After the press conference, some people were happy while others were worried.
The happy ones were naturally the reporters and everyone who had watched the live broadcast.
They had gained another topic to talk about after dinner.
Most people also believed that there was no such thing as a Superhero Association.
However, there were still some more cynical people who believed that such an organization really existed.
They simply thought the government was doing an excellent job of hiding it.
The worried ones were naturally the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the one-eyed Nick Fury, who had just finished watching the broadcast aboard the Helicarrier.
Four agents, two men and two women, were standing in front of him.
“That damn Tony Stark.
All he does is create trouble for me.”
“And his ally…”
“The Tyrant Bear.”
“I noticed him last time, but we couldn’t find him.”
“This time, we can’t let him slip away.”
“Looks like I’ll have to make contact with Tony Stark.”
After saying that, Fury made his decision.
That night, Tony returned home.
As soon as he entered, he noticed that all the lights were turned off.
Tony immediately became alert.
“JARVIS?”
“Welcome home, sir.”
Hearing JARVIS’s voice, Tony was just about to relax when he noticed a person standing in front of the window behind the sofa.
Tony’s expression immediately became serious.
Someone had entered his house.
Yet JARVIS hadn’t issued any security alert.
That meant JARVIS’s security system had been compromised.
Tony began thinking about how to deal with the intruder.
His hand had already slipped into his pocket, ready to call Ethan for backup at any moment.
Then the man standing by the window finally spoke.
His voice was deep.
“I’m Iron Man.”
“You think you’re the only superhero in the world?”
The man turned around.
He was wearing a black jacket and trench coat.
His build was strong.
And he had an eyepatch covering his left eye.
This guy is a one-eyed man.
That was Tony’s first thought.
He immediately became suspicious.
Who is this guy?
And why did he come looking for me?
“Mr.
Tony Stark.”
“There are many people in this world who possess abilities comparable to yours.”
“You simply don’t know about them yet.”
Fury continued speaking.
“I know.”
“Bear Cub is one of them.”
“So who are you?”
Tony immediately asked.
“Nick Fury.”
“Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
“I want to talk to you about forming the Avengers.”
Fury looked at Tony calmly.
In reality, Fury already knew that Tony probably wouldn’t agree.
His purpose in coming here was simply to plant the seed.
Fury tossed a hard drive toward Tony.
“Take a look at these files.”
“JARVIS, scan it.”
A series of files immediately appeared.
Hulk: Bruce Banner
A green giant was shown rampaging through a city.
Tony recognized him immediately.
It was the monster that Bear Cub had sent flying from Broadway that night.
The file was marked:
PENDING
Captain America: Steve Rogers
A man wearing a star-spangled uniform was shown charging through enemy forces with a shield in his hand.
Tony only glanced at the file before looking away.
Captain America.
He knew him.
Captain America had been one of his father’s close friends.
Tony had heard stories about him ever since he was a child.
Ant-Man: Hank Pym
An older man wearing a red suit.
He could change his size from tiny to enormous.
Tony didn’t know him personally.
But when he saw the large PENDING label on the file, he simply moved on to the next profile.
Hawkeye: Clint Barton
A man wielding a bow.
He was shown moving through a group of enemies while firing arrows with incredible accuracy.
Every shot hit its target.
Iron Man: Tony Stark
The fifth profile was Tony himself.
It showed footage of Tony wearing his armor and fighting Obadiah Stane.
Tony glanced at it without much reaction.
He already knew what he could do.
The Tyrant Bear
The sixth profile was someone Tony knew very well.
Ethan.
The footage showed Ethan effortlessly sending Hulk and Abomination flying during the Broadway incident.
The file was also marked:
PENDING
Tony noticed something immediately.
There was no real name listed.
There was no family information either.
Tony understood what that meant.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
had never actually contacted Ethan.
They didn’t even know who he really was.
The other candidates all had names and identities listed.
Ethan had nothing.
“How about it?”
“Bear Cub is one of your candidates too?”
Tony asked mockingly.
Fury didn’t seem bothered at all.
“Anyone who might be useful is within my consideration.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m not interested in joining some kind of super-powered boy band.”
Tony rejected the idea without hesitation.
“Then perhaps you could tell me a little about the Tyrant Bear?”
Fury was particularly interested in contacting Ethan.
Although he had included Hulk among the potential Avengers candidates, Fury had absolutely no confidence that Hulk could be controlled.
If the Tyrant Bear was around, however, things would be much safer.
“Sorry.”
“Can’t help you.”
“Bear Cub is my ally.”
“If I don’t join, neither will he.”
Tony didn’t even hesitate.
As if I’m going to let you steal my Bear Cub.
Not happening.
Fury stared at Tony for a moment.
“Then I’ll be leaving.”
“But one day, you will join.”
Leaving behind those meaningful words, Fury turned and walked away.
“What a strange guy.”
Tony complained after Fury left.
However, he soon began thinking about everything he had just seen.
The information had given him quite a shock.
Especially Hank Pym.
Tony didn’t know the man personally, but he had heard of him from his father.
What shocked Tony the most was Pym’s research into Pym Particles.
The technology was far beyond what Tony had imagined.
If I could get my hands on some of those particles…
I could probably make my armor portable.
Imagine being able to keep an entire suit of armor inside my pocket.
Tony became increasingly interested.
Then he remembered something else.
According to the information, Captain America hadn’t actually died.
He had been frozen in ice.
After being recovered, he had even awakened and was currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Tony couldn’t help but marvel at how unbelievable it was.
And that green monster from Broadway?
It was apparently the transformed form of a mild-mannered scientist.
All in all, Fury had achieved exactly what he wanted.
He had successfully planted the seed of the Avengers Initiative in Tony’s mind.