Chapter 24:
After the Party Ended
Tony Stark, with a slightly tipsy grin, slung an arm around Yang Jian's shoulders.
"Hey, don't leave yet." Tony dangled his car keys.
"I've got an even better party to take you to."
Yang Jian raised an eyebrow: "There's more?"
"Of course!" Tony grinned wide.
"The real fun is just starting."
Twenty Minutes Later
An Audi R8 and a Ferrari SF90 pulled up one after another at a private marina.
Under the moonlight, a three-deck luxury yacht blazed with lights. Cheerful music and girls' laughter drifted from the deck.
"Welcome to Stark Yacht!" Tony spread his arms proudly.
Yang Jian looked up at the multi-billion-dollar behemoth.
On the deck, a dozen models in skimpy bikinis waved at them. Champagne towers sparkled under the lights.
"You usually use this to pick up girls?" Yang Jian asked with a smile.
"Hey, this is top-tier hospitality." Tony patted his back.
"Come on, let me show you what a real party looks like."
The two boarded. Immediately, a group of beauties surrounded them.
"Tony!" A blonde supermodel threw herself into his arms.
"I've been waiting for you forever."
"Sweetheart, tonight's star isn't me." Tony smirked and pushed the girl toward Yang Jian.
"This is the real VIP."
Yang Jian walked to the leather sofa and sat down.
Soon, two black-haired beauties pressed against him from both sides.
Tony stood on the deck, arms spread, smiling brilliantly: "Welcome to my private party, Yang!"
Yang Jian looked around. The yacht was filled with bikini-clad models and socialites.
Champagne towers glittered temptingly; DJ music pounded the eardrums.
"You brought me here just to join this kind of party?" Yang Jian raised an eyebrow.
Tony laughed loudly and slung an arm around his shoulders: "What, you don't like it?"
He casually grabbed two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter's tray and handed one to Yang Jian. "Relax—it's party time tonight!"
Yang Jian took the glass and shook his head helplessly.
Tony raised his glass and shouted to the women on the yacht: "Ladies—tonight belongs to us!"
"Yeah!"
Amid the cheers, a group of beauties immediately swarmed over—some clinging to Tony's arms, others boldly sitting beside Yang Jian, giggling and toasting him.
Yang Jian leaned back on the sofa, surrounded by women.
Tony had a girl on each arm, drinking heavily. He leaned in and whispered: "Interested in developing armor?"
Yang Jian glanced at him and gave a light laugh: "Not bad. Got any ideas?"
Tony patted the arc reactor on his chest: "My armor has my proprietary tech. If you can build one, you'll be Tony Stark's best friend from now on! Also, I'll introduce you to our company's beautiful scientist—Helen Cho."
Yang Jian became interested. He raised his glass and clinked it with Tony's: "You sure?"
Tony laughed heartily, showing he instantly understood, then stood up with two beauties in his arms: "Tony Stark never goes back on his word. I'm going for some in-depth communication—you enjoy yourself!"
Yang Jian watched his departing back and shook his head.
"Yang, stop chatting—come do something else." The blonde beauty beside him raised her glass.
The party continued deep into the night. The revelry on the yacht showed no sign of slowing.
Yang Jian stood up and waved to the beauties around him: "You girls go find Tony."
They were beautiful, sure—but he had one rule: no second-hand goods.
"Ah? But…" They hesitated.
"He needs you more." Yang Jian gave a faint smile, then turned and walked toward the yacht exit.
Seaside Villa – Quiet Night
Yang Jian pushed open the door. Soft light spilled into the living room.
Wanda was sitting on the sofa, holding a book. Hearing the door, she looked up, her eyes brightening slightly.
"You're back?" she asked softly.
Yang Jian took off his suit jacket, hung it on the rack, and walked over to sit beside her: "Yeah."
"Did you have fun?" She closed the book, a faint smile on her lips.
Yang Jian glanced at her, reached out, and gently ruffled her hair: "Without you there, what's the point?"
Wanda's lips curved upward. She leaned against his shoulder and whispered: "Next time… bring me?"
Yang Jian chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist: "Okay."
The night was deep. The villa held only the sound of their breathing.
Hydra Secret BaseDim Conference Room
Around the round table, several Hydra higher-ups sat with dark faces. The air was thick with suppressed anger and unease.
"Alexander Pierce is dead. Baron Strucker is dead. Our bases are being taken out one by one—even decades-old sleeper agents have been dug up!"
A bald higher-up slammed the table, voice hoarse.
"Who the hell is that black-clad superman? Why don't we have even a single clue?!"
"This is no coincidence." A woman with silver-rimmed glasses said coldly.
"Someone is orchestrating all of this—and they know our operations inside and out."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.?" someone questioned.
"Impossible!" another snapped.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has long been riddled with our people. Where would they get this kind of capability?"
"Then what do we do now?" a younger higher-up asked through gritted teeth.
"The whole world is hunting us. If this continues, we won't even have anywhere to hide!"
"What if we go to war?" someone suggested viciously.
"Since we can't hide anymore, why not show the world Hydra's true power!"
"Are you insane?" the silver-rimmed glasses woman snapped.
"If we expose our full strength now, we'll die even faster!"
The argument grew louder and more heated.
Suddenly—
BOOM!!!
The ceiling exploded. Concrete debris flew everywhere. A figure dropped from above, crashing heavily onto the conference table!
The Hydra higher-ups recoiled in horror.
In the dust, a man in S.H.I.E.L.D. black tactical gear, compound bow on his back, slowly stood up.
"Hawkeye?!" someone cried out.
Clint Barton flexed his wrist, a cold smirk on his lips: "Evening, gentlemen."
"Kill him!" the bald higher-up roared.
Instantly, the conference room doors burst open. Fully armed Hydra soldiers poured in, guns trained on Hawkeye.
Several higher-ups' bodies suddenly swelled—muscles twisted and deformed, skin taking on a strange metallic sheen.
They were genetically enhanced super-soldiers!
Hawkeye, however, wasn't panicked at all. He didn't even reach for the bow on his back.
"Just this many?" He scoffed.
The next second—he moved.
Bang!
The first punch exploded through the air!
The nearest Hydra soldier didn't even have time to react. He flew backward, smashing through several walls!
"Open fire! Open fire!"
Bullets poured in—but the moment they reached Hawkeye, they ricocheted away.
His lightweight tactical armor provided defense far beyond Hydra's understanding!
Even without armor, his skin was bulletproof.
"Too slow." Hawkeye flickered through the hail of bullets. Every punch carried terrifying force.
A mutated higher-up had just raised his metallic arm—it was ripped off at the root!
"Ahhh!"
Amid the screams, Hawkeye delivered a spinning kick, sending another charging super-soldier crashing into the ceiling.
The fight was completely one-sided domination.
Five minutes later, the entire base fell silent.
Hawkeye stepped on the last higher-up's chest, calmly pressing his earpiece: "Mission complete. Base cleared."
"Copy." Natasha's voice came through.
"Transport team arrives in three minutes. Make sure to bring the full database."
"Understood."
He looked around at the unconscious Hydra members scattered on the floor and shook his head: "An AI can find them all… what the hell were we doing before?"
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