The people attending the hearing buzzed upon hearing my words.
"It must be a lie? He's probably joking."
"Tony Stark made Iron Man, so if it's Jin..."
"It's a plausible story."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Quiet! Order! We are in a hearing."
Ben Stern banged his gavel to calm the people. Then the hearing room became quiet again.
"Chairman Jin, is that true?"
"No. I've been joking too much. But the reason I made such a joke is because the government is surveilling private citizens and corporations. They're monitoring like this, even mobilizing satellites."
Then Ben Stern hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Chairman Jin, this is a matter related to national security. The government has the right to know what is being made on an island where enormous capital and materials are invested."
"Fine. Then let me tell you."
I took out a smartphone from my pocket and waved it.
"This is our company's new smartphone that just came out. Everyone probably knows it. We advertised a lot. Products like this come from that research facility."
This wasn't a lie.
"That research facility is responsible for researching and developing all the products our company makes. It's where all the smartphones and home appliances you're using now are being researched. And I'm sure it's registered as such, as a research facility."
Like Tony did, I hacked the monitor and showed the registration documents on the screen.
"The island, as you heard, is an important place where the livelihoods of our company and our subcontractors are at stake, and it's a place where smartphone technologies are researched. If by any chance our product technology were to be stolen, we couldn't guarantee the security of all our customers worldwide who use our products. That's why we have no choice but to pay attention to security."
I emphasized why we had no choice but to have such security on the island.
"Nevertheless, an organization that supposedly manages international security has illegally intruded on the island."
I displayed a video on the monitor again. It showed Natasha being caught in an electric net fired by drones while secretly infiltrating the island. I pointed at Phil Coulson and spoke.
"You wouldn't dare say that the agent who intruded isn't from the same organization, right? Agent Phil Coulson?"
I approached Phil Coulson and spoke softly.
"If not, I'll activate Baby Shark again."
Then Phil Coulson, perhaps having trauma from Baby Shark, trembled and spoke.
"Yes... she is our agent."
Seeing him admit so easily, it was clear that not only did he have trauma, but important servers or computers must have been infected as well.
"As you heard, they even deployed an agent to steal corporate technology. Even though you know that security is the lifeblood of smartphones. This is no different from trying to steal smartphone technology to surveil citizens."
People began to buzz again. Then Phil Coulson hurriedly grabbed the microphone and said.
"That's not true. We had no intention of surveiling citizens."
I looked at Phil Coulson and chuckled.
"I'm curious. What kind of organization is it that tries to infiltrate another company's research facility and steal information like that?"
"That's... classified."
"It seems the ones who need a hearing aren't Tony or me, but the organization this agent belongs to. Honestly, where is it safe to run a business in America?"
As people seemed interested in SHIELD's identity, Senator Ben Stern began to bring up another issue.
"We understand it's a corporate research facility. Then how do you explain the large ship next to the island?"
"I can tell you if you insist, but if I do, it will cause enormous losses as it's an important project of our company. Who will take responsibility for that? Will Senator Ben Stern take responsibility? Or will the state compensate?"
"That..."
"The citizens are watching. Don't you think it's too much? Arbitrarily surveiling corporations, demanding disclosure of important corporate secrets that could become major businesses? I can't just let this go. Senator Ben Stern, and the international security agency under the World Security Council that attempted corporate espionage, I will prepare a lawsuit. Be prepared."
As I took a strong stance, Ben Stern, perhaps flustered, said while sweating cold sweat.
"Calm down. Chairman Jin, this is related to national security, so we'd appreciate it if you could understand generously."
"It's already too late. The satellite photos, the senator's and witnesses' statements have already let many people know that our company is preparing a large-scale business. Prepare for the lawsuit."
Ben Stern said with a tearful expression.
"T-this concludes the hearing."
Tony smiled and raised his palm as if to high-five. I also met his palm for a high-five.
After the hearing ended and we came out of the Capitol building, numerous flashes went off as journalists swarmed, but we safely boarded the car thanks to the bodyguards' restraint. One journalist shouted loudly, "Are you building a Gundam? Japan is in an uproar. Please tell us the truth!" but I just ignored it.
"We should party today. Where should we go?"
Tony, perhaps in a good mood from today's hearing, suggested a party.
"Tony's house or my house are too far, let's rent out a nearby club entirely."
"Great!"
Thus, we rented out an entire club and had fun with Tony, Rhodey, Pepper, my secretaries, drinking and dancing, then moved to a luxury hotel. Tony hit it off with a pretty female secretary and went into the same room, but I thought, well, this is America.
'By the way, I've been here for over 10 years now, I should probably get a girlfriend.'
The next day, I ordered room service for a simple meal. While waiting for room service, I heard a knock at the door. Checking with [Observation Haki], it wasn't room service. Since my [Hostile Detection] ability didn't activate, it didn't seem to be someone trying to cause trouble, so I opened the door.
"Nice to meet you. Jin, you really gave us a hard time."
"We meet again, Motherfucker. Come in first."
"Huh? Have you seen me before? And Motherfucker..."
"You look so much like someone I know, I made a mistake."
This time, Nick Fury from SHIELD came personally. As I made two cups of coffee, placed them on the table, and sat on a chair, Nick Fury also sat opposite me. Nick Fury asked directly.
