Chapter 11 Flirting with Natasha
The air, in this instant, seemed to be squeezed by an invisible large hand, and even the flow of molecules stagnated, solidifying into a heavy entity that pressed down on people's chests, making them feel suffocated.
Only the old life-sign monitor in the corner continued to tirelessly emit a faint "buzzing" sound, like an insect trapped in a glass jar, each flutter of its wings amplifying the heart-pounding silence.
Natasha Romanoff's signature, perfectly professional smile first stiffened slightly at the corners of her mouth, then cracked inch by inch like a frozen lake in winter.
The cracks spread over her cheekbones, eventually shattering completely, turning into a cold frost that could freeze the air.
Her beautiful green eyes, famous in the intelligence community, now shed all pretense of gentleness, locking onto Lin Chen's face, not even missing the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.
Shock flashed through her pupils, immediately replaced by deeper confusion.
How did this man know her identity?
But more than that, there was a flush of anger at being stripped of all disguises and having all her cards seen through, like tiny sparks quietly igniting in her eyes.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely at this moment.
A full dozen seconds.
Seemingly short, yet for Natasha, those dozen seconds felt as long as a dozen hours.
Every second tested her psychological fortitude as a top Agent.
Suddenly, her tense shoulders relaxed, and her body leaned back against the chair, a soft thud sounding as her spine met the leather seat.
The murderous aura, which had almost solidified, instantly receded without a trace like a tide, as if the Agent whose gaze could kill just now was merely an illusion.
She stretched out her fingers and gently took off the rimless glasses she used as a disguise.
These were actually S.H.I.E.L.D. custom-made miniature communicators, but at this moment, they had become a superfluous burden.
She casually placed the glasses on the table, the lenses clinking softly against the metal surface with a "clack," then gently rubbed her brows with her thumb and forefinger, as if to relieve a sudden fatigue.
When she looked up again, there was no trace of feigned gentleness in her green eyes.
Only pure scrutiny and sharpness remained, like two drawn daggers, ready to dissect Lin Chen from the inside out to see what secrets he was hiding.
"Alright, no more pretending."
Her voice was a few shades hoarser than before, stripped of its deliberately mimicked gentle tone, instead gaining a magnetic low pitch.
Like the bass string of a cello being gently plucked, it was inexplicably… sexy.
"Who exactly are you?"
She leaned slightly forward, hands clasped on the table, "I tried to look up your information, but…"
Here, she paused, a hint of inquiry in her eyes: "Your information is blank in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database."
"No birth records, no academic files, not even traffic violation records, as if you appeared out of nowhere in this world."
"An 'non-existent' person who can easily fight the Hulk in a Brazilian favela and even possess destructive power comparable to a nuclear bomb…"
She drew out her words, each one laced with probing, "You make me very, very curious."
As her words fell, she spread her hands.
The silver bracelet on her wrist jingled lightly with the movement, the charm actually a miniature tranquilizer dart launcher, but at this moment she had no intention of using it.
She seemed to have completely accepted the current situation.
"Speak, what are your conditions."
Her gaze swept over Lin Chen's entire body, seemingly confirming whether the man in front of her was carrying any weapons, before returning to his face.
"As long as it's not excessive, S.H.I.E.L.D., and even I personally, can satisfy you."
She deliberately paused, then her red lips curved into an extremely alluring arc.
It was the smile she had used countless times on missions, one that could make any man's heart race, "Or… something else?"
When she said the words "something else," her voice trailed off slightly, and her eyes held a subtle hint of suggestion.
She leaned forward a few more inches, her collar slightly open, revealing the delicate lines of her collarbone.
However… Lin Chen merely watched her performance calmly, without the slightest ripple in his eyes.
Then, he suddenly smiled.
Not a laugh, just a slight upturn of his lips, with a hint of playfulness, a hint of understanding.
The next second.
Natasha's pupils suddenly contracted to pinprick size!
Lin Chen's figure in front of her suddenly blurred like an oil painting dampened by rain, its edges beginning to fade, and then… without warning, he vanished into thin air from her sight!
"?!"
All of Natasha's hairs stood on end instantly, goosebumps spreading from her spine all the way to the back of her neck!
Years of Agent instinct made her instantly enter battle mode, her body like a spring compressed to its limit, muscles tensed, ready to spring from the chair at any moment.
But… it was too late.
A warm breath, carrying a faint scent of sun-dried soap, mixed with a subtle hint of male pheromones, gently brushed past her ear, bringing a tingling sensation.
Immediately after.
A man's hand gently landed on her fair neck.
His fingers were long and strong, with a slight callus at the fingertips, gently caressing the most vulnerable carotid artery on the side of her neck.
The pressure wasn't heavy, but it was like a knife hanging over her head, making her scalp tingle, and she instinctively lightened her breathing.
Natasha's body completely froze.
Cold sweat slowly trickled down her temples, dripping onto her collarbone, bringing a chilling sensation.
However, she didn't even have the courage to resist.
She had no doubt that if she made any untoward movement, the hand on her neck would instantly exert force and snap her cervical spine.
That sense of oppression from death was even stronger than when she endured torture in the Red Room back then.
What… what speed was that?!
Finally, Natasha took a deep breath and conceded, "Do you… have any chivalry left?"
"Chivalry?"
Lin Chen seemed to have heard the biggest joke, and he chuckled softly.
The laughter vibrated through his chest, transferring to Natasha's body through their close proximity, making her even angrier.
His head, taking an inch, leaned even closer, almost completely resting on Natasha's neck, his warm breath fanning her sensitive earlobe.
"Miss Romanoff, aren't you a bit too naive?"
As he spoke, he took a deep breath, his nose gently brushing her cheek.
"Hmm… the base notes of Chanel No. 5, mixed with a hint of cedarwood, that's the limited edition, right?"
"Nice scent, I like it very much."
This action, filled with extreme humiliation and offense, completely ignited the fury of Natasha Romanoff, the top Agent!
She could accept mission failure, she could accept her identity being exposed, but she would never accept this humiliation of being treated as "prey" and wantonly toyed with!
A scholar may be killed, but not disgraced!
"Bastard!"
She cursed angrily, her head, without the slightest hesitation, sharply flung backward!
This was a top-tier combat technique.
Using the hardest part of the human skull to attack the enemy's most vulnerable facial triangle, especially the bridge of the nose and the eye sockets!
If it hit, at best it would break the nose, at worst it would cause immediate unconsciousness!
She could even imagine Lin Chen being hit, his nose bleeding profusely, collapsing in pain.
Then she could seize the opportunity to draw her gun and counterattack, even if she couldn't subdue him, she could at least buy time to escape.
However… just as the back of her head was about to collide with Lin Chen's face, she didn't notice that Lin Chen's hand, which had been on her neck, had quietly withdrawn at some point.
His fingertip lightly brushed the stone disc engraved with a monkey totem at his waist.
That Monkey Talisman instantly erupted with an almost imperceptible golden light!
The golden light instantly enveloped Natasha's entire body.
"Bang!"
The back of Natasha's head didn't hit anything, only striking empty air, and she fell backward with inertia.
But her body seemed to be instantly gripped by an irresistible, strange force, and then began to change uncontrollably!
"Uh ah—!"
A short, startled cry squeezed from her throat, and before the sound could fully spread, it became increasingly high-pitched.
Her vision was rapidly plummeting!
The office desk, which had been at her eye level, now appeared as high as a small mountain.
The chair she could easily sit on just moments ago now had legs as thick as pillars, and its seat became an unreachable platform.
Her body was rapidly shrinking at a visible rate!
Her perfectly fitting black suit instantly became baggy, sleeves and pant legs drooping down, finally falling to the ground with a "whoosh" like a heavy black cloth, wrapping her tiny body.
"Plop."
A soft sound, like a small pebble falling on cloth.
In her place, where was the sexy, fiery, and powerful Black Widow?
Only a small white rabbit, entirely snow-white with soft, fluffy fur, sat slumped in the pile of black suit.
Its two pink, long ears drooped on either side of its head, and its ruby-like eyes were filled with terror and bewilderment.
Its tiny nose twitched incessantly, seemingly unable to believe what was happening before its eyes.
"Squeak—!!!"
