"Nazis still active? America becomes the biggest Nazi haven?"
"Even superheroes can be exploited. Where do we go from here?"
"America exploited by Nazis. Is there any way out for us?"
"NYPD Commissioner self-examines and announces candidacy for NYC Mayor and Congressman. His statement: 'Let's make America great again!'"
Tony Stark placed several newspapers on the table, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth before returning to his usual expression. He said to the other Avengers, "See? Sometimes you can trust in others' power. Use it well and you'll find it's quite useful. Right, Bandage Captain?"
Towards the end, Tony Stark couldn't resist teasing Steve, though to others it seemed more like provocation. But Steve could only endure silently, unable to move at all.
"Did you arrange this?"
Natasha suddenly asked, "Getting us brought together instead of held separately. Stark, did you contact Congress members?"
"Better focus on reality. Before the hearings end, it's unlikely any of us will meet with any Congress members."
Tony Stark tilted his head, gesturing toward Rhodes and another military person behind him, continuing, "They're worried about the Hydra situation. As long as we can provide evidence of Hydra's threat, we're heroes. And I'm only slightly better off than you—I can wander around New York freely, though with an escort. Still, it lets me get things done."
"You should have said something earlier, Stark." Natasha smoothed her hair, glancing at Clint. "Then Clint wouldn't be so badly injured..."
Tony Stark sighed deeply at this, feeling exasperated. "Please think for a moment, Natasha! If you'd all listened to my suggestion from the start, would this have happened? Bruce needs treatment. Even if you'd escaped, what about Bruce? Would you have carried him out?"
Having vented some frustration, Tony found these people beyond words. They could solve things with brains but chose the stupidest methods. This wasn't the Avengers; it was the Morons.
"Enough of this, Director Fury. I came today to quit the Avengers. Once this matter is resolved, don't come looking for me again."
Tony Stark had decided—he would achieve his ideals his own way. The Superhero Act had passed; Stark Industries could establish its own 'Avengers' without relying on SHIELD.
He couldn't walk the same path as these people. Whether Nick Fury or Steve Rogers, each had their own principles. When those principles clashed, unless one side compromised, this Avengers would dissolve.
But this time, his approach was clearly superior. Steve and Clint's unauthorized actions led to severe injuries, yet somehow he ended up being blamed?
Ridiculous. Tony Stark felt he never should have let Nick Fury's persuasions convince him to join the Avengers. Maintaining world peace didn't require joining SHIELD.
"See you at the hearings. But I hope you'll behave yourselves and not drag me into more trouble."
With that, Tony Stark left with Rhodes. He now carried an Iron Man suit with him at all times, fearing Hydra might attempt a desperate attack.
His backdoor into SHIELD's internal network had been destroyed recently; Hydra might have realized he was stealing their data.
After Tony Stark left, silence fell over the room.
The Avengers, barely formed, now faced dissolution. Though Hydra had been exposed, the cost seemed too high.
Bruce Banner, who had just accepted an invitation to return to America, was soon severely injured. But his wounds had nearly healed—Future Biopharmaceutical's injections seemed remarkably effective against burns.
After a moment of silence, Nick Fury spoke, "Now we wait. Stark's right—Hydra's exposed now. They're the ones who should worry. Steve, how did you and Clint get injured like this? Was the opponent that strong?"
Steve had only woken that morning. Clint, with inferior constitution to Steve, remained unconscious. Neither would likely attend the tripartite hearings in person; a video conference would be the best outcome.
"I don't know. Clint and I didn't alert anyone. But not long after leaving that place, we encountered someone..."
Steve struggled to recall that night's memories. Though his head wasn't injured, everything remained hazy.
"...Encountered someone. She punched me and Clint once, and then I lost consciousness..."
The account sounded remarkably simple. Nick Fury and Natasha exchanged glances, then retrieved the badly damaged shield from the corner. Fury asked Steve, "Just one punch destroyed the vibranium shield like this and shattered over sixty percent of your bones? Who was she?"
This was America's hardest metal, nearly impossible to replicate, indestructible even by missiles. Yet it had been punched through.
"A woman. Blonde hair, quite beautiful I think, wearing green... I can't remember anything else."
Steve had been stunned senseless; even now, struggling to recall yielded no further details.
"Sir, could it be Super Strong Girl?"
Though Natasha phrased it as a question, everyone could only think of that possibility. Future Biopharmaceutical hadn't tried to hide it; now they could be certain. They just hadn't expected her to be this powerful—America's only successful permanent super soldier, wielding the hardest shield, reduced to this by a single punch.
"I don't think even the Hulk could do this..."
Bruce Banner picked up the shield with one newly functional hand, examined it, then shook his head. But inwardly he felt somewhat relieved—now he needn't worry about the Hulk rampaging unchecked. America apparently had many such monsters.
Super Strong Girl of the Super Seven Team and the newly joined 'Android 18' remained relatively mysterious. But the Avengers had learned intelligence on one of them, at the cost of two members.
Quite a steep price.
"Director Fury?"
Noticing Fury's silence, Natasha sensed he might have other concerns.
"I'm fine. Rest well. After this ends, the Avengers may have other operations. Don't worry about Tony Stark—SHIELD will be fine."
