American Comic Book: Reincarnated As Homelander, Shocking the Beautiful Female Neighbor
Chapter 71: S.H.I.E.L.D. Wanted Steve and Clark!
Thinking of this, Pierce sighed, then hung up the phone, his expression still uncertain.
If that's the case, things will be difficult. After suffering this attack, Steve must have guessed that it was their doing.
Plus, with whatever Fury must have told them, that group of Steve's will definitely spare no effort to come and thwart their plans.
These people are not just a rabble; the progress of Insight Project will definitely be severely affected.
So, it must be handled. However, given their strength, a direct confrontation is obviously not a good idea.
Not to mention anything else, Steve alone is enough to give them a headache, not to mention that even stronger Clark.
In that case, they need to find a breakthrough from another angle!
Since Steve and his group have already escaped, they might as well pin Fury's Death and everything else on them!
Let them stand against everyone; let's see what they can do then!
Pierce thought to himself.
Having made up his mind, Pierce first apologized to Erik.
"Sorry, Dr. Erik, I apologize for the embarrassment; there's been a small problem."
"It's fine, I can understand."
Loki, possessing Erik, had an uncertain expression.
But upon hearing Pierce's words, in order not to expose himself, he still forced a smile and said.
Pierce pondered for a moment, then turned his head and signaled to Sitwell beside him.
"Notify headquarters to issue a warrant, stating that Steveand his group have colluded with aliens!"
"Nick Fury's Death and the previous ship hijacking were all their doing. Hunt them down with full force; they must be captured."
Upon hearing this, Sitwell was stunned. Colluding with aliens?
When did this happen? Why didn't he know about it? And wasn't the ship hijacking done by pirates? How did it become them?
However, seeing Pierce's suggestive look, Sitwell suddenly realized.
Oh! This is a plan to restrain Rogers and the others!
It really is a good plan; this way, Steve and the others will have no way out.
Thinking of this, Sitwell no longer hesitated, stood up, and said.
"I understand. Well then, Dr. Erik, Mr. Pierce, I'll take my leave."
With that, Sitwell took his communicator and walked out, seemingly to notify S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Opposite him, Loki's expression changed upon hearing what Pierce had just said. Cold sweat poured down.
Colluding with aliens... could this human have already seen through my identity? How did they know? Could it be that they aren't here to cooperate with me, but to take me out?
Thinking of this, Loki looked nervously at Pierce opposite him.
Pierce was clearly stunned by Loki's expression and asked.
"Dr. Erik, what's wrong? Why are you sweating so much?"
Hearing Pierce's words, Loki secretly let down his guard.
It looks like he hasn't discovered anything; I must have been overthinking it.
Thinking of this, Loki breathed a sigh of relief, wiped away his sweat, forced a smile, and said.
"It's nothing, I'm fine."
...
S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
In the main work hall, people were coming and going, and those sitting at their desks were all very busy—a scene of bustling activity.
Just then, an agent rushed in, clapped his hands, and drew everyone's attention.
"Everyone, there's major news. We just received word from Agent Sitwell that Captain Rogers has colluded with aliens and betrayed humanity!"
"Director Fury's Death and the ship hijacking were all their doing, so we are now preparing to issue a full warrant for Rogers and the others."
The agent announced this news nervously; clearly, even he was somewhat surprised.
As soon as these words were spoken, various gasps erupted throughout the hall, and for a moment, it descended into chaos!
Everyone found it hard to believe that Steve Rogers had actually defected.
"That's impossible; Rogers would never do such a thing."
Sharon stood up, her face full of disbelief!
How could Steve do such a thing? He was more loyal than anyone; this must be a lie!
...
After a battle, Steve and Clark finally broke out.
They found a secluded place and started to rest.
"Clark, thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have really been done for today."
Steve panted a few times and said to Clark.
Even with Clark's strength, it had been such an effort to get out; he didn't dare to imagine what would have happened without Clark.
"It's fine. We've already escaped and aren't injured, so don't talk about that."
"By the way, do you know why they suddenly attacked us?"
Clark waved his hand and then asked, suddenly puzzled.
He had wanted to ask just now. That group were all S.H.I.E.L.D. people; logically, they should have been on the same side. Why would they suddenly attack them?
He didn't mind, but one had to know that Steve was one of the people closest to Fury. How could they even try to capture him?
Moreover, they hadn't done anything. It all happened after Steve entered the office, so it was clearly related to Steve.
"Yeah, aren't you with those humans? Why would they capture you? Did you have an internal conflict?"
Thor couldn't help but chime in.
He had also been put through the wringer, and even now, he didn't know why these humans had attacked, though he could see that it definitely had something to do with Steve.
"The reason?"
Steve's expression was complex; he didn't answer right away.
Even now, he was still unwilling to admit that there was a problem within S.H.I.E.L.D., the government agency he had always been loyal to.
The changes in this world were too great, so great that he couldn't recognize it anymore.
But now that things had come to this, he couldn't escape.
Moreover, Clark was already involved, so he had the right to know about this.
And Clark wasn't a fool either; since he had said as much, he must have noticed something.
He didn't need to hide it anymore, and the matters ahead would just happen to require the help of his powerful Power of Thor.
Thinking of this, Steve no longer hesitated. His eyes became firm as he spoke to Clark:
"Before Fury passed away, he gave me a USB drive and asked me to investigate the things inside."
"Pierce called me over earlier and first told me that Furyhad betrayed S.H.I.E.L.D."
"But I didn't believe it. Later, he warned me not to interfere, or he would take measures, and then what happened now occurred."
Hearing this, Clark frowned. This was clearly Pierce's problem.
Based on previous interactions, he didn't believe Nick Furywould betray anyone. He tentatively asked:
"You mean..."
Chapter 72: Steve Decides to Find Tony
"That's right."
Steve nodded and continued:
"I suspect the contents of the USB drive are related to Pierce. He wants to push everything onto Fury, and he's afraid of me seeing it, which is why he threatened me."
