Chapter 234: Undercurrents, Seeking Help
The doorbell of the Sea View Villa rang. Tony Stark put down the diving suit in his hand and walked to the computer controlling the entrance surveillance. The virtual screen displayed none other than Captain America Steve Rogers and Phil Coulson.
Tony Stark had J.A.R.V.I.S. release the access system and invited the two in.
"Make yourselves at home," Tony Stark greeted them, gesturing for them to sit down. He walked to the bar counter, grabbed a bottle of champagne, and raised it towards them.
"How about some champagne?"
"Tony! No need for the trouble, we're here to ask for your help!" Steve Rogers sat on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Tony Stark.
Tony Stark turned his head, "Aren't you investigating the truth behind Nick Fury's death? Have you found anything? Is it really related to Tang?"
Tony Stark's rapid-fire questions left Steve Rogers unsure where to start.
"Mr. Stark, we've encountered a very tricky individual, and we need your help!" Phil Coulson's face seemed much more haggard.
His most respected superior had been killed, the suspected murderer was a colleague of many years, and even his former comrade-in-arms wasn't entirely on his side. If not for Captain America, his former idol, fighting alongside him, he felt he would collapse immediately. "A tricky individual!" Tony Stark repeated Phil Coulson's words while opening the champagne bottle and pouring several glasses of champagne.
J.A.R.V.I.S. controlled the mechanical arm, placing the glasses of champagne in front of Steve Rogers and Phil Coulson.
Meanwhile, in the workshop, Doctor Reed Richards and Dr. Banner, who had finished their post-processing work, also came to the reception room.
Dr. Banner greeted the two.
Although Doctor Reed Richards wasn't a member of the Avengers, having fought alongside Captain America on the Lyon Battlefield, he was considered an acquaintance of Captain America. However, he didn't recognize Phil Coulson and merely nodded.
"Feel free to ask for anything you need me to do. Nick Fury and I were also old friends. I am deeply saddened by his death. Based on my understanding of Agent Natasha, I don't believe she would assassinate her Officer without reason."
Tony Stark sat on the sofa opposite Captain America with his glass of champagne. "I think there's a high probability she was controlled, just like Dr. Erik Selvig back then!"
"That's also the result of our investigation!"
Phil Coulson nodded in agreement. "Director Fury was planning to investigate a smuggling incident involving Tang Song, so he sent Agent Natasha and a team of elites. The result was the entire team was wiped out, and she disappeared without a trace. It wasn't until two days later that Agent Natasha contacted us. We suspect that during those two days, she was brainwashed and controlled, which led to the accident of assassinating Director Fury!"
"Smuggling!?" This was the first time Tony Stark heard Phil Coulson mention the cause of their conflict with Tang Song. "What was Tang smuggling? Cars or watches? I know him, he wouldn't kill a Secretary-General of the World Security Council just for those things!"
Facing Tony Stark's questioning, Phil Coulson hesitated slightly. "It was a batch of high-technology products restricted from export. Tang Song secretly smuggled these things to !"
Of course, Phil Coulson wouldn't say that the things Tang Song smuggled were the damaged Iron Suits and the Arc Reactors inside them, which were found in the villa ruins of Stark.
Out of a certain selfish motive, when Nick Fury learned this information before his death, he didn't immediately tell Tony Stark. Instead, he wanted to secretly intercept this batch of things.
As Nick Fury's confidant, Phil Coulson naturally understood his plan. It was nothing more than wanting to use this batch of Iron Suits to research his own robot armed force.
Since Hill became S.H.I.E.L.D. Director and grew distant from Nick Fury, perhaps due to the betrayal of his old subordinates, Nick Fury's heart became increasingly suspicious of everything. He urgently needed an armed force that he controlled himself.
After seeing the prospect of Iron Soldiers, for Nick Fury, there was nothing more suitable than these obedient, reliable robots who wouldn't betray him.
Of course, Phil Coulson would never tell Tony Stark these words. Without S.H.I.E.L.D.'s help, the current Avengers were the only strength they could rely on.
If a rift were to form with Tony Stark over the Arc Reactor incident, it would be a major blow to their currently weak position.
(A large section was deleted here, imagine it yourself, it involves reality)
Even the things Huaguo wanted, Tony Stark had a vague guess.
