Tony Stark — a reckless playboy.
Obadiah Stane — a cunning old fox.
In a battle of wits, there was no comparison between them.
The slightest shift in Tony's expression was enough to stir Obadiah's suspicion.
Yet outwardly, the older man showed not a hint of it.
"Well then, Tony," Obadiah said, forcing a sigh, "if you don't want to produce weapons, we'll need to make something."
A calculated compromise.
"The future of Stark Industries," Tony replied firmly, "is mine to decide."
There wasn't the slightest trace of hesitation in his voice.
No matter how Obadiah prodded or tested him, Tony said nothing about the Arc Reactor.
With a look of weary resignation, Obadiah turned and left Stark Tower.
But the moment he stepped out of Tony's sight, his expression hardened into icy rage.
"So, Tony really does know something.
He's hiding the Arc Reactor well… but Colonel Rhodes already told me everything.
If you won't share it willingly—then I'll take it myself!
I've spent thirty years building Stark Industries into what it is today.
I won't let you destroy it!"
Murderous intent flashed through his eyes.
Meanwhile, Tony was already on his way back to his seaside villa.
A new armor model was forming in his mind—sleek, powerful, unstoppable.
This time, he would turn that idea into reality.
Even though he'd made a deal with a devil and gained another chance at life,
it didn't make him feel safe.
He didn't want to rely on anyone else—especially not a demon.
He wanted control.
He wanted protection.
He wanted the armor.
"Pepper," he said, tightening his grip on the steering wheel,
"we're going home."
Tony's actions, however, were completely unknown to Qin Xiao.
At this moment, he was parking his car outside a tall, quiet building—
the New York Sanctum.
After a glance at the warded doorway, he stepped forward and knocked.
A few seconds later, the heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing a dark-skinned sorcerer.
Daniel Drumm.
The new guardian of the New York Sanctum, appointed after Kaecilius's betrayal.
"You are…?" Daniel asked warily, his brow furrowing.
No ordinary person should have been able to even find this place, much less approach it.
The Sanctum was sealed with protective enchantments.
Even most sorcerers needed a Sling Ring to reach it.
And yet, here was a stranger—calmly standing at the door.
"Hello, Master Daniel," Qin Xiao greeted politely. "I'd like to meet the Sorcerer Supreme—Master Ancient One."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"How do you know that name?"
Ordinary people shouldn't even know the Ancient One existed, let alone where to find her.
If one truly wanted to meet her, they would have to go to Kamar-Taj, not the Sanctum.
Only those accepted into the Order were ever told of the Sanctums' existence.
So how did this man know?
Ever since Kaecilius had betrayed Kamar-Taj and turned against the Order,
the Sanctums' defenses had been raised to their highest levels.
If they fell, the Earth's dimensional barrier could collapse.
Which meant—
this man could be one of Kaecilius's spies.
Daniel's fingers twitched, and his magical aura flared.
"In New York," Qin Xiao continued smoothly, "I have my own information networks—both in the underworld and the business world.
You people keep a low profile, but not so low that you're invisible.
Naturally, I learned of this place.
And yes, I know that Kamar-Taj is where one usually meets the Ancient One.
But coming here… is simply more convenient."
He was bluffing, of course—spinning lies as casually as breathing.
Daniel's expression turned even more severe.
The man before him knew far too much.
He even knew the secret that the New York Sanctum connected directly to Kamar-Taj through a portal system.
There was no way that information had leaked naturally.
"You're one of Kaecilius's men!" Daniel snapped, raising his arms.
In an instant, the air around them shattered like glass.
Crack.
Crack.
The world twisted and warped.
Qin Xiao suddenly found himself standing in a warped reflection of reality.
The Mirror Dimension.
Daniel had dragged him inside without hesitation,
golden magic shields forming in both hands.
The man was ready for battle.
Qin Xiao frowned.
This could be bad.
He didn't have a Sling Ring.
He didn't even know any spells.
If he got trapped in here, he'd be completely at Daniel's mercy!
"Looks like Kaecilius has really made you people paranoid," Qin Xiao said with a smirk—
and then he charged straight at Daniel.
If he could just pull the sorcerer into close combat, he might find a way out of this mess.
Besides, he wanted to see how he fared against a real sorcerer.
Daniel swung his magic shields with precision.
The edges glowed like blades as they cut through the air toward Qin Xiao.
Qin Xiao didn't flinch.
His arm turned soft and fluid—like mud.
Splat!
The razor-sharp edge sliced off a chunk of his transformed flesh.
The severed sludge splattered across the mirrored ground, twitching before going still.
Qin Xiao's eyes widened.
"Magic… can actually hurt a Logia-type body?!"