A sharp, terrified shriek erupted from the small white rabbit's mouth, the sound as clear as glass beads hitting the floor, echoing in the silent basement, filled with deep despair.
Chapter 12 Remember to choose a smaller one
A golden light flashed again.
It was like pressing the rewind button on a videotape.
The little white rabbit that had just fallen to the ground with a "thud" was re-elongated in a distorted light and shadow, its body expanding.
Accompanied by a dense, spine-chilling crackling sound of bones reforming.
Less than a second later.
The light dissipated.
Natasha Romanoff's figure reappeared in her original spot.
The feeling of weightlessness disappeared.
In its place was the shiver of naked skin touching the cold air, and... unprecedented fear and shame!
She was afraid of Lin Chen's bizarre and unpredictable ability, and ashamed that he had played with her like a toy.
"Ah—!"
She instinctively let out a short shriek, wrapping her arms around her chest and curling up, as if this could bring her a sense of security.
Her body trembled uncontrollably due to extreme fear and anger.
She still hadn't figured out what had just happened; everything seemed like an illusion.
How long has it been?
How long has it been since someone made her feel this helplessness, this loss of control over her own life?
Lin Chen stood by, composed, a playful smile on his lips, his gaze sweeping uninhibitedly over her perfect figure.
"Nice body."
He even nodded sagely, like a professional connoisseur.
"You... what did you do to me?!"
Natasha's voice was hoarse and trembling, and for the first time, an emotion called "breakdown" appeared in her green eyes.
As a top Agent, she had experienced countless life-or-death situations, but none had made her feel more desperate and helpless than the recent experience!
That feeling of her life form being forcibly twisted and reduced to another species was enough to destroy anyone's will!
"Just a magic trick."
Lin Chen shrugged nonchalantly, as if he had only done a trivial thing.
"How was it? Is my rabbit still cute?"
"Magic?!"
Natasha, upon hearing this, almost went mad!
You call this magic?!
Turning a living person into a rabbit, is this what you call magic?!
This is a power only a god could possess!
She bit her lip hard, forcing herself to calm down.
Fear wouldn't solve the problem.
Anger wouldn't solve the problem either.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the tumultuous emotions in her heart, and looked up again, gazing at Lin Chen with a look mixed with apprehension, vigilance, and a hint of humiliation.
"I admit, you're very powerful, and I can't do anything to you... but you're toying with me, you shouldn't really want to fall out with us, right?"
Natasha's tone clearly softened.
She knew that, at this moment, she had no right to bargain.
It would be easier for him to kill her than to crush an ant.
"That's more like it."
Lin Chen snapped his fingers, his smile bright.
"You guessed right, I actually quite like you guys. But if you want to negotiate with me, just sending a runner isn't enough."
"Go back and tell your boss, that one-eyed bald man with an eyepatch who likes to act profound."
Natasha's pupils constricted slightly.
He actually knows Fury?!
"Have him come see me personally."
Lin Chen held up a finger and shook it.
"And, remember, be a little more polite."
"I don't like people yelling at me."
Natasha fell silent.
This condition, while seemingly simple, was incredibly arrogant.
To have the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, personally come to see a... Terrorist?
And to be polite?
This was simply a fantasy!
"He won't come," Natasha stated flatly, "Director Furywon't..."
"He will come."
Lin Chen interrupted her, his smile becoming meaningful.
"You just need to go back and deliver a message to him for me."
"What message?"
"Tell that bald man..."
Lin Chen paused, his voice lowering, carrying a mysterious sense of knowing everything.
"I know about the Project Insight."
"Boom!"
These four words, like a heavy bomb, exploded in Natasha's mind!
Her face instantly turned pale!
The Project Insight?!
This was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top secret!
A top-secret project directly authorized by the worldSecurity Council, unknown even to most high-ranking Agents!
How could he possibly know?
However, Lin Chen's performance had just begun.
He looked at Natasha's shocked face and continued slowly:
"I also know about the Helicarrier."
Another bombshell!
"I also know... that Secretary Pierce and your Director are at odds, despite appearances."
"I even know..."
Lin Chen leaned in closer, almost touching Natasha's ear, and in a voice only they two could hear, he softly uttered two words.
"...the Kree."
Natasha's body suddenly stiffened!
With the previous terms, she was merely shocked.
But this last term made her feel a deep dread from the depths of her soul!
The Kree?
What was that?
She had never heard that term!
But she could feel from Lin Chen's tone that what these three words represented was a secret far more terrifying and profound than the "Project Insight"!
"Now, do you think he'll come?"
Lin Chen straightened up, smiling at her.
Natasha stared blankly at Lin Chen, her lips moving, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Her brain had completely shut down.
This man in front of her could no longer be described as "dangerous."
He was a ghost.
A devil who held all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lifelines, and even more unknown secrets.
After a long while.
Natasha finally found her voice and said with difficulty, "...I will... deliver the message."
"Very good."
Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction, then bent down, picked up the discarded ladies' suit from the ground, and handed it to her.
"Put it on, little rabbit."
There was a hint of teasing in his voice.
"While I don't mind, if you run out like that, tomorrow's New York headlines will be all about you."
Natasha's cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
She snatched the clothes, quickly turned her back to Lin Chen, and dressed as fast as she could.
Every movement seemed a bit stiff due to complex emotions.
She felt that this man... she couldn't handle him.
This was also the first time in her professional career that she felt at a loss, as if she had been led by the nose the entire time.
When she had tidied herself up and turned around, Lin Chen was already leaning against the door, watching her with interest.
"Before you go, one more piece of advice."
"What?"
"Next time you want to hide a gun on your body, remember to choose a smaller model."
Lin Chen's gaze swept uninhibitedly over her thigh beneath the suit skirt.
"That way, at least you'll have a more suitable place to hide it, so people won't guess it immediately."
With that, he winked at her, opened the door, and walked out gracefully.
Leaving Natasha Romanoff alone, standing in place, her face alternating between green and white, her chest heaving violently.
She looked at her slightly trembling right hand, then at the empty doorway.
Today's experience would undoubtedly become the most profound and most humiliating memory in her Agentcareer.
This man named Lin Chen... what kind of monster was he, after all?
Chapter 13 Who is he?
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, the Triskelion.
Top floor.
Nick Fury's office.
Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, Washingtonwas bathed in the twilight, the setting sun like blood.
But the light inside the office was even more oppressive than the night.
Fury stood like a silent sculpture, his back to the door, leaving Natasha with only a dark silhouette.
The air solidified.
"He said... 'Project Insight.'"
Natasha's voice echoed in the spacious office, carrying a dryness she hadn't even noticed herself.
"Word for word."
Fury didn't move.
"He also said that Secretary Pierce and you are at odds, despite appearances."
Fury still didn't move.
As if it were just irrelevant babbling.
Natasha took a deep breath, uttering the word that still made her heart palpitate.
"Finally, he mentioned..."
"The Kree."
This time, a barely perceptible stiffness appeared in Fury's shoulders.
He slowly turned around.
In his sole eye, there was no longer the usual depth and authority, but rather a surging, terrifying wave!
It was a look mixed with shock, disbelief, and... a hint of terror buried for decades!
"He really said that?"
Fury's voice was low and hoarse, like two rusty metals rubbing together.
"Yes, Director."
Natasha met his gaze, answering affirmatively.
She keenly caught Fury's emotional fluctuation, and the shock in her heart grew even deeper.
That man, with just three words, had breached the psychological defenses of this legendary King of Agents!
"Director..."
Natasha couldn't help but press.
"What exactly are... the Kree?"
Fury's gaze flickered, instantly returning to its deep, unruffled calm.
He didn't answer.
He simply walked behind his desk, leaning his hands on the surface, his single eye staring intently at a drawer beneath the desk.
His brain was working at a speed beyond a supercomputer.
The Project Insight... S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top secret, known to only a handful of people.
Pierce... the biggest viper within S.H.I.E.L.D., his conflict with him was also hidden in the deepest parts, few knew of their disagreement.
And... the Kree!
This word should have been a taboo long sealed by time, forgotten by the Universe.
It was also his biggest and deepest secret!
It even involved the origin of his eye and a woman whose face he had almost forgotten due to the passage of time.