"Jin, how much do you know about us?"
"I know things even you don't know. You had a hard time with the green monster recently, right?"
"How do you..."
"Anywhere the internet reaches is my domain. Do you now understand why I'm called the Emperor of IT?"
"Weren't you the Prince?"
"Hmm... Anyway! So what brings you here?"
"I'd like you to not file the lawsuit and settle it amicably. If you know about us, you know it's hard for people to find out, right?"
It seemed he was worried that everything would be exposed due to the large-scale lawsuit advertised in the hearing.
"Then you shouldn't have touched me first. Right? Why do you recklessly poke around someone else's house?"
"SHIELD is an organization that responds to all threats to humanity! We see your information-less strange island and large ship, and you yourself, Jin, as threats."
"You're being too rude to a mere entrepreneur living in America."
"How will you explain this?"
Nick Fury placed a few photos on the table. The photos showed me fighting the Iron Monger.
"What about it? Don't people have one or two superpowers these days?"
Nick Fury, as if finding it absurd, frowned and spoke.
"Can you call that an explanation?"
"Then what about Carol Danvers? Bruce Banner? And the Skrull species you're using?"
"How do you..."
"Didn't I say? Anywhere the internet reaches is my domain."
"Jin, you are a very dangerous being."
"Why me? Did I kill someone? Did I commit terrorism? I don't understand. I'm just an entrepreneur."
"If we put our minds to it, we could ruin your company in an instant."
"Haha, how cute. On the contrary, let me say this. With one word from me, the entire SHIELD could disappear in an instant, Nick Fury."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with us?"
"Who started it first?"
Silence hung for a while. Nick Fury threatened me, but I could see cold sweat on his face.
"Sigh... Damn! I lost. Frankly, I know very well that without you, the U.S. economy would be ruined. Even if we ignore that and fight, we don't know what abilities you have or what information you possess."
Nick Fury was the one to break the silence first. He seemed to have investigated to some extent how I affect the U.S. economy and the scale of my capital.
"You know well."
"For real? That you can erase SHIELD with one word."
"It's true."
"How? Is it an ability?"
"No, it's possible with abilities too, but just one word is enough. Why, want me to do it now if you're curious?"
"Ahem..."
It's nothing. I could just release all the HYDRA information. Then they'd disappear on their own.
"Anything else to ask?"
"Will you tell me if I ask?"
"Yeah, within the limits of what I can say."
"What is your goal?"
"To make a lot of money, marry a pretty and virtuous woman, and live happily."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
In the Marvel world, it was true. Because this world was to be used as a supply warehouse, that's why I made so much money.
"Then, what about that island and ship?"
"The island is really a corporate research facility and home, and the ship is a comprehensive resort ship. It's not some strange weapon like you guys think. In a few days, I'll be recruiting crew. I'll also do promotions."
"What are your abilities?"
"That's a secret."
"Are you going to file the lawsuit?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty pissed. I thought about erasing SHIELD itself, but since they'll handle troublesome matters for me, I'll just file a public lawsuit. I plan to extract an enormous amount of money using the best lawyers and judges in our company's grasp. I'll also disclose information."
"Sigh... Can't we just compensate you?"
"With what?"
"What do you need?"
Frankly, I didn't need anything from SHIELD.
"I know you're working on the Helicarrier project, so build one and send it to me."
"How do you know that? And do you think that's possible?"
"Yeah, I think it's possible. Since your technology is trash, except for the engine, take out the propulsion fans, and the top two deck levels too."
"Calling SHIELD technology trash... Anyway, then it might be possible."
"Then it's settled. I'd like it within a year."
"I hope we can see each other as cooperative next time."
"That depends on SHIELD. I've upgraded Baby Shark to include the dance moves, so if you're going to mess around, you better think carefully."
"Hmm, I'd appreciate it if you could hold back on that."
Thus, the conversation ended and Nick Fury left the hotel.
When I returned to my home on the island that day, the news, newspapers, and various media were in an uproar about Chairman Jin building a Gundam. Especially in Japan, there was a big uproar, with people saying things like "Don't touch Japan's Gundam" and "The pilot must be Japanese," starting to talk nonsense. Moreover, Bandai in the Marvel worldview even contacted me for collaboration.
"Did I speak carelessly? This is driving me crazy... Nano!"
[Yes, Master]
"Can you build a Gundam by any chance?"
[It is possible, but I do not recommend it. It is quite inefficient.]
Listening to Nano, considering that such a giant robot walks, the pilot would be shaken up and down while sitting on a chair at least three stories high, and it's unlikely there's anyone who could endure that. If that robot were to jump, the pilot would obviously become ground meat. To prevent that, installing anti-gravity devices, which are technology that doesn't exist in this world, would risk technology leakage.
[That problem can be solved by installing artificial intelligence instead of a pilot, but beam sabers cannot be replaced with this era's technology.]
"Anyway, I understand."
Thus, a few days passed, and Tony, Pepper, and Rhodey came to visit our island. Naturally, important equipment, etc., was hidden in places only accessible via teleportation.
"Wow~ Jin, these drones have good technology. Give me one."
"Okay. Take one when you leave."
Tony looked around the research facility, glancing here and there as if searching for something.
"What are you looking for?"
"The Gundam."
"..."