Daredevil coughed and looked at Steve, his expression full of disbelief.
"Is your director always like this?"
Steve, however, could no longer laugh after hearing Nick's Hell's Kitchen joke.
After thinking for a moment, he said,
"So you're the real Nick. That joke was definitely something only you would say.
"But the Nick on the Helicarrier wasn't fake either. His authority was genuine.
"So which one of you is the stand-in?
"I understand why someone in your position would need doubles, but at a time like this, Nick, you shouldn't have kept it from us."
"You're right, Captain."
Nick nodded.
"I'm actually the stand-in. The real Nick Fury has been overseeing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lunar base while it's still under construction. He wanted to supervise it personally.
"After everything that happened on Earth, he immediately returned by spacecraft.
"My job was supposed to end with a quiet handover, but the incident in Hell's Kitchen interrupted those plans.
"We've already spoken. Given the current situation, having another trustworthy Nick Fury isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"He's gone to Washington to figure out how to regain control of Congress, while I'm handling our relatively stable position in New York.
"We both have our responsibilities. If anything I do makes you uncomfortable, tell me directly."
"I understand."
Steve took a deep breath and quietly accelerated.
In the back seat, Daredevil stiffened before finally asking,
"Wait... am I really supposed to be hearing all of this?"
"These aren't ordinary times."
Nick turned toward him.
"Matt Murdock, you're an outstanding lawyer and a remarkably persistent vigilante.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has known about you for a long time.
"We never approached you because Kingpin stayed within the law. There wasn't enough legal evidence to move against him.
"But your efforts placed enormous pressure on his organization and genuinely improved Hell's Kitchen.
"Your methods don't always follow the law, but sometimes a blade in the darkness accomplishes more than legal procedure ever can.
"Personally, I respect your resolve.
"If anyone should feel guilty, it's S.H.I.E.L.D. and me. We never had the resources or opportunity to help you."
Nick faced forward again.
Matt took two slow breaths before speaking.
"You know who I am?"
"That's hardly surprising.
"Hydra exposed many of my failures as Director, but S.H.I.E.L.D.'s intelligence network remains exceptional.
"Once someone becomes an active vigilante, following the trail isn't particularly difficult.
"And since I consider you one of the good guys, why would I treat you like a criminal?
"Anyone making life difficult for evil is an ally in my book."
Nick's words noticeably eased Daredevil's tension.
Just as Matt finally relaxed, his expression suddenly changed.
He froze, carefully listening.
A second later, he shouted,
"Watch out! There's a missile!"
"What?"
Steve instinctively reached for the steering wheel.
Nick looked up sharply.
Before Steve could swerve, Daredevil spoke again.
"Wait... I was wrong.
"That's not a missile.
"It's Iron Man's armor."
"Tony?"
Steve asked.
"Or Lex and Bruce?"
"It should be Tony," Nick answered.
"Lex's and Bruce's suits are significantly quieter. Stark's armor still has an exhaust signature that Matt can hear."
As Nick finished speaking, a gold-and-red streak crossed the sky before descending toward them.
The Iron Man armor slowed until it matched the speed of Steve's vehicle.
Tap. Tap.
The armored hand lightly knocked on the window.
Steve rolled it down.
"Tony, I hope you've still got enough energy left. I could use your help. Hell's Kitchen is still part of New York."
"Request acknowledged, Captain Steve Rogers.
"However, I am not Mr. Stark.
"Please address me as Jarvis, Captain."
The armor responded in its calm mechanical voice.
It then tapped the side of its helmet.
Whoosh.
The faceplate opened.
Inside...
There was nothing.
Nick's eyes widened.
"Jarvis?
"You're Stark Industries' AI assistant?
"Wait... does this mean Tony has finally begun deploying autonomous Iron Man armor?"
"That is correct, Mr. Consultant."
Jarvis replied.
"Mr. Stark has begun collaborating with Mr. Lex and Mr. Bruce.
"He asked me to inform you that by approximately 10:00 p.m., at least eighty autonomous Iron Man armors will be ready for deployment.
"We will coordinate with S.H.I.E.L.D. and provide every assistance possible.
"There is only one request.
"My production cost is extremely high.
"Although I cannot feel pain or fear, I would appreciate it if you avoided allowing me to sustain unnecessary damage."
Steve blinked in surprise.
Nick, meanwhile, practically lit up with excitement.
"That's the best news I've heard all day!
"Tony is finally willing to mass-produce Iron Man armor.
"Jarvis, do you have any weaknesses we should know about? We'd rather avoid putting you in unnecessary danger.
"You represent the future of warfare."
"Thank you for the compliment.