Lin Chen!
This name, like a supernova, exploded in his internal intelligence Universe.
Who exactly is he?!
How did he know all of this?!
"Knock knock."
The office door was knocked, and Maria Hill poked her head in.
"Sir, regarding the investigation into Lin Chen..."
"No need."
Fury looked up, interrupting her.
His eyes had become sharp as knives.
"All investigations, stop immediately."
"Notify everyone, the target's danger level has been raised to the highest."
"But..." Hill was a little confused.
Fury's single eye swept over her, then returned to Natasha, his tone decisive.
"Set up a time with him."
"I want to meet him personally."
...An hour later.
Outside an ordinary apartment building in Queens.
Natasha stood before a brown wooden door, her emotions extremely complex.
She raised her hand, then lowered it.
Raised it again, then lowered it again.
Behind the door was a devil that couldn't be judged by common sense.
But... when she finally mustered the courage to knock on the door.
"Creak—"
The door opened.
The expected gloom and oppressive feeling didn't appear.
Instead, there was a rich aroma of cooked food.
Lin Chen, who opened the door, had changed into casual loungewear, still holding a spatula, with a warm, beaming smile on his face, like a boy next door.
"Oh, if it isn't our little Agent Rabbit!"
He greeted her warmly.
"Please come in, you've arrived just in time for dinner!"
Natasha's gaze swept past him, immediately performing a quick scan of the room.
Then, her pupils suddenly constricted.
Sitting on the living room sofa was a man wearing black-rimmed glasses, looking flustered and somewhat at a loss.
Bruce Banner?!
The top scientist who had been hunted by the the militaryand S.H.I.E.L.D. for several years due to the gamma ray accident?!
He was indeed here!
"Why are you standing there, come in."
Lin Chen turned sideways, completely unguarded, leaving the door wide open.
"Try my cooking, authentic Four Joy Meatballs and Kung Pao Chicken."
Natasha, filled with astonishment and vigilance, walked in.
She watched Lin Chen skillfully place two brightly colored, fragrant dishes on the dining table, then handed Banner a pair of chopsticks, her entire brain in chaos.
What exactly was going on?
A devil who could turn people into rabbits, a terroristshiding the world's most wanted fugitive... now, was enthusiastically inviting her to dinner?
"So, what did the one-eyed man say?"
Lin Chen served himself a bowl of rice, asking without lifting his head.
Natasha composed herself, forcing herself into work mode.
"Director Fury has agreed to meet with you."
"I knew it."
Lin Chen smiled, put a piece of chicken in his mouth, and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, "He's a smart man."
"He said you can set the time and place."
Natasha was concise.
Lin Chen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and revealed a meaningful smile.
He looked out the window, where the neon sign of Stark Industries was flashing.
"The location... let's set it at the closing ceremony of the Stark Industries Expo."
"What?!" Natasha exclaimed, "There are too many people there! Security..."
"Isn't security something your S.H.I.E.L.D. should worry about?" Lin Chen asked casually.
Of course he knew what would happen there.
Ivan Vanko's drone army, Justin Hammer's conspiracy... and War Machine and Iron Man in their suits.
That would be a grand fireworks show.
And he would be the special guest of this show.
Natasha was speechless.
She found that in front of this man, she was always at a passive disadvantage... Half an hour later.
After seeing off the still dazed Black Widow.
Lin Chen closed the door and turned to look at the nervous Dr. Banner.
"Don't worry, Bruce."
He patted Banner's shoulder, his smile gentle.
"That bald guy isn't as scary as you think."
Banner pushed up his glasses, smiling wryly: "I'm not worried about him, but about... the other me."
"In a crowded place like that, I'm afraid Hulk will lose control..."
"With me here, you won't lose control."
Lin Chen's tone carried an unquestionable confidence.
He walked to the window, watching the neon lights gradually rising among the distant tall buildings, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up into a playful arc.
"Let's go, Doctor"
"I'll take you to see the world."
"And while we're at it..."
"Let's borrow some pocket money from a 'Tin Man'."
Chapter 14 It's time for the protagonist to appear
Stark Industries Expo.
Closing ceremony site.
Underneath the massive spherical stage, the crowd roared, and neon lights flickered like a sea of stars.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of popcorn and the fervent atmosphere of countless ordinary people engaged in "technological worship."
All sorts of high-tech marvels, unheard of in the real world, were everywhere here, like street vendor goods.
"Lin... do we really have to stay here?"
Bruce Banner pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, his palms already slick with nervous sweat.
His gaze anxiously swept over the bobbing heads around him, as if every excited face hid a beast that could provoke "the other me."
"Relax, Doctor"
Lin Chen held a super-sized bucket of popcorn in one hand and patted Banner's shoulder with the other. The Horse Talisman flashed, once again calming Banner's restless heart.
He smiled carelessly.
"Just pretend you're here to watch a free 3D IMAX-level sci-fi blockbuster, and it's live."
He pointed to the holographic projection on a nearby display stand.
"Look, flying cars, aren't they cool? Your Universe's technology, it's quite shocking to see it in person."
Banner twitched the corner of his mouth, forcing out a smile uglier than a cry.
Shocking?
He only felt his heart pounding so hard it was about to burst from his chest.
Lin Chen, however, seemed oblivious to his discomfort, grabbing a handful of popcorn and stuffing it into his mouth, saying indistinctly:
"Alright, before the blockbuster starts, I need to go backstage and see if the 'actors' are all here."
Banner was startled: "Backstage?"
"That's right."
Lin Chen smiled mysteriously, but his eyes instantly deepened.
With a thought, the goat-engraved Talisman on his lope belt glowed faintly, almost imperceptibly.
Goat Talisman, activate!
Astral Projection!
The next second, Banner felt an emptiness beside him.
Although Lin Chen was still standing in place, a lazy smile still on his face, still chewing popcorn with relish.
But Banner inexplicably felt that the Lin Chen in front of him suddenly became like an exquisite shell without a soul.
The feeling was strange; he didn't know if it was his imagination.
And at this moment.
A translucent 'Lin Chen' with a faint green glow had already passed through the thick wall, drifting like a ghost through the backstage area of the expo.
Ignoring physical obstacles.
Ignoring electronic surveillance.
This was the power of the Goat Talisman, the master of dreams and souls!
He easily passed through heavily guarded security rooms, sweeping past rows of Hammer Industries drones about to make their appearance.
Finally, in the most secluded central control room.
He saw him.
A heavily tattooed Russian man with sinister eyes and a toothpick in his mouth was sitting in front of a computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
Ivan Vanko.
Lin Chen's soul form floated behind him, watching with interest the lines of code flashing across the screen.
"Tsk tsk, what a genius, too bad his brain isn't very good, collaborating with a clown like Hammer."
Lin Chen's soul form pouted, then floated away.
Returning to his body.
The moment his soul returned to its place, Lin Chen's eyes regained their sparkle.
"How was it? Are the actors in position?" Banner couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"Mm, protagonist, villain, cannon fodder... not a single one is missing."
Lin Chen stuffed the last bit of popcorn into his mouth and clapped his hands.
"The show is about to begin."
Before the words even fell!
Boom—!!!
Deafening rock music exploded!
The dome above the stage opened, and dazzling fireworks shot into the sky!
A red and gold figure, like a Celestial descending, heavily crashed onto the center of the stage, accompanied by airwaves and cheers.
Iron Man, Tony Stark!
"Yeah!!!"
Tony flipped open his faceplate, spread his arms, and reveled in the mountain-shaking screams and applause.
"Did you miss me?!"
He was still that flashy, narcissistic billionaire.
Lin Chen watched from below, amused.
"Look, the Tin Man is here, that appearance fee probably wasn't cheap."
"He... he's Stark?!"
Banner was a little astonished.
"Yes, a guy who's about to poison himself to death."
On the stage, the plot unfolded exactly as Lin Chen had predicted.
Tony, with a few words, made Justin Hammer unable to back down, directly pressing him for Ivan Vanko's whereabouts.
Hammer's cold sweat was visibly pouring down.
Just then!
"Tony!"
A roar.
Another metal giant descended from the sky, landing heavily beside Tony.
All silver and black, with a Vulcan cannon on its shoulder, full of exaggerated combat style.
