Chapter 98: "What, afraid I'll sell you off?"
Half an hour later.
The Rolls-Royce stopped at the school gate.
Under a street lamp, Gwen Stacy happened to be holding a few books, walking with her head down along the roadside.
She was wearing a simple white hoodie and jeans, with her blonde hair draped casually over her shoulders, looking youthful and vibrant.
However, her complexion looked a bit pale, and her brows were tightly knitted, as if she was worried about something.
Luca lowered the car window and chuckled softly.
"Hey, beauty. Need a ride? Although the driver of this car looks a bit chubby, the boss is a major hunk."
Gwen raised her head and saw Luca's mischievous smiling face in the car window. She was stunned for a moment, and then her tense nerves relaxed a little.
"Luca? What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by, and dropped by to see if a certain girl flying around in the sky turned into a nerd today."
Luca pushed open the car door and motioned slightly.
"Get in, I'll take you to get something good to eat."
Gwen hesitated for a moment.
If it were usual, she would definitely get in the car without hesitation, and then casually roast Luca a few times.
But the words of that man during the day had been pressing on her heart like a heavy stone.
She really wanted to ask Luca for help; after all, the Stark Brothers possessed unimaginable resources and power for ordinary people.
However, she was also afraid of bringing trouble to them.
"What's wrong? Afraid I'll sell you off?" Seeing the other party standing still, Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, a scrawny figure like yours where all the weight is added in all the right places won't fetch a good price on the black market."
"You're the scrawny one!" Gwen glared at him, the gloom in her heart dissipated quite a bit by these words.
Hugging her books, she quickly slipped into the back seat.
The car door closed, Happy stepped on the gas pedal, and the car drove towards the city center.
The carriage was very quiet.
Luca leaned back in his seat, turning his head to look at Gwen.
Ever since getting into the car, Gwen had been holding her books, her eyes shifting around uncertainly.
This was definitely not the state a normal female college student should have.
What's more, she was still Spider-Woman.
"So, did the physics high achiever come up with any little inventions today in the lab that could destroy the Earth?"
To ease the atmosphere, Luca started his routine banter.
"If not, I'll be very disappointed."
"After all, you beat the criminals black and blue last night. I thought you would casually tear down the school's laboratory today as well."
Gwen was still hugging her books tightly, staring blankly at the street scene flashing past outside the window.
"Mhm... Yeah, pretty good."
She perfunctorily brushed it off, clearly not listening to what Luca was saying at all.
Luca raised an eyebrow, intentionally leaning his face closer.
"Pretty good? Do you mean destroying the Earth is pretty good, or do you plan to kidnap your Professor tomorrow?"
"Huh? What kidnapping?"
Gwen snapped back to her senses, quickly looking at Luca, her eyes full of confusion and anxiety.
"Sorry, Luca, I zoned out just now. What did you say just now?"
Seeing her absent-minded look, Luca narrowed his eyes slightly.
Gwen was usually a sharp-tongued person, never losing the upper hand whenever she bantered with him.
But in today's state, one would think her soul had been sucked out.
Therefore, something was definitely wrong.
And it wasn't a small matter.
Luca glanced at the surroundings.
Now in a narrow carriage, it was clearly not a good place to inquire.
Gwen's guard was very high right now. He had to find a place where she could lower her vigilance, eat some good food, and drink some wine to get the truth out of her.
Thinking of this, Luca straightened his body.
"Happy, go to Starlight Restaurant. I remember there is a very nice French midnight snack place there."
"Okay, boss."
Twenty minutes later.
The two sat in a private room of a high-end but well-hidden restaurant.
Exquisite steaks and desserts were placed on the table.
Holding a knife and fork, Gwen absent-mindedly cut the steak.
A perfectly good piece of meat was cut to pieces by her, and the blade scratched against the porcelain plate, making a harsh sound.
Holding a wine glass, Luca leaned against the back of his chair and quietly watched her for two minutes.
"With the strength you're using to cut steak, you're about to cut the plate in half."
"What, does this steak look like me? Or did this plate owe you money?"
Gwen snapped back to her senses, then saw the horrifying steak on the plate, her face flushed red, and she quickly put down the knife and fork.
"Sorry... I was just thinking about some things."
"Let me guess." Luca put down his wine glass, crossed his hands on the table, and leaned his body forward slightly.
"Is the school's calculus too hard, or did some blind boy upset you?"
"If it's the latter, you just need to tell me his name. I can have Happy stuff him into the school's trash can. Happy is very experienced in this kind of thing."
Gwen was barely made to smile by him.
"Neither. I'm fine, really."
"Gwen." Luca put away his smile, his gaze becoming serious.
"I have to say, you are a terrible liar. Your eyes are telling me you're in trouble."
"And it's a trouble you feel you can't solve on your own."
Gwen avoided the other's gaze, her hands tightly twisting together under the table.
Luca was right.
She was Spider-Woman, possessing incredible Superpowers.
But facing a mysterious organization hiding in the dark, she had no way out.
She didn't even know when the other party would frame her family.
"I... I don't want to drag you guys into this."
"You guys are already busy enough, and you have so many enemies..."
"Listen, girl." Luca interrupted her.
He reached out and gently tapped the tabletop in front of Gwen.
"In this World, there really aren't many things that can make me, Lucas Stark, consider them trouble."
"Don't forget, we are all members of the Justice League, and we are family."
"Now, tell me. What on Earth happened?"
Luca's tone made people feel very reassured, full of a sense of security.
Seeing the other's firm gaze, Gwen finally couldn't help but sigh.
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly.
"This afternoon, at school... a strange man found me."
"He called out my name and also knew that I am Spider-Woman."
Luca was stunned for a moment, his gaze instantly turning cold, but he didn't speak, signaling Gwen to continue.
"That's not even the worst part." Gwen bit her lip, her expression somewhat lost.
"He mentioned my father. The New York Police Director, George Stacy."
"He said he sends his regards to me on behalf of HYDRA."
Hearing the name HYDRA, Luca raised an eyebrow.
It's them again?!
Well, protecting one's own is a traditional virtue of the Stark Family.
As long as it was someone approved by him, Luca, whoever dared to touch a single hair, he would dare to scatter the other's ashes.
HYDRA?
Really interesting.
He hadn't gone to find trouble with them yet, but they jumped out first to seek attention.
Just right, feeling like there was nothing much to do lately, it seemed it was time to find something to do.
Jessica's place was a good starting point.
He had already figured out what to do tomorrow.
Luca picked up the napkin and gracefully wiped the corners of his mouth.
Then, he looked at Gwen again, a relaxed smile returning to his face.
"Just this?"
Gwen was stunned: "What do you mean just this? They are HYDRA! They've set their sights on my family!"
"Relax, little spider."
Luca leaned back against the back of the chair, raising his wine glass and swirling it.
"I thought it was some big deal. Aren't they just a few bugs hiding in the sewers?"
"You're treating this meal. In exchange, tomorrow I'll have Happy arrange a few security personnel from Stark Industries to go to New York and have coffee with your father for a few days."
"As for HYDRA? They are our common enemy."
Luca raised his head, draining the red wine in one gulp, a dangerous gleam flashing in his eyes.
Chapter 99 Would you like to come up for a cup of water?
Dinner ended.
Luca set down his wine glass and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth.
Outside the restaurant, Happy had already parked the car by the roadside.
Luca led Gwen out of the restaurant, but did not get into the car.
He walked over to the driver's side window and knocked on the glass.
"Happy, you go back first. Tell Tony that I'm going to conduct a very in-depth biological field study tonight, so tell him not to leave the door unlocked for me."
Happy was stunned for a moment, then wore an I-understand-everything expression.
"Alright, boss. Do you need me to book a waist physical therapy session for you tomorrow in advance?"
"Shit! My waist is doing just fine, it's Sun-powered, understand?" Luca cursed with a smile and waved his hand.
Soon, the Rolls-Royce smoothly drove into the night and disappeared.
Gwen stood under the street lamp with her hands in her pockets, quietly watching Luca walk over.
"Biological field study?" Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Is Stark Industries starting to break into the education sector now?"
"Of course, I've always been a good youth who loves to learn." Luca shrugged and walked naturally to Gwen's side.
"Let's go, just finished eating, let's take a walk. By the way, I'll walk you home."
The night breeze in Los Angeles was gentle, and the lights on both sides of the street flickered incessantly.
The two walked side by side on the sidewalk.
After dinner, the burden in Gwen's heart had gradually lifted.
Luca promised to send someone to protect her father, which made her feel unprecedentedly at ease.
Thinking of this, she secretly turned her head to glance at Luca.
With the tall and upright Luca walking by her side, the sense of security was truly full.
Looking at his outfit again, a suit with the collar slightly open, revealing solid muscle lines.
