c20 - The Results of the Negotiation
Phil Coulson felt a surge of anger rising within him at Tony Stark's irritating tone, but his professionalism as a senior S.H.I.E.L.D. agent allowed him to suppress it.
He wasn't there to argue with Tony Stark, but to exchange information.
"Mr. Tony Stark, I've already explained some information to you."
"Now it's my turn to ask, isn't it?"
So Coulson, suppressing his emotions, spoke politely.
"You can ask."
Tony Stark was somewhat surprised to see Coulson clench his fists in frustration, yet regain composure within seconds.
However, Tony Stark was a man who kept his word, so he allowed Coulson to proceed.
"Mr. Tony Stark, how did you…"
Coulson began his questioning.
Tony Stark answered everything he was willing to disclose, carefully avoiding mentioning the Arc Reactor's true capabilities and significance.
He explained how he built a crude armored suit while being held captive by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan, using limited resources to escape.
He also briefly described the subsequent upgrades, including the transition from the initial prototype to the more advanced Mark II armor.
Since the Mark II had already been indirectly exposed during his test flight incident involving the U.S. Air Force, there was little reason to hide that part.
After hearing the full account, Coulson became completely certain.
The armored figure known as Iron Man was indeed Tony Stark himself.
He wisely avoided suggesting that Stark hand over the technology to the government or S.H.I.E.L.D., knowing full well how such a demand would be received.
"I see… as expected of Mr. Tony Stark. Your intellect is truly extraordinary."
Coulson offered sincere praise.
"Isn't that already common knowledge?"
Tony Stark accepted the compliment without the slightest hint of modesty.
"Then may I ask, Mr. Stark, what do you intend to do with the armor you've created?"
"You intervened in Gulmira, Afghanistan, and eliminated a Ten Rings cell."
"Was that an act of atonement for the consequences of Stark Industries' weapons?"
"Or do you intend to continue acting in that capacity… to help others?"
Coulson asked, carefully observing Tony's reaction.
For S.H.I.E.L.D., understanding intent was far more important than raw capability.
Superheroes, in their experience, were not defined solely by power but by their willingness to act for others.
And Tony Stark, until recently, had been known primarily as a genius billionaire playboy.
Whether such a person could truly become someone who protected others remained uncertain.
"Both."
Tony Stark paused briefly after answering.
In his mind, the image of Ho Yinsen surfaced.
Yinsen had sacrificed his life to help him escape.
Gulmira was Yinsen's homeland.
Tony couldn't bring him back, but he could ensure that what happened there would never happen again.
"Will you help others in danger in the future?"
Coulson's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing that answer.
"I don't know."
Tony Stark spread his hands.
"Gulmira matters because of someone I owe."
"As for the rest… I'll decide when I face it."
"Mr. Stark…"
Coulson hesitated briefly before continuing.
"In reality, due to the confirmed existence of extraterrestrial life… Earth is not as safe as it appears."
Tony Stark waved his hand dismissively.
"I already know that."
"That 'Death' you mentioned—he's not even from Earth, right?"
"And when he spoke to me, he mentioned the universe."
"He said my technology is impressive by human standards… but insignificant on a cosmic scale."
Tony Stark's expression showed clear dissatisfaction.
For someone who had revolutionized multiple fields of human technology, being told his work was "insufficient" was not something he could easily accept.
"Mr. Stark…"
Coulson adjusted his tone.
"You asked earlier why S.H.I.E.L.D. attempted to make contact with that individual."
"Before I answer that, there's something you should know."
"Decades ago, Earth was visited and invaded by extraterrestrial forces."
Coulson spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"During that incident, a superhuman individual intervened and successfully repelled the invasion."
"The details remain classified, but the conclusion is clear—alien civilizations exist, and their technology far surpasses ours."
"They possess capabilities such as interstellar travel, advanced spacecraft, and forms of energy manipulation far beyond current human understanding."
"It was after that incident that my superior, Nick Fury, began conceptualizing what would later become the Avengers Initiative."
"The purpose was simple to prepare Earth for future threats of that scale."
Coulson observed Tony Stark closely as he spoke.
"You came to me instead of those so-called 'superhumans.'"
Tony Stark leaned back slightly.
"That suggests things aren't going very well for you."
Coulson didn't deny it.
"Superpowered individuals do exist on Earth."
"But most of them choose to remain hidden."
"Human society… is not always accepting of those who are different."
"Fear, suspicion, and rejection drive many of them into secrecy."
"As a result, locating and recruiting them is extremely difficult."
"You've already seen fragments of information about 'Death' through black-market channels."
"Some of his recorded actions… exceed what any normal human could accomplish."
"After internal analysis, S.H.I.E.L.D. concluded that this individual is either a superhuman… or something beyond that classification."
