"Ding. D-Class Third Seat Tony Stark is requesting a connection."
Aiden Cross had just begun feeding Stella Nightfall when the Chairman's Ring on his finger chimed.
Every Hero League bracelet supported long-distance communication. On Earth, this feature felt redundant—phones existed everywhere.
But once distance crossed planets, dimensions, or even left Earth's range, ordinary devices became useless.
That was when bracelet communication proved its worth.
With a silent command of Accept, Tony Stark—still clad in his Iron Man armor—appeared on the holographic screen.
"You flew back already?" Aiden asked.
"Yeah. Took longer, but it beats the nausea from spatial transfer," Tony replied. "Someone wants to talk to you."
"Who?"
"The government sent a representative. A senator."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like you. What did they offer?"
"My father's personal effects."
"…Fine. I'll give you face. I'll come."
Aiden stood up, gently patting Stella Nightfall's head and telling her to wait for him.
Moments later, he entered the Spatial Transfer Chamber and projected directly into Tony Stark's home.
Pale blue light gathered, stabilizing on a sofa.
Aiden's gaze swept across the two figures before him.
Two bald men.
One was an old acquaintance—Nick Fury.
The other was clearly the government's envoy.
"You have three minutes," Aiden said flatly. "Speak."
"Wait—how did you appear here?!" the senator blurted out.
"Spatial transfer," Aiden replied casually.
For Earth's current technological level, the ability to ignore distance and relocate instantly was beyond imagination.
The fact that Aiden could appear inside Tony Stark's residence—precisely on a sofa—meant something else as well.
He could just as easily bypass any security, materialize in a government official's bedroom, kill them, and leave unharmed.
He simply chose not to.
Usually, if he killed, he preferred to walk straight through the front door.
"Mr. Cross," the senator said, eyes gleaming with thinly veiled greed, "as someone residing within the United States, you are obligated to contribute this technology to the nation."
"First," Aiden said calmly, raising one finger, "I'm not an American citizen. Second, that land is mine. Third—why should I give you anything because you say so?"
"Get used to it," Tony muttered while checking his father's belongings. "They tried to take my armor too."
The senator smiled politely, unfazed.
But Tony Stark's name was already being written into a mental ledger.
"Enough," Aiden said. "Your time is running."
"Very well. The government hopes you'll sign the Hero Act."
"The what?"
The senator slid a document across the table.
Aiden skimmed two pages and immediately concluded the author was delusional.
The Act demanded that all Hero League members disclose their real identities, abilities, and personal information to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Congress—and submit to mandatory deployment upon request.
In return, there were… bounties.
"How about it?" the senator asked, smiling. "Just sign."
Aiden laughed softly.
He let the document fall to the floor.
"So the government still hasn't learned," he said coldly.
The Hero League was already among Earth's apex forces. Tornado of Terror alone could erase the entire country.
Missiles and nuclear weapons were toys before psychic power.
"Don't rush your decision," the senator warned. "Your organization has gained public support across New York. But government patience has limits."
"Get out," Aiden said.
"Well then," the senator replied calmly, "you have one month to reconsider."
It was like a minor state demanding surrender from an empire.
Absurd.
"One last matter," the senator added. "New Mexico."
"Go on."
"The collateral damage from your battle destroyed everything within a hundred miles. Losses exceed tens of billions."
"And?"
"The government is generous. We won't demand compensation—only that you hand over the captured spirit."
"Time's up."
Aiden stood.
Between Stella Nightfall and the United States, he would destroy the latter without hesitation.
They wanted her for research—spatial power, catastrophic force.
"Wait! You can't leave! The spirit must be surrendered now!"
"I'm only speaking calmly because of Tony," Aiden said. "Otherwise, you'd already be dead."
"This is the government's bottom line!"
Boom.
The senator's body exploded like a smashed fruit.
Blood and broken flesh splattered across the floor.
"Hey," Tony said flatly, "this is my house. Couldn't you be cleaner?"
Nick Fury rubbed his temples, already developing a headache.
"You just killed a government official."
"He was a Hydra infiltrator," Aiden replied without turning back.
"Tell the rest—if they keep pointing fingers, I'll clean out every seat in Congress."
"…."
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