Although this guy usually talked a lot of nonsense and was unreliable, and was a notorious playboy, at critical moments, he was really very reliable.
"What are you thinking about? Did you suddenly realize that I'm much more handsome than Tony and want to ask me for an autograph?" Luca spoke directly without even turning his head.
Gwen's thoughts were exposed, her face blushed slightly, but she refused to admit defeat verbally.
"No, I was just thinking that a big billionaire like you would actually walk down the street with me. If the paparazzi were to snap a photo of this, tomorrow's headline would be "Lucas Stark Bankrupt, Wandering the Streets Late at Night"."
"Then they would be gravely mistaken." Luca chuckled softly.
"The headline should be "Shocking! Lucas Stark Secretly Meets Mysterious Blonde Female College Student Late at Night, Stark Family Genes Are About to Welcome a New Legacy.""
"You..." Gwen shook her head speechlessly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up.
The two chatted idly like this.
From the boring courses at school to Tony's embarrassing incidents in the lab, and then to the breathability issue of Gwen's Spider suit.
Overall, the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
Without realizing it, the two had already walked downstairs to the apartment Gwen rented in Los Angeles.
This was an apartment with some age to it. Although not luxurious, it looked very clean.
Gwen stopped in her tracks and turned to face Luca.
The dim yellow light of the street lamp shone on her face, and her long blonde hair exuded a soft glow.
"I'm here." Gwen said softly.
"I can see that." Luca looked down at her with a half-smile.
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat quiet.
It seemed to have gained something indescribable.
Gwen gazed into Luca's deep eyes, and her heartbeat suddenly began to accelerate.
She knew that Luca was a scumbag who changed girlfriends faster than sports cars.
But she simply couldn't help being attracted to him.
He was powerful, humorous, and understood her.
"Um..." Gwen bit her lower lip, her gaze flickering evasively.
"Would you like to... come up for a cup of water? I only have instant coffee and tap water at home."
Luca was stunned for a moment, blooming with joy inside.
This little spider, even making an excuse was so stiff.
However, as a professional playboy, of course he wouldn't refuse an invitation delivered right to his doorstep.
"Tap water? Sounds very tempting." Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Lead the way, Miss Stacy."
Gwen took a deep breath, turned around, and took out the key to open the door.
The two walked into the elevator and came all the way to the room door.
Opening the apartment door, Gwen hurriedly turned on the light switch.
The room wasn't big, but it was furnished very warmly.
A few unwashed clothes were still tossed on the sofa, and the table was piled high with thick textbooks.
"Sorry, it's a bit messy."
Gwen flurriedly picked up the clothes and stuffed them into the laundry basket nearby.
Luca walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
With a soft click.
In this enclosed space, that sound appeared exceptionally clear.
Luca took off his coat and casually hung it on the coat rack.
Inside, he wore only a black tight-fitting T-shirt, and the outlines of his perfect pectoral and abdominal muscles were clearly visible.
He walked over to the sofa and sat down, his legs crossed casually, his gaze fixed straight at Gwen pouring water in the kitchen.
With her back to him, Gwen felt a scorching gaze behind her, baking her into complete discomfort all over.
She turned around holding two cups of water, walked in front of Luca, and handed him a cup.
"Here."
Luca didn't take the cup, but instead directly gripped Gwen's wrist.
Gwen's hand trembled, and the water in the cup almost spilled out.
"Luca..." Her voice trembled slightly.
With a slight tug from Luca, Gwen lost her balance and fell sitting onto his lap.
The water cup was steadily caught by Luca and casually placed on the nearby coffee table.
The distance between the two was extremely close.
So close that Gwen could clearly feel the aura emanating from Luca's body.
"Your heartbeat is very fast."
One of Luca's hands wrapped around Gwen's slender waist, while his other hand gently lifted her chin.
Gwen didn't dare look into Luca's eyes, and could only lower her eyelids.
"This is the Spider-Sense... It's warning me."
"Warning you about what?" Luca's tone became deep and husky, carrying a fatal temptation.
"Warning me... that it's very dangerous right now." Gwen's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzzing.
"Then did it tell you that when encountering danger, the best way is to face the difficulty head-on?"
As soon as the words fell, Luca directly lowered his head and kissed her soft lips.
Gwen's eyes widened abruptly, but just a second later, she closed her eyes, her hands unconsciously climbing onto Luca's broad shoulders.
This kiss started out with a bit of probing, but quickly became passionate.
Luca easily breached Gwen's defense line.
The temperature in the room began to rise sharply.
Gwen felt as if she had fallen into a ball of fire, her rationality burned away completely.
Luca's hand slowly moved upward along her waistline, and the temperature transmitted from his fingertips made Gwen couldn't help emitting a soft hum.
This soft hum was like a signal for attack.
Luca stood up directly, taking the momentum to lift Gwen up, and strode towards the bedroom.
The bedroom door was kicked open with one kick, and then heavily slammed shut.
Outside the window, the moon quietly hid into the clouds.
There were no lights on in the room, only a little shimmer spilling in through the gaps of the curtains.
The sound of clothes rubbing appeared exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Piece by piece, clothes were tossed onto the carpet by the bedside.
The mattress emitted a dull protest.
Gwen felt like she had become a lonely boat in the vast sea, able only to tightly hug Luca, letting him carry her up and down amidst the raging storm.
Luca's stamina was shockingly good, as if he contained endless energy.
The night grew deeper.
The reflections on the wall overlapped together, constantly changing shapes.
...
The next morning.
The Los Angeles sunshine appeared on time, spilling onto the messy carpet.
Luca opened his eyes, his gaze clear, without a trace of fatigue.
After a whole night of high-intensity field study.
His body was not hollowed out at all; instead, under the illumination of the sunlight, it once again emitted a cheerful roar.
This was his overbearing nature.
As long as there was energy, he was a perpetual motion machine.
Luca tilted his head and glanced at Gwen sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm.
Her long blonde hair was scattered across the pillow, the corners of her eyes still carrying a trace of weary tear stains, her breathing even and long.
Clearly, last night's communication was still a bit too intense for her.
Luca chuckled softly, carefully pulling out his hand and turning over to get out of bed.
He picked up the clothes from the floor and put them on, walked to the table, picked up a pen, and wrote a line of text on a sticky note.
"Breakfast is in the microwave. The security team protecting your father will report to the New York police station this morning. Rest well, my little spider."
After writing, he casually pulled a password-free black card out of his wallet and pressed it under the sticky note.
After finishing all this, Luca pushed open the window and slowly ascended into the air against the morning breeze.
"Boom!"
With a slight sonic boom, he turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the morning glow of Los Angeles.
The self-cultivation of a playboy is that you should never leave a woman with an awkward opportunity for eye contact in the early morning, but you must definitely give enough money and a sense of security.
Chapter 100: Strength and Brains are Two Different Things
Meanwhile.
177A Bleecker Street, Manhattan, New York.
This is an old-fashioned building sandwiched between bustling streets.
Passing New York City citizens hurried by, and no one spared the house a second glance, as if it didn't exist at all.
Inside the building, the lobby was empty, with only a few rays of sunlight shining on the ancient wooden floor.
Suddenly.
"Zizizi..."
A circle of golden sparks lit up in mid-air.
The sparks quickly expanded, forming a spinning portal.
Wong carried an aged canvas duffel bag, stepped across the portal, and walked into the New York Sanctum.
Following his entry, the portal behind him instantly shrank, turning into tiny sparks that disappeared.
Wong put down the duffel bag and patted the dust off his sorcerer robes.
Afterwards, he looked around the excessively quiet old house.
"Good grief, this place is even more desolate than Kamar-Taj's restricted library."
Wong sighed and walked over to the chair in the center of the lobby to sit down.
Rubbing his slightly chubby belly, the burgers and pizza promised by Sorcerer Ancient One involuntarily popped into his mind.
"For the sake of gourmet food, what is a little loneliness like this."
Wong self-soothed with a sentence, then picked up the remote control on the table and turned on an old-fashioned television in front of him.
He felt that since he had come to New York, he should first understand the local customs and practices, and by the way, see how to contact the two target figures.
The television screen lit up, perfectly tuned to a morning news channel.
On the screen, Lucas Stark was wearing a suit and standing among a group of reporters, with a charming smile on his face.
"I am not a lofty hero, let alone an almighty god. I am just an ordinary person who doesn't want to see everyone fall into trouble."
Luca in the television said sincerely, his gaze focused in front of the lens, and anyone who saw it would think this was a true superhero.
Wong was stunned, his brows furrowing tightly together.
"Is this the person the Sorcerer Supreme asked me to teach magic to?"
He doubted his life a bit.
This guy not only didn't look like a sorcerer who could calm down to meditate, but instead looked more like a villain ready to open champagne at a party at any time.
Moreover, what did this guy just say? An ordinary person?
He had previously seen news of them fighting a monster team.