"At the very least, his capabilities far exceed conventional limits."
"That is why we attempted to establish contact with him several months ago."
Coulson's expression grew more serious.
"When he appeared, none of us including Director Fury or Agent Natasha Romanoff could determine how long he had been present."
"There were no detectable signals, no energy readings, no traceable entry point."
"In that sense… contacting him confirmed our suspicions."
"He is undeniably powerful."
"But unfortunately…"
Coulson paused, a trace of regret appearing on his face.
"He is not a native of Earth."
"He is, by all available evidence… an alien lifeform."
Phil Coulson felt a surge of anger rising within him at Tony Stark's irritating tone, but his professional agent instincts honed under Nick Fury within S.H.I.E.L.D. allowed him to suppress it.
He wasn't there to argue with Tony Stark, but to exchange information.
"Mr. Tony Stark, I've already explained some information to you."
"Now it's my turn to ask, isn't it?"
So Coulson, suppressing his anger, said politely.
"You can ask."
Tony Stark was somewhat surprised to see Coulson clench his fists, clearly angry, yet able to suppress it in just a few seconds.
However, Tony Stark was a man of his word, so he let Coulson ask.
"Mr. Tony Stark, how did you..."
Coulson began his questioning.
Tony Stark told him everything he could, except for mentioning that he had created the Arc Reactor the miniaturized clean-energy core that powered his chest and armor, something even S.H.I.E.L.D. had not yet fully documented.
He talked about forging the first armor in Afghanistan under captivity conditions, escaping from the Ten Rings, and even the subsequent modifications.
Because his modified Mark II had already been unveiled to the world in limited form.
After listening, Coulson was completely certain that the armored man rumored to be Iron Man was indeed Tony Stark.
He wisely refrained from suggesting that Tony Stark hand over the technology to the government, knowing how fiercely Stark guarded his inventions something consistent with Stark's long-standing independence even from military oversight.
"I see. As expected of Mr. Tony Stark, your mind is a treasure trove,"
Coulson praised admiringly.
"Isn't it already common knowledge that I'm a genius?"
Tony Stark accepted the praise without any modesty.
"Then may I ask, Mr. Tony Stark, what exactly do you intend to do with the armor you created?"
"You saved some people in Gulmira, Afghanistan an area previously terrorized by the Ten Rings using Stark-manufactured weapons. Are you going to clean up some trouble left by Stark Industries' weapons?"
"Or do you think you have the ability and want to help them?"
However, seeing Tony Stark's smug response, Coulson didn't intend to criticize or argue, but rather to confirm Tony Stark's intentions.
Superheroes must be kind-hearted, and Tony Stark used to be a carefree playboy and arms dealer whose weapons fueled global conflict.
Whether such a person truly possessed a sense of responsibility strong enough to protect Earth remained uncertain until Coulson had a concrete understanding.
"Both,"
Tony Stark said, pausing for a moment after hearing Coulson's words, thinking of Yinsen the man who sacrificed himself to ensure his escape.
Yinsen had risked his life to save him, and Gulmira was Yinsen's homeland. He couldn't bring Yinsen back to life, but he could at least protect Gulmira's peace and prevent further suffering caused by his weapons.
"Will you help other people in danger in the future?"
Coulson's eyes lit up upon hearing "both," and he asked again.
"I'm not sure. Gulmira is the homeland of a friend of mine, which is why I want to protect it."
"As for the others, I'll have to wait until I encounter them to find out,"
Tony Stark said, spreading his hands.
"Mr. Tony Stark, in fact, because of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations such as the Kree, Skrulls, and other cosmic forces"
"So Earth's current situation is not optimistic."
Hearing this uncertain statement, Coulson hesitated for a moment before deciding to reveal more information.
"I already know that. Isn't that Grim Reaper you mentioned from the void?"
"And when he spoke with me for a few moments, he mentioned the universe."
"He said my technology is only powerful and advanced compared to humanity, but still too weak compared to the universe."
Tony Stark waved his hand, his eyes showing some dissatisfaction.
Since taking over Stark Industries, he had repeatedly pushed human technology forward, rivaling even government R&D divisions.
He had always been proud of it, but for that Grim Reaper to dismiss it so casually, how could he accept that?
"Mr. Tony Stark, didn't you want to know why our agency requested a meeting with Mr. Death?"
"Before explaining that, there's something I need to tell you. Decades ago, extraterrestrial beings visited Earth incidents recorded in classified S.H.I.E.L.D. archives, including early encounters predating modern Avengers initiatives."
"That time, individuals with extraordinary abilities mutants, enhanced humans, and other anomalies helped repel threats far beyond conventional human capability."