"You just said you encountered something tricky, what is it?" Tony Stark didn't want to comment on whose actions were right or wrong between Tang Song and Nick Fury, but now Nick Fury was dead.
He raised his wine glass, took a sip of champagne, and looked at Phil Coulson.
"When we were investigating Director Fury's cause of death, we checked his private mobile phone and found that he had been secretly investigating the State Guest House terrorist attack incident from back then, and he had made a discovery!"
Phil Coulson looked at Captain America. After getting his confirmation, he took out a USB drive from his pocket.
"The matter involves the White House, and not long after Director Fury left the White House, he was assassinated!"
Tony Stark took the USB drive but didn't play it immediately. He held it in his palm and looked at Phil Coulson.
Phil Coulson hesitated for a moment, then licked his lips. "This contains the things Director Fury investigated before his death. The State Guest House terrorist attack incident back then seems to have the invisible shadow of Francis Underwood behind it."
Francis Underwood? Federal President?
Phil Coulson's words made the faces of the people present become somewhat solemn.
If Nick Fury's death was related to the current Federal President, then this matter was undoubtedly a major political event with significant influence.
In the State Guest House terrorist attack incident back then, almost the entire Federal High-level Staff was wiped out, its influence even exceeding 9/12.
But if Nick Fury's death was truly related to the White House, what could they do?
Transform into Avengers and attack the highest Federal institution? Don't be ridiculous. If they did that, these Avengers would probably immediately become terrorists wanted by the Federation.
"What do you need me to do?" Tony Stark felt the hardness of the USB drive in his palm and looked up at Steve Rogers.
"We want to borrow your artificial intelligence. We need to investigate the call information between the Federal President and Tang Song!" Captain America stated their purpose directly.
Under Captain America's gaze, Tony Stark stared at the wine glass in front of him, somewhat undecided.
"I need some time to consider!"
Just as the two giants of the Avengers were discussing how to deal with Boss Tang, Tang Song was currently hosting a guest! In the newly built Tang's Building in New York, on the forty-ninth floor, the top floor office, Boss Tang was making tea. The young woman in front of him seemed a little nervous.
Tang Song's voice was calm. The purple clay teapot poured out two bowls of clear tea infusion. "Here, try it, authentic Huaguo green tea!"
Zoe Barnes heard Tang Song's promise and picked up the tea cup.
"Mr. Tang, Mr. President said that as long as he is re-elected, you will be his best friend. At the same time, he will try his best to allocate the resource quota for interstellar development towards Tang Group..."
"Miss Zoe, don't worry. Go back and tell Mr. President that we are old friends. I will definitely fully support him in this presidential election!"
Tang Song interrupted Zoe and promised.
...
"Boss, we're still choosing to support Francis this time!"
"From what I understand, he's been getting closer to the Freemasons recently and has promised them quite a few things!"
After seeing Zoe off, Lane returned to the office and asked, somewhat puzzled. After receiving the information that someone was targeting the Boss, Lane put aside the matters of Utopia and rushed back with several powerful mutants.
Knowing that Francis was in contact with the Freemasons and still supporting his re-election didn't seem like the Boss's style at all.
"I received information that someone is investigating Francis. Re-election? I wonder if our Mr. President can last until the election is over!"
Tang Song picked up the cigar box on the table, took out two cigars, threw one to Lane, and lit one himself.
"Go and investigate this election, Francis's rival. Make contact and see if there's a suitable replacement."
Boss Tang smoked his cigar, legs crossed, lying on the sofa. "In the Federal High-level Staff, you always need a handy tool!"
Kane picked up the cigar cutter, cut a cigar, and puffed smoke with Boss Tang.
"Yes, Boss! I heard Kane say you want to take action against the Freemasons!"
"Let's kill a chicken first. Recently, our interstellar mining ship found a small planet on the other side of the space gate. Although it's not suitable for habitation, it has a large amount of copper ore resources!
Someone from the Freemasons has targeted that copper mine, so they want to target us! They don't know their place!"
"Cobra's space-based weapons combined with Hydra's Insight system setting up the Sky Network is already formed. It's perfect for testing its effect."
Tang Song said lazily, "Kane was originally responsible for this matter, but something happened at the mercenary training camp in East Africa, so he rushed over. You will be responsible for this matter!"
