I was about to avoid answering, but to prevent any strange misunderstandings from the other members, I decided to keep it brief.
"Answering a question with a question. Well... since you're curious, I'll tell you. I was just an ordinary person, but after gaining power through certain events, I ended up like this. That's how I learned about many worlds. I built my wealth based on the knowledge I acquired there. Not sure if that answers your question."
"Hmm... not exactly a satisfying answer, but I get it. Since you answered, I'll answer too. I'm just trying to create a body. Not sure if that answers your question. Heh."
Ultron said with a slight smile. He had similarly dodged the core of the question.
'This guy!'
Just then, an urgent call came from Banner outside.
"Enhanced soldiers are swarming in right now."
"Did you stall on purpose? And you've teamed up with Hydra too."
"Well, I figured I needed some allies. The Avengers have plenty of enemies."
With that, the glass ceiling shattered, and a masked man jumped down, landing in front of us before charging straight at Captain America. He ignored the other members and focused solely on the Captain—from the mask, it looked like Brock Rumlow. As if on cue, enhanced soldiers and Ultron Sentries (mass-produced versions of Ultron) began attacking us. Fortunately, the Ultron Sentries hadn't been mass-produced yet, so their numbers weren't overwhelming.
In the chaos, Ultron extended his hand toward me, firing a powerful laser from his fingertips, but I sensed it with [Observation Haki] and dodged quickly. Seeing this, Iron Man shot a repulsor beam at Ultron, knocking him back, but he got up immediately and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Iron Man.
Whirr! Bang! Crash!
"Damn! I'm calling in the Iron Legion."
Tony, while fighting, must have seen the enhanced soldiers and Ultron Sentries swarming us and informed us he was sending the Iron Legion for support. I drew my staff sword and fought the enhanced soldiers. We were outnumbered, but with so many strong fighters, we weren't pushed back too much. However, since the party two nights ago, we hadn't rested properly, and after spending two days searching for data and rushing here, everyone started to tire quickly.
Thud!
"Ugh... I'm exhausted today. My body feels heavy."
Jesse blocked an attack from an enhanced soldier and spoke. Then, the Iron Legion arrived inside the derelict ship and joined our side. From that point, the tide quickly turned in our favor.
As if receiving a signal, they suddenly began retreating mid-fight.
"Huh? They're running away all of a sudden?"
"Damn, they've already stolen the vibranium. We need to chase... sigh... it's no use like this. Let's head back to base first."
"Cap! Watch your language."
"Yeah, yeah."
Captain America, realizing it was futile, gave up the chase and suggested returning to base. Before leaving, I turned the dead enhanced soldiers into shadow soldiers and boarded the Odyssey. The members, too tired, went to their rooms and fell asleep immediately. I told the Odyssey to head back to base.
I showered and pondered. Ultron was acting more calmly and cunningly than in the original, and he had started recruiting the Avengers' enemies as allies, making things tricky.
'Should I have stopped him back then...'
I used [Household Magic] on Natasha, who had fallen asleep on the bed without washing up, to let her sleep comfortably, then lay down beside her and dozed off.
Time passed, and the android Mimi notified us that we had arrived at the Avengers base. Without waking the resting members, I asked the drones to handle the cleanup, then disembarked from the Odyssey, explained the situation to the staff, and let them rest. The staff had apparently organized all the data and stored it back in the warehouse while we were away.
'I really need to give them a hefty bonus this time.'
After about five hours, the members woke up, and I saw them coming out of the Odyssey one by one.
"Whoa, something smells delicious!"
Clint, probably hungry, came to the dining area, sat down, and asked.
"I prepared a nourishing meal to boost your energy. It's a local dish called samgyetang. Just wait a bit."
While the members and staff rested, I prepared samgyetang. Since foreigners might not like whole chickens, after cooking, I used [Telekinesis] to separate the meat and set it nicely, serving a bowl each to the staff and members.
"It's delicious! I didn't know such food existed! It looks like chicken soup, though."
"Yeah, Cassian seems to be an amazing cook."
"Lucky Natasha, having a boyfriend who cooks so well."
"Chairman Cassian is the best!"
It was a relief that everyone enjoyed it. After the meal, some staff left work. We rested a bit, then gathered for a meeting.
"Where do we find Ultron now?"
Captain America stepped forward and asked us, so I answered.
"Ultron has the materials now, so he'll try to create his body. We just need to find where that technology is."
"I see. Do we have to search through data again?"
At Captain's question about searching data again, the members' expressions weren't good. No one seemed eager to do that again.
Just then, Dr. Helen Cho hurried into the conference room.
"I just got a call that my lab in that country is being attacked by an armed foreign group."
Hearing this, Tony stood up and asked Helen Cho.
"Helen, does that lab have the biotech research data too?"
"Yes, it does. All the research papers and data are there. Plus, the regeneration cradle I developed... oh no, are they after my research..."
Hearing this, Captain America addressed us.
"Get ready in five minutes!"
As soon as we heard that, everyone stood up and left the conference room. We quickly prepared and started boarding the Odyssey. Tony loaded all the Iron Legion units from the base onto the Odyssey this time.
Ultron, unable to target the Avengers base directly to capture Dr. Helen Cho, seemed to have gone after her lab in that country as a fallback plan.
Captain America came to the Odyssey's bridge and asked me.
