LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 86: Chapter 86
A miracle unfolded right before Tony and Pepper's eyes.
A freshly made wound on Ethan's arm slowly healed under their astonished gazes. To make the effect of the magic circle more direct and intuitive, Ethan deliberately extended his arm closer for them to examine.
While Pepper seemed somewhat uneasy, Tony's attention was entirely on observing every detail, determined not to miss anything. Once Ethan's arm had fully healed, leaving no trace or scar, Tony grabbed it and inspected it thoroughly. Only after confirming it was completely restored did he release Ethan's arm, visibly satisfied.
"Is it really this effective?" After confirming Ethan's ability firsthand, Tony's mood visibly lifted, and he began imagining the future with renewed confidence. With a tone of optimism, he remarked, "If that's the case, maybe all my extensive preparations weren't necessary. Once I'm cured, I can get back to the company and deal with all those tedious tasks."
Pepper immediately understood what Tony was implying. The reason he had asked for her help earlier was so she could temporarily take charge of Stark Industries, giving him the necessary time to undergo treatment and recover.
"No," Ethan interrupted Tony's optimism. "This is because the wound I just created is new and still highly active, which allows it to heal so quickly. When I help remove the shrapnel from your body, I'll create some new wounds during the process, and those will heal immediately. However, the injury on your chest, where the reactor is embedded, will take considerably longer to recover."
Tony instinctively touched the arc reactor embedded in his chest. This device had once saved his life, but now it was slowly killing him, digging an open wound into his body. Naturally, healing that wouldn't be as simple or immediate.
"To be honest, I'll already feel lucky if the hidden danger in my body is resolved. I don't even expect a full recovery. As long as it doesn't affect my daily life, I'll be satisfied."
"A few scars aren't a big deal. A man with some scars can be even more charming."
This attempt at humor earned nothing but a blank, unimpressed look from Pepper.
At this point, Ethan had proven himself fully, earning Tony's trust and transitioning from being viewed with suspicion to being treated as a friend. The initial wariness Tony and Pepper held toward him had now completely dissolved.
"By the way, Ethan," Tony said as if suddenly remembering something. "You came all this way to treat me. What do you want in return?"
Ethan spread his hands casually. "Honestly? At first, I just wanted to make some pocket money. You know, living in this world isn't easy without financial stability."
After Ethan deactivated the magic circle and they exited the room, Tony poured whiskey for both of them. "So you just wanted to make some money at the start?"
"That's right." Ethan accepted the glass and took a sip. The whiskey tasted better than he expected, far from the harsh bitterness he had imagined. "Since I was going to make money, I thought I might as well make enough to not have to worry about it again."
"I like your style," Tony said with a grin. It mirrored his own approach to problem-solving, get it done in one decisive move and avoid unnecessary trouble.
As for Ethan "using" him to make money, Tony didn't feel the slightest resentment. Ethan had proven his ability, and in Tony's eyes, capable people deserved to be rewarded. They earned the right to be bold in their demands.
"The deal remains the same," Tony continued. "You'll be my personal health consultant. As for the annual salary…" He paused, unsure what would be fair. "Do you have any specific requests?"
Ethan smiled faintly. "Including the entire cost of this treatment, I want 1% of Stark Industries' shares."
The boldness of the request was staggering. A 1% stake in Stark Industries was an astronomical figure. Even a fraction of a percent was enough to make someone unimaginably wealthy. What Ethan was asking for wasn't just money, it was a continuous source of income, as Stark Industries' shares would yield massive dividends year after year.
Tony didn't hesitate long before agreeing. "Fine. One percent of the shares. But with a condition, they can't be traded. If you ever decide you don't want to hold onto them, you can only sell them back to me or my heirs."
Ethan nodded without concern. "I just want a long-term meal ticket, something to ensure I don't have to stress over the small things while living in this world."
He didn't even negotiate for non-dilutable shares. For him, the ability to live comfortably and focus on his goals after this treatment was more than enough.
Ever since entering this world again, Ethan had felt his connection to it deepening. He suspected he might return to this world frequently in the future. That made solving the issue of money a practical necessity; he didn't intend to squander this opportunity.
"This world?" Tony picked up on Ethan's phrasing, his curiosity piqued. "You're not from this world?"
