672-679
·Chapter 672: The Transaction
On a nameless island in the Atlantic Ocean-
At this moment, T'Challa's aircraft had landed in a relatively flat area in the middle of the island. As the aircraft's door opened, T'Challa led twenty guards off the plane.
Behind them, several members of the team were carrying boxes filled with vibranium.
"Place the vibranium on the ground and stack it up."
Following T'Challa's command, the team members holding the vibranium boxes placed them together in front of them, forming a small mound.
The vibranium, totaling 1.5 tons and packed in boxes, looked substantial when stacked together.
T'Challa glanced at Okoye beside him and asked, "It's rare to see you willing to wear this battle suit. I thought you wouldn't accept anything other than the original one."
Okoye moved her arms and drew a spear from her back, saying, "This is at the king's request."
Hearing Okoye's response, T'Challa smiled. It seemed the captain of the Royal Guard still wasn't too fond of this suit, but he didn't comment further, instead beginning to wait for the ninjas from the Sunagakure Puppet Shop to arrive.
...
Over the sea-
The entire Sunagakure Puppet Shop team was in action, with five ninjas running across the water, heading to the agreed transaction location.
While running, Pakura said, "Isn't it a bit much to have everyone here just for a transaction?"
Temari, carrying her three-star fan, replied while running, "Teacher, this mission is worth 30 billion. It's an ultra-S-rank mission. Even if we send more ninjas, it would be worth it."
Chiyo, running with her arms behind her back, added, "Such valuable resources could even justify a war in the ninja villages."
"Remember, even in the Second Ninja War, we didn't get nearly as much wealth."
Kankuro thought about the Konoha Crush Plan he had just experienced, where they allied with Orochimaru to attack Konoha for profit, only to fail and be betrayed by Orochimaru, resulting in the loss of his father.
As for Gaara, he remained silent, maintaining his speed behind Pakura.
Seeing the team's focus on the transaction, Pakura didn't argue further.
Though she considered their opponent weak and saw no potential problems.
Soon, they saw an island in the distance, and Pakura said, "That's the transaction location ahead. Prepare to accelerate!"
"Yes!" the others responded.
...
Meanwhile-
On the island, T'Challa had already been notified by the hovering aircraft that the Sunagakure ninjas were about to arrive.
"Whoosh~"
Five figures suddenly appeared before T'Challa and his group, causing the two teams to immediately adopt defensive stances.
Seeing their arrival, T'Challa said happily, "You finally arrived. The vibranium is ready, right here in these boxes, exactly 1.5 tons."
Pakura looked at Kankuro and said, "Check it."
"Yes, Pakura-sensei."
Three members began opening the boxes to check the vibranium's weight.
Pakura then looked at T'Challa and said, "Your team looks stronger than before."
"They're users of the physical enhancement serums, aren't they?"
Pakura immediately noticed the difference between these two teams and ordinary Earthlings.
T'Challa nodded, "Yes, thanks to your Sunagakure Puppet Shop, we were able to create such a team."
Pakura smiled, "Just mutual benefits."
T'Challa turned to Chiyo, curious about the new elder, and asked, "May I ask your name?"
Before Pakura could introduce her, Chiyo stepped forward and extended her hand, "Hello, I'm Sunagakure Advisor, Chiyo."
"Of course, you can call me Granny Chiyo."
Seeing her extended hand, T'Challa shook it out of courtesy, "Hello, Granny Chiyo. You can call me Black Panther."
Noticing Chiyo's title, T'Challa realized she was a high-ranking official from Sunagakure, likely sent to oversee the Puppet Shop.
Chiyo, meanwhile, noted the hardness of T'Challa's suit during the handshake, likely made of vibranium. She wondered if she could control it with chakra threads but decided not act on the thought currently.
"Black Panther, huh? Quite fitting with your outfit."
T'Challa nodded and began chatting with Chiyo and Pakura, subtly probing each other for information. Just then, Kankuro said:
"Pakura-sensei, the amount is correct. 1.5 tons of vibranium."
Pakura nodded and took out a sealing scroll from her ninja tool pouch.
"Since the payment is correct, here's the physical enhancement serums."
Pakura spread out the scroll and made hand seals.
"Summoning Technique: Release!"
With a puff of smoke, a large box resembling a refrigerator appeared where the scroll had been.
Pakura opened the box and pulled out rows of physical enhancement serums for everyone to see.
"All 100 vials are here."
T'Challa took a look and immediately confirmed the count, "100 vials, no problem."
"Every time I see your spatial storage technology, I'm amazed."
"It's a shame we don't have such technology. It would make many things easier."
Pakura laughed, "Our systems are different, so some things don't align."
"But your aircraft is impressive, far ahead of most nations' technology."
Hearing Pakura's praise, T'Challa nodded proudly, "In terms of technology, we do have our strengths."
He then looked at Okoye, "Move the physical enhancement serums onto the aircraft."
"Yes!"
Okoye stepped forward, closed the box, and carried it to the aircraft.
T'Challa kept an eye on the Sunagakure ninjas, ready for any sudden moves, and asked, "What does your village think of rogue ninjas who have had conflicts with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Surprised by the mention of rogue ninjas, Pakura and Chiyo exchanged glances.
Pakura asked, "Are you looking to ally with rogue ninjas to fight S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"Although the enemy of my enemy is my friend, partnering with rogue ninjas is risky."
Pakura assumed T'Challa wanted to ally with rogue ninjas against S.H.I.E.L.D., unaware that he sought vengeance against the Akatsuki rogue ninjas instead.
"Not really, just gathering some information."
"Since you mentioned that cooperating with rogue ninjas is risky, I need to consider that as well."
"By the way, don't the ninja villages pursue these rogue ninjas?"
Pakura thought for a moment before replying, "Every ninja village has units specifically targeting rogue ninjas. They hunt down or capture traitors who betray their village."
"But the world is vast, and finding a single person isn't easy, especially when it comes to S-rank rogue ninjas. Their strength makes them particularly difficult to apprehend."
Pakura described how the ninja villages in the ninja world dealt with rogue ninjas but didn't reveal the true situation regarding these so-called rogue ninjas.
T'Challa nodded, finding this consistent with what he knew. He only briefly mentioned rogue ninjas and didn't immediately reveal his plans.
After all, none of the known members of the Akatsuki organization were rogue ninjas from Sunagakure.
"I see, so no village would let their traitors go unpunished."
Pakura nodded, indicating that T'Challa's statement was correct.
However, the ninjas on Earth were all Lord Charles's subordinates, and there were no traitors among them.
Soon, Okoye returned after loading the physical enhancement serums onto the aircraft.
T'Challa then said, "Since the transaction has been successfully completed, we'll be leaving now."
"I'm very satisfied with this deal, and I hope we can have more transactions with your village in the future."
Pakura smiled, "I look forward to our next transaction."
T'Challa and his twenty guards walked towards the aircraft at a steady pace, encountering no attacks.
Inside the aircraft, T'Challa waved goodbye to Pakura as the hatch closed.
With the hatch sealed, T'Challa commanded, "Take off, return to base!"
The aircraft took off without any incidents, and T'Challa breathed a sigh of relief.
"It seems the Sunagakure ninjas are quite honorable and didn't try to threaten us."
Removing her helmet, Okoye remarked, "They are trustworthy, suitable allies."
...
The aircraft lifted off, accelerated, and then activated its cloaking function, disappearing from the Sunagakure ninjas' sight.
Watching the aircraft vanish, Chiyo commented, "An aircraft with stealth capabilities makes them quite dangerous."
Pakura replied calmly, "I also have the ability to fly."
Chiyo shook her head, "An aircraft that can turn invisible is perfect for sneak attacks."
Pakura didn't argue this time and nodded slowly.
Chiyo stretched and smiled, "But that boy was too careless, shaking hands with a ninja like that."
During the handshake, Chiyo had left a colorless and odorless poison marker on T'Challa's suit, allowing her to track their base.