"The existence of alien civilizations is undeniable, and their technological level featuring interstellar travel, wormholes, and energy manipulation far surpasses Earth's current level."
"It was from that time that Director Nick Fury began planning what would later be known as the Avengers Initiative to prepare for threats Earth cannot face alone."
Coulson sensed Tony Stark's dissatisfaction and began to explain, trying to win him over.
"You've come to me instead of someone like Captain America or Thor; it seems your progress isn't going well."
After listening to this long-winded explanation, Tony Stark immediately grasped the meaning behind Coulson's words.
"Yes, superpowered individuals have indeed appeared on Earth mutants, enhanced humans, even Asgardians."
"However, humans are a xenophobic race, and also a race that fears what is different. Those with powers often hide, making them extremely difficult to locate."
"You've also seen the fragmented records circulating about Death on the black network."
"Some of the missions he completed go beyond human limits far beyond what even elite operatives could achieve."
"After investigation and internal analysis, we believe that Mr. Death is very likely either a superhuman entity or something even beyond that classification."
"Even if he isn't a traditional enhanced human, his strength surpasses conventional biological limits."
"Therefore, we arranged a meeting with him several months ago."
"Until he appeared, none of our surveillance systems satellites, thermal scans, or biometric tracking detected his presence."
"In that sense, our judgment was correct Mr. Death is indeed powerful beyond measurable parameters."
"But unfortunately, based on his own statements and energy readings, he is not from Earth… but something closer to an extra-dimensional or cosmic entity."
Coulson's face was filled with regret and disappointment as he spoke of this.
He had been with Director Fury for nearly twenty years. From Fury's rise within S.H.I.E.L.D. to becoming its director, Coulson himself had climbed the ranks, becoming a high-level field agent trusted with sensitive operations.
While carrying out missions and investigating anomalous events from gamma radiation incidents to alien artifacts they had spent decades searching for individuals capable of protecting Earth.
After so long, finally finding a being like Death should have been a breakthrough.
Coulson was naturally overjoyed, but what followed was a bitter disappointment.
They had also learned, through indirect intelligence and cosmic sources, that Odin, the All-Father of Asgard, might not have much time left.
Earth's long-standing, indirect protection from Asgard might soon weaken.
If they failed to assemble powerful defenders like the Avengers and prepare countermeasures,
humanity could face invasion, enslavement, or extinction at the hands of alien empires.
However, Nick Fury had explicitly ordered that Odin's condition must not be disclosed.
If Asgardians came to Earth and realized humans knew of Odin's decline,
even allies might become unpredictable variables.
Tony Stark saw through parts of Coulson's explanation; the emotion and disappointment on Coulson's face were genuine.
"So you came to me thinking I suddenly had superpowers, which is why I was able to escape Afghanistan?"
Tony Stark, after putting himself in Coulson's shoes, immediately understood.
"That's right. But I never imagined that Mr. Tony Stark would use his own genius to create an armored system rivaling modern fighter jets."
"Even without superpowers, what you've achieved places you among Earth's most valuable defenders."
Coulson didn't hide anything, expressing genuine admiration.
"According to your agency's methods, you investigate anyone who might possess extraordinary abilities."
"So your previous contact with Harvey Ambellaca means…?"
Tony Stark accepted the praise without embarrassment, then asked.
"That's right. We previously suspected that Harvey Ambellaca might be an enhanced individual or a probability manipulator—someone unusually favored by chance."
"Even if his abilities weren't combat-oriented, they could still be strategically valuable."
Coulson nodded.
"So what was the result?"
Tony Stark's eyes flashed.
"Based on multiple encounters and surveillance, we concluded that Harvey Ambellaca does not exhibit detectable superhuman traits."
Coulson shook his head slightly.
"No…"
This answer reminded Tony Stark of Harvey's calm indifference toward Obadiah Stane.
That wasn't the attitude of an ordinary human.
It was the perspective of someone who either possessed overwhelming confidence or something far more dangerous.
Regardless, Tony Stark had no intention of joining the Avengers immediately.
"I understand what you're trying to do. Earth faces threats, and you want to prepare."
"But Stark Industries is undergoing a major transition, and I have responsibilities to handle."
"So I'll reconsider joining the Avengers in the future."
"However, if a major threat emerges, you can contact me. I may be willing to help."
Tony Stark said.
The appearance of the so-called "Death" had already forced him to accept that humanity was not alone.
He needed time to rebuild Stark Industries and refine his armor.
Only then could he face what was coming.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Tony Stark."
Coulson stood up and shook his hand.
Although Tony Stark hadn't officially joined, securing his cooperation was already a major success.
With time, Coulson believed, Tony Stark would inevitably become one of the core members of the Avengers.
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