Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

A deafening explosion echoed deep within the cave, scattering debris and dust like an angry sandstorm through the narrow passage. The Ten Commandments guards screamed in terror, their Pashto curses and chaotic footsteps mingling and being completely drowned out by the muffled explosions from deeper within. At the heart of this chaos, the heavy iron doors of the cave where Tony Stark and Ethan were imprisoned slammed together as if struck by an invisible hammer, emitting a sickeningly metallic groan. With a piercing tearing sound, a blinding silver beam of light pierced the center of the iron door, followed by countless spiderweb-like cracks that rapidly spread outwards from the beam!

"boom--!"

With an even more violent explosion, the entire iron door, along with the surrounding rock walls, was torn open by an immense force, leaving a huge gap. Amidst the billowing dust, a tall, imposing figure stepped slowly through the rubble and twisted metal debris into the damp cave that had imprisoned the genius for three months.

A streamlined armor, interwoven with silver and dark red, covered his entire body. Azure energy patterns flowed along his joints. A massive V-shaped energy core on his chest emitted a stable yet powerful light. The wing-like structures on either side of his helmet were slightly upturned, and his sharp, blade-like visors scanned everything within the cave. The original Ultraman armor—Wang Huanbo—made its grand entrance in the most breathtaking way.

Inside the cave, Tony Stark abruptly looked up from his workbench, his oil-stained face contorted with astonishment. Beside him, Dr. Ethan's wrench clattered to the floor, his mouth agape, eyes wide, as if he had witnessed a mythical giant descend. On the workbench, the Mark I Iron Man suit, cobbled together from various scrap parts, its rugged lines concealing astonishing power, lay silently. A miniature Arc Reactor emitting a soft blue light was already installed on its chest, next to a laptop computer provided by the Ten Commandments, its screen flickering—Tony was nervously porting Jarvis's prototype program.

"Holy Sh*t!" Tony cursed almost instinctively, taking a half-step back, his body tense, his eyes darting between the intruder's imposing armor and his own unfinished suit. "What new toy is this? Which comic book company did the Ten Commandments hire as a cosplayer? Or did the Afghan sand finally burn my brain?" His tone was full of shock and his usual sharpness, but his taut muscles and rapidly heaving chest betrayed his extreme tension.

Wang Huanbo didn't answer immediately. His armored fingers lightly tapped the hilt of the Demon Blade Thousand Blades, instantly disintegrating its cracked, shimmering purple blade into hundreds of tiny fragments. These fragments, like a swarm of living bees, silently floated around him, forming an invisible protective barrier. His sharp visor swept over Tony and Ethan, confirming they were unharmed except for exhaustion and malnutrition, before turning towards the cave entrance. He could clearly sense the tremendous commotion of breaking down the door, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, rapidly attracting the attention of more and more Ten Commandments members. The clatter of footsteps and the metallic clanging of weapons being loaded were rapidly approaching from the depths of the tunnel.

"No time to explain." Wang Huanbo's voice came through the armor, carrying a peculiar metallic resonance, calm and clear. Without the slightest pause, his left hand swept across the air at his side, and a faintly glowing spatial rift appeared and disappeared in an instant. Immediately afterward, a bulging brown paper bag bearing the prominent Burger King crown logo appeared in his hand. The rich, enticing aroma of grilled beef patties, melting cheese, and fresh bread exploded like a bomb in the damp, rusty, and oily cavern!

For Tony Stark, who had been imprisoned for three months and surviving on canned food and gruel, the aroma was like a horn from heaven. His Adam's apple bobbed violently, his eyes fixed on the paper bag as if it were the most precious treasure in the world. Forget the mysterious armor, forget the Ten Commandments—all were temporarily dispelled by this deadly scent.

Wang Huanbo tossed his arm, and the paper bag flew precisely towards Tony. "Catch!"

Tony instinctively reached out and caught it, his movements so fast they created a gust of wind. He didn't even glance at Wang Huanbo, completely forgetting the "irrelevant" matter of asking about the other's identity. Like a beast starved for three days, he roughly tore open the paper bag, revealing a hamburger wrapped in golden bread, filled with a thick beef patty and running cheese. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth wide and took a big bite!

"Mmm—!" A satisfied groan almost escaped Tony's nostrils. The crispy bread crust, juicy beef, and rich cheese exploded in his mouth, mingling with the refreshing taste of lettuce and tomato, instantly activating his long-dormant taste buds. He closed his eyes, his cheeks puffing rapidly, as if performing a sacred ritual. Then, he grabbed a handful of fries and stuffed them into his mouth, the crisp "crunch crunch" sounding exceptionally clear in the silent cave. His other hand groped for a can of ice-cold Coke in the bag, pulled the tab with a "hiss," tilted his head back, and took a large gulp. The icy liquid, fizzy and smooth, slid down his throat, making him sigh with satisfaction: "Oh, God…this is life!"

The cave was filled with the aroma of hamburgers, the oily scent of fries, and the sweetness of cola, creating an absurd and stark contrast to the previous oppressive atmosphere.

While Tony wolfed down his food, he didn't forget his fellow sufferer beside him. He mumbled indistinctly, pulled another hamburger and a Coke from the bag, and shoved them into the still-dazed Ethan's hands: "Here, Ethan! Eat up! A million times better than cave canned food!"

Ethan stared at the paper bag bearing the Burger King logo in his hand, feeling the warmth and aroma of the burger, yet a clear hesitation and struggle appeared on his face. He subconsciously licked his chapped lips, his gaze shifting between Wang Huanbo's technologically advanced armor and the burger in his hand, finally looking at Tony with a hint of apology and shaking his head slightly. As a devout Muslim, consuming non-halal food of unknown origin in Afghanistan, especially food so clearly bearing the imprint of Western fast food culture, was a deeply insurmountable obstacle for him.

Wang Huanbo turned his gaze to Ethan, instantly understanding his concerns. While maintaining vigilance over the cave entrance, the fragments of the Demon Blade Thousand Blades trembled slightly like wary bees, and spoke in a calm and clear tone, his voice not loud, but enough for Ethan to hear: "Dr. Ethan, please feel free to eat. I specifically purchased this from a Burger King restaurant near Times Square in New York. Their beef supplier is certified by the HFA (Halal Food Certification) agency, and the entire production process complies with halal standards. The burger and cola in your hand do not violate your beliefs."

Ethan looked up sharply, his gaze towards Wang Huanbo filled with shock and incredulous gratitude. In this war-torn place where faith was often misunderstood or even met with hostility, a stranger he had just met, dressed in such strange armor, had so thoughtfully considered his religious beliefs and prepared food that conformed to religious doctrine! This respect and understanding instantly touched the softest spot in Ethan's heart.

"Thank you... thank you, Mr. Wang!" Ethan's voice choked slightly. Without further hesitation, he followed Tony's example, tearing open the packaging and carefully taking a bite of the hamburger. The long-awaited taste of normal life spread in his mouth, finally offering a moment of comfort to his tired and tense nerves. He followed Tony's example, taking a sip of iced cola, savoring its coolness and sweetness, and a shy smile, the first truly relaxed one in three months, appeared on his face.

Tony devoured three cheese and beef burgers with astonishing speed, then downed half a glass of cola before letting out a satisfied burp and wiping the sauce from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. He turned his gaze back to Wang Huanbo, scrutinizing the powerful and futuristic armor from head to toe, his eyes filled with inquiry and curiosity, and of course, his signature critical scrutiny.

"Okay, Mr. Cosplayer, or... Time Traveler?" Tony raised an eyebrow, his tone returning to its usual nonchalant air. "The burger's good, I'd give it a nine out of ten. I'm deducting one because the fries were a bit soggy; clearly, your 'time-travel pocket' needs some improvement in its insulation. Now, satisfy my curiosity? Who are you? Wearing this... um... retro-futuristic armor, running all the way to this godforsaken place like Afghanistan, just to deliver burgers to us? Don't tell me you're the ultimate form of a food delivery platform."

Wang Huanbo's lips, hidden beneath his helmet, seemed to curl slightly upwards. He didn't answer directly, but instead reached into the space beside him again. This time, he didn't take out food, but a leather wallet that looked quite old. He opened the wallet, pulled out a slightly yellowed old photograph, and handed it to Tony.

Tony took the photo with suspicion. It showed two men in old-fashioned suits, the background seemingly an old laboratory. The man on the left, with graying hair, sharp eyes, and a confident smile, was someone Tony recognized all too well—his father, Howard Stark! And the young man standing next to Howard, with an arm around his shoulder and a hearty smile… Tony's pupils suddenly contracted! Although the young man in the photo looked somewhat younger, the features were unmistakably those of the armored man before him!

Tony looked up abruptly, staring in shock at Wang Huanbo, then looked down to examine the photograph closely. On the back of the photo, a line of familiar, elegant handwriting belonging to Howard Stark was clearly visible: "A commemorative photo with my dear friend Wang Huanbo on the successful test of the prototype Ark Reactor. Autumn 1943."

