Chapter 71: Good friend, let's be loyal. I'll help you teach her a lesson!
The opening ceremony of the Stark Expo was a sea of people, camera flashes shooting into the sky like fireworks.
Stark made his signature grand entrance in the Iron Man suit, and the atmosphere exploded. The crowd roared, waving their lights like they were at a rock concert.
"The opening dance was decent."
Amid the cheers and noise, Ethan Lee didn't bother squeezing into the crowd below. Instead, he sat leisurely in the VIP section, casually watching the Iron Man Girls Dance Troupe do their flashy leg kicks.
As for Tony's dramatic monologue on stage?
Ethan didn't listen to a word.
Instead, he opened the Chaoyang News Channel on his phone and started catching up on current events.
Iron Man? Meh. He'd rather read the news.
After the ceremony, a tribute video featuring Tony's father, Howard Stark, began to play on the big screen. It included a model of a futuristic city.
Ethan knew there was a hidden element in that model—some clue Tony would eventually need. But he didn't care.
If nothing unexpected happened, Tony would figure it out on his own.
Not his problem.
"Hey, Lee. How are you feeling?"
Tony appeared, casually slipping a strange device—something that looked suspiciously like a pregnancy test—into his pocket. It was actually a monitor for the palladium levels in his bloodstream.
"I feel like I've been tricked," Ethan replied flatly. "That was boring."
Tony looked offended. "Come on, you didn't think my entrance was cool?"
What the hell?
You just wanted me to watch you show off, didn't you?
Ethan stood and clapped his hands. "Alright, let's go."
Tony motioned with his chin. "This way?"
Ethan glanced over—
Emergency exit?
---
Jump—!
"Tony!"
"Tony!!"
"Tony!!!"
The moment the security door opened, the crowd surged.
Among them were Stark superfans, beautiful women aiming to marry rich, and company execs eager to pitch their ideas.
Soon, a striking woman with beige-blonde hair spotted Ethan.
"Are you Mr. Ethan Lee?" she asked, walking over confidently. "I didn't expect you and Mr. Stark to be friends. I was wondering… are you free in the coming days? I'd love to take you out—"
"I'm busy," Ethan replied without skipping a beat.
Still, she slipped a business card into his pocket, kissed his cheek, and winked. "Call me if you change your mind~"
"Is that Mr. Ethan Lee?"
"Mr. Lee!"
More people began to swarm.
Ethan moved through the crowd with ease, graceful as a fish in water.
He might pass unnoticed on the street, but the more well-connected and attractive the women were, the more likely they were to recognize him.
And this place had plenty of that type.
---
"Tony, starting tonight,"
Ethan said as they exited through the emergency passage, brushing the wrinkles from his shirt and pulling out a handful of business cards—tossing most into the trash.
"I finally understand how evil you are."
Dragging him into this mess on purpose…
Classic Tony.
Tony threw up his hands, grinning. "I thought you might meet someone you liked. Aren't those the ones you decided to keep?"
"Heh…"
Ethan read the names aloud like he was reciting a list of VIPs.
"Isabella… Parsons…
Emily, art trading executive…
Olivia, hand-painted pencil studio…"
"Alright, alright, stop reading."
Tony surrendered, raising both hands. "I get it—you're networking."
"How about I give you that sports car as compensation for your emotional trauma?"
He gestured toward a sleek new vehicle. "Brand-new. Haven't even driven it yet."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this one's nice."
"Really? That's rare coming from you."
Tony looked impressed. "Guess Happy picked well."
"No."
Ethan pointed behind Tony. "Her. Your old flame, right?"
"Huh?"
Tony turned.
Standing in front of the car was a stunning woman in a deep purple dress, her dark eyes sharp and her features distinctly Irish.
"Oh. No idea who she is," Tony said casually. "But yeah—she's gorgeous."
Unbothered, he walked toward the car with Ethan. "So? You want the car?"
"I don't need it, Tony."
Ethan gave a low whistle.
Vroom!
