"Don't even think about escaping from here. There won't be many guards, but if you plan to flee, that would be disrespecting Mirai Biopharmaceutical. Then the Super Seven Team won't go easy on you. Just stay put."
After issuing this warning to the Avengers, the Mirai Biopharmaceutical personnel left. There really weren't many people here, including some robots controlled by Android 18. Since most tasks were handled by Android 18 and Hyuga Mirai's clones, there were few researchers.
At most, there were guard patrols, no more than a hundred people.
If Android 18 didn't deploy her mechanical guards, Natasha and Clint could escape from here on their own.
After the Mirai Biopharmaceutical Research Center personnel left, the Avengers slowly gathered together. Only Bruce Banner was seriously injured; the rest had bruises and such that would heal in a day.
"How are you feeling, Dr. Banner?"
Tony Stark sat beside Bruce Banner's hospital bed, eating an apple. Whether intentionally or because they believed the prisoners wouldn't escape, they hadn't separated these 'fugitives' into cells but had thrown them into a large activity room.
There were a few private rooms, but no restrictions on communication. After the Future Biopharmaceutical people left, they gathered together and wheeled Bruce Banner out of his room.
"Not bad. I don't know if it's the anesthetic, but there's no pain. This company's biopharmaceutical capabilities are impressive—other medications don't work on the Hulk, but this one actually does."
Bruce Banner joked about himself. Although he was the worst off among those present, half his body wrapped in bandages, while the others at most needed some ointment.
"If possible, I'd really like to talk with their biological researcher. Maybe he could develop something to suppress the Hulk."
Even without medication, Bruce was quite satisfied with this outcome. At least someone could suppress the Hulk, and despite their fight with Spider-Man and others carving through several streets, the result was surprisingly good—not a single innocent casualty.
"What should we do now?"
Steve Rogers asked. He, Natasha, and Clint had just inspected the room. There was only one surveillance camera at the entrance; if they kept their voices down, they definitely wouldn't be overheard.
If they escaped, they had at least eighty percent confidence.
"If we escape, I can handle Dr. Banner—"
"You'd better drop that idea, Steve. Let's find another way to fight Hydra. Escaping isn't a good choice."
After being thoroughly beaten, Tony Stark's attitude and thinking had changed. There was no need for them to flee everywhere. The Director of SHIELD, founder of Stark Industries, and Captain America—all three had fame, wealth, and status. Why voluntarily reduce themselves to fugitives and give their opponents an excuse?
Completely unnecessary. Even if Hydra wanted to arrest them, wouldn't they need Congressional approval? Among the six of them, aside from Natasha, Clint, and Bruce Banner who had weaker positions, which of the other three would be easy to arrest?
"My suggestion is to contact people immediately. Tell your friends about this. Jarvis is already aggressively attacking SHIELD's internal secret files. If we can find Hydra intelligence there, that's when we counterattack. But until then, we must ensure we don't fall into Hydra's hands."
"We can't place our hopes on others, Stark. We need to find evidence ourselves."
Steve didn't quite agree with Stark's view. Asking others to do the work while remaining passive wasn't his style. Following Stark's approach, he could do nothing but wait for their judgment. He hadn't done anything wrong; it shouldn't be this way.
"Steve, be a little more mature. This is the best choice. What else can you do? Rush out looking for Hydra?"
Tony Stark helplessly slapped his forehead while speaking to Steve.
"If Spider-Man hadn't stopped the military, how many super soldiers could you handle? We'd all be beaten half to death and taken back. This is already the best outcome—Bruce Banner is lying on a hospital bed, not an experimental table."
Tony Stark didn't want to use underhanded tactics that would put him in danger anymore. He still had legal troubles hanging over him. If he continued fleeing as a fugitive now, he would probably end up spending some time in prison.
"Director, I'm going to find Hydra my own way. If you all still plan to do things the old way, don't come to me anymore. I'm quitting the Avengers."
Hearing this, everyone looked at Tony Stark. Even Bruce Banner, lying in bed, was somewhat shocked.
"What are you all staring at? If our methods conflict, why wouldn't I quit? Are you planning to visit me in prison? We did fight together after all. Those kids in the Super Hero Team are hostile towards me because of Stark Industries' weapons. If they're watching my every move all day, I won't be able to do anything."
Unlike the others, he had legal troubles and was being watched by superheroes, all while trying to find Hydra. Stark himself was under pressure. This time the Super Seven Team found them first; if the military found them next time, the trouble would be much worse.
Nick Fury glanced at Steve Rogers. The Captain America didn't want to change his mind either. Then Tony Stark returned to his room. He had decided—whatever the others did, he wouldn't participate.
"Jarvis, how's it going?"
"Sir, decryption is in progress. However, SHIELD has multiple layers of protection on their encrypted files. If they don't change the protection protocols, it will take about another month."
"Since we're caught, they should let their guard down. Continue decrypting. Also, manufacture another suit. I feel there's still considerable room for improvement, especially against ability users with telekinesis or speed..."
After entering his room, Tony Stark lay on the bed. After communicating with Jarvis, he prepared to improve his suit. They hadn't confiscated their communication equipment—another reason Stark planned to change his approach. If external communication were impossible, Tony would definitely escape immediately.
With Jarvis still contactable and safety guaranteed, Tony planned to stay here for a while. At least long enough to contact some friends and modify his suit.
There were still a few suits at home, but they were somewhat outdated. Without performance improvements, Tony Stark felt he couldn't handle what might happen in the future.
