章 197: Chapter 198: Reunion with the Mandarin
The residence of the Mandarin is an ancient European-style manor that appears somewhat dilapidated at first glance, giving off the impression of overgrown weeds, but upon closer inspection, you would find that it's not just overrun with weeds, but also bearing the scars of battle.
The proliferation of weeds is the result of months and years of neglect, while the signs of decay are the remnants of battle.
The freshness of the battle's aftermath is evident from the terrorist corpses sprawled across the ground.
Some of these bodies are still warm, and only upon closer examination does Clark discover that some of the individuals aren't dead but merely stunned. The methods of their incapacitation vary, including electrocution and explosions, but notably, there are no clear gunshot wounds. It's unclear what weapons were used in their attack.
Driven by curiosity and without making his presence known, Clark stealthily infiltrates the manor.
Then, he finds a familiar face hiding behind a wall, peering inside in a rather sneaky manner. Seeing Tony in this state for the first time, Clark can't help but find the situation amusing.
Thus, he speaks up from behind Tony, "No need to look anymore. There's only one person in this building, and he's on the second floor. There's nobody in this hall right in front of you."
Startled by the sudden voice, Tony instinctively turns and attacks, aiming his pepper spray at Clark's chest.
This attempt at a Chidori earns a mere 9 out of 100 from Clark for effort but significantly lacks in style.
Catching Tony's wrist, Clark jokes, "Although I do enjoy the sensation of being electrified, I prefer it to come from a beautiful woman, not a big guy like you."
"Clark?" Recognizing Clark, Tony sighs in relief and curses quietly, "When did you get here? You almost scared me to death!"
Releasing Tony's hand, Clark frowns and asks, "What's with all the random gear? Where's your suit?"
Tony spreads his hands, "Mark 42 is out of power, still charging."
It seems Tony's Iron Man suit has already evolved to Mark 42, possibly hinting that the plot's progression is tied to his development.
Clark wonders if his interference with the main storyline, which has led to accelerated growth for Captain America, Tony, and Thor, might mean the New York battle will be led by someone as formidable as Thanos. Shaking his head, he deems this unlikely.
However, the early arrival of Thanos might not be entirely bad. It could be an opportunity to bring out the likes of the Ancient One and Odin for a top-tier group battle, potentially increasing their chances of victory.
This thought briefly crosses Clark's mind, but he quickly returns to the matter at hand, "Don't tell me Mark 42 is the only suit you can use right now."
"Of course not!" Tony replies with a resigned laugh. "But Pepper is also missing, and with Mark 42's communications damaged, I can't prove my identity to JARVIS, so I can't access the other suits."
Tony explains his predicament, having previously ordered that without his permission, no one, including himself under certain conditions, could access any Iron Man suits or data related to them.
"So, you need a video link to prove your identity to JARVIS?"
Tony shrugs, indicating that's exactly what he needs.
Clark casually tosses his phone to Tony and heads inside the manor, with Tony quickly using the phone to contact JARVIS and, after much persuasion and identity proof, gaining access to his suits.
Upon reaching the upper floor, they find a person in a dark green robe sitting in a massage chair, seemingly napping.
Clark immediately recognizes the face as the Mandarin who nearly took his life before. However, upon closer inspection, the man's muscular tone is slack, his life force indistinguishable from an ordinary elderly man, lacking any aura of a powerful being. His hands, adorned with seemingly ancient but actually artificially aged rings, clearly indicate he's an impostor.
As Clark hesitates, Tony boldly wakes up the "Mandarin" with a kick, then points a gun at his head, previously taken from a manor guard.
The "Mandarin" awakened from his slumber to find a gun pointed at his head, swiftly surrenders, his actions reflecting the agility of someone much younger.
Before Tony can interrogate him, the impostor hastily claims he's not the real Mandarin but was paid to impersonate him for videos. If he refused, they threatened to kill him.
While Clark finds amusement in the situation, imagining the real Mandarin's reaction to such an impersonation, a menacing bald man attempts a sneak attack but is quickly subdued by Clark and thrown into a portal leading to the Sahara Fireworks Plaza, followed by a shockwave for good measure.
After dealing with the bald man, Clark informs Tony that their real target is underground, leading them to the manor's basement, which houses a secret room with excellent soundproofing, previously unnoticed even by Clark.
The discovery came after the bald man emerged from there, prompting Clark to break through a stone wall, revealing a spiral staircase leading downwards.
Upon reaching the basement, they encounter two terrorists, quickly neutralized by Clark, revealing not all of Aldrich Killian's men are enhanced by the Extremis virus.
They also find Pepper Potts, Tony's assistant and love interest, bound and distressed, having been injected with the Extremis virus.
As Tony reassures a tearful Pepper that he will cure her, Clark, slightly jealous of their display of affection, is ready to leave but warns them they are likely surrounded.
Emerging upstairs, Clark and Tony are confronted by a shirtless white man, Aldrich Killian, surrounded by armed guards, boasting about their predicament.
Tony, with Pepper by his side, dismisses Killian's threat as Iron Man suits swarm the manor, showcasing Tony's formidable "Iron Legion."
Despite the impressive daytime display, Clark comments that the Iron Legion lacks the shock and awe of a nighttime appearance, to which Tony defensively claims jealousy.
As they prepare to face off against Killian and his forces, a familiar figure approaches, leaving Tony puzzled at Clark's solemn attention to what seems to be just an impersonator.
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