In the evening, after a day of negotiations, Kai, Pepper, and the others returned to Chicago's most luxurious hotel.
"Before I came, Tony told me that having you accompany me on this business trip for the project collaboration would lead to unexpected results," Pepper said as she handed Kai a glass of red wine.
"At first I thought this collaboration might involve some danger, but I didn't expect Tony meant the Waters Group chairman's daughter—your fervent admirer."
"But with this connection, the collaboration will definitely go smoothly," she added.
"Just like during today's presentation—many details benefited Stark Industries. And although it's a multimillion-dollar deal, it's a great chance for us to open the Chicago energy market."
Pepper smiled at Kai. "I've investigated the Waters Group. I know Miss Catherine. She's a very good girl—background, appearance, everything.
She can be a bit pampered, but that doesn't hide her merits. Since you don't have a girlfriend, why not give it a try? Call it dating."
Kai took a sip of wine. "Let's not. She's not my type. Pepper, Tony's salary doesn't include selling my looks for Stark Industries."
Pepper burst out laughing. "I just think Catherine is quite good. I didn't mean for you to sell your looks."
She handed her assistant a briefcase. "I'll revise the contract again tonight and try to finalize this project within three days. By the way—are you sure you won't reconsider?"
"No wonder you and Tony ended up together, Pepper. Not long ago he wanted to introduce me to a girlfriend. He insisted on taking me out to sea on his yacht, then finding twelve cover girls or something.
When I said I wouldn't go, he threatened to deduct my salary. The problem is, I really don't like cover girls or anything like that."
Pepper still smiled, but a hint of coldness flickered in her eyes. Kai stood and continued to stoke the fire.
"There's nothing I can do—Tony is my boss. You know my personality; I'm not into that. Fortunately I went to Asgard once and Tony dropped the idea.
But he might bring it up again someday, so Pepper, please persuade him not to force me to go out to sea with cover girls.
It's already eight. Pepper, get some rest. We still have the project tomorrow. I'm going back to my room first."
Kai nodded and left.
He couldn't tell Pepper that Catherine was with HYDRA. Let Tony take that sin. After all, Tony did say he wanted to take him out on a yacht to find cover girls—ask Steve and Natasha if you don't believe him.
Kai may have exaggerated slightly, but he'd heard that couples who argue often grow closer. In his own way, he was looking out for Tony's lifelong happiness.
A good deed, really. He was a kind person! Wishing Mr. Tony Stark a pleasant dream.
Less than half an hour after returning to his room, Tony's calls came in like a death knell. Kai rejected them without hesitation.
After hanging up over a dozen times, he saw a long string of messages from Tony starting with "F**K." Kai contentedly threw his phone on the bedside table. Another beautiful day.
The project contract discussions over three consecutive days went smoothly. Although Catherine kept inviting Kai to experience Chicago's charms, Kai always found excuses to refuse.
The Waters Group employees almost howled. On the day the contract was signed it ran late, so Pepper decided to return to New York the next day.
That night, to celebrate Stark Industries securing the multimillion-dollar energy project and opening the Chicago market, Pepper invited the whole project team to dinner. Conversation buzzed about next steps.
Then the television news shocked everyone.
That afternoon, a series of explosions hit New York. In Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and other densely populated places—shops, subways—simultaneous suicide attacks occurred.
Five explosions caused over three hundred deaths; thousands were injured.
Someone even tried to break into Stark Industries.
If Happy hadn't quickly subdued him with security and found a large amount of explosives under his jacket, Stark Industries might have suffered a tragedy.
TV stations urgently broadcast the New York explosions. As of now, no group had claimed responsibility.
Pepper couldn't sit still. She called Tony immediately.
Ten minutes later she ordered, "Everyone, Stark's private jet is ready. You have twenty minutes to pack. We're returning to New York now!"
The project team scrambled.
"Kai, Tony was also attacked," Pepper said calmly.
"Someone planted a bomb under Tony's car after he returned from the police station. If JARVIS hadn't warned him, I—" Her voice tightened.
"The perpetrator who planted the bomb was a civilian staff member in the state police. Natasha was attacked too—she killed that person.