"I just rejected his proposal, so the people who came after must have been sent by him to eliminate the threat the two of us pose."
As these words were spoken, Clark's expression became incredibly solemn.
He naturally understood what this meant; it meant there was a traitor within S.H.I.E.L.D., and that traitor was the high-ranking Pierce.
This was a world-shaking matter. Clark couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine at the thought of a conspiracy involving someone of that level.
Beside them, Thor was also quite stunned. Good grief, the human world was too chaotic; everyone was like his brother, full of schemes. Asgard was better after all.
"Back at the hospital, I already gave the USB drive to Tony. With his technology, he should be able to crack it."
"I think we should first figure out the contents of the drive, so we should head over to his place first. What do you think?"
After saying this, Steve looked at Clark. The reason he laid everything out was, of course, to get Clark to join them.
After all, the enemy was unprecedentedly powerful, and Clark's mighty Power of Thor would be very advantageous for them.
"Alright, we should head there first. Tell you what, the city is crawling with pursuers right now, so I'll use Mjolnir to take both of you there."
Clark agreed to Steve's plan. He was, after all, a part of Fury's plan, so now that something like this had happened, he naturally felt duty-bound.
"What? I don't..."
Thor looked reluctant; he didn't want to get involved in these mortal affairs.
But halfway through his sentence, he saw Clark's gaze and shut his mouth, not daring to say more.
"Good. With you, I have much more confidence in this operation."
Seeing Clark agree, Steve felt a sense of relief and spoke happily.
The few of them reached a consensus and wasted no more time. Clark grabbed the two of them, swung Mjolnir, and flew into the sky.
...
Tony Stark's Seaside Villa.
An A8 pulled up in front of the villa's entrance. The doors opened, and Tony and Natasha stepped out.
"Actually, you don't need to follow me. I have my Iron Man Suit; I don't need protection."
Tony spoke with a hint of helplessness as he walked toward the villa's front door, glancing at Natasha beside him.
"When you actually need it, you won't be saying that."
Natasha ignored Tony, simply replying coldly.
Her mind was currently occupied with fulfilling Fury's final wish; she had no time to chat with Tony.
"Well, I don't really mind. I'll just treat it as having an extra hot female secretary."
Tony reached the door and shrugged indifferently at her words, then took out his key and inserted it for a turn.
Hmm?
Why wouldn't it turn?
Tony tried a few more times, but it still wouldn't budge.
Just as Tony was about to try again, with a click, the door was opened from the inside, revealing Pepper's figure.
"Tony?"
Pepper was initially delighted to see Tony at the door, but after seeing Natasha behind him, her face instantly darkened.
"Pepper!!!"
Tony hadn't expected Pepper to be here at all. No wonder he couldn't turn the key; the door was already unlocked.
Looking at Natasha behind him and then at Pepper's grim face, Tony couldn't help but swallow hard.
Inside the living room.
Tony, Natasha, and Pepper sat on the sofa. Tony sat up straight, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Pepper looked at Natasha opposite her with a dark expression, while Natasha sat calmly on the sofa without any expression.
"What exactly does she do?"
Pepper asked out of the blue. She knew Tony often brought women home for one-night stands.
She hadn't expected him to bring one home in broad daylight, which made her quite angry.
"She..."
Tony looked at Natasha, feeling a bit conflicted. Their business was classified.
It wasn't that he couldn't tell Pepper, but rather that knowing too much would put Pepper in danger.
"I am Stark's newly hired secretary, Ms. Potts."
Natasha reacted quickly, smiling as she spoke to Pepper.
Upon hearing this, Pepper's expression darkened even further. A secretary? Why would Tony need to find a new secretary? More like a mistress!
Tony also helplessly massaged his forehead. Now he was done for.
The room fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere becoming somewhat tense.
Just then, the television in the living room began broadcasting a news report.
"Breaking news: The government has issued the latest nationwide most-wanted list. The fugitives are Steve Rogers, Clark Kent, and an alien named Thor. The charges are conspiring with aliens to invade Earth. If you encounter these three individuals, please provide information immediately. The government will provide a significant reward."
As soon as this news broke, the scene instantly became chaotic.
"What?"
Tony's eyes widened, and he stood up. Steve was actually wanted? What was going on?
Hadn't he been called in for a talk by the S.H.I.E.L.D.higher-ups? What had happened in such a short amount of time?
As for the part about conspiring with aliens, he naturally didn't believe it. If a man like Steve would conspire with aliens, then one might as well say all of S.H.I.E.L.D. were spies!
Natasha's expression also clearly changed, turning grim. She knew there were already problems within S.H.I.E.L.D.
This signal meant they were now completely on opposite sides, with no room left for maneuvering.
Fortunately, being wanted meant that Steve and the others hadn't been caught yet.
However, it was likely that S.H.I.E.L.D. would soon trace things back to them. In that case, the matter of the USB drive had to be resolved quickly.
Thinking of this, Natasha couldn't help but speak urgently to Tony.
"Tony, there's no time to hesitate. We must crack the USB drive as soon as possible, or else they will find us sooner or later."
"True. Although they're a bunch of useless hacks, we've been seen together, so they'll definitely trace it here. We need to hurry."
Tony's face was also solemn; the situation was indeed urgent.
Although he usually looked down on those people from S.H.I.E.L.D., if they all converged here, even he wouldn't be able to resist them.
And most importantly, he had to fulfill the task Furyentrusted to him; there was bound to be a solution within it.
At this moment, Pepper was still full of confusion, unable to understand what the two were talking about.
However, at least she had confirmed that Tony hadn't brought Natasha back for that kind of thing, but for actual serious business.
"Pepper, I'm sorry. There's no time right now. Once I'm finished, I'll definitely explain everything to you personally."
Tony spoke gently to Pepper, then waved a hand to Natasha beside him, saying:
"Follow me to my lab."
With that, he led Natasha toward the laboratory.