It was War Machine, James Rhodes.
"Oh ho, the supporting character has also appeared."
Lin Chen, not one to shy away from excitement, picked up a nearby cola and chugged a mouthful.
The very next second after his words fell... a sudden change occurred!
Rhodes' War Machine armor's eyes suddenly flashed with an ominous red light!
The system interface on his helmet was instantly covered with countless garbled codes!
[System Intrusion!]
[Weapon system control... lost!]
"What's going on?" Rhodes looked blankly at the red light on the panel.
"Rhodes?!"
Tony also sensed something was wrong.
But, it was too late!
Ivan Vanko's sneer silently bloomed through a screen backstage.
Act!
"Bang!"
The Vulcan cannon on War Machine's shoulder began to rotate, mercilessly aiming at Tony, who was just inches away.
At the same time.
On both sides of the stage, dozens of Hammer drones, displayed as exhibits, simultaneously lit up their scarlet single eyes!
"Click! Click! Click!"
Amidst the cold sound of metal transforming, they fully deployed their hidden weapon systems, aiming at Iron Manin the center of the stage.
And... tens of thousands of innocent spectators below!
"Ah—!!!"
Panic, screams, chaos!
In an instant, the entire venue seemed to turn into a living hell, and the crowd scattered and fled.
"Damn it!"
Tony cursed, his faceplate instantly closing, and his thrusters roared as he dodged Rhodes' first wave of gunfire.
Bullets poured onto the stage like rain, sparking countless fires.
Immediately after, dozens of drones attacked from all directions.
Lasers!
Missiles!
A dense network of firepower instantly engulfed Iron Man!
Explosions echoed one after another.
Tony Stark, the highly anticipated superhero, at this moment, appeared disheveled and struggling to cope.
In the chaotic crowd, Banner's face had turned pale, and he desperately suppressed his breathing, fearing that the green beast would burst out.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen, next to him, was completely out of place in this chaos.
He still stood in place, a playful smile even on his face.
As if this terrorist attack, significant enough to be recorded in history, was truly just an opening act performed for him.
"The fireworks show is good."
"Then..."
Lin Chen's gaze, piercing through the explosion's fire, precisely locked onto War Machine's figure on the stage.
His palm slowly brushed over his waist.
His fingertips lightly touched the rabbit-engraved Talisman.
"It's time for the protagonist to appear."
Chapter 15 My appearance fee is very expensive
Lin Chen's voice was very soft.
So soft it was as if he was only talking to himself.
"It's time for the protagonist to make his entrance."
The moment his words fell—
Rabbit Talisman, activate!
"Swish!"
A blur impossible to catch with the naked eye instantly tore through the air!
Lin Chen, who had been standing next to Banner, abruptly vanished from his spot.
The next second.
He appeared like a ghost between Iron Man and War Machine, the violent airflow he created even blowing away the hot shell casings on the stage.
Both men only saw a flash before their eyes, and then there was an extra person in the middle.
What the hell?!
This was Tony and Rhodes' first thought.
Lin Chen's appearance was too sudden; his speed surpassed bullets and even thought!
"Too noisy."
Lin Chen frowned, as if he was merely complaining about a neighbor's renovation noise.
His right hand was already pressed against the center of his belt, on the talisman carved with a wild ox.
A faint red glow on his body flashed and disappeared.
Lin Chen's seemingly slender arm was, in that instant, directly imbued with strength comparable to that of a Titan!
He didn't even look at the War Machine's gaping Vulcan cannon muzzle, merely casually throwing out a plain, unremarkable straight punch.
There were no grand, flashy special effects.
Only an extremely dull thud, so loud it made hearts stop.
"Boom—!!!"
Along with a loud bang, the several-ton War Machinearmor was instantly as if struck head-on by an invisible siege hammer.
The special alloy armor on its chest, capable of resisting cannon fire, warped and caved in around the fist like paper, forming a terrifying dent.
"Ugh!"
Rhodes, inside the armor, felt his internal organs shift, his vision went black, and he instantly lost consciousness.
And that Iron Giant transformed into an out-of-control silver-black cannonball, flying backward with even greater speed than it had arrived!
"Rumble—!!!"
War Machine crashed through several exhibition stands, finally embedding itself deeply into the wall of the exposition's spherical building, completely silent.
One punch.
Just one punch.
War Machine, which had just been dominating Iron Man, was sent flying.
This terrifying scene caused Tony Stark's brain to crash.
Even the entire battlefield fell into an eerie one-second silence.
Then!
The dozens of Hammer drones simultaneously locked their crimson single eyes onto this uninvited guest.
Fierce firepower instantly poured out!
However, Lin Chen didn't even lift his head.
He just sighed softly, with a bored tone.
"What a bunch of annoying flies."
As he spoke, his left hand once again brushed his waist, this time landing on the round talisman depicting a pig totem.
In an instant!
Lin Chen's eyes were completely replaced by a golden glow so hot it was impossible to look at directly.
That was not the gaze a human should possess!
That was the light of judgment, used by a god to incinerate evil!
"Sizzle—!!!"
With a sound like lightning tearing through the night sky, two yellow high-pressure molten charged particle beams, even more dazzling than the sun's core, instantly shot out from his eyes!
With Lin Chen as the center, the beams, guided by his head, traced a perfect 360-degree arc of death!
Whether flying in the sky or moving on the ground.
All Hammer drones hit by this arc of death, without exception!
Their bodies were like cheese cut by a red-hot steel knife.
Accompanied by a "crack" sound, all of them were neatly melted and cut in half at the waist!
Their upper halves were still firing, while their lower halves had already turned into molten metal on the ground!
In just a few breaths.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
In the sky, a downpour of dozens of piles of molten metal began.
The entire process took no more than three seconds.
The previously arrogant autonomous robots, in the blink of an eye, became a pile of scrap metal.
The chaotic venue once again fell into a deathly silence.
In mid-air.
Tony Stark remained in his flying posture, completely dumbfounded.
The genius brain beneath his helmet was now blank.
"Jar... Jarvis?"
His voice was a bit dry.
"...Sir, I am here."
Jarvis's perpetually elegant and composed British accent, for the first time, carried a hint of a "crash-like" stutter.
Tony took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"What was that just now? Analyze! Analyze it for me! Who is he? What kind of weapon was that? Is that something a human can do?!"
"I apologize, Sir, I cannot analyze it."
Jarvis's voice conveyed an unprecedented solemnity.
"The target's movement method exceeds the limits of thermodynamic theory, and his power output readings are far beyond my analytical limits."
"As for that beam..."
Jarvis was silent for half a second.
"...It does not belong to any known or unknown energy form on Earth; there is no record of it in my database."
"The only thing I can pinpoint is the belt around his waist."
"It is emitting a type of extremely terrifying energy radiation that I cannot comprehend."
"Sir, I suggest we do not make an enemy of him; our Iron Man Armor... simply cannot withstand his attacks."
This was the first time Jarvis had given such advice.
Tony's Adam's apple bobbed, and he immediately shed his flippant attitude, becoming serious.
Meanwhile, on the ground.
The instigator of all this merely lightly clapped the dust from his hands.
As if he had just casually crushed a few ants.
Lin Chen looked up, flashing an overly brilliant smile at the stunned Iron Man in mid-air.
"Hey, Tin Can."
"Need help?"
"Friendly reminder, my appearance fee is very expensive, you know."
Tony was about to grit out, "Who the hell are you?"
Suddenly, another anomaly occurred!
"Boom—!!!"
Accompanied by a loud bang.
A steel figure, even more massive and ferocious than War Machine, descended with thunderous force, crashing through the hole in the exhibition hall's dome!
The two energy whips in his hands, flashing with blue electrical light, crackled in the air like venomous snakes, violently striking the ground between Lin Chen and Tony.
Scorched cracks instantly spread.
It was Ivan Vanko!
He made his debut, clad in the "Whiplash" Mark II armor!
He did not follow the original plot but appeared early.
Tony's expression changed, and he instantly entered combat mode.
Lin Chen, however, didn't even change his posture.
He just tilted his head with interest, glancing at the large, electrically charged figure.
The smile on his face was still that of a cynical playboy.
"Actually, I've always wondered something..."