"You don't think the universe is the only one out there, do you?" Ethan replied with a faint smile.
"Are we talking multiverse? Parallel universes? Or something else?" Tony leaned forward, his scientific curiosity ignited.
Ethan offered a brief explanation of the concept of the multiverse, keeping it simple.
"So, you came here from another world? And you'll go back to your own world?"
"Yes."
Pepper, who had been silently listening, felt her entire worldview crumble. Her mind struggled to keep up with this mind-blowing revelation, while the two men beside her continued shattering what remained of her understanding.
Ethan revealing his origins was partly to reassure Tony that his request for shares wasn't tied to any ulterior motives. He simply wanted a way to sustain himself in this world, nothing more.
Tony understood this clearly. From that point on, their conversation became more relaxed, less focused on interests and more about mutual curiosity.
For example, Tony asked, "Could those magic abilities of yours be explained through scientific theories? Could they be replicated with technology?"
Ethan replied thoughtfully, "Theoretically, magic is a method through which individuals or creatures manipulate energy using spiritual power to achieve specific effects. Magicians merely discovered how to utilize this energy in unique ways. That doesn't mean science can't replicate similar results."
He gave an example. "Take fire, for instance. A magician might ignite a flame by controlling energy with their spiritual power or by using magical energy. Scientists, on the other hand, create ignition tools to achieve the same result. The methods differ, but the outcome is the same."
Currently, magicians could accomplish things that science could not. But that didn't mean science couldn't catch up eventually. It was simply a matter of who had progressed further in their understanding of energy.
Tony accepted this explanation quickly. To him, Ethan came across as a progressive scholar, completely unlike the rigid, tradition-bound sorcerers he'd imagined. The kind who, in Tony's mind, rejected any knowledge outside their own domain.
Ethan laughed when Tony shared his impression. "Where did you even get that idea? Have you met many sorcerers?"
"Books and movies..." Tony admitted sheepishly.
"Even Gandalf was pretty open-minded for a wizard," Ethan quipped.
"Gandalf's technically a Maia, a lesser divine being," Tony corrected with a smirk.
The conversation flowed freely, often veering off course as they delved into tangents. Time passed quickly in their back-and-forth banter. It wasn't until the doorbell rang that Tony remembered the first batch of gems he'd ordered for Ethan was due to arrive around noon.
However, when they checked the surveillance feed, they saw a bald man in a black suit standing at the door, a man both Tony and Pepper recognized. It was someone who had helped Tony in the past.
"What's he doing here?"
Ethan also saw the surveillance footage. He recognized the middle-aged man as Agent Phil Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D.
This unexpected visit immediately set off alarms in Ethan's mind. It seemed likely that Coulson was here because of him.
"Want me to send him packing?" Tony offered.
At the same time, Coulson called out from the other side of the door, "Mr. Stark, I know you're home. Don't worry, I just want to have a quick chat with you and your new friend."
"These guys are impossible to like," Tony muttered. While he didn't dislike Coulson personally, he had little trust in S.H.I.E.L.D. as an institution and avoided cooperating with them whenever possible.
Ethan shrugged. "Might as well let him in. Otherwise, he'll just keep pestering you."
Tony agreed. After all, if S.H.I.E.L.D. got too pushy, Ethan might just give them a little "trouble." Nothing serious, just enough to make S.H.I.E.L.D. disappear from the picture for a while.
Jarvis opened the door, and Coulson soon stepped into the living room.
"Hello. Nice to meet you. I'm Phil Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
"Oh my God, you still haven't changed that name?" Tony quipped.
"We're working on it," Coulson replied with his usual calm smile.
"That's why I can't stand you guys, it's so unnecessarily complicated."
"Some processes are unavoidable," Coulson said, smiling patiently. However, throughout the exchange, his attention was focused on Ethan. It was clear who he had come to see.
"Hello," Ethan said, taking the initiative to introduce himself. "I'm Ethan, currently serving as Mr. Tony Stark's personal health consultant."
"And what kind of advice has Mr. Ethan provided for Mr. Stark?" Coulson asked, testing him.
Ethan, however, wasn't one to play games. He got straight to the point. "My job is to safely and effectively remove the shrapnel from Tony's body and deal with the device that's slowly killing him."
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