And they call themselves ordinary people?!
"For the sake of Vishanti, this mission is simply more ridiculous than dealing with Dormammu."
Wong leaned back on the sofa helplessly, massaging his temples.
The other party is a playboy who wishes the entire Universe knew about them with high profile.
He was just a librarian who had to carefully budget even when buying a hot dog.
So, how should he go chat them up?!
"Hey, Mr. Stark, do you want to learn magic?"
He felt that the other party would most likely directly have bodyguards throw him into the Hudson River.
"Forget it, let's order takeout first. Think of a way after eating."
Wong touched the few U.S. dollar bills left in his pocket and fell into deep thought.
...
Perspective switch.
Washington, D.C., Triskelion.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Director's office.
The atmosphere here was completely different from the desolation of the New York Sanctum.
At this moment, Nick Fury sat behind the desk.
His naturally dark face was now as dark as if he had just picked two pieces of cotton fields.
His remaining solitary eye was bloodshot, staring intently at a report on the desktop.
Coulson stood in front of the desk, holding two cups of hot coffee in his hands, and carefully placed one of the cups in front of Fury.
"Director, have some coffee. You haven't closed your eyes for two days."
"Drink coffee? Do you think I can drink coffee right now?!"
Fury slammed his hand on the desk fiercely, shaking the coffee out.
"Two days! Coulson! A full two days!"
Fury gritted his teeth in impotent rage.
"I, Nick Fury! Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.! The World's highest-level intelligence boss!"
"We were actually treated as anti-human Terrorists by the Los Angeles Military, and locked up in that Military prison where even the toilet leaks for two days!"
"Did you forget how we spent these past two days? What we ate were cold sandwiches! What we slept on were hard iron beds!"
Coulson coughed awkwardly, trying to soothe his superior's emotions.
"Director, looking on the bright side, at least the Military didn't drag us away as alien spies for dissection. Besides, didn't Minister Pierce already step out and bail us out?"
"Don't mention Pierce to me!"
Fury's solitary eye widened even more.
"When he picked us up from prison, the look in his eyes was like looking at an idiot! He even asked me if I got drunk in Los Angeles and ran streaking down the street before getting caught!"
Fury took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger in his heart, but as soon as he thought of the culprit, his temper flared up again.
"Lucas Stark! This damned bastard!"
"He clearly knew who I was! He clearly knew those monsters went to help him! Yet he still counter-attacked and accused me in front of the World's media!"
Fury was so angry that he paced back and forth in the office.
"People in the Stark Family are all lunatics! Howard is a lunatic, Tony is a lunatic, and Luca is even more of a villain without a bottom line!"
Coulson sighed helplessly.
"Director, I've said it long ago, the Stark Brothers simply don't play by the rules. They don't have traditional moral concepts."
"As long as they feel unhappy, they don't care whether you are S.H.I.E.L.D. or whatever bureau."
Fury snorted coldly and sat back down in his chair.
He naturally knew the Stark Brothers were difficult to handle, but he didn't expect them to be this difficult.
The original plan was to go to Los Angeles to flex S.H.I.E.L.D.'s muscles, and by the way recruit them into the Avengers Initiative.
As a result, the muscles weren't flexed successfully, the Howling Commandos were defeated by Luca's team, and he himself became a prisoner.
This move was a complete double loss.
"Director."
Seeing that Fury had calmed down a bit, Coulson timely shifted the topic.
"Regarding Tony Stark's situation, the intelligence department just sent over the latest analysis report."
Coulson opened the folder in his hand, and his expression turned solemn.
"According to the analysis, Tony Stark's Arc Reactor should be slowly killing him."
Fury raised an eyebrow; he still knew about this.
"Palladium poisoning?"
"Yes." Coulson nodded.
"While the palladium element releases energy, the toxins are invading his blood. According to the current rate of deterioration, it is estimated that he has at most a few months left to live."
"Moreover, Tony Stark currently shouldn't have found a new element to replace palladium. Because we previously tried all known elements, and all failed."
Hearing this news, Fury's solitary eye narrowed slightly.
"A few months? It seems our peerless Iron Man is about to turn into a piece of scrap iron soon."
Coulson looked at Fury and asked tentatively.
"Director, do you remember a relic Howard Stark left behind at S.H.I.E.L.D. back then? It's the future city model of the Stark Expo."
"We all know that a structural diagram of a brand-new element is hidden inside the model. And the new element can perfectly replace palladium and resolve Tony's crisis."
Coulson paused and continued.
"Since our relationship with the Stark Brothers has soured badly now, should we hand this model over to them?"
"We can use this as a bargaining chip in exchange for their reconciliation, making them willingly join the Avengers Initiative."
In Coulson's view, this was a win-win situation.
Saving Tony's life, S.H.I.E.L.D. could also reap two powerful combat forces.
However, Fury shook his head without hesitation.
"Hand it to him? Now?"
Fury sneered, as if he had heard some incredible joke.
"Coulson, you are still too naive. You simply don't understand the people of the Stark Family."
"If the model is sent over now, not only will Tony Stark not be grateful, but he will also think it is taken for granted."
"He will think this is something his old man left him, and we are just couriers."
"As for Luca?"
Fury snorted coldly.
"He will only mock S.H.I.E.L.D. as a free locker, and might even turn around and blackmail us for compensation due to poor safekeeping!"
Coulson was stunned.
Thinking carefully, with Luca's personality, he really could do such a thing.
"Then what do you mean..."
"Keep this news."
Fury's solitary eye narrowed slightly.
"Without my command, no one is allowed to touch it."
"The Stark Brothers are riding high right now, and they think they are invincible Superman and Iron Man. Going to negotiate with them at this time, we have no capital whatsoever."
"However, when Tony Stark's palladium poisoning gets worse and worse, when he discovers that technology cannot save his life, when he is at his wit's end..."
Fury looked at Coulson, revealing a smile of being in control of the overall situation.
"At that time, I will take the answer left by Howard and hand it to him."
"By that step, not only will he obediently join the Avengers Initiative, but he will also have to be deeply grateful to us!"
After listening, Coulson silently nodded.
The Director's calculations were indeed thorough.
Providing timely help is always more valuable than icing on the cake.
"However, Director." Coulson was still somewhat worried.
"What about Lucas Stark? His power is too abnormal. What if he uses some method we don't know to cure Tony?"
"Him?"
Fury curled his lips dismissively.
"Coulson, you must understand that strength and brains are two different things."
"Lucas Stark can indeed fight well; he can punch Abomination flying and fire lasers. But so what?"
Fury pointed at his own head.
"Can he punch the palladium element out of blood vessels with his fists? Can he burn out a new element with lasers?"
"Technological problems can only be solved by technology. And in this World, besides the answer left by Howard Stark, no one else can solve this problem."
Thinking of this, Fury picked up the coffee and took a cozy sip.
"No matter how strong Luca is, he is just a brute. He cannot save Tony."
"Therefore, we only need to patiently wait for the moment when they are driven to a dead end; that will be the time for S.H.I.E.L.D. to close the net."
Fury confidently drew his conclusion.
He felt that he had completely seen through the situation and held a sure victory.
Chapter 101 George Stacy
The morning Sun shone on the surface of the Pacific Ocean, shimmering with sparkling waves.
"Boom!!"
A harsh piercing sound came from afar and tore through the tranquility of the sea surface.
Immediately after, a slender and upright figure descended from the sky, landing steadily in front of the luxury Villa on the edge of the cliff.
Luca landed gracefully, then swaggered through the front door.
He didn't go to work today.
Punching in for work was something that never fit a playboy's style.
After having a deep communication with Gwen last night, he was in a great mood now and planned to stroll around the company in the afternoon if he had time.
As for Jessica?
Just let her stare blankly in the office.
As everyone knew, the most valuable thing in Stark Industries was never the weapons on the assembly line, but the brains of the two brothers.
As long as the two of them didn't show up, even if HYDRA turned the toilets of Stark Tower upside down, they couldn't steal anything useful.
"Welcome home, Mr. Luca."
Jarvis's gentle voice resounded in the living room.
"Sir, the night view of Los Angeles last night was pretty good, right?"
"Very good, Jarvis. Especially the field trip in the field of biology, which benefited me a lot."
Luca walked to the bar counter, poured himself a glass of ice water, and drank it all at once.
"Where is Tony? Playing groundhog in the garage again?"
"Yes, sir. Mr. Tony has stayed up all night in the laboratory and rejected the suggestion about sleep."
Luca frowned slightly.
He put down the water glass and walked straight towards the underground garage.
Opening the door, the deafening rock music instantly filled Luca's ears.
Tony was wearing a vest, holding a wrench in his hand, staring blankly at a pile of structural diagrams on the holographic projection.
His eye sockets were dark, his chin was covered with stubble, and he looked haggard all over.
