Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Shrapnel in Tony's Veins

Arthur never did get a chance to properly explore Miami; once everything was settled, he went straight home. Wanda and Pietro were waiting to celebrate Christmas with him.

Their festive tradition, naturally, revolved around food. After feasting on turkey during Christmas Eve last night, tonight was dedicated to Arthur’s favorites—barbecue!

Arthur had already marinated the meat and stored it in the fridge. In the villa’s garden, Quicksilver arranged charcoal in the grill and ignited it with a lighter. Arthur brought out the prepared oysters, placing them one by one on the grill, while Wanda took charge of slathering each oyster with garlic sauce.

Arthur lit another grill, laid out the marinated beef, and expertly turned it with chopsticks. Lobster, chicken wings, pork belly, and a variety of vegetables followed, awaiting their turn on the flames.

The three of them savored the barbecue, wrapping grilled beef in lettuce leaves, sipping ice-cold beer. Life felt wonderfully blissful.

Arthur realized that since Wanda and Pietro had moved in, his indulgence in food had only deepened. When living alone, he enjoyed good meals but rarely cooked for himself—he would simply dine at the Atlantis restaurant. Now, with Wanda and Pietro, he seldom went out; instead, he and Wanda spent their days experimenting with new dishes.

He couldn’t entirely blame himself. The symbiote in his body had intensified his craving for food; he needed to find a way to deal with this ever-hungry creature.

The symbiote suddenly felt a chill, a sense of impending danger—someone wanted it gone! It stayed alert and wary.

The goddess in everyone’s hearts, the Scarlet Witch, had become a fellow foodie under Arthur’s influence, while Pietro had turned into a youth obsessed with gaming. Arthur mused that his Marvel universe had taken an odd turn.

Speaking of Pietro and his gaming—he was formidable. Now the strongest champion in Ionia, Pietro’s reflexes were superhuman; his gameplay was precise and lightning-fast. Those who encountered him in-game called him a “script monster,” constantly accused of cheating.

Several esports teams had approached him for tryouts, but he declined, knowing it wouldn’t be fair to other competitors. Gaming at home was enough.

Arthur suggested Pietro start streaming on Hero Video Network—his skill was too impressive not to share. Pietro agreed to give it a try.

Thus, a new streamer emerged on Hero Video Network: “Quicksilver Takes You Gaming.” He was quiet, not much of a talker, but his high-level gameplay and captivating maneuvers gradually earned him a following.

…

One day, Tony contacted Arthur to share some good news: Pepper’s Extremis virus had been cured, and the ordeal had helped Tony grow as a person.

Tony was considering having the shrapnel removed from his chest, though the surgery was extremely risky. He wanted Arthur’s opinion.

Arthur arrived at Tony’s new home—a luxurious villa that left Arthur feeling outmatched.

“You’re here, come in!” Pepper greeted Arthur at the door.

“Thank you!” Arthur stepped into Tony’s new villa, noting that although the house was impressive, it felt a bit empty—some furniture had yet to be purchased, likely because Tony hadn’t had time to settle in.

“I heard your Extremis virus has been completely cured?” Arthur asked.

“Yes, it’s all over now,” Pepper replied.

“That’s wonderful!” Arthur exclaimed.

“I’d just finished the call, and you arrived in minutes—your speed is getting faster,” Tony said, descending from the second floor.

“If you call, of course I’ll come as quickly as I can. So, you’ve finally made up your mind to have the shrapnel removed?” Arthur asked.

“Yes. I feel those fragments still lodged in my veins—it’s better to get them out. But the surgery is so risky, I’m struggling to commit,” Tony admitted.

“I support your decision. I’ll find the best surgeon to help you,” Pepper said, grasping Tony’s hand.

“Actually, there’s no need for so much trouble. Honestly, I can stop your blood flow and extract the shrapnel from your bloodstream myself. Trust me,” Arthur assured Tony.

“Really? That’s amazing, Tony!” Pepper rejoiced.

“How confident are you?” Tony asked.

“Absolutely. I can instantly drain all blood from a person’s body or reverse its flow. Rest assured,” Arthur promised.

“Then I’ll contact the hospital for surgery. My life’s in your hands—don’t let me down,” Tony said gravely.

“Don’t worry!” Arthur beat his chest in a gesture of assurance.

…

Tony lay in the operating room, while Pepper and Rhodey watched through the glass window.

Arthur donned sterile clothing and stood beside Tony. Dr. Wu, the chief surgeon from China, was in charge.

“We’re just doing a regular surgery? Should I use acupuncture to slow his blood flow?” Dr. Wu asked.

“Just proceed with the incision—I’ll handle the blood flow,” Arthur replied.

“Are you ready?” Arthur asked Tony Stark.

Tony gave a thumbs-up to Arthur, Pepper, and Rhodey, signaling his readiness.

“Anesthesia,” Dr. Wu ordered.

A nurse injected Tony with anesthetic. Tony quickly lost consciousness.

“Let’s begin,” Arthur told Dr. Wu.

Dr. Wu carefully excised the arc reactor base from Tony’s chest. In that instant, Arthur spread his fingers and halted Tony’s blood flow.

Arthur sensed the shrapnel in Tony’s blood, using his energy to guide the blood to envelop the fragments and extract them through the wound.

Dr. Wu witnessed a remarkable phenomenon: under Arthur’s control, blood-wrapped shrapnel pieces floated out from Tony’s chest and landed in a tray.

“Incredible!” Dr. Wu exclaimed, marveling at Arthur’s abilities. If Arthur practiced medicine, he could tackle many difficult surgeries.

More than thirty fragments, large and small, were removed. Afterward, Arthur asked Dr. Wu to tend to the wound.

Arthur restored Tony’s blood flow and scanned his body with mental energy to ensure everything was fine. If any issues arose, the symbiote could instantly heal even the most severe injuries.

Arthur’s examination revealed Tony was perfectly healthy, his heart beating strongly.

“The rest is up to you,” Arthur said to Dr. Wu, then left the operating room.

Pepper and Rhodey immediately approached Arthur.

Seeing Pepper’s anxious expression, Arthur said, “It’s all right—the surgery was a success. The shrapnel has been completely removed.”

Pepper and Rhodey breathed a sigh of relief. Pepper, overwhelmed, covered her face and broke into tears, “Thank goodness! Tony’s safe!”

Rhodey patted her shoulder in comfort, then said to Arthur, “Tony owes his life to you, Arthur. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s what friends do. When are you joining the Avengers? We could really use you right now,” Arthur asked Rhodey.

“If you invite me, of course I’ll join. But I have too many tasks at the moment—give me a bit more time,” Rhodey replied.

…

Tony’s surgery was a complete success. Two hours later, he awoke.

Staring at the shrapnel in the glass jar and the arc reactor beside it, Tony felt a complicated mix of emotions. He was finally bidding farewell to his past. From today onward, he vowed to live well.

Tony and Pepper thanked Arthur together. Arthur and Rhodey quietly departed, leaving the couple alone.

…