race, arrived. Catching sight of the reactor on Vanke's chest, his eyes widened in stunned recognition. But before he could respond, Vanke's whip slashed across his path.
Tony's car suffered the same fate as the previous one, cleaved in two. Miraculously, he emerged unscathed, the indomitable son of luck.
However, Vanke, unsatisfied, began advancing towards him with a menacing intent.
"It's time," Li Ye muttered to himself before swooping down from above.
"Time to die, Tony Stark!" Vanke snarled, raising his whip once more.
A powerful gust of wind arose. When the dust settled, a new figure was on the track, holding Vanke's whip in one hand, its charge barely phasing him.
"Who are you?" Vanke bellowed, rage contorting his face as his carefully plotted revenge was thwarted.
"I am simply a superman driven by interest," Li Ye replied nonchalantly, gripping the whip and yanking it from Vanke's grasp.
Vanke attempted to strike with his other whip, but Li Ye disappeared in a blur, reappearing beside him and thrusting his hand into Vanke's chest to extract the reactor.
Deprived of his power source, Vanke collapsed helplessly to the ground.
"Hello, Iron Man," Li Ye greeted the dumbstruck Tony Stark.
"God above… am I dreaming?" Tony stammered, snapping back to reality as he recognised his saviour.
"Hold on—you're the chap who made the news last night, right? The self-proclaimed 'Superman' who saved New York from those monstrous beings!"
"Precisely. I am, indeed, Superman: the incarnation of justice."
"Quickly, seize him!" commanded the police as they stormed onto the track, securing the defeated Vanke.
"Thank you very much for your assistance, Mr Superman!" said the leading officer, saluting Li Ye in a gesture of deep respect.
Footage of Superman's heroics against the monsters had become a viral sensation, topping views on Twitter and Facebook alike.
"Oh, it was nothing. Just lending a hand where I can. The real heroes are people like you, keeping society stable," Li Ye replied, relishing the attention. Being familiar with showmanship, he was happy to bask in his newfound celebrity.
"Mr Superman, could I bother you for an autograph?" The policeman, clearly starstruck, extended a pen and notepad.
"Certainly." Li Ye scrawled the name "Superman" with a flourish.
"Oi! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be back in America?" Tony, never one to share the spotlight, interjected loudly, sounding slightly put out.
"Hardly the ideal place for a chat!" Li Ye replied casually.
Just then, a car sped into view. Out sprang Pepper Potts, Tony's trusted secretary, and Happy, his driver.
"Oh, good heavens!" Pepper exclaimed as she surveyed the scene. She dashed to Tony's side and flung her arms around him.
"Tony, are you utterly mad?"
"Don't worry, love. I'm perfectly all right," Tony soothed.
"You reckless fool! You could have died!" Pepper chided him through her tears, scolding him for his dangerous penchant for racing.
"Could we perhaps discuss this elsewhere?" Happy interjected, visibly exasperated.
"Of course," Tony agreed.
Then, turning to Li Ye, he handed him a business card. "Mr Superman, I'm forever indebted to you. Should you ever require assistance, don't hesitate to come to Stark Tower."
Li Ye pocketed the card, silently congratulating himself. He'd cleverly gained a favour from Tony Stark, an invaluable asset.
With the crowd clamouring for autographs, Li Ye gave a polite wave before ascending into the sky and flying back to his New York residence.
Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters…
"Director, Target 1 has made contact with Tony Stark," an agent monitoring Stark reported promptly to Nick Fury.
Nick Fury, however, was less concerned with Superman's moves, especially after Li Ye had effortlessly disposed of his most covert agents.
"Very well, carry on," Fury replied, retreating into thought. "Superman… Superman… How on earth do we contain him?"
---
After spending a few days at home, Li Ye surmised that Tony had returned to America, so he made his way to Stark Tower.
"Hold on, sir. This is Stark Tower. You can't enter without permission!" the security guard stopped him at the entrance.
Li Ye produced his phone and dialled the number on Tony's business card, which bore Stark's personal contact information, a privilege afforded only to a select few.
"Hello? Who's this?" came Tony's voice, sounding slightly worn out.
"It's the chap who saved your life in Morocco two days ago."
"Oh, it's you. What do you need?"
"Just a bit of help."
"All right. After all, I owe you one. Just come up to Stark Tower."
"I'm already downstairs, but your guards aren't exactly letting me through."
"I'll sort it."
Shortly after, the security guard returned, flustered and apologetic. "Apologies, sir. I didn't realise you actually knew Mr Stark. Right this way, please!"
Soon enough, a striking young woman escorted Li Ye to the top floor, where Tony Stark awaited.
"Superman? Or shall I call you Li Ye?" Tony inquired, glass of wine in hand.
"Li Ye will do just fine," he replied.
"Why not fly in, then? I expected you to sweep in through the window, cape and all."
"I could have done, but I wasn't sure what I'd find. I didn't fancy interrupting anything… unsavoury," Li Ye quipped.
The two exchanged light-hearted banter before settling into conversation.
"So, about that favour," Tony began, swirling his glass and giving a cheeky grin. "You're nothing like Superman from the comics."
"Superman? I'm just a man in a mask."
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