As Tony Stark's words fell, the journalists and media representatives in the crowd all stood up. The entire scene became noisy, with everyone asking similar questions: "Is this true? How did you make your armor?" But Tony Stark didn't answer a single question and simply walked out of the venue.
Pepper helplessly followed Tony Stark out of the venue. Rhodey stepped up to the podium to handle the mess, but the journalists weren't buying it. It seemed like there was no need to wait until tomorrow. Within 15 minutes, the entire internet would be shaken by Tony Stark's declaration: "I am Iron Man."
Agent Coulson stared wide-eyed as he watched Tony Stark walk out with such flair. He rubbed his temples and absentmindedly touched his thinning hair, sighing in frustration. "I planned everything, but this guy never plays by the rules."
Great, now he's going to get a lecture from his superior when he gets back, and he might even lose some of his salary. Thinking about it, his already bald head seemed to be getting even balder! A headache, a big headache.
Meanwhile, Qin Li was watching the scene on TV from the church. However, this time, Frank wasn't willing to gamble. This made it less entertaining for Qin Li.
Frank watched Tony Stark on TV, who had completely disregarded the official statement, and his chaotic actions made him understand Stark even more. He was amazed at Qin Li's ability to read people's minds and behaviors, but what Frank didn't know was that Qin Li had already seen this scene in a movie. He thought Qin Li was just guessing.
Qin Li laughed and said to Frank, "I bet your old friend is pretty upset with Tony Stark. All his hard work just got destroyed."
Frank shrugged and replied, "He deserves it. If he were like you, and not so arrogant with everything planned out, maybe the outcome wouldn't have been like this."
Qin Li laughed even louder and raised his glass to Frank. "True, here's to your old friend, who got himself into a mess!"
Frank laughed at Qin Li's words, took a glass from the bar, and clinked it with Qin Li's before drinking it all.
Just then, Tony Stark pushed open the door and walked in, immediately noticing Qin Li and Frank who had just finished their drinks. "Oh, I see two idiots trying to get themselves drunk in the daytime. Want to celebrate for me? You'll have to wait for me!"
Qin Li looked at Tony Stark in surprise and asked, "Hey, Tony, now you're a national icon. What brings you here?"
Tony Stark took off his sunglasses, thanked Jessica for the drink, and said helplessly, "Being a national icon comes with its problems. Happy was going to take Pepper and me to the company to deal with board matters, but outside the company, it's all my crazy fans. I'm afraid if I go out, they'll rip me apart."
He took a sip of his drink, frowned, and added, "Ugh, your drink tastes like cheap alcohol. Next time, I'll have Happy bring some good stuff over. I'll drink that when I visit."
Qin Li smiled and replied, "You could bring the whole cabinet from your living room. It would make my place look a bit wealthier."
Tony waved his hand casually. "No problem, it's all worthless stuff. Once my arc reactor's clean energy comes online, money will just be a number to me. It already is, actually."
Qin Li gave him the middle finger, feeling disgusted by Tony's flaunting of his wealth. Tony Stark, undeterred, continued, "When my new product launches, I plan to travel the world with Pepper. When that happens, don't bother calling me. We might be doing something... enjoyable."
Qin Li scowled and said, "So after showing off, you start feeding us relationship fodder? By the way, how are you solving the palladium poisoning?"
Tony Stark naturally responded, "Well, you have your special juice, right? That stuff is great. It detoxifies and keeps you alert. If it could boost a man's fighting power too, it would be perfect."
Qin Li then grew serious and said, "Tony, that stuff isn't unlimited. What if it runs out? Are you just going to wait to die?"
Tony Stark, seeing the serious expression on Qin Li's face, became serious too and replied, "Of course not. Actually, when you first started talking to me about it, I was researching whether other existing elements could replace palladium. But so far, none of the attempts have been successful."
Qin Li continued, "So you never thought of having surgery to remove it?"
Tony Stark replied helplessly, "I've been looking for other doctors, but the success rates are low. There's a really talented surgeon named Stephen Strange. He should be able to solve my problem perfectly."
Qin Li immediately understood, "Doctor Strange, huh? That could definitely work." He then asked in confusion, "So why not go ahead with it?"
Tony Stark awkwardly said, "Well, there was a little disagreement between us. Also, my personal doctors aren't too keen on it."
Qin Li realized that the "little disagreement" was probably caused by Tony himself. Although Doctor Strange had been quite arrogant before the accident, he had the skills to back it up.
When others had declared a patient was beyond saving, Doctor Strange had managed to snatch them from death's grasp, even slapping death in the face to show how skilled he was.
With this in mind, Qin Li sighed, "So why don't you want me to help you? Isn't my method a better solution?"
Tony Stark shuddered and quickly said, "Your solution? Come on, that's murder! You want to take my heart out and grow a new one? Ask anyone in the world if they'd be willing to take a 100% fatal surgery like that?"
Both Qin Li and Tony Stark looked at Frank when they heard the laughter. Frank laughed, then looked at Qin Li with a strange expression and said, "Although I hate this arrogant guy, Li, isn't your method a bit cruel? Telling someone they can grow a new heart?"
Tony Stark nodded in agreement but countered Frank, saying, "I'm not arrogant. It's just that I can do it. Like this suit, only I can make it; no one else can. Li, if you hadn't saved me, I wouldn't believe you'd do it. Otherwise, I would have sued you already."
Qin Li silently extended both hands and gave each of them the middle finger, saying, "Fine, if you don't believe me, whatever. Tony, you've never seen it firsthand anyway. But Frank, you know about the HP formula."
Frank shook his head. "Yeah, the stuff that heals wounds. Replacing a heart would be no problem."
Tony Stark looked disgusted and quickly said, "No, no, no! I can only be me. I'm not used to other people's stuff."
Frank shrugged, then continued, "Well, it's not possible. I tried it with that Japanese guy when I was cutting off his finger. I poured that stuff directly onto the wound, and it didn't grow back."
Tony Stark's face turned pale at the mention of this.