"I can't stand bloodshed. It just so happens that Skye and the others are going to South Korea to see some concert, so I'll accompany them to Seoul!"
"Oh, right! I plan to have that guy named Peter Quill procure some spaceships, supplies, and technology data from alien planets for us. You can connect with him later!"
Lane watched as Boss Tang casually dumped a large amount of work on him, and suddenly felt the cigar in his mouth lose its taste.
Tang Song seemed to feel that he was being too much of a hands-off Boss. He pretended not to see Lane's stunned gaze.
He got up from the sofa, took a step, and passed through the office door, literally "escaping" from this top-floor office.
Watching the Boss use a method he had comprehended from the Space Gem just to shirk work!
Lane stood up, wanting to speak but hesitating. He just felt his eyelids twitching.
East Africa, the Tang Group's mercenary base. A small square city was enclosed by stone brick walls about five hundred meters long and wide.
Inside, several rows of simple metal plate houses, oil storage tanks, power generation rooms, kitchens, and other architecture were built. There was even a four-hundred-meter-long field runway, with two small attack aircraft parked on it.
It was nighttime, and torrential rain poured down from the sky, hitting the attack aircraft's canopy with a 'pat pat' sound.
The dark sky was covered with dark clouds. On the dark grassland, several jeeps were driving through the night. The tall street lamps by the roadside emitted a pale white radiance, like the staring eyes of dead men fixed on the vehicles.
Kane sat in the front passenger seat of a jeep, constantly looking down at the positioning on his wrist device.
Dozens of Card Soldiers were organizing their firearms in the back row: assault rifles, night vision goggles, personal dark magic skateboards.
Occasionally, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Several Card Soldiers were inspecting the bullets one by one. Adamantium alloy bullets, coated with Adamantium, with a cross cut into the tip before cooling. The force of these carved bullets was enough to penetrate the armor of the Federation's main battle tanks.
Currently, the production of Adamantium alloy is limited. Each Card Soldier is only allocated ten of these bullets!
Therefore, checking the bullets before each operation is essential.
After driving through the plain for more than two hours, the roaring jeep sped through a tunnel, revealing a basin with an area of about thirty square kilometers ahead.
Flashes of lightning continuously shot out from the dark clouds. Under the electric light, dark figures were rapidly approaching them.
"It's Wakanda's vibranium drones, they're here again!!"
Kane's eyesight could see several drones circling high in the sky.
During this time, the people at the training camp reported that Wakanda's vibranium drones had been scouting their camp, seemingly looking for something.
After the camp's person in charge reported to Kane, Kane asked for instructions from Boss Tang and personally rushed here.
"Shoot them down!!"
Kane issued the order through the Card Squad's communicator, flipped onto the jeep, and pulled out a Vulcan cannon from inside the compartment.
Standing on the roof of the jeep, the long ammunition belt extended into the compartment. Kane stood on the roof, holding the Vulcan cannon with one hand.
He pulled the trigger! With a rate of fire of 7200 rounds per minute, a torrent of steel tore through the night sky and shot towards the drones on the horizon.
The two drones hit by Kane's spray fire immediately swayed violently!
However, despite being shot by the Vulcan cannon, these two drones were still undamaged. Having discovered Kane's presence, they turned their noses and, at an extremely high speed exceeding ten times the speed speed of sound, plunged towards the ground at almost a ninety-degree angle. Two small missiles were fired at the jeep where Kane was standing.
Kane didn't move. He lightly swung the Vulcan cannon, and the torrent of bullets blasted the two incoming missiles!
Da da da da da da da da—
Wakanda, in the Royal Palace, the Wakandan Soldier controlling a drone with a remote control was sweating profusely as he steered it towards Kane.
Since they were for reconnaissance, the drones carried limited ammunition. Fortunately, Wakanda's drones were made with vibranium technology. Even crashing them into the soldiers was expected to eliminate this group of mercenaries.
Kane watched the drone still charging towards him under the Vulcan cannon fire. The muscles on his body bulged one by one, and the phantom of a fierce tiger with glaring eyes and a white forehead flashed behind him.
Kane roared in a low voice, and a terrifying impact force erupted from his feet. A clear large footprint sank into the roof of the jeep!
