Agent Phil Coulson looked at Chen Mo somewhat bewildered.
Shouldn't he disdainfully refuse, then Coulson would use the righteousness of maintaining world peace and protecting all humanity to persuade him?
Who knew he'd agree so straightforwardly—all the arguments he'd prepared for so long were completely useless. But what did his last words mean? I've been conscripted?
For Chen Mo, the autocrat of Hydra and core leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., US Army Major General and Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division Special Forces Commander held no attraction. However, for his upcoming actions, having such an overt identity would be much more convenient.
After all, although Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strength was massive, they were hidden behind the scenes, not suitable for appearing before the public, and not very convenient to deploy.
Over seventy years ago, Chen Mo had originally enlisted in the US military together with Steve, then joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve jointly established by all Allied nations. Now accepting the US Army Major General rank and position as Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division Special Forces Commander was just restoring his former identity.
Moreover, although he'd accepted these two appointments, Chen Mo had no intention of accepting their leadership and command.
I'll take the authority. Obligations? I'm already maintaining world peace. Anyone who dares point fingers and babble—Chen Mo would let them know what bringing humiliation upon oneself meant.
Of course the military, government, World Security Council and Nick Fury and others wouldn't naively think they could command Chen Mo at will.
Opening Chen Mo's sealed files, one would discover Chen Mo's consistent conduct style—decisive and vigorous action, resolute decisiveness, arrogant and cold, and unruly.
He was an absolute doer. Maintaining world peace, striking evil forces—Chen Mo absolutely went all out. But he had his own principles and methods. Having no reverence whatsoever for the powerful, trying to command him like an ordinary soldier was completely unrealistic.
This was also why Nick Fury felt Chen Mo's appointment went somewhat too smoothly. With Chen Mo so unruly, he'd expected some resistance to his plan. Now it seemed these politicians and military hadn't completely lost their minds—they'd seen Chen Mo's value clearly.
They didn't expect Chen Mo to absolutely obey arrangements. He existed more as strategic power. They could handle ordinary situations themselves. Once major incidents occurred, Chen Mo would come into play. At critical moments involving human interests, he'd naturally go all out.
Chen Mo's initial elimination of the powerful Hydra changed World War II's situation. At the final moment, to avoid cities being bombed and causing massive casualties, he'd unhesitatingly piloted Hydra's super bomber and crashed into the sea. His ideology and character had no issues. This was why they dared hand authority to Chen Mo.
To them, Chen Mo was a trump card. Normally just treat him well. At critical moments he'd display his huge value. They just needed appropriate supervision. Agent Phil Coulson was a good candidate.
He was steady and experienced, with strong organizational and operational abilities. He could both assist Chen Mo well, helping with his work, while also providing good supervision. So when Nick Fury learned Chen Mo had conscripted Phil Coulson into the Special Forces, he didn't object.
Although after accepting the appointment Chen Mo only planned to enjoy authority without accepting command, actually Chen Mo was already responsible enough. Seventy years ago he'd started the Winter Soldier plan, preparing to deal with future alien invasion.
Because in Chen Mo's view, this entire world was his. Maintaining his territory's safety was his responsibility as Earth's lord. As for now, it was like a king traveling incognito, giving himself a title of imperial envoy for convenience.
That afternoon, Chen Mo and Agent Phil Coulson took a helicopter back to Washington.
When the helicopter landed on the rooftop helipad of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division headquarters building, on the other side, Tony Stark was also just walking down from his private plane.
This was Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Beside the aircraft stairs, over a dozen US military and Afghan military senior officers stood there, prepared to welcome Tony Stark's arrival.
"Hello, General!"
Wearing a sharp suit and sunglasses, Tony Stark walked briskly down the stairs, face carrying a trace of unruly smile as he extended his hand toward a senior US military officer standing at the front.
The base commander smiled and shook hands with Tony.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. We're very much looking forward to your weapons demonstration."
...
Dozens of kilometers from Bagram Air Base, in a desolate uninhabited area.
On a high point, several military Humvees were parked. Dozens of fully armed US soldiers stood guard all around holding guns. On one side of the high ground, over a dozen senior officers from both countries were attentively listening to Tony Stark's speech.
"Is it better to be feared or respected?"
"I say, is it too much to ask for both?"
"With that in mind, I humbly present the crown jewel of Stark Industries' Freedom Line."
"It's the first missile system to incorporate our proprietary Repulsor Technology."
"They say the best weapon is one you never have to fire."
"I respectfully disagree."
"I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once."
"That's how Dad did it. That's how America does it."
"And it's worked out pretty well so far."
"Find an excuse to let one of these off the chain, and I personally guarantee you the bad guys won't even want to come out of their caves."
After Tony finished, he waved at an operator to the side. Then a missile vehicle not far from everyone moved. Accompanied by motor sounds, the missiles on the weapons rack lifted up and began adjusting direction, aiming at a mountain range several kilometers opposite them.
