Chapter 13: Clark's Powerful Intervention
"It really is Superman. It seems he's here to save people, just like us."
The moment Coulson saw Superman, his heart felt a sense of relief.
Neither S.H.I.E.L.D. nor he himself truly believed the reports of Superman's wanton massacres. Seeing Superman saving people now, it was clear he wasn't that kind of person; their judgment seemed correct.
"Superman... thank God."
Tony breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Pepper.
That old fellow Fury must have messed up the investigation. A guy who had saved so many people and even rescued Pepper didn't seem like the kind of maniac who would slaughter a military camp.
Tony cursed Nick Fury's unreliability in his heart. Because Clark had saved Pepper, his impression of Clarkinadvertently improved significantly.
Just then, Whiplash Ivan spotted Tony not far away. Past hatred surged in his heart, and he immediately prepared to charge at Tony.
"Out of my way!!!"
To break free from Superman's control, Ivan didn't hold back, dialing the power of his whips to the maximum.
Voom!!!
Sizzle!!! Sizzle!!!
Receiving the energy surge, the whips glowed brighter, the electrical current thickening as they lashed out directly toward Superman's hand.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd, everyone terrified by the sheer scale of the attack and worried for Clark.
"Watch out!!!"
Tony knew Ivan was outputting full power now; he knew better than anyone the destructive force of a reactor at full capacity. Even though Superman was powerful, Tonydidn't believe flesh and blood could withstand such an attack.
"No, let go quickly."
In the distance, Steve's expression changed as well, and he immediately rushed toward Clark to help.
Although he had learned of Superman's strength from Fury, he still didn't think an attack like this was something a human could block.
Coulson's expression grew solemn as he followed Steve, charging toward Whiplash.
But in the next second...
"What????"
Ivan froze on the spot, his eyes filled with disbelief.
The electricity struck Clark at high speed, but the expected sight of torn flesh and blood didn't happen.
Clark stood there with a calm, indifferent expression, his eyes devoid of emotion.
The sound of crackling electricity continued from where he held the whip, yet his palm showed no sign of injury, as if he hadn't been attacked at all.
"The plot has indeed changed. Not only did Whiplashappear early, but he even chose to attack Pepper."
"And Captain America actually came to join the fray. What a mess."
Su Cheng rubbed his head with a bit of a headache. The changes in the plot had more or less affected his original plan.
"However, it's not entirely a bad thing. Tony's reaction is hard to say, but with Captain America here, if Clark kills Whiplash, Steve's personality will definitely drive him to bring Clark to court."
"The surrounding crowd will also see this and think Clark is a brutal person, condemning him one after another."
"When he's pointed at by a thousand accusing fingers, I don't believe Clark will be able to maintain his composure."
The more Su Cheng thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. If used correctly, this perfect opportunity would surely shake Clark's inner peace to the core.
No sooner said than done, Su Cheng immediately transmitted the thought of killing Whiplash into Clark's mind.
"Hmm?"
For some reason, a surge of irritation welled up in Clark's heart. Looking at Whiplash, he felt an impulse to kill him.
This thought made him feel a bit panicked, and he quickly adjusted his mindset.
Just then, Whiplash yanked on the whip again.
Whoosh!!!
Not wanting to continue the entanglement, Clark blew a breath of freezing air directly onto the whip.
Crack! Crack!
The moment the cold air touched the whip, a layer of solid ice formed on that end and spread rapidly toward Ivan.
"What kind of power is th—"
Ivan didn't have time to react. Just as he was about to let go of the whip, the cold air reached him, instantly freezing half of his body in place, rendering him immobile.
"Damn, let that guy steal the spotlight."
Seeing Clark defeat Ivan in an instant, Tony curled his lip, feeling a bit disgruntled and a sense of urgency.
He was already surprised enough when Stark—no, when Clark—blocked Ivan's current with his bare hands, and now a new ability had appeared.
He silently pondered how he would fare against Superman; the answer was negative. His current suit couldn't handle Superman.
Developing an Anti-Superman Armor should be put on the agenda, Tony thought to himself.
Steve and Coulson stopped in their tracks after seeing Clark withstand Whiplash's attack, deciding to observe for a moment first.
"Freezing."
Seeing this ability, Steve couldn't help but shiver, his expression becoming a bit strange.
He thought of the decades he spent frozen; it was just like how Ivan looked right now.
"Freezing... a new ability?"
Coulson gave Clark a meaningful look and nodded thoughtfully.
Taking Ivan's electrical attack with his bare hands had already made him clearly realize Superman's power, but he hadn't expected Superman to possess freezing abilities as well.
Just how much power did he have? It was terrifying. Coulson remained calm on the surface but was inwardly shocked.
Meanwhile...
The frozen Ivan still refused to give up, struggling with the other side of his body.
Clark thought that being out too long might make Loissuspicious. Not wanting to delay further, he flew toward Ivan and swung a punch, intending to knock him unconscious.
Just as his fist was about to land on Ivan, the intent transmitted by Su Cheng appeared in Clark's mind once more.
In that instant, the Ivan before him seemed a bit stronger in his judgment, and he unconsciously increased the force in his hand.
While it was only a fraction of his strength to Clark, it was undoubtedly a catastrophe for Ivan.
Bang!!!!
The ice on Ivan's body shattered instantly, and he was sent flying, crashing into the ground.
Pfft!!!
Ivan spat out a mouthful of blood as he hit the ground, his neck going limp immediately.
...
"How can this be?"
Clark looked at his fist in shock.
He didn't know what had happened. Despite his powerful cognitive abilities, he had actually killed the criminal he hadn't intended to kill because of a misjudgment and a failure to control his strength.
Recalling recent events, Clark felt an indescribable sense of strangeness.
"Pepper! Are you alright?"
As Clark's battle ended, Tony immediately flew to Pepper's side.
"Tony!!"
Seeing Tony arrive, Pepper's nose wrinkled, and she hugged him tightly, seeking comfort.
"That bastard didn't hurt you, did he?"