With a powerful engine roar, Vinica—Ethan's AI motorcycle—jumped down from a nearby platform and landed with a solid thud.
Bang!
"Wait—no one's driving that?!"
"Is it out of control?!"
People nearby panicked and scattered.
But Vinica skidded to a perfect stop in front of Ethan. The crowd let out a collective breath of relief.
After all, if you were hanging out with Tony Stark, having an AI motorcycle wasn't that strange.
"Oooh~"
The woman in the purple dress smiled. "That's amazing!"
"Ba!" Vinica chirped proudly.
"Thanks for the compliment,"
Ethan replied politely, then turned to Tony.
"Tony, try not to trick me again next time."
"Alright, alright."
Tony climbed into the driver's seat. "Good night, Mr. Ethan Lee. I'm out."
"Mr. Stark."
The woman called out sweetly, smiling. "I don't think you're going anywhere just yet~"
"Oh?"
Tony raised a brow, assuming she was another admirer. "Who are you? Want to go on a date?"
"Marshal. Kate Mara."
She flashed a professional smile and handed him a document. "You're required to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Here's your subpoena~"
Still smiling.
Tony's smile vanished. He glanced at the paper. "Can I see your badge?"
From the passenger seat, Happy added, "He's got a thing for badges."
Kate Mara showed her credentials. "Still enjoying the view, Mr. Stark?"
Tony sighed, his face darkening.
---
Kate Mara ignored Tony and the others and walked gracefully over to Ethan Lee, who was quietly observing the scene.
"Hello~ Are you Mr. Ethan Lee?"
"Hmm?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Beautiful lady, are you here to serve me a subpoena too?
As far as I know, I haven't committed any crimes—at least none deserving of a court-martial."
"Mr. Lee,"
Kate Mara's slender figure swayed as she elegantly seated herself on Ethan's lap, wrapping her arms around him.
"You did steal something~"
Ethan tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Your heart?"
"Hehe~ Listen closely, sir."
Kate leaned in, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered,
"Not long ago, the Osborn Group collapsed. Someone has been quietly acquiring parts of their research labs through the Ghost Spider Club's assets…
Word is, they're developing a serum very similar to the Super Soldier Serum—or rather, it is the Super Soldier Serum."
She leaned in closer, her voice dipped with subtle tension and flirtation.
"You wouldn't want S.H.I.E.L.D. to know about this, would you?"
"Oh?"
Ethan grabbed her hand a bit roughly, still calm.
"Are you threatening me?"
"Hmm~"
Kate bit her lower lip and said seductively, "I just want to cooperate with you."
"With who exactly?"
"General Ross."
Boom—!
Ethan released her hand and turned the handle of his Venika motorcycle.
"Tell him to wait and see how I feel."
"Wait, there's one more thing, sir~"
Kate wasn't directly under Ross's command, so seeing Ethan wasn't completely opposed, she chose not to press further.
Instead, she looked up at him with charm and said playfully,
"Do you have a date tonight?"
"Hold on tight."
Ethan smoothly pulled her up into place on the bike, then deliberately called out to Tony—
"Tony! Don't be mad, I'll help you teach her a lesson!"
Before Tony could reply, Ethan revved the engine and rode off with Kate clinging to him—
"Huh?"
Tony was baffled watching the law enforcement officer flirt so brazenly with Ethan.
After hearing what Ethan said, he finally caught on and yelled,
"Hey! Lee! You traitor—choosing a woman over your buddy...!"
He paused, because all he could see now were the receding taillights of the Venika.
"Happy, how far are we from Washington?"
"Washington?"
Happy checked, "About 250 miles."
---
Washington, D.C.
"South Korea (Fresh)"
"Iran"
"Is that Justin Hammer?"
At the military hearing, Tony Stark used his advanced tech to expose Justin Hammer and the military's attempt to acquire Iron Man's suit technology.
"Iron Man is the reason we're safe,"
Tony said sharply.
"You want my suit? Not a chance!"