Chapter 73: The Group Reunites and Begins Decrypting the USB Drive
Just then, in the front yard of the villa, Clark, holding the Hammer and carrying Steve and Thor, flew down into the yard.
"Hmm? Rogers."
Tony saw the three of them land in the yard through the glass door and was visibly stunned.
Good grief, the whole city is looking for you, yet you actually flew back with a Hammer; that really is unexpected.
"Rogers!!!"
Natasha's expression clearly brightened, and she quickly opened the door to meet them.
Seeing for herself that Rogers and the others were fine, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Steve pushed the door open, his expression very solemn, thinking about how to recount what had just happened as he spoke.
"Tony, Natasha, we're back. We just..."
"Stop, stop. Did you guys have a falling out with Pierce and get hunted down?"
Tony waved his hand, impatiently interrupting Steve's explanation.
"How did you know?"
Steve was taken aback; the emotions he had painstakingly built up were all interrupted.
This just happened; how did Tony get the news so quickly?
"See for yourself."
Natasha didn't speak, but pointed to the news playing on the side, which was broadcasting a wanted notice.
"This is..."
Seeing the wanted posters of himself and Clark on the news, Steve's expression darkened.
He didn't expect Pierce and his people to act so quickly, even framing them with a trumped-up charge of colluding with aliens; it was truly despicable.
"Hey, Clark, look, we're actually on there, and they're saying we want to invade Earth."
Thor couldn't help but chuckle when he saw his own photo on the television.
He wasn't bothered by being wanted at all; after all, he was a prince of Asgard.
He certainly didn't care about the mere wanted notice of humans.
"Colluding with aliens and attempting to invade Earth."
Clark looked at Thor beside him, his eye twitching.
How could an alien like this invade Earth?
"In that case, this place will be found sooner or later. We must decrypt the contents of the USB drive as soon as possible."
Steve said with some urgency.
Since S.H.I.E.L.D. has issued a warrant, they will definitely search for their tracks with full force.
Tony's place isn't some secret base; it will definitely be found.
"Tony and I were thinking the same thing. Let's go now."
Natasha said decisively, without hesitation.
"Come on, there's no time to waste. Let's go to my lab."
After saying this, Tony led the way toward the inside of the villa.
The others looked at each other and followed him.
Pepper, being smart, didn't disturb them and just waited in the living room.
They walked into the laboratory.
"Jarvis, analyze the contents of the USB drive."
Tony didn't hesitate; he directly inserted the USB drive into the mainframe and ordered Jarvis to take action.
"Very good, sir. Analyzing now."
Jarvis responded.
But the next second, a red warning suddenly appeared on the virtual screen, accompanied by the constant blaring of alarms.
"Sir, a location program intrusion has been detected. It is preparing to transmit your location information and is also attempting to breach the mainframe."
Jarvis's voice sounded intermittent, appearing very urgent.
"A location program? These guys are very cautious."
Tony raised an eyebrow. These guys actually dared to show off their skills in front of me; don't they know who is the best in this field in the entire United States?
Saying this, Tony walked straight to the computer, swiped his hand to draw a virtual keyboard, and said with a mischievous smile.
"Jarvis, give me control. I'll deal with these guys and show them what real technology is."
"Yes, sir."
After Jarvis finished speaking, the keyboard in front of Tonylit up, and he immediately began operating it rapidly.
Seeing Tony's actions, Steve couldn't help but feel relieved.
It was indeed the right choice to come to Tony for this kind of thing. Although Tony looked frivolous, in this regard, he was just like his father and never disappointed anyone.
Natasha also nodded after seeing Tony's operations.
He is worthy of being the person valued by Fury; Tony truly has real skills.
Even the technical department of S.H.I.E.L.D. would probably get a headache seeing this, but Tony was confident he could crack it.
As Tony operated, the warning signs on the screen became fewer and fewer, revealing a skull logo with many tentacles.
Seeing this logo, Natasha's expression changed noticeably, as if she had remembered something.
"This is..."
Steve's expression also became more solemn than ever before.
Of course he recognized this logo; it was the symbol of Hydra, the culprit behind him being frozen, and he would never forget it in his life.
He didn't expect it to be this group again. Have they revived? Are they going to come out and do evil again?
Thinking of this, Steve couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Alright, do these guys not have any real strength? With just this little bit of stuff, how could they possibly stop me?"
Tony pressed one last key, then crossed his arms and shrugged with extreme ease.
He was indeed feeling a bit smug; he was truly a genius, and this thing was nothing more than this.
The files had all been decrypted by him, the warning signs on the screen had completely disappeared, and a pile of folders was revealed.
"Well done, Tony."
Steve showed some joy.
It was indeed the right choice to find Tony for this; he didn't expect it to be cracked so quickly!
Steve couldn't help but admire Tony's skills.
Natasha also nodded, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her cold face.
In this way, their investigation finally had a glimmer of hope, and they were no longer bumping around like headless flies.
"Tony, let's not delay; let's take a look quickly."
Seeing Tony still immersed in the pride of having cracked it, Steve felt a bit anxious again.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is still hunting them, and it looks like they are about to catch up; time waits for no one.
"Hmm, indeed. Let me see."
Tony also reacted; the matter wasn't over yet.
Steve and the others were still wanted, so he quickly turned around and started flipping through the folders.
One of the files with the Hydra logo caught Tony's attention, and he clicked on it.
The next second, a video popped up.
"Cut off one head, and Hydra can grow several more."
Dr. Zola's sinister face appeared on it and began to recount what happened after Hydra's failure.
It turned out that after Hydra was ended back then, S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited a large number of valuable talents to work for them, and Dr. Zola took advantage of this opportunity to join.
Moreover, in order to continue Hydra's philosophy, he secretly established the Hydra organization within S.H.I.E.L.D., and taking advantage of this opportunity, secretly murdered Howard Stark, Nick Fury, and others.
And by now, Hydra had already completely eroded S.H.I.E.L.D.