Tony hugged Pepper and then quickly checked her over for injuries.
Fortunately, aside from some small cuts on her feet and being a bit dirty, Pepper had no other injuries.
Chapter 14: Superman Actually Killed Someone in Public?
"He actually!!!"
Seeing Superman's powerful strike, Steve's brow furrowed. He did not approve of Clark's act of attacking the defenseless Ivan. Criminals should be handed over to the law and the government; the Death penalty should not be used.
Although he had some complaints in his heart, he didn't say much. Instead, Coulson ran to Ivan's side, preparing to take him away.
When they got there and looked, both Steve and Coulsonfell silent.
Ivan's entire chest was caved in. The Miniature Arc Reactorhad been driven directly into Ivan's chest by him; he was clearly beyond saving.
At Steve's signal, Coulson reached out to check Ivan's neck for a pulse, then shook his head.
"He's already dead."
He hadn't expected that Superman, who never killed, would actually kill him. This was unprecedented. From this perspective, it seemed that Superman's massacre of the military base might not be impossible after all. Coulson's mind was racing, but his expression remained calm.
Knowing the result, Steve's heart sank.
He had heard before that Superman never killed and only captured criminals. He had thought Superman was someone like him, a person who respected and followed the law. Now it seemed he was just another person acting high-handedly because of his power.
He felt the most disdain for such people. They lacked a righteous and strong heart; once they lost their power, they would be worse than an ordinary person.
Just then, Steve noticed the surrounding crowd looking over nervously. Knowing that everyone wanted to know the outcome to calm their uneasy hearts, he took a deep breath and announced:
"The criminal's Death has been confirmed."
Upon these words, the crowd was quiet for a few seconds, followed by an unprecedented burst of cheering.
"Great! That guy is dead. Superman is so strong!"
"Isn't it too cruel to just kill him like that?"
"What's cruel about it? If it weren't for Superman, who knows how many of us would have died? You'd understand if you were the one truly facing Death."
"Exactly. Evil people like this should be killed outright, or else there'll be endless trouble later."
Seeing the crowd's reaction, Steve was somewhat confused.
The reaction he imagined was that everyone would denounce Superman as a murderer, but how could it be like this?
He didn't understand why Superman could win the people's support even though he had clearly done something wrong.
"Coulson, now that this has happened, it's no longer just our business. I think we need to bring him before a military court for judgment."
After some consideration, Rogers pointed at Ivan's body and made the suggestion to Coulson.
In his eyes, by killing Ivan, he had already become a criminal and must be handled by the court.
"You're right, Mr. Rogers."
Coulson nodded, expressing his support for Steve's decision.
Looking at Superman not far away, Steve took the lead and walked over, with Coulson quickly following behind.
Meanwhile, Clark was stunned and somewhat confused by the crowd's reaction.
He thought that by killing someone in public, he—who was already infamous in the news—would be rebuked by them. But he didn't expect that instead, these people actually supported him.
Although Clark didn't change his mind, his heart was slightly affected.
Inside his mind, Su Cheng felt Clark's thoughts and was secretly delighted.
A few minutes ago.
On Iron Man's side.
"Happy Hogan, are you okay?"
Tony supported Pepper and found Happy Hogan, who had just woken up, helping him break free from the pressure of the airbag.
"I'm fine, my neck just hurts a bit. By the way, what happened to that guy with the whips?"
Happy Hogan held his neck, waved his hand, and asked about Ivan's situation.
Just then...
Steve's voice announcing Ivan's Death reached them.
"Ivan is dead? Superman killed Ivan?"
Tony's eyebrows arched, then he said with a smile:
"Good kill."
Ivan had attacked his woman. If it were up to him, Ivanwould be crippled if not dead. Now that Superman had done it, he felt quite satisfied.
He just hadn't expected Superman to actually kill him. According to the intelligence he had gathered before, Superman never killed.
He had thought such a Superman would be a sanctimonious hypocrite—the kind of person he hated most, full of benevolence and morality, showing mercy even to criminals, and ultimately dragging everyone down.
He didn't expect that Superman wasn't that kind of person, which made him think more highly of him.
This behavior gave Tony a better impression of him, thinking that if Superman encountered trouble in the future, it wouldn't be a problem for him to lend a hand.
Seeing Steve and Coulson walking that way, Tony showed an interested expression, said something to Pepper, and also walked over.
On Clark's side.
"I'm a bit strange today."
Clark thought of his mistake just now again and wanted to calm down, turning around to fly away.
Just then...
"Wait!"
Steve's voice came from behind.
Clark turned around at the sound and saw Steve, wearing a somewhat old-fashioned battle suit, walking over, followed by a serious-looking Coulson.
"Is there something?"
Clark asked with some vigilance.
He wasn't sure of Steve's identity, but seeing Coulson's appearance, he must be from the government. The government had been slandering him daily, so he had no good feelings toward them.
"You killed someone. Do you think you can just leave like that?"
Steve frowned at Clark, clearly not intending to let him go.
In his eyes now, Clark was a suspect who killed at will, and it was very likely he was related to the previous military camp incident. It was best to hand such a person over to the court for trial.
"This was indeed my fault. I didn't mean to kill him at first, but something went wrong in the end."
This was clearly his own problem, so Clark couldn't help but explain.
"Save those excuses for the judge."
Steve clearly could not tolerate any wrongdoing. He raised the vibranium shield in his hand, his intention obvious.
"Hmm?"
Coulson, standing aside, frowned. He didn't think it was appropriate to speak to the powerful Superman like that, but since his idol had made his stance, he could only take a boxing stance.
Neither of them dared to be careless, looking like they were ready for a serious fight.
They had both witnessed Superman's despair-inducing strength just now. Although they didn't think they could win, Steve was not the type to give up easily, and Coulsonbeside him could only feign composure.
Facing the duo's provocation, Superman remained expressionless. Given his power, the two in front of him were opponents he could kill in an instant; he simply couldn't muster any interest.
