I want a cheeseburger first!

The cabin of the military C-17 transport plane was filled with an annoying roar and the smell of engine oil.

Tony Stark leaned against the cold bulkhead, his fingertips tracing the business card in his pocket.

This is not something from Earth.

It felt warm to the touch, unlike metal, and unlike any polymer he knew.

"Tony."

Colonel Rhodes sat opposite him, staring at his friend who had been missing for three months, his eyes filled with concern and deep confusion.

"Aside from the pile of abandoned Stark missiles, there were only... inexplicable signs of a struggle at the scene."

"You said you built a suit of armor and fought your way out, where's the armor?"

Tony didn't even lift his eyelids, but his fingertips paused for a moment.

Armor?

It's in his belt buckle, or rather, it's become part of his flesh and blood.

That power called Amadham disappeared without a trace the moment the transformation was dispelled.

If it weren't for his heart still beating strongly, and if Ethan weren't sleeping like a log, he would have thought he was still dreaming in the cave.

"A one-time prototype, Rhodes."

"The structure is extremely unstable; once the self-destruct program is activated, not even ashes remain."

Tony just made it up on the spot.

"You know I don't leave trash."

"This is not scientific, according to the scene..." Rhodes wanted to say something more.

"Hey, all I want to do right now is go home."

Tony interrupted him, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

"I miss my bed, I miss clean whiskey, and... cheeseburgers."

Rhodes opened his mouth, but finally sighed.

That's true, it's a miracle that they came back alive, who cares what kind of advanced technology they used.

……

Two hours later, at the military base.

The hatch was wide open, and the California sun was almost too bright.

Tony pushed aside the unsightly stretcher, tugged at his ill-fitting, greasy suit, and strode down the gangway.

"Tony!"

A cry choked with sobs.

Pepper Potts, the ever-rational woman, had her makeup ruined by tears and rushed over regardless of the police cordon.

Tony felt a warmth in his heart.

In this quagmire of scheming, Little Chili is the only one who is clean.

"Tears can help detoxify, but they'll ruin your makeup, Miss Potts."

Tony opened his arms and let Pepper bump into him.

But his bloodshot eyes were fixed on the black Rolls-Royce that had just come to a stop, looking over Pepper's shoulder.

The car door opened, and a bald, bearded man stepped out.

Obadiah Stan.

A veteran of Stark Industries and Tony's most trusted "uncle".

"Tony! Thank God!"

Obadiah's face was filled with surprise and excitement as he strode over.

Three months ago, Tony would have believed this concern without hesitation.

but now……

Boom!Boom!

Perhaps it was the residual spiritual stone energy within him that allowed Tony to hear Obadiah's heartbeat.

That wasn't the rhythm of surprise.

That was the hunter's momentary shock, frustration, and...disappointment when he saw his prey escape from the trap.

Isn't this what you wanted to see, Obadiah?

"Did you miss me, old man?"

Tony released Pepper, letting the fake hug fall upon him, a cynical smirk playing on his lips.

"Of course, I think about it every single day!"

Obadiah patted Tony's back hard, but his eyes swept coldly over the faintly glowing reactor on Tony's chest.

"You look...good? I mean, considering you spent three months in that godforsaken place."

"I was lucky enough to meet an interesting magician."

Tony said something pointedly, then released Obadiah, "Even Death has to give Stark some respect, doesn't he?"

Obadiah's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "It's good that you're alive. The car is ready, let's go to the hospital..."

"No."

"Tony, you need a full physical exam..."

I said, I'm not going to the hospital.

Tony opened the car door roughly, his calm tone sending chills down your spine. "I'm only doing two things right now. First, I want a cheeseburger, it has to be Burger King. Second, I'm calling the media, I'm going to hold a press conference."

"A press conference?"

Obadiah frowned. "You just got back, this is too rushed. We can wait a few days..."

"Obadia."

Tony turned his head, staring intently at the bald man, his eyes sharp as knives. "Who really calls the shots at Stark Industries?"

The air froze for a second.

Obadiah's eye twitched, then he raised his hands in surrender: "Of course it's you, Tony."

Watching Obadiah turn away, Tony's eyes turned completely cold.

Acting? Then I'll play along to the very end.

……

Half an hour later, at Stark's seaside mansion.

Tony sat in the empty living room, holding a half-eaten cheeseburger in his hand.

On the holographic table in front of him, the black metal card was suspended in a blue scanning beam.

"Sir, this is illogical."

A rare hint of frustration appeared in Jarvis's standard British accent.

"I have used all available resources, including Stark Industries' internal database and even some dark web data, but the conclusion is still unknown."

On the holographic screen, a string of glaring red question marks flashed continuously.

"Sir, this thing does not belong to the periodic table of elements, nor does it belong to any known extraterrestrial civilization remnants."

Tony stopped chewing his hamburger, his eyes serious.

Even Jarvis can't analyze it?

Who exactly is Li Ang, the gashapon merchant who claims to be just passing by?

"Whether it's magic or alien technology, it should be of some use."

Tony swallowed the last bite of his burger, wiped his hands, and said, "Leon said this is his business card, so it should at least be some kind of proof."

"Trying... wait, sir."

Jarvis quickened his pace, "A specific bioelectrical input has been detected, specifically the frequency of your palm print... There's been feedback!"

"Bingo".

Tony snapped his fingers. "Show it."

The holographic projection changes instantly.

There's no complicated code, just ridiculously simple geographic coordinates.

[108 70th Street, Queens, New York.]

"Queens?"

Tony raised an eyebrow, a strange look on his face.

"This charlatan lives in this kind of slum? I thought he would live in some temple in the Himalayas, the Crystal Palace under the Bermuda Triangle."

"The map shows that this is a very ordinary-looking grocery store, which used to be a closed-down donut shop."

"This is getting more and more interesting."

Tony stood up and looked out the window at the vast blue sea.

He touched his waist, but it was empty; the belt that allowed him to transform was nowhere to be found.

But as he looked at his reflection in the glass, he vaguely saw a silver metal belt appear around his waist, and the red spirit stone was throbbing wildly at its core, resonating with the reactor in his chest.

He turned around abruptly, only to find nothing behind him.

That was the mark left by power, etched into his soul.

"That world is vast, Jarvis."

Tony whispered into the air, his eyes growing increasingly fervent, "It's much bigger than we thought."

"gentlemen?"

"Prepare the car."

Tony straightened his collar; that arrogant, genius bastard was back.

Tony Stark, who only knew how to build missiles, is dead in the cave.

Now, he is a Kamen Rider...

"But the press conference is starting in an hour, and Mr. Obadiah is on his way."

"Fuck, is this guy really that scared?"

Tony sneered, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "After I finish this press conference and sweep that mess in the company into the trash, we'll head to Queens."

With a flick of the fingertip, the black card traced a graceful parabola in the air before landing steadily in the palm of the hand.

"I also want to see what kind of terrifying things that gashapon machine, which claims to possess the power of all the worlds, can spew out besides knight belts and Senzu beans."

Tony paused as he reached the door.

"Also, help me check Obadiah's cash flow and call records for the last three months, especially those with the Middle East."

"Sir, you suspect..."

"I have no doubt, Jarvis."

Tony pushed open the door, and the sunlight stretched his shadow long.

"I am certain."