[On the road, two cars—one white and one black—sped past at high speed. Tony Stark was behind the wheel, heading toward his private airport, with Happy trailing close behind. There, Rhodes was already waiting impatiently for him.]
["You're incredible! I really thought I had shaken you off!" Tony exclaimed to Happy.]
["Just once, sir! I hit a red light!" Happy responded as he popped open the trunk and retrieved Tony's luggage.]
["What the hell is wrong with you?" Rhodes asked Tony, visibly annoyed.]
["What?" Tony feigned ignorance, playing dumb.]
["You're late!!!"]
["Come on! What was I supposed to do? Natural disasters, man-made disasters—I'm helpless against them!" Tony shrugged nonchalantly as he boarded the private jet.]
["Three whole hours!!! You made me wait three hours!!!" Rhodes fumed.]
["Relax, let's just take off! Let's have some fun!" Tony waved dismissively and stepped inside. Rhodes sighed, pulled off his hat, and reluctantly followed.]
[Inside the plane, a beautiful flight attendant set the table for Tony, though his eyes were glued to her rather than the meal. Meanwhile, Rhodes sat across from him, engrossed in his newspaper.]
["What are you looking at?" Tony asked, curious.]
["Nothing," Rhodes muttered without lifting his gaze.]
["Oh, come on, don't be mad. Anger is bad for your health!" Tony smirked, knowing full well that Rhodes was irritated.]
[Of course, Rhodes wouldn't admit it. "I'm not mad. It doesn't matter, okay?"]
["Alright, alright, I apologize! I sincerely apologize!" Tony said dramatically as two flight attendants arrived with hot towels.]
["I'm really not mad! If you don't respect yourself, how can you respect me? You know what? I'm just your babysitter!" Rhodes shot back, exasperated.]
["If you need a diaper change, if you need your bottle, just let me know, okay?" Rhodes quipped sarcastically.]
[Tony wasn't the least bit offended. Instead, he called out to the flight attendant, "Hey! A glass of sake! Want some? Thanks for the reminder!"]
["NO! I said we can't drink right now! We have work to do!" Rhodes insisted, trying to maintain professionalism.]
[Tony waved him off. "Sake pairs perfectly with sashimi. It's a must."]
["You… You are the most irresponsible person I know!"]
["Not drinking would be irresponsible! It's just a nightcap!" Tony chuckled, unconcerned.]
["Hot sake?" The flight attendant asked, holding the bottle.]
[Tony nodded. "Yes! Two cups, please!"]
["NO! I absolutely won't drink!" Rhodes declared adamantly.]
[The very next second, both Tony and Rhodes were sitting at the plane's bar, sipping sake while watching the flight attendants dance.]
[Rhodes, now slightly tipsy, leaned against Tony with a bottle in hand. The two began showering each other with exaggerated compliments, clearly under the influence of alcohol.]
"Hahahahaha!!! Rhodes, weren't you just saying you don't drink?" Tony laughed, nudging him.
"Damn it! I told you I can't drink!" Rhodes groaned, covering his face in embarrassment. Now he was the one getting called out!
Spider-Man watched the scene with wide eyes, still struggling to understand why Tony was hugging the flight attendants or why Rhodes had caved so easily.
"Who would've thought the ever-so-serious liaison officer could be such a party animal in private?" Second-Gen Spider-Man muttered in amusement.
"This isn't that wild. He's just watching a few women dance. Totally normal for a guy like Tony," Harry shrugged, unfazed.
Second-Gen Spider-Man nodded thoughtfully, realizing he had no real understanding of high society.
Meanwhile, many viewers were envious of Tony's extravagant lifestyle—bright lights, endless drinks, beautiful women, and a different indulgence every day.
[Afghanistan, Bagram Air Force Base. As the private jet landed, Tony stepped out. A group of soldiers was already waiting below.]
["General!" Tony greeted with a charismatic smile, shaking the officer's hand.]
["Welcome, Mr. Stark! We're looking forward to your demonstration."]
[After a few pleasantries, Tony wasted no time getting to business. Standing confidently before the gathered military personnel, he began his pitch.]
["Fear or respect? Why not both? Today, I introduce you to the pinnacle of Stark Industries' freedom-enhancing arsenal!"]
["This is the first missile system equipped with our proprietary propulsion technology! Some say the best weapon is the one you never have to fire."]
["I have a different philosophy. I believe the best weapon is the one you only have to use once!" Tony declared.]
["This is what my father believed! This is what the United States believes! And history has proven it!"]
["Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the Jericho Missile!" Tony gestured grandly.]
[A nearby launcher whirred to life. The soldiers turned their gaze toward the firing site as a missile rocketed into the sky with a deafening boom.]
[Mid-air, the missile split into dozens of smaller warheads, scattering toward the designated target area.]
[Behind Tony, a massive explosion erupted, sending a powerful shockwave through the valley. The sheer force blew off the general's and Rhodes' hats, while Tony himself took a step forward to steady himself against the blast.]
[As the fireball roared behind him, Tony coolly opened a sleek case, revealing several bottles of high-end liquor and crystal glasses.]
[Raising a glass, he smirked. "One purchase—over five million dollars! And guess what? Free drinks. For peace!" He took a sip, completely unfazed.]
"Whoa!!!" First-Gen Spider-Man shot up from his seat in shock. "That is terrifying!"
The first gen Gwen gasped in disbelief. Meanwhile, all around the world, audiences were equally stunned by the sheer devastation on display.
Governments, in particular, were deeply unsettled. The Jericho Missile wasn't just powerful—it was a strategic nightmare. A single launch could level an entire battlefield, with guided warheads that made interception nearly impossible.
"This… This is the Jericho Missile? Damn warmonger! Damn Tony Stark!!!" Wanda Maximoff clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
Even though the screen had shown Tony sacrificing himself to save the universe, she could not forget the devastation his weapons had caused—especially to her own family. Her parents had died because of Stark Industries' creations.
Even if the world forgave him, she never could.
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