Just then, a slightly flippant voice came from the side.
"Hey, why are we about to fight? Didn't our enemy just go to hell?"
Chapter 15: Clark Brutally Beats Steve
Both sides looked over to see Tony walking towards them, his mask open, looking frivolous.
Clark frowned when he saw Tony's appearance.
He hadn't expected to run into the playboy Tony Stark, whom he disdained, in this place. Already not wanting to be here, his desire to leave became even stronger.
Steve also frowned at Tony's debauched appearance.
A while ago, he had learned about Tony and knew he was the son of his friend, Howard.
Although he had heard about Tony's way of doing things, seeing his friend's son like this still displeased him.
"It's like this, Mr. Stark, Mr. Rogers believes Supermanshould be sent to a military tribunal, and Superman is unwilling."
Coulson saw that the atmosphere was a bit off and stepped forward to explain.
"Is that all?"
Tony looked as if he had just realized something, then winked at Steve and said.
"I'm not saying anything, but this gentleman in the flag, he just killed a criminal, what's the big deal? Why don't we just let it go?"
Seeing Tony actually speak up for him, Clark was stunned for a moment, and his impression of Tony changed somewhat.
He felt similarly to Tony; although he thought it was wrong to kill the criminal, he didn't believe he was wrong either. After all, it was a criminal who wanted to kill, so even if he killed him, he didn't care much.
"Let it go???"
Steve glared at Tony and said angrily.
"That person had already lost the ability to fight. Under such circumstances, he still killed the other party. If that's not vigilantism, what is it? If we let such a person go, what meaning does the law have? How can you guarantee he won't harm good people in the future?"
"I must take him to a military tribunal. This is a must."
Steve said with conviction, the determination in his eyes making it impossible to doubt his resolve.
He knew Tony was an unreliable playboy, but he hadn't expected him to be so casual on matters of principle. Comparing him to Tony's father, Howard, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
Tony was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused as to why Steve seemed to have such a strong opinion of him. This left him baffled, and for a moment, he didn't know how to retort.
"I already said it was an accident, I didn't intend to kill him."
Clark explained again, then stated expressionlessly.
"I've said all I can say. It's useless if you don't believe me, but no matter what, I won't go to court with you."
Clark wasn't exaggerating. The government constantly slandered and resented him. Although he didn't care, the government's actions made Clark unwilling to trust them. He didn't believe that these human courts could judge him fairly without personal bias.
"In that case, I won't let you leave."
Steve's eyes became serious. He took his Vibranium shield in hand and assumed an offensive stance.
As soon as he said this, the two were completely at odds, and Steve clearly knew this.
Seeing Superman's expressionless face, Steve recalled the most perilous incident he had ever encountered: the time he snatched the Space Stone from the Hydra base. Even that, compared to the ferocity of the man before him, was probably far inferior.
Despite this, Steve did not back down.
"You have no chance of winning."
Clark said indifferently. Although he showed no emotion, he still appeared like a lofty deity.
Steve's strength simply didn't interest him. This wasn't arrogance on his part; it was simply a fact.
"We'll only know after we fight."
Steve said, then lunged forward. His right hand, holding the Vibranium shield, moved extremely fast, attacking Clark's neck.
Bang!!!
Clark didn't dodge. The Vibranium shield struck heavily against his neck.
Clark's body remained motionless after the attack, his neck completely unharmed, and his expression unchanged, as if he hadn't been hit at all.
Steve felt as if he had hit steel, and the reverberating shock made his arm unsteady, causing him to marvel inwardly.
Seeing that his first strike failed, he didn't hesitate, and with a backhand, punched Clark's abdomen.
The result, of course, was still motionless; Clark showed no reaction.
Seeing that he hadn't caused any damage, Steve still wanted to attack again.
But Clark had had enough of this boring game; he was going to teach Steve a lesson.
He raised his right hand and lightly threw a punch.
Bang!!!
Steve saw Clark's movement clearly, but his body couldn't keep up, and he was knocked back several steps by the single blow.
But after steadying himself, Steve walked towards Clarkagain, clearly not intending to give up.
Seeing that Steve still wouldn't give up, Clark also grew impatient. He lightly stomped his foot.
Whoosh!!!
His body flashed in front of Steve. He raised his right hand and threw a punch.
Steve felt uneasy and raised his shield in advance.
Bang!!!
Clark's fist landed, and Steve was knocked down instantly, the ground shattering on impact.
Seeing Steve still trying to get up, Clark continued to punch.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several punches, Steve was deeply embedded in the ground, unable to lift his shield anymore.
Clark looked down into the crater.
"I... I can do this all day."
Steve gasped for breath, refusing to admit defeat.
Seeing him like this, Clark shook his head. He hadn't even used one-ten-thousandth of his strength, and the man in front of him was already beaten like this. He truly didn't know why he insisted on stopping him.
"Don't continue, Mr. Superman, or I'll shoot."
Coulson's voice came from behind.
Clark looked back.
He saw Coulson holding a seemingly powerful gun, nervously aiming at him.
Clark gave him an expressionless glance, then his eyes widened, and his Heat Vision instantly melted Coulson's gun into a puddle of molten metal.
Then, without saying anything, he pushed off with his feet and flew away with a bang.
Steve watched Superman soar into the sky from the pit, falling silent.
"Look, our flag-wearing gentleman, weren't you just saying you had to keep him here?"
Steve looked up to see Tony looking at him with a smirk. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest and immediately retorted.
"Don't you fly? Why didn't you go after him?"
"I'm not you. I think what he did was right, and I didn't intend to stop him."
Tony shrugged, saying indifferently.
"You're just scared."
"What did you say? Who's scared?"
"You're a coward. Without your armor, you're nothing."
Their bickering continued for a long time, lingering in the air.
Chapter 16: Decision on Superman's Handling
After a while.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Rogers?"
Coulson meticulously checked Steve's injuries, afraid something might be wrong with his idol.
"I'm fine, my body is still very strong."
