Chapter Sixty-Four: The Warhammer Charges

After meeting Pepper, Jace still did not immediately agree to join Stark Industries. Although Stark Industries and the Hex Institute belonged to the surface and the hidden world respectively, without any precedent, Jace could not be sure whether this would be considered a violation.

After watching the video from the exam, Pepper made up her mind to bring Jace into Tony’s circle. So, even though Jace’s words were vague and his attitude uncertain, she remained enthusiastic.

At noon, Pepper arranged for someone to take Jace to lunch while she hurried to Tony’s office.

Calling it an office was a bit of a misnomer—it was more like a mansion. The entire top two floors of Stark Industries’ headquarters were Tony Stark’s office.

“Tony! I think you really need to watch this video!” Pepper said as she stepped out of the elevator and saw Tony Stark lounging on the sofa, eating a hamburger and watching a projection screen.

“A video? What video?” Tony’s expression softened when he saw Pepper and he asked.

Pepper swiped her tablet, instantly displaying the footage of the multifunctional transforming tool in front of Tony.

Watching the video, Tony immediately sat upright, his brows furrowed. As a top scientist, he noticed things that the others in the examination room hadn’t.

This material! This integration method! How could two people suddenly appear who knew how to use this?

“Tony? Tony?” Pepper called out twice.

Tony Stark came back to his senses.

“Is there something wrong? Is that person a fraud?” Pepper asked.

Tony shook his head, waved his hand, and brought up another video.

The footage first showed a very short laser emitter. Once activated, the emitter, initially the size of a human middle finger, expanded to the size of an arm. Just the visible exterior components already exceeded the original size, as if the device had been compressed like a data archive.

“Are you sure this person has nothing to do with Stan?” Tony asked after a moment’s silence. He had watched this video many times and still could not figure out how the creator had made it, nor could he find any information about the material used, despite searching every materials company and institute.

“I’m not sure. I can’t find any information about the Hex Institute of Technology. It’s as if the organization doesn’t exist at all,” Pepper replied, shaking her head.

“Well, that makes it interesting. Stan just sent me this video, sharing some good news—he’s found a master weapons maker.” Tony stood up and walked to the window. “Where is he?”

“I’ve had someone take him to the restaurant.”

“In the afternoon, Stan said he’d introduce the new recruit he found. The meeting is set for the New Energy Lab, so have that person come as well. His name is Jace, right?”

“Yes, the business card just says Jace.”

Tony nodded, turning the names Jace and Viktor over in his mind, trying to find any connection between them.

In the afternoon, Jace received a message from Pepper. He followed an attendant and took a company car from the underground garage, heading for a temporary lab on the outskirts.

As soon as he got out of the car, Jace saw Tony Stark stepping out of another vehicle.

The moment their eyes met, both sensed a kindred spirit in the other—the confidence in their own technology and skills built through repeated victories.

“Let’s go. Stan is already waiting for us inside,” Tony said to Pepper, averting his gaze.

Jace, unconcerned, shoved his hands in his pockets and followed behind.

“Ah, Tony, you’re finally here. I was counting on you to help me evaluate our new guy.” Obadiah Stane beamed as he approached Tony, clearly pleased to have recruited such a talent.

“Viktor!”

Before Tony could speak, Jace’s voice rang out.

Everyone turned to see Jace staring intently into the lab. Following his gaze, they saw a thin man standing there, expressionless.

“It’s been a long time, Jace,” Viktor said calmly. He had not yet completed his self-modifications—or rather, had only modified part of himself, such as his right, metallic arm.

“Well, it seems you two know each other. What a coincidence,” Stane said, hoping to build rapport with Jace. In his view, if Viktor was that skilled, Jace couldn’t be far behind.

Jace extended his right hand and shoved Stane aside with irresistible force. Why did he have to get in the way right now? How annoying!

“Why did you leave?!” Jace demanded loudly.

“Oh? Was it really my place to offer an explanation?” Viktor replied coldly.

Jace was momentarily speechless. Indeed, it was he who owed the explanation—after all, he had cut off Viktor’s personal lab’s power supply.

Jace took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and then bowed slightly to Viktor. “I apologize for my arrogance and recklessness. Come back with me. I’ll explain everything to our mentor and accept my punishment.”

Hearing this, Viktor was first surprised, then deeply disappointed. “Human emotions truly are the greatest obstacle. Even you are affected by them. It seems my choice was the right one. You’ve let me down, Jace.”

“I’m sorry. If you refuse to come with me, I’ll have to resort to means I’d rather not use,” Jace said, extending his right hand, which held a tiny, miniature war hammer in the palm.

“Are you sure you want to do this here?” Viktor asked mildly, quickly gathering some crystals from the table. Jace was even more reckless than he had anticipated.

“Don’t fight! This isn’t the Clock Tower! And it’s not in the world of the mysterious!” Jernome yelled through the comm channel.

Jace tilted his head, the energy in his body triggering the patch, which caused the communicator to fall to the ground, where he promptly crushed it underfoot.

Security, prompted by Stane, had already surrounded them. He intended to detain both men; as for their conflict, Stane didn’t care. Perhaps it might even turn into a source of competition.

Tony, on the other hand, felt something was very wrong. The atmosphere reminded him of his time in the desert. Quietly, he began to pull Pepper back with him.

“Viktor, I’ll ask you one last time—will you come back with me?”

Viktor finished collecting the fully charged crystals and cast a regretful glance at the one still charging on the table.

Having received no reply, Jace lost all hope of resolving the situation peacefully.

“Warhammer, charge!”

A dazzling blue light flashed. The miniature war hammer instantly expanded dozens of times, its barrel aimed at Viktor.

Mercury Hammer, cannon mode—ready.