Understanding Chiyo's intention, Pakura said, "Lord Charles instructed us to conduct normal transactions with them."
Chiyo flexed her fingers and said, "Since those are the orders, let them keep the vibranium for now."
Pakura nodded, then instructed, "Store all the vibranium in the sealing scrolls. We're withdrawing."
The Sunagakure team responded, "Yes, Pakura-sensei."
...
Meanwhile-
At the S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion-
Nick Fury, holding a vial of Felix Felicis, entered the lab of the science division.
"Dr. Barry, here's a potion that can boost your inspiration."
"I need you to use it and then work on deciphering the physical enhancement serum."
Looking at the vial in Fury's hand, Dr. Barry hesitated and asked, "I'm familiar with most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s high-tech items, but I've never heard of anything that boosts inspiration."
Fury shook his head, "This isn't a technological item."
Dr. Barry asked, "An 084 object?"
"This is something even more extraordinary, and Dr. Selvig has confirmed its effects with no side effects."
Hearing Fury's explanation, Dr. Barry grew interested, took the vial, and examined it.
"How do you use it? Orally? Injection? Skin absorption?"
"Orally."
Barry looked at his lab assistant and said, "Mira, start recording my condition from now."
A scientist in a white lab coat stepped forward, "Yes, doctor."
Barry opened the crystal vial and poured the single dose of Felix Felicis into his mouth.
As he consumed the potion, Barry immediately felt his mind clear up. Fleeting inspirations that he had previously missed now became vivid in his mind.
Barry quickly moved to his workbench and began his research with unprecedented efficiency. Data that usually required extensive work now came together seamlessly.
Watching this, Fury nodded in approval. The Felix Felicis from the Charles Agency did not disappoint him. He hoped this would lead to a breakthrough in deciphering the physical enhancement serum.
Fury left the science division and returned to his office.
-1-
·Chapter 673: Venom's Identity Exposed
Leaning back in his chair, Nick Fury contemplated how to allocate the five physical enhancement serums.
Based on previous data from injections, the enhancement serums from the Charles Agency were about ten percent more potent than those from the Sunagakure Puppet Shop, resulting in significantly stronger agents.
Out of the five enhancement serums, two were designated for laboratory research, leaving three for direct use. Considering the candidates, Nick Fury thought of Phil Coulson, who was still recovering on Tahiti Island.
Fury had high regard for Coulson, who had contributed significantly to S.H.I.E.L.D. over the years. As a field agent, Coulson could benefit from a strength boost.
Recalling Coulson's efforts during the Battle of New York, Fury decided to include him in the list of enhancement recipients, provided Coulson woke up from his treatment.
If not, Fury would have to abandon this plan.
With the first name confirmed, Fury turned his attention to the second potential recipient. He considered himself but quickly dismissed the idea.
Despite the enhancement serums having no side effects, as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director, he rarely participated in field operations, and his use of an enhancement serum wouldn't significantly boost S.H.I.E.L.D.'s overall strength.
At that moment, the office door was knocked. Fury pressed a button on his desk, and the door opened automatically. Hill entered, carrying a file, and approached Fury.
"We've gathered the information you requested on the target," Hill said, handing the file to Fury.
Fury opened the file and saw two photographs: one of Venom in his transformed state and the other of Eddie Brock.
Hill began her briefing: "The target is Eddie Brock, also known as Venom in his transformed state. Eddie is a well-known journalist, formerly with the Daily Planet. He lost his job and was blacklisted after interviewing the head of the Life Foundation in San Francisco."
"However, leveraging his connection with Charles Doyle, Eddie secured a job at one of Charles's media companies."
"Soon after Eddie joined, the Life Foundation was targeted by Ginny and her team of stock manipulators."
"Coincidentally, the Foundation's rocket launch failed, resulting in an explosion at the launch site. The company was then exposed for numerous unethical practices, including experimenting on homeless people."
"The stock price collapsed, and the Foundation was disbanded, with its assets sold off and restructured."
Fury chuckled, "Charles Doyle seems to have a knack for picking a good secretary. Another significant acquisition for him."
"Has the target joined the Charles Agency? Does Charles Doyle know about his abilities?"
Hill responded, "We aren't sure if Eddie has joined the Charles Agency, nor do we know if Charles is aware of his abilities."
"However, our analysts estimate a 63% probability that Charles is unaware of Eddie's powers. If he knew, he likely would have recruited Eddie into the organization instead of letting him remain a journalist."
"As for his personality, Eddie has a strong sense of justice but doesn't strictly follow the law. At night, he transforms into a superhero to fight crime, although he sometimes eats his opponents' brains."
"Eat brains?" Fury asked, surprised. "How does he do that?"
"He can consume an enemy's head in one bite when transformed," Hill explained.
Fury frowned. "Is this some sort of peculiar habit, or is he not human? Has he undergone some mutation?"
"Has he attacked civilians?" Fury inquired.
"No, his targets are always criminals. Even some of Charles Doyle's underground gang members have fallen to him."
"Two Continental Hotel assassins were also killed by him. This is why we believe there's a 63% chance he's not under Charles Doyle's control."
Fury nodded. "Taking down criminals, I see. His sense of justice explains it, though killing enemies like that is still excessive."
After a moment's thought, Fury continued, "Send Barton to contact him and see if we can recruit him into S.H.I.E.L.D. If he is part of the Charles Agency, we'll drop it."
Kabuto's actions made Fury cautious about bringing any more of Charles's people into S.H.I.E.L.D. If Kabuto had known the location of the 084 storage, Fury feared he might have led an attack with other ninjas.
Hill nodded, "Understood, Director."
As Hill turned to leave, Fury asked, "Hill, what's your take on becoming a superhuman?"
Hill considered this before replying, "I'll follow the organization's directives."
Fury nodded. "Got it. You may go. Inform Barton to come over."
"Yes, sir!"
With Hill gone, Fury added Maria Hill's name to the list for the enhancement serum injection. For the final candidate, Fury decided to keep the spot open as a reward to motivate S.H.I.E.L.D. agents until the substance of the serum was fully decrypted.
Satisfied with this plan, Fury soon heard another knock on the door. Barton entered the office.
"Director, you needed me?"
Handing Barton the file, Fury instructed, "This is your target's intel. Make contact and see if we can recruit him into S.H.I.E.L.D. Confirm whether he's with the Charles Agency. If he's not, bring him in. Otherwise, drop it."
After quickly reviewing the intel, Barton replied, "Understood, Director!"
…
On the Other Side-
In his room, Charles was once again setting up his prayer ritual items. It had been a month since he last successfully received a blessing.
He hoped this time wouldn't be disappointing. If the blessings were too far apart, he would forgo waiting and instead rely on direct spending for recruitments.
After finishing his prayer, Charles waited for that familiar feeling of divine favor to wash over him. When he felt the blessing settle upon him, he sighed in relief. It seemed that blessings could indeed be obtained on a monthly basis.
Without wasting any time, Charles immediately entered the system space. Once inside, he navigated to the recruitment interface and initiated the ninja recruitment process.
"Ninja Recruitment, ten consecutive draws, start!"
An emblem of the Land of Whirlpools appeared, glowing with a unique light. After a flash of light, the recruitment results appeared before Charles Doyle.
The first ten draws under the blessing buff yielded:
- 5 guaranteed fragments of S-rank ninja Orochimaru
- 4 fragments of A-rank ninja Konan
- 6 B-rank ninja fragments
- 4 C-rank ninja fragments
The second ten draws under the blessing buff yielded:
- 5 guaranteed fragments of S-rank ninja Orochimaru
- 4 fragments of A-rank ninja Zetsu
- 6 B-rank ninja fragments
- 4 C-rank ninja fragments
The third ten draws under the blessing buff yielded:
- 4 guaranteed fragments of S-rank ninja Orochimaru
- 4 fragments of A-rank ninja Zetsu
- 4 B-rank ninja fragments
- 5 C-rank ninja fragments
The fourth ten draws under the blessing buff yielded:
- 5 guaranteed fragments of S-rank ninja Orochimaru
- 4 fragments of A-rank ninja Konan
- 4 B-rank ninja fragments
- 5 C-rank ninja fragments
The fifth ten draws under the blessing buff yielded:
- 6 guaranteed fragments of S-rank ninja Orochimaru
- 6 B-rank ninja fragments
- 5 C-rank ninja fragments
With the blessing now expired, Charles knew there was no rush. He decided to take his time and review the results of the fifty consecutive draws under the blessing to see if he had enough fragments for new B-rank and C-rank ninjas.
