"Since none of you are willing to cooperate…
you'll all become my food."
With a muffled boom, black energy sealed the bar's entrance.
Moments later, screams filled the room—mixed with chewing, tearing, and the wet spray of blood.
Not long after, Blackheart strolled out of the bar looking thoroughly satisfied.
He chose a random direction and wandered off leisurely.
The next day, Lucas was once again spacing out in his office.
Johnny hadn't shown up for days—clearly, he had gained full control over the Spirit of Vengeance.
Lucas was bored again.
Just then, his phone rang. It was Tony.
"Tony—is that guy Ulysses finally making a move?"
Lucas asked immediately.
Skye's hand was nearly healed; Inhuman biology truly was incredible.
Less than a month after the injury, and she was almost fully recovered.
"Yeah. He wants to meet at sea.
Yacht's ready. We're waiting on you."
Metal clanging echoed on Tony's end—he was working on a suit again.
"I'm heading over now."
Lucas hung up.
"Skye! Wanda! We're closing for the day.
We're going to see Tony."
Skye and Wanda emerged quickly from another room.
"What are we seeing Tony for?" Skye asked.
"It's about you. We've got news on vibranium.
Tony arranged a meeting with that vibranium trafficker—out at sea.
And since we're heading out anyway, you two can relax a little."
"YES! Finally! I won't have to worry about breaking my hand ever again! I've been waiting for this!"
Skye bounced around like a kid, grabbed Wanda, and bolted out of the office toward her apartment.
Ten minutes later, the two returned—each carrying a small backpack.
"You're bringing stuff?" Lucas asked, confused.
"Duh. We're going out to sea.
Of course we brought swimsuits. Otherwise wouldn't it be a waste?"
Lucas had no comeback for that.
Fair enough.
"I should call Gwen—see if she's free," Skye said suddenly, dialing instantly.
The moment Gwen heard "yacht trip," she agreed on the spot and teleported to the office via the Chocobo space.
"You don't have class?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. It was school hours.
"Nope. I'm a top student, you know. Highest scholarship every year. The school's very… accommodating to people like me."
Gwen folded her arms proudly.
Being a prodigy had perks—Lucas, a lifelong academic disaster, could only sigh.
Once everyone packed, Tony's car arrived to pick them up.
At Tony's villa, Pepper also had a bag—containing swimwear and sunscreen.
Women really were the same everywhere.
Tony owned many yachts; Pepper chose one of the larger ones, since the group totaled six people.
They needed enough rooms, food, entertainment, and deck space.
In the pilothouse, Tony and Lucas alternated between steering and scanning the sea,
while the others sunbathed or applied sunscreen on the deck.
Before long, they reached the designated meeting point.
After dropping anchor, Tony and Lucas joined the others on deck.
Floating in the Pacific—not far from New York—the sky was clear, the ocean sapphire blue, the sea breeze cool.
With several beauties lounging nearby, even Tony and Lucas felt themselves relax, enjoying the brief serenity.
An hour later, a speedboat appeared on the horizon.
Lucas immediately spotted Ulysses Klaue on board, flanked by several bodyguards.
The boat pulled up alongside.
Klaue climbed aboard via the ladder.
"The famous Tony Stark.
A pleasure to finally meet you."
Klaue extended his hand.
"Oh—sorry. I don't touch strangers."
Tony waved dismissively.
"Mr. Klaue, let's be direct. Did you bring the goods?"
Tony's habit again—
no handshakes, no foreign objects, no physical contact with strangers.
Who knew what past trauma caused it?
Klaue only smiled and nodded.
He took a metal case from one of his men.
"Samples. Mr. Stark may examine them before making a decision."
Knowing Tony wouldn't touch it, Lucas took the case and opened it.
Inside lay an unrefined chunk of vibranium ore and a refined vibranium ingot.
Lucas picked up the ingot and tossed it to Skye.
"Skye—test it."
The simplest way to verify vibranium was through vibration.
Vibranium—also known as sound-absorbing steel—absorbed and nullified shockwaves.
How else could Captain America's shield survive blows from Thor's hammer?
Skye held the ingot and released her quake power.
Ripples spread across the metal surface,
but it didn't fracture like ordinary metals.
One glance was all Lucas needed.
He nodded to Tony.
"How much? I'll take everything you've got."
Tony didn't hesitate.
Once he saw vibranium's potential, he became obsessed.
He already planned to build several vibranium suits—"Anti-Skye Armor," he joked.
After all, vibranium was Skye's natural nemesis.
He just wasn't sure whether it could withstand her full power.
Klaue's eyes lit up.
A big spender—just as the rumors said.
Doing business with Tony Stark was always profitable.
Tony never haggled, as long as the price wasn't outrageous.
"I have one hundred kilograms of refined vibranium
and two hundred kilograms of ore.
Mr. Stark can take all that?"
Klaue surely had more.
This was simply the maximum he was willing to part with at once.
Never put all your eggs in one basket—he still had other buyers.
"I'll take everything.
Name a price."
To Tony, anything solvable with money wasn't a problem—
only a transaction.
One hundred kilos of refined vibranium plus two hundred kilos of ore was a substantial amount.
Lucas wondered how Klaue smuggled that much from Wakanda.
There had to be collaborators on the inside—
perhaps even a full smuggling pipeline.
Ultimately, Tony bought the entire stock without a second thought.
He'd study it thoroughly later.
Klaue was ecstatic—
grinning so wide his molars nearly showed.
He quickly provided his account info.
With JARVIS handling the transfer,
Klaue received the deposit within moments.
The remaining half would be paid upon delivery.
After agreeing on the drop-off location,
Klaue hummed a tune and hopped back onto his speedboat,
leaving in great spirits.
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