If there was only one thing in the world that could scare Tony, it would be Pepper Potts.
If an attack was aimed at him, Tony Stark would definitely stand in front of everyone and tell the attackers to bring it on—Tony isn't afraid of you!
But what if the attackers started targeting Pepper instead?
Then Tony would definitely choose to let the danger fall on himself.
In fact, except for Su Che, Alexander Pierce, and Sitwell, everyone—including Nick Fury—believed that the person who bombed Su Che and Steve's apartment was HYDRA.
Their motive was pure revenge!
So, since it was revenge from HYDRA,
Tony Stark thought that as long as he was with Su Che and Steve, then HYDRA would target him instead of implicating Pepper!
As for attracting their hatred and putting himself in danger? What a joke—if those guys could take him down in front of Su Che and Steve, then he'd accept his fate!
Anyway, as long as Pepper wasn't implicated!
So, for the past two days, Tony Stark had been sticking with Su Che and Steve.
This included when Sitwell approached them just now.
"So, you're saying that because Sue and Steve helped S.H.I.E.L.D. capture a bunch of HYDRA elites and destroyed the HYDRA base in Sokovia, their apartment was bombed."
"And now S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to compensate Sue and Steve?"
Looking at the bespectacled Sitwell in front of him, Tony Stark didn't know why, but he just felt an innate dislike for him.
Even though this guy showed great respect toward Su Che and Steve, Tony always felt his smile was hypocritical.
It was like... just like Obadiah Stane!
"Yes, Mr. Stark!"
Seeing that Su Che and Steve remained silent, Tony Stark was the one asking questions.
This Sitwell nodded with a smile: "After all, whether it's Mr. Su or Captain Rogers, they were retaliated against because they eliminated an enemy for S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Though we're not sure if it was HYDRA who launched the revenge."
"But whether as compensation or a thank-you gift, the Secretary-General specially approved a townhouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. We purchased it as a gift for the two of you!"
"Please, Mr. Su and Captain Rogers, accept it!"
As he spoke, Sitwell took out all the property deeds and handed them to Su Che and Steve Rogers.
Clearly, as long as the two were willing to accept, the townhouse would belong to Su Che and Steve!
"I have my own house!"
Looking at the property documents on the table, Steve Rogers was silent for a moment: "I'm in Brooklyn..."
"Alright, Mr. Sitwell, please go back and convey our thanks to the Secretary-General for his selection!"
Before Steve could finish, Su Che directly interrupted and happily accepted the house!
Hearing Su's interruption, Steve turned to look at him.
Although he didn't know why Su interrupted him, Steve knew that Su was definitely not the kind of person greedy for money.
Since he chose to accept it, he must have his own reasons!
"Okay, Mr. Su, I'll be going now. I will definitely convey your thanks to the Secretary-General!"
Seeing Su Che happily accept the gift from his side, Sitwell was momentarily stunned, then a smile spread across his face.
After Sitwell left, Steve asked Su Che: "Su, what's going on here?"
"I just want to see what tricks they're trying to pull!"
Seeing Steve's puzzled look, Su Che picked up his coffee and took a sip.
"Buddy, you mean that guy is also a member of HYDRA?"
Tony Stark on the side immediately reacted when he heard Su Che's words.
Seeing Su Che nod slightly, Tony Stark analyzed seriously: "That man offered you the villa for nothing more than two reasons."
"Either they want to win you over. After all, they don't know that you're fully aware of their identities."
"Or, after you and Steve move in, they plan to blow up the townhouse to take you both out."
"However, I think the second point can be ruled out, given your strength."
"And if they give you the villa and then blow it up, wouldn't that be obviously framing themselves?"
Having said that, Tony Stark picked up the phone while laughing and made a call.
Once connected, Tony Stark glanced at the villa numbers for Su Che and Steve, then directly instructed the person on the other end to buy all the villas surrounding Su Che and Steve's.
Watching Tony Stark flaunt his wealth, Steve asked curiously: "Tony..."
"Don't you think this is the best move?"
Looking at Steve, Tony Stark shook the phone in his hand: "No matter what those bloody bastards are planning, let's play along with them!"
"Money? Heh, what I, Tony Stark, lack the least is money!"
"If they really want to use money to win Su over, fine. But if not? Although I just said the chance of them gathering to attack is slim, we still have to be cautious!"
"Since they want to play, we'll deliberately gather and play a big game with them!"
"If not, then I'll just buy all the surrounding villas—it'll be convenient for us to meet in the future anyway."
Listening to Tony's display of wealth, buying a few nearby villas was as easy as buying a few cups of coffee.
Steve and Su Che looked at each other, neither speaking.
Given Tony Stark's wealth, buying a few nearby villas was indeed as simple as buying a few cups of coffee.
No, it should be said that for this guy, buying a few villas was easier than buying a few cups of coffee.
Because this guy never pays when he comes to his coffee shop for coffee!
The only good thing is that Tony knows the new manager of his coffee shop, Selina, earns commissions and has a younger sister about to start college to support.
So every time, Tony Stark tips several times the price of the coffee.
It leaves Selina both happy and suspicious.
Obviously, he's so rich and throws tips of two hundred or more at her every time, but why doesn't he pay for the coffee?
At the same time, inside S.H.I.E.L.D.!
"Twenty-seven exposed HYDRA members captured!"
Looking at Nick Fury, Natasha Romanoff reported: "The twenty-seven HYDRA members arrested over the past two days, no matter how you look at it, are related to the list Congressman Stern brought up last time!"
"It's very similar to a scenario where their superiors' identities were exposed, causing these low-level HYDRA members to panic and not know what to do."
"Then they exposed themselves and were captured by us."
"Among them, seven are connected to our S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
"Specifically, the highest-level among these seven is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Level 5 agent named Semik Torin—basically, cannon fodder level!"
Hearing Natasha Romanoff's report, Nick Fury glanced at the twenty-two names on the list.
"Natasha, do you believe it?"
Tossing the list onto the table casually, Nick Fury laughed: "What a simple method, thinking that sacrificing some scapegoats can divert our attention?"
Hearing Nick Fury's sneer, Natasha Romanoff shrugged: "Who knows? But I don't care—I'll take them down anyway!"
"Capture a few today, a few tomorrow, and one day we'll round up all of HYDRA!"
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(TL : More Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)