As for S-rank and A-rank ninjas, he didn't hold much hope for now.
Charles began tallying the results of the five ten-draw recruitments under the blessing, counting the fragments of each ninja obtained:
- S-rank: Orochimaru recruited 9 times, yielding a total of 25 fragments.
- A-rank: Konan recruited 2 times, yielding a total of 8 fragments; Zetsu recruited 2 times, yielding a total of 8 fragments.
- B-rank: Shippuden Naruto Uzumaki 3 times, yielding a total of 6 fragments; Shippuden Sakura Haruno 1 time, yielding a total of 2 fragments; Shippuden Sasuke Uchiha 3 times, yielding a total of 6 fragments; Shippuden Hinata Hyuga 2 times, yielding a total of 4 fragments; Shippuden Neji Hyuga 3 times, yielding a total of 6 fragments; Guren 4 times, yielding a total of 8 fragments.
- C-rank: Hanabi Hyuga 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Young Killer Bee 4 times, yielding a total of 4 fragments; Ino Yamanaka 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Ninja Academy Naruto Uzumaki 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Karui 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Hayate Gekko 3 times, yielding a total of 3 fragments; Shino Aburame 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Kotetsu Hagane 2 times, yielding a total of 2 fragments; Naruto Uzumaki 3 times, yielding a total of 3 fragments; Sakura Haruno 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Iruka Umino 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Shizune 2 times, yielding a total of 2 fragments; Sasuke Uchiha 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment; Tenten 1 time, yielding a total of 1 fragment.
After reviewing all the information, Charles felt somewhat disappointed with the results.
Although the blessing was effective, it wasn't as fruitful as the last time, with a noticeable decline in overall quality.
He wondered if this was due to the timing of the prayer or because the rewards were higher when the recruitment pool was first updated.
Currently, Orochimaru's fragments were just over half complete, while Konan and Zetsu still required 12 fragments each for recruitment.
However, Shizune had reached the star upgrade threshold, and he had enough fragments to recruit the Cloud Ninja Karui, which was some consolation.
With the blessing over, Charles decided to hold off on further recruitment until the next month's blessing. He then opened the ninja panel to check on the two new avatars: Shizune and Karui.
Opening Karui's avatar, her details came into view.
C-rank Ninja: Karui
Fragments: 10/10
Recruit?
Recruit!
Ding! Congratulations to Charles Doyle for successfully recruiting one-star C-rank ninja Karui.
The next moment, a scene appeared before Charles, showing Karui wearing her Cloud Village headband and holding a ninja sword in an attack stance.
Opening the ninja details, Charles first confirmed her skills.
Karui: C-rank Ninja
Star Level: One Star
- Basic Attack: Uses a ninja sword to slash at enemies!
- Substitution Jutsu: Wood Substitute!
- Skills: Lightning Release: Thunder Slash, Shadow Lightning Thrust, Cloud Flow Swift Slash.
Lightning Release: Thunder Slash: Releases an electrical current forward, then instantly appears beside the enemy for a powerful strike. (Note: Can create lightning traps to attack enemies.)
Shadow Lightning Thrust: Uses lightning power to dash forward quickly, then delivers two slashes to the enemy.
Cloud Flow Swift Slash: Summons lightning power to attack surrounding enemies, followed by three powerful consecutive slashes.
Satisfied with Karui's three skills—lightning-style ninjutsu combined with swordsmanship—Charles nodded approvingly.
Charles was quite pleased with Karui as a C-rank ninja. A Chunin from the Cloud Village and one of Killer Bee's disciples, a C-rank ninja with Chunin-level strength was quite good.
With another Cloud ninja added to his roster, Charles could look forward to the emergence of the Cloud Village once he recruited young Killer Bee.
Claiming the ninja, Charles's chakra reserves increased by 1 card, reaching a total of 356 cards. Karui's knowledge of ninjutsu was also transmitted to him.
--2--
·Chapter 674: Eddie in Action
After successfully recruiting Karui, the female Chunin from the Cloud Village, Charles Doyle exited the system space.
He then confirmed that Shizune was not conducting any experiments or on a mission and immediately upgraded her star level to enhance her strength.
With these tasks completed, Charles glanced at his remaining gold, just over fifty thousand, and entered the system-provided practice ground to master the newly acquired ninjutsu.
…
Nightfall-
As darkness enveloped the city, crime and evil lurked in its shadowy corners.
At this moment, Eddie Brock, transformed into Venom, perched atop a skyscraper's top, looking down at the brightly lit city below.
"Beautiful. I'm starting to like Earth more and more," Venom said.
Eddie responded, "From this angle, New York does indeed look different."
After admiring the view for a few minutes, Venom spoke, "Let's go. It's time to clean up some of this city's filth and fill my empty stomach."
Eddie quickly objected, "I'm fine with cleaning them up, but can you stop eating their heads? It's really gross."
"How about chocolate?"
"My income has been pretty good lately. Maybe you can try a different brand."
"How about Lindt?"
Venom refused, "They're bad people, Eddie."
"You promised I could eat the heads of bad guys."
"No, it has to be supervillains. Some of these are just small-time criminals; they don't deserve to die."
"How about a box of Lindt? It's one of the world's top ten chocolate brands."
"Five boxes!"
"Man, that stuff isn't cheap. How about two boxes?"
Venom considered Eddie's income and then said, "Four boxes, no less."
"Three boxes, tops. Or we'll go home and rest. I'm not in the mood for exercise today."
"And eating heads makes you look like a villain. What if you attract the Avengers or other superheroes? Earth isn't as simple as you think."
Hearing this, Venom thought about the numerous superheroes and ninjas around. It really wasn't safe.
"Alright, three boxes it is."
"Let's go then!"
Venom took control of Eddie, leaping from the building's top.
"Whooaaah!"
With Eddie's scream, Venom acted like a runaway husky, performing various stunts as they descended.
"Boom!"
After landing, Venom returned control to Eddie Brock and retracted into his body.
Eddie rubbed his cheeks and said, "That was thrilling!"
…
In a Brooklyn warehouse, dozens of Mexican immigrants, smuggled in from the US-Mexico border to New York, were being held captive.
A man dressed like a Wall Street elite was on the phone, "Mr. Z, I have thirty goods here, ages 14 to 21, all parts intact. You can match them as needed, sell them whole, or in parts."
"I believe those aged luxury cars need quite a few new parts to extend their lifespan."
"The price remains the same as before."
"Cheaper? Impossible. You know this business is risky."
"Southeast Asia's network was destroyed by superheroes. Getting these people wasn't easy."
"Whole car for 100, no selling parts. How much you profit from it is up to you."
"But I can give you some ideas. Once you have the car, you can run it through various loan platforms for a significant profit."
"Next, contact luxury car owners in need of parts for full matches. That's the big money."
"Drain and sell the fuel and oil. Not much, but it adds up."
"If no match is found, invite some elderly rich women for test drives until a match is found."
"With all these steps, your investment could easily multiply."
"Alright, it's settled then."
…
A gang member guarding the warehouse, armed with an AK, turned to his partner, "Buddy, the High Table ordered no human trafficking, especially not organ trafficking."
"Isn't the boss in trouble for doing this?"
"Don't worry. The boss has connections. No one cares."
"The boss might even get promoted for this."
Hearing this, the guard's eyes gleamed with greed, "I know where there are more like them. Can I catch some for money?"
