Inside the top-floor office of Fisk Tower, the invisible tension brought personally by the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director had not yet completely dissipated when a rougher, more aggressive pressure, like a cold current from Siberia, swept in directly.
This time, the visitors didn't even go through much negotiation or appointment.
Three rugged Humvees, painted in Military olive green, screeched to a halt aggressively right in front of Fisk Tower.
The doors opened, and eight fully armed special soldiers with eagle-sharp eyes were the first to jump out.
They quickly fanned out, taking key positions at the entrance, their movements swift and carrying the fierce aura of battle-hardened veterans.
Then, an old man in a crisp Army lieutenant general's uniform, with white hair and a resolute face carved like granite, stepped out with heavy strides.
The stars on his epaulets glinted with a cold, hard light in the New York sun; it was General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, known for his toughness and persistence.
His face showed no polite expression, only the gravitas of someone long in a high position, accustomed to giving orders, and an undisguised scrutiny and… disdain for this commercial building and its Master.
James Wesley had already received an urgent notification from the front desk and was waiting in the lobby with several security personnel (dressed in smart suits, but with equally vigilant eyes).
His face still held a professional smile, but deep in his eyes was a look of solemnity.
"General Ross," Wesley stepped forward, his tone neither obsequious nor arrogant, "Welcome to Fisk Tower.
May I ask what brings the General here so suddenly?"
General Ross didn't even look Wesley in the eye.
His gaze swept the lobby like a searchlight, finally settling on the exclusive elevator leading to the top floor, and his voice boomed with an unquestionable command: "Take me to Fisk.
Now."
This was not a request; it was an order.
Wesley's smile remained unchanged, and he subtly moved aside: "Please follow me, General.
However, your accompanying personnel may need to remain in the lounge area."
General Ross snorted, waved his hand at the soldiers behind him, signaling them to stay, and then strode quickly after Wesley towards the elevator, as if he were the Master of this place.
The elevator ascended silently and swiftly.
Within the confined space, the atmosphere was so oppressive it almost solidified.
The General Ross's aura, a mix of gunpowder, power, and paranoia, was utterly out of place in this modern elevator.
When the elevator doors opened, General Ross didn't wait for Wesley to lead the way but walked directly towards the office he had seen countless times in documents, pushing open the heavy solid wood door.
Inside the office, Kingpin still stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, as if he had never moved.
He seemed unsurprised by General Ross's abrupt intrusion, slowly turning around to calmly face the uninvited guest.
"General Ross," Kingpin's voice was deep, betraying no emotion, "It's a pleasure."
General Ross strode to the center of the office, facing Kingpin from a distance of several meters.
One represented the violence and authority of the state apparatus, the other controlled nascent extraordinary power and capital; two distinctly different forms of power collided at this moment.
"Fisk, I don't have time to play games with you."
General Ross cut straight to the chase, his voice exploding in the office like his nickname "Thunderbolt."
"Your 'Hero Association' is quite flashy.
But I'm not interested in your masked circus!
I'm interested in your technology!"
He pointed a finger, almost touching Kingpin's nose, his tone aggressive: "That electromagnetic pulse weapon that can instantly disable heavy armor!
That eerily efficient battlefield cleanup and material recovery technology!
And your system that can monitor every damn thing in the city!
These technologies belong to the nation!
They belong to the U.S. Military!"
His authoritarianism was fully displayed at this moment, as if he were announcing an unquestionable requisition order.
"Immediately, unconditionally, transfer all data, design blueprints, and all related samples of these technologies to our Army Equipment Research Department!"
General Ross's eyes gleamed with a fanaticism mixed with greed and the excuse of 'national security.'
"This is for the strategic security of the nation; you have no right to refuse!"
Facing General Ross's storm-like gaze and demands, not even a ripple appeared on Kingpin's face.
His massive body was as stable as a mountain; he merely raised his eyelids slightly, his sharp eyes calmly meeting the General's gaze.
"General," Kingpin's voice remained steady but carried a cold quality that instantly overpowered Ross's roar, "I think you might have a few things wrong."