"How long will it take to reach the lab in that country at max speed?"
"About an hour."
"Hope we're not too late."
"I'll push it as fast as I can."
"Thanks."
I manually piloted the Odyssey, flying toward that country at maximum speed. Using the emergency plasma thrusters, we managed to reach Helen's lab in just 40 minutes.
The lab seemed to have already been dealt with—broken in places, with police controlling the area. Captain America talked with the police, then returned to us.
"Sorry, but does anyone here speak the local language?"
Captain asked, looking embarrassed. I thought he could speak it, given how confidently he approached. I guess he was just eager. Anyway, I went over and asked again. The police told us that people had seen a metal casket-like box being taken from the lab. I relayed this to the members.
"At that size, they'd need a large vehicle."
Just then, Vulture, patrolling the area, informed us.
"Boss! I found the lab truck. It's on the northern road from the lab."
"Can you stop it?"
"Possible, but there are a lot of civilians around. Should we engage?"
Hearing this, Captain America stopped Vulture for now.
"Just track it for now. Let's wait until it heads to a less populated area. We'll be there soon."
"Got it."
We hurriedly boarded the Odyssey and flew to where Vulture was. As the truck moved onto a major road, Vulture began attacking it. Under Vulture's heavy fire, the truck didn't last long and stopped. Ultron emerged from the wrecked truck and shouted at us.
"You just keep getting in the way!"
As Vulture and Ultron started fighting, Tony also sortied to assist Vulture. Meanwhile, from the truck, Ultron Sentinels were seen hastily carrying a large metal casket into the Han River.
"Oh no... anyone here capable of underwater activity?"
Captain America asked the members, but no one spoke up.
"This is bad. We can't let them escape like this."
Then Banner spoke.
"The Hulkbuster is waterproof, but I've never tried it... sigh... damn it, I'll go."
Banner, with a worried expression, boarded the Hulkbuster and jumped into the Han River, starting to search for the Ultron Sentinels. We also began using thermal cameras from above to locate the Ultron Sentinels in the water. Soon, a fast-moving object was detected heading toward Gimpo City. I displayed it on the monitor and informed the members.
"Found them. But if we leave them, they'll cross into the northern border. Combat there is impossible—it could spark a war."
"How much time do we have?"
"At their speed, they'll reach the border in under 20 minutes."
"You hear that, Banner?"
"Got it! I'm on my way!"
I quickly marked the Sentinels' location on a map and transmitted it to the Hulkbuster. Then, I piloted the Odyssey over the Han River, following the Sentinels. Natasha, frustrated, spoke up.
"It's a shame the Odyssey isn't armed at a time like this."
"Can't be helped. If the Odyssey were armed, our operational range would shrink significantly. Many countries dislike America."
Captain America agreed.
"Cassian's right. Other countries wouldn't allow us to operate within their borders."
"Well..."
Natasha understood but still seemed quite disappointed. Captain, remembering something, looked at Wanda and Cosmo beside her and asked.
"Speaking of which, Wanda, Cosmo. Can telekinesis help with this?"
"I can't do anything about things underwater. Only if they come out."
"Same here."
Cosmo also said it was impossible.
"So, if they come out of the water, it'll work?"
"Yes."
"Then wait at the Odyssey's stern. Banner! You heard? Try to lure them to the surface."
"Got it. I'm starting to see them now."
With that, the battle between the Hulkbuster and the Sentinels began, as water pillars erupted from various points in the Han River. Wanda and Cosmo hurried to the Odyssey's stern. The other members followed.
Thump! Bang! Bang! Splash!
"Wanda! Cosmo! Get ready. They're coming up."
"Okay!"
At Banner's signal, the Hulkbuster slowly emerged from the water, holding the metal casket containing the regeneration cradle, with Sentinels clinging all over.
Seeing this, Captain America quickly directed Clint.
"Clint! Support Banner!"
"Okay, Cap!"
Following Captain's order, Clint fired arrows, attacking the Sentinels attached to the Hulkbuster.
Bang! Bang!
As some Sentinels fell away from Clint's attacks, Captain shouted.
"Now! Wanda! Cosmo!"
"Got it!"
Wanda and Cosmo used telekinesis to lift the metal casket high and pull it toward the Odyssey. Once it reached the deck, the members stepped in to deal with the remaining Sentinels.
Thud! Crash! Smash!
I immediately halted the Odyssey. Thankfully, we hadn't crossed the border, just barely.
"Whew... that was close."
Then, Ultron's voice was heard nearby.
"No!!"
Ultron was floating in the air nearby, with half his body damaged and missing, having struggled to fly here after attacks from Vulture and Iron Man.
Just then, Iron Man and Vulture flew over and fired missiles and repulsor beams at Ultron, finishing him off with an explosion in the air.
Boom!!
But this wasn't the end. Ultron could still travel via the internet.
Iron Man and Vulture reboarded the Odyssey. Cosmo was excitedly licking Wanda's face.
"Did I do good, Wanda?"
"Yes, you did. But stop licking my face."
Captain America, relieved, said to us.
"One worry off our minds. Let's head back to base."
Indeed, apart from some road damage caused by Vulture, the damage in that country was minimal compared to the original. We'd have to compensate for the road with Avengers funds later.
'Thank goodness.'
We returned to the Avengers base.