08 The Journey Begins

"Waaah! QAQ—!"

The roar of the Audi R8's engine echoed along the winding coastal mountain road, accompanied by the "screams" of a young girl.

Even though Kagami Hitomi could easily break the sound barrier using her "Short-Term Active Acceleration" skill, her heart still raced uncontrollably when she found herself in a speeding sports car.

"How's the thrill of racing?" Tony asked, his sunglasses reflecting the sunlight as the wind from the open convertible tousled his hair. He glanced at Kagami, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "Pretty exciting, huh?"

"Ah-ha… ahahaha!" Kagami forced a nervous laugh. "It's… it's okay, I guess!"

"Are you crying?" Tony teased.

"I-I'm not crying!" she stammered.

"Well, glad you're enjoying it!" Tony chuckled. "Most girls can't handle this kind of speed."

With that, he yanked the steering wheel, sending the Audi R8 into a sharp drift, tires screeching as they rounded another tight curve.

"AAAAHHH!!! QAQ—! I'm gonna—!" Kagami's voice trailed off into a scream.

Bzzt—

Suddenly, the holographic UI lit up.

[New Skill Acquired]

[Low-Altitude Flight Adaptation Mastery / Level 0]

I-I-I… I agree! Tony's flying way too low!

"Woohoo—! Haha!" Tony, clearly enjoying himself, was in stark contrast to Kagami's panicked state.

Meanwhile, the car driven by his bodyguard, Happy Hogan, was nowhere to be seen.

—Suburban Area, Air Force Base

On the vast tarmac of an air force base, a sleek, futuristic private jet stood ready. The silver-white aircraft bore the bold logo of "Stark Industries," its doors open and boarding stairs in place. Colonel Rhodes, dressed in his blue military uniform, stood at the entrance, waiting patiently.

Waiting for the man who could casually show up three hours late.

The roar of an engine broke the silence as a silver-gray Audi R8 skidded into view, leaving black tire marks on the ground before coming to a smooth stop beside the jet. Moments later, a black security vehicle followed suit.

"Hey, we're here," Tony said, turning off the engine and patting Kagami on the shoulder. "You okay?"

"I'm… fine," Kagami replied, rubbing her head. "Just a little dizzy…"

"Haha, you'll get used to it, kid. Most people throw up their first time," Tony said with a grin, stepping out of the car.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Mr. Stark," Kagami muttered, shaking her head to clear the dizziness before following him.

"Hey, Happy! Thought I lost you back there," Tony called out as his bodyguard emerged from the security vehicle.

"You did, sir. I just took a shortcut," Happy replied, retrieving luggage from the trunk.

"Ah, clever! Very clever!"

"You're unbelievable, Tony!" Colonel Rhodes's voice cut through the air, his tone laced with frustration. As Tony's liaison in the Air Force and a close friend, Rhodes had been waiting for hours.

Kagami, walking behind Tony, gave Rhodes a polite bow and a sympathetic look. She understood his frustration—being stood up for hours would annoy anyone.

"Oh, hi there," Rhodes said, noticing the young girl. "Wait, Tony, who's this? New secretary?"

"She's just filling in for Pepper. Now, let's get going. We're the ones waiting on you now."

"Sometimes I envy you, Tony. Beautiful women just seem to flock to you."

"Well, most of them do come with a price tag."

—Over the Atlantic, Stark Industries Private Jet

Though technically a "corporate private jet," Tony Stark's aircraft rivaled the luxury of Air Force One. The interior was opulent, to say the least.

Tony and Rhodes sat across from each other at a table by the window, a spread of fresh sashimi and sushi laid out before them. Despite the exquisite meal, the tension between the two men was palpable.

Kagami and Happy sat in a separate section of the cabin, separated by an automatic door. While the decor here was less extravagant, the service was just as top-notch—complete with a delicious Japanese breakfast.

"New here?" Happy asked between bites.

"Yeah, I've been working for about a month," Kagami replied, gracefully slicing a piece of salmon sashimi with her knife before picking it up with chopsticks and dipping it into soy sauce and wasabi.

"I've seen your resume. Impressive stuff," Happy said, shoveling a large piece of salmon into his mouth.

"Thank you," Kagami smiled.

"Any military training?" Happy asked, his tone casual.

Kagami tilted her head slightly, a bit puzzled. "A little, yes."

"Good to know," Happy said, stuffing another piece of salmon into his mouth. His size made it clear why he ate so much.

"By the way, for some reason, the board has arranged for me to be separated from Tony during part of the trip," Happy continued. "There'll be a period where he's only accompanied by you and some military personnel. Even with their protection, it's good if you can look out for yourself too."

"Oh, thanks for the heads-up," Kagami said, though she wasn't surprised. She knew what was coming.

Tony would soon face an attack orchestrated by someone far away in New York—his first and greatest enemy: Obadiah Stane, the Iron Monger.