Seeing Tony like this, a trace of worry flashed in Luca's heart.
The erosion speed of palladium poisoning was even faster than he imagined.
But on the surface, he still had a flippant look, walked over and turned off the stereo with one grab.
"Good god, Tony. You look like you were gang-raped in turns by ten big Russian men right now. If the media takes a picture, the stocks of Stark Industries will hit the limit-down tomorrow."
Tony was startled by the suddenly disappeared music and glared at Luca angrily.
"Fack, and you look like you just crawled out of the bed of some blonde college girl. Oh, wait, you actually did."
Tony put down the wrench and rubbed his sore neck.
"Speak, why didn't you go back to sleep early in the morning, and ran over to my place to do what? Don't tell me you came to inspect the work."
"Of course not."
Luca pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing his legs and putting on a comfortable posture.
"I just suddenly had a brilliant business plan. Tony, let's move the company headquarters to New York."
Tony was stunned for a moment, as if he heard something incredible.
"Move the company to New York? Is your brain fucked up by the Sun? We are doing fine in Los Angeles, why bother to move to the East Coast? Do you know how much money and energy this will cost?"
"Because New York has better development prospects." Luca talked nonsense with a straight face.
"Moreover, I think Director George Stacy of the New York Police Department is an excellent Police officer with a strong sense of justice and is very worthy of cooperation. The security work of building our new building in New York can completely be handed over to him to be responsible for."
Tony was stunned for a moment, narrowed his eyes and carefully looked at Luca twice.
Afterwards, a teasing smile hooked at the corner of his mouth.
"George Stacy? Let me guess, you went to all this trouble and even hesitated not to move the company headquarters, just for that Spider-Woman, right?"
Luca shrugged, completely without the embarrassment of being exposed.
"You know, I have always been a warm-hearted person."
In fact, as early as the night when the Los Angeles battle ended, the two brothers had already let Jarvis invade the surveillance system of the entire U.S.
Afterwards, they investigated Peter Parker wearing a robber hood and Gwen Stacy with a hot figure inside and out.
In front of Jarvis, the disguise of the two newbies was as dismissive as a grandmother's skirt.
Luca didn't talk nonsense anymore, and quickly told Tony simply about Gwen being threatened by HYDRA.
After listening to Luca's narration, Tony's brows also wrinkled tightly.
"The hands of these guys from HYDRA really reach too far."
Tony understood Luca's meaning.
They couldn't directly wage a full-scale war with HYDRA right now.
The truth about their parents' assassination had not been completely investigated yet, and the role played by S.H.I.E.L.D. inside was not clear yet.
Therefore, moving the company headquarters to New York and incorporating George Stacy under the umbrella of Stark Industries in the name of business cooperation was currently the safest and most disgusting way to annoy the enemy.
"I agree with this proposal." Tony nodded.
"Right on, I also want to build a Stark Tower in New York that is taller than the Empire State Building. Jarvis, pull up the current power distribution map of New York."
"Okay, sir."
The holographic projection switched instantly, and the three-dimensional map of the entire New York City appeared in front of the two.
The map was marked with dense color blocks, representing different spheres of influence.
"In addition to the surface political and commercial patterns, the underground World of New York is also very active." Jarvis quickly introduced.
"Especially the Hells Kitchen area of Manhattan. The crime rate here remains high all year round."
"It is worth mentioning that the concept of superheroes was not pioneered by the two gentlemen. As early as many years ago, several masked vigilantes had already appeared in Hells Kitchen to fight crime."
"For example, Miss Gwen Stacy, before coming to Los Angeles as an exchange student, she often operated in Hells Kitchen."
"In addition, according to the latest surveillance footage, after Peter Parker returned to New York a couple of days ago, not only did he make a red-and-blue tights for himself, but these past two days he also began to crack down on robbers in Queens."
Tony looked at the picture on the projection and couldn't help curling his lips.
"Red and blue tights? This kid's aesthetic is a disaster. Doesn't he know what concealment is? Flying in the sky dressed like that, wouldn't he become a living target?"
"Don't expect too much from him, Tony, he's just a poor student and can't afford your multi-million-dollar-per-pound titanium alloy." Luca smiled and waved his hand.
The two chatted a few words about the street hero ecology of New York, and the atmosphere became slightly more relaxed.
Afterwards, Luca turned the topic back to the most important matter.
"How is your research on Dad's notes going?"
Hearing this question, the relaxation on Tony's face instantly disappeared.
He sighed and irritatedly grabbed his already messy hair.
"Still the same old story. Both you and I have deduced the theoretical direction of the new element, but the problem is, nobody has ever seen what that thing actually looks like!"
"Without a physical reference, without an arrangement order, relying solely on theory to synthesize is like blindfolded groping to figure out how many holes the person on the bed has."
Chapter 102 New Element
Luca fell silent as well.
That was indeed the case.
Discovering this new element back then had cost their father countless heartaches and endless time.
Yet they had only obtained the notes a few days ago.
This did not mean they truly could not create a new element, but rather that it took time.
However, the biggest problem right now was that Tony's body could not wait that long.
Therefore, seeing Tony's pale face, Luca sighed.
"Listen, Tony. I think it would be better for you to first inject the enhanced version of the Super Soldier Serum I developed."
"Just take one shot, and you'll be Captain America 3.0. A minor issue like palladium poisoning can be resolved by your immune system in minutes."
"Don't even think about it!"
Tony refused without hesitation, his face full of resistance.
But after hesitating for a moment, his tone softened.
"Give me another week! I can definitely get that damn new element out! Besides, I need your help. You are more professional than me when it comes to biology!"
"No problem." Luca readily agreed.
But immediately afterward, he rubbed his chin and said,
"Since we have no direction right now, we'll find some direction ourselves. Jarvis, what kind of messy leftovers did Howard leave behind besides these notes back then?"
"Mr. Howard left behind many items, Sir."
Jarvis quickly listed a long checklist.
"Including some old blueprints, unfinished weapon design drafts, some private videotapes, and…"
Jarvis paused.
"And a futuristic city model from the Stark Expo back then. According to records, the model contained Mr. Howard's fantasies and thinking directions regarding the energy operation of future cities."
"Future city?"
Luca sneered.
"Dad's fantasies about the future are truly wonderful. If he were to see that the environment in the United States is getting worse and worse now, with zero-dollar purchases and homeless people everywhere, he would probably be so angry he'd jump out of his grave."
As soon as his voice fell,
Luca suddenly froze.
At the same time, Tony abruptly raised his head.
The brothers exchanged a glance.
"Future city…"
"Thinking directions for energy operations…"
Dad was a scientist and would never build a useless toy model for no reason!
The structure of that model definitely had some meaning to it.
The two of them figured everything out in an instant.
"Jarvis! Where is the model now?!" Tony shouted loudly, so excited that he almost flipped the table.
"Sir, the model is currently stored in the warehouse at the old site of the Stark Expo in Flushing, New York."
Luca immediately stood up.
"You wait for me here."
"I'll go get it."
The next second.
"Boom!!"
A white wave of air burst out in the garage.
A sonic boom suddenly rang out.
Luca's figure instantly vanished from where he stood, leaving behind only a gust of fierce wind that blew the blueprints on the table flying all over the sky.
Tony stood frozen in place, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Afterward, looking at the blueprints all over the floor, he couldn't help cursing,
"Dammit, can't this guy use the front door?"
Cursing aside, unprecedented light flashed in Tony's eyes.
He sat back down in his chair, pondering various possibilities regarding the future model.
...
High above in the sky,
The surface of Luca's body was covered with a thin layer of pale blue-white bio-energy field.
This force field isolated the low temperature and fierce winds of high altitude, protecting his suit from being blown into rags.
His speed broke the sound barrier in just a few seconds and continued to climb.
Mach 2, Mach 3… Mach 5… Mach 8!
He carved a long white wake above the clouds.
From Los Angeles to New York, spanning most of the United States continent.
For ordinary people, this was a long journey that required taking a plane for several hours.
But for the current Luca, this was nothing more than a distance for a stroll outside.
The fierce wind whistled in his ears, and Luca felt the surging power within his body, in high spirits.
In mere 24 minutes,
Luca was already hovering above Flushing, New York.
He looked down and overlooked the somewhat desolate old site of the exposition below.
This used to be the place where Howard Stark showcased the future to the World.
Now it was overgrown with weeds, and several huge warehouses stood there alone.
Luca's eyes lit up slightly with blue light, and his perceptive power instantly spread out.
Although he still couldn't achieve X-ray vision right now, his perception could penetrate the obstruction of objects to investigate.
Soon, he locked onto a large sand table model in the Underground Room of the warehouse.
"Found it."
Luca hooked the corner of his mouth and dropped vertically directly.
"Bang!"
The solid roof instantly broke open a large hole.