Chapter 74: Hydra's Conspiracy, The Winter SoldierProject
"The plan this guy mentioned should be Insight Project."
Natasha murmured with a complex expression.
She never imagined that S.H.I.E.L.D. itself was responsible for the current situation, that the organization had been completely infiltrated by Hydra.
No wonder they were able to accomplish all these things. The spies had always been inside S.H.I.E.L.D., wielding immense power.
"I never thought they were still in this world!"
Steve Rogers' expression was unprecedentedly grim, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
After all, Hydra was his lifelong enemy. One could say all the tragedies in his life were caused by Hydra!
He had thought he had completely eradicated Hydra back then. He never imagined Hydra not only survived but also held the highest authority.
Whether it was his old friend Howard or Director Fury, they were all killed by them. These people are truly despicable.
"My father..."
Tony Stark's expression also darkened, his teeth clenched tightly.
Ever since the misunderstanding with his father was cleared up and he learned his father loved him, his father's death had weighed heavily on his mind.
He never expected it was this Hydra. A torrent of hatred for this organization surged within him.
Meanwhile, the video finished playing without them noticing, and Dr. Zola's figure disappeared from the screen.
"So it seems Pierce and the others must be Hydra agents."
Steve thought for a moment, then said gravely to Tony and Natasha.
Natasha and Tony exchanged a glance and both nodded.
This explanation could account for all of Pierce's strange behavior.
And Pierce's plan must be the conspiracy Fury suspected.
But what exactly that conspiracy was, they still needed to keep investigating, Steve thought.
Meanwhile, as the video ended, Tony proceeded to open the next document, which was clearly labeled 'Insight Project'.
As the document opened, its contents were revealed. The initial part was exactly as Steve had previously understood.
"This Insight Project is the plan Pierce proposed earlier, claiming its purpose was to eliminate humans posing a threat globally."
"Fury told me about it before. I always felt something was off. Now it seems it must have a different purpose."
Seeing this document, Steve explained.
Considering what Fury had told him earlier and what they just learned, anyone could see Hydra had a conspiracy.
Tony and Natasha both nodded, then continued reading.
As they scrolled further, Hydra's true purpose was exposed.
It turned out Insight Project wasn't about eliminating threats to all humanity. It involved inputting all human data, selecting those who posed a threat to Hydra, and eliminating them all, placing the entire world under Hydra's rule.
"Just as I thought..."
Steve's expression was extremely grave, his voice heavy as he spoke.
As he suspected, Hydra's plan wasn't for the safety of all humanity, but for their own domination.
Once the helicarriers were airborne, everyone who resisted Hydra would be wiped out in an instant. Then Hydra...
...would essentially hold the power of life and death over the world, becoming its masters.
"Fury was deceived too..."
Natasha also looked grave. No wonder Fury found it strange. This was no salvation for humanity; it was enslavement, domination.
Meanwhile, Tony noticed a line stating Mr. Justin Hammerhad joined Insight Project, bringing a Miniature Arc Reactor. He couldn't help but snort in derision.
"Look here, those guys even invited Hammer to join. If this plan originally needed a year, Hammer's involvement would probably delay it by a decade."
Tony was utterly dismissive of that clown Hammer joining Insight Project.
Hydra actually trusted a profit-driven businessman like Hammer. What a bunch of fools.
Clark's expression remained unchanged. Such weapons couldn't even scratch his bio-field, let alone his steel-like body, so he felt nothing.
"What's so scary about this thing? Forget my father, even I could easily destroy it when I wielded the Power of Thor."
Thor was somewhat disdainful, thinking to himself that if they witnessed his father's power, they'd know what true terror was.
Just then, a document below caught everyone's attention. Its name was: The Winter Soldier Project.
"Right, Steve, the soldier who attacked Fury a few days ago was called the Winter Soldier."
Seeing the name, Natasha remembered something and said.
"Bucky?"
Steve thought of the Bucky he saw a few days ago, his heart stirring.
The Winter Soldier was Bucky. What happened to him? Why was he there?
Thinking this, Steve urgently pointed at the file and said to Tony.
"Tony, open this. Let me see."
"Open this one? Do you know the person who killed Fury?"
Tony looked at the file, not understanding why Steve was so anxious. Was it because of Fury?
Despite his confusion, seeing Steve's urgency, Tony didn't hesitate and clicked open the file.
As the file opened, the Winter Soldier project was revealed.
The Winter Soldier Project involved creating the ultimate assassin through brainwashing and modification, also known as the Winter Soldier.
Below were the basic details of the subject for the Winter Soldier program.
It turned out the Winter Soldier was former Sergeant Bucky Barnes, who fell off a cliff during a mission to infiltrate Hydra.
But he didn't die. He was recovered by Hydra, brainwashed, modified, and turned into a tool in Hydra's hands.
Seeing everything Bucky endured, the photos of his brainwashing, Steve's face showed both guilt and Fury. His hands remained tightly clenched, not loosening for a long time.
Bucky really wasn't dead. But he was turned into a tool by those Hydra bastards! Brainwashed, losing all his memories!
Those bastards truly deserve to die!
Rage surged through Steve's heart.
The file also detailed Bucky's life. The entry 'Steve Rogers' closest friend' stood out particularly glaringly.
Seeing this, Clark sympathetically walked over, patted Steve's shoulder, sighed, and said nothing more.
Even Thor, for once, didn't say anything odd. He fell somewhat silent, clearly also sympathizing with Steve's experience.
Seeing this entry and Steve's complex expression, Natasha couldn't help but give Steve a comforting look.
Anyone would be unable to bear it, seeing their closest friend treated like that. She understood Steve's anger perfectly.
Chapter 75: The Truth About Tony's Parents' Murder
Tony was also taken aback upon seeing Bucky's information. He glanced at the furious Steve beside him and suddenly understood. So that was it—no wonder Steve had been so agitated earlier.
After all, that was his closest friend. To see his dearest friend turned into this by the enemy—not only failing to recognize him but also standing on the opposite side—would make anyone furious.