Steve, who had already stood up, patted the dust off his body and picked up his shield from the ground.
"Of course you're fine. I don't think that Superman even took you seriously; he didn't use his full strength at all."
Tony struck mercilessly from the side.
"Someone who didn't even dare to participate in the fight has no right to talk about me."
Steve said, looking at Tony with displeasure.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Tony was about to retort when Coulson, on the phone, stopped him.
Coulson saw it was Nick Fury's call and quickly answered.
"Hello, Coulson, what's the situation on your end?"
As soon as the call connected, Nick Fury's voice came through.
"We're done here, the crisis has been averted."
Coulson answered truthfully.
"Excellent, then quickly bring the criminal back."
A hint of excitement was revealed in Nick Fury's voice.
"That might not be possible, boss."
Coulson glanced at the corpse not far away and forced a bitter smile.
"Not possible?"
Nick Fury on the other end was clearly stunned. The next second, his voice noticeably rose a few octaves as he shouted.
"Is it that Stark kid? I knew it, that guy is getting more and more presumptuous, he doesn't even respect us anymore. This time, I won't let him off easily."
"Heh heh! One-eyed bastard, watch it, I'm still right here."
Tony didn't want to take the blame for Clark and interrupted.
"Stark?"
Nick Fury's voice revealed a hint of awkwardness; he clearly hadn't expected Tony to be nearby.
"I never knew the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was someone who likes to badmouth people behind their backs."
Tony mocked relentlessly.
Normally, Nick Fury always seemed to have everything under control, but this time, Tony had finally found a weakness.
"No, don't change the subject. We're not done talking about you casually killing the criminal."
Nick Fury realized that he should be in control of the conversation.
"Hey, I didn't say I killed that guy. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. can't just casually slander the head of Stark Industries, can he?"
Tony said innocently, while simultaneously pinning a big accusation on Fury.
"What nonsense are you talking about? And if you didn't kill him, then who did?"
Nick Fury was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused.
Logically, since the criminal attacked Pepper, the most likely person to kill him would be Tony. Steve and Coulsonknew their limits, so it should be impossible for them.
"It was Superman, Director Fury."
Steve couldn't help but speak, secretly glaring at the troublesome Tony.
"Superman?"
Nick Fury was clearly taken aback, paused for a few seconds, then continued.
"You all should come back and explain the situation in detail first; it's not clear over the phone."
With that, he hung up the phone.
"No time to lose, let's head back directly."
Steve gestured to Coulson, and seeing Coulson nod, he then looked at Tony beside him.
"I don't want to be with you, the guy wearing the flag."
Tony waved his hand, then pointed to Pepper, whom he was holding in his arms, and said with a raised eyebrow.
"I need to take this beautiful lady to the Stark Industriesbuilding first."
"If any more danger arises, my heart can't take it."
"But you guys remember to run fast, after all, I'm flying there, maybe I'll even arrive before you."
At this point, Tony looked at Steve provocatively, as if saying that someone who can't fly like him wouldn't understand this feeling.
Steve was used to Tony's taunts, but with little time, he said nothing more, turned, and left with Coulson.
...
In the Congressional meeting room.
"After Superman froze the criminal, he didn't stop, but instead punched the criminal away."
"When we went to check, the criminal's chest was completely shattered, and he had lost all vital signs."
"This is the full account of what happened, officers."
After recounting the events at the scene, Steve saluted and stood at attention, awaiting the reactions of the others.
After listening to Steve's narration, Pierce's eyes flashed.
Hydra had been considering Superman, this unstable factor, for a long time, but because Superman's conduct hadn't given them any leverage, they were at a loss on how to proceed.
But now the situation had reversed; Superman had genuinely killed someone in public for the first time. As long as they utilized this opportunity well, they might be able to completely resolve the Superman issue.
Senator Stern and Agent Sitwell below clearly thought the same. The three subtly exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Clap!
Senator Stern, receiving Pierce's look, immediately slapped the table and said indignantly, "This Superman, just as I said before, is a very unstable factor."
"This time he dared to kill a criminal; next time he'll dare to kill a civilian. So I believe we cannot sit idly by; we must take preemptive action to deal with Superman."
This time he dared to kill a criminal; next time he'll dare to kill a civilian. So I believe we cannot sit idly by; we must take preemptive action to deal with Superman.
Sitwell below nodded in strong agreement, indicating his stance.
"What Senator Stern said is correct. This incident undoubtedly serves as a wake-up call for us."
"Originally, we thought Superman wouldn't do anything that would endanger the lives of civilians, so we let him be. Now that he has done something like this, it's time to deal with it."
As Pierce spoke, he looked at Fury. He knew Fury always advocated for peaceful resolutions to such matters. Now that this had happened, he wanted to see how Fury could still defer.
Nick Fury was somewhat silent, his eyes shifting, wondering what he was thinking.
"I don't think this matter can be decided so hastily. Superman, after all, killed a criminal, not a civilian."
Just as Stern and the others were growing impatient, he spoke faintly.
"Director Fury, I believe what you said is incorrect. Even criminals should be handed over to the court for processing."
It was Steve who spoke, which surprised everyone present.
Nick Fury was stunned for a moment. Good heavens, how could Captain America, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, also betray us? Knowing this, it would have been better to leave you buried in the Antarctic.
Pierce was also taken aback. He had thought Steve would side with Fury, but he unexpectedly said such words.
"Uh... Mr. Rogers is right, it should be handed over to us for processing."
Stern reacted quickly, paused, and then immediately agreed.
Fury rubbed his head, feeling a headache at this scene, unable to think of a countermeasure for a moment.
As everyone was talking, a lighthearted voice came from above.
"Hey, gentlemen, can someone help me open this damn skylight?"
Chapter 17: Clark's Relief
Everyone present was startled.
Pierce looked around in a panic, as if searching for the source of the sound.
Senator Stern thought Superman had arrived and was so scared he was about to hide under the table.
Hearing the familiar voice, Nick Fury reacted immediately and looked up at once.
