Upon seeing Van En, Little Chili rushed over with tears streaming down her face. "Mr. Vann, you have a lot of superheroes under your command, right? Please, you must save Tony!" Please, you must help me! "rest assured!" Fan held her in his arms and gently patted her shoulder. "I have already arranged for Professor Charles to come over immediately." I'll have him search for you. If Stark is trapped under the rubble, he'll be able to sense it. We will definitely be able to rescue him then. Little Chili was very touched: "Th-thank you." The professor arrived quickly and carefully sensed the surroundings, even spending a long time sensing the seabed near the cliff edge. Finally, he said apologetically, "Miss Pepper, I'm very sorry, I didn't sense Mr. Stark." Pepper's face turned pale: "What does that mean?" "I can only sense the thoughts of living people, which means that they are either not here, or... they have died under the rubble." "Fuck!" Upon hearing this, Van En became extremely angry and kicked away a beeping, red-glowing battle armor that was flashing. As he watched the visor fall off the cliff, a slight smile appeared on his lips, but it quickly vanished. He turned to comfort Pepper: "Don't worry, I believe he'll be alright." He must have flown away long ago. He's Tony Stark, an invincible man! With tears in her eyes, Little Chili said, "If he's still alive, why doesn't he contact me? Doesn't he know how worried I am about him?" Van shrugged and made an untimely joke: "Maybe he's used to leaving quietly." Pepper's face turned pale, and Vane hurriedly apologized. "I'm sorry! I just... wanted to lighten the mood, it was my fault!" Maya Hansen, standing next to him, rolled her eyes dramatically. You're absolutely right. He is indeed a man who knows exactly how to leave quietly. "Alright, let's leave the rest to the police and search and rescue personnel." You must be tired after such a long day. Let me take you to your hotel to rest. Unbeknownst to Van En, among the search and rescue personnel at the scene, there was a dark-skinned man silently watching him. After settling the two into the hotel, Van En intended to leave, but Maya stopped him. "You're the man who saved New York, aren't you?" Vane's eyes widened: "Nonsense, who said I'm the man who saved New York?" I'm the man who saved the whole world! New York was just the battlefield for saving the world, okay?! Maya Hansen paused for a moment before realizing what she meant: "Okay, you're right." What I want to say is that I have something very important to tell you. "Okay, go ahead and say it." Vann stood casually in the corridor. Maya hesitated for a moment: "How about we go inside and talk?" "Oh!" Van En scrutinized her from head to toe. "Pepper just told me you're a botanist, is that true?" Maya gritted her teeth: "Of course, I'm here to talk to you about serious business!" "Fine." Van En gritted his teeth, striking a pose as if he were about to die a martyr. "I'll go in with you!" Maya mustered her courage and said, "I've realized that I seem to be working for that terrorist on TV!" oh? Of course, Van En knew about the actor wearing ten fake rings. However, the mastermind behind it all is Adrian Killian. Adrian Killian's boss is the vice president. He never liked lying, so he nodded and replied, "I know." ah? Maya Hansen was stunned. "You know? What do you know?" "Hey, isn't it just that Adrian Killian used your research to become a serial killer and is now plotting a huge conspiracy? I know all about it." Maya Hansen was even more puzzled and quickly retorted, "No, Adridge works for someone else, the one on TV..." Fan En waved his hand: "Look, you don't know as much as I do. Have you ever thought that maybe the one on TV is the real employee?" Maya Hansen was stunned, unsure of what to say. Fan En shook his head, looking as if he knew everything. Everything in the world has its cause for every effect. Back then, when you and Stark were tenderly entwined on New Year's Eve, did you ever think about how someone was standing alone in the cold wind on the balcony above you? When you see the New Year's fireworks, have you ever thought that there is someone else watching them too? As he watched, he transformed from a good person into a bad one. This world is truly amazing. The cannon fire from over a decade ago, after going around in circles, still managed to hit you. You don't know the truth either; you're just claiming your innocence. Maya Hansen was deathly pale and swayed precariously. Van En helped her sit down and said with a smile, "Don't worry too much. Although you and Stark both have original sins, in the end, the one who is the most sinful is Adrian Killian." Just kill him, and let all the sins vanish with him. From now on, you can still enjoy the sunshine and gentle breeze. Looking at Maya Hansen, who was slumped over to the side, Van said, "I'll be going now if there's nothing else. It was a pleasure chatting with you. Let's chat longer next time." You don't need a reason to criticize someone, especially since it can make you feel good. When Fan En left the hotel, he deliberately lingered at the entrance for a while. According to the plot, Killian should appear soon and kidnap them. That would be the perfect opportunity for a hero to rescue the damsel in distress. ... Stark, on the other hand, just got a brutal beating from the orange-haired Annie. Fortunately, he managed to escape with a combination of three parts skill and seven parts luck. However, he also successfully discovered a clue to the bombing: AIM Company. With the help of the war machine, he successfully uncovered Adrian's criminal activities. However, he was unaware that the actor playing the Ten Commandments on television was merely a figurehead. After some investigation, he decided to infiltrate the enemy camp alone to find the truth. Unbeknownst to him, the war machine far away overseas had already been sabotaged. After leaving the hotel, Vann didn't go far, and he easily spotted Killian's trail. Shortly after entering the hotel, Adrian Killian came out again and carried two large bags to his car. He was about to leave, but before Van En could make a move, someone stopped him. That familiar dark marinated egg. "Sir, please raise your hand and slowly get off the bus!" If you make any move, I'll shoot your head off! Nick Fury pointed his gun at him. Killian was obedient and cooperated, getting out of the car with his hands raised. Fury took a pair of handcuffs, cuffed his hands, and then went to check the two women in the back seat. Before I could even open the car door, someone punched me in the head. He forced himself to turn around, only to see a pair of molten iron handcuffs on the ground. Killian looked at him with a smile, then punched him hard on the bridge of his nose. Nick Fury collapsed to the ground, clutching his nose, and was unable to resist. Fan En was speechless. You have no idea who your opponent is, do you? You actually dared to play the hero and save the damsel in distress? What's wrong? Just because he's no longer the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., he's lost all his basic vigilance? No wonder your S.H.I.E.L.D. has been so badly infiltrated by Hydra. At this point, it was Van En's turn to take the stage. "Stop! Let go of those two girls!"
