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Puente Antiguo – Jane Foster's Investigation
Jane Foster looked at Pepper, who seemed ready to explode with anger at any second. Pepper's expression looked as if she wanted to throw something across the restaurant or punch someone in the face.
Jane couldn't help smiling faintly.
"Her temper really is quite big," Jane said to Wu Yang with a polite smile.
Jack responded with the same relaxed and enthusiastic expression he had been using since they met.
"My assistant is like that," he said calmly. "I hope you won't be offended. Please bear with her."
His tone sounded friendly and harmless, but Pepper knew exactly how fake that smile was.
Inside her heart, she wanted to scream.
Assistant?
Who the hell is your assistant?!
But she forced herself to remain silent for now.
The News About the Hammer
Just then, three dusty men walked into the restaurant from outside.
They looked like local workers or travelers who had just returned from somewhere exciting. Their clothes were still covered in desert dust, and their faces were full of excitement.
They sat down at a nearby table and immediately called out to the restaurant owner.
"Hey! Bring us the same as before!"
One of them continued loudly:
"You guys really missed something amazing earlier. That meteorite crater we went to was incredible!"
He gestured enthusiastically with his hands.
"A meteorite fell there. It looked just like a hammer!"
Jane's head snapped toward them instantly.
"A meteorite fell?" she asked curiously.
The man nodded.
"Yeah."
He leaned back in his chair.
"It looked like a hammer. Not very big… but unbelievably heavy."
He shook his head in disbelief.
"No one could lift it."
The moment Thor heard that description, he stood up instantly.
"Where is it?" he demanded.
The man pointed toward the west.
"About fifty kilometers from here."
Thor immediately began walking toward the door.
Jane called after him.
"Where are you going?"
Thor didn't even turn around.
"To retrieve what belongs to me."
With that, he stepped out of the restaurant.
Jane stared after him in disbelief.
Then she turned to Jack.
"Tom, please excuse me for a moment."
She grabbed her bag quickly.
"I need to check on him."
Darcy and Erik also stood up.
"We should go too," Darcy said.
Within seconds, the three of them hurried out of the restaurant after Thor.
Pepper's Suspicion
Pepper watched them leave.
Then she slowly turned toward Jack.
Her eyes were filled with suspicion and contempt.
"Why did you do that?" she asked coldly.
Jack pretended not to understand.
"Do what?"
Pepper leaned forward slightly.
"You're not an astronomer," she said.
Her voice carried accusation.
"You only pretended to be one because you saw that woman Jane and wanted to get closer to her."
Jack grinned.
"So you noticed."
Pepper clenched her fists tightly.
"You disgusting scum."
Her voice trembled with anger.
"One day I will expose you in front of them."
Jack raised an eyebrow.
"You think they would believe you?"
He shrugged casually.
"Don't waste your effort. It's pointless."
Pepper looked away angrily.
"Hateful."
Jack leaned closer slightly.
"Pepper," he said calmly.
"You should behave and watch quietly."
His voice lowered.
"If I want to destroy Tony and Stark Industries, I can do it in an instant."
He smiled gently.
"If you don't want to see that happen… then behaving obediently is a good choice."
Pepper looked at him.
In her eyes, Jack's gentle smile looked no different from the smile of a demon.
"You devil," she whispered.
Jack chuckled.
"Thank you for the compliment."
He stood up from the chair.
"Let's go."
Outside on the Street
Outside, the small desert town of Puente Antiguo was quiet.
A warm wind blew across the dusty road.
Jane, Darcy, and Erik had already disappeared down the street chasing after Thor.
Jack and Pepper followed slowly behind them.
Jane had been planning to drive Thor to the meteorite crater herself, but Erik kept insisting that Thor should stay away from such strange events.
Jack approached them casually.
"Hey."
Jane turned around.
"Oh, Tom."
Jack looked toward the distance where Thor had gone.
"What is your friend doing?"
Jane sighed slightly.
"He says he has to retrieve something that belongs to him."
She shrugged helplessly.
"All we can do is wish him good luck."
Just then, a large freight truck drove down the street.
It was carrying a massive metal container.
Jane's eyes widened suddenly.
The truck passed slowly in front of her.
Through the open container door, she caught a glimpse of something familiar.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"That looks like…"
Her voice stopped mid-sentence.
"That looks like equipment from my lab."
Her eyes widened in realization.