The guy Happy caught and the state police civilian only said one sentence during interrogation," she continued, looking at Kai.
"They said the five suicide bombings this afternoon were only the beginning. Next, many more lives will be sacrificed in New York. If the Avengers don't stop them, they'll kill ten million people as a sacrifice."
Kai frowned. "So this whole thing is aimed at the Avengers?"
"Not sure," Pepper said. "Tony contacted Steve and Dr. Banner; Natasha contacted Clint. We have to go back now."
Meanwhile, across town…
"Are the Avengers still inactive?" Wilson Jones—once frail, now midlife and energized—watched the news with interest.
"Bruce Banner and Steve Rogers are heading to New York. No trace of Clint Barton or Thor. Flash already left Chicago with the Stark team. None of the Avengers have appeared publicly."
He signaled a subordinate. "Add fuel. Force them into the spotlight."
"Yes, sir."
After the subordinate left, Wilson Jones's canines elongated like a vampire's. He drank dark red blood from a goblet in one gulp and sneered, "Avengers, huh…"
The next morning at nine, in a luxury Manhattan shopping mall: Boom! Glass shattered, people screamed, many were killed or wounded.
Ten minutes later ambulances and fire trucks arrived. Reporters flooded the scene.
During live coverage, a man in a black jacket snatched a reporter's microphone.
"Hello, New York citizens. Satisfied with yesterday's and today's explosions?" he taunted the camera.
"Yes—we did this. And this is just the beginning. Seek help from the Super Heroes of the Avengers."
State police rushed in. The jacketed man ripped open his jacket, showing explosives strapped to his body.
"They're connected to my heartbeat. If you shoot, we all die together, haha!"
Officers froze. The crowd scattered.
"I know the Avengers are watching TV," He said.
"We're going to play a game. Thirty-seven bombs in thirty-seven locations. You have ten hours. If time runs out, they all explode. Act fast, or people die because of you, haha…"
The man grinned, drew a dagger, and slit his own throat. Blood spurted to the camera.
The reporter who'd tried to retrieve the mic crouched, terrified. The bomber's device detonated as he fell.
In Stark Industries' Avengers conference room, Tony turned off the live feed. He pinched his brow. "You saw it. We're facing deranged lunatics. They've declared war."
Steve sat solemnly. "That man said thirty-seven bombs. Whether true or not, we must find them. Otherwise casualties will climb. We have no clues."
Clint sighed. "I miss S.H.I.E.L.D. We'd have more help."
"Kai—" Steve paused, then looked to Kai. "What do you think?"
"Nothing," Kai said, spreading his hands. "All we know is thirty-seven places are rigged. Tony, did the two you caught say anything beyond sacrificing ten million people?"
"They're dead," Natasha answered. "This morning we learned the two under strict custody bit through the veins in their wrists.
They were sent for emergency treatment, but a doctor in the ER was their accomplice. After killing those two, he shot himself."
The conference room grew somber.
"What if they're trying to gather the Avengers for a reason?" Bruce Banner finally said.
"Since the Battle of New York, everyone knows the Avengers' power when we gather. Even madmen have limits—unless they have a conspiracy prepared."
"What we need now is to find where those bombs are hidden," Steve said, holding his shield.
"Everyone saw the live broadcast. Outside, people panic. We must protect citizens and calm them—New York could descend into chaos."
Tony's phone rang. "The Secretary of State," he told the room, and stepped away.
Steve continued. "Figure out a plan. We only have ten hours."
Outside, the sky became overcast. With a crack of distant magic, the Bifrost shimmered, and Thor arrived—smashing through glass and flying in with Mjolnir.
"Long time no see!" Thor boomed, arms spread. "Have you missed your Thor from Asgard? If you take the Avengers' exclusive elevator, you can be here in a minute!"
Natasha rolled her eyes. Steve hugged Thor. "Welcome back. Is Asgard handled?"
"Of course. The rebellion across the Nine Realms is resolved," Thor said. "Malekith was killed by Kai. I heard you had trouble—Heimdall told me. I came to help."
