"So… what, I just wish my chest gets healed or something?"
Nova shook his head, lounging easily in the chair, his eyes still glowing faintly. "Not exactly. First wish needs to be precise. Think of it like targeted magic—surgical without the surgery."
Tony narrowed his eyes. "Alright. Then I wish… for all the shrapnel in my chest to be removed. Safely. Without damaging anything important."
Nova nodded approvingly. "Good phrasing."
He snapped his fingers.
A soft golden pulse radiated from Tony's chest, light diffusing through his shirt in a ripple. Tony gasped, staggered slightly—not in pain, but in a surreal, electric awareness. His breath hitched as something shifted inside.
With a faint metallic clatter, a dozen razor-thin fragments of shrapnel materialized on the coffee table between them, neatly extracted and gleaming ominously in the light.
Tony stared at them, then at Nova. "Holy shit."
Nova gave him a casual shrug. "You're now officially 12 grams lighter."
Pepper took a cautious step forward, looking between the shrapnel and Tony's chest. "So… it's out. That fast?"
"Precision wish-crafting," Nova said. "Now for the next part."
He turned to Pepper, offering her a small scroll-like card that shimmered into existence in his palm. " You'll need to make the next wish—removing the arc reactor mechanism completely, but without causing any internal trauma. That means stabilizing tissue, ensuring no neural disconnection, and reinforcing the surrounding cardiac structure."
Pepper blinked, glancing at the card as golden runes flowed across it like liquid light. "Why me?"
"Because you're grounded," Nova said simply. "Tony's likely to wish for a flamethrower nipple mod if left unsupervised."
Tony scoffed. "Don't act like that's a bad idea."
Pepper rolled her eyes but took the scroll gently. The moment her fingers touched it, the runes adjusted, shifting into plain English—a precise wish already half-formed.
Nova gave a short nod. "Say it out loud. I will do the rest."
Pepper took a breath, then read:
"I wish for the complete and safe removal of the arc reactor and all associated hardware from Tony Stark's body, with full internal stabilization and restoration of natural cardiac function."
The moment she finished, the scroll dissolved into soft sparks.
Nova didn't wait. He raised his hand—
Snap.
And in the same fluid motion, his other hand came up, uncapping a sleek injector he'd been holding behind his back. Before Tony could ask, Nova stepped forward and pressed it to his arm with precision. A barely audible hiss followed as the dark-gold serum flowed into Tony's bloodstream.
Tony flinched slightly. "The hell!"
Nova didn't say anything, just smirked.
At that moment, Tony felt it.
Warmth surged through him. His heart beat—stronger, cleaner. He could feel the serum racing through every artery, every nerve. At the same time, the arc reactor in his chest flickered and began to dissolve away, drawn out with unnatural smoothness. Metal uncoiled, wires retracting without resistance.
Seconds later, it hovered free of his chest, whole and untouched, then gently lowered onto the table beside the pile of shrapnel. The hole was gone. Skin—real skin—had closed up over it.
He looked down.
No wires. No casing. No core. Just the faint outline of a healed scar. And beneath that, a heart beating with perfect rhythm.
"You injected me without warning," Tony muttered, still dazed.
"Surprise is part of the fun," Nova replied. "Besides, if I'd asked, you'd have had another witty comeback and stalled."
Tony opened his mouth, then paused.
"…Fair."
Pepper gently touched his chest, then looked up with misty eyes. "You're really healed."
Tony didn't reply. He was too busy staring at his own hands, flexing them, feeling the subtle but unmistakable difference—he felt lighter, stronger, sharper.
Nova gave a satisfied nod. "Congratulations. You've just been rebuilt with better firmware and no factory defect."
Pepper, stunned, stared at Tony for a moment longer before her eyes softened. "You look… like yourself again."
Tony met her gaze—and for once, didn't crack a joke. "Yeah. I feel it, too."
Nova finally stood, brushing imaginary dust off his coat. "Now that you're no longer powered by a metal donut, we can get down to real business."
Tony smirked. "You mean after we frame this arc reactor and hang it next to the lingerie assassin?"
Nova chuckled. "One's a miracle of science, the other's a miracle of sin. Both deserve a spotlight."
Pepper groaned. Again.
----
After a few more jokes, Tony got serious," So do you know who was behind the scenes of my kidnapping?"
Nova nodded," I do know it but I wont tell you it for free."
Tony just waved his hand," Money doesn't matter, as its just numbers to me. So how much."
Nova muttered," Rich bastard!"
Tony exclaimed," I heard that!"
Nova ignored it and continued," So what do you want? The name only or name with evidence. Or do you want to go in full details of his crimes in his life?"
Hearing this, Tony got a ruthless look in his eyes," I want details about all the crimes this person did in his life."
