Chapter 9: Revelations
"Tony's parents were assassinated by the Winter Soldier, and you were also attacked by the Winter Soldier, right?" Leo asked, looking directly at Natasha.
Natasha Romanoff nodded slowly. "Yes."
"Before S.H.I.E.L.D. gave you the information, I already told Tony an answer," Leo continued.
Tony interjected, "I think you said HYDRA, right? So the Winter Soldier is connected to HYDRA?"
"That's right. HYDRA is not completely dead," Leo confirmed.
"The Winter Soldier is actually Captain America's friend, Bucky Barnes. After being captured by HYDRA during World War II, he was brainwashed and transformed. They keep him in a frozen state, and only when needed do they release him for assignments."
Natasha Romanoff couldn't believe it. "HYDRA? Bucky Barnes? This story... it's quite a tale."
Tony didn't believe it either. "How is that possible? Even if he is still alive, he would be in his eighties or nineties, right?"
"It seems that you don't believe it. Well, there are even more shocking things," Leo said calmly. "For example, you thought HYDRA was wiped out long ago. In fact, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by HYDRA from the very beginning."
Natasha Romanoff felt this was even more unbelievable. "How is that possible?"
"How is it impossible? S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited many HYDRA scientists after the war through Operation Paperclip, so S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated from the very beginning," Leo explained.
"Tony, if you want to avenge your parents and eradicate HYDRA completely, it will be very, very difficult."
Tony Stark's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He looked at Natasha. "So, is she from HYDRA too?"
"Definitely not," Leo said firmly. "There are not many people who can be trusted at S.H.I.E.L.D. currently—Director Nick Fury, Agent Phil Coulson, Agent Clint Barton, and Black Widow Natasha Romanoff."
Natasha Romanoff guessed Leo's purpose in her heart. After quick analysis, Natasha Romanoff suspected that Leo's actions were most likely aimed at destroying S.H.I.E.L.D. from within.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was so powerful that ordinary people couldn't handle it.
If Leo could win over Stark, it would be a significant boost to any plan against the organization.
"If you think that by saying all this, I will trust you and become your pawn to use against S.H.I.E.L.D., you're mistaken," Natasha said coldly.
Leo smiled confidently. "I don't need chess pieces, and I don't need your belief, because this is the truth."
"Like what happened to you and Barton in Budapest, when you thought you killed Dreykov."
"Actually, Dreykov is not dead and still controls many Black Widows, including your sister Yelena."
Natasha Romanoff was deeply shocked, but as a trained agent, she calmed down quickly.
"Impossible. I saw it with my own eyes. I waited a long time for that opportunity," she insisted.
"You didn't take the shot until his daughter appeared, did you?" Leo said quietly.
Natasha Romanoff's mental composure was already becoming unsteady. "How do you know that? Only Barton and I know about this. Neither of us reported it to anyone."
Leo continued calmly, "It's strange that no one else knows, isn't it? This world is far more dangerous and complicated than you imagined."
"Let me be clear—what you're seeing right now is only a small part of reality."
"Your director Nick Fury has already fought aliens before."
"There is a magician organization in the world that has silently protected Earth for centuries."
"The characters from mythology will come to this world sooner or later."
Both Natasha and Tony didn't believe it. This was challenging their entire perception of reality.
"Are you kidding me? Magic? Mythology? I only believe in science," Tony said skeptically.
"I don't believe it either," Natasha agreed.
Leo was not in a hurry to persuade them to believe. "Believe it or not, the choice is up to you. Anyway, all of this will happen sooner or later. The world will be at stake, and it will need the Avengers and more superheroes."
"You can slowly verify the authenticity of these things I've told you. There is still some time anyway."
The two fell into thoughtful silence, and Natasha Romanoff recovered first.
"So Yelena is still controlled by the Red Room, right? Do you know where the Red Room is?" she asked urgently.
"I don't know the exact location. I only know that the Red Room is in the air—it's a flying facility," Leo explained. "If you can find Melina Vostokoff, she knows where the Red Room is."
"If you want to completely wipe out the Red Room, you can ask me for help. The premise is that you have to prepare proper compensation and reward me to do it."