Luca landed lightly in the dusty warehouse.
Afterward, he strode over to a model covered by a dust cloth and pulled the fabric off in one go.
A city model full of retro-sci-fi style was presented before his eyes.
In the middle was a huge Earth logo, surrounded by various buildings, streets, and exhibition halls.
Luca stared at the model, quickly absorbing various information inside such as building layouts and street directions.
"The exhibition halls are protons and neutrons… The streets are electron orbits…"
Luca's eyes became brighter and brighter.
"Dad, you really are a thorough genius."
Without hesitation, he stuck his hands directly into the base of the model and exerted a little force.
"Snap!"
The bulky model was easily lifted over his head by him.
For Luca, who possessed a base strength of hundreds of tons, this weight made no difference to him.
"Done, wrapping up."
"Boom!"
Luca directly smashed through the roof of the warehouse and soared into the sky.
High in the sky, a blue-white stream of light galloped toward the direction of the West Coast.
...
Los Angeles, Malibu Mansion.
Tony had just asked Jarvis to make a cup of hot coffee, holding it in his hand before he even had time to take a sip.
"Boom!!"
A deafening sonic boom came from the underground garage passageway once again.
Following closely, fierce winds swept through the laboratory.
Luca carried the model on his shoulders and landed steadily in front of Tony.
"Bang!"
The model was heavily placed on the experimental table, kicking up a burst of dust.
Tony held his coffee cup, looking dumbfounded at the model before him, then raised his head to look at the clock on the wall.
Less than an hour had passed since Luca left!
"You… back already?" Tony swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"Of course."
Luca shrugged, walked over to the bar counter, and poured himself a glass of red wine.
"I am Stark Industries' most efficient deliveryman. Moreover, postage is free."
Luca looked at Tony and smiled with confidence.
"Now, let's see what good stuff Dad actually left behind for us."
Tony nodded, then put down the coffee and walked quickly to the model.
At this moment,
His gaze became incomparably focused, and his hands gently stroked the model.
"Jarvis, scan this model. Create a three-dimensional digital image."
"Alright, Sir. Scanning…"
A blue laser shot down from the ceiling, quickly sweeping across the entire model.
A few seconds later, a complete holographic projection appeared in front of the two of them.
"Remove all landscapes, trees, and parking lots." Tony issued an order.
The redundant parts on the holographic projection instantly vanished.
"Remove all entrances, exits, and exhibition hall outer walls."
The model was further simplified.
"Luca, come take a look." Tony pointed at the remaining core structure.
Luca stepped forward and looked at the projection.
"Enlarge the Earth and use it as the atomic nucleus."
"Jarvis, do as it says."
With the issuance of the command, the holographic projection finally turned into a perfect atomic structure diagram.
A brand new element structure that had never appeared on Earth was clearly displayed before the Stark Brothers.
Looking at the structure diagram, Tony's eye sockets turned slightly red.
He had always thought that his father only cared about work and didn't care about him at all.
But now he understood that his father had left his most precious legacy to him.
"Dead for twenty years, and he can still lecture me." Tony muttered softly to himself.
Luca patted Tony's shoulder, breaking the brief sorrow.
"Alright, Tony. Save the touching time for later. Now, let's build this thing."
Tony took a deep breath, restoring his usual confidence and haughtiness.
"Jarvis, prepare to clear the laboratory. We are going to start going all out."
"Received, Sir."
The Stark Brothers exchanged a glance, both revealing meaningful smiles.
Chapter 103 Captain America 3.0
In the laboratory.
Various sounds echoed in this empty garage.
Tony wore goggles, holding a high-power cutting torch in his hand, and was performing the final welding.
His movements were lightning-fast and his gaze was fanatical, making it completely impossible to tell he was a patient on the verge of death.
Luca sat to the side, holding a glass of whiskey in his hand, crossing his legs, and watching Tony bustle about like a taskmaster.
"Good Lord, Tony. Are you sure the pipe you built is an accelerator, and not distillation equipment used for brewing moonshine?"
Luca took a sip of his drink and mocked mercilessly.
"This wiring is even harder to look at than a streetwalker's crotch."
Tony stopped the welding torch, pushed up his goggles, and glared at Luca with displeasure.
"Shut up, Luca. This is precision engineering. A guy like you who only looks at cell division under a microscope won't understand."
"If it weren't for rushing the schedule, I definitely would have made it as perfect as a work of art."
While complaining, Tony walked over to the console, his hands rapidly tapping on the virtual keyboard.
"Jarvis, connect the main power supply."
"Very well, Sir. The power supply is connected, and the energy output is stable."
Tony took a deep breath and walked over to the newly constructed makeshift accelerator.
Then he picked up a wrench and aimed it at one of the bases.
"Damn it, this thing still needs manual calibration."
He twisted the wrench hard.
"Hum!!"
An eye-piercing blue high-energy laser instantly gushed out from the emitter, rapidly shuttling along the pipe, and after a few refractions—
Ultimately transformed into a dazzling beam of light, hitting a triangular reactor core placed on the central pedestal.
"Boom!"
Strong energy fluctuations rippled through the laboratory.
The light dissipated.
In the groove of the triangular reactor, a ball of pure and deep blue-white light was already burning.
No radiation, no impurities, only endless clean energy.
At this moment, the new element was born.
Tony stared at the reactor, his eye sockets slightly red.
He did not hesitate, directly reaching out to pull out the old reactor on his chest.
Then, he picked up the brand-new reactor, aimed it at the groove on his chest, and pressed down hard.
"Click."
Seamless fit.
The pure light illuminated Tony's pale face.
Almost in an instant, his somewhat heavy breathing also became incomparably smooth.
Tony closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the long-lost vitality.
"I feel... I could beat a cow to death in one breath." Tony opened his eyes, his smile gradually becoming confident.
"Iron Man has returned."
"Clap, clap, clap."
"Congratulations, Tony. You finally don't have to worry about suddenly dropping dead in some beauty's bed."
Luca put down his wine glass and perfunctorily applauded.
After speaking, he stood up and slowly walked over to Tony.
"Since you can't die now, we can proceed to the next step of the plan."
Tony was stunned, but seeing Luca's malicious smile, he suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart.
"What next step of the plan? The new element is already settled, next I just need to upgrade the mark armor..."
"No, no, no." Luca waved his hand, interrupting Tony's words.
He took out a syringe filled with glowing blue liquid from the safety box on the table.
The liquid emitted a glow under the light, seeming to contain violent vitality.
"What is this?" Tony guessed something and asked despite knowing the answer.
"Upgraded Super Soldier Serum," Luca said with a smile.
"Tailor-made exclusively for you. No side effects, guaranteed success, one shot and you'll be Captain America 3.0."
"Don't even think about it!" Tony shouted in refusal, protecting his chest with both hands.
"I've said it before, I'm a genius who makes a living with his brain! I don't need to turn into a muscle freak with pecs bigger than his head! Take this thing away!"
Luca sighed, looking utterly exasperated.
"Tony, has your brain gone limp from too many orgasms?!"
"You've got a reactor strapped to your chest that can blow up half a city, but your physical fitness is even worse than an IT guy who often stays up late."
"What if the mark armor runs out of power one day? What if the enemy directly strips off the mark armor? Are you going to use your soft fists to engage in close combat with HYDRA's monsters?"
Luca closed in step by step.
"As a man of the Stark Family, you can't always hide inside the mark armor. You need a physique worthy of a genius brain."
Tony was somewhat resistant and still stubbornly argued: "My mark armor will never run out of power! And I..."
Before he finished speaking, Luca suddenly moved.
His speed was so fast that not even afterimages could be seen, instantly appearing behind Tony and grabbing his shoulder.
"Let me go! Luca! You bastard! If you dare to stick it in! I swear I'll dismantle all your sports cars!"
Tony struggled desperately, but in Luca's hands, he couldn't move at all.
"Stop screaming like a woman, Tony. This is all for your own good."
Luca ignored the shouting and directly jammed the needle into Tony's body.
Soon, the serum was pushed in without a single drop left.
Pulling out the needle, Luca quickly retreated two steps, crossed his arms, and prepared to watch the show.
"Ah!!"
Tony covered his neck and let out a painful low roar.
The moment the serum entered his blood, it was like a raging fire burning in his blood vessels.
Tony knelt on the ground in agony, his whole body's muscles beginning to swell uncontrollably.
The vest on his body was instantly torn open, revealing the muscle lines undergoing metamorphosis.
His bones also made cracking sounds, and Tony's height shot up by five or six centimeters in a short period of time.
Moreover, his somewhat thin body from staying in the lab year-round also began to become full and sturdy.
Perfect pectoral muscles, knife-carved abdominal muscles, thick and powerful arms...
Accompanied by the self-healing ability brought by the serum, Tony's chest, which was the bloody hole where the reactor was placed, also began to change.