Along with the ruthless look, Nova also saw little hesitance and fear in Tony's eyes. He didn't comment on it," So alright here's the contract."
Tony raised his eyebrows as another contract materialised infornt of him. Packing it up he muttered," Pepper, you were right, I do feel like I am making deal with a devil."
Meanwhile Pepper looked at the framed picture near her and replied," Yeah a perverted devil genie."
Nova just smiled.
---
CONTRACT OF EXCHANGE AND REVELATION
---
SECTION I – PARTICIPANTS
Contractor:
Name: Nova Ashbourne
Client:
Name: Anthony Edward Stark
---
SECTION II – PURPOSE OF CONTRACT
The Client hereby requests comprehensive information regarding the individual(s) responsible for the orchestration and execution of his past abduction event.
The Contractor agrees to deliver:
Full legal name and identification of the orchestrator
Comprehensive record of known crimes committed by said individual, prior to and following the incident
Chronologically organized documentation and evidential material validating each offense
Optional psychological and behavioral profiling (included by default unless declined)
---
SECTION III – NATURE OF EXCHANGE
This contract is a mutual trade, legally acknowledged and enforced by the Trading System.
The Contractor shall provide all relevant and verified information as outlined above.
The Client shall render appropriate compensation to the Contractor.
---
SECTION IV – PAYMENT
Payment Status: To Be Negotiated
Payment Terms: The form, quantity, and nature of compensation shall be decided upon mutual agreement following the completion of delivery.
Clause: Until compensation is finalized and accepted by both parties, the contract remains partially active.
---
SECTION V – BINDING FORCE
This agreement is bound and enforced by the Trading System.
The Trading System shall oversee the execution of the contract.
Failure to uphold any side of the agreement shall result in penalties as determined by the System.
Attempts to breach, bypass, or annul the contract unilaterally will trigger automatic enforcement protocols.
---
SECTION VI – SIGNATURES
Signed by Contractor:
[NAME – Nova Ashbourne]
[SIGNATURE –...]
Signed by Client:
[NAME – Anthony Edward Stark]
[SIGNATURE –...]
Witness:
[Signed – Virginia "Pepper" Potts]
Role: Personal Witness to the Contract Formation
----
Tony held the glowing contract between his fingers, brow raised. "This thing looks like a cross between a legal affidavit and a cursed treasure map."
Nova leaned back, steepling his fingers. "That's generous. Most people say it feels like selling your soul to a well-dressed demon."
"Again," Pepper muttered, "not inaccurate."
Tony skimmed the text as the golden letters shifted and adjusted based on his gaze. "Okay, so Section II—Purpose. You give me the name, dirt, and receipts on the guy behind my little cave vacation. Every crime, start to finish."
Nova nodded. "Exactly. You get everything. But I won't lie—some of it's not easy to stomach."
Tony raised an eyebrow at a line halfway down. "Psychological profile included by default. You trying to give me a manual on how to emotionally dismantle this guy?"
"I'm giving you the full context. Knowing what he did is one thing. Understanding why… helps decide what comes next."
Pepper leaned closer. "Evidential material?"
Nova replied smoothly, "Cross-referenced records. Digital, physical, ethereal. Anything that validates the timeline of his actions. You'll have enough to bury him in truth alone."
They reached Section IV—Payment.
Tony read it slowly. "To be negotiated. Contract stays partially active until we both agree on the price."
He looked up. "Define 'partially active.'"
Nova's expression turned serious. "You'll get the information. But until the trade is fully settled, you're bound. You can't publicly act on what you learn. You'll know, but you won't be able to use it."
Pepper frowned. "So what, he learns the truth but can't do anything about it?"
"Not until he pays," Nova said simply. "The System enforces balance."
Tony exhaled, tapping the page. "Okay. What happens if I die before the payment is done?"
Nova didn't smile. "Then the debt rolls forward. You're not the only one bound—your legacy is, too."
Pepper stiffened. "That sounds awfully permanent."
"It is."
Tony kept reading, then flipped to the signature lines and raised a brow. "So… you didn't name your price yet."
Nova smirked faintly. "I wanted to see how badly you wanted it first."
Tony leaned back in his seat. "Cute. Alright, let's hear it. What does the devil want from a billionaire?"
Nova tilted his head. " Hmmm.. let me think."
XxxxX
3rd bonus reward, the side story will be posted tommorow or by day after tomorrow.
READ 10+CHAPTERS AHEAD ON MY PATREON CHANNEL:- patreon.com/Ghost_0007
CHAPTER:- [87- PUNK STYLED GIRL] IS AVAILABLE ON MY PATREON FOR EARLY ACESS
https://www.patreon.com/Ghost_0007?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator