"Rhodes, I have an idea. Do you want to be a hero?"
Iron Man shouted to Rhodes while fending off Ivan Vanko, "I need an assistant! Raise your hand!"
With that, Iron Man raised his right hand, fingers splayed open into a palm, and aimed his repulsor ray at Rhodes.
"Is that your idea? Alright, let's do it!"
Rhodes didn't hesitate either, raising his left hand and also aiming his repulsor ray at Iron Man.
"What are you two doing?"
Captain America looked utterly bewildered. Shouldn't they be taking down Ivan Vanko right now? Why were Iron Man and Rhodes planning to attack each other?
"Are you planning to knock each other away to break free from Ivan Vanko's electric whips?" Captain America guessed.
That seemed a bit too unreliable, didn't it?
Although Nick Fury didn't voice his thoughts, he also found Iron Man and Rhodes' actions somewhat incomprehensible.
"What a brilliant idea! I really am a genius!"
Only Iron Man immediately understood the purpose of his future self's actions.
With a hint of smugness on his face, he glanced at Captain America and Nick Fury beside him, bragging, "Open your eyes and watch closely!"
After Iron Man's words, Nick Fury and Captain America were indeed a bit curious. They both turned their gazes to the big screen.
They saw Iron Man and Rhodes actually start firing their repulsor rays at each other.
However, the expected scene of them being knocked away by each other didn't occur. Instead, the energy from their repulsor rays converged in mid-air.
It formed a terrifying energy vortex.
And Ivan Vanko was precisely at the center of that energy vortex.
Boom!
Immediately after, the energy vortex exploded, creating an incredibly powerful blast. Iron Man and Rhodes were both thrown back instantly.
As for Ivan Vanko, who was at the core of the explosion, it goes without saying that he was blasted to within an inch of his life.
The footage ended there.
Although the subsequent footage wasn't shown, Iron Man and Captain America knew that Ivan Vanko wouldn't survive.
After suffering such a terrifying explosion, even wearing Iron Man armor, survival would be impossible.
"This is what I was talking about earlier—the consequences of unauthorized research into unconventional weapons!" Captain America once again spoke with righteous indignation and seriousness to Iron Man and Nick Fury.
This time they were lucky; Iron Man stopped Ivan Vanko in advance. But what about next time?
And the time after that?
Who can guarantee that Iron Man will be able to stop him in time every single time?
"As an old man, your mind is still stuck in the past. You should open your eyes and look at the world now."
Iron Man, however, retorted dismissively.
"Let's get back to the question," Nick Fury quickly steered the conversation back. "It's clear that in the future, Ivan Vanko used Hammer Industries to orchestrate that attack."
"Justin Hammer, what a foolish guy!" Iron Man scoffed mercilessly.
The video clearly showed that Ivan Vanko must have pretended to help Justin Hammer research Iron Man armor, which is why Justin Hammer confidently held the exhibition.
But what that guy wouldn't have realized was that Ivan Vanko's true goal was to use those Iron Man armors to kill Iron Man.
It could be said that he was played for a fool by Ivan Vanko.
"Stark, what do you plan to do?" Nick Fury asked casually, glancing at Iron Man with his single eye.
"There's nothing worth discussing about this," Iron Man said, looking unconcerned.
"Since I already know about this in advance, then... everything becomes much simpler."
If Ivan Vanko were hiding in the shadows, secretly causing trouble, then he would indeed be a threat to Iron Man.
But once he's exposed, Ivan Vanko truly isn't much of a concern.
After all, while Ivan Vanko had the technology, he lacked money and still needed to rely on Hammer Industries to build those Iron Man armors.
Stopping all of this in advance was simply too easy for Iron Man.
Even if Iron Man chose to ignore all of Ivan Vanko's schemes and allowed him to build that "super-sized Iron Man armor," it wouldn't be a problem.
Iron Man could also develop corresponding weapons in advance to deal with it.
In short, it truly wasn't something to worry about.
[Please answer: Which of the following individuals revealed the true identity of the Winter Soldier?]
[A. Nick Fury]
[B. Captain America Steve Rogers]
[C. Iron Man Tony Stark]
[D. Phil Coulson]
[Friendly reminder: Correct answers will receive the reward skill 'All-Seeing Eye';]
[Incorrect answers will have one of their attributes randomly deducted, including but not limited to knowledge, experience, skills, possessions, etc...]
The appearance of a new question temporarily interrupted Iron Man and the others, drawing their attention.
The Winter Soldier?
This made both Nick Fury and Iron Man feel a surge of excitement. They had only recently clashed with the Winter Soldier and experienced his formidable abilities.
Afterward, they had conducted detailed investigations but had made no progress.
And now, was that guy's identity about to surface?
"The Winter Soldier, who is he?"
Captain America saw the expressions of Iron Man and Nick Fury and knew that they definitely knew about the Winter Soldier, so he couldn't help but glance at them and ask.
"He's an agent from a mysterious organization, very dangerous," Nick Fury said to Captain America, his expression extremely serious.
Captain America couldn't help but be secretly surprised. He already knew that Nick Fury was a powerful figure with significant authority, wielding formidable influence.
For such a person to call someone dangerous meant that the Winter Soldier was truly extraordinary.
"Captain, we suspect that the Winter Soldier might be a super soldier, just like you," Nick Fury added, causing Captain America's expression to change.
"Another super soldier? How is that possible!"
Captain America immediately shook his head, denying it. "The serum injected into me was the last dose! The doctor was also shot and killed on the spot!"
"And didn't Stark also say that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been trying to replicate the serum? Have you succeeded?"
"Captain, I didn't say the Winter Soldier was injected with the same serum as you," Nick Fury scratched his bald head. "Perhaps it was another type of ability-enhancing agent?"
Captain America didn't say much more. It seemed very likely to be the case now.
However, that Winter Soldier also being a super soldier like him indeed made him an extremely dangerous individual.