Chapter 92 – A Failed Rescue and a Hero's Entrance
The moment Pepper saw Ethan Voss arrive at the scene, she rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. Her usual composure was completely gone, replaced by raw fear and desperation.
"Mr. Voss, you have so many superheroes working for you, right? Please—please save Tony!"
Her voice trembled as she grabbed his sleeve.
"Please… you have to help me!"
"Don't worry," Ethan said gently.
He pulled her into a reassuring embrace and lightly patted her shoulder, his tone calm and steady.
"I've already contacted Professor Charles. He's on his way right now."
Pepper looked up at him, eyes still wet with tears.
"He'll scan the area," Ethan continued. "If Stark is trapped somewhere under the rubble, the professor will be able to sense him."
He gave her a confident nod.
"We'll definitely find him."
Pepper's eyes filled with gratitude.
"Th-thank you."
Professor Charles arrived not long afterward. Sitting quietly in his wheelchair, he closed his eyes and began carefully sensing the surrounding area. His mental reach extended across the entire coastline, scanning every corner of the ruined villa.
He even spent a long time focusing on the seabed near the cliff, just in case Stark had been thrown into the ocean during the explosion.
Eventually, Charles slowly opened his eyes.
His expression was apologetic.
"Miss Pepper, I'm very sorry," he said gently. "I was unable to sense Mr. Stark."
Pepper's face immediately turned pale.
"What… what does that mean?"
Charles hesitated briefly before answering honestly.
"My ability allows me to sense the thoughts of living people. If I cannot detect him here, then it means only two possibilities."
He paused.
"Either he isn't here… or he has died beneath the rubble."
"Damn it!"
Hearing this, Ethan suddenly exploded with anger.
He kicked a damaged piece of Iron Man armor that lay nearby, its red warning light still blinking and beeping weakly. The impact sent the helmet rolling across the ground before it tumbled off the edge of the cliff.
For a brief moment, a faint smile flickered across Ethan's lips as he watched it disappear into the darkness below.
The smile vanished almost immediately.
Turning back to Pepper, he softened his voice again.
"Don't worry. I believe he'll be fine."
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"He probably escaped long ago. That's Tony Stark we're talking about."
Ethan forced a confident grin.
"An invincible man like him wouldn't go down that easily."
Pepper's eyes filled with tears again.
"If he's still alive," she said shakily, "why hasn't he contacted me? Doesn't he know how worried I am?"
Ethan shrugged lightly.
"Maybe he's just used to leaving quietly."
The moment the words left his mouth, Pepper's expression turned even paler.
Realizing his mistake, Ethan immediately raised both hands.
"I'm sorry! That was a bad joke."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I just… wanted to lighten the mood. My fault."
Standing nearby, Maya Hansen rolled her eyes dramatically.
"You're absolutely right," she muttered dryly. "He really is a man who knows how to leave quietly."
Ethan pretended not to hear that.
"Alright," he said after a moment. "The rest should be left to the police and search-and-rescue teams."
He gestured toward the flashing emergency vehicles surrounding the destroyed villa.
"You've both had a long day. Let me take you to a hotel so you can rest."
Neither woman argued.
What Ethan didn't notice was that among the search-and-rescue personnel standing near the ruins, a dark-skinned man watched him silently from a distance.
After settling Pepper and Maya into a nearby hotel, Ethan prepared to leave. Just as he reached the corridor outside their room, Maya suddenly called out to him.
"You're the one who saved New York, right?"
Ethan's eyes widened in exaggerated disbelief.
"Excuse me? Who told you I only saved New York?"
He crossed his arms proudly.
"I saved the entire world. New York was just the battlefield where the world happened to get saved."
Maya blinked, clearly caught off guard.
After a moment she sighed.
"Fine. You're right."
She took a deep breath before continuing.
"What I actually wanted to say is… I have something very important to tell you."
"Alright," Ethan replied casually, leaning against the corridor wall. "Go ahead."
Maya hesitated.
"How about we go inside to talk?"
"Oh?"
Ethan looked her up and down slowly.
"Pepper told me you're a botanist. Is that true?"
Maya clenched her teeth in frustration.
"Yes. And I'm here to discuss serious matters."
"Fine."
Ethan straightened dramatically, striking a pose that looked like a martyr walking toward execution.
"I'll bravely enter the room with you."
Maya ignored the theatrics and spoke quickly once the door closed.
"I've recently realized something disturbing," she said.
"It seems… I might be working for the terrorist who appears on television."
"Oh?"
Of course, Ethan already knew the man shown on television was nothing more than an actor pretending to be the Mandarin.
The real mastermind was Adrian Killian.
And Killian himself was merely working under the vice president.
Ethan had never liked lying, so he simply nodded.
"I know."
Maya froze.
"You know?"
Her eyes widened.
"What exactly do you know?"
Ethan waved his hand casually.
"Isn't it obvious? Adrian Killian used your research to become a serial killer, and now he's planning a massive conspiracy."
He shrugged.
"I know everything about it."
Maya frowned in confusion.
"No, no. Killian works for someone else—the man who appears on television…"
Ethan interrupted her with a small laugh.
"Look, you don't know as much as I do."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Have you ever considered that the man on television might actually be the employee?"
Maya was stunned into silence.
Ethan shook his head slowly, looking like someone who had seen through every secret in the world.
"Everything has its cause," he said calmly.
"Back on that New Year's Eve, when you and Stark were… enjoying each other's company, did you ever think about the man standing alone in the cold wind on the balcony above you?"
"When you watched the fireworks, did you think someone else might be watching them too?"
He spoke slowly, almost philosophically.
"And while watching those fireworks, that person changed—from a good man into a bad one."
Ethan sighed lightly.
"The world is strange. A single moment from over a decade ago can travel in circles and eventually come back to strike you."
He looked at Maya calmly.
"You don't know the full truth either. You're just insisting that you're innocent."
Maya's face turned deathly pale.
Her body swayed unsteadily as if she might collapse.
Ethan quickly helped her sit down on the sofa.
"Don't worry too much," he said with a reassuring smile.
"Yes, both you and Stark carry a bit of original sin in this story."
"But in the end, the one who truly deserves blame is Adrian Killian."
His voice turned colder.
"Kill him, and the rest of the sins disappear with him."
Then his expression softened again.
"After that, you'll still be able to enjoy sunlight and gentle breezes."
Seeing Maya sitting there silently, Ethan stood up.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."
He waved casually.
"It was a pleasant chat. Next time we'll talk longer."
Sometimes, criticizing others didn't require any reason at all. Especially when doing so made you feel surprisingly good.
After leaving the hotel, Ethan deliberately lingered near the entrance for a while.
According to the expected sequence of events, Adrian Killian should appear soon to kidnap the two women.
And that would naturally create the perfect opportunity for a hero to rescue the damsel in distress.
…
Meanwhile, Tony Stark had just suffered a brutal beating at the hands of a red-haired woman named Annie.
Fortunately, he managed to escape with a mixture of thirty percent skill and seventy percent luck.
During the confrontation, however, he uncovered an important clue connected to the bombings.
AIM.
Advanced Idea Mechanics.
With help from the War Machine armor, Stark began investigating the company and soon uncovered evidence of Adrian Killian's criminal activities.
What he didn't realize was that the terrorist leader shown on television was nothing more than an actor.
After gathering enough information, Tony decided to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters alone to uncover the truth.
What he didn't know was that the War Machine armor stationed overseas had already been sabotaged.
Back outside the hotel, Ethan hadn't gone far.
Spotting Killian's movements was incredibly easy.
Not long after entering the building, Adrian Killian emerged again carrying two large bags and walked toward his car.
Just as he was about to drive away, someone suddenly stopped him.
A very familiar figure.
A dark-skinned man with an eyepatch.
Nick Fury.
"Sir, raise your hands and step out of the vehicle slowly," Fury ordered coldly.
"If you make any sudden moves, I'll blow your head off."
Killian obediently raised his hands and stepped out of the car.
Fury pulled out a pair of handcuffs and quickly secured Killian's wrists before moving toward the back seat to check on the two women.
But before he could even open the door—
A fist slammed into the side of his head.
Fury staggered, forcing himself to turn around.
On the ground beside him lay a pair of molten handcuffs.
Killian stood there smiling calmly.
Then he drove a heavy punch directly into Fury's nose.
Nick Fury collapsed to the ground, clutching his bleeding face, completely unable to fight back.
Watching from nearby, Ethan was speechless.
You don't even know who your opponent is.
And you dared to play the hero rescuing the damsel in distress?
Has he lost all his instincts now that he's no longer the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
No wonder the entire organization had been infiltrated by Hydra.
At that moment, it was finally Ethan's turn to step onto the stage.
"Stop right there!"
His voice rang out sharply.
"Let go of those two girls!"
Vann fought a battle that required absolutely no skill. Even though Killian's entire body turned crimson and he even spewed out a mouthful of flame, he still couldn't break through Vane's psychic barrier. He witnessed metaphysics once again. The Extremis virus can give them temperatures of 3,000 degrees Celsius, but no matter how they fight, Killian's clothes on his lower body remain intact. Your pants are just as badly shaped as the Hulk's. In the end, Vann let him go, but cut off one of his arms and threw him into the Kingdom of God. That's enough for the Divine Kingdom to analyze the Extremis virus. The battle ended, and Fury recovered from the blows and regained his mobility. Seeing his wary expression, Van En considered it for a moment. The plot has now changed somewhat. The identity of the black-boiled egg doesn't seem to matter that much anymore. Thinking of this, he touched the ruby ring on his finger. Consumes one Wolverine Power. Wait a minute, damn it, it seems like we lost out! Because the black marinated egg in front of you is not a real black marinated egg. Skrulls! Heh, that's interesting. But it's alright, there's plenty of time. Let's just consider this guy as a nail in the coffin for now. Vane drove Pepper and Maya Hansen back to Typhon Mansion. The two, once they regained consciousness, were extremely grateful to him for saving their lives. That night, the two stayed at the Ti Fung Building. The next day, Vane assigned the Justice League a mission: to rescue the president. Although the president had been wary of Vann ever since he witnessed Vann's ambitions. Judging from his choice of War Machine as his emergency bodyguard, he clearly has more trust in the military. However, the president still needs to be saved; at worst, we can use a seductive spell on him. However, given the current situation, he seriously doubts the president's value to him. He appears to be the ruler of a country, but in reality, he is subject to many restrictions. The president will help Vann in any way he can. What we can't do for him is basically beyond his capabilities. Just like now, Vann is eyeing Wakanda's mines. Can the president help him launch a war to seize them? It's difficult. Some things require planning; when the general trend is right, things will fall into place naturally. He is no longer at a point where a single word from the president can provide him with significant assistance. In fact, in terms of sheer power, he no longer even considers the president a threat. Even if he has ten aircraft carriers, more than six thousand nuclear bombs, tens of thousands of missiles, and a million soldiers. Although the current president is somewhat wary of him, he is also relatively cooperative. Let's try to save him; changing presidents back and forth is too much trouble. However, this task doesn't require Van En to do it personally. He went to rescue Pepper because she was beautiful and because she could cause trouble for Iron Man. The president is an old man in his sixties; he can be handed over to his subordinates. After encountering Adrian yesterday, Vann arranged for someone to follow him. Now all that's left is for Killian to capture the US president alive and put him in a dangerous and deadly situation. The Justice League makes its dazzling debut, rescuing the president and vanquishing the villains. To avert disaster and provide a perfect ending to the mess Tony Stark caused. And that's exactly how the story unfolded. The president was successfully rescued by the Justice League. Tony Stark summoned his suited flight squadron and eliminated Adrian Killian. Since Pepper wasn't caught, it saved him from an expensive fireworks display. The difference is that, because Vane cut off Killian's arm the night before. The next day, Stark and Rhodes, who were captured, became the targets of his venting. Several of his ribs were broken. After the fight, I almost ended up in the ICU. However, when he found out where Pepper was, he jumped out of bed immediately. I was just momentarily off guard, and you managed to raid my base? Fuck you! But when he found Pepper, she threw herself into his arms and cried as she told him what had happened. His feelings were extremely complicated. Logically speaking, Vane was Pepper's savior, but what's the deal with bringing her back for the night? What are you really thinking? In the end, he could only grit his teeth and thank Vane: "Thank you for Pepper's matter..." I owe you a favor. If there's anything I can do for you, just tell me! Fan En chuckled and patted him on the shoulder: "Look at you, you weren't happy when I offered to help you back then." Why bother? Just remember to call me if you ever need anything, it'll do! Stark led his men back. As for Maya Hansen, she stayed with the Typhon Group for the time being, intending to continue her research and refine the Extremis virus. Her ultimate hope is to use this to benefit humanity. ... Van En never expected that he would be assassinated. It was a sunny afternoon, and he was on his way to the New York City Hall to attend a meeting. Not far from the Tifeng Building, an energy blast was fired at his vehicle. Fortunately, Frank, who was driving, reacted quickly and swerved the steering wheel sharply to the side. Even so, the energy blast melted half of the trunk. Frank quickly opened the car door and pulled Van out, wanting to fulfill his duties as both driver and bodyguard. Just then, a ferocious beast rushed out from the side. His imposing presence was so powerful that he overturned the cars next to him. As they got closer, Vann and Frank could see that it was a burly man wearing rhinoceros armor. "Boss, you go first, I'll hold him off!" Frank adopted a defensive stance. Fan En shook his head: "Alright, you can go first. You know what I'm capable of, so you don't need to block my way." "If you die, I'll have to find another driver, what a hassle!" Frank's pride was severely wounded, but he knew his boss was right. "Well... boss, I'll be going now?" "Okay, don't drag me down." Van En waved his hand. He was very interested in the rhinoceros-man in front of him. Why would he attack me when we had no grudge against each other? Moreover, the energy blast just now was clearly not fired by him; there must be someone else behind him. As he was thinking this, a gray-white stone figure silently appeared behind him. At the same time, a huge bird-like object appeared in the sky and hovered above his head. Tsk tsk, are they surrounding me? Rhinoceros-men, gray stone gargoyles, and vultures. They are all villains. Fan En felt no panic whatsoever; on the contrary, he was quite looking forward to seeing if anyone else would appear next. The rhinoceros-man's voice boomed: "So you're Theodore Vane? Your time is up." "Why do you want to kill me?" Van En asked, puzzled. "Hmph! You're from the Justice League, and we're from the Injustice League, so of course we have to kill you." Van En's eyes lit up: "You have another alliance? Who are they? Where are they?" The gray stone ghost said, "Don't even think about finding out our information. We won't tell you." Killing you is the first and foremost thing that will make us famous! Before long, the whole world will know how powerful our Injustice League is! Fan En smiled and said, "Why do you want to kill me? Can't I just surrender?" Or should I join your League of Injustice? The rhinoceros-man paused for a moment: "You want to join us?" "right!" "no!" The sound of vultures came from the sky. Seeing that his two companions did not make a move, he landed. Why not? "No means no, there's no room for negotiation!" Vulture arrogantly interrupted the conversation. After saying that, he yelled at the gray gargoyle and the rhinoceros man, "We're here on a mission, not to chat! Get to work!" Fan En shook his head helplessly; it seemed that he couldn't save the power of origin. He gently fiddled with the ruby ring on his finger, and the three people around him paused for a moment. They continued their attack on Van. Van En and his three newly acquired henchmen put on a show. The four fought fiercely, but before a victor could be determined, a large number of police officers arrived. The three attackers temporarily retreated. Looking at their backgrounds, Fan En silently hoped that these three hidden pieces would have a chance to play their role.
Chapter 93 – The Birth of the "Injustice League"
The fight between Ethan Voss and Adrian Killian was one that required absolutely no skill.
Killian's entire body glowed crimson as the Extremis virus surged through his veins. Heat radiated from him like a furnace, and flames even burst from his mouth as he roared in rage. Yet none of it mattered. No matter how violently he attacked, he couldn't break through the invisible psychic barrier surrounding Ethan.
The scene looked almost absurd.
Killian's Extremis-enhanced body could reach temperatures of nearly three thousand degrees Celsius. In theory, that kind of heat should have reduced everything around him to ash. Yet despite the blazing inferno that covered his body, one strange detail remained unchanged.
His pants were perfectly intact.
Ethan stared at them for a moment and couldn't help shaking his head.
The Extremis virus could give someone the heat of a volcano, but somehow it still respected the sacred rule of comic book physics. Just like the Hulk, whose pants always managed to survive every transformation.
Even metaphysics had its limits.
In the end, Ethan didn't kill Killian.
Instead, he calmly severed one of the man's arms and threw him into his Divine Realm.
That alone was enough. Once inside the kingdom, the Extremis virus could be analyzed at leisure.
The battle ended quickly after that.
Nick Fury, who had been knocked flat earlier, slowly recovered and managed to regain enough strength to stand. He stared at Ethan with a guarded expression, clearly trying to reassess the situation.
Ethan considered the matter for a moment.
The original storyline had already changed somewhat.
At this point, the identity of the so-called "black-boiled egg" didn't really matter much anymore.
With that thought, Ethan casually touched the ruby ring on his finger.
One Wolverine Power was consumed.
Then he suddenly paused.
Wait a second.
Damn it, he had actually lost out.
The man standing in front of him wasn't the real Nick Fury.
A Skrull.
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly before letting out a quiet chuckle.
Interesting.
But it didn't really matter. There would be plenty of time to deal with things later. For now, he could simply treat this infiltrator as a nail quietly driven into the coffin.
After everything settled down, Ethan drove Pepper and Maya Hansen back to Typhon Tower.
Once the two women fully regained their composure, they were extremely grateful for Ethan's rescue.
That night, both of them stayed at the building.
The following day, Ethan issued a mission to the Justice League.
Rescue the President of the United States.
Ever since the president had witnessed Ethan's ambitions firsthand, he had become somewhat wary of him. That wariness was obvious from the way he had chosen War Machine as his emergency bodyguard instead of relying on Ethan's people.
Clearly, the president trusted the military far more.
Still, the man needed to be rescued.
At worst, Ethan could simply cast a charm spell on him afterward.
Although, given the current circumstances, Ethan was beginning to question how valuable the president really was.
On the surface, the man ruled an entire country.
In reality, he was bound by countless restrictions.
The president could assist Ethan with certain things, but anything truly difficult was usually beyond his authority.
Take Ethan's current interest in Wakanda's vibranium mines, for example.
Could the president simply launch a war and seize them for him?
Obviously not.
Some things required patience and careful planning. Once the overall situation developed in the right direction, the desired outcome would naturally follow.
At Ethan's current level of power, the president's influence was no longer particularly meaningful.
In fact, Ethan didn't even consider the man a threat anymore.
Even if the United States possessed ten aircraft carriers, more than six thousand nuclear warheads, tens of thousands of missiles, and a million soldiers.
Still, the current president was at least cooperative.
Saving him was easier than constantly dealing with political instability from changing leaders.
Fortunately, the mission didn't require Ethan to act personally.
The only reason he had rushed to save Pepper was simple.
She was beautiful.
And helping her could also irritate Tony Stark.
The president, on the other hand, was a man in his sixties. That job could easily be handed to his subordinates.
After encountering Adrian Killian the previous day, Ethan had already arranged for someone to secretly track him.
Now all that remained was for Killian to capture the president and place him in a life-threatening situation.
At that moment, the Justice League would make a dazzling entrance.
They would rescue the president, defeat the villains, and wrap up the disaster Tony Stark had created.
And events unfolded exactly that way.
The president was successfully rescued by the Justice League.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark summoned an entire squadron of Iron Man suits and eliminated Adrian Killian.
Because Pepper had never been captured, Stark was spared the expensive spectacle of detonating dozens of armored suits as fireworks.
There was, however, one important difference.
The night before, Ethan had severed Killian's arm.
Because of that injury, when Stark and Rhodes were captured the next day, Killian vented all of his rage on them.
Several of Stark's ribs were broken during the fight.
By the time everything was over, he nearly ended up in the ICU.
But the moment he learned where Pepper was, he immediately jumped out of bed.
I leave my base unattended for a moment, and you manage to raid it?
Damn you!
When Stark finally found Pepper, she threw herself into his arms and sobbed while recounting everything that had happened.
His emotions became incredibly complicated.
Logically speaking, Ethan had saved Pepper's life.
But why had he brought her back to his building overnight?
What exactly had he been thinking?
In the end, Stark could only grit his teeth and say stiffly, "Thank you… for helping Pepper."
"I owe you one."
"If there's ever anything I can do for you, just say the word."
Ethan laughed and casually patted him on the shoulder.
"Look at you. When I offered to help earlier, you didn't seem very happy about it."
He waved the matter away.
"Forget it. Just remember to call me if you ever need something."
That'll be enough.
After that, Stark led his people away.
As for Maya Hansen, she decided to stay temporarily with the Typhon Group. She intended to continue her research there and refine the Extremis virus.
Her ultimate goal was to use the technology to benefit humanity.
…
What Ethan never expected was that someone would try to assassinate him.
It happened on a sunny afternoon.
He was on his way to New York City Hall to attend a meeting when an energy blast suddenly shot toward his vehicle.
The attack came not far from Typhon Tower.
Fortunately, Frank—who was driving—reacted instantly. He yanked the steering wheel sharply to the side, barely avoiding a direct hit.
Even so, the beam melted half the trunk of the car.
Frank immediately jumped out of the driver's seat and pulled Ethan from the vehicle, determined to fulfill both of his duties as driver and bodyguard.
At that exact moment, a massive figure charged out from the side of the street.
The creature's presence was so overwhelming that several nearby cars were knocked aside.
As it approached, Ethan and Frank finally saw its true form.
A huge man clad in rhinoceros-shaped armor.
"Boss, go!" Frank said urgently as he stepped forward in a defensive stance. "I'll hold him off!"
Ethan shook his head.
"No need. You can leave first."
He glanced at Frank calmly.
"You know what I'm capable of. There's no need to block my path."
Then he added casually, "If you die, I'll have to hire another driver. That would be a real hassle."
Frank's pride took a serious hit, but he couldn't argue with the logic.
"Well… boss, I'll be going then?"
"Go," Ethan said with a wave. "Just don't slow me down."
Frank quickly retreated.
Ethan, meanwhile, studied the rhinoceros-armored man with clear curiosity.
Why attack him?
They had no personal grudge.
More importantly, the energy blast earlier had clearly not come from the Rhino. That meant someone else was involved.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a gray-white stone figure silently appeared behind him.
At the same time, a large bird-shaped machine hovered in the sky overhead.
Ethan clicked his tongue softly.
So they were surrounding him.
Rhino. A stone gargoyle. And the Vulture.
All villains.
Strangely enough, Ethan didn't feel the slightest bit of panic. If anything, he was curious whether even more attackers would show up.
The Rhino's booming voice echoed across the street.
"So you're Ethan Voss. Your time is up."
Ethan tilted his head slightly.
"Why are you trying to kill me?"
Rhino snorted.
"You're part of the Justice League. We're the Injustice League."
"Of course we're going to kill you."
Ethan's eyes lit up.
"You have your own alliance?"
He leaned forward slightly, intrigued.
"Who else is in it? Where are they?"
The gray stone creature spoke in a deep voice.
"Don't even think about learning our secrets. We won't tell you."
"Killing you will make us famous."
"Soon the entire world will know how powerful the Injustice League is."
Ethan smiled.
"If killing me is the goal… what if I simply surrender?"
He spread his hands casually.
"Or better yet, how about I join your Injustice League?"
Rhino hesitated.
"You want to join us?"
"That's right."
"No."
A voice suddenly echoed from the sky.
The Vulture descended and landed beside the other two.
Rhino frowned.
"Why not?"
"No means no," Vulture said coldly. "There's no room for negotiation."
He then barked at his companions.
"We came here to complete a mission, not chat. Get to work!"
Ethan sighed helplessly.
It seemed he wouldn't be able to save his Origin Power after all.
He lightly touched the ruby ring on his finger.
For a brief moment, the three villains froze.
Then they resumed their attack.
Ethan and his three newly acquired henchmen immediately began putting on a show.
The four of them fought fiercely in the middle of the street, their battle appearing intense and chaotic.
But before a clear winner could emerge, the sound of police sirens filled the air.
A large number of officers rushed toward the scene.
The three attackers quickly retreated.
Watching their figures disappear into the distance, Ethan silently hoped that these three hidden pieces would eventually get the chance to play their roles.
Tiphon Estate. Fan En is watching TV again. On television, the owner of the Daily Bugle is commenting on a video. That was in Africa, in an unknown place. A drone was flying in the sky when suddenly it seemed to have crashed into something. The surrounding space flickered, and the drone wobbled. However, before the drone crashed, it still managed to capture some precious footage. It was a huge circular barrier that covered the sky. Behind the barrier lies a huge, bustling city. Jameson, spitting as he spoke, said, "It's hard for us to believe that there is such a developed country on the African continent." This is counterintuitive. Who are they? Are they aliens? Why are they hiding it? What are their ulterior motives? Because we have just experienced a horrifying alien invasion. I have to interpret this video with the utmost malice. Are they planning to conquer our free America at the right time? Are they going to use us for human experiments? Or will they cut off our hands and feet, lock us up in sugarcane fields and cotton farms, and enslave us? Will they just give us fried chicken and watermelon? Can you imagine a dark eye watching over our society? Like scrutinizing a lamb to the slaughter? Van En could imagine that his alarmist remarks could directly ignite the world. But this is only the first step in his plan. "Ring ring..." The phone rang. Van En glanced at the number on it and a slight smile appeared on his lips. The second step is here. "Mr. President, it's a pleasure to receive your call." Vann was in a good mood. "I saw the report in the Daily Bugle, Mr. Vann." I want to know, do you really have information about this hidden country? "Yes, Mr. President. Although I don't know where the Daily Bugle's video came from." But I did learn about this country— Wakanda. "Wakanda?" The president felt a sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place it. "A small country in Africa, very low-key." Their president, Tichaka, is a man of principle; he has never asked the international community for aid, nor has he ever tried to curry favor with you. It's normal that you don't remember. The president was surprised. There were still small African countries that hadn't licked my boots? This is truly a heinous crime! Vann said with a smile, "Actually, after learning about Wakanda, I want to congratulate the President." "Congratulations on what?" the president asked, looking puzzled. "Good news, Wakanda is very powerful." If they are willing, they can shoulder the responsibility of maintaining world peace, protecting justice and freedom, and safeguarding democratic rights. They can easily do what we Americans have always wanted to do but couldn't. This is simply a godsend for people all over the world! There was silence on the other end of the phone. Then he asked, "How can an African country be so powerful?" "To be honest, I find it strange that such a powerful country remained silent during that well-known trade dispute." However, I think they are tolerant and generous, after all, the United States is very tolerant of its compatriots now. They shouldn't discriminate against us. Van En gave an irrelevant answer. He then added, "Actually, I know why they are so powerful." It's very simple; they use an extremely rare, extremely precious, and extremely powerful metal! Vibranium! Vibranium? "This is a metal from the universe with incredible properties." The people of Wakanda are no different from other races on the African continent; they rely on this magical metal. At this point, Van En asked a question with great interest. "Mr. President, do you remember the United States' GDP last year?" The president frowned and thought for a moment: "I remember it was $16.8 trillion." "Then, Mr. President, guess how much vibranium Wakanda possesses on the market?" The president paused for a moment: "Could it also be $16 trillion?" "You're narrowing your perspective; you're trying to guess on a larger scale!" "A hundred trillion US dollars?" "Make it bigger!" The president swallowed hard: "Trillion dollars?" "This is just the value of vibranium; they also possess very advanced shield technology, nanotechnology, and other high-tech features." I bet if they were willing to cooperate, they could advance Earth's technology by 50 years! There's a saying I wholeheartedly agree with: "Whoever controls vibranium controls the world!" The president was already speechless. After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse, filled with boundless desire: "But you said they were very powerful." Van En chuckled and said, "Powerful in a certain sense." Unfortunately, there were too few of them. Because of the small population, there are few scientists, and their technological development is severely unbalanced. Mr. President, you understand. The number of people is small, and the number of troops is even smaller! He instantly fell into deep thought. How to subdue a country? War is necessary, but not the only means. Contact allies, blockade them, suppress them, and slander them! Let them stand on the opposite side of the whole world. Before, they weren't exposed, so they could hide. Now that they've been exposed, that means they've entered the game. Once you're in the game, you have to follow the rules—the rules of the United States! You want to be eliminated? No way! We'll drag you back even if we have to pull you out! The president hung up the phone; he was about to begin the process. $1000 trillion? Do you know what that means? You could spend it all in a lifetime, and it would never run out! Moreover, if he were to actually accomplish this, he would be unprecedented. Mount Rushmore, huh? I'll make one out of gold and pile it on your heads. The Statue of Liberty, right? Smash it, replace it with mine! The Lincoln Memorial, you say? I'm going to build an eight-hundred-story one! Where's my aircraft carrier? Get it moving! Where's my nuclear bomb? Drag it out for me now! Make a name for yourself and achieve great things in history today! Van En knew that he had stirred up the fire in the president's heart. This fire can't be extinguished; it will either burn Wakanda to death or burn him to death. However, he doesn't need to worry about those things; he just needs to provide help when necessary and clean up the mess afterward. He has indeed been busy with another project lately, namely Dr. Anim Zola's virtual reality game. He has seen the relevant blueprints. We also consulted many relevant experts, who confirmed that it is indeed a very advanced technology. So he founded a game company, Ren Yusuobao. However, this company is only responsible for the research and development and production of VR equipment; the game itself is provided by Dr. Anim Zola. As for the release platform, after careful consideration, we chose the Steam platform. To ensure things went smoothly, he specifically met with the platform owner. After touching the ruby, the bearded fat man became his man. Now that virtual reality technology exists, we can't just release Dr. Anim Zola's own games. With the bearded, chubby guy on board, developing a few hit games and making money shouldn't be a problem. He was confident that one day Ren Yusuo would truly live up to his name.
Chapter 94 – The Fire That Could Burn the World
At Typhon Estate, Ethan Voss sat comfortably on the sofa, casually watching television.
On the screen, the loud and unmistakable voice of the Daily Bugle's owner filled the room. J. Jonah Jameson was standing in front of a large display, gesturing wildly as he commented on a newly released video.
The footage had been recorded somewhere in Africa.
The exact location was unknown.
A drone had been flying through the sky when it suddenly appeared to collide with something invisible. The surrounding air rippled strangely, and the drone began to wobble violently as if reality itself had flickered.
Before the machine lost control completely, however, it captured a few seconds of valuable footage.
A massive circular barrier.
The enormous shield stretched across the sky like a transparent dome.
Beyond that barrier lay an enormous, bustling city—advanced, vibrant, and clearly far more developed than anything anyone expected to see in that part of the world.
Jameson leaned forward toward the camera, practically spitting as he spoke.
"It's hard to believe that such a highly developed country could exist on the African continent!"
"This is completely counterintuitive!"
He waved the remote in his hand dramatically.
"Who are these people? Are they aliens?"
"Why have they been hiding themselves for so long? What kind of ulterior motives do they have?"
Jameson's tone grew darker.
"Let's not forget that humanity just survived a terrifying alien invasion not long ago."
He pointed toward the screen with a trembling finger.
"So I believe we should interpret this video with the greatest possible suspicion!"
"What are they planning?"
"Are they waiting for the right moment to conquer our free America?"
"Are they planning to use us for human experiments?"
"Or maybe they'll cut off our arms and legs, throw us into sugarcane fields and cotton farms, and enslave us!"
Jameson's eyes widened theatrically.
"Maybe they'll just feed us fried chicken and watermelon!"
"Can you imagine it?"
"A dark eye watching our society… studying us like livestock waiting for slaughter!"
Ethan leaned back slightly, watching the broadcast with a calm expression.
He could already imagine what would happen next.
Jameson's alarmist commentary would ignite global discussion almost instantly. The entire world would soon be arguing about the mysterious hidden nation.
But that was only the first step of Ethan's plan.
Just then, his phone began to ring.
He glanced down at the screen, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
The second step had arrived.
He answered the call.
"Mr. President," Ethan said warmly. "It's a pleasure to hear from you."
"I saw the report on the Daily Bugle," the president said without wasting time.