Then one of three missiles was activated. Its tail jetted fierce white flame exhaust, propelling the missile to detach from the weapons rack and fly at extreme speed toward the air.
The powerful thruster gave the missile extremely high speed. It quickly crossed most of the distance, flying over the target mountain range and beginning to descend.
A flash of fire suddenly lit up. The missile body's outer shell was thrown off, revealing dozens of small missiles neatly arranged inside.
These small missiles were immediately ejected from the body. Their tail thrusters activated simultaneously, propelling the missiles to fly rapidly toward the mountain range below. Under the guidance system's direction, dozens of small missiles spread out evenly, conducting blanket strikes covering the entire mountain.
"For your consideration, the Jericho."
As Tony Stark finished, he slowly raised both hands, extending them flat on both sides of his body.
Behind him, dozens of missiles with tail flames fell from the air, hitting that mountain range and producing violent explosions. The mountain's earth was blown up by the explosions, thrown into the air over a hundred meters high. The powerful shockwave from the explosions also rushed at high speed in all directions.
The powerful air blast from the shockwave carried large amounts of dust from the ground and fiercely rushed up from behind Tony Stark, knocking the unprepared crowd off their feet. Their hats were blown who knows where.
Tony Stark had been mentally prepared and only stepped forward a few steps with the shockwave's force, then casually straightened his clothes and walked toward several large metal boxes bearing the Stark logo placed to the side.
Opening the lid, cold air emerged. The box bottom automatically rose. Wine glasses, ice cubes and several bottles of fine wine neatly arranged in slots were raised to the box top.
Tony Stark casually picked up a glass of whiskey with ice, walking and talking.
"For your bulk-order price of five hundred million dollars."
"To peace."
...
The entire weapons demonstration was very successful. The Jericho missile's tremendous power excited all the military personnel present. In the subsequent call with company veteran Obadiah Stane, Tony confidently indicated he'd make a huge profit again.
However, on their way back to base by vehicle, they encountered fierce attacks from terrorists. The soldiers protecting Tony closely were all killed. He himself was also severely injured by a missile manufactured by Stark Industries fired by the terrorists.
When he woke up, he found himself imprisoned in a cave with an electromagnet embedded and installed in his chest, connected by wire to a car battery.
It turned out that after the missile exploded, many fragments had shot into his body. Dr. Yinsen, imprisoned with him by the terrorists, had operated on him and removed most fragments. But several pieces near his heart couldn't be removed. Once they entered his heart with the pulse, they would slowly tear Tony Stark's heart apart, killing him by heartbreak.
This electromagnet could attract and hold these fragments, preventing them from entering his heart and saving his life.
Subsequently arriving terrorists demanded Tony Stark manufacture for them the tremendously powerful Jericho missile he'd previously demonstrated. His own terrible condition plus discovering the terrorists were equipped entirely with Stark Industries-manufactured weapons—Tony became disheartened and dispirited, planning to sit and wait for death.
Fortunately, with Dr. Yinsen's encouragement, Tony finally rallied.
Clear in his heart that even if he manufactured the missile for them they wouldn't spare him, he agreed on the surface but was actually planning escape.
In desperate straits, Tony's mind was exceptionally clear. A brilliant concept rapidly formed in his mind and was quickly fully designed.
With Dr. Yinsen's help, using tools and materials the terrorists provided, Tony quickly manufactured a miniaturized arc reactor, replacing the heavy car battery and installing it directly on his chest.
Over ten days later, Mark I was finally completed. It was time to act.
But just as the two began assembling Mark I on Tony, having dodged surveillance cameras aroused the suspicion of the monitoring terrorists. They immediately sent several armed terrorists to the cave imprisoning the two to check.
Several people shouted outside the cell door but no one came. Seeing this, the terrorists directly opened the cell door. The bomb Tony had rigged on the door immediately exploded, taking them all out.
But the explosion would quickly bring more enemies, yet Mark I's program hadn't finished uploading. Their situation was very dangerous.
Seeing the critical situation, to buy Tony time, Dr. Yinsen picked up a terrorist's rifle and rushed out of the cell, planning to use his life to buy Tony time.
Although he'd never fought before and all his bullets hit the cave ceiling, with recklessly fierce shooting sparing no ammunition and a fearless charge-ahead spirit, Dr. Yinsen still drove the several terrorists who'd rushed into the cave back out.
But when he roared and drove the few cowardly terrorists to charge to the cave entrance, he discovered over a dozen terrorists were arrayed there waiting, with over a dozen black gun muzzles all pointed at him.
Yinsen somewhat dejectedly lowered the rifle in his hands. He'd bought Tony enough time, right? His family were all dead—he should go join them.
Just then, a burst of intense gunfire suddenly came from outside the cave.