A Lecture for Tony

New York, United States, military headquarters airport.

A large transport jet landed smoothly. Elite personnel from the U.S. military, CIA, Department of Defense, FBI, and other agencies seemed to have received word beforehand and had arrived at the airport early to wait.

The transport jet’s rear hatch opened, and the deck lowered to the ground as a ramp. Colonel Rhodes, the head of the military weapons development division, stepped out with a broad smile, his dark skin and full standard officer’s uniform making him look every bit the part.

Supporting Tony, whose right hand had been bandaged, he was about to launch into an official statement when the other waiting dignitaries gave him no chance at all. They surged forward, eager to interview the returned Tony.

The next moment, a capable, intellectual blonde woman imperiously waved everyone aside and clicked forward alone in her high heels.

Her hair was tied into a ponytail, and her secretary’s skirt suit outlined every seductive curve of her figure. As she stopped before Tony, she could not help smiling in delight, though her eyes were slightly red as she shot him a reproachful look.

Rhodes coughed awkwardly, knowingly released Tony’s arm, and moved aside to leave enough space for the two of them.

"What, after not seeing me for a few months, you missed me that much?" Tony said flirtatiously, looking at his personal secretary—Pepper Potts—with a trace of affection.

It had to be said that no matter the occasion, he was a born playboy. It was an instinct passed down through the Stark family line.

"Yes," Pepper admitted readily, clearly long accustomed to this. Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, she immediately struck back with words worthy of her Little Pepper nickname. "Now that the boss is back, at least I can save time looking for a new job."

"Then get ready to work." Tony smiled, not forgetting to turn and wave toward the shadows inside the cabin behind him. "Mr. Karr, we should get going."

"Mr. Karr?"

Pepper blinked in surprise and looked up, seeing a silver-haired young man in a leather jacket with its hood up.

Sunglasses concealed most of his sharply handsome face. He was tall and lean, almost flawlessly built, with both hands idly tucked into his pockets. Only after hearing Tony’s voice did he step out of the cabin.

At the sight of the silver-haired young man, Colonel Rhodes beside them frowned deeply. Although Tony had explained aboard the plane that he was a passing lifesaver, the young man had remained cold and silent throughout the journey. His unknown, mysterious identity still made him highly suspicious.

For all anyone knew, he might have been a terrorist spy. At the very least, he could have been a poacher or illegal migrant from the Middle East.

After all, would any normal young man drive an old-fashioned Jeep around an uninhabited desert in the Middle East?

During the return flight, with both man and vehicle aboard the transport jet, Rhodes had approached him while Tony was not paying attention and tried to pressure him with his authority as a U.S. Army colonel.

That move, which had never failed him before, had resulted in the silver-haired young man not even giving him a proper look.

The other man had merely glanced at him. Even through the sunglasses, Rhodes could feel the contemptuous, indifferent gaze.

It had dealt a deep blow to Rhodes’s pride!

He was the second-youngest Army colonel in American history! He held tremendous prestige in the military, and even the newly elected president would give him some respect!

If Tony had not been protecting him, Rhodes would have long since ordered soldiers to seize him and lock him in a dark room for a thorough interrogation.

"This is Mr. Karr." Tony raised his uninjured left hand, hesitated, then sighed in resignation. "He’s my savior—and my creditor."

"Huh?" Pepper covered her mouth with both hands as she stared at Tony’s utterly frustrated expression. She had truly never seen anyone capable of keeping Tony in line.

Once she recovered, she did not look down on Kyle because of his young age. Instead, she hurriedly bowed respectfully to him. "I’m Tony Stark’s secretary, Pepper Potts. You can call me Pepper. On Tony’s behalf, I thank you again for saving him."

"He charges to save people, and he charges a lot," Tony muttered under his breath, tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was still bitter about what had practically been extortion.

"Pepper. Not bad." Kyle nodded and looked her up and down from head to toe. As Pepper fidgeted uneasily under his scrutiny, he calmly said, "You’re qualified to join the Stark family."

Pepper froze for a moment, then two patches of pink swiftly appeared on her cheeks. For some reason, she suddenly felt as if she were meeting the parents—

And earning the approval of the young man before her felt like an extremely important matter.

"Get in the car already."

Tony acted as if he had not heard Kyle’s words. Seeing the many people around them still watching and whispering, he called for the group to head toward his personal luxury car parked not far away.

Not long afterward, a black business van broke through the crowd and left the airport, quickly entering New York’s main roads.

In the driver’s seat was Stark’s personal driver and bodyguard—Happy.

Kyle sat in the front passenger seat, while Tony and Pepper sat together in the back.

Looking outside through his sunglasses and the car window, Kyle watched the bustling modern buildings and streets. Dazzling advertisements filled the skyline, while songs and dances played on giant television screens.

Pedestrians on the streets wore suits or casual clothes and carried touchscreen phones of every brand, either hurrying to work or enjoying themselves.

Twenty-first-century New York and the New York of 1945, just after the war, were two utterly different scenes in stark, almost world-shattering contrast.

It felt like another lifetime! It truly felt like another lifetime! As if in the blink of an eye, several decades had passed.

Born amid the chaos of war, Kyle’s temperament had grown cold through killing and scheming. Yet faced with this brand-new world, transformed as though a dynasty had changed, he still felt an indescribable sense of melancholy.

The things of the past had naturally changed beyond recognition. But what about the people? Of the comrades who had fought alongside him and drunk strong liquor with him back then, how many were still alive now?

As Kyle drifted through his thoughts, Tony and Pepper began arguing in the back seat. Once he focused and listened, he soon could not help shaking his head inwardly.

The two were arguing over whether Tony should go to the hospital.

Too concerned with saving face, Tony adamantly refused to have himself checked at the hospital. Under Pepper’s urging, his gaze gradually turned serious. "I’m going to a press conference."

"What are you going to a press conference for?" Pepper asked in confusion.

Tony pressed his lips tightly together and remained silent. Even he could not figure out whether what he was about to do was right or wrong.

If Father were still here…

Tony sighed inwardly, as if recalling something. His gaze fell on Kyle in the front passenger seat.

"Mr. Karr, may I ask you a question?" Tony said slowly and hesitantly. "Is producing powerful weapons and munitions really beneficial to the world?"

Seeing this, Pepper covered her mouth again in shock, unable to believe it for a moment.

That arrogant, self-centered madman was actually asking someone else for advice about his own affairs one day!

Happy Singles’ Day. There will be two more updates tonight, so don’t rush.

Also, Howard is not dead, so rest easy.

Just throw your votes at this single dog.