Tony then thought about what he would do if Rhodey were subjected to such treatment. He would surely go mad.
At this thought, Tony couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Empathizing deeply, he reached out and patted Steve's shoulder in comfort.
"They truly are despicable, treating your closest friend like this. Anyone would understand your anger."
Natasha raised an eyebrow in surprise upon seeing the usually irreverent Tony actually comforting Steve, with whom he often clashed.
Her opinion of Tony rose slightly. It seemed Stark wasn't quite the person she had imagined, Natasha thought to herself.
Meanwhile, to prevent Steve from dwelling on the distressing information about Bucky, Tony quickly scrolled down a few pages.
What appeared next were mission records of the Winter Soldier—videos and explanations of assassinations and espionage plans, including footage of Fury being hunted down.
"He really carried out a lot of missions," Tony mused inwardly, though he didn't voice it aloud. Seeing Steve's expression grow even darker, he swiftly continued scrolling.
Bucky's mission records then shifted to earlier years, detailing tasks involving the assassination of government officials.
At that moment, Tony saw something that made his eyes narrow. He stared intently at a piece of information on the screen, his scrolling hand freezing as his entire body went rigid.
"What's wrong, Stark?"
Natasha also noticed Tony's odd behavior and looked in the direction he was staring. Her eyes instantly narrowed in disbelief as she murmured,
"This is..."
Steve, too, sensed something amiss and glanced over, his face paling dramatically.
Displayed clearly on the screen was the mission record for the assassination of Howard Stark and his wife.
"Tony, don't..."
Natasha tried to stop him, but Tony was already trembling as he clicked on the video attached to the message.
"No, no, who are you?"
The video opened with Tony's father, Howard, backing away step by step as Bucky pointed a gun at him. The next second, a gunshot rang out.
In the video, Bucky shot Howard dead and, despite the pleas of Tony's mother, fired again, killing her as well. At that point, the video abruptly ended.
After watching the entire video, Tony was left in a daze, his face a mask of utter disbelief.
He never imagined that after just comforting Steve, he would now face his own ordeal—learning that his father had been killed in such a manner.
"Tony, you need to stay calm..."
Natasha anxiously tried to comfort Tony, fearing he might act impulsively.
Over the past few days, she had already realized that Tonywas an intensely emotional person. Seeing his father killed like this would surely be unbearable for him.
He might even take it out on Steve, and they couldn't afford internal conflict now—not with their mission still unfinished.
Thinking this, Natasha couldn't help but glance at Steve.
"Stark, calm down. I understand how you feel."
Clark spoke up unexpectedly to comfort Tony, his own heart feeling heavy.
The scene before Tony reminded him of watching his own father die—a memory that still haunted him.
That sense of despair and helplessness was something he knew all too well, making him empathize deeply.
"Tony, I..."
Steve truly couldn't find the words, his expression torn with conflict.
On one side was his closest friend, but that same friend had undeniably harmed Howard—not only Tony's father but also his own friend.
Yet Bucky had been under Hydra's control. Steve couldn't take sides, leaving him utterly torn inside.
Moreover, Tony might very well direct his anger at him. Steve didn't even know if he should defend himself and could only watch Tony nervously.
Thor, for his part, wisely remained silent, staying quietly to the side.
Tony snapped back to reality and slammed his hand on the table in anger.
Everyone jumped, thinking he was about to confront Steve.
But instead, he growled furiously,
"Those bastards have done it. They've thoroughly pissed me off!"
"Aren't they trying to push that Insight Project or whatever?"
"Fine. I'll make sure they don't get their way! I'm joining you all to wreck Hydra's scheme."
He never imagined his father had died like that—so helpless, the despair palpable even through the video.
It broke his heart and filled him with rage. But after seeing the earlier records, he knew this wasn't Bucky's fault—it was the doing of those Hydra scum behind it all. And so, he had to strike back.
"Huh? Okay."
Hearing this, Steve nodded in stunned agreement.
He hadn't expected Tony to react this way. It seemed Tonywasn't the type to let anger cloud his judgment.
Natasha was also surprised but pleased. After all, avoiding a fight was for the best.
With Tony now firmly committed to joining them, their chances of mission success had just increased.
...
At S.H.I.E.L.D., in Pierce's office.
Having returned from Erik's home and just finished handling the warrant matters, Pierce sat alone at his desk, dealing with the minutiae of Insight Project.
With the Steve situation dealt with, only Insight Projectremained, leaving him feeling much more at ease.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The communicator at his waist suddenly rang, interrupting Pierce. He picked it up.
Seeing it was Sitwell calling, Pierce answered.
"Hello! Director Pierce, it's Sitwell."
Sitwell's voice came through from the other end.
"What is it, Sitwell?"
Pierce held the phone while continuing to glance at the documents on his desk, asking nonchalantly.
"We just received a location signal from Dr. Zola. They must have cracked the flash drive."
Sitwell whispered.
"What! Then get over there and apprehend them immediately!"
Hearing this, Pierce set aside the documents in his hand and urged hastily.
After all, Insight Project was now ready for launch. The only possible obstacle was Steve and his team, since they had the Hydra plan on that flash drive.
Fortunately, Dr. Zola had embedded a tracking mechanism. Now that the signal had been detected, Pierce was anxious. Eliminating these individuals would clear the path for Hydra's grand plan.
"We did receive it, but the signal only flickered briefly before being jammed. We can only pinpoint a general area, not the exact location."
Sitwell replied cautiously, as if fearing Pierce's reprimand.
"Is that so?"
Pierce's expression darkened.
This was problematic. Without precise tracking, they could easily escape.
He thought of something and continued questioning,
"Is there anything notable in that area? Someone Stevemight know, for instance."
"Wait, isn't Stark's villa around there?"
Chapter 76: Stark Industries has betrayed us too?
Upon hearing this, Sitwell fell silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.
"Let me think... Right! It seems Stark's seaside villa is right there!"
