32 Chapter 32: Tony's Apology

Antonio went upstairs.

Meanwhile, Oaks stood there, dumbfounded, looking at Tony Stark who swung open the shop door with a wide grin.

"I remember I put up the 'Rest' sign."

Turning off the music from the music player, Oaks helplessly shrugged.

"Tony, seriously, don't you knock before coming in?"

"Oh, sh--!"

Tony took a deep breath, his eyes were still wide, and he swiftly approached the shelves.

"They moved? They were dancing along with the music just now? What's going on? Plants can dance now!"

"You must be seeing things."

"No, no, no, my eyes are perfectly fine. Not only do I not have vision problems, I don't even wear glasses!"

Tony waved the sunglasses in his hand and strode over to the exasperated Oaks.

"These are sunglasses, you know what sunglasses are? Since I don't have vision problems or need glasses, it must be something you did, huh?"

Tony grabbed Oaks' shoulder and stared at him for three seconds.

"Come on, I thought we were friends. How many interesting things are you keeping from me?"

"Do you think this is something interesting?"

Oaks actually admired Tony's big heart. In a way, his acceptance level was comparable to Antonio's.

"Okay, okay, I also need a little bit of privacy, don't I?"

Finally freeing himself from Tony's grip, Oaks lay back on the sofa and smiled bitterly.

"You seem to enjoy and be accustomed to being in the spotlight, but as a researcher, I'm not used to being the center of attention."

"Oh, I heard you started an environmental organization."

Tony saw the coffee pot on the table, his eyes lit up, and he poured himself a cup.

"And also, are you being targeted by someone? Why is it so difficult to find information about you overnight?"

"Well, that's the trouble caused by these special abilities."

Oaks shrugged. At this point, Tony probably didn't know that his father, Howard, was one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., otherwise, Nick Fury wouldn't have had to personally deliver Howard's relics to him.

"the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. They are more cautious about people like me with special abilities because they claim to defend the world. Most people with extraordinary powers don't know how to control their own strength."

"Like that big green guy? And that name sounds really awful."

Tony immediately understood, after all, Dr. Banner's fame was very high.

"That's right, but many of their abilities result in destruction due to lack of control, like the Hulk. Others experience a sudden surge of immense power, causing mental instability, inflated confidence, and even societal revenge, and so on. However, I can fully control my powers, and I have no inclination to be anti-human or anti-society."

"Wow, that's cool."

Tony took a sip of coffee, stroked his carefully trimmed goatee, leaned forward slightly, and seemed to look at Oaks seriously.

"That special ability you mentioned, is it the unique energy present in those plants and the restorative potion?"

"You figured it out?"

Oaks was genuinely surprised this time, but upon reflection, it was normal. After all, it was Tony Stark.

"How did you figure it out?"

"I'm a genius, remember!"

Tony proudly crossed his legs, but after a moment, he started looking around nervously.

"Alright, I just discovered the existence of a unique energy, but I have no idea what it really is."

"But regarding the accelerated healing aspect, I remembered something."

He scratched his head and looked somewhat puzzled.

"It's like it should be called... 'Extremis'? I remember I improved an equation that should have had the ability of accelerated healing, but I can't recall the specifics. It seems back then I hadn't developed the habit of recording everything, or maybe it wasn't a research result in the lab?"

Being able to recall the term "Extremis" was already a moment of inspiration; he couldn't remember any more than that. After all, it was a memory he easily discarded—the result of a one-night stand with a lady scientist. Although she was a female scientist, given Tony's tendency to move on quickly, he probably forgot about it within a couple of hours.

Oaks, however, fell into silence.

The Extremis virus, that's what he wanted to mention.

Speaking of which, it was indeed a kind of super technology, capable of even achieving limb regeneration, something that Oaks couldn't do for now.

Of course, the side effects were quite apparent—it turned people into human bombs.

But now was clearly not the right time to help him recall that.

"Yes, the energy I possess, I named it 'Nature Energy'. It has beneficial effects on life, and through different application methods, different results can be achieved."

There was no need for Oaks to hide anything from Tony when it came to the information that S.H.I.E.L.D. already had. As a result, Tony's charming brown eyes widened once again.

"Ha, you, my friend, are truly fascinating! But I didn't come here today to explore your abilities."

At this point, Tony paused, and he began to look around nervously, fidgeting his leg. Finally, he spoke again:

"I'm here to apologize to you."

"Apologize? Why?"

Oaks was quite surprised today. Which act was this?

"I asked my friend to check your travel records, specifically the days you went to the Amazon rainforest."

Starting with an introduction, it would be smoother later on. Although he was saying apologies, his words became increasingly smooth:

"Anyway, we're friends, and I shouldn't have intruded on your privacy without your consent."

"But I'm very interested in how you managed to travel to and from the Amazon rainforest without any travel records."

Tony spread his hands.

"It's still your privacy after all, so I came here today specifically to apologize. You don't have to tell me the answer."

"...I'm genuinely surprised. Although I don't think this could remain a secret for long, you noticed it so quickly."

Oaks shook his head. He didn't mind Tony's little curiosity because since S.H.I.E.L.D. had come looking for him, they must have noticed it too. And the reason they hadn't mentioned it to him yet was probably because they intended to use it as leverage to uncover his secrets.

Strictly speaking, this matter wasn't a big deal. He wasn't an official employee, and wasn't Banner, who is running around everywhere?

On the other hand, Tony, with his extremely arrogant personality, actually came specifically to apologize for this matter. It seemed that he really cared about privacy, whether it was his own or his friends'.

Could it be that he was being bothered by reporters?

"I forgive you, but it's because you've set up a foundation in my name." Oaks pursed his lips.

"Isn't it because I put your name in the position of a partner in the foundation?"

Tony immediately became boastful again.

"Hey, boss, the coffee's finished, refill it!"

"You...!"

Oaks hummed twice but didn't argue with this lazy guy fifteen years his senior. He refilled the coffee.

"You'll know about this sooner or later. Let's just make it clear today."

"May I have the honor of listening?"

Oaks and Tony furrowed their brows and turned towards the shop door, where a figure appeared.

"Antonio! Come down and release the cat!"

"..."

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