Kane leaped up directly, his true essence bursting forth from his feet, and he pounced directly above the drone. With his left hand, he smoothly drew a magic tool kukri from his belt. The moment he jumped above the drone, he swung the military knife fiercely.
'Chichi' dozens of sounds rang out continuously. The military knife transformed into several afterimages. Where the military knife contacted the drone, a burst of dazzling electric light flashed. Kane's military knife cut through the drone's nodes like a sharp knife cutting tofu.
The wires and pipelines in the conduits beneath the two vibranium drones' shells flashed with blinding electric light, and the plasma flames sprayed out from the drone's engine suddenly dimmed.
"Your Majesty!"
The Soldier stared dumbfounded at the picture on the screen transmitted by the drone, watching the man easily destroy two vibranium technology drones.
He quickly put down the control stick and reported to Black Panther T'Challa via the communicator.
T'Challa, who had rushed over upon receiving the information, had a grim complexion as he watched the picture transmitted by the drone.
Dozens of well-trained mercenaries who had gotten out of over a dozen jeeps were systematically sniping the remaining drones. Noticing the drones' sturdiness, these people also fired powerful smoke grenades into the sky, creating an artificial mist area. At this moment, Kane, using the cover of the mist, successfully took down another drone.
"Recall the remaining drones!"
T'Challa's complexion was so dark it seemed like water would drip from it.
He had launched this reconnaissance of the mercenary base at Phil Coulson's request.
Phil Coulson had not elaborated on the specific reasons for investigating Nick Fury's cause of death.
One must know that this involved the bizarre death of the former Black Panther, T'Chaka.
Involving the current Federal President, Phil Coulson was deeply afraid of causing a serious diplomatic incident, or even reigniting the flames of war between Wakanda and the Federation.
Therefore, Phil Coulson did not reveal to T'Challa that Nick Fury was investigating the State Guest House terrorist attack incident from that year.
The reason T'Challa helped Phil Coulson was that if Nick Fury hadn't brought the Avengers to help him back then, he wouldn't have successfully regained the throne.
He owed the deceased Nick Fury a favor.
Seeing that this group of mercenaries was a tough bone, T'Challa decisively issued the order to retreat.
The international flight from New York to Seoul hadn't officially taken off yet, but it was already nearly full of passengers of various skin tones.
Tang Song sat in the window seat, finding it somewhat amusing.
One monk carries water to eat, two monks have no water to eat. The little girls had bought their own first class tickets and left him alone in economy class.
Hearing that Boss Tang was taking them to Seoul for fun, the little girls immediately found a bunch of Seoul travel guides.
And they righteously stopped Tang Song's idea of taking a private jet.
Tang Song didn't mind. The reason for this trip to Seoul was that Gu Zi Yun's friend from high school was participating in a talent show, and it was said to be their first debut concert.
Gu Zi Yun wanted to go back to support her, and the little girls also clamored to go to South Korea to see.
He opened his mobile phone, pulled up a movie, and put on his headphones.
"Hello, sir, this is my first time flying, and I'd like to sit near the window to enjoy the view outside. Could we switch seats?"
Just as Boss Tang was watching an action movie on his mobile phone, a pleasant voice suddenly sounded beside him, accompanied by a faint fragrance entering his nose. When he turned his head, he found it was a young girl with a delicate appearance greeting him in Korean.
The girl wasn't tall, only a little over 1.6 meters, but her skin was extremely fair. Paired with her cool attire, she had a charming appeal. At this moment, she was holding her airplane ticket and checking the seat number, which seemed to be right next to Tang Song.
"Please speak Chinese or English!"
Tang Song took off his headphones and glanced at the girl. Hmm, not his type! "Excuse me," the girl said, putting her hands together and making a bowing gesture with her hands clasped in front of her chest.
She repeated it in broken English! "Okay!"
Tang Song glanced at the girl, picked up his mobile phone, and got up. It wasn't because he was captivated by her appearance; Boss Tang had seen countless people, and he had seen many girls with this kind of appearance. If he was in a good mood, he would give up his seat, it was no big deal.
Towards ordinary people, Boss Tang's mindset was always peaceful.
"Thank you." The girl looked at Boss Tang happily. Only after Boss Tang moved out of the way did she sit down.