"No… wait…"
"That is my equipment!"
She suddenly shouted.
"Hey! Stop!"
Jane began running after the truck.
But the vehicle quickly accelerated and drove away.
Dust rose behind it as it disappeared down the road.
Jane stood in the street, breathing heavily.
Jack walked up beside her calmly.
"I think you should go home and check," he said quietly.
Jane nodded immediately.
"You're right."
She turned and began walking quickly toward her house.
Jack and Pepper followed behind her.
Jane's House – S.H.I.E.L.D. Intervention
When Jane arrived home, she stopped suddenly.
Her expression turned completely blank.
A large group of people stood outside her house.
They were moving equipment out of her laboratory.
Her computers.
Her instruments.
Her research notes.
Everything she had spent years building.
Jane felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.
"Hey!"
She shouted.
"What are you doing?!"
She ran forward immediately.
"This is my equipment!"
One of the men stepped forward calmly.
It was the same man who had been seen earlier at the crater.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson.
"Miss Foster," he said politely.
"I am Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D."
Jane stared at him angrily.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
She pointed at the equipment being taken away.
"I want to know what you're doing!"
Erik quickly grabbed her arm.
"Jane, calm down."
He spoke quietly.
"This situation might be more serious than you think."
"Let them handle it."
Jane shook her arm free.
"Let them handle it?"
Her voice trembled with anger.
"This is my life's work!"
She marched straight toward Coulson.
"We are investigating a national security threat," Coulson explained calmly.
"We need to temporarily take your research data and atmospheric records."
"Temporarily?" Jane repeated angrily.
"That's not borrowing!"
"That's stealing!"
Coulson calmly handed her a check.
"This should compensate your losses."
Jane stared at the paper.
"Those instruments can't be replaced with money."
She looked up angrily.
"I built them myself!"
Coulson nodded calmly.
"I believe you can build them again."
Jane clenched the check tightly.
"I could sue you for violating my constitutional rights."
Her voice rose.
"These strange cosmic events must be investigated!"
"All the evidence is in those records and instruments!"
"You can't just take them!"
Erik tried again.
"Jane, calm down."
"I can't calm down!"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"I've spent years on this research!"
Jack Steps In
Jack suddenly stepped forward.
"I can't stay silent anymore."
His voice sounded filled with righteous anger.
"You people are insulting an astronomer."
Jane turned toward him in surprise.
"Tom…"
Her heart felt strangely moved.
"Who are you?" Coulson asked calmly.
Jack pointed angrily at the agents.
"I'm just an ordinary astronomy enthusiast."
His voice grew louder.
"But I can't stand people like you."
"You rely on power and authority to bully others."
He pointed at Coulson.
"Picking on a woman—what kind of skill is that?"
"If you're brave enough, come deal with me!"
Coulson smiled slightly.
"Quite a strong sense of justice."
He looked at the agents beside him.
"Alright."
"Take him."
Jane immediately stepped forward.
"Wait!"
She raised her hand quickly.
"Don't arrest him."
She took a deep breath.
"Just take the equipment and leave."
Coulson nodded calmly.
"Thank you for cooperating."
He looked at Jack briefly.
"You're lucky."
Then he walked away with his team.
Jane's Gratitude
Jane turned back toward Jack.
"Tom…"
Her voice softened.
"You shouldn't have done that."
She shook her head.
"I can't let you risk yourself for me."
"It's not worth it."
Jack looked serious.
"Jane, you shouldn't have stopped me."
His tone sounded filled with heroic determination.
"Even if I had to fight them today, I would bring justice back."
"I hate seeing the strong bully the weak."
Pepper rolled her eyes from the side.
Unbelievable.
How can someone be this shameless?
The devil himself pretending to be a hero.
Jane smiled slightly.
"You wouldn't be able to fight them."
She shook her head gently.
"But your intention means a lot."
Jack nodded firmly.
"Jane, don't lose hope."
He looked determined.
"I will bring your equipment back."
Jane's eyes lit up.
"How?"
Jack looked toward the distant sky thoughtfully.
"I have ways."
He looked back at her.
"Trust me."
Jane hesitated for a moment.
Then she said firmly:
"I'm coming with you."
Jack frowned slightly.
"That's dangerous."
Jane shook her head.
"If it's dangerous…"
She looked straight at him.
"Then how can I let you go alone?"
"That's final."