"Buddy, it's not that simple. "
"Randomly catching people could get you caught by superheroes. Didn't you notice the boss only picked illegal immigrants?"
"Do your job. When the time comes, you'll get your share."
…
While the guards were chatting, the warehouse's glass windows shattered on both sides simultaneously.
Eddie, as Venom, burst through the window, punching a gang member and sending him flying five meters.
An arrow pierced through another window, instantly killing the questioning guard.
"Enemy attack!"
In the warehouse, the other gang members immediately raised their rifles and fired at Venom.
"Ratatatat!"
The gang leader, who had been on the phone, saw Venom appear and quickly threw a smoke grenade. He opened a secret door and escaped underground, running outside.
Eddie, as Venom, ignored the incoming bullets and launched an attack.
Outside the warehouse, Hawkeye Barton stood by the window, occasionally shooting arrows at the gang members below.
"Ahhh!"
The screams of the gang members echoed in the warehouse.
Seeing that they couldn't harm the monster, one of the gang members took advantage of the smoke cover and rushed to the cage holding the captives. He held a grenade with the pin pulled and shouted:
"Stop! Stop right now!"
"Or I'll blow these people up!"
Hearing his shout, Eddie and Barton both halted their attacks.
As the smoke from the grenade slowly dispersed, it became clear that all the other gang members had been killed, leaving only the man with the grenade.
Eddie approached him cautiously, speaking quickly, "Calm down, calm down."
"Put the pin back in; otherwise, you'll die too when it explodes."
"Stop! Don't come any closer."
"If you get closer, I'll throw the grenade into the cage. If I die, they die too."
"And you with the bow outside, stop aiming at me. If I get nervous, I'll let go."
Eddie glanced at Barton by the window. He had noticed him earlier, but since he was attacking the gang members, Eddie hadn't paid much attention.
Now, seeing him more clearly, he recognized Barton as Hawkeye from the Avengers, a superhero.
Barton didn't lower his bow but said, "A grenade with a pin. It takes three to six seconds to explode after release."
This wasn't addressed to the thug but to Eddie.
As Barton spoke, he released the bowstring, and an arrow with an electric tip shot out instantly.
"Whoosh!"
The arrow hit the thug, and the electric current immediately paralyzed him. His clenched hand couldn't let go of the grenade.
As the thug fell, Eddie rushed over. Seeing the thug still gripping the grenade, Eddie transformed his hand into a blade and severed the thug's hand at the wrist. He grabbed the hand holding the grenade and quickly threw it into the sky.
"Boom!"
The grenade exploded high in the air, harming no one.
Eddie returned to the warehouse, still in his Venom form.
"Hawkeye, do you realize how dangerous that was? If he had let go early, these people would have been in great danger."
Barton, unperturbed, replied, "Don't worry, buddy. You were here, weren't you?"
"I trusted your ability, so I took the risk."
"The result was perfect. We coordinated very well."
Barton explained as he started retrieving his arrows.
Eddie, as a journalist, was dissatisfied with such a perfunctory answer.
"What if I wasn't here?"
"And I thought SHIELD agents didn't handle gang matters. Why are you involved?"
Having retrieved all his arrows except the last one, Barton replied, "I would prioritize the hostages' safety."
He then looked at Eddie and said, "SHIELD doesn't deal with gangs. That's for other departments."
"But besides being a SHIELD agent, I'm also an Avenger and a superhero."
"As a superhero, it's my duty to handle this."
Eddie nodded, satisfied with this answer.
He then looked at the thirty young men in the cage and asked, "What about these people?"
Barton took out his phone, "Call the police. They'll handle it."
Eddie was surprised, thinking SHIELD would take over.
Barton quickly called the Brooklyn police, explaining the situation and identifying himself as a SHIELD agent, urging them to handle the aftermath promptly.
After hanging up, Barton saw Eddie about to leave and removed his last electric arrow, saying, "We still have a live one. Are you interested in the forces behind them?"
"I saw their boss escape."
Barton approached the secret door, opening the underground passage.
As the electric shock was over, the gang member hit by the arrow regained consciousness, clutching his severed hand and screaming in pain, "My hand! My hand!"
Eddie, ready to leave, turned back at Barton's words.
"Such an evil organization should be destroyed."
"But we should find a better place to talk. Can you keep up with my speed?"
Eddie stretched out his arm, extending it three meters, and grabbed the fallen gang member, quickly running outside.
Seeing Eddie run off, Barton glanced at one of the youths in the cage, giving him a signal before following.
One of the captives was actually a SHIELD undercover agent.
Barton secured his bow and chased after Eddie.
Eddie, carrying the gang member, ran towards the East River, arriving at an isolated riverside area. He placed the gang member on the shore.
As the gang member tried to run, Eddie pinned him down.
"Don't try to escape. You won't make it."
Barton finally caught up, slightly out of breath, "Buddy, you're fast. I barely kept up."
Eddie replied, "Didn't know you were enhanced. Keeping up with me is impressive."
They then interrogated the gang member, but he was surprisingly stubborn.
"Kill me. Without my hand, I'm just a cripple. You'll get nothing from me."
Eddie bared his terrifying, toothy mouth, "Death is a release."
"I'll start by cutting off your arm and slowly chew it, like eating a chicken leg."
"If you still don't talk, I'll eat your limbs. Watching yourself being eaten piece by piece will surely make you spill everything."
The gang member's face turned to terror, and even Barton looked surprised at Eddie's words.
---3---
·Chapter 675: Interrogation
However, after initially showing fear, the gang member's face twisted into a mad grin.
"Hahaha, eat me, go ahead."
"Just know, I have AIDS."
One sentence was enough to stop Eddie in his tracks.
Upon hearing this, Eddie felt helpless. Clearly, Venom had no interest in consuming someone like that, and Eddie had only intended to scare him.
Barton stepped forward, taking out a simple syringe from his pocket and said:
"No need for such dramatics. I have a truth serum here. You'll spill everything soon enough without any deceit."
With that, Barton injected the serum into the gang member's neck.
After checking the time and confirming the serum's effect, Barton began his interrogation.
Eddie watched Barton's professional approach, acknowledging SHIELD agents' expertise in this area. Soon, they obtained detailed information.
The gang belonged to an organization called 13K, headquartered in Hell's Kitchen. Their main business was smuggling—cars, and occasionally firearms. The gang had over a hundred members, making it a moderate-sized organization in Hell's Kitchen.
Their leader was K. Rader, one of the thirteen heads of the gang. K. Rader was the one who had escaped earlier.
The others were his subordinates, involved in this side business without the gang's knowledge. They learned that human trafficking was Rader's personal enterprise, forbidden by the gang and its higher-ups.
As for who they were trading with, the gang member didn't know. All such information was with K. Rader.
After Barton's interrogation, Eddie asked, "He says their business is separate from the gang. Do you believe him?"
Barton nodded, "With the truth serum, untrained people can't lie."
"But their organization is still a criminal entity. It's illegal."
"What do you have in mind?"
Eddie thought for a moment and said, "We can't let K. Rader go. He'll continue this business otherwise."
"And as for 13K, let's destroy them too."
Barton nodded at Eddie's suggestion, "Since we know their headquarters, let's head there now."
"Alright!"
…
Meanwhile-
K. Rader, who had escaped through the underground tunnel, was driving away, heading not to his headquarters in Hell's Kitchen but to the Continental Hotel in New York.
He cursed as he drove, "Bad luck, running into superheroes while doing a little business."
K. Rader took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Mr. Z, the deal is off."
"What happened?"
"Two superheroes attacked my warehouse. We lost all the goods."
"We'll have to lay low for a while."
Z: "Understood."
After hanging up, K. Rader drove on without incident and arrived at the Continental Hotel.
Seeing the hotel, he breathed a sigh of relief. Inside, he would be safe for now.
He parked at the hotel's entrance, bent down, and retrieved a small suitcase from under the passenger seat. Inside were a passport, a fake ID, and a row of Continental Hotel gold coins.