1943? Tony felt his mind reeling. His father's best friend in 1943? Then this person in front of him couldn't be… He looked at Wang Huanbo again, especially through the armor, imagining what the person inside looked like—judging from the voice, definitely younger than himself! How could this be?!

"You...you really are my father's friend?" Tony's voice was dry with disbelief. "Wang Huanbo? The time traveler? So...you really came from 1943...?" He felt his proud logical thinking crumbling.

"To be precise, it's traveling through different times and spaces." Wang Huanbo's voice remained calm. "Your father, Howard, and I were the co-developers of the original Arc Reactor. According to seniority and friendship, Tony, you should call me Uncle Wang."

"Uncle...Uncle Wang?!" Tony's voice suddenly rose, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, filled with an absurd rage. "Damn it! You look younger than the latest robot vacuum cleaner in my lab! You want me to call you uncle? Unless you can prove you're older than my dad! Or you can take off that metal suit right now and let me see if you've used some kind of anti-aging black technology!" He waved the photo in his hand as if it were evidence of the other party's absurdity. Asking him to call someone who looked like a recent college graduate "uncle"? That was harder than admitting Obadiah was a good person!

Just as Tony was getting angry because of the term "uncle," and Wang Huanbo was about to explain further, something unexpected happened!

"Beep beep beep—!" A piercing alarm blared without warning from the depths of the cave—a makeshift alarm connected to a surveillance camera outside! Immediately following, a flurry of footsteps echoed through the tunnel, accompanied by shouts in Pashto and the clanging of metal on metal! Clearly, the commotion of Wang Huanbo bursting through the door and the unusual sounds from inside the cave had finally alerted the Ten Commandments Gang's guards, who then discovered the uninvited guest through the surveillance cameras!

"Damn it! They're here!" Tony's expression changed, and he subconsciously looked at the Mark I on the workbench, which was not yet fully activated.

Wang Huanbo reacted even faster! A flash of blue light appeared in his eyes, and the hundreds of Demon Blade Thousand Blade fragments floating around his body instantly emitted a high-frequency buzzing sound. Like an enraged swarm of bees, they transformed into a stream of dark purple light and shot towards the group of Ten Commandments Gang members who had just rushed into the cave tunnel entrance at a speed that was difficult to detect with the naked eye!

Leading the charge was the same fierce-looking petty thug who had previously been guarding Tony. He had barely raised his AK-47, and before his狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) expression could fully materialize, his pupils reflected countless rapidly enlarging purple dots!

"Puff puff puff puff puff—!"

A series of dull, rapid piercing sounds rang out, like rain pattering on banana leaves, yet carrying a chilling rhythm of death. The dozen or so Ten Commandments gang members who rushed in, including the minor leader, were instantly pierced through as if by an invisible storm of sharp blades! Their movements froze abruptly, their faces contorted with terror and bewilderment, before they collapsed to the ground like felled wheat, blood quickly spreading across the filthy floor, the pungent stench of blood instantly overpowering the aroma of the hamburgers.

The whole process was lightning fast; from the moment the fragments were shot out to the moment the enemy fell, it only took two or three seconds!

Having completed the kill, Wang Huanbo raised his arm, and the hundreds of blood-stained fragments, like weary birds returning to their nests, flew back to the hilt of his sword with a sharp whistling sound, instantly reassembling into the cracked, purple-glowing Thousand Blades Demon Blade. The blade was as clean as new, as if it had never been stained with blood.

However, this thunderous slaughter did not deter the enemy; instead, it stirred up a hornet's nest! More and louder roars and footsteps echoed from the depths of the tunnel, accompanied by the scraping sound of heavy weapons being dragged along! Clearly, the main force of the Ten Commandments Gang had been thoroughly alarmed!

"We can't stay here any longer!" Wang Huanbo's voice carried an undeniable urgency. He turned to Tony and Ethan, "We must leave immediately!"

Tony's gaze was fixed on the Mark 1 armor, the culmination of three months of his hard work, forged from scrap metal, on the workbench. His eyes were filled with reluctance and struggle. "Wait! My armor! I can't leave it here!" It wasn't just a weapon; it was proof of his survival in dire straits, a symbol of his rebirth.

Wang Huanbo instantly understood the almost obsessive "nostalgia" in Tony's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he strode to the Mark I and waved his right hand in the air at the massive steel structure!

A barely perceptible ripple of space flashed by, like a pebble thrown into a calm pond. The next second, the heavy Mark 1 armored vehicle, along with the laptop connected to it on the workbench and various scattered tools, vanished without a trace as if wiped away by an invisible hand! Only a shallow mark remained on the ground.