"What kind of insulating material did you use for your whips that they don't electrocute you?"
Chapter 16 Your Dad Is Really a Thing
Ivan Vanko's eyes, sunken deep within his helmet, were fixed on Lin Chen.
His gaze was like that of a hungry wolf on the Siberian ice plains.
"Get lost, bug."
He squeezed out hoarse Russian from between his teeth, and the energy whips in his hands crackled on the ground, leaving two scorched electrical marks.
"Stark is my prey."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow at his words.
Although he didn't understand Russian, based on the plot he had seen, he could roughly guess what Ivan Vanko was saying.
Just then...
"Whoosh—bang!"
A heavy metallic thud.
Tony Stark landed steadily beside Lin Chen, his mask opening with a 'click' to reveal a face full of solemnity and confusion.
He didn't even look at Lin Chen, just stared intently at Ivan Vanko.
"Ivan, this is between the two of us."
"Your grievances, direct them at me."
Tony's voice was cold, carrying a suppressed fury.
"Don't drag innocent people into this!"
"Innocent?"
Ivan Vanko let out a hoarse, wild laugh, as if he had heard the funniest joke of the century.
"Hahahahaha! Stark, you actually have the nerve to say 'innocent'?!"
He abruptly pointed the whip in his hand at Tony, veins bulging on his forehead, with unconcealed rage.
"Your father, Howard Stark, a despicable thief! He stole everything from my father! Ruined his life!"
"And you, Tony Stark, you reaped the benefits, using my father's hard work to build your Iron Empire!"
"Today, in front of the whole world, I will drag you down from your pedestal and make you taste the suffering my father endured back then!"
Ivan's voice was filled with malice and madness.
At his words, Tony's face instantly darkened, and his breathing became a little heavier.
Ever since Ivan Vanko was captured, he had indeed had Jarvis investigate the events of that year.
However, too much time had passed, and coupled with the special period of the U.S.-Soviet Cold War, many things were simply impossible to say what was right and what was wrong.
Ivan Vanko's father, if one insisted he was harmed by Howard, it would be more accurate to say he was simply unlucky and became a victim of politics.
However, he hadn't even had time to retort.
A hand suddenly patted his hard Iron Man Armor shoulder lightly.
"Pat-a."
Tony subconsciously turned his head.
He saw Lin Chen looking serious, nodding with a knowing expression.
"Hmm, I think he has a point."
Tony: "?"
Lin Chen turned his head, looking at Tony with a reproachful gaze, as if to say, "How could you be like this?"
"A son paying his father's debts is only right and proper."
"Your father was indeed not a good person. The Arc Reactor technology certainly had his father's contribution, but he didn't receive the recognition and reward he deserved."
"All the credit went to your father, Howard Stark. You say your family isn't short on money, so why couldn't you have given him a severance package back then to make his life a little easier?"
"That's better than hogging everything and having his son come knocking, right?"
Tony Stark's CPU completely fried at that moment.
He opened his mouth, feeling his logical system had been unprecedentedly impacted.
"You... whose side are you on, goddammit?!"
Lin Chen heard this and showed an expression that said, "You just don't understand."
He patted Tony's multi-million dollar suit again, making a crisp, pleasant sound.
"I'm on the side that pays."
He winked at Tony, his smile incredibly innocent.
"So, my appearance fee, clearing fee, and food expenses..."
"Tell me, would you prefer card or cash?"
"You—!!!"
Ivan Vanko's rage was finally completely ignited by this blatant disregard.
He was the protagonist!
This guy, who appeared out of nowhere, dared to treat him as a backdrop and haggle with Stark here?!
Was this an insult to him?!
"Die!!!"
Ivan Vanko let out a roar.
Two energy whips, like electric venomous pythons, violently tore through the air, carrying a destructive, tyrannical aura, striking fiercely at Lin Chen from two directions, left and right!
The speed was so fast that it left blue afterimages in the air.
Tony's face changed drastically; he was about to raise his hand to fire an Shockwave.
However...
Lin Chen didn't even make a move to dodge.
He merely slowly raised his right hand, fingers spread.
As if he intended to catch those two energy whips, capable of melting steel, with his bare palm.
"My Lord is speaking; children go play somewhere else."
He softly uttered a sentence.
With his left hand, he casually brushed the Rooster Talisman, proudly displayed on his belt.
"Buzz—!"
A barely perceptible faint blue light flowed out from his palm.
The next second...
A bizarre scene, enough to make Newton sit up in his coffin, occurred.
Those two unstoppable energy whips mysteriously froze about half a meter from Lin Chen's palm!
Immediately after, as if pulled by an invisible force, their whipping target instantly shifted from Lin Chen to their Master—Ivan Vanko!
No!
It wasn't that the whips changed direction.
It was Ivan Vanko's several-ton "Whiplash" armor that was forcibly lifted from the ground by an irresistible mysterious force, floating uncontrollably towards the sky.
"What?!"
Ivan Vanko let out an incredulous gasp, his words filled with terror.
He felt as if he was gripped by an invisible hand of God, his feet off the ground, his entire body floating upwards uncontrollably.
"This is... what did you do to me?!"
He struggled wildly, but found himself like a puppet on strings; besides flailing his limbs, he couldn't break free from this force at all!
Lin Chen's hand didn't even move.
He just looked up, as if watching a rising hot air balloon.
Ivan Vanko was thus lifted straight, slowly, and with endless humiliation, to the dome of the venue, dozens of meters high.
Neither up nor down, he hung there, like a dried steel jerky.
Tony's mouth hung open as he stared blankly up at the figure on the venue's dome.
If earlier punching War Machine away and eliminating drones with a glance was the epitome of violent aesthetics...
Then this current move was a dimensionality reduction attack of a supernatural phenomenon!
Tony Stark slowly, stiffly, turned his head.
He looked at the man beside him, who had a nonchalant expression, and his Adam's apple under the helmet bobbed hard.
"Gulp."
He heard himself swallow.
"Um..."
Tony's voice was drier than ever, even carrying a hint of humility, as he cautiously asked:
"Your appearance fee... how much?"
"Name your price."
"I'll pay!"
Chapter 17 This is blackmail!
Lin Chen's calm, detached expression of a master instantly melted away.
It was replaced by an incredibly enthusiastic, almost fawning smile, like someone who had just spotted a fat sheep.
He rubbed his hands together, leaned close to Tony Stark's ear, and lowered his voice, like a street vendor hawking pirated discs.
"Hey, look at you, Old Tony."
"Why be so polite?"
"Who are we to each other?!"
He clapped Tony's armored chest heavily, producing dull thuds.
"I just said it casually, you actually took it seriously."
"How about this, seeing as we're so compatible…"
Lin Chen held up a finger, his smile as bright as a two-hundred-pound child.
"Just give me a billion or so, just to show you mean it."
"WTF???"
Tony Stark's face beneath his mask was as black as a pot bottom.
He felt like he wasn't talking to a powerful individual, but rather on the phone with a kidnapper who had just abducted him and was now demanding a ransom.
And this kidnapper, he even dared to ask for more money, raising the price on the spot!
A billion or so?
Why don't you just rob someone?!
Oh, right, this is pretty much the same as robbing someone.
Tony's mouth twitched uncontrollably; he felt his Arc Reactor was about to overload from anger.
Although he wasn't short on that amount of money, he felt extremely aggrieved having to pay it.
Just then.
"Screech—!"
The piercing sound of police sirens finally grew louder, approaching from the distance.
Large numbers of police and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, armed with guns and arranged in professional formations, belatedly rushed into the venue.
Leading them was Natasha Romanoff, who had just finished working backstage.
Her striking red hair and tight black combat suit perfectly accentuated her incredibly alluring figure.
She rushed in, panting, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead.
Tony's gaze instantly fixated on her like iron filings drawn to a magnet, unable to move away.
"Woah."
A heartfelt sigh of admiration escaped his helmet.
Lin Chen followed his gaze and offered a knowing smile.
He patted Tony's shoulder and said earnestly:
"Do you know why villains like this are always so hard to kill?"
Natasha had just led her team to the front and, hearing this, looked bewildered.
What's going on?
Lin Chen ignored her, simply staring at Tony and slowly revealing the answer.
