Blue Pill

Then Tony looked at Rhodes again. "You hit him really hard just now."

"Thanks, you too," Rhodes replied.

After a brief pause, Rhodes added, "By the way, my car got blown up. Mind if I borrow one of your suits for a while? You know, just to get around?"

Tony laughed. "Absolutely not. Last thing you need is to get carried away again."

"I'm not asking this time!" Rhodes said, putting on his helmet and launching into the sky.

Tony and Kai eventually returned to the villa for some well-deserved rest. They called Yinsen over, and the three shared a drink, finally unwinding after the chaotic day.

But their peace was short-lived.

An uninvited guest arrived — Nick Fury. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D. walked in like he owned the place, ignoring Kai completely as he strode up to Tony.

Fury handed Tony two folders.

"Avengers preliminary report?" Tony read aloud.

"I wouldn't start with that one," Fury advised. "Check this out first — it's our assessment report on you."

Curious, Tony flipped it open.

"Uh… 'Personality Analysis: Stark often behaves impulsively.' Well, that's not news," Tony muttered.

"'Self-destructive tendencies... I was dying! Give me a break.'"

"'Typical narcissist'... yeah, fair."

"'Avengers Recruitment Assessment: Iron Man — OK.' Nice!"

Tony was about to close the file when Fury spoke again.

"Keep reading."

Tony continued.

'Tony Stark — not recommended'? Tony's eyes widened. "Wait, what? That doesn't make sense."

He started ranting, going on about his achievements, his tech, and his heroics. Fury stood there stone-faced, unfazed by Tony's words.

Finally, Fury said, "That's exactly why you're not recommended. For now, you're better suited as a consultant."

Both Tony and Kai laughed at the comment.

"You can't afford me," Tony quipped.

Kai added, "Come on, Fury. Stop trying to push Tony's buttons — it's pointless. And don't waste your time trying to recruit us. We're not joining your club."

"Exactly," Tony agreed. "We're on different paths. But hey, I may still need a favor or two."

Kai already knew what Tony had in mind.

Sure enough, a few days later at the Washington, D.C. awards ceremony, the same senator who had tried to confiscate Tony's suits was now handing him and Rhodes medals of honor.

The senator's forced smile barely masked his irritation. Watching him grit his teeth for the cameras nearly made Kai burst out laughing.

After the ceremony, Tony turned to Kai.

"Hey, you know you should've been up there too, right?" Tony said.

"Not interested," Kai replied with a shrug. "I'd rather keep building my rep with short videos instead."

After the recent incident, footage of Kai saving civilians had finally surfaced online. His popularity had skyrocketed, and a growing fanbase had started to form.

As Kai watched his rising fame, his system's familiar notification rang in his head.

"Congratulations, host. Your reputation has reached 100. You have received a new gift package. Please check it in the system space."

Kai eagerly retrieved the package. But when he opened it, all he found was a plastic packet filled with small blue pills.

Staring at them, Kai hesitated. After a moment of doubt, he asked, "System, what is this?"

"These are enhanced cognitive boosters," the system explained. "A fusion of NZT-48 and CPH4, designed to enhance brain function. Each pill activates neural pathways within 30 seconds, permanently improving mental clarity and memory."

"So... brainpower pills?" Kai asked.

"Exactly. But caution: excessive use will cause dependency. One pill is safe, but repeated doses may lead to addiction."

Kai frowned, pocketing the pills. He wasn't about to experiment on himself without some assurance.

He found a monkey in the suburbs and gave it a pill. After observing the monkey for hours — no side effects, no weird behavior — Kai returned home feeling confident.

He swallowed a pill himself.

Soon after, he felt drowsy and drifted off to sleep.

By the time he woke up that afternoon, Kai felt sharper — his thoughts clearer, his memory sharper. Recalling complex techniques, strategies, and theories felt effortless. He even tried learning new skills and found himself grasping concepts far faster than usual.

But that was it — nothing dramatic, no super-genius revelations.

"System," Kai muttered. "This is it?"

"For someone like you," the system replied, "this is a modest boost. Since you rely more on physical prowess than deep thought, the impact is less pronounced. Researchers or intellectuals would notice a greater improvement."

Kai chuckled dryly.

"Looks like I should pay a visit to the manor," he mused.

_____