Chapter 23

After waiting for three or four days for news from Tony, Zhou Yi was about to forget the whole thing when he finally received a reply from Tony.

"Hey, buddy. What have you been up to lately? I've got some cute girls, and we're going to have a party on the sea today." Tony Stark opened with his typical playboy style, and sometimes Zhou Yi couldn't understand why such a frivolous guy could still be the world's top inventor.

Compared to this guy, Einstein and Hawking seemed rather pitiful.

"Cute girls? It's not easy to get your approval. Tell me, where did they come from?" Hearing Tony's words, Zhou Yi completely forgot his original purpose. In a way, the two of them were the same kind of person.

"Angels freshly trained by Victoria, and a few beautiful girls who just entered Hollywood. They participated in a movie I invested in, so I managed to get them to come out with me." Tony's pride was evident even over the phone. Although Zhou Yi wanted to tease him, he had no integrity when it came to it.

"Guy, you did a great job. I think this is the best thing you've done since we met."

On the other end of the phone, Tony Stark stroked his goatee proudly, while scrutinizing the girls gathering around him with a critical eye. "I think there might be something wrong with me. Maybe I got hit on the head by Hogan during our last boxing match. Normally, I wouldn't share these good girls with you."

By this point, Zhou Yi had started to tidy himself up. His attitude towards cute girls was the same as Tony's—open to all. Of course, this didn't stop their conversation.

"Anyway, thank Hogan for me. But, buddy, do you remember why I left you a message?"

Hearing Zhou Yi mention the real matter, Tony broke free from the girls around him and said, "Hey, girls. I have some business to take care of, but I'll be done soon. Can you wait for me on the yacht? Which one? The coolest, most impressive, and largest one, see it? Girls, that one!"

Tony pointed to the massive 555-foot-long yacht moored in the harbor, boasting to the girls. Listening to their surprise and cheers, Zhou Yi genuinely felt that Tony had spared no expense to show off in front of the girls.

As Tony's good friend, Zhou Yi knew exactly what Tony was showing off. The yacht moored in New York Harbor wasn't just any ordinary vessel. It was a super yacht that Tony had custom-made from the Privilege Yacht Company in Civitavecchia, Italy, for about 700 million dollars.

The yacht was 555 feet long and about as tall as 12 double-decker buses, with nine decks. The bottom deck housed the engine room and machinery, while the second deck was the docking bay for submarines and small yachts. This deck also had a small disco for guests to dance.

Above the third deck were the living and entertainment areas. The yacht could accommodate 12 to 30 guests, with 8 suites. The largest suite, reserved for the owner, was on the fifth deck and covered 5,000 square feet. It featured a private sea-view balcony, two large rooms, and a small garden on the deck. The master suite's ceiling could open automatically, allowing the owner to sleep under the stars with his girlfriend.

The VIP suites included five double rooms and two single rooms, each with a sea-view balcony, a 6-foot wide-screen movie screen, and a hot tub. The entire interior was designed by JARVIS, with a modern living room and a promenade spanning the entire yacht, connecting the living room to the banquet hall. The curved structure at the stern had panoramic windows, offering a 270-degree sea view. Additionally, there was an open-air swimming pool that occupied most of the third deck, with a bar around it. Inside the yacht, there was another pool, which could be converted into a dance floor when drained. Tony also designed a private cinema, a book bar, and a restaurant, as well as a holographic game room, making the sea voyage even more enjoyable.

The yacht didn't need security or a crew. Tony only needed a few chefs and waiters to make the journey pleasant, as the yacht could be fully controlled by JARVIS. It was one of the only two fully automated private yachts in the world. Tony called it the Dream, while the other smart yacht was Zhou Yi's Sunshine, which was smaller and less luxurious, as it only cost about half as much as the Dream. After all, Tony Stark was the largest shareholder.

Zhou Yi couldn't remain calm about Tony using the Dream for a party with a group of entertainment industry girls. However, he quickly accepted the reality. For him, Tony's behavior was at most capricious and wasteful, but Tony had the right to be capricious. Besides, money was meant to be spent. In comparison, if Tony's other good friend knew about this, he wouldn't think the same. Zhou Yi waited for Tony's response, and only when the girls' voices were gone did Tony continue the conversation.

"Guy, can I know what you want that thing for? I'll tell you, it's not something just anyone can get. A powerful colonel in the military strictly controls its production. For this thing, that guy has wiped out at least a dozen small tribes in Africa."

"Relax, I just want to make something for myself. If you have any in stock, I won't have to deal with the military." Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, remembering who the colonel was. General Striker, the head of the X-Program, a special unit in the U.S. military set up to deal with mutants. He was the most extreme and hostile figure towards mutants. Incidentally, he was also on Zhou Yi's blacklist.

"I only have less than 20 pounds of Adamantium. If you need more, you'll have to buy it from the military. But if you're just playing around, I suggest you stay away from that guy. He's a real danger."

Tony warned with some concern. Even for someone as lawless and arrogant as himself, Striker was a dangerous figure, and he didn't want his good friend Zhou Yi to have anything to do with him.

"That's enough, Tony. I'll trade you for something good. I'll take all the Adamantium. It's just a decoration for you anyway."

Hearing Zhou Yi's words, Tony's goatee twitched, and he said mockingly, "Sure, it's just a decoration. But buddy, if I don't like what you have, I'll just keep it as a decoration!"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you're satisfied." Zhou Yi smiled. "I'll be there soon, and don't tell me it's just the two of us."

"Of course not, I also called Rhodey. The three of us can compete to see who attracts the most girls." Tony's laugh was full of pride, and the malice in it even penetrated the phone signal.

"Tony?"

"What's up, buddy!"

"Can I say you're really bad?"

"No, you're not a cute girl!"

The two hung up after teasing each other, and soon they met on the Dream.

"Hey, guys!" As soon as he got on the boat, Zhou Yi saw Tony and a disgruntled James Rhodes. Tony's friend and the head of the U.S. Army's weapons development department. Seeing his unhappy face, Zhou Yi knew Rhodey had been tricked by Tony again.

As for how he was tricked, Zhou Yi decided to ask.

"Hey, Rhodey. Why the long face? You look like you're constipated. Cheer up, it's a rare treat from Tony today, with so many beautiful girls. Smile, and you'll have a great day." Like Tony, Zhou Yi had a habit of spouting venom, especially to friends.

"I wish there weren't so many girls looking at me!" Rhodey's expression was one of despair.

"When I first arrived, a girl came up to me and asked, 'Hi! Are you Colonel James Rhodes?' I told her, 'Yes, you can call me Rhodey.' Then..."

Zhou Yi interrupted Rhodey's complaint.

"Let me guess, did she ask you some strange questions?"

"Yes, she actually asked me, 'Why do you like men?'" Rhodey waved his arms.

"Every girl on the boat was looking at me, and I didn't know how to answer her. Who told her I like men? I don't even know who she is, how did she know I like men?"

"I don't know if you like men either." Zhou Yi moved a step away and took a cocktail from a bikini-clad girl holding a tray, who looked a bit confused.

"But I think it's best to keep that a secret."

Seeing the bikini girl walk away with a strange expression, Rhodey felt like jumping off the Dream.

At that moment, he suddenly understood why Tony suggested a competition to see who was more popular with the girls. These two had been playing mind games from the start, clearly trying to eliminate their opponents in the initial stages.

Compared to these two, James Rhodes, as a soldier, deeply felt his own naivety and simplicity. Friends, indeed, were completely unreliable.