Military camp.
General Ross sat in a folding chair inside the tent, his expression grim, a thick cigar clamped between his fingers. He took a deep drag, the bitter taste of nicotine and tobacco exploding in his lungs, slightly relaxing his tense nerves. He slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, watching it swirl and dissipate in the air, as if his boundless ambition and desire were carried within the smoke.
On the other end of the phone, Vice President Rodriguez had just finished a brief call, a cold smile appearing on his face before he hung up.
"Killian is dead," Rodriguez said coldly, a hint of complex satisfaction in his eyes. "His Extremis Virus technology... it's ours now."
General Ross's eyes flickered slightly, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He said slowly, "That means no one will stop us. That technology belongs in the hands of those who truly know how to use it."
"Exactly," Rodriguez nodded slightly, a calculating cold smile on his face. "I've sent people to seize Killian's lab equipment. We'll have complete control over that virus technology very soon."
"Very good," Ross lit his cigar, inhaling deeply, his eyes filled with ambition. "That technology... it's not just about so-called biological modification. I need it for more efficient purposes."
Rodriguez glanced at him, seeming a little curious. "You mean... human modification? Turning soldiers into bulletproof monsters?"
General Ross snorted coldly, a look of deep ambition surfacing in his eyes. "Soldiers? That's just the beginning. The ones who truly need modifying aren't them, it's me." He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes cold and stern. "What I want is an immortal body. Those damned super heroes, they think they're the only ones who can wield this kind of power? With the Extremis Virus, I can withstand enough gamma radiation to gain power no less than the Hulk."
A trace of doubt flashed in Rodriguez's eyes, but he didn't object, a testing smile on his lips. "General... you know the risks of gamma radiation, right? The Hulk became a monster because of that radiation. Are you really going down this path?"
Ross gave a cold laugh, his tone carrying an unquestionable resolve. "Risks?" He took a hard drag on his cigar, his voice low and cold. "There's no absolutely safe technology in this world, only absolute power. The Extremis Virus will be the key for me to control gamma radiation. Killian's technology will allow me to break through human limits and gain power stronger than those super heroes." He looked at Rodriguez, a hint of unquestionable indifference in his eyes.
Rodriguez stared at Ross, finally shrugging and showing a meaningful smile. "Since you want this power so much, I will fully support you. However, General, remember our agreement. We are mutually beneficial. I help you get what you want... and you will support me in achieving my goals at the critical moment."
General Ross smiled faintly, his eyes cold and deep. "Agreement? As long as you ensure I get this power, I will fulfill our agreement. As for Killian, he was just a stepping stone." He took a deep puff of smoke, his eyes flashing with unconcealed ambition, as if he could already see the moment he stood at the pinnacle of power.
The air in the tent was filled with the scent of tobacco and conspiracy. The two looked at each other and smiled, each with their own hidden agenda.
As the official news broke, Aldrich Killian's identity as the true culprit behind the Mandarin was completely revealed, and the news exploded online. The previously rampant atmosphere of terror instantly turned into a collective mockery. Netizens were highly enthusiastic, launching into merciless ridicule of the "Mandarin" who was defeated before he even had a chance to fully display his power.
One netizen posted, "LOL, who is the Mandarin anyway? Looks like a washed-up actor! Killian thought he could scare the whole US, but he was KO'd after just a few days of jumping around. This is like 'The Quick Demise Story'!"
Another netizen immediately replied, "Isn't it though! This script is exactly like my little cat jumping around and finally getting picked up by me - only hyped for a few minutes, then straight to the kill list, hahaha!"
The comment section immediately launched into various forms of mockery, as if the entire online storm had become a stage for hilarious stand-up comedy:
"Mandarin, Mandarin... turns out he wasn't even the main villain for a full week, just like a trial version villain, and a super-fast trial at that!"
"Killian is truly the shortest-lived big villain in history, his screen time cut to the bone. Did the scriptwriter rush him to heaven?!"