Sure enough, Tony, wearing his armor and sporting a cheeky grin, was waving at them from above.
"Why must you always enter from above?"
Opening the skylight to let Tony in, Nick Fury rolled his eyes and remarked.
"Indeed, Mr. Stark, this is too presumptuous of you. What if you disturb others?"
Senator Stern flushed and accused him.
"I don't know about disturbing others, but you, Senator, looked like you were about to wet your pants."
"Or did I see wrong? Were you just crawling under the table to look for something?"
Tony said with a straight face, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"Enough, stop it, Tony Stark. Don't say meaningless things."
Seeing Senator Stern's face turn red with anger, Stevefrowned and spoke up to intervene.
Tony shrugged and said nothing more.
"Alright, let's continue discussing how to handle Superman."
Pierce stepped in to smooth things over.
"Regardless, he killed someone at will, so he must be brought to court to face justice."
Having calmed down, Senator Stern said again.
Steve nodded. Although Pierce didn't speak, his attitude was clearly supportive.
Seeing this, Nick Fury was about to speak, but Tonyinterrupted.
"What? Send Superman to court?"
Tony widened his eyes first, then sneered.
"Don't be ridiculous, everyone."
"What did he do? He was merely protecting the safety of the citizens."
"Does a person who killed a criminal to protect the safety of citizens need to be sent to court?"
"If that's the case, send me up first."
Tony shrugged and held out his hands.
Superman had saved his Pepper, and he was very grateful to Superman. Besides, the person Superman killed was someone he believed deserved death a thousand times over, so he didn't think there was any wrongdoing.
"Even if it's a criminal, the law dictates they cannot be killed at will. Superman violated the law, so why not deal with him? Is the law special when it comes to him?"
Steve couldn't hold back anymore. What he hated most was Tony's way of acting on impulse without considering principles.
"Special? You're right about that. I've been considering this for a long time. This Superhero Privilege Act is the solution I've come up with."
As Tony spoke, he projected a virtual document onto the screen.
...
Clark's apartment.
Click!!!
With his head down and appearing somewhat depressed, Clark opened the door and entered.
Light was coming from inside the room. He couldn't help but look up and see his girlfriend, Lois, sitting on the sofa, frowning as she looked at her phone.
Seeing his girlfriend there, Clark wasn't surprised at all, but his eyes darted away.
"Clark, what is going on?"
Seeing Clark return, his girlfriend Lois pointed to the phone in her hand with a very serious expression.
Clark looked down and saw the phone was playing a video—it was the scene where he killed Whiplash with a single punch.
The video had been posted for less than an hour, and the view count had already reached a staggering 200,000, with thousands of comments, and these numbers were still growing. It was clear that the popularity of this event had exceeded imagination.
"Why did you kill that criminal?"
Lois stared intently at Clark, her eyes full of questioning.
She was very angry. Her boyfriend had always only saved people and never killed them. Even if it were a criminal, he would spare their life and hand them over to the court.
But this time, he had unexpectedly killed the criminal, which made her feel a bit estranged and uneasy.
Girlfriend Lois seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back; the tension Clark had been holding inside since the killing was completely released.
"I... I don't know..."
"At the time, I really... really didn't mean to kill him."
"I don't know what happened at the time. I thought he wasn't that weak, so I used a bit more strength. Who would have thought he'd be killed instantly?"
"I really... really didn't do it on purpose. This is my first time killing someone, and I didn't want to."
Clark slumped weakly onto the sofa, his head bowed low, his hands continuously rubbing his hair.
The day's experience was simply terrible for him. The helplessness of accidentally killing someone and the interrogation by his girlfriend upon returning home—under the weight of these events, his powerful body was fine, but his sensitive heart was already crumbling.
Seeing Clark in such a helpless state, Lois felt immense heartache, and the countless accusations she had prepared were stuck in her throat.
Only then did she realize that Clark was not only the omnipotent Superman but also her boyfriend, an ordinary and sensitive man. He would be at a loss, afraid, and in need of comfort after killing someone for the first time.
Thinking of this, Lois couldn't hold back anymore. She hugged Clark and then gently stroked his head, saying.
"I'm sorry, Clark. I know it wasn't your fault, and you didn't mean it."
As if Lois's gentle voice worked, Clark slowly raised his head.
"Really?"
Clark looked as if a drowning man had grasped a straw, his eyes filled with hope.
"Of course. Besides, the person you killed was a criminal who deserved to be punished anyway. You did well."
Lois cupped Clark's face with both hands, looked at him with certainty, and said softly.
"Thank you, Lois. I feel much better."
Feeling more stable, Clark thanked her, then held Lois's hand and said.
"I want to go home and tell Mom about this. Can you help me ask for leave?"
Clark knew he had to tell his mother about this, the only other person in the world he cared about besides Lois.
It was his father and mother who made him who he was and gave him a heart of justice. This matter would only be over when he received his mother's understanding.
"That's fine. I'll help you ask for leave. Go ahead, and remember you are not alone."
Lois nodded. She knew that Clark's feelings for his mother were no less than his feelings for her. Perhaps only by receiving his mother's understanding could this man truly move on. She also knew that the woman who gave Clarkhis heart of justice would surely understand.
...
Kent Farm.
Clark's home.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Mrs. Kent, who was preparing lunch, heard the knocking, hurried out, and opened the door.
"Oh! Clark, my dear son, why are you here? Come in quickly."
As soon as Mrs. Kent opened the door and saw Clarkstanding outside, she hurried him inside.
"Clark, is something wrong? Why do you look so troubled?"
Chapter 18: The Superhero Privilege Act
In the living room, the television was broadcasting a news interview.
As soon as she entered the living room, Mrs. Court, who had lived with Clark for many years, saw at a glance that Clark had something on his mind.
Hearing this, Clark felt a bit uneasy, his hands rubbing his clothes restlessly.
Mrs. Court was in no hurry seeing him like this; she simply waited quietly with a gentle gaze.
"Mom, I killed a criminal."