Taking out the gold coins and spreading them in his hand, he mused, "Beautiful coins, just too few."
Clearly, K. Rader was not only a gang leader but also a registered assassin at the Continental Hotel.
He pocketed the coins, passport, and ID, replaced the empty suitcase, and got out of the car.
He handed his keys to the valet and walked into the hotel.
Inside, he observed the lobby, noting several assassins chatting in the lounge area. They glanced at him but showed no interest.
K. Rader approached the front desk, placed a coin on the counter, and said, "I'd like a room."
The receptionist took the coin and quickly processed his check-in.
"Mr. K, your room is ready, room 603. Here is your key card."
"Enjoy your stay."
Taking the key card, K. Rader headed upstairs, intending to take a shower and wash off his bad luck.
…
Meanwhile, Barton was driving with Eddie Brock in the passenger seat.
"Buddy, you can de-transform now. You're taking up too much space in the car."
Barton was driving a two-seater Mustang, spacious enough, but Eddie's Venom form was bulky.
Sensing Barton's concern, Eddie replied, "You know my identity?"
Barton smiled, "There are cameras everywhere. You didn't hide your identity well. SHIELD can easily find out."
Eddie, surprised, asked, "So, why did you contact me? To recruit me into the Avengers?"
He knew SHIELD was always recruiting superhumans, though he wasn't sure how effective they were.
Barton shook his head, "Not yet. I don't know you well enough."
"All I know you're just a street hero, fighting crime in your spare time."
Eddie was puzzled, "Why call me a street hero?"
Barton chuckled, "Mostly because your activities are localized in Brooklyn."
Eddie frowned, "Is this some kind of regional classification?"
Barton laughed, "Just kidding. I wanted to lighten the mood, so you don't have to feel tense."
Eddie shook his head, "There is no need to feel tense. You're not my opponent anyway."
Eddie retracted Venom back into his body. Unbeknownst to him, a scanner in the glove compartment silently collected his body data.
Barton, ignoring Eddie's earlier statement, asked, "Can I ask what motivated you to start fighting crime? What's your drive?"
Eddie didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned the question back on Barton. "What about you? What's your motivation for becoming a superhero?"
Barton paused for a couple of seconds before replying, "It's my job. I've been doing this for many years."
As a SHIELD agent, Barton followed orders, handling various tasks assigned to him.
Eddie found Barton's response somewhat dull and began explaining his own motivation.
"I've seen too many ordinary people being oppressed. On my street, a convenience store owner was constantly threatened—robberies, shoplifting, you name it."
"I believe the world shouldn't be like this. These wrongdoings need to be stopped."
"Of course, I can't help everyone, but I do what I can. If I see a crime, I stop it."
Barton nodded, recognizing Eddie's sense of justice.
"I'm curious, though. I've heard that you sometimes... eat the heads of criminals. Is that a personal quirk or something you do out of necessity?"
"I'm not accusing you of anything, just genuinely curious. Your mouth doesn't seem big enough to swallow a head."
Barton even simulated a biting motion with his hand.
Venom's voice echoed in Eddie's mind, "This guy talks too much. Should I eat his head?"
"No!" Eddie immediately rejected the suggestion, but Barton overheard.
"What?"
Eddie explained, "I don't actually eat heads. That's just to scare the really bad ones. As you said, my mouth isn't that big."
He mimed opening his mouth, showing that it wasn't large enough to consume a head.
Venom chimed in mentally, "Let me out, and I'll show him how I can swallow a head in one bite."
Eddie ignored Venom, not interested in indulging its appetite. Barton eyed Eddie skeptically but said, "I thought so too."
They continued chatting, with Eddie asking about some amusing stories involving the Avengers.
Soon, they arrived outside the 13K headquarters. Barton parked the car and grabbed his quiver of arrows, saying, "We're here. Let's get to work."
Eddie eyed the large auto repair shop in front of them and transformed into Venom. With a powerful leap, he entered the yard, with Barton following closely behind.
They moved through the compound effortlessly, taking down guards silently and swiftly. None of the guards were a match for them, and they were all incapacitated before they could react.
In no time, they reached a safe house. Inside, the 13K leader was asleep. Barton flicked the light switch by the bed, illuminating the room and waking the leader.
"Who are you?" K. Brennan shouted, reaching for a gun under his pillow. But Barton swiftly pulled him off the bed, slamming him to the ground.
"Guards!" Brennan yelled.
Barton said calmly, "No point. We took care of them."
Brennan looked at them, recognizing Barton. "I know you. You're Hawkeye from the Avengers. Our 13K gang only does smuggling. We shouldn't be on your radar."
Eddie interjected, "But your man K. Rader is involved in human trafficking."
Brennan shook his head. "Impossible. No one in Hell's Kitchen would dare. None of my men would either."
Barton clarified, "They're smuggling illegal immigrants from the Mexico border."
Realizing what had happened, Brennan sat on the floor and looked up at them. "What do you want to know?"
Barton asked, "Where's K. Rader?"
Brennan shook his head. "He's not here. He could be at home or somewhere else."
"Call him. Tell him to come over or find out where he is."
Brennan hesitated but then asked, "What are you planning?"
Eddie replied, "He needs to face the consequences of his actions."
Brennan nodded and called Rader's number.
…
Having just finished showering and enjoying some food in his room, K. Rader's phone rang. Seeing it was his boss, he didn't answer right away, pondering if those superheroes had found their hideout.
Eventually, he picked up but stayed silent initially.
"Rader, where are you?"
"Boss, I'm at home. What's up?"
"Come to headquarters tomorrow. I have some business for you."
"Okay, got it."
After hanging up, Rader smiled at his phone, thinking, "This is my real home."
…
Back in the safe house, Brennan told Barton and Eddie, "He's at home at XXX XXX. What will you do with us 13K members?"
Barton replied, "The police will arrest you."
Brennan sighed with relief, knowing he'd be handed over to the authorities.
Barton then knocked Brennan unconscious with a chop and said to Eddie, "Looks like we have another trip to make."
Eddie nodded, "Let's go. Hurry up."
----4----
·Chapter 676: Mandarin
The next day, K. Rader woke up in his room at the Continental Hotel. Meanwhile, Eddie and Barton found nothing during their raid on his house, deciding to wait until they could locate his hideout before attempting another capture.
K. Rader got up, washed up, and then called his boss, only to find the phone turned off. As he suspected, there was trouble at headquarters, but he needed to gather more information.
Leaving his room, Rader walked to a metal door in the basement. He inserted a coin into the slot, and the lock slowly turned, opening the door to reveal a bar filled with assassins, even in the early morning.
Rader approached the bar, placed a coin in front of the bartender, and asked, "What happened to the 13K gang in Hell's Kitchen last night?"
The bartender inspected the coin, then handed Rader a card from beneath the counter, saying, "Take this. Someone will find you soon."
Rader took the card and nodded, then moved to an empty booth and ordered breakfast after paying with another coin.
As he started eating, a burly white man approached, sat down, and pocketed the card on the table.
"K. Rader, the 13K gang's headquarters was hit hard last night. First by superheroes, resulting in heavy casualties, and then by the NYPD. K. Brennan was arrested and will face trial and imprisonment."
"The 13K gang is now in disarray, likely to be swallowed by other gangs if nothing changes."
With that, the burly man left without further ado.
Rader shook his head and muttered, "Looks like I'll need to lay low here for a while or use the Continental's network to leave New York."
"Hopefully, my coins will last."
Not lingering in the bar, Rader turned and headed back to the hotel.
…
On the other side-
Barton returned to SHIELD and began tracking K. Rader using his clearance.
Starting from the vicinity of the warehouse last night, he quickly found footage of Rader on the surveillance cameras. Following his trail through various cameras, Barton saw Rader drive to the Continental Hotel in New York and enter.
Before entering the hotel, Rader had looked at a nearby camera and smiled, indicating he knew someone would track him via surveillance.
