Chapter 35: Buy Two, Get Two Free

Luke snuck a few glances at the woman known as Pepper. He’d give her looks and figure a seventy-five out of a hundred, but for presence, she deserved a perfect score. No doubt the worldly Tony was drawn to her temperament and character, as well as her unwavering support through thick and thin.

As for the other woman on the sofa, Luke was already quite familiar with her. Before his arrival, Black Widow had been discussing company business with Pepper. Today she was dressed in a classic secretary’s outfit: a white blouse stretched taut across her chest, a pencil skirt over nude stockings. She exuded both the poise of an urban professional and an undercurrent of irresistible allure.

“So, the plot returns to its track after all…” Luke mused. The little butterfly effect he’d set off had been corrected by the world’s own design. He marveled at this strange inevitability.

“Good afternoon, ladies. I’m here to deliver Mr. Stark’s lunch.” Luke displayed the paper bag of burgers in his hand, his face innocent and harmless.

“Oh?” Pepper smiled. “Tony’s downstairs, dear. Go on.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” With a polite nod, Luke walked toward the spiral staircase leading to the lower level. Neither he nor Pepper noticed Black Widow’s gaze fixed on the burger bag. She observed Luke closely, her long lashes casting shadows over thoughtful, beautiful eyes.

The place was designed as a split-level—living quarters above, Tony’s private lab below, accessible only by keycard. Through the transparent glass wall, Luke spotted Tony bent over his work inside the lab. Blocked by the glass, Luke knocked until Tony looked up.

Tony seemed surprised for a moment, but when he saw the burgers, he understood. He had JARVIS unlock the door.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Stark. Here are your burgers, both with the top specs.” Luke, the consummate delivery boy, handed over the hot food to his most loyal customer.

Tony didn’t reach for the bag; he gestured for Luke to set it on the table instead. “Just put it there, kid. I’m not in the habit of taking things directly from others. I’ve seen you before.”

“Of course. You bought burgers from my stand,” Luke replied.

“That’s right.” Tony nodded, remembering. “You make a decent burger. Where’d you learn?”

Coming from Tony, “decent” was high praise, given his standards.

Luke didn’t answer. Instead, he produced another item and placed it beside the burger bag.

“What’s this? Buy two, get one free?” Tony remarked. “I don’t need freebies.”

“Sir, someone asked me to give this to you on my way in.”

“A rock?”

Tony eyed the faintly glowing red stone on the table with suspicion.

Indeed, this was a sample of the magicite.

Tony refrained from touching it, but seeing Luke handle it with his bare hands suggested it was safe enough.

“Who gave you this?” Tony asked.

Luke shrugged. “I couldn’t see clearly. But the person said you’d be interested.”

Tony grunted, noncommittal.

At that moment, JARVIS spoke in the lab: “Sir, scans indicate extraordinary energy levels from this unidentified mineral. Recommend immediate isolation.”

Tony’s demeanor changed instantly. “Proceed.”

A robotic arm collected the magicite and carefully sealed it in a glass container.

“You can go now, kid,” Tony said to Luke.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, you can go,” Tony replied without turning, waving him off as his attention remained on the magicite.

A subtle smile tugged at Luke’s lips as he turned and left the lab.

On his way back upstairs, Luke discreetly attached a tiny device beneath a corner ledge—a micro signal bridge, no larger than a fingernail and nearly impossible to notice. With it, he could intercept and transmit data over great distances, thanks to the chips he’d acquired from the Magic Box.

Buy two, get two; Luke thought he was being exceptionally generous.

Back upstairs, he bid farewell to the two women and, still the picture of innocence, stepped into the elevator.

Once the doors closed, Luke whispered, “The Trojan horse is inside. Kristina, do you copy?”

“Connecting… Connection established. Data transmission and masking are functioning perfectly.”

“All set. So easy.” Luke snapped his fingers. “Hebron Technologies—always astonishing.”

Even if he’d been discovered, the bridge would self-destruct instantly, and no one would suspect a seven-year-old boy. At his age, he was perfectly camouflaged; no one paid attention to a child’s actions.

Even Stark, for all his imagination, would never guess that a grown man inhabited this seven-year-old’s body.

The elevator reached the ground floor. Luke walked out of Stark Tower, whistling as if nothing in the world could trouble him.

—

Tony had planned to dine with Pepper that evening, but the arrival of the magicite forced him to postpone. Pepper was at a loss when Tony slipped into workaholic mode. She understood him, but still felt a trace of disappointment.

In the lab, Tony was staring hard at the data on his screen, brows furrowed.

JARVIS interrupted: “Someone wishes to contact you, sir.”

“I’m busy.”

“I believe you will want to take this call.”

Tony looked up, surprised. “Put them through.”

Only audio came through—no image. The voice that followed was deep, hoarse, and clearly disguised: “Received my gift, I trust?”

“Gift?”

“The mineral before you.”

Tony’s frown deepened. “You sent this? Who are you?”

A low, amused laugh: “That’s the second time you’ve asked me that lately.”

“It’s you?!” Tony’s eyes widened in shock.

He recognized the voice—it was the one from the silver combat suit. So, it was him!

It was Luke on the line, contacting Tony through Kristina, directly via JARVIS.

“State your purpose!” Tony’s voice was cold.

He had no fondness for this mysterious individual—and for good reason. Tony thought of the trouble he’d endured at this person’s hands. If he could, he’d never cross paths with him again.

Yet here he was, knocking at his door.

Tony had a sinking feeling that trouble was once again on the horizon…