After a while, Clark spoke as if he had made up his mind. Once he finished, he closed his eyes, not wanting to see the look of disappointment in his mother's eyes.
"Kill?"
Mrs. Court was visibly stunned for a moment. Her first reaction was that Clark was joking, as Clark's character was such that he would never kill. But seeing Clark's expression, she knew it must be true, though there had to be a reason.
"You must have had a reason, right, my Clark?"
She tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, fearing she might startle the sensitive Clark.
"Yes, Mom. I didn't mean to kill him, but for some reason, my judgment was off at that moment, and I used too much strength."
"Even though that criminal deserved death anyway, it shouldn't have been me who executed him."
"I really didn't do it on purpose, Mom. Please, you must believe me."
Clark's face was full of remorse, his eyes fixed intently on his mother, terrified that she wouldn't believe him.
He didn't care about anyone else, but if his only family in the world didn't understand him, he would truly regret it for the rest of his life.
"Clark, I know you better than anyone. I know you didn't mean it. Everyone makes mistakes, but you must always remember to respect human life. No matter what, do not trample on life wantonly. This time has passed, but you must remember this for the future."
Mrs. Kent said as she stroked Clark's head. While she was comforting him, she didn't forget to remind Clark to remember this lesson.
Having received his mother's forgiveness, Clark felt much more relaxed.
Just then.
"Mr. Stark, do you think there's an issue with Supermankilling a criminal?"
The sound of the interview on the TV caught Clark's attention, and he turned to look.
He saw that the person being interviewed was the playboy he had previously disliked, Tony Stark.
"I think you said it yourself—that was a criminal. If killing a criminal to save people is a problem, then all of us superheroes should be sent to court."
"Therefore, I believe Superman is innocent, and the laws regarding superheroes should be redefined."
On the screen, Tony very firmly expressed his support for Clark.
Clark was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and he suddenly felt much more relieved.
He hadn't expected that not only did his family member approve of him, but someone else in the world did too. This gave him a sense of validation he had never felt before, allowing him to completely let go of the grudge in his heart.
...
The top floor of Stark Tower.
"I really don't understand those old fogies. They only care about their own interests and have never treated those superheroes as human beings."
Tony swirled the wine glass in his hand, leaning sideways against the sofa.
"Jarvis, would you say I'm right?"
"Sir, I believe the senators have their own reasons."
"Reasons?"
Tony's eyes flickered as his thoughts drifted back to the previous meeting.
During that meeting.
"Hero Privilege Act?"
Everyone present looked at each other, then turned their gaze to the virtual screen in the air.
On it were various lenient legal measures Tony had listed for when superheroes deal with criminals. It was clearly designed to allow superheroes to act even more unrestrainedly in the future.
"This definitely won't do."
Steve was the first to voice his opposition.
What he believed in most was that superheroes and civilians were the same, subject to the same legal constraints. Tony's act was equivalent to turning superheroes into a privileged class, which ran completely contrary to his philosophy.
He strongly disagreed with such an idea; to him, there would be no difference between that and the Hydra group.
Pierce, sitting below, also frowned.
Of course, he didn't think it was unfair to civilians like Stevedid. Rather, if this act were passed, the constraints on superheroes would decrease, and they would surely act even more fiercely.
These superheroes were already troublesome enough for Hydra. If this act passed, the difficulty for Hydra to carry out its plans would likely increase exponentially. This could not happen.
Thinking of this, Pierce exchanged a look with Stern and Agent Sitwell. They all gave subtle shakes of their heads, clearly thinking the same thing as Pierce.
The group reached a consensus. Pierce gave a look to the senator, and Senator Stern understood immediately, taking the lead to object.
"No, I don't agree with this proposal either. Such an act would make those superheroes even harder to control."
"I also think it won't work. This act was proposed too hastily."
Nick Fury, for the first time, found himself in agreement with Stern and the others.
"They are right. This act cannot be passed; we still need to consider it carefully."
Pierce finally stepped forward to make the final decision.
Seeing everyone oppose Tony, Steve, who had been mocked by Tony many times, felt a surge of satisfaction and couldn't help but glance at Tony with a bit of smugness.
Back to the present.
"That ridiculous guy wearing the national flag really is..."
Thinking about his decision being rejected and being mocked by Steve, with whom he didn't get along, Tony felt very indignant.
"Sir, Mr. Nick Fury is calling you. Shall I connect?"
Just then, Jarvis's voice rang out.
"Connect him, Jarvis."
Tony, as if thinking of something fun, covered his ears first.
"Stark!!!!!!"
"What on earth did you say in that interview!!"
As soon as the call connected, Nick Fury's roaring voice came through.
"Don't be so anxious, Fury. This isn't like your usual self. You're asking what I did? I just spoke my mind, that's all. What's wrong?"
Tony gave a mischievous smile, pretending to be innocent.
"Don't play dumb with me. Isn't this behavior of yours an open challenge to our side?"
Nick Fury obviously wouldn't believe Tony's excuse. How could the man who invented the Iron Man Suit not understand these things?
"Now you're wronging me. Superman saved the CEO of Stark Industries. As a board member, it's not too much for me to show some support, is it? If Superman saves my people and I immediately turn around and denounce his behavior as wrong, what would people think of Stark Industries?"
Tony's words were half-true. While he did feel gratitude toward Superman, he chose to speak up for him more because he liked Superman's style of doing things this time.
"You... I don't care about any of that. Just know that you'd better behave yourself these next few days and definitely don't go shooting your mouth off again."
With that, Nick Fury hung up the phone directly, clearly quite angry.
Chapter 19: Is Hammer Related to Whiplash?
Agent Sitwell led Rhodes toward the conference room.
"Agent Sitwell, what does Senator Stern want this time?"
Rhodes asked with some confusion.
"Colonel Rhodes, you will know soon enough."
Seeing that they had arrived at the conference room, Sitwell did not answer.
Entering the conference room, several people were already there.