Boss Tang didn't care, he took out his mobile phone and continued watching the movie.
"Hello, are you Huaguoese!" The girl sitting by the window wanted to see the view outside. The plane hadn't taken off yet, and she greeted Tang Song with some curiosity!
"Yes!" Tang Song glanced at her and didn't say anything more. The only people he would have a common language with were either those whose topics interested Boss Tang or those who interested Boss Tang. Clearly, this girl didn't fall into either category.
Smiling without speaking, the girl felt she had been rebuffed, turned her head, and stared out the window.
The plane finally took off. At first, the girl was a little nervous, but after a while, seeing that the plane had finally flown to high altitude and the cabin had stabilized, she immediately became excited and started looking out the window.
Tang Song focused on watching his movie.
But just then, a voice suddenly sounded from the side, "Hello, how about we switch seats?"
Tang Song turned his head and saw a tall young man standing in the aisle. He was wearing casual clothes and looked decent, but there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.
He looked like someone who hadn't experienced the harsh realities of society.
"Switch seats?"
Tang Song said indifferently.
"Kim Tan, what are you doing here?" The girl sitting next to Tang Song by the window said in surprise.
"Cha Eun Sang, I'm also going back to South Korea today!"
Kim Tan naturally wouldn't say that he had checked Cha Eun Sang's airplane ticket and then bought this flight.
A young couple, Tang Song smiled, feeling it was a bit like a soap opera. Thinking about it, he might as well help them out so he could upgrade his seat and go find Gu Zi Yun and Skye. Tang Song was just about to get up.
"Hey, Uncle, do me a favor, here's a thousand US dollars, I want to sit with my friend!"
The tall young man's words immediately changed Boss Tang's mind.
Young man, you're limiting your options!
Uncle? Was he that old? And that appellation, it was fine for a little girl to call him that, but a man... Tang Song smiled and shook his head, "Sorry, I'm not switching!"
Helping others is based on mood, and Boss Tang was not in a good mood right now!
If it were a normal seat exchange, he would have done it, but he really didn't want to switch using money.
When these words landed, the tall young man, who was originally confident of success, was stunned. His face immediately darkened.
"My name is Kim Tan, Kim Tan of South Korea's Empire Group. Uncle, it's convenient for others, it's convenient for yourself!"
As the heir to the Empire Group, South Korea's leading enterprise, Kim Tan had always had smooth sailing. Since childhood, there was nothing he wanted that he couldn't get.
South Korea belonged to these zaibatsu like them. Kim Tan's mouth curved into a malicious smile. He wanted to see the man in front of him obediently give up his seat upon hearing the name of the Empire Group! "Get lost!"
Tang Song's understated words immediately made Kim Tan's face flush red. He raised his fist and was about to swing it at Tang Song.
Tang Song glanced at him indifferently. That gaze was like the bloodthirsty gaze of a fierce dragon, and also as deep and terrifying as a bottomless abyss. It felt like a basin of cold water was poured from his neck all the way to his feet. Kim Tan felt his whole body tremble.
He ran back to his seat without daring to raise his head.
The girl sitting next to Tang Song bit her lip and kept her body turned sideways, looking out the window! A few hours later, when the passenger plane landed steadily at Seoul Airport, and the announcement of the plane's successful arrival just sounded in the cabin, Tang Song stood up.
Before long, Gu Zi Yun and Skye bounced out. Skye and Rogue each linked an arm with Tang Song, while Gu Zi Yun and Zheng Duo En followed behind Tang Song.
The girl by the window stared dumbfounded at Tang Song's back.
"Click!"
Kim Tan walked behind Tang Song, quietly took out his mobile phone, and took a picture of Tang Song's profile.
After leaving the airport, as soon as the group appeared, they saw two rows of pure black vehicles in front of them.
One row was on the left side of the road ahead, with seven or eight cars. Outside each car stood a burly man in a suit and black sunglasses.
The other row was on the right side of the road. Also in dark suits, this row of people looked somewhat like South Korean prosecutors.
These two rows of cars also had an astonishing momentum. As soon as Tang Song and the others appeared here,
The leader at the front of the cars on the right side scurried over.
"Mr. Tang, I am Park Deok-chang, welcome to Seoul!"