The final location posed a problem: the New York Continental Hotel, owned by Charles Doyle. This hotel served assassins and had its own rules, making it a challenging place to confront Rader.
Even Clint Barton, a member of the Avengers, wouldn't fare well trying to apprehend someone inside.
Not that he feared the assassins, but causing trouble with Charles Doyle or the Adjudicator of the High Table would be problematic. He knew several ninjas who still held the title of Adjudicator.
However, Barton saw this as a way to test Eddie Brock. If Eddie was unaware of the Continental Hotel and its rules and attempted to forcefully capture someone or reveal something, it would prove he had no connection to Charles Doyle.
If he backed off or was familiar with the situation, it would indicate Eddie Brock might be involved with Charles Doyle's organization or at least understood its true nature, making him unsuitable for the Avengers or SHIELD.
With this plan in mind, Barton needed to make some preparations before contacting Eddie and informing him of the situation.
…
Elsewhere-
In his seaside villa's underground lab, Tony Stark was installing a micro-sensor on his arm.
"Boss, give me a few more hours, and I'll have it calibrated," said Dum-E, the robot.
"No need," Tony replied, wiping his arm wound with a cotton ball.
"I've prepared a safety briefing for you, though you won't listen."
"Of course not."
"Alright, let's begin the test."
"Dum-E, you big idiot, where'd you get that hat? It suits you," Tony said, noticing the robot wearing a hat labeled "Dumb."
Tony stood up and walked forward a few steps. After hitting the wooden man in front of him a few times, he returned to Dum-E.
"Still hiding in that corner, huh? You know what you did."
Pointing to the spot where he'd just tested, he continued, "Clean up the bloodstains."
Dum-E's arm swiveled towards Tony. "Boss, you haven't slept in seventy-two hours."
Ignoring the reminder, Tony stood in front of his array of armor suits and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen."
"Good evening, welcome to the production base."
"I'm honored to introduce you to a lively new brother."
To the mechanical arm, he said, "Close-up, then wide shot, then put time and date on it."
"Mark 42 Adaptive Navigation Armor, test commence."
"Start the program."
"JARVIS, play some music."
Tony began remotely controlling the suit to assemble around him. The first few parts went smoothly, but then things went awry. The final piece struck him, scattering armor fragments everywhere.
Realizing his seventy-two-hour work marathon might indeed be affecting him, Tony decided to take a break.
Tony stopped working and turned on the TV, only to see a strange broadcast: a propaganda video from the Ten Rings organization led by Mandarin. After the chilling message ended, regular programming resumed.
After seeing what was happening on TV, Tony didn't stay at home, but made an appointment to meet Rhodey at a restaurant.
In response to the hijacked broadcast, the U.S. government quickly acted. They repainted and rebranded Tony's 'War Machine' as Iron Patriot, presenting him as a symbol of safety and assurance to the public, vowing to swiftly eliminate the terrorist threat posed by the Ten Rings group.
…
In the restaurant-
The TV displayed government news and various shows humorously discussing Iron Patriot.
Rhodey chuckled, "Public opinion seems pretty positive, right?"
Tony teased, "Iron Patriot, really? What a lame name."
Rhodey defended, "War Machine sounded too harsh and cold. This name is friendlier."
Tony shifted the conversation. "So, what's the deal with this Mandarin guy? What's really going on?"
Rhodey glanced around before lowering his voice. "It's classified, Tony."
Seeing Tony's disregard for secrecy, Rhodey relented. "Alright, there have been nine bombings."
Tony was shocked. "Nine?"
Rhodey explained, "Nine. The public knows about three. The problem is, no one can find any bomb remnants—no shells."
He added, "Honestly, we're wondering if ninjas are involved. You know, some ninjas could pull this off, and it's not just one or two."
Tony reassured, "You know I can help. Just ask. I've got high-tech gear, adaptive navigation equipment, and bomb disposal tools that can catch explosives mid-air."
"And I have connections in the ninja world. Charles is my friend, I get along well with Jiraiya, and there's that kid from the Sand Village puppet shop."
Rhodey noticed Tony's bloodshot eyes and asked, "When's the last time you had a good night's sleep?"
Tony deflected, "Einstein slept only three hours for a year. Look at his achievements."
Rhodey sighed, "Tony, we're all worried about you. I'm worried about you."
Tony was surprised. "You worry about me?"
Rhodey replied, "I don't want to come off like a jerk..."
At that moment, two children approached. Rhodey quickly changed his tone, avoiding any bad language.
A little girl held up a drawing and asked Tony, "Can you sign this for me?"
Tony replied, "If Rhodey doesn't mind, I have no problem with it."
"Rhodey, do you mind?"
Rhodey smiled, "No, I don't."
Tony took the drawing, which depicted him battling aliens, done in crayon.
"What's your name?"
"Eileen."
-----5-----
·Chapter 677: Killian Aldrich
As Tony was about to sign the drawing, Rhodey leaned in and said, "Listen, the Pentagon is freaking out."
"After the New York incident of aliens..."
"They need to show strength."
"Our primary task is to stop the Mandarin, but they're worried about potential ninja involvement."
"We've heard that several powerful rogue ninjas are still out there, causing trouble."
"If we can confirm there are no ninjas involved, they want to handle this themselves to showcase the country's strength and reassure the public."
Tony asked, "So is this a job for superheroes or not?"
Rhodey continued, "We need your help to determine if there are any ninjas involved with the Mandarin. If there are, superheroes will have to step in. If not, it's a matter for the state."
"Honestly, that's the higher-ups' perspective..."
Tony nodded. "I get it. You want me to find out if ninjas are involved so you can decide how to handle this, whether to show the nation's strength."
Rhodey agreed, "That's the idea. They need to instill confidence in the public."
"Got it."
Just then, Tony snapped the crayon while signing. He covered his face with his hand and sighed.
"Are you okay?" Rhodey asked.
"I broke the crayon."
The little girl asked, concerned, "Are you alright, Mr. Stark?"
Rhodey placed a hand on Tony's shoulder, "Relax, Tony."
The little boy, whom Tony had teased earlier, approached and whispered, "Were you scared facing all those alien monsters?"
At that moment, Tony felt a wave of panic. Unable to stay seated, he abruptly stood and rushed outside.
Tony stumbled out of the restaurant, muttering to himself, "I need to check my body."
"Armor!"
As his armor unfolded on the street, Tony stepped inside, but he collapsed to one knee, unable to stand.
"JARVIS, check my heart and brain."
"No signs of heart or brain abnormalities."
"Okay, could I be poisoned?"
"Diagnostics indicate extreme anxiety."
"Me? Extreme anxiety?" Tony was incredulous. How could he, Tony Stark, Iron Man, a super soldier, billionaire, playboy, have extreme anxiety?
Rhodey came out and tapped on Tony's faceplate. "Come on, man, you look terrible. Get out of there."
"Sorry, I need to go," Tony said, activating his armor and flying into the sky.
…
Meanwhile-
Charles Doyle was eating in the dining area of the base when he saw the news broadcast on the TV. Putting down his chopsticks, he said, "Looks like the Extremis virus has been developed."
"The Mandarin, Ten Rings."
"Heh, I wonder if this imposter will draw out the real Ten Rings holder, Xu Wenwu, or Fu Manchu..."
Charles was quite interested in the Ten Rings. Their power to grant longevity and immense strength intrigued him.
While he wasn't worried about his own longevity, as an Otsutsuki now he didn't have to fear old age. Additionally, Merlin's magic also granted him immortality, and he had methods like werewolves and vampires' gene, which also provided ways to live forever.
He also knew about the Old Man in K'un-Lun, whose dragon bones could extend life.
In terms of longevity, Charles himself had no worries.
However, he has many subordinates, and aside from someone like Orochimaru, others would face lifespan issues. Having an additional method was always a good idea.
Aside from the Ten Rings, the Extremis virus was another point of interest.