"Click... click..."
The newly installed reactor was squeezed outward by the newborn muscles!
"Clang!"
The sound of an object hitting the ground rang out.
That's right, the reactor was directly spat out, falling onto the floor and rolling twice.
And at his chest, the bloody hole that almost cost him his life had already vanished.
Soon, Tony stopped panting and stood up from the ground.
Afterwards, he froze.
Only because he looked down and saw the reactor lying on the ground, then touched his strength-filled chest, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"This... the reactor was squeezed out? The chest has completely healed?"
Tony muttered to himself, shocked beyond measure.
"Don't make a fuss, Tony."
Luca crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"The self-healing ability of the upgraded serum can even regenerate severed limbs, let alone a hole? This is your body instinctively treating the reactor as a foreign body, naturally expelling it."
Luca stepped forward and kicked the reactor on the ground with his toe.
"From now on, just install the reactor on the mark armor. As for you..."
Luca looked up and down at Tony's muscle lines, which were currently on par with his own, and couldn't help but click his tongue in praise.
"Your current body is the strongest weapon."
"This... this is simply unscientific."
To prove it, Tony walked to the experimental table, tentatively grasped the corner of the table, and gently snapped it.
"Snap!"
The corner of the table was easily snapped off by him!
At this moment, Tony widened his eyes.
In addition to his excitement, he threw a punch at a steel pillar not far away used to test the firepower of the mark armor.
"Bang!"
A loud noise.
A deep fist print was left on the steel pillar, and it was still shaking violently.
Tony was even more shocked.
Looking at his fist again, he felt an unprecedented confidence surge into his heart.
Damn it, is this Luca's usual state?!
No wonder this guy started becoming reluctant to use his brain!!
Fuck! It feels fucking great!!
"Jarvis! Scan my body immediately!!" Tony shouted loudly.
"Very well, Sir. Performing a comprehensive scan..."
A few seconds later, Jarvis's report appeared on the projection.
"Sir, your bone density has increased by forty times, and your muscle fibers by fifty times. Cellular activity has reached an immeasurable peak."
"According to calculations, your current running speed can reach 300 meters per second, and your neural reaction speed is dozens of times that of an ordinary person."
"As for your estimated base strength..." Jarvis paused.
"Estimated to be around sixty-five tons."
Sixty-five tons!
Tony gasped.
This meant that even without wearing the mark armor, he could flip over a tank with his bare hands now!
"Hahahaha!"
Tony suddenly burst into laughter, looking triumphantly at Luca, his chin held high.
"Did you see that, Luca? Sixty-five tons! I am now a humanoid self-propelled artillery piece! I don't even need the mark armor, I can directly smash villains into pieces with my fists."
Seeing Tony's excited look, Luca directly poured a basin of cold water on him.
"Don't get too full of yourself, Tony. Sixty-five tons is nothing, you're still a little brother in front of me."
Luca extended one finger and gently shook it.
"I only need one finger to grind you to the ground. You'd better hurry up and upgrade the mark armor, otherwise don't say you're my brother when we go out in the future, I'd find it embarrassing."
Tony was choked up for a moment, but now he was in a great mood and didn't care about Luca's taunts at all.
"Jealousy, you're just jealous that my figure is better than yours!!"
Tony touched his abdominal muscles and nodded with satisfaction.
"Let's go, buddy. Since we're both so strong now, it's time to show our faces at the company, and by the way, make things unpleasant for HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D.."
Chapter 104 I Will Bring My Talents to New York
Two hours later.
A silver Aston Martin executed a stylish drift and came to a steady stop in front of the Stark Industries headquarters building.
The car door opened.
Luca wore a black suit and sunglasses, a smile hanging at the corner of his mouth, radiating charming charisma.
Tony, stepping out of the driver's seat, had also changed into a black suit.
Due to the leap in his physical fitness, the originally well-fitting suit was stretched tight, as if it could burst at any moment.
The brothers walked into the building side by side, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
"My God, did Mr. Tony eat a whole cow at the gym today?"
"How did his figure suddenly become so good? These pectoral muscles are simply bigger than mine!"
The female employees at the front desk stared wide-eyed, unable to help whispering among themselves.
The CEO's office.
Pepper held a pile of documents, frantically dealing with company affairs.
Hearing the door open, she said without lifting her head.
"Luca, if you are here to find an excuse to skip work again, I swear I will delete all the contact information of the models you fancy."
"Potts, being so fierce will make you old."
Luca walked in grinning, casually picked up an apple from Pepper's desk, and took a bite.
Pepper raised her head, just about to flare up, but her gaze bypassed Luca and fell on Tony following behind.
"Clatter."
The pen in Pepper's hand dropped onto the desk.
She widened her eyes, her mouth slightly agape, with a look of utter disbelief.
"Tony? You... what happened to you?"
Pepper's gaze swept back and forth over Tony's explosive physique, and her cheeks uncontrollably flushed slightly.
Is this still that Tony Stark who looked like he had premature ejaculation before?
The Tony of now exuded the aura of a mature man all over his body, making it impossible for people to look away.
Tony gazed at Pepper's shocked yet slightly shy expression, feeling immensely gratified inside.
He deliberately puffed out his chest, walked up to Pepper, and flashed what he thought was a charming smile.
"What's wrong, Pepper? Do you think I look especially handsome today? Sorry, I just recently paid a little attention to my diet and exercise, and took a few vitamins. Do you like it?"
Recovering her wits, Pepper quickly averted her gaze, masking her panic.
"Ahem... You certainly look... much healthier. However, what are you guys doing coming to the company today? Didn't you say you were going to research a new element at home?"
"The new element is already done." Tony pointed to his chest.
"So, we're here today to do some real business."
Just then, the office door was pushed open once again.
Jessica with a hot figure walked in holding a schedule.
"Mr. Luca, this is your afternoon..."
Jessica's words weren't finished before they stuck in her throat.
As a Superpower user, she possessed perception beyond ordinary people.
The moment she saw Tony Stark, every hair on her body stood on end!
Danger!
Extremely dangerous!
Jessica screamed internally.
She could clearly feel how terrifying an explosive force was hidden beneath Tony's seemingly normal body.
This feeling was not pleasant; she had only seen it once in the organization, and that was among the most mysterious batch of Superpower users.
But how could this be?!
The intelligence clearly stated that Tony Stark was just an ordinary person, and currently still had severe palladium poisoning, and could die at any moment!
But Tony, standing in front of her now, had a vitality as vigorous as a monster!
Could it be... the Stark Brothers not only mastered the armor technology, but also secretly developed a genetic enhancement serum?!
And Tony Stark had successfully injected it?!
Waves of shock surged in Jessica's heart, pondering how to transmit this heaven-shaking intelligence to the HYDRA headquarters.
Luca calmly watched all this, sneering inwardly.
He could roughly guess what Jessica was thinking.
But he deliberately wanted to show Tony's enhancement to her.
The purpose was to let her report to HYDRA and throw these rats hiding in the gutters into panic.
"Ah, Jessica, my most capable assistant."
Luca walked up to Jessica with a half-smile, deliberately reaching out and heavily patting Tony's shoulder.
"Bang!"
A muffled, loud sound.
Luca used a bit of strength with this blow; if it were an ordinary person, this blow would be enough to send him to meet God.
But Tony didn't budge an inch, not even frowning, just glaring at Luca with dissatisfaction.
"Don't touch my suit; this is custom-made." Tony patted his shoulder with disgust.
Seeing this scene, Jessica's pupils instantly constricted.
She dared to swear that the force of Luca's blow just now could definitely smash her skull.
Yet Tony was completely unharmed!
Confirmed! Tony Stark had definitely turned into a superhuman!
Fuck! Stark Industries was simply a monster concentration camp!
Jessica suppressed the fear in her heart and squeezed out a stiff smile.
"Mr. Luca, Mr. Tony, what are your orders?"
"Go notify the PR department. An emergency press conference will be held in the press hall in one hour." Luca put away his smile, his tone turning serious.
"Okay, sir."
As if granted a reprieve, Jessica quickly turned and left the office.
She couldn't hesitate any longer; she must transmit this news out immediately!
Ten minutes later.
In the first-floor lobby of Stark Industries, heads were moving.
Major media reporters who received the emergency notice carried cameras and microphones, surrounding the press conference venue tightly.
Everyone was as pumped as if they were high on adrenaline.
The Stark Brothers attending a press conference together was definitely big news that could make global headlines once again!
Amidst a sea of blinding camera flashes, Tony and Luca walked up to the podium side by side.
Tony's muscles bulging against his suit instantly triggered a chorus of gasps and camera clicks from the audience.
Afterwards, he walked up to the microphone, braced his hands on the podium, and swept his gaze across the audience.
"Everyone, I am Iron Man. I'm glad to see you are all still so energetic."
