"Thank you, Commander!" The invaders came quickly and left even quicker, escaping on foot, leaving behind their weapons, vehicles, and an isolated Deputy Li.

The sudden turn of events shocked the viewers who were watching the live broadcast.

The drone flying high above wasn't affected, but the visuals were a bit grainy. No conversation could be heard. Yet, the footage was astonishing. From an aerial perspective, it seemed as if the Earth had been invaded by extraterrestrials. How else could something defy gravity in such a manner?

"That's awesome! What kind of weapon is that?"

"It ended so quickly? A 5,000-man troop was defeated just like that? I must be going crazy!"

"Can someone explain what just happened? I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Is this the world I live in? Or did I just cross into another dimension?"

"Look, what's that?" Sharp-eyed viewers spotted a massive object moving towards the scene. From afar, it looked like a robot. But when zoomed in, experts concluded it resembled Transformers from animations.

"No, I think it should be called a 'mech'!" A sci-fi enthusiast excitedly described this weapon beyond its time.

Zhou You was even more stunned. As the ground trembled, he feared the enemy might have backup. He ran in that direction and soon spotted the massive figure approaching.

At first, he thought it was a mutant beast, but as it neared, he thought, "Is that Iron Man?"

This Iron Man stood nearly ten meters tall. Though its movement was slow, its long strides covered significant ground. Soon it was right in front of Zhou You. Zhou jumped and climbed onto its shoulder. The giant's head turned, locking eyes with Zhou for a second before raising its other hand to grab him.

Zhou jumped to its back, tapping and prodding while shouting, "Who are you? Friend or foe?"

Knowing someone controlled it from inside, he sat atop its head. Seeing Shao Qi approaching with an army, he braced himself, waiting to see the mech's next move.

Once he begins to harm others, he can instantly shatter the components inside with his internal energy.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Iron Man's eyes suddenly widen. Lifting his right hand, the palm retracts to reveal a hollowed-out muzzle. He quickly fires a shot towards Shao Qi and his men. Even from his elevated position, Zhou You can feel the aftershock. However, he doesn't react as he realizes the giant doesn't bear any ill intent.

True to his guess, after firing the shot, the weapon retracts, and the hand reemerges. It then pointedly raises its middle finger to the opposite side. Zhou You's curiosity about the giant grows due to its audacious actions.

Shao Qi shoots down the overhead drone, leaving the viewers in the live broadcast room in darkness before they could get a clear glimpse of the action. Speculations abound.

Shao Qi tosses his gun to a subordinate and strides over, calling up to Zhou You, "Aren't you coming down?"

Zhou You, tapping on Iron Man's head, inquires, "Who's inside this thing?"

Surprisingly, Iron Man speaks, "Kid, you've been sitting on my head for long enough. Get off or I'll teach you a lesson!"

"Think you can catch me?" Zhou You asks genuinely.

"You cheeky brat! Shao, get your men out of here. If they get hurt, don't blame me."

"Doubtful your toy has that kind of firepower," Shao Qi gestures for his men to scatter, and they quickly vanish from the scene.

A hatch opens on Iron Man's chest, and an elderly man with white hair steps out. He throws down a rope and slides to the ground, angrily pointing at Zhou You, "Get down! If you dirty my baby, you won't be able to afford the damages."

Zhou You jumps straight down from atop Iron Man, startling the old man who clutches his chest, "Are all youngsters this reckless now? If you'd died, don't come blaming me."

Shao Qi circles Iron Man, then addresses the elder, "Master, what brings you here?"

"When will this pandemic end?! It's exhausting!"

Chapter 150: Justice Over Family Ties

The elderly man, dressed in mink and slightly hunched, looks spirited. He glances at Shao Qi and then, with evident interest, asks Zhou You, "Young man, do you fancy this big fellow?"

"Of course I do, but I assume it can't be mass-produced, right?"

"Hmph, dream on. It took me two years and all my savings to create just this one, and it's still not perfect. Mass production is out of the question. However, I can offer you a free ride."

Shao Qi quickly pulls Zhou You aside, whispering, "This old man always has an angle. Don't get conned."

"Isn't he your teacher? Could it be... Master Fan?" Although Zhou You doesn't know about Shao Qi's teachers, the only elder in Yang City with any link to him would likely be Master Fan. They had tried visiting him several times before but were turned away under the excuse of the master being in seclusion. Zhou You hadn't expected to meet him in such circumstances.

Master Fan nodded with satisfaction, "This young man is sharp and good-looking. Would he consider learning artifice from me? I could teach him all my skills, and after my time, he might even be able to construct a genuine mech."

"A mech?"

"Indeed, I've always dreamed of creating a mech that can roam the cosmos. One that can both attack and defend. Once inside, one could travel anywhere. Alas, such devices from tales are currently impractical. To make them a reality, our technology needs to advance at least another century."

"But there's hope, right?" Zhou You excitedly remarked, "Regardless of its capabilities, just the appearance of this Iron Man is imposing and impressive. What man wouldn't be fascinated?"

"May I take a closer look?" With Master Fan's permission, Zhou You climbed up using the ropes and quickly entered the control cabin. The cabin was compact with seats on either side and some personal items scattered around.