Su Yi reappeared in his bedroom, the adrenaline from the high-stakes negotiation with Tony Stark fading. He was now a significant shareholder in Stark Industries, a task completed far sooner than anticipated. The only failure was his inability to poach Pepper Potts—a minor setback, as he believed persistence would eventually prevail.
Being a Stark shareholder means guaranteed wealth and power, but that's a long game, Su Yi thought, shedding his clothes for a much-needed shower. My real work now is accelerating the timeline and securing more Fate Points.
He heard the tell-tale chime of the System.
[Ding! Host has revealed pivotal future information, fundamentally altering the destiny of Tony Stark! Major Destiny Shift Detected!]
[Fate of Tony Stark changed (Accelerated Ideology, Confrontation with Obadiah, New Element Discovery, HYDRA Revelation): +2,000 Fate Points!]
[Congratulations! You gain an additional Lottery Spin!]
2,000 FP for a conversation! Su Yi grinned. That's the efficiency I need.
"System, use the Lottery Spin immediately!"
[Confirmation: Utilize one Lottery Spin?]
[Congratulations, Host! You have acquired a Special Ability: Danger Warning!]
Su Yi felt a sudden, tingling sensation spread across his brain and nerves, a subtle, constant hum that felt like a radar being activated.
Danger Warning? he mused. They call it that, but it's essentially the classic Spider-Sense. An instinctive, precognitive threat detection system. A perfect tactical enhancement.
The acquisition of Danger Warning felt substantial. Now, with both his physical and mental stats at Level 4 (with Intelligence at Level 5), and his tactical suite complete with Teleportation, Wind Blade, and Danger Warning, he was truly ready for the chaos that was about to descend upon the world.
After a quick, refreshing shower, Su Yi fell into a deep, comfortable sleep. He knew his days of quiet high school life were limited. Once Tony officially unveiled his Iron Man persona, and the clandestine struggle between HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. began to escalate, the comic book universe would officially ignite.
The next morning, Su Yi went to Midtown High School, maintaining his facade of the charming, slightly aloof student while inwardly calculating his next move regarding Gwen Stacy and the still-wavering Mary Jane.
Meanwhile, the consequences of Su Yi's intervention were playing out in full.
Tony Stark, fueled by rage and the new Arc Reactor, was a blur of activity. He hauled the massive city model from storage and began its intricate dismantling, searching for the new element's formula. He was barely interrupted when Pepper Potts called him to the living room to greet his guest.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. I'm Agent Phil Coulson, with the Strategic Homeland Defense, Attack, and Logistics Bureau," Coulson recited professionally as he stepped into the magnificent villa.
Stark, already irritated by the mandatory interruption, waved a hand dismissively while gulping down a glass of juice. "Too long. Let's just call you S.H.I.E.L.D. It's punchier."
Coulson, internally noting the unauthorized name change, remained composed. "While I lack the authority to change the agency's name, I brought the items you requested." He presented a sealed box. "These are the research materials Howard Stark left with S.H.I.E.L.D."
Tony snatched the box, but immediately switched topics, zeroing in on the information Su Yi had provided.
"My parents' deaths," Stark demanded, his voice hardening. "The official conclusion was a car accident. Was it really an accident, Agent Coulson? Or was there an investigation into something darker?"
Coulson was caught completely off guard. He was a high-level agent, but the details of the Howard Stark case were classified, compartmentalized information—not something a civilian like Tony should know.
"Mr. Stark, I have not personally accessed those files, so I cannot give you a definitive answer."
"But you investigated it, didn't you?" Tony pressed, his eyes intense. "Howard Stark was working on secret projects. People wanted him gone. Tell me the truth about the investigation."
Coulson felt the subtle pressure of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s oath, but also the need to maintain an alliance with the world's greatest inventor.
"If you can cooperate with us and provide a full, accurate report on how you and Mr. Yinsen managed to escape the heavily fortified Ten Rings compound—we can certainly reach an agreement regarding access to the classified files."
Stark hesitated, carefully omitting any mention of the teleporting teenager in the Symbiote suit. "I'll cooperate, provided you deliver the unedited truth about my parents' deaths." Tony rose, already turning back toward the lab. "Pepper will handle the paperwork, Agent."
Coulson watched Stark disappear, feeling utterly dominated. Pepper, clearly embarrassed by her boss's abruptness, offered a quick apology. "I'm sorry, Agent Coulson. He's always been this self-centered, but the kidnapping amplified it."
"No need to apologize, Ms. Potts," Coulson replied, though he was internally seething. He quickly left, contacting his director while still on the road.
In the secret, subterranean headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D., Director Nick Fury took the call. His one visible eye narrowed as he listened to Coulson's report on Stark's bizarre knowledge.
"He knows Howard was one of us? He suspects his parents were murdered? How does he know these things, Agent?" Fury demanded.
"Sir, he's keeping his methods of escape completely classified, offering only a vague story about building a crude suit," Coulson reported. "It appears someone gave him this information. He is protecting his source."
Fury disconnected the call and immediately accessed the sealed files on the Howard Stark assassination. His one eye scanned the decades-old report.
Conclusion: Howard and Maria Stark eliminated by a highly trained, unknown operative known only as the 'Winter Soldier.' Identity and affiliation of the killer unknown.
Fury leaned back, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
Tony Stark was rescued from a highly secure terrorist base. Now, he's armed with secrets that only the highest levels of S.H.I.E.L.D. should know. Someone is moving pieces on the board, and they are moving them around S.H.I.E.L.D.
Fury immediately sensed an external intelligence—a destabilizing element that threatened to expose his deepest secrets.
"Coulson is a good agent," Fury muttered, "but he is not equipped to deal with a mastermind who can penetrate these secrets."
A familiar, shadowy thought solidified into a plan. Fury picked up a secure comms device.
"I need eyes and ears on Stark. I need to know who is feeding him this information, and why. The source must be identified and neutralized."
He sent a coded message to his top deep-cover agent.
"Agent Romanoff. Mission parameters updated. Infiltrate Stark Industries. Find the leak. Confirm all sources of intelligence concerning HYDRA and the Howard Stark files. Return to base ASAP to receive new identity."
The Black Widow was coming home, and the game of spies and secrets was about to be accelerated even further.
Su Yi has acquired a crucial new ability, and his actions have successfully brought Agent Coulson and the Black Widow into the unfolding drama.