Tony paused and went straight to the point.
"Calling everyone here today is to announce a very important matter."
"After deep consideration by Luca and me, Stark Industries has decided to undergo a major strategic relocation."
The audience quieted down, and reporters held their breath.
Tony looked at Luca, his meaning self-evident.
Luca didn't hesitate either, stepping forward directly to take the microphone.
"Everyone, the headquarters of Stark Industries will officially relocate to New York City next month!"
"That's right, I will bring my talents to New York!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the audience broke into an uproar!
"Oh my god! Stark Industries is leaving Los Angeles?!"
"Superman and Iron Man are leaving Los Angeles?!"
"This is definitely the biggest earthquake in the business World this year!"
Reporters frantically raised their hands, wanting to ask questions.
Luca pressed his hand down, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"I know you have many questions. Why New York? Because New York has the best investment environment in the United States, and... the security management that gives us the most peace of mind."
Luca deliberately emphasized his tone, staring straight into the lens, seemingly looking through the lens at the enemies hidden in the dark.
"Here, I want to specially mention one person."
"That is the Police Commissioner of New York City, Mr. George Stacy."
Hearing this name, the reporters in the audience looked at each other in blank dismay, completely confused.
How could a Police commissioner be linked to the relocation of Stark Industries?
Luca ignored the reporters' confusion and continued to speak loudly.
"As far as I know, Commissioner George Stacy is an outstanding Police officer full of justice, fearlessness, and high responsibility. His existence is a blessing to the citizens of New York."
"The construction of Stark Industries' new building in New York, as well as all future security cooperation, will be exclusively entrusted to the jurisdiction of Commissioner George Stacy!"
Luca braced his hands on the podium, his gaze turning incomparably sharp, and his tone carried unmasked warning.
"I solemnly declare here."
"Commissioner George Stacy will become Stark Industries' most important and core partner after today!"
"Any attempt to threaten or harm Commissioner George and his family will be regarded as a provocation against Stark Industries!"
"And as for Stark Industries' attitude towards enemies, I think the Battle of Los Angeles a few days ago has demonstrated it very clearly."
"Those who pit themselves against us, God help them!"
Complete silence filled the venue.
The reporters were shocked by Luca's murderous declaration.
Is this fucking still a business press conference?!
Fuck, this is the Stark Brothers announcing to the whole World that this person George Stacy, they are protecting him!!
Whoever dares to touch him is going against Iron Man and Superman!
Meanwhile.
At a university in Los Angeles.
At lunchtime, Gwen Stacy sat alone on a school bench.
Holding her phone in her hand, her gaze was cast towards the live broadcast of the Stark Industries press conference on the screen.
Then, she heard Luca publicly supporting her father in front of the World's media.
Even sparing no effort to use Stark Industries' security cooperation as a bargaining chip to issue a warning to those enemies hidden in the dark.
Gwen's eye sockets turned red, and warm tears uncontrollably slid down.
She tightly covered her mouth, not letting herself cry out loud.
Last night in the apartment, Luca promised her that he would protect her father and teach HYDRA what the rules of Stark are.
She originally thought that Luca would only secretly send a few bodyguards, or put pressure on HYDRA behind the scenes.
But she never expected that Luca would act so decisively.
He mobilized the power of the Stark Empire, placing George Stacy under the sun, under the spotlight of the whole World, giving him the safest protection!
No matter how rampant HYDRA was, they would never dare to touch a Police commissioner openly sheltered by the Stark Brothers at this cusp of the storm!
A full sense of security enveloped Gwen.
At this moment, looking back at the man with a confident and arrogant smile on the screen, her heart beat violently.
"Luca..."
Gwen murmured softly, deep infatuation and emotion no longer concealable.
Although this guy had a venomous mouth, and although he was a playboy, the things he promised, he really did accomplish!
Not only did he save her, but now, he had also captured her heart.
Chapter 105: You Are Telling Me This Is Captain America? (Two-in-One)
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed.
In New York, the big screen in Times Square was broadcasting a special report from the WHIH news channel.
A blonde, blue-eyed beauty anchor sat in the studio, wearing a professional smile and talking eloquently to the camera.
"Good evening, viewers, and welcome to WHIH Evening News."
"It has been a month since Stark Industries announced the relocation of its headquarters to New York. Over the past month, the focus of the entire United States has been on the Stark Brothers."
The scene on the screen shifted, showing surveillance footage from the streets of Los Angeles.
A few armed robbers had just rushed into a bank.
Before this group of people could shout out their robbery slogans, a red-and-blue figure descended from the sky and tightly bound them to a street lamp with spider silk.
Immediately afterwards, a sonic boom cloud streaked across the sky.
Lucas Stark, wearing black armor, hovered mid-air, his eyes glowing with a dangerous incandescent white light.
This scene scared several robbers into wetting their pants on the spot, crying out and begging the Police to throw them into prison.
The anchor's voice continued to come through.
"As everyone can see, under the joint crackdown by the Superman Lucas Stark, Iron Man Tony Stark, and the mysterious Ghost Spider-Man, Los Angeles's crime rate hit a historic low in just one month."
"Los Angeles is now known as the city with the highest security coefficient in the United States. There are even rumors that Los Angeles gangsters would rather queue up to surrender at the Police station than encounter these three superheroes on the street."
"At the same time, Stark Industries's stock soared all the way over the past month, continuously breaking Wall Street's historical records. The Stark Brothers are not only superheroes, but also well-deserved business prodigies."
The screen switched again, turning into a grand party held by Stark Industries a few days ago.
In the video, Tony Stark descended from the sky wearing a brand-new red-and-gold color-scheme armor.
This armor was sleeker than the previous ones, with more perfect streamlines, filled with a violent aesthetic.
"At the charity dinner a few days ago, Tony Stark showed the public his brand-new armor, Mark IV."
"According to insiders at Stark Industries, this armor adopts a brand-new energy transmission system, which is not only faster, but also more ferocious in firepower."
"In addition, the Stark Brothers have publicly announced that they will head to Monaco in a few days to participate in the annual F1 historical Grand Prix."
"And after the trip to Monaco, the much-anticipated Stark Expo will grandly open in Flushing, New York."
"At that time, Stark Industries will showcase brand-new technology that will change the future to the entire World. Let us wait and see."
...
On the other side.
In the living room of the Malibu Mansion.
Luca sat on the sofa, quickly swiping on the tablet computer to select local yachts and party venues in Monaco.
Tony stood in front of a mirror, wearing a fancy shirt, spraying hair gel onto his meticulously combed hair.
Ever since injecting the serum, Tony has experienced a second spring.
Now, he possessed perfect muscle lines, bringing a gust of wind wherever he walked.
"Tony, why are you bringing so much hair gel? The sea breeze in Monaco will blow your hairstyle into a bird's nest." Luca complained without raising his head.
"You are a tough guy now, not some pretty boy relying on his face to make a living."
"Shut up, Luca. This is a man's taste." Tony put down the hair gel and proudly raised his eyebrows at the mirror.
"Strength is only my inner beauty; I still need my appearance to conquer Monaco's supermodels. A brute like you who only knows how to solve problems with violence won't understand."
Luca sneered and threw the tablet onto the table.
"Is that so? Then how about we make a bet? Let's see who brings back more beauties to the hotel in Monaco? The loser has to dance in a pink tight suit at the opening ceremony of the expo."
Tony was stunned for a moment.
Then, he looked at Luca's flawlessly handsome face, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Although his physique was top-notch now, this guy Luca had a face that could instantly make women weak in the knees, and his flirting tactics were vulgar and shameless.
If they really compared this, Tony wasn't really confident in his heart.
"Boring bet. I am a man of taste, I won't play such childish games with you." Tony decisively admitted defeat and forcibly changed the subject.
"The portable armor is finished, and this trip to Monaco is a good time to test it. You better pray you don't run into any trouble, otherwise you'll still have to rely on me to save you."
"Give me a break, with your strength, you are still just a little brother in front of me."
Luca stood up and stretched.
"Hurry up and pack your luggage, Happy is already waiting for us outside."
The brothers bickered while walking out of the Villa.
...
Meanwhile.
Washington, a certain medical center.
Outside a retro-decorated ward, it was packed with fully armed S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents.
In front of the one-way glass of the ward, Nick Fury stood with his hands behind his back, his only remaining single eye staring fixedly inside the ward.
Standing beside him was S.H.I.E.L.D. senior Agent Phil Coulson.
Coulson tightly clutched several retro superhero cards, his eyes filled with excitement.
Inside the ward, a man lay there.
A man that S.H.I.E.L.D. dug out from deep within the glaciers of the North Pole a week ago.
Captain America, Steve Rogers.
However, the Captain America before his eyes had a huge discrepancy with the image in the stories Coulson grew up hearing.
