While Pepper was out, Stark said to Fury, "I've considered what you said and I agree in principle, but the specific details still need to be discussed. What do you think?"
Fury was delighted, "Another one tricked! Come on, take him away, next one ready."
On the surface, Fury remained calm and nodded solemnly, "Of course, the general direction remains unchanged, everything can be discussed."
Then he turned to stare at Mike.
His gaze was burning, as if saying, "You are the 'next one'."
Fury's gaze made Mike's tailbone twitch slightly, and he immediately became alert.
"What do you want?"
Mike's tone and demeanor made no secret of his wariness.
He was just that straightforward.
What can you do to me?!
Fury said, "S.H.I.E.L.D. is planning to establish a superhero group, and Tony has taken on the role of advisor."
"Really?" Mike asked Stark.
The latter nodded.
Mike shook his head and regrettably said, "Tsk, I didn't expect you to fall so low."
Stark retorted, "How can this be called falling low? Look, I have money, I have beautiful women, sports cars, yachts, private jets, I lack nothing. Life is too empty, I need a goal to strive for."
Mike scoffed, "Billions of people in the World wish they were as empty as you."
To be honest, the current Iron Man, compared to the Iron Man in the original timeline, has made further progress in strength. The Vibranium Iron Man Suit, different modules for different combat environments, and Stark is already working on developing portable suits. The suitcase Iron Man Suit and nano Iron Man Suit won't be far off.
But his awareness is much worse, and Stark has only recently become Iron Man, so he doesn't have much prestige.
So—Fury only valued Stark's financial resources and intellect. In his eyes, wasn't Stark just a rich landlord's foolish son?
Stark and Fury both looked at Mike.
Mike waved his hand, "I said I wouldn't join, and I won't join. A man of his word, once he spits, it's a nail!"
Fury, "You said you wouldn't join S.H.I.E.L.D., the new hero group will be independent of the S.H.I.E.L.D. system, and will be 'private in nature'."
That's what they say, but in the end, isn't it just a chain called the Sokovia Accords around their necks?
In fact, no country's high-level officials would want a group of superheroes to come and go freely in their territory without permission, causing all sorts of trouble. They say it's to combat super criminals, but as a high-level official of a country, how could they just believe one side of the story?
Moreover, the U.S. has scared the whole World, always pointing fingers in the name of human rights and justice, and finally proving that it's actually just for their own benefit. They mess up other people's homes and then walk away.
One hundred and seventeen countries in the World signed the Sokovia Accords, are they fools? Obviously not... From their perspective, the Avengers are powerful and unrestrained. What if they turn evil, harbor selfish motives, or make wrong decisions?
From the Avengers' perspective, once their identities are exposed, it affects not only the superhero themselves but also their family and friends. What, a superhero sacrifices himself, and his family and friends have to sacrifice too? Brother, why are there so many orphanages on Qidian, do you understand?
In addition, the Sokovia Accords stipulate that the Avengers are subject to United Nations jurisdiction and their actions require the permission of the local government. In this way, the Avengers' freedom is even less than S.H.I.E.L.D.'s. Will villains wait for the Avengers to get approval before acting?
This is a conflict between spear and shield, right and wrong, depending on one's position and perspective. Of course, from the results, the Sokovia Accords led to the Avengers' split, indirectly leading to the failure of the Infinity War—Mike expressed doubts about this point, after all, in the multiverse, there are not a few complete Avengers who were crushed by Thanos.
Mike still waved his hand, "Forget it."
Stark, "Not even if I personally invite you?"
Mike squinted, "What do you think? Don't you know how much face you have?"
Stark threw a pillow at Mike.
Mike asked, "How many people are in your masked boy or spandex league?"
Stark and Fury exchanged glances and immediately decided to give the new hero group a resounding nickname, definitely not "masked boy" or "spandex league."
Fury took out a list.
The list was densely packed with names, and Mike exclaimed in surprise, "Damn! So many, these must be candidates. Is it okay for me to see this?"
"Yes, they are all candidates. The crossed out ones are those who refused or were deemed unsuitable after investigation," Fury replied, "It's just a list, go ahead and look."
"Do you have a pen?"
"Yes."
Mike saw his name on the list, crossed out.
Fury: "..."
There were many "acquaintances" on the list, such as Blade, Daredevil, Punisher, Professor X...
No Captain America, Hulk—
Captain America was still sleeping in the ice.
Hulk had not yet been born.
Blade's name was crossed out, Mike asked, "Why did Blade refuse?"
Fury said, "He only wants to kill Vampires, but it doesn't rule out the possibility of him joining in the future."
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attitude towards Vampires was ambiguous; if they didn't cause trouble, they wouldn't be attacked, but if they did, they would be killed.
"What about Daredevil?"
"He refused."
"Oh, I think his refusal is a good thing for you."
Stark asked curiously, "Is he difficult to get along with?"
Mike shook his head, "No, in fact, he's very easy to get along with, and even became friends with Punisher."
Stark asked, "Wait, who is Punisher?"
Mike said to Fury, "Are you sure Tony is qualified for the advisor position?"
Fury ignored Mike.
Mike talked about Daredevil's "no-kill" and Punisher's "violence for violence." It was very strange that these two could become friends.
In fact, Daredevil's "no-kill" is also a kind of extreme and radical personality, which is the basis for him to become friends with Punisher.
If Daredevil were to join the Avengers, perhaps the Avengers would split early because Daredevil, while not killing himself, would also demand that others not kill.
Apparently, in a certain Universe, Daredevil joined the New Avengers after the Civil War. Note, it was the New Avengers.
"Oh." Stark didn't express an opinion, just nodded. He planned to learn more about other superheroes when he had time.
"Professor X... Heh heh, you're dreaming too big, I'd say." Mike sneered.
"Always worth a try." Fury took Mike's sarcasm head-on, his face completely unharmed.
Bringing Professor X into the Avengers is equivalent to merging the X-Men into the Avengers, which is a bit of a pipe dream. In terms of intellect, Professor X is no less than Fury, and he can read minds. It's not that easy to fool Professor X.
"Holy crap! Peter!" Mike saw Spider-Man's name. Peter had just debuted and wasn't very famous, so he caught Fury's attention already?
Mike guessed it might be related to Peter's parents' research.
Stark, "Another acquaintance?"
Mike, "Nonsense, he's just the handyman at my house, the one who was blind enough to idolize you."
"Idolizing me is being blind, huh..." Stark protested, then thought for a moment, "Maybe it's a namesake. That Peter looks, well, too weak."
There are simply too many people named Peter, Mike, and Tom in the World, but there's probably only one who calls himself "Spider-Man" and is also named Peter.