Coulson adjusted his glasses and continued his report in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Sir, this is indeed highly unusual.
But it’s precisely because it’s so unusual that it signals a problem.
This afternoon at the press conference, in front of the world’s media, Tony Stark announced the closure of Stark Industries’ most vital weapons manufacturing division, shifting focus toward personal combat weaponry.
This move has caused an earthquake on Wall Street, and the military brass is already cursing up a storm.” “Furthermore, according to close-range observation on-site, they were extremely relaxed on the yacht.
Luka Stark lay on a sofa while models fed him wine, and Tony Stark was bickering back and forth with Luka.” “What were they bickering about?” Fury asked offhandedly.
“Tony mocked Luka’s terrible taste in shirts.
Luka countered by saying Tony looked pale and weak, warning him to watch out for electrical leaks from the reactor in his chest.” Coulson recited the brothers’ conversation with a deadpan expression.
Fury shook his head, momentarily speechless.
“That fits their character.
As long as they have breath in their lungs, those mouths won’t shut up.” Fury rested his chin on his steepled hands.
Coulson closed the report.
“Sir, after the party ended, Luka Stark took three models, while Tony Stark took two models along with Ho Yinsen, heading to a downtown hotel.
Should we assign additional personnel to monitor their actions closely?
After all, their open declaration at the press conference today will definitely draw retaliation.” Fury didn’t answer directly.
His single eye remained fixed on Coulson.
“Coulson, you made close contact with them this afternoon.
From your observations, did you notice anything unusual about Luka Stark?” Coulson paused, recalling the scene at the entrance of Stark Industries that afternoon.
He had attempted to stop Luka Stark back then, only to be effortlessly pushed aside.
“Yes,” Coulson nodded, his expression turning deeply serious.
“That’s precisely what I found most unreasonable.
A rich playboy tortured for two months not only shows no signs of malnutrition, but actually gives off the impression that he’s grown stronger.” Coulson described his impression in detail.
“He has visibly grown taller, standing at least 190 centimeters now.
His shoulders have broadened significantly.
When he pushed me, I could feel an immense force.
That completely exceeds the physical limits of a normal human.
Sir, to be honest, facing him up close, I felt like he was…
like Captain America.” Hearing Coulson mention Captain America, Fury didn’t refute it; instead, he nodded.
“Your instincts are always sharp, Coulson.
That’s why I sent you to make contact with them.
Your guess isn’t wrong.
Take a look at this footage from earlier, and you’ll understand why he underwent such a change.” Saying this, Fury picked up a remote control from his desk and pressed a button.
The holographic projector in the center of the office activated immediately.
A video clip floated in midair.
It was footage captured by a high-altitude reconnaissance satellite.
Because of the extreme distance, the clip was filled with static and was very grainy.
Nevertheless, Coulson could still vaguely make out a figure hovering above a base, seemingly unaffected by gravity, floating quietly in midair.
Immediately after, the figure raised both hands, and a blinding pillar of energy blasted forth from his palms.
The beam smashed the ground camp straight into flat ruins, the fire from the explosion engulfing the entire screen.
Coulson’s eyes widened.
Fury pressed the remote control again.
The video on the screen vanished, replaced by several high-resolution photos.
The photos were none other than Luka and Tony fighting the enemy outside the cave.
In the first photo, Luka Stark lifted a pickup truck with his bare hands and effortlessly tossed it toward distant enemies.
In the second photo, Tony Stark wore a suit of heavy armor, long plumes of flame shooting from the armor’s arms and driving back all surrounding insurgents.
After taking in these shocking images, the office fell dead silent.
Fury pointed at the projected photos, his face grave.
“You see, Coulson?
That’s the problem.
And that’s what gives me the biggest headache.
A trust-fund playboy who did nothing but party gets kidnapped for two months, and comes back as a flying superman.
Not only possessing colossal strength, but also able to fire energy blasts.” Fury shifted his finger to Tony’s photo.
“And the other hand-crafted heavy armor in a cave without proper equipment.
Though I have to admit the armor looks hideous, Coulson, do you know what this means?” Coulson nodded silently.
“Meaning, sir, something happened to them.
Or rather, they’re hiding a secret—a massive secret.” “That’s the most critical issue right now,” Fury said, emphasizing his tone.
“A superhuman whose upper limit is unknown, combined with a genius inventor whose brain is packed with weapons of destruction.
And when two guys with zero boundaries get together, what do you think they’ll do?
If they go out of control, who can handle the fallout?” Coulson remained silent; the question had no answer.
Fury issued the order directly.
“When it comes to them, we must remain cautious.
Do not make contact on your own without my direct order.
And definitely don’t try to probe them.
Just keep tabs on their location.
Right now, all we need to do is sit back and watch quietly.” “Understood, sir.” Coulson nodded in agreement, turned, and left the director’s office.
After Coulson left, Fury sat back down in his chair and sank into thought for a moment.
The lights from outside reflected off his dark face, making him look unfathomably deep.
“Howard Stark’s kids…
really are something else, aren’t they?” Fury recalled the former director—a legend throughout all of SHIELD.
That was Howard Stark!
A top-tier world genius decades ago, one of SHIELD’s co-founders, and an even wilder playboy than his sons.
And now, he recalled another initiative Howard had once brought up.
Thus, he pulled open his desk drawer and brought out a classified document.
Bold letters were printed on the cover of the file: *The Avengers Initiative*.
Fury flipped open the folder.
A few pages were tucked inside, each containing a name and a brief evaluation report.
The list of names on the front pages alone numbered over a dozen.
Fury’s expression remained unchanged.
These weren’t the people he wanted; it wasn’t time to expose them yet.
He flipped further back to the last few pages, where several names were written in fresh ink.
Natasha Romanoff, codename Black Widow.
A red checkmark was drawn behind her name.
Clint Barton, codename Hawkeye.
A red checkmark was drawn behind his name as well.
Bruce Banner.
Behind the name of the man who could transform into a giant green monster, a checkmark was also drawn.
Fury picked up a fountain pen from his desk and turned to a fresh page.
He wrote down two names on the paper: Luka Stark.
Tony Stark.
Fury stared at the two names, his pen tip hovering over the paper.
He hesitated for a moment.
The two brothers were the quintessential examples of having zero discipline or organizational structure.
They had big mouths, loved to argue, and were obscenely rich.
Naturally, they would never follow anyone’s orders.
Recruiting them into this initiative carried immense risk.
However, looking at the strength of Luka Stark in the photos and the destructive power of Tony Stark’s heavy armor, Fury knew the future world would need this kind of power.
Hesitating no longer, he flicked his wrist and marked a heavy checkmark behind each of their names.
He then closed the folder and locked it back in his drawer.
Fury’s gaze drifted outside the window once more, no one knowing what thoughts passed through his mind.
“Starks…
I hope you become even greater than your father, rather than even more cynical than he was.”