Just because he didn't wear the Star-Spangled tight suit played on TV, but instead wore a black tactical uniform filled with a murderous aura.
Moreover, Captain America's face was covered with a dense beard, and his facial lines were as cold and hard as iron.
Most importantly, he also exuded an aura of having been through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
This didn't look like a moral model representing light and justice at all, but rather like a cold-blooded assassin crawling out of hell.
"Director, the Doctor's report is out." Coulson swallowed a mouthful of saliva and lowered his voice to say.
"The ice crystals inside Captain America's body have completely melted, and cellular activity is rapidly recovering. He is expected to wake up within five minutes."
Fury nodded expressionlessly.
"Very good. The setup in the room is all fine, right?"
"Everything is set up according to the style of the 1940s. The radio is playing a recording of a May 1941 baseball game. The Nurse has also changed into the uniform of the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) era."
Fury took a deep breath.
Over the past month, the Stark Brothers hogged all the spotlight and high-profilely announced the relocation of their headquarters, completely disrupting S.H.I.E.L.D.'s deployment.
Fury knew that relying solely on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existing power was completely unable to suppress these two lawless bastards.
Therefore, he pinned his hopes on this newly awakened World War II hero.
Captain America, the incarnation of justice, the model of morality.
Most importantly, Captain America was also a good friend of Howard Stark.
Therefore, as long as the Captain woke up, with his prestige and leadership, he would definitely be able to establish the Avengers.
In this way, he could teach the Stark Brothers a good lesson on how to behave.
"Have the Nurse go in and prepare." Fury issued the command.
The ward door was pushed open, and a young female Agent wearing a World War II-era Nurse's uniform walked in, standing quietly in front of the hospital bed.
Time passed minute by minute.
Suddenly, the man's fingers on the hospital bed moved slightly.
Immediately afterwards, Steve Rogers abruptly opened his eyes.
To everyone's surprise, there was not the slightest bit of confusion in the other party's gaze, only a vigilant, ferocious glint.
The next second, Steve instantly sat up from the bed, his gaze scanning the surrounding environment like a knife, finally landing on the Nurse.
According to the plan, the Nurse showed a sweet and reassuring smile.
"Good morning, Captain. How do you feel?"
Steve frowned, his rugged face full of impatience.
Then he opened his mouth and uttered the first sentence after waking up.
"Who the f*** can tell me where the f*** this is?"
The smile on the Nurse's face instantly froze.
Then she widened her eyes, staring at the other party with a bewildered face.
What was going on?
This f***ing guy is Captain America?
Didn't the files say that Captain America was a moral model who couldn't even say dirty words?
Then, what was up with this foul-mouthed guy?!
The bewildered Nurse had a blank expression, at a loss for a moment on how to respond.
"Officer... this is in a rehabilitation hospital. You've been frozen in the ice for a long time..." The Nurse stammered, reading her lines according to the script.
Steve sneered, directly lifting the cover and stepping barefoot on the floor.
His tall and burly body exuded a strong sense of oppression, walking step by step in front of the Nurse and looking down at her.
"You f***ing don't even think about lying to me." Steve's tone was low and hoarse, carrying thick mockery.
"Damn HYDRA, even lying is unprofessional."
The Nurse retreated a step in fright, her face pale.
"Captain, I'm not lying to you, we really are..."
"Shut your stinking mouth, little bitch." Steve interrupted her unceremoniously.
Then he turned around, strode to the bedside table, and grabbed the radio playing the baseball game.
"You think playing a crappy broadcast can fool me?" Steve pointed at the radio and cursed angrily.
"This f***ing game played so terribly was what I watched in May 1941 with my f***ing damn brother Bucky! And I was f***ing right there at the scene, understand?!"
"Bang!"
Steve fiercely smashed the radio against the wall, shattering it to pieces.
Outside the door, Fury and Coulson were completely dumbfounded.
Even the small Captain America card in Coulson's hand dropped straight to the ground.
He felt his faith collapse instantly.
Where was this Captain America?
He was simply a foul-mouthed street bully!
Fury's single eye twitched violently.
He knew that the plan had completely failed.
This guy completely didn't play by the rules.
"Have the Nurse come out first." Fury pressed his earpiece and said coldly.
Inside the ward, the Nurse felt as if she had been granted amnesty, and quickly turned and ran out of the room.
Fury tidied his leather jacket, took a deep breath, pushed open the ward door, and walked in.
He decided to step in person and use the dignity of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director to suppress this newly awakened old antique.
"Captain Rogers."
Fury said with his hands behind his back in a low voice.
"I know all this is hard for you to accept. But you must understand that the war is over. You are now..."
Steve turned his head, his gaze landing on Fury's black face.
The next second, his brows instantly twisted into a dead knot, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust and contempt.
"Damn cotton picker, where is your f***ing damn boss? Let him come see me!"
The ward instantly fell into silence.
Cotton picker?!
Fury's single eye widened, his face full of disbelief.
He, the dignified S.H.I.E.L.D. Director and king of Agents, was actually called a cotton picker to his face by an old antique just dug out from the ice?!
Anger rushed straight to Fury's celestial cap, but he forcibly suppressed the urge to draw his gun.
He constantly told himself in his heart that this was a person from the 1940s.
Racial discrimination in that era was very severe, and he couldn't argue with an old antique.
"I am the boss here." Fury gritted his teeth and said word by word.
Hearing this sentence, Steve laughed instead.
He laughed very wantonly, and full of mockery.
"Don't f***ing make me laugh."
Steve walked up to Fury, his tall body almost pressing against Fury's face.
"In our era, you f***ing damn cotton picker could only work in the fields, not even worthy of carrying my shoes."
Steve extended a finger and forcefully poked Fury's chest.
"And also, don't f***ing look at me with that kind of eyes. This self-righteous dead look of yours is as disgusting as a f***ing hooker on the streets of Brooklyn. No, those bitches are much more emotional than you, at least they'll make some noises if you pay them."
Fury's mouth corners twitched wildly.
He swore that if the person in front of him wasn't Captain America, he would definitely immediately order this bastard to be riddled with bullets.
Coulson outside the door had already covered his face in despair.
It's over.
Completely over.
The flawless idol in his heart was not only a foul-mouthed hothead, but also a thorough racist.
"Captain Rogers, please show some respect." Fury endured his anger and pointed outside the window.
"You'd better take a look outside yourself. Times have changed."
Steve snorted coldly, pushed Fury away, and strode to the window.
He punched and smashed the window glass, sticking his head out.
What came into view was the bustling modern urban night view of Washington, D.C.
Skyscrapers towering into the clouds, endless streams of cars...
All of this was completely different from the war-torn era in his memory.
Steve stood in front of the window, remaining silent for a long time.
The night breeze blew through his dense beard, and the ferocious glint in his eyes gradually faded.
He finally realized that he had truly come to a completely unfamiliar World.
"So I f***ing slept for a full seventy years."
Steve turned around, his tone becoming somewhat low, but he still couldn't change his foul mouth.
Seeing that Steve finally calmed down, Fury secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
"Yes, Captain. You have been asleep for seventy years. This World needs you..."
"Shut up, blackie."
"Don't feed me those bullshit grand principles. The blood I've shed for this country is already enough."
Steve walked to the edge of the hospital bed and sat down with a thud.
"First f***ing get me something to eat. I'm so f***ing hungry I could eat a cow."
Fury took a deep breath and nodded toward the outside of the door.
Soon, Coulson walked in holding a food tray.
His expression was very complex, containing both the tension of facing an idol and the helplessness of broken dreams.
On the tray were a few steaming cheeseburgers and a cup of cola.
"Captain, this is something from the new era, a cheeseburger."
Coulson carefully placed the tray on the table.
Opening his mouth was an attempt to ease the atmosphere and incidentally popularize some modern knowledge for this old antique.
"To help you adapt to the new World as soon as possible, we have prepared a lot of materials for you. Now, we have many new technologies, such as WiFi, which allows wireless internet access; computers, which can process a lot of data; and mobile phones..."
Steve completely ignored Coulson's nagging.
He grabbed a burger, tore open the wrapper, and took a huge bite fiercely.
The rich meat juices and cheese exploded in his mouth, and he chewed with satisfaction.
After swallowing the food in his mouth, he raised his head.
Then he looked at Coulson, who was still trying to explain modern technology, and revealed a smile.
"Alright, stop f***ing bullshitting. You kid are quite humorous."
Steve pointed at Coulson's nose and exposed him mercilessly.
"Those words were made up by you."
Coulson's words came to an abrupt halt.
He stared blankly at Steve, opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
Fury stood to the side and closed his eyes in pain.
He now began to seriously doubt whether digging out this foul-mouthed bastard was a correct decision after all.
This Captain America would definitely become S.H.I.E.L.D.'s biggest trouble in history.