Rhodes first gave a military salute to Stern, Pierce, and Nick Fury, then stepped to the side.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, the Pride of America."
Seeing Steve right next to him, Rhodes was the first to greet him.
"The honor is mine, Colonel Rhodes."
Steve responded with a smile. Seeing Rhodes, he thought of the brothers-in-arms who had broken out of Hydrabases with him in the past, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship.
"Ahem, everyone is almost here. Let's begin."
"First, Colonel Rhodes, several days have passed since the last mission. Please obtain the Iron Man Suit as soon as possible."
Pierce was the first to pressure Rhodes.
"Understood, sir. I will get on it as soon as possible."
Although Rhodes was in a difficult position, he had promised after all, so he could only grit his teeth and agree.
"You don't need to be too troubled. Although Stark can be harsh with his words, he is lenient toward his friends. He won't make things hard for you."
Seeing Rhodes's dilemma, Nick Fury couldn't help but offer some comfort.
"Now, regarding Superman. To deal with Superman, we have decided to cooperate with Justin Hammer of Hammer Industries. Hammer claims they have already developed Miniature Arc Reactor technology and created remote-controlled combat suits that can rival Superman. I believe we have a good chance of dealing with Superman this time."
Pierce dropped another piece of big news.
"Miniature Arc Reactor?"
While the others didn't react, Nick Fury was momentarily stunned.
Although that kid Tony wasn't very likable, his technology was genuinely decades ahead of the world. He didn't believe that someone of Hammer's level could have developed it.
But since the Senator had said it, it definitely wasn't a lie.
Then someone must have handed the technology to them. Nick Fury couldn't help but think of Whiplash, who had been killed by Superman while wearing an arc reactor, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.
"Excellent. Hammer did a good job. It seems we don't necessarily have to depend on someone's whims anymore..."
"Colonel Rhodes, go tell Stark that we don't necessarily need his technology. If he won't give it, someone else will."
"Didn't he claim before that no one could replicate his technology? It seems he was just boasting."
Knowing he had powerful backing, Stern suddenly became more assertive. Thinking of the frustration he had endured before, he shot a few mocking glances at Rhodes.
Rhodes's expression soured. No matter what, Tony was his friend, and their sarcasm made him feel indignant.
"Enough, Senator Stern. Since the decision has been made, there's no need to continue this."
Seeing Rhodes's poor expression, Nick Fury stepped in and interrupted Stern's mocking.
He wasn't just doing it for Rhodes; it was mainly because Pierce and Stern were now in agreement, making it difficult for him to object.
It would be better to start with Hammer. As long as he could prove a connection between Hammer and Whiplash, Stern and Pierce's proposal would naturally fall through.
Senator Stern wanted to say more upon hearing this, but seeing Pierce shake his head at him, he immediately stopped responding, tacitly agreeing to Nick Fury's suggestion.
Seeing the room fall silent, Pierce coughed twice and spoke.
"It's not exactly as Senator Stern said; we still need Stark's technology. Colonel Rhodes, you should still proceed with the plan and try. If it doesn't work, that's fine."
"As for Fury, you should continue investigating the Superman matter. You don't need to get involved in the Hammer business."
Seeing that Hammer had shown his value recently, Pierceintended to bring him into the fold.
Although Stark's technology was certainly better, trying to win over such an unruly person would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
Hammer was different; he was a pure businessman who only cared about profit. He would serve wholeheartedly whoever could provide him with benefits. Such an easily controlled person was exactly what Hydra preferred.
Therefore, Pierce was unwilling to let Nick Fury make contact, intending instead to secretly recruit Hammer for Hydra's use.
"Very well, Director Pierce. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I'll handle the situation with Tony as soon as possible."
Rhodes gave a military salute and turned to leave, still looking troubled as if he had imagined some unpleasant scenario.
"In that case, Director Pierce, I'll be going as well if there's nothing else."
"Steve, come with me. I have some matters for you to handle."
Seeing Pierce nod, Nick Fury gestured to Steve and then led the way out.
"Something wrong?"
Steve was somewhat confused but didn't say much. He gestured to Pierce and the others, then turned and followed Nick Fury out.
...
"Director Fury, I wonder what business you have with me?"
Once they were outside in a secluded spot, Steve was the first to ask with some confusion.
"I have a mission for you, Rogers."
Nick Fury spoke unhurriedly.
He had thought about it for a long time; Rogers was the most suitable person to investigate Hammer.
Although Hammer Industries wasn't as formidable as Stark's, it was still a famous conglomerate. Ordinary agents wouldn't be able to investigate them.
However, the more capable agents were all occupied with other matters lately, and they were severely short-staffed.
In this light, someone like Steve, with the powerful physical constitution of a Super Soldier and extensive combat experience, was undoubtedly the best choice.
"Yes, sir. Is it a mission regarding Superman?"
Steve was somewhat excited, thinking Nick Fury was going to assign him to handle Superman's criminal incidents.
"Superman?"
"Uh... no, it's not that."
Nick Fury's mouth twitched. Good grief, you still want to find Superman? Haven't you been beaten enough?
"Then what is it?"
Hearing this, Steve was a bit disappointed. He had been planning to train hard to wipe away his previous shame and capture Superman.
"This mission is for you to investigate Whiplash's movements before he was killed by Superman, focusing specifically on Hammer Industries."
Steve's eyes narrowed upon hearing Nick Fury's mission.
"Sir, are you saying that Hammer was the one who sent Whiplash?"
Steve found it somewhat hard to believe.
"I think there's a high probability."
Nick Fury nodded, his single eye full of seriousness; he clearly wasn't joking.
"Then do Senator Stern and Director Pierce also..."
Steve suddenly had an ominous premonition.
If Hammer was suspicious, then couldn't Pierce and Stern, who just supported cooperating with Hammer, also be suspicious?
Could the government have already been infiltrated? Steve didn't dare to imagine it.
Chapter 20: Hammer and the Super Serum, a Two-Pronged Approach
"It's impossible. It should just be Hammer's problem."
