**Triskelion Building, S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters**
**Central Conference Room**
The atmosphere in the room remained heavy, weighing down each member of the Ultimate Team gathered around the conference table.
The team was engaged in a heated debate over how to handle the fallout from the Hulk's identity being exposed.
"I can't believe S.H.I.E.L.D. made such a colossal blunder. I thought national security was your specialty."
"One of our team members abused drugs and murdered over eight hundred people in the heart of New York City. How do you propose we handle that?"
"Come clean? Are you trying to turn us into a department that just wastes budget and achieves nothing, while we're crucified on the pillory of shame?"
"What kind of superheroes are we? The ones who just clean up the messes we cause?"
"I'm as devastated by what happened to Bruce as anyone here, but national security must come first!"
For a time, the conference room was filled with a flurry of opinions as members of the Ultimate Team voiced their perspectives on the matter.
They debated the pros and cons from various angles. Some leaned toward helping Banner cover up the incident, while others argued there was no loophole to exploit in his case.
Ultimately, despite the diverse viewpoints and voices, a consensus was reached.
The White House had already announced that Bruce Banner would face a public trial. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s role was to fully cooperate.
Once the direction was set, the rest followed swiftly. S.H.I.E.L.D. and relevant government agencies immediately began working efficiently to advance all matters related to the Hulk's trial.
It's worth noting that Professor X approached Nick Fury during this period, offering to provide asylum for Banner. After all, Professor X had extensive experience in "disciplining" murderous monsters into normal people.
Unsurprisingly, Nick Fury refused.
All Fury did was find a lawyer for Banner.
Whether by coincidence or design, the lawyer he chose was none other than the renowned blind attorney, Matt Murdock!
And so it began.
Just a few days later, the official trial of the Hulk, or rather, Bruce Banner, commenced at the Moynihan Federal Court.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the question is clear: the Hulk's crimes are not the central issue."
"The real question is whether Bruce Banner should be held accountable for his actions while transformed into the Hulk under the influence of medication."
"Objection, Your Honor! My client has never been diagnosed with drug dependency, past or present. The prosecution is attempting to mislead the jury."
A heated battle of words ensued.
Major media outlets broadcast the trial live, while the courthouse steps overflowed with countless onlookers.
Uncountable protesters held signs and banners, demanding the Hulk's execution, their voices rising in a deafening roar.
Banner's situation looked dire.
"Objection, Your Honor! Please stop fixating on my client's use of an illegal substance."
"The Super Soldier Serum is a government-sanctioned enhancement drug, tested for years. We have Captain America as a successful precedent."
"Alright, let's use alcohol as an analogy. If Banner doesn't remember turning into the Hulk, does that make a murderer who killed while drunk any less of a murderer?"
Inside the courtroom, despite Matt Murdock's all-out effort and professional skill, the situation remained grim.
After all, the fact that the Hulk had killed over eight hundred people was undeniable.
No amount of spin could wash away that stain.
*Click!*
Seeing this, Ultimate Tony slammed the remote and turned off the TV.
The outcome was already decided. This Trial of the Century, watched by the entire nation, would end in only one way: Banner's execution.
Having mastered the intricate games of high society, Ultimate Tony had known this result long before the trial even began.
There was no hope for a breakthrough.
Even that magical Diary had "predicted" this outcome.
So, for matters devoid of suspense, Ultimate Tony wouldn't waste his time or energy.
Besides, whether Banner lived or died was of little concern to Ultimate Tony.
What truly mattered now was that magical Diary.
The Hulk's identity being exposed had indeed come true. But what about the other things?
Ultimate Tony remained highly interested in this.
While the Hulk Trial of the Century was in full swing, Ultimate Tony investigated another matter.
Within just a week, he obtained the results he sought.
"Tony, I never expected you to visit me. Truly, this means the world to me."
"My current situation is... awkward. I've lost my job, my wife, my friends."
"In fact, I've lost everything."
"This is what I've accomplished recently—just two prototype machines. Unlike your armor, these are true AI robots."
"After all, a team can't have two similar characters, right? Since there's Iron Man, I had to find a different approach."
"I've named it Ultron. If I give this robot to Nick Fury, do you think I could rejoin the Ultimate Team?"
"Or Tony, could you act as my intermediary?"
"I know this is asking a lot, and our relationship isn't that close, but I'm truly out of options."
Perhaps Hank was truly desperate, because Ultimate Tony effortlessly obtained the information he wanted with minimal effort.
The playboy maintained a composed facade while dealing with Hank, but inwardly, he struggled to remain calm.
*It's true!*
*Hank really created the Ultron Robot!*
*The Diary was right again!*
Even so, Ultimate Tony didn't fully trust the Diary. After all, Hank had been researching Ultron long before the Diary's "prophecy." Strictly speaking, it wasn't a prophecy at all.
But when Banner's two-week-long Trial of the Century finally concluded, and Nick Fury personally approached Ultimate Tony, the playboy was left speechless.
"Listen, Tony, I know what you might be thinking, but it's too late to change anything."
"Both the government and the public have sentenced Banner to death."
"I have no doubts about this. Banner did kill 150 innocent people."
"But since Banner is the Hulk, the next step falls to us."
"Here's my plan: To prevent the Hulk from causing widespread destruction, I'll first try to 'calm' Banner and put him to sleep peacefully."
"Then, we'll place Banner on a Helicarrier we've already prepared. After that, you'll design an explosive charge of sufficient power to completely resolve this matter."
