This story's 30 advanced chapters have been uploaded on my Patreon.
Here's the link: patreon.com/Hussain678 — all 30 advanced chapters are available there.
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For the first time—truly for the first time.
Inside S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury watched the video.
Seeing Captain America think that he should be sent to the South to pick cotton—
Fury was furious.
Pick cotton?
You're the one who should be picking cotton!
Your whole family should be out there picking cotton!!!
Fury cursed under his breath.
When he met Captain America in the future—
No matter what.
Even if it meant tricking or deceiving him—
He would tie Captain America to the South and make him experience what it felt like to pick 200 kilograms of cotton every single day.
Only then would he truly understand—
What it meant to "turn the world upside down."
What it meant when people said:
"Sir, the times have changed."
Hawkeye watched the final scene of the video and said,
"A new mission… Is this the mission for the Battle of New York?"
"Judging from the timeline, after finishing Captain America's origin story, it seems we're heading straight toward the New York invasion."
"We've already covered Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America."
"Next should be me."
"After all, among the remaining heroes, I'm the only one who already appeared earlier."
"Heh, Natasha—looks like I'll be one step ahead of you this time."
Black Widow glanced at Hawkeye's smug expression and rolled her eyes.
"I think you're just being sentimental."
"The remaining heroes are only you, me, and Banner."
"I, Natasha, was born in the Red Room—a cold-blooded assassin who eventually became a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent."
"Banner is a victim of gamma radiation. He fought Abomination in New York, then vanished into the mountains."
"And you, dear Mr. Barton—aren't you just an ordinary S.H.I.E.L.D. agent too?"
"Listen, Banner and I both have far more dramatic life stories than you."
"So whoever appears next—it'll be me or Banner."
"It definitely won't be you."
Hawkeye opened his mouth to argue—
Then paused.
Damn.
She had a point.
Damn it.
He couldn't refute that at all.
Stark Tower – Underground Laboratory
New visitors arrived.
Happy, round and cheerful as ever, entered with Colonel Rhodes.
They had something to discuss with Tony.
Rhodes spoke first.
"Tony, I've got good news."
"During our 'friendly exchange' with Daehan, they generously revealed the Ten Rings' hideout."
"We located the Ten Rings and their allied groups—and arrested all of them."
Tony lit up.
Finally.
The Ten Rings were finished!!!
No more being chained in a cave and forced to build Jericho missiles!
Although—
The screen showed that he had invented the miniature arc reactor and Mark I armor in captivity.
If he hadn't been kidnapped, the invention process might have been different—
But as the saying goes:
Suffering itself doesn't deserve praise.
The ones who confront suffering do.
From the screen, Tony had already learned the structure and rough manufacturing process of the arc reactor and Mark I.
Progress would be slower.
But Tony was confident.
Give him a month or two—
He could build them in real life.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
He quickly asked Rhodes,
"By the way—did you rescue Yinsen?"
Tony never forgot the man who helped him build the Mark I in that cave.
Even at the end—
Yinsen had charged the enemy with a machine gun just to buy him time.
The future shown on the screen revealed Yinsen's death.
Tony refused to let that happen again.
Rhodes smiled.
"When we attacked the Ten Rings, we had a team sent to rescue Dr. Yinsen."
"He's already back home in Gulmira."
Tony smiled too.
Rhodes had brought him two pieces of great news today.
At that moment, Happy spoke up.
"By the way, Tony—maybe we should increase security."
"I can take on four or five guys bare-handed, sure—but our enemies might be stronger. We should hire more bodyguards."
Everyone raised an eyebrow.
You… alone against four or five people?
Tony wore a strange smile.
He knew Happy's actual level.
To him, Happy was more of a friend than a bodyguard.
The title mattered more than the skill.
If someone said Happy could eat four or five bowls of food, Tony would believe it.
But fighting four or five people alone?
Tony would be the first to object.
Otherwise—
Why do you think he asked Rhodes to deal with the military?
Seeing everyone's doubt, Happy got excited.
"Hey, Tony! Didn't you know?"
"My nickname is—The Deadly Scissor Kick!"
"…What kind of kick is that?"
"The Deadly Scissor Kick!"
"I clamp your head mid-air and crush it!"
Happy struck a ridiculous pose.
The room burst into laughter.
Happy's face turned red as a liver.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! What are you laughing at?!"
"You don't believe me?"
"Come on, Tony—let's go to the company boxing ring!"
"I'll show you what the real Deadly Scissor Kick looks like!!!"
Tony laughed.
Just as he was about to respond—
The screen lit up.
A new video appeared.
Happy's eyes widened with excitement and curiosity.
On the way over, Rhodes had told him about the mysterious screen that could predict the future.
Happy hadn't believed it at first.
But after seeing arrests, rescues, and the fall of the Ten Rings—
He had no choice but to believe.
Now, seeing the screen light up—
Happy cautiously touched it.
As expected—
His hand passed straight through.
He froze.
Then shoved his head into it.
It felt like empty air.
No physical sensation at all.
Tony laughed beside him.
"Oh, Happy. I told you a long time ago—this screen can't be touched."
Happy tried a few more things.
Eventually, sweating, he gave up.
Accepting that the screen was untouchable.
Feeling hot, he took off his jacket—
Rude as ever—
Grabbed a drink and started chugging.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
Watching Happy's reckless, playful behavior—
Tony relaxed.
The room suddenly felt lively again.
So—
Tony invited Rhodes, Happy, and Pepper to sit on the couch.
He cleared his throat.
"Well then…"
"Let's see what the screen plays next."