Thor clapped Kai on the shoulder. "Thanks for last time."
Kai leaned back. "You've thanked me many times. If you bring fine Asgardian wine, then maybe I'll feel the sincerity."
Thor chuckled. "Don't mention it. Loki was pardoned, then disappeared with the treasury wine—Sif and the Three Warriors waited a long time."
Tony reentered. "The Secretary of State said the Avengers must find all thirty-seven bombs within ten hours. The State Police, FBI, CIA, and National Guard will cooperate.
The live broadcast caused severe impact. If we fail, Congress will blame the Avengers."
Panic had already spread.
"Schools closed, companies shut, ports full of people trying to leave," Tony said. "On the internet, many already blame us."
Kai peeled an orange and laughed sarcastically.
"Not surprised Congress wants to shift blame. Typical. People still blame us for the Battle of New York—aliens invading? Our fault, apparently."
Bruce nodded.
Natasha smiled.
Only Steve remained serious. "Kai, people's opinions are beyond our control. We are Avengers—our responsibility is to protect the world."
"Alright, alright, I know," Kai said, shrugging. "I only care when my black-hearted boss will give me a raise."
He turned to Tony. "Tony, can you and Dr. Banner build a sensor? Something like radar that alarms when it's near a bomb?"
Tony hit his palm. "I almost forgot. The bomb Happy caught yesterday was an unconventional high-explosive device.
The bomb under my car, the five explosion sites—they're all from the same batch. After that black-jacketed man detonated, analysis matched the others."
"Dr. Banner, I need your help."
"No problem," Banner said, and followed Tony to the top-floor lab.
Steve smiled at Kai. "With detection equipment, it's easier. New York's huge, but it beats running around like headless chickens."
"Have you investigated the bomber profiles?" he asked Natasha.
"No commonalities," she said, snatching half an orange from Kai. "The suicide bombers came from different cities—waiter, white-collar, entrepreneur, bank clerk. No overlap.
The doctor who bit his wrists in prison and the one who killed himself in the ER—what organization makes everyone so indifferent to their lives?"
Half an hour later, Tony handed out small, flashing brooch-like devices. "Pin these on. When that bomb type is within a hundred meters, they'll alarm and transmit location via sonar.
Dr. Banner will stay at base and pin down the exact spots, then inform you. These bombs are easy to defuse—watch."
Tony summoned a holographic projection and demonstrated the defusing steps in detail.
He then distributed more sonar devices and instructed, "Give these to the FBI and state police."
Everyone put on the devices. Steve stood, holding his shield. "New York is huge. Finding thirty-seven bombs is hard, but we must give our all.
We might fail. People might die. We might endure criticism. But I won't give up. I know you won't either. Avengers—assemble!"
They joined fists. "Nine hours and fifteen minutes left. The fate of New York is in our hands. Let's go!"
Kai said, "Split into teams. Let the police and FBI cooperate. I'll take Queens and Staten Island." He grinned. "You know my speed."
In truth, Kai could cover all of New York quickly, but this gave others a sense of participation. And if bombs exploded, he wouldn't feel personally guilty—the evil men did the crimes.
"With great power comes great responsibility?" Kai rolled his eyes.
He leaned toward chaotic good: kind, but following his own moral compass. He'd slack off when possible—had to improve his portrayal of Kizaru, after all.
Everyone understood Kai's speed. After group assignments, they sprang into action.
State, county, and city police mobilized—vacationing officers recalled. New York was on full alert because of the live broadcast.
Staten Island — former Coulson team base.
A Stark construction team dismantled the base interior. Jarvis's garden manor redesign would take years; Kai wasn't worried.
After confirming no bombs in his manor under rebuild, Kai released his Observation Haki, grabbed a detector, turned into light particles, and began searching Staten Island.
After circling, neither his Observation Haki nor the detector found bomb signatures. Kai radioed Banner: "Dr. Banner, Staten Island can be marked safe."
"Received," came the reply. Banner marked Staten Island green on the map. Kai headed to Queens.
Brooklyn — a street intersection.