Although currently unstable, with the risk of self-detonation under emotional stress, if Orochimaru could research it, perhaps they could develop something akin to the Scorch Release or grant users Fire Release abilities.
As for the self-detonation capability, it could possibly be controlled or used as a last resort.
The Extremis virus's regeneration abilities were also impressive. For ordinary ninjas and regular people, such regeneration was a great boon.
After pondering for a while, Charles decided he needed to intervene in this matter.
He wanted to obtain the Extremis virus data and find the real Ten Rings holder.
…
Stark Industries Headquarters-
Happy, formerly Tony's personal bodyguard, had been promoted to Head of Security at Stark Industries.
As he walked through the company, he reminded every employee he encountered, "Badge."
Whenever he saw someone without a name badge, Happy made sure to point it out and insist they put it on.
When Pepper Potts arrived for work, Happy approached her with a suggestion.
"Pepper, Tony has a bunch of equipment in his basement," Happy said.
"It's a resource we could utilize."
As Pepper signed some documents, she responded, "Are you suggesting I replace all the cleaning staff with robots?"
"My point is, in human resources, people are the weakest link," Happy argued. "We should replace them immediately with those reliable robots."
Pepper was taken aback. "What?"
Seeing Happy still reminding employees to wear their name badges, Pepper interrupted, "Happy, I'm glad you're now the head of security. This position suits you very well."
"But..."
Before Pepper could finish, Happy smiled and said, "Thank you, I appreciate it."
"Since you took the position, employee complaints have tripled."
"You don't need to thank me," Pepper replied, annoyed.
Happy, still smiling, responded, "Thank you, that's a compliment."
"It's obvious someone is trying to hide something."
At that moment, Pepper's assistant approached and said, "Sorry to interrupt."
"Ms. Potts, your four o'clock appointment has arrived."
"Thank you."
Pepper turned to Happy and said, "Happy, we'll talk later, but I need to handle something pressing right now."
"What is it?" Happy asked.
As Pepper pushed open the meeting room door, she explained, "Someone I used to work with. He always tries to ask me out."
"It's a bit awkward."
Happy replied, "I don't like that either."
As the door opened, Pepper was stunned to see the person before her.
This healthy, mature-looking man was nothing like the person she remembered.
"Pepper!" he greeted.
Pepper was shocked. "Killian?"
Killian smiled. "You look great."
"You look amazing," Pepper replied, astonished.
In her memory, Killian was somewhat unkempt, with a limp and needing a cane, looking very much like a mad scientist. But now...
"I... I..." Pepper was so surprised she could barely speak. Finally, she asked, "What have you been up to lately?"
Behind her, Happy was scrutinizing Killian with his eyes.
Killian spread his arms. "Nothing special."
"I spent five years with a physical therapist. Please call me Aldrich."
Happy interjected, "You should be wearing a security badge."
Hearing Happy's comment, Pepper looked exasperated. She turned and said, "Happy, it's fine. Please step out for a moment."
"Are you sure?" Happy asked.
"Yes," Pepper confirmed.
------6------
·Chapter 678: Shower
"Alright, I'll wait outside."
As Happy left, Pepper Potts walked toward the sofa area of the reception room, saying, "It's good to see you, Killian."
Inside the reception room, Killian began explaining his team's new invention to Pepper. He showcased his brain and discussed the potential of the technology in enhancing bioelectricity and restructuring biological matter.
However, after hearing Killian's presentation, Pepper Potts remarked, "Unfortunately, this technology sounds very weaponizable to me."
"For example, modifying soldiers and private armies. And Tony..."
Killian interrupted her, "Tony again, always Tony."
"Do you know?"
"Thirteen years ago, I invited Tony to join AIM. He turned me down."
"But I can see that now, there's a new generation of genius at the helm who doesn't need to be constrained by Tony anymore and is less self-centered."
However, Pepper Potts still declined, saying:
"I still have to say no, Aldrich."
"Although I would very much like to help you."
As they talked, outside, Happy was displeased with the behavior of Killian's assistant. The assistant wasn't wearing a name badge and was sitting on the sofa in a rather rude manner.
Coincidentally, Tony called, and Happy informed him about Killian's visit to Pepper.
He warned Tony that if he didn't cherish her, she might be taken by Killian.
Happy also vented that he missed the old Tony—the one who didn't hang out with superheroes and leave him out.
…
Meanwhile, after declining Killian's investment proposal, Pepper escorted him out of Stark Industries.
Once her work was done for the day, Pepper drove to Tony's beachfront villa.
As she parked and got out of her car, she saw a giant toy bunny in the front yard.
It was a massive three-meter-tall bunny with a note that said, "Merry Christmas, Pepper."
Seeing this gift, Pepper sighed, a bit exasperated.
When she entered the villa, she was surprised to see someone in the Mark suit sitting on the sofa. She exclaimed, "What's that?"
"You're wearing that inside the house now?"
"Which version is this, Mark 15?"
Tony glanced at the MK42 on his arm but replied, "Oh, yes."
He didn't tell Pepper that this was actually the 42nd version of the armor.
"More or less, everyone has their hobbies."
Pepper sat on the sofa, taking off her high heels, and said, "So you're wearing your hobby in the living room?"
"I was just trying it on, it feels a bit snug..."
The MK42 moved behind Pepper as Tony asked, "Hey, did you see your Christmas gift?"
"Yes, I saw it..."
"How could I not notice that Christmas gift? Can that thing even fit through the door?"
Tony awkwardly replied, "Actually, that's an issue."
"I'll call some people tomorrow to knock down that wall, then it can fit."
Pepper laughed, "Alright."
Under Tony's control, the Mark 42 suit started massaging Pepper Potts as he said:
"Your shoulders are a bit stiff, naughty girl."
"I don't want to sound too repetitive, but do you like that custom bunny?"
"Do I like it?"
"Just to confirm, okay?"
Pepper turned around, "Wow, that's a very creative idea."
She then hugged the Mark 42 suit, saying, "Why don't you open the mask and give me a kiss?"
"Uh..."
"Clang, clang, clang!"
"Well, damn it, it won't open."
"Do you want to just kiss the gap on my face?"
Pepper caressed the chest armor of the Mark 42, saying, "Maybe I should run to the garage and find a crowbar to pry it open?"
"A crowbar, good idea."
With that, Pepper started heading towards the basement.
Tony quickly tried to dissuade her, "It's just that there's radiation leakage over there."
Pepper continued skipping down the stairs, saying, "I'll take my chances."
Tony followed her, continuing, "It's too risky."
"At least let me get you some protective armor or something."
However, when Pepper reached the basement, she found Tony wearing a brain sensor, doing pull-ups on a barbell. "Caught you."
Pepper pushed away the dessert brought by DUM-E, her voice cold, "Your tricks are endless."
"Sorry."
Pepper noticed the dinner on the table had been tampered with and questioned, "You started eating before I got here?"
"We had a date tonight..."
Tony tried to explain, "Indeed, I had a bite."
"I didn't know if you'd come home or go have drinks with Aldrich Killian."
Pepper was surprised, "What?"
"What?"
"Aldrich Killian? Are you spying on me?"
Tony crossed his arms, "Happy is very worried."
"You are spying on me."
"I am not."
Pepper, clearly angry, turned and said, "I'm going to bed."
Seeing Pepper leave, Tony quickly said, "Don't go, Pepper."
When Pepper didn't look back and continued walking away, Tony finally admitted, "Hey, I admit, my fault, sorry."
Hearing Tony's apology, Pepper stopped and turned to look at him.
Tony said, "I've been like a cat on a hot tin roof for a while now."
"Ever since New York, things have changed."
Pepper came down and looked at Tony, "Really? I didn't notice."
Tony continued, "When you experience something, and then it's over, but you still can't make sense of it."
"Aliens, other dimensions, worlds."
"I'm just a man in a can."
"The only reason I haven't broken down is probably because you moved in."
"Good move, I love you, I'm very lucky."
"But darling, I can't sleep."
