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Chapter 17
🕑 Added 2025-10-28 13:33:54 +0000 UTCNew York Central Park — inside the cordoned-off area.
Looking at the group of people gathered around the police tape, Natasha said to the agent beside her, “Evacuate these onlookers.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Hearing Natasha’s order, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent immediately directed the staff to clear the surrounding area.
Once inside the cordon, Natasha led Linen toward a large tree. “This is the first location where the NYPD found the body.”
Hearing that, Linen circled around the tree, his fingertips brushing lightly over the trunk.
“This isn’t the original murder scene,” he said flatly. “There’s no way they could’ve held a summoning ritual here.”
Natasha frowned. “Then why did the body appear here? I mean, this is one of the most famous parks in New York—there are homeless people, joggers, tourists… If someone wanted to dump a body, even the Hudson River would’ve made a thousand times more sense.”
“Not sure yet.”
Linen glanced around but didn’t sense any traces of dark or evil energy.
“Didn’t you say there were four bodies found in total? Take me to the other locations.”
As the two spoke, an arc of light flashed through the air, and a metallic figure descended beside them with a heavy thud.
Tony Stark, in full Iron Man armor, had arrived.
“Wow, spy lady,” Tony said as his faceplate lifted. “Where are you taking my student?”
Natasha’s expression didn’t change. She was already used to Tony Stark’s dramatics and knew he’d only come here to get closer to Linen.
Linen, however, looked at Tony with a somewhat complicated expression — just as he had in the first “future video” that Tony and Natasha had seen in the theater.
Seeing that look, Tony instantly understood the reason. He stepped forward, spreading his hands in mock pride.
“Linen, even if I don’t introduce myself, you know who I am. After all, there aren’t many people in America—or the whole world—who don’t know me.”
Linen frowned. “Tony Stark. Playboy, billionaire, Iron Man. But tell me—since when did I become your student?”
Tony smirked. “Didn’t Natasha tell you? I’m now a professor of mechanical engineering at the State University of New York. Oh, and you forgot a few titles—philanthropist, super genius…”
Both Natasha and Linen gave him speechless looks.
Tony shrugged. “Fine, fine. By the way, what are you two doing out here?”
Natasha quickly summarized the situation.
“Wait, what?” Tony blinked. “You’re telling me there’s some demon-summoning nonsense going on?”
After hearing Natasha’s explanation, Tony looked at Linen skeptically. “Look, I might believe in God, but ghosts and demons? Not buying it. At least not until I see one myself.”
Linen didn’t bother arguing. “Take me to the other crime scenes.”
“No problem,” Natasha replied, turning back toward the car.
“Tsk…” Tony clicked his tongue, not about to be left out. He followed them and squeezed himself into the back seat—armor and all.
The car’s suspension groaned as the weight settled.
“Mr. Stark,” Natasha sighed, “this is my new car. Can’t you at least take off the armor or get a lighter one?”
Tony waved it off. “If I make it lighter, it’ll lose its premium feel.”
Then he turned toward Linen and extended a hand. “So, skipping class on the first day, huh? I didn’t expect that from one of my students.”
Linen hesitated for a second before shaking his hand.
“That’s right, man,” Tony continued. “Tell me—are there really undead demons in this world? If so, do vampires, werewolves, and witches actually exist?”
“They do,” Linen said simply.
Tony had only brought it up to strike up a conversation, but Linen’s calm reply made him even more curious.
Linen, on the other hand, maintained a cold, distant demeanor. He had to keep up his character—after all, the version of himself Tony had seen in the video carried a complicated mix of emotions toward Stark.
The more aloof Linen acted, the more intrigued Tony became.
After the Obadiah Stane incident, Tony found his life strangely dull. With Stark Industries now being managed by Pepper, he’d been aimless—spending his days tinkering in the lab.
That just wouldn’t do.
If demons and dark rituals truly existed, then maybe there was some excitement left in the world. Who knows—he might even design a new suit specifically for dealing with supernatural creatures.
As the car started moving, the cordon behind them was gradually taken down.
None of them noticed that, not far away, a man had been quietly watching the entire time.
After seeing Linen and the others drive off, he pulled out a retro-style mobile phone and dialed a number.
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