Natasha Romanoff was still not sure whether the information was true or not, but these details were incredibly important and specific.
"I think a kiss might be regarded as partial compensation," Natasha said, half-teasing, half-testing.
"We'll see about that," Leo replied with a slight smile.
Natasha Romanoff was about to leave. Leo planned to wait for the detection device that Stark was making for him.
Leo didn't want his life to become a live broadcast. All these surveillance cameras and bugs had to be removed from his property.
Especially now that his relationship with Gwen and the others was getting better—maybe one day soon, things would reach that point.
While Tony was busy finishing the device, Leo and Natasha left the underground studio together.
Pepper was working upstairs. She was very surprised to see Leo and Natasha Romanoff appearing suddenly from the basement.
"Leo? Natasha Romanoff? How did you both get here?" Pepper asked, confused.
Natasha Romanoff wasn't in the mood to explain. "I still have something urgent to do. I have to go first."
"Goodbye, Natasha Romanoff," Leo said.
Natasha Romanoff had to get back quickly. There was a lot to do—report this information to Fury and also find a way to investigate the clues about the Red Room and Yelena.
"Bye, Leo," Natasha said, already heading for the door.
After Natasha Romanoff left, only Pepper and Leo remained in the living room.
"Leo, why haven't you left yet?" Pepper asked.
"Stark is making something for me. I need to wait a while. Miss Pepper, can I have a glass of juice?" Leo asked politely.
"Okay," Pepper agreed.
Pepper got up and went to the bar to prepare the juice.
Leo looked at Pepper's figure. Pepper in her professional work clothes still had a certain elegant charm.
There was such a beautiful and capable secretary right here, but Stark didn't pay proper attention at all.
"Your juice," Pepper said, bringing it over.
"Thank you," Leo said, accepting the glass.
After receiving the juice, Leo felt satisfied. "Pepper, are there any activities at the company recently?"
"There is an event coming up. The company has prepared a charity gala. Do you want to attend?" Pepper offered.
Leo saw that the Mark II armor was almost completed. He knew the confrontation with Obadiah was about to start soon.
"Definitely. It's just that I don't have a date. Can you be my girlfriend for the event?" Leo asked smoothly.
With Leo's direct invitation, it was hard for Pepper not to think about it carefully.
"Me?"
"What? Is it because I'm not handsome enough to attend the party with you?" Leo teased.
"No, you're very handsome! It's just... I'm only an assistant," Pepper said modestly.
"You are a uniquely beautiful assistant," Leo said sincerely.
Pepper's heart started to flutter after being charmed by Leo's words. "I agree."
"Then it's settled. I'll pick you up when the time comes," Leo confirmed.
"Okay," Pepper said, smiling.
Leo felt he was very close to success.
He would just wait for the charity gala and seize that opportunity. It would definitely be a success.
The two chatted comfortably in the living room, and finally Stark was done with his work.
"Leo! What you wanted is finished. Come down and get it!" Tony called from below.
Leo felt slightly regretful about leaving the pleasant conversation. "It seems I have to go now. Goodbye, Pepper."
"Goodbye, Leo," Pepper said warmly.
Leo got up and quickly entered the underground workshop. "Tony, you are such a genius!"
Although Tony liked being praised, he felt he was being used as a tool here.
"I know I'm a genius, but also, I'm not your employee," Tony complained.
"We are friends. I think you won't mind helping me out," Leo said with a grin.
"Thanks, Tony. I'll go back first."
After that, Leo opened a portal and returned home the same way he'd arrived.
Tony felt helpless. "JARVIS, tell me—can I stop this guy from teleporting into my studio whenever he wants?"
JARVIS quickly answered, "According to current technology, there is no known technology that can block his teleportation ability, sir."
Stark felt very discouraged. "According to 'current technology,' the arc reactor was impossible too, but I did it."
"When I figure out the principle of his ability, I can think of a way to counter it."
Stark decided to focus on making his battle armor right away and put aside Leo's mysterious abilities for now.
There would be time in the future to collect data and analyze Leo's teleportation ability, then perhaps make a special armor designed to counter it.
But the premise of all these plans was to complete the Mark II armor first.
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