"However, that assessment is inaccurate.
"America's greatest soldier is, and always will be, Captain America."
Steve immediately flushed.
"Jarvis..."
he said awkwardly.
"I didn't know Tony programmed you to flatter people."
"That is not flattery.
"It is a factual assessment.
"Captain America has consistently proven worthy of trust."
While Jarvis continued speaking, dozens of Iron Man armors launched from the upper floors of Stark Tower.
Like a swarm of guided missiles, they spread across New York in every direction.
Tony already possessed a large reserve of older armor models.
Although they weren't as advanced as the versions used during the Battle of New York, every suit shared the same core architecture.
Most importantly, each one already contained Jarvis.
By converting Jarvis from an assistant AI into an autonomous operating system, installing independent power sources, and updating their combat protocols, the older suits became fully autonomous soldiers.
Less than thirty minutes later, every stored suit had become a functioning combat robot.
Looking at the now-empty warehouse, Tony sighed.
It felt strangely empty.
Bruce noticed.
"Feeling disappointed because you're no longer the only Iron Man?"
Tony smiled bitterly.
"Can Batman really understand that feeling?
"No matter the universe, there's only one Batman."
Bruce paused.
"Maybe that's true for other versions of me.
"But when I returned to Gotham, I believed I alone could save the city.
"I was wrong.
"Don accomplished things I couldn't.
"He gave Gotham new life."
Bruce continued working while speaking.
"Once these autonomous suits are everywhere, people won't cheer every time Iron Man appears.
"But they'll save more lives than you ever could alone.
"It's the same lesson Gotham taught me.
"Don changed the city far more dramatically than I ever managed."
Tony looked surprised.
"Really?
"Someone like Don?
"How exactly does a scoundrel improve a city?"
Bruce answered without changing expression.
"Among Gotham's wealthiest families, those with assets exceeding eighty million dollars, roughly ninety-five percent disappeared because of Don."
Tony froze.
"...That certainly sounds like Don."
After a long silence, he nodded thoughtfully.
"I hate admitting it...
"...but history supports the outcome.
"When a city's leadership becomes hopelessly corrupt, removing the people at the top and rebuilding the system often creates decades of stability.
"Gotham's biggest problems weren't mysterious.
"They were wealth inequality, unchecked power, and the complete collapse of public security.
"Don's methods were ruthless, but eliminating those entrenched interests removed the source of much of the city's suffering.
"Now everyone is competing to build something new from the ruins.
"And anyone taking power now remembers what happened to the last group.
"That fear alone keeps many of them in line."
Tony smiled faintly.
"Seeing Gotham makes me want to do the same across America.
"Maybe innocent people would get caught in the middle, but if decent people outnumbered the corrupt ones, the country wouldn't have deteriorated this far.
"Especially those powerful elites pulling strings behind the scenes.
"I've seen enough of how they really operate.
"They even tried recruiting me into their circles.
"I wasn't interested.
"They still haven't realized the world doesn't belong to them.
"It's been decades since World War II, and they've already forgotten how easily arrogance can be destroyed."
His expression gradually darkened.
Despite running Stark Industries and being one of the richest men on Earth, his influence remained largely confined to technology, energy, and defense.
Even becoming Iron Man hadn't changed that reality.
Bruce noticed the frustration.
"Tony."
He spoke quietly.
"Join our Human Federation.
"If you do, Don will help when the time is right.
"So will the rest of us.
"People from different universes may be the best chance we have against threats that transcend them."
"I'll think about it."
Tony nodded.
The three returned to work, remaining busy until nearly ten that night.
Meanwhile, in Gotham, moonlight reflected across the lake outside Wayne Manor.
The Celestial Wyvern rested lazily by the shore, its tail trailing through the water while photographers eagerly captured images of the legendary creature.
In the courtyard, Floyd walked past Ciri with a longsword in hand.
A flash of blue light appeared.
His sword instantly flew from his grasp.
Ciri lowered her weapon and smiled.
"I concede."
Although defeated, Floyd simply laughed and gave her the middle finger.
"Next round, guns."
"That's not fair."
Ciri pouted.
"You trained with melee weapons for years. I've barely handled firearms..."
She suddenly stopped.
Four figures materialized in a burst of fire, landing softly on the damp grass.
Tony inhaled deeply.
"So this is Gotham.
"The air's actually nice."
He casually looked around.
Then his expression froze.
Eyes wide, he pointed toward a circus tent in the distance.
Standing outside it...
Two Jokers were performing circus tricks.
Tony stared in horror.
"Hold on...
"What the hell is that?
"Why are there Jokers in Gotham...
"...and why are there two of them?!"