"I want to know something."
His tone became serious.
"Do you really have information about this hidden country?"
"Yes, Mr. President," Ethan replied calmly.
"Although I have no idea where the Daily Bugle obtained that video, I do happen to know a little about that country."
He paused for emphasis.
"It's called Wakanda."
"Wakanda?" the president repeated.
The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Ethan continued casually.
"It's a small African nation. Very low-profile."
"Their king—T'Chaka—is known to be a principled man. He's never asked the international community for aid, and he's never tried to flatter you or curry favor with the United States."
"So it's normal that you don't remember them."
The president blinked in surprise.
An African country that hadn't tried to please the United States?
That alone seemed almost offensive.
Ethan chuckled softly.
"Actually, after learning about Wakanda, I wanted to congratulate you."
"Congratulate me?" the president asked, confused.
"For what?"
"Good news," Ethan replied pleasantly.
"Wakanda is extremely powerful."
"If they wished, they could easily shoulder the responsibility of maintaining world peace."
"They could protect justice, defend freedom, and safeguard democratic rights across the globe."
Ethan's tone turned deliberately enthusiastic.
"They could accomplish everything America has always wanted to do—but couldn't."
"This is practically a blessing for humanity."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
Finally, the president spoke again.
"How could an African country possibly be that powerful?"
Ethan sighed thoughtfully.
"To be honest, I also find it strange."
"Especially considering how quiet they remained during that well-known trade dispute."
He chuckled lightly.
"But perhaps they're simply generous and tolerant. After all, the United States has become very tolerant toward its own compatriots lately."
"They wouldn't discriminate against us, would they?"
The answer was deliberately vague.
Then Ethan continued.
"But I do know the reason behind their strength."
"It's very simple."
"They possess an extremely rare, extremely precious, and extremely powerful metal."
"Vibranium."
The president repeated the unfamiliar word slowly.
"Vibranium?"
"Yes," Ethan said.
"It's a metal that originally came from outer space. Its properties are astonishing."
"The Wakandans are no different from other people across the African continent."
"They simply built their entire civilization on top of this magical metal."
At that point, Ethan suddenly asked a question.
"Mr. President, do you remember the United States' GDP last year?"
The president thought for a moment.
"If I recall correctly… it was around sixteen point eight trillion dollars."
"Correct," Ethan said.
"Now take a guess."
"How much vibranium do you think Wakanda possesses?"
The president hesitated.
"Could it be… sixteen trillion dollars' worth?"
Ethan laughed.
"You're thinking too small."
"You should think bigger."
The president swallowed.
"One hundred trillion dollars?"
"Bigger."
The president's voice became slightly unsteady.
"A thousand trillion?"
"That's just the value of the vibranium alone," Ethan replied calmly.
"They also possess extremely advanced shield technology, nanotechnology, and countless other scientific breakthroughs."
"I would bet that if they were willing to cooperate with the rest of the world, they could push Earth's technological development forward by at least fifty years."
Then he added one final line.
"There's a saying I completely agree with."
"Whoever controls vibranium… controls the world."
The president fell silent again.
When he finally spoke, his voice had become hoarse.
"But you said they were powerful."
Ethan chuckled.
"In a certain sense."
"Unfortunately, their population is very small."
"With so few people, they naturally have fewer scientists."
"Their technological development is extremely uneven."
He paused briefly.
"And more importantly… their army is tiny."
The president instantly sank into deep thought.
How do you subdue a country?
War is one option.
But it's not the only option.
You can isolate them diplomatically.
Cut off their trade.
Discredit them.
Turn the entire world against them.
If Wakanda had remained hidden, they could have continued hiding forever.
But now they had been exposed.
And once you enter the game, you must follow the rules.
America's rules.
Want to quit the game?
Impossible.
Even if we have to drag you back by the collar, you'll stay in it.
The president ended the call.
He already knew what he needed to do next.
A thousand trillion dollars.
Did anyone truly understand what that number meant?
You could spend money for your entire life and still never run out.
And if he succeeded in acquiring that wealth…
His name would surpass every president in history.
Mount Rushmore?
He would build one made entirely of gold.
The Statue of Liberty?
Smash it and replace it with one in his own image.
The Lincoln Memorial?
He would construct a version eight hundred stories tall.
Where are the aircraft carriers?
Deploy them immediately.
Where are the nuclear bombs?
Bring them out.
Today he would make history.
Back at Typhon Estate, Ethan slowly set down the phone.
He knew the fire burning in the president's heart had already been ignited.
And that fire could not be extinguished.
It would either burn Wakanda to the ground—
or consume the president himself.
But that wasn't Ethan's concern.
All he needed to do was provide a little assistance when necessary… and clean up the mess afterward.
Recently, he had been busy with another project anyway.
Doctor Arnim Zola's virtual reality game.
Ethan had personally reviewed the technical blueprints and consulted numerous experts. All of them agreed on one thing.
The technology was far beyond anything currently available on the market.
So Ethan established a new gaming company.
Ren Yusuobao.
The company's responsibility was simple.
Research, develop, and manufacture the VR equipment.
The game content itself would be created by Arnim Zola.
As for distribution, Ethan carefully evaluated several options before choosing the Steam platform.
To ensure everything proceeded smoothly, he even arranged a personal meeting with the platform's owner.
After touching the ruby ring on his finger, the bearded, chubby man quickly became one of Ethan's people.
With VR technology now available, there was no reason to limit themselves to Zola's own games.
With the help of that bearded businessman, developing several hit titles and making enormous profits would be easy.
Ethan was confident that one day Ren Yusuobao would truly live up to its name.
.....
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