"Nancy, the beautiful female detective?" Tony sipped his juice slowly before continuing, "A human who has been specifically enhanced by mixing human and animal genes… No wonder Nancy's identity information is full of traces of artificial modification. At first, I thought Nancy was a secret agent from a certain organization, but it turns out Nancy is a test subject who successfully escaped from a military laboratory."
Lance looked at Tony with a serious expression. "With your knowledge of biology, you should be able to help fix Nancy's genetic defects."
Nancy had a genetic defect that made it impossible for her body to accept the existence of magic. Lance didn't have a deep understanding in this field, but he knew Tony was more than just a genius mechanic.
This man was not only the best engineer on the planet but also had extensive insights across various disciplines. To woo biologist Maya Hansen, Tony once rewrote a biological formula that Maya had studied for years in just one night, which then enabled the creation of something as terrifying as the Extremis virus. That was concrete proof of Tony's genius in the field of biology.
Of course, Dr. Bruce Banner had seven doctoral degrees to boast about, but in a world dominated by power and influence, higher education was merely a shortcut for those from the middle and lower classes. For a man like Tony Stark, who was already at the pinnacle of the world, academic titles were just a formality he didn't need to prove his capabilities.
Tony thought for a moment before responding, "I can't promise results before seeing the complete data, but at least I can ensure that even if I can't fully fix Nancy's defects, I can minimize their impact on her."
Lance nodded. "That's enough."
"Alright," Tony leaned back in his chair. "So, do you want to sign a contract?"
"No need," Lance replied calmly. "I'm sure you won't lie to me."
If Tony tried to deceive him, then this would no longer be a business transaction but a robbery. And if that happened, even Stark Industries could be thrown into chaos by Lance.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Tony sighed, then waved his hand toward Pepper, who had seemed lost in thought. "Pepper, pick a mansion in Long Island, then transfer ownership to this man."
Pepper blinked, somewhat surprised before nodding. "Oh… alright."
"Miss Potts, I will contact you later," Lance said, preparing to leave.
However, before Lance could step away, Tony suddenly rubbed his chin and said, "I'm quite interested in the magical weapon, the White Lantern Messenger. Do you have something similar? Or could you help me borrow one of them? If I can study it for a month, I'm willing to pay 100 million dollars. How about it?"
Lance stared at Tony with a flat expression. "No."
Tony always had a habit of jumping ahead of others, and Lance couldn't tolerate that.
"Goodbye," Lance said before opening a portal and disappearing in an instant.
Now only Tony remained, looking deep in thought, and Pepper, who still couldn't fully believe what had just happened.
...
...
...
After returning to the villa, Lance found Nancy still fast asleep.
Without wasting any time, Lance immediately sent a copy of Nancy's official information to Pepper. After ensuring everything was taken care of, Lance ordered Brynhildr and Raigō to guard the house, while he opened a portal and stepped toward Norway, thousands of miles away.
More specifically, Lance was heading to Telemark National Park.
There, Lance hoped to find something he desperately needed—Berserker Staff.
After obtaining cell S, the item became increasingly important to Lance. He needed to find it as soon as possible.
The myths that have circulated over the years cannot be fully trusted, but by combining information from the past, Lance is convinced that the place he is searching for lies deep within this national park's forest.
Using the energy of the White Lantern Ring, Lance conceals his presence and darts between the trees, flying low at high speed while carefully examining every corner of the area.
After a while, Lance's gaze is drawn to a towering fir tree in the middle of the forest.
The tree looks magnificent, its trunk sturdy with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. The bark is rough and filled with the scars of age, indicating that it has stood there for centuries, witnessing the changing seasons and long-forgotten events. It is estimated that this tree is at least 800 to 900 years old—a silent guardian of the past that continues to endure.
Surrounding it, large stones are arranged in a circle, as if paying homage to the king of the forest, unshaken by time. Green moss clings to its surface, emphasizing the ancient aura that envelops this place.
"To the south of the water, north of the mountain, surrounded by rocks, among ancient trees..." Lance murmurs a phrase that feels so familiar.
"It's here!"
With a swift movement, Lance hovers down, allowing his spiritual senses to sweep over the fir tree. Instantly, Lance feels the presence of something different—a strange aura hidden within the trunk. It is not just natural energy, but something foreign and powerful.
The aroma emanating from within the trunk is also different from the usual scent of wood. It is not the smell of damp earth or resin commonly found in old trees. There is something deeper, something that should not be there.
Lance's gaze sharpens, a flash of light crossing his eyes. With a quick motion, Lance releases two beams of energy that strike the trunk. A small explosion occurs, wood splinters scattering into the air before falling to the ground like a rain of dust. The sturdy trunk splits open, revealing something hidden within.
Lance extends his hand.
From within the shattered trunk, a silver staff, cracked halfway, slowly emerges as if pulled by an invisible hand. For a moment, the staff trembles, seemingly reluctant to leave its resting place of many years. However, within seconds, it fully detaches and floats into Lance's hand.
The moment he touches the staff, a wild surge erupts from within Lance. A wave of anger burns in his chest, urging him to destroy everything around him. Lance's breath quickens, his muscles tense, and his mind nearly gets swept away in a vortex of destructive instinct.
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