Upon hearing this, Nick Fury rejected Steve's idea without hesitation.
Setting aside Stern, Pierce was their Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
How could he possibly be involved in such things? It was simply a pipe dream.
Steve also felt it was unlikely; he nodded, dismissing his own ridiculous thought.
In his view, a tight-knit organization like the government couldn't be infiltrated by anyone unless the entire government consisted of spies, but how could that be possible?
"Since you already know, then take action as soon as possible."
"Information on Hammer Industries will be sent to you later."
With that, Nick Fury was the first to turn and leave.
Steve stood where he was, silently contemplating a strategy for the operation.
...
Inside the conference room.
On the screen, a video of Superman defeating Ivan was playing.
Seeing Nick Fury leave, the three of them relaxed a bit. Senator Stern had completely dropped his air of importance and was looking at Pierce quite respectfully.
Watching the video of Superman, Pierce remained silent, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
No matter how many times he saw it, Superman's power still terrified him.
Furthermore, they weren't sure if this was Superman's full power; after all, no opponent had appeared yet who could make Superman show a hint of difficulty, and Supermanwas always revealing new powers one after another.
Against such an enemy, he didn't dare to be the slightest bit careless. Although they now had Justin Hammer's remote-controlled armor, he still felt a deep sense of unease.
"Hammer's armor alone isn't enough; this alone cannot possibly defeat Superman."
After thinking for a long time, just as Stern and Sitwellwere becoming a bit anxious, Pierce voiced his decision.
"Is that still not enough? Hammer supposedly has hundreds of Mechanical Soldiers over there. If they all deploy, even three regiments couldn't stop them. Are you overestimating Superman too much?"
Stern was somewhat skeptical. No matter what, Supermanwas still flesh and blood. Against such firepower, any carbon-based lifeform wouldn't be able to withstand it.
"It's not enough. We must prepare for the worst."
Pierce shook his head. He was much more cautious than Stern; he couldn't afford even a single mistake.
"Right, since Rogers has awakened, can the Super Soldier Serum Project be restarted?"
At that moment, a flash of inspiration hit Pierce, and he murmured to himself as if he had thought of something.
"That won't work. I've asked headquarters, and they said that without Abraham's data, research on the Super Soldier Serum simply cannot proceed."
Sitwell shook his head and said with some regret.
"I see. In that case, it seems we'll have to start with General Ross."
Pierce remembered General Ross telling him not long ago about a Mutant caused by gamma radiations who had gained immense power. They were planning to study that person to create a new Super Soldier Serum.
...
Inside a certain military base.
Inside General Ross's office.
The two of them sat facing each other.
"Director Pierce, I didn't expect you to have the time to visit me. I wonder what brings you here?"
Ross warmly served Pierce a cup of coffee and asked with some confusion.
Early this morning, Pierce, who usually didn't have much interaction with him, suddenly arrived. Needless to say, Ross knew there must be something important, but he couldn't figure out what could possibly bring him here in person.
"General Ross, I've come here today primarily to learn about the progress of your research regarding the gamma radiation Mutant."
Pierce took a sip of coffee and stated his purpose calmly.
After discussing with Stern and the others recently, he felt that the remote-controlled armor alone wasn't safe enough. Having just received news that Ross had made new progress, he decided to come and take a look.
"Gamma Mutant!"
Ross's expression changed, and he looked at Pierce with slight surprise.
He had been tracking news of Bruce Banner for a long time with little progress.
But just a few days ago, an elderly man drank a beverage and was detected with gamma radiation. He suspected that Banner was at the production site of that drink.
He hadn't expected Pierce to receive the news so soon after it emerged.
Ross was surprised for a moment but quickly adjusted himself and continued.
"Director Pierce truly lives up to his title as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; your information is indeed well-informed."
"That's right. I've already found news of the Mutant Bannerand have sent two Assault Teams there. I expect to hear back soon."
Pierce's eyes flickered. He adjusted his glasses and said with a light smile.
"Then it seems we'll be receiving good news very soon."
For two special forces squads, capturing one person could be said to be as easy as turning over one's hand.
"Indeed."
Ross also nodded with a smile. He had poured countless efforts into this research, and now that success was imminent, he was naturally very happy.
"In that case, I'll congratulate you in advance on your success, General Ross."
"However, I have another idea. I wonder what you think, General Ross?"
Seeing that General Ross was in a good mood, Piercechanged the subject and asked tentatively.
"Oh? I wonder what idea you have, Director Pierce."
Ross had a "just as I thought" look on his face. He had long guessed that Pierce wouldn't visit without a reason.
"It's like this: hasn't there been a Superman who's been very active lately? Not only has he been killing criminals in public, but he's also linked to the recent massacre at the military camp."
"Senator Stern and I both feel that such an unstable factor should not be left unchecked, and we've decided to deal with him."
"But Superman's power is immense, and we aren't certain of success. I heard you're researching Super Soldiers and wanted to ask if you could share the technology with us to use against Superman."
Pierce laid out the whole situation and then quietly waited for Ross's reply.
He didn't directly demand Ross hand it over. Instead, he used the Superman issue as a lead-in and mentioned the military camp incident specifically to incite the anger of Ross, who was also a soldier, to gain his consent.
Sure enough, as a soldier, Ross was enraged upon hearing Superman was related to the military camp massacre. He slammed the table and said,
"I didn't expect this Superman to be so arrogant. You're right; such a person absolutely cannot be left alone. Rest assured, Director Pierce, once my research is complete, I'll definitely let you use it first to bring this Superman to justice."
Seeing this, Pierce smiled, then stood up and raised his right hand toward Ross, saying,
"It's wonderful that you're so reasonable. Those fallen soldiers will surely feel comforted."
Ross and Pierce shook hands, reaching an agreement.
Meanwhile, inside Steve's apartment.
Rogers was preparing his equipment. He was about to investigate the connection between Hammer Industriesand Whiplash. Hammer Industries was heavily guarded, so he had to be fully prepared.