"It's because you protagonists always move a step slower before the grand finale."
Natasha: "?"
Tony: "?"
Lin Chen paid no mind to their reactions. Instead, his smiling gaze swept past Natasha, like a precision-guided missile, locking onto the crowd behind her.
Among those vigilant Agents.
One figure stood out remarkably.
That iconic black trench coat.
That iconic single eye.
That iconic Egghead… Nick Fury!
A playful curve appeared at the corner of Lin Chen's mouth.
He lightly nudged Tony's armored waist with his elbow, who was still admiring the beautiful woman.
"Hey, Tin Man."
"Remember to transfer the appearance fee to my card."
"For the card number, ask this… "
Lin Chen glanced at Natasha's fiery silhouette.
"…Just ask this Miss Rabbit."
"As for me…"
"I have a date."
With that, he turned gracefully and strode towards Nick Fury.
As he took his first step.
Ivan Vanko, who had been suspended from the dome by the power of the Rooster Talisman, like dried cured meat, instantly lost all support!
"Ah ah ah ah—!"
A piercing scream tore through the air!
"Boom—!!!"
A loud crash!
The several-ton "Whiplash" armor, like a falling meteor, slammed heavily onto the floor in front of Natasha.
Sparks flew, and floor tiles cracked!
Ivan Vanko was shaken senseless inside the armor, his eyes rolling back as he completely passed out.
The entire process was smooth and fluid.
Natasha even instinctively jumped back a step, narrowly avoiding being crushed into a pulp.
Still shaken, she looked at the sparking metal lump on the ground, then up at the figure gracefully walking towards the Director, her mind a blank.
As for Tony Stark.
He took a deep, deep breath.
In that breath was the relief of having survived a calamity.
Fortunately… this little yellow-skinned monster… wasn't targeting him.
Otherwise, what fell from the sky just now might not have been that Russian madman.
But him, Tony Stark… The entire Stark Industries Expo venue was as silent as a vast tomb.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the departing figure.
Nick Fury's single eye narrowed into a dangerous slit.
This man… from his appearance to his departure, every action, every word, had completely disrupted all his plans!
He was about to raise his hand, signaling the Agents to approach.
However.
Lin Chen's footsteps paused.
He seemed to have suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead, and wore an exasperated expression of "Oh, my memory."
He turned around.
Under the gaze of hundreds of eyes in the entire venue.
Once again, he looked at Tony Stark, who had just breathed a sigh of relief.
Tony Stark: "?"
The nerves beneath his helmet instantly tensed again.
What?
Does he think the money is too little and wants to raise the price on the spot?
Or does he also want to make him take a free fall?
"Oh, right, Tin Man."
Lin Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly carried across half the venue.
"There's one more thing I almost forgot to tell you."
His tone was as casual as asking, "Have you eaten?"
"That Arc Reactor in your chest is slowly poisoning you to death."
Boom!!!
Upon hearing this, Tony Stark's brain felt as if it had been struck by a divine thunderbolt from the heavens!
A complete blank.
Lin Chen completely ignored his stiff armored body.
Because he had noticed earlier that this world's Tonyseemed not to have solved the palladium problem at this point in time.
The most obvious sign was that the Arc Reactor in his chest was still the old cylindrical model.
Although he didn't know what the situation was, it just happened to give him an excuse to communicate with him.
Therefore, Lin Chen completely disregarded the shocked Tony, instead, he counted on his fingers to himself, like a charlatan.
"Let me see…"
"This palladium poisoning, it has penetrated deep into the bones, spread through the blood…"
"Tsk tsk, with your condition, at most half a month, and you'll need to find a good feng shui spot to bury your coffin."
The whole place erupted in an uproar!
Natasha's pupils constricted!
Nick Fury's single eye instantly widened!
This was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top secret!
It was the Sword of Damocles hanging over Tony Stark's head, known only to him and Tony Stark himself!
How… how did he know?!
"If you want to live, you can come find me."
Lin Chen gave Tony Stark a friendly, worldly smile, like an ancestral miracle doctor applying phone screen protectors under a bridge.
"Guaranteed cure, complete recovery!"
"Fair price, no deception, you know."
"…"
Tony Stark trembled violently.
"Click—"
A crisp mechanical sound rang out.
The iron mask on his face slowly retracted upwards again, revealing a face drained of color, filled with shock and disbelief.
He stared intently at Lin Chen.
The yellow-skinned young man before him wore a harmless smile.
But in Tony's eyes, that smile was ten thousand times more terrifying than the Russian madman's energy whips!
He knew about his palladium poisoning!
He knew he only had half a month left!
Coupled with his brute strength that sent War Machineflying with one punch… and his miraculous ability to instantly freeze the energy whips… this man was not human!
At the very least, he was not human within the scientific scope Tony understood!
Tony Stark's pride, arrogance, and his damned billionaire dignity were, at this moment, shattered by the instinct for survival.
He took a deep breath.
And slowly exhaled.
That face, previously as black as a pot bottom, instantly switched to a radiant, enthusiastic smile, as if he had just seen his own father.
"Hey! My friend!"
Chapter 18 Treating Tony
Tony opened his arms, as enthusiastic as if he hadn't just been blackmailed, but had truly met a long-lost brother.
"Between us, why talk about something as vulgar as money!"
"Your appearance saved my life and the lives of everyone here!"
"Come!"
"You must come to my Villa for a chat! Let me properly, grandly, and with the highest Specification entertain you, my savior!"
At this moment, Tony's will to survive was completely maxed out.
What S.H.I.E.L.D., what Nick Fury, what aliens... they could all go to hell!
Now, only this man in front of him, who could save his life, was the true god!
Lin Chen stroked his chin.
He looked at Tony's sincere yet somewhat exaggerated face and nodded in satisfaction.
Hmm.
Only a wise man knows when to bow to circumstances.
The Tin Man might have a foul mouth, but his brain still worked quite well.
"Alright."
Lin Chen graciously agreed.
"Seeing as you're so sincere, I'll reluctantly make the trip."
Saying that, he turned his head and cast his gaze on Natasha Romanoff, who was completely stunned.
He extended a finger, lazily pointing behind her to the equally shocked one-eyed bald black man.
"Hey, Miss Rabbit."
"You, go tell your Egghead... ah no, your one-eyed Director."
Lin Chen's tone was as casual as if he were instructing his own maid.
"The meeting place has changed."
"Tell him to come find me directly at Tony's place."
...Malibu, Tony Stark's ocean-view Villa.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows were California's eternal golden sunlight and the vast Pacific Ocean.
But the atmosphere in the Villa's living room was colder than the Siberian ice fields.
Four people with varying expressions sat on an expensive circular leather sofa.
Tony Stark, the billionaire, genius inventor, Iron Man.
He was now sitting upright, hands on his knees, like a primary school student waiting for a teacher's lecture.
Pepper Potts looked worried, clinging tightly to Tony, her eyes scanning back and forth across everyone, full of vigilance.
Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the most powerful Agentleader on Earth.
His iconic black trench coat seemed to merge with the sofa, but his single eye was as sharp as a hawk, locking onto his target across from him.
And Bruce Banner was huddled in the corner of the sofa, holding a cup of Water, trying to minimize his presence.
Four people, four directions, staring at each other.
The air seemed to have solidified.
And in this solidified air, the only "noise source" that broke the atmosphere was Lin Chen.
"Hmm... not bad."
Lin Chen sat boldly in the main single-seater sofa, clutching a Hawaiian-style pizza, eating with oil dripping from his mouth.
As he spoke, he picked up another slice and offered it to Dr. Banner in the corner.
"Doctor, want a slice?"
Banner: "..."
He hesitantly glanced at Fury's face, which was blacker than the bottom of a pot, and silently shook his head.
He was afraid he would get indigestion if he ate it.
Finally.
This eerie silence was broken by Nick Fury.
He didn't look at Tony, nor at anyone else.
His single eye, from beginning to end, was like a nail, fixed on Lin Chen.
"You killed General Ross."
Fury's voice was devoid of any ripple, as if stating an established fact.
Boom!!!
This sentence, light as it was, exploded like a heavy bomb in the living room!
Tony Stark's eyes widened sharply.