The military personnel received the same warning from Future Biopharmaceutical. They behaved quite docilely. Emil had injuries similar to Bruce Banner's, and the others had completely exhausted their super soldier serum.
Although they were told there weren't many guards, such deliberate phrasing made them somewhat suspicious. Coupled with Emil's severe injuries, the military behaved very obediently.
After some time, the android Roger received orders from Android 18 and brought military personnel, Congress members, and White House officials to the Future Biopharmaceutical Research Center.
The military representatives weren't from just one faction but were dispatched directly after consultation between the White House and Congress. Among the six were one lieutenant general, two major generals, and the rest colonels—including Tony Stark's acquaintance, War Machine Rhodes.
"Mr. Roger, your company's Super Seven Team performed excellently this time. Regarding the Avengers hearing, we also plan to invite your boss to participate."
A Congressman spoke. After watching the online videos, no one doubted Future Biopharmaceutical's weapons manufacturing capabilities. The weapon power of Spider-Man's suit had destructive force that, to some extent, surpassed intercontinental missiles in deterrence..
"Mr. Carvish, I can't make decisions for my boss on this matter. But he's never been interested in such things, so conveying the invitation is probably unnecessary. If it's other matters, I or CEO Kaguya can handle them completely."
Roger replied with a gentle smile. Although his words somewhat dissatisfied Congressman Carvish, he had no immediate response.
The boss of Future Biopharmaceutical had always been a mystery. Reportedly, only Tony Stark had met him once; others knew nothing about him. Some wanted Spider-Man's suit equipment, but this decision would be difficult to pass through Congress.
Many Congress members had good relations with Future Biopharmaceutical. So far, they had donated over a billion dollars in political contributions—no company in America was more generous. The result was many Congress members supporting Future Biopharmaceutical, such as on the Superhero Act.
"Mr. Roger, this is a tripartite council. For America—"
"Congressman Carvish, I understand your meaning. But even if Earth were destroyed, it wouldn't change my boss's mind. And that wouldn't be particularly difficult for him..."
Although Roger interrupted Carvish, he still smiled while speaking. His words directly left Carvish speechless.
Future Biopharmaceutical was in a phase of rapid development, backed by an endless array of technological means. It couldn't be suppressed like an ordinary company, especially given the demonstrated Super Seven Team—each member capable of destroying a city.
Although Quicksilver hadn't displayed suit weapons, the White House think tank had filled in the gaps for him. It made no sense for Spider-Man and Scarlet Witch to have them while Quicksilver didn't.
A brief conversation caused some displeasure, but Congressman Carvish didn't show it.
After a period of treatment, Bruce Banner and Emil's injuries had mostly healed. But several new casualties had appeared.—coincidentally injured the night before Congressman Carvish's group arrived to collect them.
"Mr. Roger, what does this mean?"
Congressman Carvish and others showed displeasure, turning to Roger for an explanation.
"Why don't you ask the others, Congressman Carvish? We helped treat their injuries and gave them maximum freedom, only requesting they not escape..."
After hearing Roger's words, Carvish and the others looked at Nick Fury and Emil and the rest, finding them unwilling to speak. They realized things were probably as Roger had described.
But the injuries were too severe—worse than Dr. Bruce Banner's initial condition. He only had half his body wrapped in bandages, while Steve, Clint, and eight super soldier squad members were completely covered in fixed splints, as if every bone in their bodies had been broken.
"It's exactly as you're thinking, Congressman Carvish."
Roger suddenly spoke. Carvish's expression barely changed before Roger beside him continued.
"The captain of the Super Seven Team, Super Strong Girl, is the boss's wife. Her word is final. Escaping without permission has serious consequences—the boss said so. To uphold her husband's dignity, it shouldn't be a problem for Super Strong Girl to be a bit tough, right?
Besides, their injuries won't leave sequelae. A few months in bed and they'll be fine. And the others weren't harmed. People must pay the price for their actions."
Getting caught escaping and beaten like this was embarrassing. No wonder no one answered when he silently inquired.
Congressman Carvish felt a slight anger inside but maintained his composure, smiling at Roger "Then we'll take everyone back now. The tripartite hearing is in thirty days. If your boss has time then, we hope he can attend this tripartite council."
"I understand. I'll faithfully relay the message."
Then Congressman Carvish took everyone away.
What enabled simultaneous Congressional and White House action was largely thanks to Tony Stark, inspired by Spider-Man's personal website. He had published all information about Hydra online, with Jarvis providing protection.
This move by Tony Stark dragged the rats from the shadows into the light. With Jarvis's help, Hydra members couldn't even delete the information upon seeing it. SHIELD had quite a few talented people, but compared to Jarvis, they fell short.
Starting from Red Skull in World War II, Tony Stark had collected most of Hydra's activities and applied some artistic embellishment.
After this secret organization was exposed, it immediately sparked debate across the entire internet. Coinciding with the recent fights between the Super Hero Team, Hulk, and Iron Man, people quickly connected that Spider-Man had been exploited by Hydra.
With Tony's deliberate guidance, even the anger of Super Hero Team fans was skillfully directed toward Hydra.
If Steve hadn't acted rashly, they could have resolved this matter well.
Now, due to Hydra's exposure, the White House and Congress had also sent investigators to SHIELD. Before results emerged, Tony Stark and the others were merely restricted to their homes—their movements limited but with dedicated personnel providing protection.
(Chapter End)