"Hey, at this rate, I suspect if another powerful villain appears next time, they'll have to apply for 'Survival Special Permission' to survive past the end credits!"
"Speaking of which, Killian thought he was a super big Boss, but he was taken down faster than an extra. What's next? Terrorist Villain Training Class?"
Meanwhile, the controversial topic of Homelander Dominic gradually faded into the background during this reversal. The negative comments that once filled the screen, such as the "Homelander is hypocritical" tag and the water army's relentless promotion, began to quietly disappear. Many netizens noticed this change and couldn't help but speak up:
"Oh, this is interesting. Why did the Homelander smear posts suddenly disappear? Which big shot sent the water army behind this 'anti-hero' conspiracy?"
"Dominic is really something. The overwhelming number of smear posts online were like buying ad space. Now it seems there was a hidden hand stirring things up and targeting the wrong person, haha!"
"Speaking of which, Dominic just solidified his 'invincibility,' scaring Killian straight to death, right? Don't even bother. He's basically a humanoid terror clearing machine."
At the same time, more and more netizens began to turn their attention to Iron Man Tony Stark, speculating who had actually ended this farce, and many even started applauding Tony's heroic detective work:
"Tony is the real hero! That tech genius completely stole the show and took care of the 'Mandarin.' So cool!"
"Could it be that Iron Man handled it himself? With Tony's straightforward style, seeing a madman causing destruction, he'd just make him lie flat. This script works!"
A tech enthusiast also commented, half-jokingly and half-analytically, "If you ask me, Tony's technology completely trumps Killian's half-baked virus! One is a self-destruct device, the other is a 'gamma radiation top player.' What's Killian still playing at? He should just declare himself 'out'!"
As the discussion continued to escalate, netizens' mockery of Killian became more unrestrained, while the "negative topics" surrounding Dominic and Tony gradually faded from public opinion. It seemed this Mandarin farce ultimately concluded with an absurd collective ridicule.
Meanwhile.
Stark Tower.
Having just received the news, a somewhat confused Happy Hogan came to the office door, his face full of questions, looking suspiciously at Pepper. He frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Pepper, logically, the Mandarin should have been taken care of by now, right? Your expression looks like you're still shaken... Aren't you usually quite brave?"
Pepper rubbed her temples, forcing a smile, and whispered with a hint of lingering fear, "Happy, you might not know, but this morning, that guy who was 'dealt with,' Aldrich Killian, almost became our business partner."
Happy's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. "What did you say?! That guy was the Mandarin?! I... I even opened the door for him downstairs this morning and almost got him coffee! What is going on?! My spine is chilling right now, that's terrifying!"
Pepper shook her head, still with a trace of fear. "Yes, Happy. Today was truly an unexpected danger... If Dominic hadn't stepped in, we might still be 'discussing cooperation' with him right now."
"Dominic?" Happy was stunned for a moment, his expression gradually relaxing, replaced by a look of surprised respect. "So, he's the one who took down Killian? That guy is a complete lunatic. Dominic was certainly efficient, didn't leave him any way out."
Pepper nodded slightly, picked up her phone, and dialed Dominic's number. After a few rings, he answered the call. Pepper sighed with relief, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Dominic, thank you. Really, Killian was closing in on us, and today almost ended in disaster. You helped us solve a huge problem."
Dominic's voice came from the other end, calm with a hint of coldness. "You don't need to thank me, Pepper. That Mandarin was just a clown. How could I let him threaten you."
Pepper sighed softly, a trace of weariness in her voice. "I know you don't care about that, but Tony... he's been acting strange lately, working in the lab late every night... It seems he can't shake off the shadow of the New York War."
There was silence on the other end for a moment, followed by a light chuckle, carrying a hint of understanding. "Don't worry, Pepper. Tony has his way of dealing with these things. His arrogant pride will help him find a way out sooner or later."
Pepper relaxed slightly, her tone softening. "I hope so. Thank you, Dominic."
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)