Pepper Potts gasped, instinctively covering her mouth.
General Ross?!
The the military bigwig known globally for his tough methods and pursuit of Hulk, Thaddeus Ross?!
Dead?
Killed by this... man who was currently eating pizza?!
In an instant, Tony and Pepper's gazes towards Lin Chencompletely changed.
From seeing a mysterious, powerful, greedy "savior," he became a lawless, rule-breaking, extremely dangerous... thug!
Only Dr. Banner's body, upon hearing the name "Ross," stiffened imperceptibly for a moment, then relaxed again, looking down at his Water cup, no one knew what he was thinking.
However.
Facing this Earth-shattering accusation.
Lin Chen, the person involved, seemed not to have heard it.
He slowly swallowed the last bite of pizza and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Then.
He turned his head, completely ignoring Fury.
He looked at Tony Stark, revealing a kind, businessman-like smile.
"Tony, how about it?"
"Do you need me to help you clear the toxins from your body now?"
"..."
Tony's brain crashed for a second.
Murderer... lifesaver... these two extremely contradictory identities clashed wildly in his mind.
But the instinct for survival ultimately outweighed everything.
"Of course! Of course I need it!"
Tony blurted out almost immediately, anxiously standing up from the sofa.
"Do I need to prepare a sterile operating room? Or... any high-precision medical equipment? Jarvis can be on standby at any time!"
"Operating room?"
Lin Chen scoffed, shaking his head, as if looking at a bumpkin.
"To treat your minor ailment, why go through so much trouble?"
He lazily patted the sofa next to him.
"Come here."
"Just move your butt over."
"..."
Tony Stark felt like he had never been so humiliated in his life.
But in the face of death, dignity was worthless.
He took a deep breath, and under Pepper and Fury's astonished gazes, he truly acted like an obedient puppy, carefully inching his way to Lin Chen's side and sitting down.
"What now?" Tony asked nervously.
Lin Chen didn't answer.
He simply raised his right hand, and under everyone's uncertain gaze, slowly pressed it onto the Arc Reactor on Tony's chest.
Buzz--!
The next second, a soft but incredibly pure White light suddenly ignited from Lin Chen's palm!
The light seemed to possess life, instantly enveloping the entire reactor, and permeating through the metal and skin, surging into Tony's limbs and bones.
"Ugh!"
Tony let out a muffled groan.
He felt an indescribable warm current flushing every cell in his body.
That feeling... was like a person who had trekked through the desert for half a month, on the verge of dying of thirst, plunging into a cool, sweet oasis.
All fatigue, pain, and that bone-deep weakness were swept away in that instant!
Even as the light permeated, Tony suddenly began to feel an unbearable itch in his chest.
He instinctively reached out to scratch, but with a 'ding,' his fingernail actually touched a hard protrusion.
"Hmm?"
Tony looked down in confusion, only to see his shirt had puffed out.
"This is..."
Tony's pupils constricted, as if he had thought of something, and he suddenly became excited.
He impatiently unbuttoned his shirt, then gasped in surprise.
Pepper, across from him, also let out a cry of surprise, covering her mouth in disbelief.
Chapter 19 Tony: You are my brother!
It wasn't just Tony and Pepper; Dr. Banner and Nick Furyinside the Villa also had their eyes wide open.
Wrapped in a milky-white glow, the hideous black web-like blood vessels around Tony's chest, which had spread due to palladium poisoning, rapidly vanished.
This wasn't all; the Arc Reactor embedded in the center of his chest actually began to be squeezed out, little by little, as the flesh wriggled.
Then, with a 'pop' sound.
The entire Arc Reactor, along with its base, was actually squeezed out by the regenerating flesh and fell to the ground with a 'thud'.
Along with it, several black shrapnel pieces also fell out.
And the hole in Tony's chest, left by the embedded Arc Reactor, actually… disappeared as the flesh wriggled!
Completely gone!
Not even a trace was left!
The new skin was as smooth and flawless as a newborn baby's.
"Oh my god..."
Pepper covered her mouth, crying tears of joy.
Tony, even more disbelieving, trembled as he touched his smooth chest, his expression utterly blank, as if his brain had suddenly crashed.
The palladium toxins that had plagued him for so long, and the shrapnel in his chest, were actually… actually healed just like that?
"Tony, you're okay!"
Pepper cried tears of joy, hugging Tony tightly.
Tony, like a fool, stared blankly at his chest, then at Lin Chen, as if looking at a god walking among men.
Nick Fury's single eye glowed even brighter than the reactor on the ground.
What did he see?
A miracle!
He had witnessed a miracle that science couldn't explain!
It was at this moment.
Lin Chen slowly turned his head, refocusing his gaze on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly upwards, forming an arch of amusement.
"Egghead."
"I saved your Iron Man, rescuing the most crucial link in your Avengers Initiative."
Lin Chen held up two fingers, gesturing in front of Fury.
"So, do you think..."
"Two hundred million U.S. dollars for the treatment isn't too high, is it?"
Not too high… is it?
Lin Chen's final 'is it' carried a light, lingering tone.
Yet, it was like a meteor, stirring up a level twelve tsunami in Nick Fury's heart.
Thump!
With a dull thud of leather rubbing, the S.H.I.E.L.D.Director, the Shadow ruler of Earth, suddenly stood up from the sofa.
His movements were so fast and forceful that he even knocked over the expensive mahogany coffee table beside him.
Clang!
The water glass on the coffee table rolled onto the carpet, but no one paid attention.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on Fury's face, which was darker than the night.
His single eye was now fixed intently on Lin Chen.
In that eye, the previous scrutiny and coldness had vanished, replaced by a violent storm of shock, horror, and incredulity.
Not because of the two hundred million U.S. dollars.
But because… the Avengers Initiative!
This yellow-skinned guy, did he just say "Avengers Initiative"?!
Fury's brain was buzzing.
This project codename was a nascent idea he had only just conceived two days ago under the immense pressure of the "Project Insight."
A crazy, all-or-nothing ultimate contingency plan to deal with future enormous threats!
He was certain that currently, apart from himself and his most trusted Phil Coulson, no third person in the entire S.H.I.E.L.D., no, the entire Earth, could possibly know!
But how… how did he know?!
The key was, this guy also knew about the Kree… what on Earth was in this guy's head?
Could he read minds?
Just as Fury's world view was crumbling.
Another person, also in a state of shock, finally recovered from his daze.
Tony Stark.
He looked down, blankly touching his chest, which was as good as new, feeling the long-lost, powerful heartbeat.
No more stinging pain from the toxin's erosion.
No more weakness from the life countdown.
He had survived.
He was cured!
All in a matter of seconds!
Tony sat stunned for a full half-minute, the tumultuous waves in his mind no less than Nick Fury's.
Then.
He suddenly turned his head, looking at Lin Chen with the fervent gaze one would give a parent who had given them new life.
The next second.
The billionaire, flamboyant Iron Man did something that made everyone's eyes pop out.
With a 'Waaah!' he embraced Lin Chen's leg with open arms, like a two-hundred-pound child!
"Bro!"
"You're my real brother!!"
The entire living room instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Pepper's mouth twitched.
Dr. Banner almost crushed his water glass.
Even Nick Fury, who had just stood up with a menacing aura, was forced to swallow the words he was about to say due to this sudden scene.
He reconfirmed, hmm… yes, it was indeed Tony Stark.
Lin Chen's face darkened.
He lifted his foot with a look of disdain, trying to shake off the giant attachment clinging to his leg.
"Get lost!"
"Don't you dare claim me as family!"
Lin Chen kicked Tony's shoulder, pushing him away.
"Look at you, you won't even let me vent my excitement?"
Tony stumbled from the push but didn't care, a relaxed expression of relief still on his face.
It was no wonder he was emotional.
After all, the palladium toxins that had plagued him for so long were so easily resolved, and even the shrapnel in his body was removed; anyone would laugh three times with joy.
At the same time, he was already thinking about how to thank Lin Chen.
And his previous actions were merely a desperate attempt to prevent Fury from angering the other party.
If the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director died in his Villa, even as a billionaire, he wouldn't escape accountability from the Security Council.
Lin Chen, however, didn't know what he was thinking.
