Killian was keeping Happy locked up in a small mountain behind an auto parts factory.
That night, Raymond drove his team to the base of the mountain.
When Raymond and his group arrived, Tony and Pepper were already waiting.
Tony felt a bit strange seeing Raymond bring a bunch of people, almost like they were going on a picnic. He was especially speechless when he saw Beth and Skye looking so excited, as if they were at a fan meeting.
What Tony didn't know was that Beth and Skye really wanted to come, not just for the fun, but also because they wanted to meet Iron Man.
"There's nothing I can do, they insisted on coming to watch," Raymond shrugged at Tony, showing he was innocent.
Really, he could understand. Tony's fame in this world was just as big as any international superstar, maybe even bigger.
Except for people like David, who had lived in mental hospitals and didn't follow the news, almost everyone had heard of Iron Man.
Beth and Skye were no exception.
So when they learned their boss was going to fight side by side with Iron Man, they both asked Raymond to bring them.
It was a small request—Raymond didn't want to say no, so he let them come.
The two girls stared at Tony with excitement and hit him with questions about all kinds of gossip—about Captain America, the Hulk, Thor, and more.
Tony was left in a mess, not knowing how to answer.
Finally, Raymond couldn't stand watching and stopped them.
"Alright, let's get to business," Raymond called them back and asked Tony, "You've already checked out the place inside, right?"
"Yes, I've also confirmed where Happy is. We're ready to move as soon as you say," Tony nodded.
"Okay, let's start. We'll rescue Happy first. It's fine if we make a big scene—then we just wait for him to show up," Raymond said after thinking.
"You're sure he'll come?" Tony was curious why Raymond was so sure Killian would appear instead of just running away.
"Don't worry, I promise—unless he kills you, his enemy, he won't run," Raymond smiled.
"…"
Hearing this, Tony for the first time wondered if he really had too many people holding grudges against him…
Did so many people really hate him that much?
He shook his head and pushed those thoughts aside, then told Jarvis to begin the operation
—
Soon, loud explosions started going off halfway up the mountain. This was obviously Tony following Raymond's advice and making a show.
Not long after, an Iron Man suit dropped from the sky, holding the badly injured Happy in its arms.
"You alright, buddy?" Tony hurried over and checked.
Seeing Tony and Pepper, Happy gave a bitter smile, "Sorry for causing you two trouble again…"
"Don't say that. Just rest and leave the rest to us," Tony said, comforting him.
Happy, who had just been put down by the Iron Man suit, nodded. That's when he noticed Raymond and the others nearby.
"It's you!"
The moment Happy saw Raymond, he was startled!
It was an instinctive reaction. After what happened earlier, when Raymond stuck a tube in his head, he still hadn't recovered from the shock.
"You must have met Detective Raymond before, right?" Tony introduced, "Pepper asked Detective Raymond to help find you. If it weren't for him, we might not have been able to rescue you."
"Yeah, I've met him," Happy said, forcing a smile.
Tony saw Happy seemed a little nervous, but thought it was only because he'd been hurt, so he didn't ask more.
Raymond nodded at Happy, but then noticed a group of people quickly closing in from all sides.
"They're here—"
Before coming, Tony had already checked Killian's background, so he recognized Killian walking at the front.
Killian also saw Tony, Pepper, and the others.
When enemies meet, there's no need for words—they both rushed at each other!
Tony's thrusters blasted him forward like an arrow, shooting straight at Killian!
Happy watched excitedly, cheering Tony on: "Yeah! Beat that jerk's face in!!"
But before Happy even finished, Tony came flying back even faster than before!
What happened?!
Happy and Pepper were both stunned, totally caught off guard.
Even Beth and Skye were left speechless.
Buzz!!
Suddenly, David beside Raymond raised his hands and used telekinesis to catch Tony as he flew back!
Tony snapped out of it, glanced at David in surprise, nodded to him, and then looked at Killian's group again.
Killian now looked like a monster—there seemed to be fire rolling under his skin, and heat waves shimmered around him!
"A mutant?" Tony was surprised.
"Look at the others," Raymond reminded him.
With Raymond's hint, Tony noticed that Killian's henchmen had also changed in similar ways.
If they were really mutants, there couldn't be so many with the exact same power.
Tony realized this was even more trouble than he thought.
But he wasn't scared. He came prepared this time, and his technology had improved a lot since the Battle of New York. He was much stronger now.
"Tony Stark, you never thought you'd end up like this, did you?" Killian said with pleasure in his voice.
"Have we even met?" Tony still couldn't remember what happened between them.
"You're always so arrogant!"
Killian said coldly, "Let me remind you. Years ago, one night, I came with hope—"
"Can we skip the speech? I'm in a hurry. All of you, come at me together!"
Raymond stepped forward, and flames suddenly burst from his body!
With the flames, his body seemed to swell up. Under his skin, it looked like hot lava was flowing!
"How's that possible… Did you use the Extremis virus too?" Killian, interrupted, was shocked.
"Extremis virus? What kind of junk is that?"
Raymond spoke with contempt and a natural sense of authority. "You scum, are you ready to be judged? Let me send you on your way!"
"Great Eruption!!"
With a shout, Raymond formed a giant lava fist at least five or six meters wide and smashed it down toward Killian and his men!