Sitwell said with some hesitation, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said.
"I know, Mr. Pierce, it must have been Tony Stark!"
"When I went to the hospital, I saw Stark right there!"
"At the time, he said he was going back to research something. Now it seems the USB drive is with him, and Natasha went with him to crack it."
"Is that so? In that case, it must be Stark."
Pierce nodded. It wasn't just because Stark was there; the information lock on that USB drive had been set by Dr. Zola.
In the entire country, or perhaps the entire world, Starkwas likely the only one with the ability to crack its secrets so quickly.
"Mr. Pierce, what do we do now?"
Upon hearing Pierce confirm that it was indeed Stark, Sitwell asked anxiously.
"Since it's Stark, we must not delay. He has surely already noticed."
Pierce's expression was grim. It wasn't just that he was anxious; the fact that the signal had been erased the moment it was transmitted proved that Stark had definitely noticed.
Given Stark's cautious nature, he must have already made a decision.
"Then what should we do? Mr. Pierce, should we send people over now?"
Sitwell's voice grew more anxious. If Steve and the others got away...
Their nearly completed Insight Project would likely be affected and end in failure.
"Send people? No."
Pierce curled his lip in disdain.
With Stark's Iron Man Suit, no matter how many people you send, they would just be walking to their Deaths.
That thing is something even fighter jets can do nothing about.
Furthermore, sending people over at this time would be too late; Stark would have already fled.
"Then what should we do, Mr. Pierce?"
Sitwell thought for a moment and also felt it was a difficult situation, suddenly feeling uneasy.
Upon hearing this, Pierce fell silent, contemplating a countermeasure.
Sending people was definitely out; they couldn't do anything against Stark.
In that case, the only option was to use the nation's heavy weaponry...
Right! Just launch a missile. I refuse to believe those Iron Man Suits you built can rival a missile!
But bombing Stark for no reason would likely incite public dissatisfaction. After all, that is the nation's military-industrial enterprise. That won't work.
However, isn't Stark with Rogers?
That's perfect. I'll just charge him with the same crime as Rogers: treason and colluding with aliens!
Thinking of this, Pierce nodded and said,
"It's too late to send people over now. We must deploy weapons of mass destruction!"
"Notify the Weapons Department. Send bombers to bomb Stark's villa with missiles. Leave no living thing behind. As for the charge, say that Stark and Steve joined forces with aliens to betray the country."
"That's right, Mr. Pierce, this plan is truly brilliant."
Hearing Pierce's plan, Sitwell couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Pierce's plan was indeed excellent; not only did it eliminate the threat, but it also cleverly framed Steve and the others.
Hearing Sitwell's praise, Pierce smiled.
But then he thought, that Stark kid is usually the most cunning. Can a missile really kill him? He wasn't so sure.
That Stark kid has an Iron Man Suit. He might notice the intent beforehand, and with that flight speed comparable to a fighter jet, he might really manage to get away.
In that case, someone must go over to confirm they are all dead.
Thinking of this, Pierce continued to say to Sitwell:
"By the way, send another team of agents over to check if they are dead. I want to see them alive if they survive, or see their corpses if they don't."
"This... is it really necessary? That's a missile. No one can withstand that."
Sitwell asked, puzzled. He felt Pierce was overestimating Stark and the others. Once a missile hits, who could possibly survive?
Upon hearing this, Pierce said impatiently.
"That is an order. That guy Stark has an Iron Man Suit; anything is possible. With Insight Project imminent, there cannot be the slightest oversight. Just do as I say."
After thinking for a moment, he still felt uneasy with ordinary people, so he added.
"Right, let the Winter Soldier lead people over. Have him directly confirm their Deaths."
The Winter Soldier had been with Hydra for so many years and always completed missions exceptionally well. Sending him would be more reassuring.
"Very well, I understand, Mr. Pierce. I will go handle it immediately."
Sitwell said respectfully, then hung up the phone.
Pierce hung up the phone and looked at the scenery outside the window, a meaningful smile on his face.
Rogers, let's see how you can obstruct my plan this time.
Fury, don't worry, they will be down there to see you soon.
Inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. office hall.
Many agents were busy with their own work; some were reviewing documents, others were discussing missions.
Just then, an agent walked in, went straight to the center of the hall, clapped his hands, and said.
"Everyone stop, look over here. There is an urgent matter that needs to be handled."
Hearing this voice, the busy crowd looked over, and Sharon, who was in the crowd, also looked over with confusion.
Why was there another matter? She hadn't even figured out the business regarding Steve's wanted poster from earlier.
Seeing that everyone was looking, the agent coughed twice and then said.
"According to the latest news from Agent Sitwell, the boss of Stark Industries, Tony Stark, has been confirmed to be colluding with the fugitive Steve Rogers, intending to cooperate with aliens, constituting treason. We are now issuing an arrest warrant."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room was in an uproar. Tony Stark, that playboy from Stark Industries, actually colluded with aliens? This was too shocking.
"Stark colluding with aliens?"
Sharon was first stunned, then immediately frowned.
How could this be possible? Stark had been cooperating with the military for many years without any issues, and his Stark Industries was the pride of the entire nation. Him committing treason and colluding with aliens? Impossible.
No, there is definitely something wrong here. Sharon's heart became alert.
The earlier claim that Rogers would commit treason was already extremely absurd and had made her very suspicious.
Now there's a Stark one. This is clearly someone targeting them, framing them on purpose.
She wanted to help clear their names, but her own strength was too weak.
Moreover, Steve and the others were not people who needed others' help; they had the ability to solve it themselves.
But if things continued this way, they would definitely be in danger. The arrest warrant hadn't been issued yet, so there was still time to notify them. Thinking of this, Sharonlooked at the phone on the table.
She looked around, then silently picked up the phone, pretended to go to the restroom, walked out of the office hall, found a secluded corner, and dialed Steve's number.
Chapter 77: Alert! Missile Incoming from Ten Kilometers Away!