He stood up dramatically, faced the cameras, arms wide, flashing a smug grin—
"I've successfully privatized world peace!"
Watching the broadcast, Ethan scoffed.
"'I've successfully privatized world peace?' What a show-off…"
"Don't be mean~"
Gwen fed a peeled fruit to Ethan with her fingers.
"You went to the expo with Mr. Stark yesterday. Wasn't it fun?"
"Boring."
Ethan chewed thoughtfully.
"He made a flashy entrance with his metal suit—just to have his head nearly blown off by fireworks."
No mercy for Tony.
"Hmm…"
Felicia nestled against Ethan's neck, her snowy-white cat ears twitching.
"Master… you smell like another woman…"
Jessica, idly playing with Felicia's tail, perked up.
"Who is it? Cindy? Skye?"
"Not Cindy… not Skye…"
Felicia sniffed carefully. "It's… unfamiliar."
"Hmm?"
Jessica narrowed her eyes like a detective.
"Spill it! Who is she, Ethan? Tell the truth."
"Uh…"
Ethan paused only a second before deflecting.
"Of course, it was Iron Man's crazy fan girls. Way too aggressive."
"Really? Then why did you keep us waiting so long last night?"
Jessica asked suspiciously. "Having an affair, maybe?"
"Cough!"
Ethan nearly choked. "Jessica, isn't that a bit much for you to say?"
"Why? You bully me every day~"
Jessica teased, her voice syrupy.
"You think you can use me and get away with it? Just because I'm your sister?"
"What's gotten into her?"
Ethan looked at Gwen. "Has Jessica been watching too many soap operas?"
"Hee~" Gwen chuckled.
"Dad's been nagging her, so she hasn't been out as Spider-Woman in a while."
She casually lifted her long legs from Ethan's lap and playfully rested her smooth foot on Jessica's thigh.
"She's been running her detective agency instead~
Caught a few cheating husbands already."
"Gwen! Stop poking me with your feet!"
Jessica's face flushed. She grabbed Gwen's ankle and moved it aside, muttering, "So sticky… no wonder you can climb walls."
"Detective agency?"
Ethan raised a brow. "Sounds ambitious."
But in his mind, her nighttime performance was... about average.
"Jessica, where is your office?"
"Hehe~"
Jessica tickled Gwen's foot in revenge.
"Just outside Clinton."
Cough!!
Ethan choked again.
Clinton District. Hell's Kitchen.
She was bold.
"Don't look down on me!"
Jessica said proudly.
"The agency is just a front. I'm gathering intel."
Ethan asked, "Intel on what?"
"Hell's Kitchen's a mess since Kingpin got himself locked up.
There's the Devil's Gang led by Mr. Negative…
Hammerhead's Maggia…
And the 'Tombstone' Gwen couldn't find before…"
Jessica ticked off names.
"Lately, something else popped up—a group called 'The Hand.'
Like you said—monsters and demons are crawling out of the woodwork."
Ethan's expression shifted.
"You said… The Hand?"
"Yeah, why?"
"They're supposed to be a gang, right?
I caught one of their ninjas recently. He was… having way too much fun."
Gwen perked up.
"Wait. What do you mean having fun?"
"Nothing."
Ethan checked the time and stood.
"Alright, enough of this. You all get dressed and head to school. I have somewhere to be."
"Wait a sec."
Jessica hooked her foot around his leg, grinning.
"Help me out today~ Please, big brother~"
---
Later
"Number 37… this is it."
Ethan followed the address Jessica gave him and arrived at her detective agency.
He was heading to Hell's Kitchen anyway, so he figured he'd check it out.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Compared to the Ghost Spider Club, this was a modest setup—just a small storefront Jessica had temporarily rented.
It was quiet, almost like it was already out of business.
Nothing special.
Ethan pulled Jessica's office chair over and sat down, waiting.
A man claiming to be a lawyer had scheduled an appointment here. Jessica had classes, and Skye was busy too.
So the task, inevitably, had fallen to Ethan—
The one with the most free time.