The South Korean elder in a suit, his hair completely white, bowed respectfully to Tang Song! This drew the side glances of the passengers leaving the airport.
Tang Song looked at him and understood. This was Lane's arrangement.
Park Deok-chang, Tang Song remembered this name. He seemed to be the new chairman of the Golden Gate Group, which they supported.
Tang Song nodded at him. Park Deok-chang beamed with joy and trotted to a stretched Rolls-Royce, opening the car door for Boss Tang.
After learning that the Big Boss was personally coming to South Korea, he specifically inquired about the Big Boss's preferences.
Knowing that the Big Boss liked to travel in a Rolls-Royce, he specifically borrowed this car from an acquaintance, a South Korean zaibatsu.
The passengers who had just gotten off the plane watched dumbfounded as the two teams of luxury cars drove away from the airport in a grand procession. Many people immediately took out their mobile phones to film the scene.
......
On a beautiful cape on Yeouido, in a white cliff hundreds of meters high, a row of floor-to-ceiling windows directly overlooking the cape was carved out with great effort, fitted with thick glass. This is Seoul's most famous 'Seaside Restaurant'.
All the seats here overlook the ocean, so the view goes without saying. Especially in stormy weather with lightning and thunder,
South Korean dignitaries, zaibatsu magnates, love to sit by the window here, sipping fine alcohol while enjoying the magnificent scene of seabirds flying rapidly through the galloping clouds.
Tang Song, Skye, Rogue, and Mariko Yashida were sitting at the best table in the Seaside Restaurant, smiling as they looked at the tranquil cape under the sunlight.
Scattered fishing boats dotted the azure sea surface. Several very large albatrosses were circling at high altitude, and when they saw an opportunity, they would dive down, snatch large sea fish from beside the fishing boats, and fly back to high altitude to feast.
All around were clean and delicate marble. The hotel carved into the cliff was decorated warmly and comfortably. Scattered flower pots and bonsai trees separated the tables, and a faint fragrance wafted through the air.
The restaurant was empty except for their table.
Warm and comfortable, Tang Song leaned back leisurely in the soft, spacious chair.
Mariko Yashida wore a casual short skirt, her slender hands peeling grapes for Boss Tang.
"Why did you come to Seoul?"
Boss Tang squinted, lying on the rocking chair, with Skye massaging his temples.
Cheng Ge, love triangle, that's impossible! How could Boss Tang allow such a thing as a love triangle to happen to him?
"Yashida Heavy Industries has an important negotiation with Samsung!" Mariko Yashida fed a grape to Tang Song. "I wasn't comfortable leaving it to the people below, so I came to see it myself."
Tang Song opened his mouth, tasted the grape, and said indifferently without opening his eyes, "Tell me the truth!"
Mariko Yashida let out a soft snort, twisting her two fingers back and forth. "Isn't it because Boss, you came to Seoul?"
She was shy yet hesitant, with a hint of bashfulness on her face.
"Bitch!" Skye cursed fiercely in her heart when she saw Mariko Yashida's appearance.
"Don't let it happen again!"
Tang Song opened his eyes and swept his gaze over Mariko Yashida's face. His indifferent gaze sent a chill down Mariko Yashida's spine.
After taking control of the Yashida Family, she had gradually come to understand the true strength of this man through the Yashida channel.
He was a top-tier magnate even on a global scale.
The key was his ruthlessness.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have eagerly come all the way to South Korea to compete for his favor.
Hearing Tang Song's words, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Over the next few days, Tang Song accompanied the girls and had a good time in South Korea for a few days.
Actually, Boss Tang didn't really feel there were any particularly fun places. A small country where broadcasting the weather forecast, saying there would be rain nationwide, could cover the whole country.
Its tourist attractions were more like fame hyped up by marketing. In the last century, South Korea wanted to revitalize its tourism industry, but being a small country with a small population, there wasn't much to see. What to do if there's nothing? They teamed up with a group of cultural figures, hyped things up, competed with the neighboring big country for ancestors and historical figures.
They put on a ridiculous show! A farce! But it did open up the South Korean tourism market.
Nami Island, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Mount Oksan, Insa-dong, Samcheong-dong, in three days, they had traveled through most of South Korea.
(Thanks to the big shot October Bell Toll for the reward)
(end of chapter)