Chapter 63 63: A Choice Before Tony
Don't touch the body.
Let Qin Xiao handle the funeral.
The moment these two conditions were spoken, Pepper was stunned.
Who exactly was Qin Xiao?
Why did Tony trust him so much?
Was it because he held 11% of the company's shares?
With Tony's shares combined with Qin Xiao's, they could control the entire future of Stark Industries.
Was this Tony's contingency plan to keep the company from collapsing?
But then—why did Tony keep talking as if he were going to die?
One question after another flooded Pepper's mind.
She needed to find out the truth.
"I understand. I'll do it."
Pepper agreed.
"Alright, go contact Qin Xiao."
Tony finally let her leave.
After stepping out of the office, Pepper reached out to Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao was slightly surprised when he heard Tony wanted to meet him—but he still agreed.
"Zzz—"
"Zzz—"
Back in the villa, Tony witnessed something bizarre.
At the center of the room, a glowing yellow circle began to form.
When it stabilized—a portal appeared.
And on the other side stood Qin Xiao, the demonic envoy.
He stepped through the portal and entered Tony's villa.
"Tony, what do you need?"
"Envoy of the Eastern demons… your abilities are truly unfathomable."
Even a genius like Tony couldn't help but be impressed.
A single portal—and Qin Xiao appeared instantly in his home.
With such power, who could possibly defend against him?
"This isn't a demon's ability—it comes from the Mystic Arts.
You didn't call me here just to admire that, did you?"
Qin Xiao got straight to the point.
Mystic Arts.
Another new concept Tony mentally noted.
This world was far more complex than he had imagined.
"I have a question. You gave me the Yellow Springs Fruit,
which allows my soul to return to my body even after death.
But you also know—my body is failing.
The metal near my heart threatens my life constantly.
That's why I need the Arc Reactor.
And the Arc Reactor is poisoning me with palladium.
If I can't solve the palladium poisoning, my body is useless.
Even if my soul returns, I'll still die.
Did you take that into account?"
Tony didn't beat around the bush.
With a demon—everything was a transaction.
"Has S.H.I.E.L.D. been in contact with you recently?"
Instead of answering, Qin Xiao asked a different question.
He needed to confirm something.
Since Tony had been rescued, quite some time had passed.
Tony had already developed multiple generations of his armor.
Events had diverged—Obadiah never fought Iron Man.
Instead, he had been blown to pieces by Frank's rocket.
Even Tony's iconic declaration had been delayed—until the summit incident.
Now, Qin Xiao needed to know—had S.H.I.E.L.D. stepped in yet?
"Someone did come. Coulson was here just the other day and took a report.
And yesterday's press conference was coordinated with them and the military.
But what does that have to do with my question?"
Tony didn't see the connection.
"Did their director—the one-eyed man—come to see you?"
Tony's expression shifted for a split second before returning to normal.
"He did. Right after I announced I was Iron Man."
"Did he ask you to consider forming the Avengers?"
For a moment, Tony even suspected JARVIS had betrayed him.
But seeing Qin Xiao still asking questions,
he realized—Qin Xiao was confirming, not spying.
Still… the knowledge was unsettling.
The Eastern demons truly were terrifying.
"That's right. You know about that too?"
"Good. Then your situation has officially entered S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar.
As for your palladium poisoning—I'll give you two choices."
Qin Xiao looked at Tony seriously.
"Choices?"
Tony's heart skipped a beat.
There were options?
Options for survival—or just different ways to die?
"Yes. Two choices.
First—I tell you directly how to solve the palladium poisoning.
Second—you wait for S.H.I.E.L.D. to give you what your father left behind,
and figure out the solution yourself."
Qin Xiao laid out the options plainly.
Now, he wanted to see—what Tony Stark would choose.
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