In the desert, in a certain cave!
"If you don't even have a chance to live, then there's no point in talking about anything!"
Ethan handed the mashed potatoes to Tony Stark.
Looking at Tony, who appeared utterly dejected at that moment, Ethan said with a smile.
"They won't let me go."
As a result, Tony Stark wasn't in the mood to eat the mashed potatoes Ethan handed him.
Recalling the events of the day, how those damned guys hung him upside down and submerged him in water again and again... this painful torture had left Tony Stark completely dispirited.
"You're right, they won't let you go."
Scooping up some mashed potatoes from his own bowl, Ethan pushed his glasses up: "For them, those who are useful live; those who aren't are killed and thrown into the desert without even the courtesy of a burial."
"So, if you want to keep going, if you're waiting for the miracle of a rescue... then I suggest you'd better dismiss that idea."
"I admit you're rich and know many high-status people. But this is a desert. The vast desert is extremely secretive. I reckon you'll be dead long before they find you."
Speaking to this point, Ethan suddenly looked up at Tony Stark and said, "Why don't you tell me about your first girlfriend being a Honey Badger agent? Anyway, the nights are long and lonely in the desert; we might as well chat."
Hearing Ethan's words, Tony Stark lowered his head and kept stirring the mashed potatoes in the iron bowl with his spoon. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the car battery connected to his body.
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Ethan: "What if we want to rely on our own strength to escape?"
"Then I suggest you hold on and live day by day. Wait until those guys' patience runs out. Agree to help them build the Jericho missile, and you might survive an extra month or two."
Listening to Tony Stark talk as if in a dream, Ethan scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes and spoke while eating.
"If you can help me, Ethan, then I'll have a way to get both of us out of this damn place!"
Staring intently at Ethan in front of him with burning eyes—this was the only person he could trust in this damned place.
Meanwhile, in a temporary tent in the desert.
"Sir, how long are we going to stay here?"
After spitting the sand out of his mouth, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent complained to Phil Coulson: "Sir, even though this isn't technically S.H.I.E.L.D. jurisdiction, to save a Tony Stark, you don't need to mobilize this much force. We have enough people."
"And, sir, you saw yourself how much that group tortured Tony Stark during the day. It's been over a month now. I'm worried that if this continues, this Tony Stark, who's never experienced anything like this, won't be able to hold on."
Hearing his team member's words, Phil Coulson shook his head: "Wait for orders. Our orders are clear: if Tony Stark's life isn't in danger, then it's up to him. Those are the Director's orders."
After speaking, Phil Coulson couldn't help but spit again. In this windy, sandy place, it was hard not to get a mouthful of grit.
Hearing Phil Coulson, the agent shrugged. If the officer said so, then they could only continue eating sand and braving the cold wind here.
Watching the agent leave, Phil Coulson hesitated for a moment. Then he took out his phone and called Nick Fury.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Inside Nick Fury's office.
"Keep waiting. Don't worry about the rest!"
Listening to Phil Coulson's inquiry on the other end of the phone, Nick Fury decisively instructed him to continue guarding the location with his team.
As for whether Tony Stark could escape and whether he could become the superhero recorded in Su Che's diary, Nick Fury was quite confident now.
It wasn't that Nick Fury now 100% trusted everything written in the diary. It was just that Phil Coulson's team members were his insurance policy for Tony Stark.
Anyway, as long as Tony Stark's life wasn't in danger, let him figure things out on his own first. Even if he suffered a bit, as long as he came back alive, that would be the best outcome to explain to Ms. Potts.
After hanging up, Nick Fury looked at the analysis report Maria Hill had sent.
"You suggest raising Su Che's danger level to the highest level?"
"Yes, Nick."
Facing Nick Fury's inquiry, Maria Hill said seriously, "Although I don't know if this represents the full extent of Su Che's abilities or just one facet, the fact that he alone can turn a living attacker into a mummified corpse and that he can casually use the power of water to shred an intact car into pieces leads me to believe he is extremely dangerous."
"After all, water is everywhere in life, which means potential weapons are everywhere for him. He is essentially a humanoid weapon."
Speaking to this point, Maria Hill's expression remained stern: "And from the fact that he can turn a living person into a mummy, it follows that anyone facing him likely has no chance to react—unless they're a robot. An adult human body is over 70% water. This equates to him having the potential to kill a city, or even a country, anytime he wishes!"
"Although it's not certain, since he can use the moisture within a human body to mummify it, is it also possible he can manipulate the moisture contained in the air? If this conjecture is correct, then... Nick, I think you understand just how dangerous he could be."