"When you go to sleep, I come down here and do what I do best."
"I tinker, I..."
"I must protect the one thing I can't afford to lose, and that's you."
"And my armor, it's a part of me..."
Pepper Potts said, "Machines, they distract you."
Tony replied, "Yes."
Pepper walked up to Tony, hugged him, pulling his head to her chest, and gently removed the brain sensor from his head.
"I'm going to take a shower."
"Alright!"
Pepper took a few steps and then turned around, "Come with me."
Tony nodded, "That sounds better."
-------7-------
·Chapter 679: Chirstmas Gift
At Charles Base, a Christmas party was in full swing.
A massive Christmas tree stood in the center of the base, created using the Wood Release technique by Yamato. The tree was adorned with lights and decorations, and numerous gift boxes were placed underneath it.
To enhance the festive atmosphere, Kushina Uzumaki led the charge in getting herself and Hinata Hyuga, Shizune, Kurenai Yuhi, Tenten, Sakura Haruno, and Ino Yamanaka to wear special Christmas outfits.
These outfits weren't provided by Charles but were custom-made at a New York mall under Kushina's direction. However, Tsunade refused Kushina's request to wear the costume.
Kushina, leading the group, approached others asking for Christmas blessings.
She came up to Minato Namikaze, extending her hand, "Minato, gift!"
Minato handed her a gift box, saying, "Here, this is for you."
Kushina put the wrapped gift into her Santa-style sack and then told the girls behind her, "Quick, ask Minato for your gifts."
"If you miss today, you'll have to wait until next time."
Kurenai Yuhi didn't hesitate and asked, "Fourth Hokage, where are our gifts?"
In a flash, Minato disappeared and reappeared, his hands full of gift boxes. He smiled warmly, "They're all here. I'll distribute them to everyone."
Charles Doyle, witnessing this scene, asked Tsunade, "Tsunade, why aren't you joining Kushina's group?"
Tsunade huffed, "If I joined, where would that leave Kushina? Then I would be the head of the group."
"I just don't want to steal the spotlight from the younger ones."
She then extended her hand towards Charles, "Where's my gift?"
"Don't say you don't have one!"
Charles laughed, "How could I not have one for you?"
He retrieved a beautifully wrapped gift box from his storage space, containing a pink diamond necklace.
"Here, this is for you."
Tsunade took the gift but didn't open it. Instead, she removed the necklace she always wore around her neck, a gift from her grandfather, the First Hokage.
"This is my most precious possession, a gift from my grandfather."
"Today, I'm giving it to you, hoping it brings you good luck."
The necklace carried a faint scent and warmth. Charles couldn't help but smile wryly as he looked at the necklace Tsunade took off.
The reputation of this item was well known – it was said to bring death to whoever wore it.
However, Tsunade was giving it away for the first time, unaware that in the original Naruto world, she had given it to Nawaki, Dan, and Naruto.
If Naruto hadn't crushed the necklace himself, he might not have escaped the curse either.
But with his own strength, it should be fine.
"Thank you for your gift!"
Tsunade stepped forward, personally putting the necklace around Charles Doyle's neck, and then gave him a kiss on the forehead.
The moment Tsunade kissed his forehead, Charles felt a mix of softness and coolness.
…
Meanwhile-
Kushina Uzumaki, having finished extorting gifts from Minato, led the others to do the same to Jiraiya.
As Jiraiya handed out gifts to them, he noticed the situation with Charles Doyle and Tsunade and chuckled. It seemed Tsunade was finally taking a bold step.
At this point, Jiraiya only has a friendship with Tsunade and didn't fell in love.
Orochimaru, who was handing out gifts alongside Jiraiya, put an arm around Jiraiya's shoulder and said, "It looks like Tsunade is making a brave move, which is good news for us too."
While Jiraiya and Orochimaru were distributing gifts, Shizuka Nadeshiko approached Jiraiya and said, "Lord Jiraiya, you once met my master and had a match, but it ended without a winner."
"You agreed that your apprentices would have a match, and the loser would have to marry into the winner's family."
"Now that your apprentice Minato Namikaze is married, how will this be settled?"
Hearing Shizuka Nadeshiko's words, Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly, "Uh, I didn't know about this. It must be something from the future."
Standing nearby, Kushina Uzumaki, enraged, shouted, "Jiraiya…"
Seeing Kushina about to explode, Jiraiya quickly said, "Well, Naruto is also my apprentice."
"Yes, Naruto is also your apprentice."
Hearing Jiraiya mention Naruto, Kushina's fiery hair calmed down. She looked at Shizuka Nadeshiko, sizing her up.
"If Shizuka becomes my daughter-in-law, that wouldn't be too bad."
"But Naruto is still too young."
Shizuka Nadeshiko asked, "Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Yes, that's him."
Jiraiya pointed to Naruto, who was holding a gift and about to give it to Sakura Haruno.
Kushina Uzumaki shouted, "Naruto!"
Hearing his mother call him, Naruto quickly handed the gift to Sakura and ran over.
"Mom, what's up?"
Kushina pulled Naruto close and stood in front of Shizuka Nadeshiko, saying, "Naruto, how about having Shizuka as your wife in the future?"
Naruto immediately shook his head vigorously and shouted, "No, I like Sakura-chan the most."
Hearing Naruto's words, Sakura Haruno said, "I don't want that. I like Sasuke."
Meanwhile, Hinata Hyuga, seeing Naruto in his mother's arms, felt a bit sad.
Shizuka Nadeshiko looked at Naruto and also shook her head, "He's too young. When he grows up, I'll have a match with him."
"I just remembered my master's words. It's a tradition of our village."
"Although there's no Nadeshiko Village here, I will fulfill my master's last wish."
Jiraiya laughed and said, "Don't worry about it. Maybe Naruto will grow up quickly, and you two can have your match then."
"We'll talk about it when he grows up."
With that, Jiraiya's issue was settled, and Kushina Uzumaki led her group of women to continue asking the adult ninjas for gifts.
At this moment, Ginny walked over. She was wearing a very sexy and fiery outfit and holding a gift. She approached Charles Doyle.
"Charles, Merry Christmas!"
Seeing Ginny's gift, Charles didn't refuse.
"Merry Christmas, Ginny."
Charles took out a gift from his storage space and exchanged it with Ginny.
Ginny took the gift, hugged Charles Doyle, and buried his head in her chest, rubbing it against him.
Seeing Ginny's actions, Tsunade stomped her foot on the ground, causing the earth to tremble slightly.
Obviously, Tsunade was not happy with Ginny's blatant flirtation with Charles. She then puffed out her chest.
Hers was no smaller than Ginny's, even larger.
Ginny released Charles and showed a smug smile, standing by his side.
Soon, Kushina led the group over to ask for gifts.
Charles, Tsunade, and Ginny were well-prepared and distributed gifts to everyone.
Even Sasuke Uchiha had prepared gifts for everyone.
Obito Uchiha, seeing Kushina and the others' attire, thought to himself, "If only Rin could wear this outfit, she would look so adorable."
The entire base was filled with laughter and joy as everyone exchanged gifts and enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
…
Meanwhile-
Barton sat alone on the sofa in his home, holding a photo frame. The picture inside was of his beloved, Barbara Morse.
That was supposed to be Barbara Morse's last mission. After completing it, she would retire from SHIELD, take the name Laura, and marry him.
But she had died, leaving him forever.
He gently touched Barbara's photo and then picked up his phone to call Eddie.
He wanted to tell Eddie the target's location.
He couldn't spend Christmas with his love, so he didn't want Eddie to have a good time either.
On the other side, Eddie was celebrating Christmas with his girlfriend. They had just come out of a restaurant and were enjoying the festive atmosphere outside.
Suddenly, Eddie's phone rang. Seeing the caller's number, he chose to reject the call instead of answering it.
He wanted to spend the evening with his girlfriend and didn't want to be disturbed.
"Eddie, whose call was it?"
"I don't know, probably a sales call."