Chapter 122: The Banquet

"I can bring Alice along. Her telekinesis can protect me instantly. If things go south, I can always teleport back to the main plane, or gear up in my armor there and return for a counterattack," Wang Jing argued in his own defense.

"That won't work. If Norman Osborn decides to play dirty and uses a long-range sniper or plants explosives in the hotel beforehand, Alice won't be able to keep a telekinetic barrier around you every single second!" Ada Wong leaned elegantly against the sofa, her long, stunningly sexy legs crossed, as she spoke with a flat tone.

Since gaining spider-like abilities, Ada’s already seductive figure had become even more balanced and alluring. Her metabolism had shifted, leaving her skin even softer and fairer, especially those pair of long legs that were truly dazzling to behold.

"So, are we just going to give up on this rare opportunity?" Wang Jing asked the group, frowning.

Just then, Li Yiyi, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Actually, there is a perfect solution."

"What solution?" Everyone turned their eyes toward Li Yiyi in unison.

Seeing everyone's attention fixed on him, Li Yiyi immediately put on airs. After a few light coughs, he said, "There is a way to achieve our original goal without the Boss having to take any risks!"

"Stop stalling, just tell us!" Wang Jing urged.

"Oh! You got it!" Li Yiyi’s face broke into a grin, instantly dropping the act.

"It’s actually quite simple: just send someone else to take the risk. It’s just a matter of signing a document; it doesn’t matter if the Boss is there or not."

"But who should we send? Those shareholders won't recognize Alice or Ada Wong," Liu Peiqiang asked.

"The best candidate is Tony Stark. Everyone knows how close Tony is to the Boss. We can just say the Boss is busy and have Alice sign on his behalf."

"As long as the money hits their accounts, those shareholders are desperate to sell, so they won't mind," Wang Jing said with a smile.

"But I don't know how to read contracts. What if there are loopholes?" Alice said worriedly.

"That’s not a problem. The contract review can be handled entirely by Tony Stark. As a CEO for so many years, he’s more than capable of vetting a contract," Li Yiyi said confidently.

"That is indeed a good plan. I’ll go ask Tony if he’s willing to take on the task." With that, Wang Jing took out his phone.

As Wang Jing expected, Tony Stark agreed readily.

The next day, wearing the evening gown she had custom-made, Alice arrived at the banquet venue in Tony Stark’s Audi sports car.

As they entered the ballroom, the two became the center of attention. The shareholder hosting the banquet scurried over to greet Tony Stark.

"Mr. Stark, I never expected you to attend our banquet. May I ask who this beautiful lady beside you is?"

"Hello, I am Wang Jing’s secretary, Alice. My boss had something come up and couldn't make it today, so he sent me to attend the banquet in his place," Alice said to the pot-bellied man standing before her.

"Hello, Miss Alice. Welcome to our banquet. If you need anything, feel free to find me. Here is my card. I hope you have a pleasant evening!"

After handing cards to both Alice and Tony, the man excused himself to attend to other guests. A waiter with a tray passed by, and Tony Stark gracefully picked up two glasses, handing one to Alice.

"Wang Jing said you’re the one protecting me today?" Tony asked, scanning the room.

"That's right. Norman Osborn is definitely going to show up to wipe out these shareholders, so we need to get that acquisition agreement signed before he does," Alice said, taking a sip of her drink.

"Then it seems we need to pick up the pace. Acquiring a company this big isn't an easy task."

"They are more anxious than we are. Once the news of their broken capital chain leaks, the shares they hold might become worthless overnight," Alice noted, observing their surroundings.

"Doesn't that mean we'll have to pay more?"

"There's no help for it. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been watching us too closely lately. If we followed the original plan, we’d likely be intercepted by them. If it goes to an open auction, the price we’d have to pay would be even higher than it is now."

"Why is it always S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Tony Stark frowned at the mention of the agency.

"It can't be helped. High trees catch the wind, and our previous acquisition of Hammer Industries was just too high-profile." Although Alice sounded troubled, the smirk at the corner of her mouth revealed everything.

Just as they were speaking, a familiar figure caught Tony Stark’s eye.

"Guess who I just saw!" Tony turned and asked.

"Who?" Alice turned to look, and it didn't take long for her eyes to meet those of Phil Coulson, who had just arrived.

Alice’s expression shifted, and she said with annoyance, "How typical. Speak of the devil. It looks like today’s evolution might be a bust!"

"It’s fine. You go shake him off, and I’ll go negotiate with that fat man!"

"Okay!"

No sooner had Alice finished speaking than she heard Phil Coulson’s familiar voice behind them.

"Hello there, Mr. Stark, and Miss Alice!"

"Haha, what a coincidence! Coulson, are you here for the banquet too?"

"Not exactly. I’m here to find Mr. Wang Jing. I haven't been able to locate him for days, and I heard he was supposed to attend today, so I came."

"Well, I’m sorry to say, Wang Jing had an emergency and couldn't make it today!" Tony Stark said with a smile, appearing quite pleased that he had thwarted Coulson’s plans. However, the next moment, his smile vanished.

Phil Coulson maintained his signature smile and said, "Oh, my apologies, I forgot one other thing." He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Tony.

"Fury wants to see you tomorrow. The address and time are in this envelope. Don't be late."

"Uh, sorry, I don't like taking things from people," Tony said stiffly, though in reality, he just didn't want to meet that big, black-eyed Nick Fury.

"It’s no trouble at all, I can put it in your pocket for you!" With a smile, Phil Coulson tucked the envelope into the pocket of Tony’s suit jacket.

Tony Stark’s expression couldn't have been more sour.

Once Coulson had placed the envelope, Tony couldn't hold back any longer. "I need to visit the restroom."

"Miss Alice, may I ask you a few questions?" After Tony left, Coulson turned to Alice.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Was it your people who broke into the Osborn laboratory last time?" Coulson asked point-blank.