Weakling."
Ivan looked disdainful. He used to handle nuclear materials while drinking vodka, and nothing ever happened to him, so why should it now?
"Why are all these geniuses so unruly?"
Obadiah gritted his teeth inwardly. On the surface, he sincerely said, "Ivan, you and I both want to kill Tony Stark. We are the best allies."
Ivan glanced at Obadiah and said, "Obadiah, allies need to give to each other. I have the Arc Reactor and a brain more formidable than Tony Stark's. What do you have?"
Obadiah grew increasingly annoyed. He said, "I have funds and connections with the military. Ivan, without me, you absolutely cannot kill Tony Stark. For starters, building an Iron Man Suit alone will cost at least a hundred million dollars. You can't just fight Tony with two electric whips, can you?"
Ivan, chewing on a toothpick, asked, "Connections with the military? Aren't you a fugitive?"
"How could I have remained free until now without the military's help?"
Obadiah said, "The military wants the Iron Man Suit, but Tony won't give it to them. So, the military is secretly helping me.
Ivan, as long as we take care of Tony Stark, the military will fully side with us. By then, you will become the next Tony Stark."
"I am more formidable than Tony Stark."
Ivan snorted coldly, "Obadiah, I know you have many schemes, but I don't care. I have only one goal: to kill Tony Stark and make that thieving family pay the price."
"Of course, Tony Stark must die."
Obadiah said, "Get ready. I'll take you to Justin Hammer of Hammer Industries."
"Justin Hammer?"
Ivan said, "That name sounds like a patsy, the kind who puts in money and effort only to be scammed out of everything."
"He is a patsy. I know him very well. It won't be difficult to persuade him to fund us."
Obadiah laughed heartily, "Don't tell him our true purpose. Stark Industries is preparing to hold the Stark Industrial Expo in Flushing. When the time comes, we'll give him a big surprise."
Ivan spat out his toothpick and said viciously, "Stark Industrial Expo? Hmph, I will send Tony Stark to hell at the peak of his glory."
…
The time came to February 2009. In the apartment, Black Widow Natasha looked at her sister Yelena's physical examination report and asked in astonishment, "Yelena, did you get the wrong physical examination report?"
"No, it's mine. Everything is normal."
Yelena glanced at the report—that physical examination report was for applying to university. She planned to attend university to improve herself, majoring in sales and psychology.
As for their adoptive parents, they were currently living in seclusion in Russia. Red Guardian had mental issues, and Melina intended to treat him.
Natasha said unhappily, "Normal? This is a physical examination report for a complete woman. You and I are not complete."
Upon hearing this, Yelena first checked the surroundings with a device to ensure there were no listening devices, then said, "You are not complete, but I am very complete. Last year, I had the best performance among all Black Widows, and the Boss helped me restore my body. Everything a normal woman should have, I have."
Natasha's eyes lit up, and she eagerly asked, "Boss? Are you talking about the Devil King? Can the Devil King help us become complete?"
"Of course he can. That's the Devil King."
Yelena said, "But don't get your hopes up. The Boss doesn't think highly of you, otherwise he would have recruited you long ago. The personal guard group has always been short on people.
Of course, this is normal. You are too improper."
"Are you saying I wish he thought highly of me? Also, how am I improper?"
Natasha snorted. "I, Natasha, with my unyielding spirit, will never submit to the Devil King."
"You are improper everywhere. Who fights while flipping their hair and constantly posing to look cool?"
Yelena complained, "I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to school. I'm going to win the championship again this year. By then, the Boss might reward me with eternal youth or grant me superpowers."
"Eternal youth, superpowers?"
Natasha's eyes grew brighter the more she listened. She complained, "Are you guys Hell's Envoys or office workers? All you talk about is performance?"
"Our Hell is different from other Hells. Our Boss is the most powerful Devil King."
Yelena said with an expression of adoration, "Don't worry, when you enter Hell, I'll look out for you. After all, I'm part of the Boss's personal guard group."
Natasha scoffed, "Wow, how impressive. Why don't you just become the Devil King's woman? That way, after I die, I can walk around Hell like I own the place."
Yelena said, "We Black Widows have a bet going on, on who will be the first to get into the Devil King's bed. The stakes are hundreds of millions and still increasing. I think I have a good chance; the Boss appreciates me a lot."
"How bored are you guys?"
Natasha complained. After Yelena left for school, she muttered to herself, "Becoming complete, eternal youth, superpowers? I want all of them so badly. Should I just join the Devil King's team? Uh, what was the Devil King's phone number again?"
Though she said this, Natasha hadn't truly made up her mind. She was just a little swayed. Not being complete had always been a thorn in her side.
Just then, the phone rang. It was Coulson: "Natasha, come quickly. I have an important mission for you."
…
S.H.I.E.L.D. New York branch.
"Several years ago, the military secretly conducted human enhancement experiments. A Scientist named Bruce Banner was exposed to a large amount of gamma radiation due to an experimental accident. However, he didn't die; he transformed into a two-meter-tall, incredibly strong, indestructible, and enraged Hulk."
Coulson played a video while speaking, "This Hulk is extremely powerful. An entire military base was no match for him and was violently destroyed. Fortunately, he later reverted to the rational Bruce Banner.
According to our investigation, Dr. Banner transforms into the Hulk whenever he gets angry. These past few years, he has been hiding in Puerto Wade. It wasn't until last month that the military found him."
Coulson clicked on an image, pointing to the ruins in the picture and saying, "This was originally a beverage factory. The Hulk fought the army inside, and you can see the result: the military suffered heavy losses, and the factory became ruins."
"This monster is terrifying. I hope he doesn't come to New York."
Natasha's expression was somewhat solemn. Thinking of something, she asked in surprise, "Wait, Coulson, don't tell me…"
"That's right, Dr. Banner has come to New York. His exact location is unknown, but we have someone who saw him enter the city."
Coulson said with a wry smile, "Natasha, I have other matters to attend to. The task of finding Dr. Banner is yours.
You must find him as quickly as possible. If he goes berserk in the city, the damage he causes will be no less than Magneto's. The branch will fully cooperate with you."
Natasha asked, "Other matters? What could be more important than this big guy? If he goes crazy, he could destroy an entire district."