He slowly took two steps forward, and an invisible sense of oppression spread with his movement.
"First, the Hero Association is a legally registered non-profit organization.
Our technology is civilian technology used to maintain urban security and respond to anomalous threats, not Military equipment."
"Second," Kingpin's gaze swept over the General Ross's shoulder stars, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible mockery, "Even the Military, to requisition private property and technology, needs to follow legal procedures and present relevant Congressional authorization or emergency declarations.
May I ask, did you bring them?"
General Ross's face darkened; of course, he didn't have these things.
His actions were more about exerting pressure based on his status and usual assertiveness.
"Fisk! Don't play legal semantics with me here!
This concerns the highest interests of national security!"
"Highest interests?"
Kingpin's lips curled into a cold, hard arc.
"Forcibly seizing the core technology of a legitimate enterprise without legal procedure is, in itself, undermining the order and rules upon which this nation survives.
General, are you using your so-called 'national security' to trample upon the legal foundation of this country?"
His rhetorical question was like a cold dagger, precisely piercing the illegality of General Ross's actions.
General Ross was momentarily choked, a flash of anger crossing his face, but he quickly found a new point of attack: "Don't give me that!
Your background, Fisk, your shady past—don't think no one knows about it!
If I reveal those things to the public, will your Association still be able to stand here so gloriously?!"
This was a naked threat, intending to use Kingpin's past to force his compliance.
However, Kingpin's reaction remained calm: "My past has already been settled by law.
I am now a legitimate businessman, a philanthropist dedicated to public welfare.
If you have evidence that I have broken the law, you are welcome to report it to the judicial authorities.
But to threaten with fabricated stains and attempt to illegally acquire technology, General, this is not the behavior expected of a high-ranking officer."
He paused, his tone becoming deeper and more dangerous, his eyes seeming to see through people's hearts:
"Moreover, General, you seem to have forgotten, or selectively ignored, one thing."
"The Association's technology is efficient, and it can deal with anomalous threats that even the Military finds difficult, precisely because it is independent, because it transcends the conventional."
"Are you sure that, with the Military's current research system and understanding, even if you get the technical data, you can perfectly replicate and apply it?
And not... make things worse, or even cause a greater disaster?"
"Furthermore," Kingpin finally said slowly, each word carrying immense weight, "some things cannot be forcibly taken by brute force and power.
Reaching out forcefully might get you... burned."
The office fell into a deathly silence.
General Ross stared intensely at Kingpin, his chest rising and falling slightly with anger.
He felt the other party's unyielding toughness and the chilling warning contained within his calm words.
He realized that this man before him was by no means like the politicians or businessmen he had dealt with in the past; this was an opponent with formidable strength and decisiveness.
Continuing to exert pressure could very well lead to unpredictable consequences.
The technical capabilities demonstrated by the Association, especially the ability to instantly disable Iron Monger, made him hesitant.
"...Very well, Fisk."
General Ross squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, his face livid, "You are very good.
We'll see!"
He knew he couldn't achieve his goal today.
After a fierce glare at Kingpin, General Ross abruptly turned and, filled with anger and frustration, strode out of the office without even a word of farewell.
Wesley watched the General's retreating back, softly closed the door, and turned to Kingpin: "Master, the pressure from the Military will likely not stop here."
Kingpin turned his gaze back to the window, his voice indifferent:
"As expected."
"Notify the Equipment Research Department and R&D departments to strengthen the security level of core technology areas, and elevate all technical data encryption to the highest level."
"Also, have our legal team prepare to deal with potential 'legal' investigations and harassments that the Military might initiate through other channels."
"They want my technology?"
A cold glint flashed in Kingpin's eyes.
"Let them first weigh whether their teeth are hard enough."
The Military's first direct pressure was rebuffed by Kingpin with a firm stance.
But this was only the beginning; everyone understood that, given General Ross's personality, he would never give up easily.
A game of chess with the Military in technology, law, and even deeper domains had already begun.