The press conference is over.
Looking at the reporters leaving excitedly, as if they had just feasted on a juicy piece of gossip, Tony Stark is also preparing to leave.
"Are we going back now?"
Pepper Potts, standing beside Tony, felt that she hadn't been by his side much these days and had missed a lot of things. At the very least, she wasn't fully clear about this particular matter. Like the other reporters, she had only learned the news through this press conference.
"It's not that I didn't tell you, Pepper, but this matter is too dangerous."
Although Pepper asked if they were going back, Tony could hear the real question she wanted to ask.
Is it really over?
"I don't know, but I think it should be over."
Looking at Pepper, who had her arms folded, Tony seemed to remember something. He turned to face her directly and said, "By the way, my father's 'Key to the Future' exhibition board is still in your office. I'll take it with me when we get back."
"What do you need it for? Didn't you move it to the Stark Industries building precisely because you didn't want to see these things?"
As they walked together towards her office, Pepper asked why he wanted to take the "Key to the Future" display board.
"Yesterday, I watched the archival footage and documents from my father's relics that S.H.I.E.L.D. sent over, file #923," Tony said, his voice casual. "Then I felt that my father might have left me something incredible, something that could save lives."
As soon as his indifferent words fell, Pepper stopped in her tracks instantly. She turned her head and looked at him seriously. Under her intense gaze, Tony began to feel a bit uneasy.
"Just kidding! I just want to study the 'Key to the Future' that my father created back then," Tony shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant. "As far as I know, many people say my father was more talented than me, but I don't believe it. So..."
As the person who knew him best, Pepper knew he was definitely hiding something from her.
"It's fine if you don't want to tell me. Anyway, I was just your personal assistant before, and now I'm just the CEO of Stark Industries. I'm not your girlfriend, so naturally, I'm not qualified to control you."
After saying this, Pepper pushed open the office door and pointed to several "Key to the Future" display boards near the entrance. "They're right there. Take them if you want!"
"Pepper Potts..."
Seeing Pepper's attitude, Tony pushed the door open further and approached her. "Hearing you say that makes me a little sad."
"Heh, stay away from me, or I'll accuse you of harassment!"
"Come on, you know that since I came back, I haven't even looked for the 'domestic garbage' you mentioned."
Standing in front of Pepper, Tony placed his hands on her shoulders and looked seriously into her eyes. "Pepper, no one knows me better than you. So you should know what I'm thinking. It's just that the timing isn't right now. After I've completely settled this matter, maybe we should have a good talk."
Seeing Tony's rare serious expression, Pepper's heartbeat quickened slightly. She turned her head away and said, "Who wants to talk to you? By the way, what exactly are you going to study with that 'Key to the Future' display board?"
Pushing Tony's hands off her shoulders, Pepper asked curiously.
"Research a new substance."
Tony didn't hide anything about this. He just glanced at the exhibition board. "We must research this substance as soon as possible and synthesize a new element. Otherwise, in a few days, that guy Su probably won't take me out to play!"
At the same time...
"Damn it! I know all of this has something to do with you!"
Inside the otherwise empty compartment of the transport vehicle escorting him, Senator Stern glared with resentment at Su Che, who was dressed as the Silver Moon Knight. "If it weren't for you and that playboy idiot, Tony Stark, then... mmmph!"
With a casual wave of his hand, Su Che condensed droplets of water to block Stern's mouth.
Winners and losers—so much nonsense!
Activating his mental magic, which he gained from system reward for increasing frigga's trust, Su Che's pupils began to glow with an orange light the next second. Unlike the crimson magic Wanda would later use to control people, the Ancient One's mental magic was orange. The Mind Gem counted as one color, too!
Using his mental magic, Su Che began to twist and guide Stern's thoughts. After a short while, he withdrew his magic, opened the vehicle door, and stepped out.
"All done?"
Seeing Su Che get off the transport vehicle, Natasha Romanoff asked with a smile.
"You can interrogate him after you get back. By the way, where are the men you brought?"
Noticing that Natasha was alone in the escort vehicle, Su Che inquired.
"They're behind us!"
Natasha lightly pointed her thumb towards a few cars not far away. "Since he's HYDRA, who knows if there are other HYDRA agents who might try to attack, worried that he'll reveal their secrets? The two cars behind are responsible for tailing us, and I'm overseeing the entire escort operation."
Glancing around, she added softly, "This is just the visible force. Actually, Barton is back. He's here too, following secretly with a team. Nick Fury was also worried that the HYDRA guys wouldn't let Stern go." She then smiled. "So, I'll have to introduce you two sometime."
"Sounds good," Su Che laughed. "Once the interrogation results are out, the operation will begin."
"No problem!"
Nodding to Su Che, Natasha Romanoff closed the transport vehicle's door and went to the driver's cab herself.
Watching Natasha drive the escort car away neatly, Su Che turned and walked to another parked car.
"Su, are you sure you don't need us to follow?"
Steve Rogers, sitting in the passenger seat in his Captain America uniform, holding his shield (and a hammer?), asked seriously. "When it comes to HYDRA, we shouldn't let our guard down at any time."
Su Che shook his head. "No need. It's best for us to act as if we know nothing right now. With Hawkeye in the shadows, Natasha will have no problem getting Stern to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Sigh…" Steve let out a long breath and said with a hint of self-mockery, "We had to deal with HYDRA seventy years ago, and here we are dealing with HYDRA seventy years later. Heh, I feel like I slept for seventy years in vain."
Starting the car, Su Che glanced at Steve. "Regrets?"
"Not exactly..." Shaking his head and looking at the shield in his hand, Steve was silent for a moment. "After this matter is settled, Su, could you accompany me to visit someone?"
"Sure."
Knowing who Steve was referring to, Su Che didn't refuse. He started the car, and soon it disappeared down the deserted street.
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(TL : More Chapters @)[1]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/c/Gooberilla