At the Seaside Villa, inside Tony's private laboratory.
Several people sat around together; beside them lay the decrypted USB drive, its contents having already been reviewed by everyone.
"We must take action as soon as possible. Once Hydra's plan succeeds, the entire world will be under their control."
Steve said firmly.
His expression was still somewhat gloomy; after all, he had just learned about the suffering of his close friend, Bucky, and he still hadn't fully recovered from the shock.
Moreover, he had to face Tony—a man whose father was killed by Bucky, yet who still understood Bucky—which caused a lingering sense of guilt to well up in his heart from time to time.
"That's true, but where do we start? The current information is still somewhat lacking."
Tony also spoke with a somber expression.
If anyone here was the most anxious to stop Hydra's plan, it was definitely him.
Having confirmed that his father's death was Hydra's doing, he wanted nothing more than to tear those from Hydra into a thousand pieces.
Hearing their conversation, Natasha, standing to the side, seemed to think of something and spoke hesitantly.
"In that case, maybe that guy Sitwell would know."
"Keep in mind that on the ship where the USB drive was obtained, he held the most authority. Now that we know what's on the drive, it suggests that guy is involved to some extent."
Steve nodded at this; he had been on the ship as well, and Sitwell's presence there was indeed suspicious.
Furthermore, it was Sitwell who had led him and Clark to the office before; no matter how you looked at it, he was inextricably linked to Pierce.
Thinking of this, Steve said in agreement.
"Natasha is right. Sitwell definitely knows something. Let's go and capture him next."
Tony couldn't help but nod happily at this news; there was finally progress. He would destroy Hydra's arrangements sooner or later.
"In that case, let's not delay. Let's find Sitwell first and get what he knows."
After the discussion, Steve made the final call; he had been impatient for a long time.
Whether for his dear friend Bucky or for Tony's father, Howard, Hydra had to pay the price this time.
"Alright, I'll go put on my Iron Man Suit first..."
Tony couldn't wait either and stood up immediately to prepare his Iron Man Suit.
Natasha also got ready, waiting to set out.
"Do I have to go too?"
Thor pointed to himself and asked Clark somewhat reluctantly.
"Of course. We're currently wanted, so it's better to resolve the problem together as quickly as possible."
Clark said helplessly.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, the communicator at Steve's waist rang.
Steve was stunned for a moment. Who would be contacting him at this time?
He picked up the phone and saw it was a call from Sharon. Though he hesitated, Steve answered it.
"Hello, Rogers, where are you?"
The call connected, and Sharon's anxious voice came through.
"I'm at Tony's house. Is something wrong, Sharon?"
Steve replied, wondering why Sharon sounded so frantic.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has already put out a warrant for you, and they're about to do the same for Stark. They're even saying that both you and Stark have colluded with aliens and betrayed the country."
Sharon blurted out everything she knew in one breath, then paused before explaining further.
"I don't think you could ever do such a thing; you must have been framed. So I called to let you know—you must be careful."
Tony was also wanted for treason; Steve's expression hardened.
The news must have leaked from this side; otherwise, Tonycouldn't have been charged with treason as well.
In that case, this place is no longer safe!
Thinking of this, Steve quickly said to Sharon.
"Thank you, Sharon. We'll be careful. There's an emergency here, I have to hang up."
With that, Steve hung up despite Sharon wanting to say more and walked straight toward Tony.
"Hm? What's wrong? Who was that on the phone? Is something the matter?"
Tony, who was about to get his suit, was confused when he saw Steve walking over with a serious expression.
"Tony, someone just called me and said S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to issue a warrant for you too, on the same charges as me."
Steve said in a low voice.
"You mean..."
Tony understood immediately upon thinking about it; they clearly knew what was happening on his end.
"Exactly. Your location has been compromised. We must evacuate immediately."
Steve nodded, his gaze solemn.
"Really? Then we can't delay; we have to leave right away."
Natasha said with a grave expression upon hearing the news.
Tony's face also darkened at the news.
The news leaked so quickly; it was truly fast. Thinking of this, he said hurriedly,
"Then let me pack up, and we'll leave immediately."
Steve and Natasha nodded.
Just then, an alarm blared.
"Sir, a missile has been detected ten kilometers away, heading toward the villa. The villa's current defense systems cannot stop it. Please evacuate immediately."
Jarvis's voice came through.
"What!!!"
Steve, Tony, and Natasha's faces changed drastically upon hearing this.
Beside them, Clark simply frowned, his expression otherwise unchanged.
Even a missile posed no threat to him, so he showed no emotional reaction.
Thor didn't react much either; after all, he was extremely disdainful of human weaponry and didn't consider it a threat.
Besides, wasn't Clark right there? Handling something like this with the Power of Thor would be a breeze.
"No, we have to go now. I happen to have a few more Iron Man Suits here; we'll each take one and get out of here quickly."
Tony hurriedly went to get the suits.
"Alright, we need to hurry."
Steve nodded anxiously; fortunately, Tony had the suits, otherwise they would have had no other way.
Su Cheng, inside Clark's body, frowned when he heard about the missile.
A missile? This was a great opportunity for Clark to showcase his power!
He couldn't let it pass. Thinking of this, Su Cheng sent a suggestion to Clark.
Clark, who originally had no intentions, saw how urgent everyone was and felt he should help.
So he stood up, picked up the Hammer, and walked toward the door.
"Hm? Clark, where are you going?"
Steve noticed Clark walking out and asked in confusion.
"Yeah, we're leaving in a moment. A missile is coming; it's very dangerous."
Natasha also frowned and warned; the missile was coming soon, and Clark's behavior was clearly affecting everyone.
Only Thor became excited when he saw Clark's actions. He followed him, shouting,
"I knew it! I knew it!"
"Clark, you wouldn't take that thing seriously!"
"That thing is nothing in the face of the Power of Thor!"
The two of them thus walked out of the Underground Laboratory and headed outside.