"Officer West, start from the first block on the left. The detector's range is about two hundred meters. If it alarms, there's a bomb nearby." Steve issued orders. "Once there's an alarm, notify us."
"Don't worry, Captain—I'm from Brooklyn. This is my jurisdiction. I've lived here thirty years. I know all the hidden corners," Officer West said, and led his team.
Steve turned to Clint. "Clint, the right side is yours. Coordinate with state police and the National Guard—find these bombs before they explode."
Clint nodded and moved out with hundreds of officers.
Tony's detectors had a two-hundred-meter range. Even patrolling car routes would trigger an alarm if a bomb appeared nearby.
Half an hour later, Tony cursed. Searching the Bronx, he'd thought he found the madmen's bombs, but the detector had flagged explosives in gang warehouses.
He looked at groaning gang members on the ground and radioed, "Everyone—these temporary detectors have shortcomings. Gang-stashed explosives show up too. Our workload just got harder!"
Gunfire crackled. Natasha reported through her earpiece, "Tony, I've cleared a third gang with the military. I've found nearly thirty-seven kilograms of various bombs, but none installed by the madmen yet!"
"Hawkeye, any luck?" Tony asked.
"Not yet," Clint replied. He coordinated search teams and urged patience. "We have over eight hours. We'll find them."
Thor flew above the city, Mjolnir in hand, watching evacuees below. "If they're madmen, they'll do strange things. I've been tricked—Loki, remember. Keep looking."
Queens.
Listening to the earpiece chatter, Kai found a square bomb hidden in a stairwell. The countdown flashed.
He radioed, "We were tricked. The bombs are real, but they gave us seven hours, not ten. This one shows about five hours left. Speed up!"
Curses echoed over the network. "I suspect there are more than thirty-seven. JARVIS—activate a panoramic scan."
Tony ordered JARVIS to scan.
Kai used the Reality Stone's power to destroy the bomb cleanly, ripping its internal control apart so it couldn't detonate. He handed the inert device to a state police officer and motioned for disposal.
A small voice behind him asked, "You'll find the bombs and protect everyone, right?"
Kai turned to see a boy of eleven or twelve looking at him with absolute trust—future Spider-Man.
"What's your name?" Kai asked.
"Peter—Peter Parker. Eleven years old," the boy said firmly.
"I watched the report on TV—Aunt Mei covered my eyes at the crucial moment. I believe you'll find the bombs and protect us. You protected Earth during the Battle of New York."
Kai ruffled the kid's hair. "Since you know there's danger, why aren't you home? Saving the world is troublesome."
"I'm not afraid!" Peter said. "With you superheroes here, I'm not afraid. Aunt Mei went to buy eggs. People are worried—some booked tickets to leave New York.
But Aunt Mei says even if the world ends, we still have to eat. Also—can you please get Iron Man's autograph? I really like him!"
Kai smiled. "Tony? Black-hearted capitalist. I often want to hang him on a lamppost. I even found the lamppost."
Peter's face twitched. After a moment, he stammered, "I think Iron Man—"
"Alright, go home quick." Kai patted his head. "Be good."
"Are you going to save more people now?" Peter asked.
"You will definitely save this city!" the boy declared, clenching his fists.
Kai waved, then turned into light and vanished. Peter stood open-mouthed. Aunt Mei returned with eggs and scolded him gently. "Peter, why did you come down? I told you to stay inside and lock the door."
"I saw Flash!" Peter said excitedly. "He found a bomb in our building and talked to me, then whoosh—gone."
"Since Flash disarmed the bomb, our building is safe. Don't go out," Mei said, relieved.
Peter skipped back inside but kept glancing where Kai had disappeared. If only he had powers too—he'd save the world.
Back at base, Dr. Banner watched monitors. "Captain—sonar feedback in a trash can one hundred fifty meters to your right. Possible bomb."
"Also, Natasha—there's one in that three-story building's fire escape between the second and third floors," Banner added.
"Received!" Natasha raced toward the building.
Clint Barton was working on controllers and fuses when he suddenly spun, arrow nocked—aimed directly behind him.
...
Author's Note
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