"This is the best solution, the one that benefits everyone. I trust you'll understand, won't you?"
Indeed, Nick Fury wasn't consulting Tony about anything else—he was discussing how to kill Banner.
The entire process unfolded exactly as described in the Diary!
This time, Ultimate Tony could no longer remain composed.
While the creation of the Ultron Robot by Hank Pym might have had a chance of being leaked in advance, the execution of Banner was an absolute certainty.
This was genuine precognition.
Could it be that Natasha would really kill the Barton family, Jarvis, and even himself?
Ultimate Tony took this matter with unprecedented seriousness, no longer daring to slack off even a little.
Although Ultimate Tony possessed a certain regenerative ability inherited from his mother's virus, allowing even severed limbs to regrow, this did not make him immortal.
Of course, on the surface, Ultimate Tony showed no signs of distress.
He continued his explosives research as usual and continued preparations to propose to Natasha.
To the outside world, no flaws were visible.
But what Ultimate Tony did in secret, no one knew.
Zhou Cheng, who had been exploring the Ultimate Universe for half a month, was also unaware.
Like most people in this world, Zhou Cheng was captivated by Banner's "Trial of the Century."
He even spent several days enthusiastically loitering outside the courthouse, eager to witness the spectacle.
Due to the Hulk's dangerous nature, the trial was conducted via television.
This meant Banner himself was not present, only appearing via video link from prison.
But watching Matt Murdock passionately argue his case in the courtroom was still quite entertaining.
It had to be said, Matt was indeed an exceptional lawyer.
If being a lawyer hadn't been just a side gig for him, Zhou Cheng was confident he'd have a bright future ahead.
*Boom!*
A few days after Banner's trial, a muffled explosion from the skies above New York caught Zhou Cheng's attention.
"Banner's been taken out!"
"Of course, just as everyone suspected."
Zhou Cheng glanced toward the direction of the explosion and immediately made this obvious deduction.
His Observation Haki instantly activated, sensing the scene. It confirmed his suspicion.
Indeed, after obtaining the Diary for so long, Zhou Cheng had received countless rewards. Observation Haki was one of them.
Using this ability, he clearly "saw" the wreckage of the Helicarrier plummeting from the sky.
And Iron Man, who hadn't flown far, was right there!
Undoubtedly, just like in the comics, Iron Man had detonated the bomb, "killing" Banner.
But could a monster like the Hulk be so easily defeated?
According to the plot, it wouldn't be long before the Hulk made his "kingly return."
Still, that was none of Zhou Cheng's concern for now.
Zhou Cheng had been in the 1610 Universe for over half a month now, and the initial novelty had worn off.
So, he cheerfully made a decision:
First, he would visit other dimensions and return to the 1610 Universe later.
After all, with his dimensional travel ability, countless universes lay before him.
So, which dimension should he visit next?
"Random jump it is!"
Without much hesitation, Zhou Cheng made the same choice as last time.
Compared to "fixed jumps," random jumps were simply more fun.
*Whoosh!*
Having made up his mind, Zhou Cheng wasted no time.
With a thought, he vanished without a trace.
The next moment,
Zhou Cheng's vision blurred.
The world around him transformed completely, a brand-new reality materializing before his eyes.
Looking around, he saw ancient, primitive-looking houses.
He couldn't quite place the architectural style, but it was definitely not a modern urban setting.
The streets were nearly deserted.
A steady, drizzling rain fell from the sky, lending the scene a desolate atmosphere.
The characters on some of the shops caught Zhou Cheng's eye—they were unmistakably Japanese.
Having long ago received the Language Mastery reward, Zhou Cheng could understand every language in the world.
So, Japanese characters were no problem for him. He could even converse fluently and authentically, leaving no trace of his foreign origins.
Zhou Cheng immediately drew a conclusion: he had likely been transported into the world of a Japanese manga.
From the looks of it, Observation Haki would still work, but the Intelligence Body would be useless.
After a moment's thought, Zhou Cheng decided against using his Observation Haki.
Instead, he chose to explore the village, which resembled a small rural settlement, and gradually uncover its mysteries.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Zhou Cheng stepped forward as if nothing were amiss, his figure vanishing into the curtain of rain.
It's worth noting that the raindrops never actually touched him. An invisible force blocked them inches from his body.
"Someone has invaded the village!"
Unbeknownst to Zhou Cheng, at that very moment, a man in a Red Cloud uniform at the top of a tall tower's eye flashed a fierce glint.
And in the man's pupils, one could see the distinctive concentric circles of the Rinnegan.
Indeed, that was the legendary Rinnegan.
The man's identity was now obvious.
He was Tendō Pain, a puppet of Uzumaki Nagato, the current public leader of the Akatsuki.
As for where Zhou Cheng had traveled from?
Of course, it was Amegakure.
Just as Jiraiya's invasion of Amegakure had been immediately detected by Nagato using the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, Zhou Cheng now faced the same situation.
There was no help for it; Nagato's technique was indeed somewhat excessive.
The ubiquitous rain that blanketed the entire village served as his eyes. How could anyone break through that?
"Who is it?" Konan asked Tendō Pain expressionlessly.
"I don't know yet, but he's no ordinary opponent. He managed to breach the village's barrier and infiltrate silently."
"Yet I can't sense any Chakra fluctuations from him."
Tendō Pain briefly described Zhou Cheng's specific circumstances.
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