After resolving Tony's problem, he refocused his gaze on the standing Nick Fury.
He leaned lazily back on the sofa, a playful curve on his lips.
"Egghead, don't be so agitated."
"Are you very curious why I know about the Avengers Initiative?"
Nick Fury's eyelid twitched violently.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, his voice hoarse and low.
"Lin Chen."
"It seems I need to re-evaluate your threat level."
"Look, you're doing this again…"
Lin Chen shrugged indifferently, a strong sense of exasperation on his face.
"Whatever you want, A-Rank or S-Rank, it makes no difference to me."
"But I must warn you, don't try to provoke me, or I won't mind killing you."
He crossed his legs, leaned slightly forward, and said word by word:
"Also, I want to tell you that I know far more than what you think in your black head."
"More than you can imagine."
"Now."
"Are you going to pay the treatment fee or… do you want to deduct it from my monthly salary?"
Salary?
Fury's single eye narrowed.
"You know why I came to find you?"
"Heh."
Lin Chen chuckled softly, snapping his fingers crisply.
"Pop!"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"A powerful, mysterious, uncontrolled individual suddenly appears."
"According to your S.H.I.E.L.D. standard operating procedure, step one is surveillance, step two is contact, step three, if it's confirmed that you can't eliminate them…"
"Aren't you just trying to recruit me?"
Lin Chen's gaze swept over Fury, carrying undisguised mockery.
"But I must warn you."
"My appearance fee is very high, extremely high."
"Are you sure your S.H.I.E.L.D.'s meager budget… is enough?"
Nick Fury fell silent.
He looked at the man before him, who seemed to have everything under his control.
Threats?
Intimidation?
These tactics seemed so ridiculous in front of this person.
He held all your secrets, while you knew nothing about him.
This game, from the very beginning, was not on the same dimension.
After a long while.
Fury's tense body finally slowly relaxed.
He sat back on the sofa, the turbulent waves in his single eye receding, leaving only an unfathomable calm.
He knew he only had one choice today.
"Speak."
Nick Fury's voice returned to its unruffled state.
"Your conditions."
Chapter 20 This is an ancestor
Lin Chen leaned back in the soft sofa, facing Nick Fury's deep, abyss-like single eye, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.
"My conditions are very simple."
He slowly extended a finger.
"First, I want authority."
"All of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources, including but not limited to weapons, technology, logistics, and personnel, must be fully at my disposal."
Fury's pupils constricted slightly, but he said nothing, signaling him to continue.
Lin Chen extended a second finger and gently wiggled it.
"Second, I want intelligence."
"Your intelligence database must be completely open to me. From the remnants of Hydra to rumors of aliens, I want to know everything I want to know."
He looked at Fury's increasingly grim face, and his smile grew even brighter.
"As for the third..."
Lin Chen withdrew his hand, interlaced his fingers on his lap, and leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes seeming to pierce through people's hearts.
"I don't want anyone to disturb my life, unless I want to be disturbed."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee that someone won't have an 'accident' because of it."
"Also, if I'm in a good mood, or if I find things interesting, I might help you solve some'small problems' that you can't solve."
"Like... an alien invasion or something."
When his words fell, Nick Fury's face had turned as black as charcoal... though he was already quite dark.
What exactly did this guy want?
Was he threatening him?
What did he take himself and S.H.I.E.L.D. for?
A slut for everyone? Come and go as he pleased?
Pepper gasped.
Dr. Banner's eyes were filled with astonishment, as if saying, "You can play it like this?"
Tony, on the other hand, looked at Lin Chen with a face full of admiration, as if saying, "So bold? Awesome!"
Nick Fury was about to explode with anger, but he dared not act out.
Facing the three extremely harsh conditions Lin Chenproposed.
If he really agreed, where would S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dignity go?
This wasn't a negotiation; it was clearly inviting a patriarch!
But did he have a choice?
A mysterious powerhouse who could fight Hulk, cure incurable diseases, possessed several superpowers, and seemed to be able to predict the future... Fury dared not imagine the cost of refusing him.
After a long time, he spoke hoarsely.
"Alright."
Two words, heavy as a thousand pounds.
"However, I also have a condition," Fury's single eye locked onto Lin Chen.
"Oh?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow with interest.
"From now on, you cannot cause such a big commotion in plain sight as you did today."
"I hope you can participate in some events as a consultant."
"At the very least... I need to give the Security Council a reason."
Lin Chen smiled at his words.
He snapped his fingers, clear and pleasant.
"You are a smart man."
"However, you still have to help me get an identity. After all, you don't want me to have to borrow pocket money from the good guys on the street just to go out, do you?"
"Of course, you also have to cancel the warrant for Dr. Banner. From today onwards, he's under my protection."
Nick Fury took a deep breath and nodded: "No problem."
A negotiation that would determine the future pattern of Earth thus hastily concluded in a few words.
Fury took a deep last look at Lin Chen, then turned his gaze to the other key person in the room.
Tony Stark.
He took out a thick file from his briefcase and placed it on the table.
On the cover of the file was a large letter "A".
"Stark, I think you're interested in reviewing the 'Avengers Initiative' assessment report now."
Tony glanced at the file, then at Lin Chen beside him, and then spread his hands lazily.
"Not interested."
"I'm not interested in joining your superhero boy band."
"However..."
Tony changed his tone, a characteristic flamboyant smile appearing on his face.
"For Lin's sake, I can also be your consultant."
"Of course, I'm not obligated to attend."
Fury opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only accept it.
Finally, he turned his gaze to Banner, only to see him with his eyes downcast, not even looking at him.
Fury's eye twitched; his visit today seemed to be in vain.
What kind of situation was this?
"I'll have Agent Coulson liaise with you."
Fury stood up. He had received enough shocks for one day and needed to go back and digest them properly.
"Lin, I hope you... keep your word."
With that, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. left without looking back.
As soon as Fury left, the atmosphere in the Villa instantly relaxed.
Tony let out a long breath, collapsing onto the sofa, then springing up as if injected with adrenaline, throwing an arm around Lin Chen's shoulder.
"Lin! You're staying here from now on! Don't leave!"
In his mind, he had already decided to firmly bind Lin Chento his side, so that if he ever got poisoned again, at least he wouldn't have to worry.
Then, he turned to Dr. Banner, who was a bit flustered.
"And you, Bruce! I read your gamma ray paper, it's simply genius! Stay here, let's do research together!"
"Uh..." Dr. Banner awkwardly pushed up his glasses.
Tony, however, seemed to have discovered a new continent, curiously leaning in front of Banner.
"Seriously, I've always had a question I wanted you to answer for me."
"Uh... please ask."
"When you get angry, do you really turn into a big green guy? Can you demonstrate?"
Banner's face instantly fell, so embarrassed he could dig a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment with his toes on the floor.
"Tony, stop it," Lin Chen slapped his head.
"Come on, show us your lab."
"No problem!"
At the mention of the lab, Tony's spirits immediately lifted. He excitedly led the two towards the basement of the Villa.
When the futuristic glass door slid open, Lin Chen's eyes instantly lit up!
Holy cow!
He finally saw the real thing!
Holographic projection control panels, rows of shiny Iron Man suits, and that familiar robotic arm "Dummy"... This was a man's ultimate romance!
Lin Chen's gaze swept around the lab, finally landing on the row of cool supercars in the garage.
Especially that silver-gray Audi R8.
His eyes instantly became fiery.
Tony, being who he was, immediately noticed his gaze and waved his hand grandly.
"Like it?"
"Pick any one you like, consider it as... uh, medical expenses!"
"Then I won't be polite."
Lin Chen didn't hesitate, walking straight to the R8 and patting its hood.
"This is it."
One takes what one is given, and one speaks softly when fed.
Lin Chen played with the car keys in his hand, then suddenly turned and gave Tony a mysterious smile.
"Tony."
"We have an old saying in China, 'Courtesy demands reciprocity.'"
"You give me a car, and I'll tell you a secret."
Tony was stunned: "What secret?"
Lin Chen walked up to him, leaned into his ear, and whispered something in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Actually... there's a brand new element that can perfectly replace the palladium in your chest arc reactor."
"Are you serious?!"
Tony Stark's mind went blank instantly.