Chapter 78: Clark's Terrifying Strength!
"Clark is going out to stop the missile!!"
Inside the house, Steve finally reacted.
Good grief! Thor meant that Clark was going to intercept the missile?!
"It seems that's what he meant."
Beside him, Natasha nodded in disbelief.
Wasn't this nonsense? That Clark actually thought he could stop a missile!
Although Clark was very strong and had saved him by defeating so many agents in the elevator at once...
...that was a missile! How could a missile possibly be stopped by him?
Thinking of this, Steve quickly spoke to Natasha.
"No, we have to stop him."
Natasha nodded, and she and Steve rushed outside together, preparing to pull Clark back.
"Hey, where are you guys going?"
Tony had just returned when he saw the two running out, and he froze for a moment.
Where were they going? The missile was almost here; was there really time for anything else?
Thinking this, he quickly chased after them, intending to bring them back.
At the villa entrance.
Clark was ready and about to fly toward the missile.
"Clark, wait!"
Steve came out just in time to stop Clark. Seeing Clark's puzzled expression, he quickly said,
"Clark, it's too dangerous. That's a missile; you can't go."
"Steve is right. You can't stop it."
Natasha added firmly.
The power of a missile was not something a person could withstand, not even a superhuman.
"What? You're going to intercept a missile? Are you joking?"
Tony came out and understood everything after hearing Natasha's words, looking at Clark with a face full of disbelief.
Clearly, he didn't think Clark could do it either; that was something even his Iron Man Suit would struggle with.
"Don't worry, the Power of Thor from Asgard is invincible. This little thing is easy for him. Just trust him."
Thor said to the group with a confident face.
He wasn't worried in the slightest, as if the missile were as weak as an ant to Clark.
Hearing this, Natasha and Tony both looked at Thor as if he were a fool.
Invincible? No matter how 'invincible' a person is, they're dead if they hit a missile.
"Clark, don't—"
Just then, Steve's anxious voice rang out.
The group looked over and saw that Clark had already raised the hammer and flown into the sky, heading straight for the missile above.
"He's flying so fast, even I can't catch up now..."
Tony said somewhat helplessly as he watched Clark fly away.
Natasha felt a bit dizzy. She hadn't expected they would lose a teammate before the mission even started.
Meanwhile, the missile in the sky was flying rapidly, the distance between it and Clark closing fast.
Seeing this, Natasha turned her head away, unable to watch, while Steve's face was filled with sorrow.
He had been saved by Clark and considered him a friend.
Tony was scratching his head, frantically thinking of a solution; he didn't plan to give up until the very last second.
Only Thor had a wide smile on his face, looking forward to Clark's performance.
This made Natasha quite angry when she turned and saw him.
Your friend is about to die, and you're standing here smiling? Honestly...
At that moment, Clark approached the missile in the sky. The missile was now only four or five kilometers away from Tony and the others.
He simply raised Mjolnir in his hand and swung it fiercely toward the missile.
In an instant, dark clouds filled the sky. After a surge of movement, countless brilliant bolts of lightning blasted toward the missile.
The next second.
BOOM!!!
The missile and the lightning collided. A massive explosion erupted at the point of contact, and a mushroom cloud rose straight up!
A blinding light radiated from there, followed by waves of heat from the explosion spreading in all directions.
"He actually stopped it."
Seeing Clark really use the power of lightning to take down the missile, Steve and the other two were stunned.
They stared blankly at the figure in the sky, unable to say a word.
"I knew it. See? This is the Power of Thor from Asgard."
Thor laughed wildly and said to Steve's group.
This was the power he once possessed—such a mighty power. These humans didn't believe it just now, but they surely did now.
Meanwhile, the heatwave swept over to where Steve and the others were, the powerful impact leaving them breathless.
They could only do their best to shield their faces and crouch down to stay steady. The temperature brought by the wave made everyone's skin sting.
Even the aftershock was this powerful; with their heads down, everyone didn't dare imagine what kind of destructive damage would have been caused if such a missile had actually landed.
A few seconds later, the impact of the heatwave vanished, leaving only lingering warmth to remind everyone of the power just now.
Those Hydra bastards really dared to strike, using a missile of such magnitude.
If Clark hadn't stopped it, even if everyone had been wearing Iron Man Suits, they likely wouldn't have escaped the blast radius. If they didn't die, they would certainly have been heavily injured.
Tony felt a surge of relief, grateful that Clark had stepped in to save them.
Steve was also extremely relieved. It was lucky Director Fury had recruited Clark.
He thought back to how he initially thought Clark wasn't that strong and even doubted the existence of divine power.
He hadn't expected that not only would Clark save him in the elevator, but this missile would save him yet again.
Natasha, meanwhile, thought of her friend Clint.
When she went on a mission before, Clint had said this Clark defeated Destroyer. At the time, Clint's description of Clark made her think he wasn't particularly formidable.
Looking at it now, he was way more powerful than Clinthad said!
He could even stop a missile, yet that boy Clint dared to keep me in the dark! Honestly!
Natasha thought fiercely to herself.
"See that? This is the greatness of the Power of Thor. You mortals dared to disbelieve before."
Thor looked at the group with an air of arrogance, acting as if he were the one who stopped the missile.
But this time, Natasha and Tony didn't dare mock Thor anymore.
After all, everything he said was true. They really hadn't expected that Clark, who usually kept a low profile, would be this powerful.
"Eh, where is Clark going?"
Tony suddenly said in surprise.
The group looked and saw that Clark, having destroyed the missile, wasn't coming back but was instead flying toward another direction.
High in the sky, Clark hovered steadily.
When the aftershock of the missile swept over, Clark had immediately activated his bio-field, isolating all the heatwaves outside, so it didn't affect him at all.
"Missile resolved. I should head back."
Seeing the missile was completely destroyed, Clark didn't plan to delay and was ready to fly back immediately.
Just then, he caught something in his peripheral vision in the distance, and his body came to a halt.
"That is..."