Chapter 61: A Friend's Friend

After replacing the palladium energy plate, Tony appeared to have returned to normal, but Rhodes also noticed something off about him.

The palladium energy plate that had already been smoking and burnt was still inside his body, and the thought of it made him shudder.

And how long had Tony been like this?

"Colonel Rhodes, it seems that Tony's physical condition needs further observation. I think he needs some good rest."

Oaks glanced at the array of monitors nearby, which displayed information about Ivan Vanko, the attacker who targeted Tony in Monaco.

He quietly reminded Colonel Rhodes, "Given Tony's current state, there's not much you can do... Please delay a few more days. We need to ensure his physical health first before discussing anything else, right?"

Rhodes instinctively wanted to say that he would find a doctor, but after recalling Oaks' previous performance, he fell silent for a moment and nodded slightly.

"Please, Oaks... SHIELD is truly a force to be reckoned with. Even their environmental consultant is no ordinary person."

SHIELD stood behind Oaks, and Rhodes had heard rumors about the organization having some extraordinary and seemingly unbelievable technologies, such as the stealth fighter technology coveted by the U.S. military.

Recalling the peculiarities in Oaks' profile, he had to reevaluate this "friend of a friend."

"Don't worry, I've got it under control. In a few days, at Tony's birthday party, you'll see a different side of him."

At this moment, Oaks certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to explain to Rhodes in detail that he wasn't actually a subordinate of SHIELD but rather in a cooperative relationship. He didn't want Rhodes to misunderstand SHIELD's intentions towards Tony.

Rhodes looked at Tony, who had returned to his seat in front of the monitor, and shook his head.

"He doesn't have to face this alone."

"Of course, he's not alone."

Oaks patted Rhodes on the shoulder.

"He has you too."

Rhodes rubbed his forehead and smiled helplessly.

"And he has you too."

After seeing off Rhodes, Oaks sat down next to the silent Tony.

"How are you holding up?"

"Of course, I'm doing great. Nothing's wrong. You saw it yourself. It was just an excessive depletion of the reactor energy plate, and replacing it fixed everything."

Tony's eyes flickered. Rhodes was a military man, but Oaks was a top-tier scientist. Tony could deceive Rhodes, but he wasn't so sure about deceiving Oaks.

"Tell me, if I were to dig a hole in your chest, remove the flesh and tissue along with the shrapnel, and then heal it... Would you no longer rely on the battery to survive?"

Oaks' eerie tone made Tony jolt.

"Wow! Don't scare me like that, buddy! Can your magical energy do something like that? I already have a hole in my chest!"

"For now, it's not possible. The issue lies with the skin and muscles are fine, but the bones..."

Oaks clicked his tongue and patted Tony's shoulder.

"Ivan did quite a number on you, and you endured a lot. That hole he made was in your sternum, and you just stuffed a reactor into such a big hole."

Oaks sighed and continued, "Dr. Yinsen knows a surgical master. He also inquired for you. However, the other party said that the current conditions are not sufficient for performing surgery at your level, but give it another year or so, and they will be confident."

"Another year or so?"

Tony touched his chest and sighed, "That's quite a long time."

"Still not planning to tell the truth?"

Oaks pulled open Tony's T-shirt, and in his startled scream, he sneered.

"With such severe poisoning symptoms, do you think you can hide it from me, the Druid?"

Although Tony quickly pulled his T-shirt back down, the grotesque gray lines that covered his chest had already given him away--

With the help of the acorn, the lines hadn't spread to his neck, but in Oaks' eyes, his life force had already declined by nearly half.

"Drinking chlorophyll certainly helps, but I can directly dissipate this toxin with a bit of effort--

But you still need to come up with a permanent solution because I can't be there all the time to detoxify you."

"I've been thinking, buddy. I've been thinking."

Tony sighed, and his usual rebellious expression became somewhat dejected.

"Alright, I admit it. I messed up... I thought I could solve it, especially with the extra month your acorn gave me.

But so far, I've tried every method, and nothing can replace the palladium element in powering the reactor.

Perhaps, as you said, removing the shrapnel is the only viable solution, but I've asked all the top doctors, and no one dares to perform such a surgery."

He vigorously scratched his hair.

"Do I really have to rely on you to keep me alive and wait another year or so for that surgical master's technology to advance?"

"Of course not. There may be other methods."

Oaks stroked his chin.

"Speaking of which, have you noticed anything special about the new secretary upstairs?"

"Secretary? Natalie?"

Tony opened his mouth, slightly surprised, but then he wore a knowing expression.

"How rare. Has our Teddy Bear finally realized the charm of human beauties?"

"Hey! What the hell kind of nickname is that?"

Oaks scornfully extended his middle finger towards Tony.

"I mean, that secretary's life force is much stronger than yours!"

"Haha! Is that strange?"

Tony exaggeratedly waved his hand.

"Even an elementary school student probably has a stronger life force than me now! Natalie is at least a normal adult, and besides..."

At this point, Tony's voice involuntarily softened, and his brow furrowed.

"Her combat skills are quite impressive."

"I compared her life force intensity to yours at your peak."

Oaks shrugged, pulled up a chair, and sat across from Tony. This guy finally noticed something.

"Her physical abilities surpass those of most professional athletes, and the various details in her muscle movements indicate that she has received extremely advanced and rigorous training."

"...SHIELD?!"

Tony's tone was a bit annoyed, but it was clear that he was still keeping his composure.

"It seems that I rejected that rock 'n' roll boy band's invitation, but he just won't give up, huh? Sending agents to spy on me is illegal, you know. I can do anything now--"

"Or is it that he and the military have the same idea?"

He stood up and walked to the liquor cabinet, opening a bottle of whiskey--with Oaks' magic, who needed that damn chlorophyll anymore?

"By the way, Oaks, you're still cooperating with them. What exactly do they want?"

"Mister Director knows that something's wrong with you, so he asked me to come and check on you--now I know where the information came from."

Before Oaks finished speaking, Tony exclaimed, "Come on! I thought you were worried about me!"

"Don't worry about these details, Poisoned Crusader. As long as you still have a breath, I can force you to do the cha-cha--just look at the outcome for those who were worried about you, Pepper and Rhodes. Hm?"

Oaks' sarcasm made Tony smirk and shake his head, indicating that there was nothing to say.

"Mister Director said that if it's confirmed that your problem stems from the reactor, then he might be able to provide some help."

Tony: "??!"

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