With that, Nick Fury left the room. They had initially been held separately but were now permitted to stay together. Like Tony Stark, they could move around freely, though always accompanied.
Returning to his room, Nick Fury found a girl who looked like a high school student. Instead of showing surprise, he ignored her sudden appearance. "Do you all appear this mysteriously?"
"No, just me. It's my ability."
Sprite waved dismissively, then vanished from her chair and reappeared by the bed.
"Have you considered it? To save Earth, will you cooperate with us?"
"You've provided no evidence. Without evidence, I can't convince anyone else. And what you're saying is too unbelievable."
Nick Fury gave no direct answer, instead deflecting. "Even if all humanity's weapons were concentrated, Earth couldn't be destroyed. Just one tree? Forget others—I don't believe it myself."
Sprite showed no mercy: "You're human. You can't sense changes on Earth. We've protected humanity for millennia; we perceive every shift clearly."
"So leave this matter to you as well. Gods should handle godly affairs; humans handle human matters. Frankly, besides you, there are others calling themselves gods, but without power, they're nothing special..."
Nick Fury recalled Thor and Asgard from recently, a shadow falling over his heart. What secrets did Earth hold that attracted so many gods?
"The moment you approached me, you failed as a god. But thank you for the intelligence. Given the opportunity, I'll investigate."
With that, Nick Fury asked Sprite to leave.
After his gesture, Sprite's figure vanished directly. Fury couldn't determine if she'd actually left. Even infrared detection couldn't trace her arrival; Fury wouldn't manufacture enemies based on anyone's words alone—especially after being 'thoroughly beaten' by them.
"Kamar-Taj is here?"
Kurenai Yuhi looked around. This seemed like an ordinary Manhattan street. The Sanctum Sanctorum was here?
"Spatial magic is nothing difficult for them—practically basic. So location doesn't matter." Hyuga Mirai said with some envy, "Magic develops diverse paths. When facing enemies, they always find countermeasures. But balance means lacking peak specialization... for others, that is."
Recently with free time—the God Tree growing robustly, Kurenai Yuhi's Chakra Fruit soon to ripen, and his other daughter—some elusive nuisances proved annoying. Hyuga Mirai planned to ask the Ancient One; if not Kamar-Taj members, he'd eliminate them next time.
Curiosity once or twice was acceptable; more than that became obnoxious. Today's visit, Hyuga Mirai also intended to discuss the Time Stone with the Ancient One.
He didn't fear the Ancient One's power, but her magic posed complications. If nothing else, should the Ancient One flee with the Time Stone, Hyuga Mirai couldn't catch her even with spatial abilities.
His spatial power operated within the same universe; the Ancient One could traverse dimensions. However, the Ancient One had many concerns—protecting Earth, finding the next Sorcerer Supreme, drawing power from the Dark Dimension, etc.
"I'd like to see how mages fight..."
Tsunade wasn't typically aggressive, but she'd been inactive too long. She'd developed new techniques specifically to counter Hyuga Mirai, yet one drunken impulse made it impossible to ever fight him—a deep dissatisfaction.
After they got together, Tsunade had suggested sparring, but Hyuga Mirai refused outright, cheating by embracing or holding her close, quickly changing the 'sparring' venue.
"Tsunade, we're guests here."
Hyuga Mirai raised the gift box toward Tsunade, though his dissuation was probably useless—her interest remained unbridled.
After pressing the doorbell with no response for some time, Hyuga Mirai pushed the door open directly.
This behavior wasn't ideal, but he had no choice. If the New York Sanctum was perpetually empty, they might wait a month with no answer.
But upon entering, Hyuga Mirai immediately sensed magical fluctuations—apparently the New York Sanctum's entrance also had early warning functions.
Before Hyuga Mirai and his companions had walked far, a space portal opened before them, and two people emerged from the other side—the Ancient One and her disciple.
Seeing Hyuga Mirai, the Ancient One smiled and said, "Ah, it's you. Looking for me?"
Hyuga Mirai indicated the gift box: "Specialties from our world." A deep-sea giant fish, a favorite food of little Zi. He'd tried it and found it delicious, so he'd cultivated a batch.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Mirai."
Like an old friend, the Ancient One accepted the gift and welcomed the three inside. She recognized Hyuga Mirai wasn't here to cause trouble—otherwise he wouldn't have brought his pregnant wife.
"Aside from some artifacts, the New York Sanctum isn't much to see. How about we talk at Kamar-Taj instead?"
Hyuga Mirai's interest immediately piqued. "May I see Kamar-Taj's magic books? I'm extremely curious about the magical system. In exchange, I have quite a few forbidden techniques—Ancient One, you can select some first..."
He had techniques involving space and soul, though Kamar-Taj seemed to have similar traditions.
"Haha... please have a seat first, Mr. Mirai."
The Ancient One chuckled, leading them into Kamar-Taj.
Upon arrival, the Ancient One brought the three to a room and served tea.
After seating and taking a sip, Hyuga Mirai came straight to the point: "Ancient One, I won't beat around the bush. Lately, some people have frequently visited my farm to observe. Are they Kamar-Taj mages?"
That concealment method was remarkable. If not Kamar-Taj members, they were likely Eternals.
If not Kamar-Taj, then Hyuga Mirai needn't show enemies any courtesy.
(Chapter End)