Tony and Ethan were stunned again. Tony even rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "What the...? You made it disappear? Just how big is your pocket... no, your 'time pocket'? Or is it some kind of advanced space-folding technology?" The scientist's curiosity instantly overwhelmed the urgency of escaping.

"Get out of here first! I'll explain later!" Wang Huanbo didn't have time for words. He put one arm around Tony's still-shocked waist, and the other firmly supported Ethan's shoulder. The thrusters on the back of the original Ultra Armor instantly erupted with dazzling blue flames!

"Hold on!" Wang Huanbo shouted in a low voice.

A powerful thrust propelled the three of them like arrows released from a bow, propelling them through the massive opening Wang Huanbo had created with the Demon Blade Thousand Blades! The blinding sunlight and scorching air outside the cave assaulted their senses, while below lay the desolate Afghan mountains and the chaotic camp of the Ten Commandments Gang.

Almost the instant they charged out, the leader of the Ten Commandments, the bald man with a face full of scars and a fierce look in his eyes, finally arrived breathlessly at the entrance of the cave where Tony was being held, leading a large group of heavily armed men. What he saw was the corpses of his men scattered all over the ground, the empty cave, and the silver-red figure in the sky outside the cave entrance that was rapidly shrinking, leaving a blue trail of flame.

"F**k! They got away!" The Ten Commandments gang leader kicked one of his men in a rage, his forehead veins bulging with anger. "A bunch of useless trash! They can't even keep an eye on one person!" He looked around at the mess and his dead and wounded men, his anger burning. He casually pulled out a pistol from his waist, ready to kill a few unlucky guys to vent his anger.

Just as he raised his gun, pointing it at a trembling subordinate, his peripheral vision caught sight of something lying silently on the floor in the corner of the cave. The shape of that thing… his pupils constricted sharply!

It was a Jericho missile! A masterpiece of Stark Industries! How could it be here? What terrified him even more was that on the missile's body, an inconspicuous red indicator light was flashing wildly, next to which was a countdown number hastily drawn in spray paint, jumping around: 3…2…

"Get down!!!" The leader of the Ten Commandments gang let out a distorted roar, used all his strength to push away the subordinates blocking his way, and scrambled towards the cave entrance!

"BOOM—!!!"

A deafening explosion instantly engulfed everything! A blazing fireball erupted from the cave entrance, and the violent shockwave, like an invisible giant hammer, ripped and tore apart everything near the entrance—rubble, corpses, weapon fragments, and the Ten Commandments members who couldn't escape in time! The entire mountain trembled violently, and thick smoke billowed into the sky.

Moments later, the aftershocks of the explosion gradually subsided. The Ten Commandments leader, who had miraculously escaped to a slightly more distant shelter, scrambled to his feet, covered in dust and grime. His ears were ringing. Looking at the cave entrance, mostly collapsed and charred, and the surrounding carnage of the dead and wounded, his face was filled with lingering fear and rage. He had lost almost half of his elite men!

"Tony Stark!!!" He roared at the sky like a wild beast, his voice echoing through the valley. This was Tony's "parting gift" to him, a darkly humorous work written with the most advanced weaponry.

High in the sky, the original Ultra Armor hovered steadily. Wang Huanbo looked down at the rising mushroom cloud and the chaotic camp below, the blue light in his goggles calm. Tony, who was tucked in his arms, also saw this scene. He whistled, a triumphant smile of revenge spreading across his face, although his complexion was somewhat pale from the high-speed flight and lack of oxygen at high altitude.

"Well done, antique armor!" Tony shouted in Wang Huanbo's ear, the wind whistling. "But could you give me a heads-up before next takeoff? My stomach's still in that cave down there!"

Wang Huanbo ignored Tony's complaints. He adjusted his posture, protecting Tony and Ethan even more securely. "Hold on tight, we need to find a safe place to land." The thrusters spewed blue flames again, and the armor transformed into a streak of light, speeding towards the distant horizon.

Tony felt the turbulence from the high-speed flight, looking down at the desolate scenery rushing past. A mix of relief at surviving the ordeal and uncertainty about the future lingered. He turned his head to look at Wang Huanbo's armored profile (though he couldn't see anything), and couldn't help but speak again: "Hey! I'm telling you, even if you really are my dad's friend, even if you saved my life and even packed me a hamburger… asking me to call you uncle? No way! Absolutely not!"

Wang Huanbo stared ahead, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth beneath his armor. He didn't answer, but quietly increased the thruster's power by one level.