Meanwhile.
Downtown Los Angeles.
Near the hotel where Luca and Tony had checked in with several models.
It was late at night.
A few scattered cars still drove through the streets of Los Angeles.
However, a secluded alley behind the hotel was wrapped in pitch-black silence, without even a single streetlamp lit.
A second later, an unnatural breeze whipped through the quiet alley.
A figure appeared out of thin air beside the alley’s dumpster, moving so fast it left no afterimage.
It was a tall, heavily built man.
He wore a full-body black tactical combat suit and a black tactical hood that completely covered his face, exposing only a pair of eyes filled with cold, murderous intent.
He stood in place like a statue merged with the darkness, motionless.
Immediately after, a muffled sound of rushing air echoed from between the high-rises above.
*Thump!
Thump!
Thump!* A burly silhouette was leaping continuously between the outer walls and rooftops of the skyscrapers.
Every jump cleared a distance of tens of meters.
Finally, with a heavy thud, the figure descended from the sky and landed heavily beside the first man.
His landing cracked the concrete beneath his feet.
He wore the same style of black combat suit, revealing only a pair of wild, bloodthirsty eyes.
The instant after the burly man landed, a strange churning occurred at a nearby sewer cover.
An unassuming puddle of dirty water began to boil.
Then, a thick column of water rose slowly from the ground.
The water column continuously shifted in midair, gradually coalescing into a distinct human shape.
As the water receded, a third man clad in a black combat suit appeared.
The three had infiltrated downtown Los Angeles without making a sound.
The first man turned his head and looked coldly at the other two.
“How’s your condition?” Filtered through his tactical mask, his voice sounded low and raspy.
The remaining two stood in place and stretched their limbs.
The burly man who had jumped from the rooftops patted his chest, indicating no issues.
“In peak condition.
Ready to snap the target’s neck at any moment.” The man who had emerged from the water shook the moisture off his hands and nodded.
“In peak condition.
No problems.” The first man nodded in satisfaction.
“Very good.
Listen up, gentlemen.
We endured so much pain in the laboratory and were injected with those damned serums just to gain power beyond ordinary humans.” “Now, it’s time to prove our worth to leadership.” He lowered his voice and began laying out the assignment.
“The codename for this mission is: Stark’s Doom.” “I am the team leader for this operation, codename John.
Big guy, you’re Jack.
Water guy, you’re Mark.
Are your codenames clear?” Jack and Mark nodded at the same time.
John nodded and continued.
“The targets are Tony Stark and Luca Stark.
According to intelligence, they’re inside the hotel right ahead.
What’s more, they’ve had a lot to drink, so their guard is extremely low.” “However, do not lower your guard.” “This mission must be executed in complete secrecy.
We absolutely cannot make a scene, nor can we expose our superpowers in front of the public.” “Leadership has given explicit orders.
We are to disguise ourselves as FBI agents, infiltrate the premises, eliminate the targets, and stage the scene to look like an accident or a gang hit.
Understood?” Jack curled his lips in slight disdain, but under John’s stern gaze, he still answered obediently.
“Understood.” Mark also nodded.
“Understood, Captain.
Posing as agents is easy enough.” John stared at his two teammates, confidence welling up inside him.
They were just two playboy trust-fund babies who spent all their time drinking and chasing women.
No matter how much money they had, in the face of true power, they were nothing more than fattened calves waiting for the slaughter.
John raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, placed it over his left chest, and spoke with fanaticism in his eyes.
“Commence the mission.
Hail Hydra!” Jack and Mark instantly dropped their casual attitudes, their eyes turning equally fanatical.
They mirrored the gesture, placing their fists over their chests.
“Hail Hydra!” “Hail Hydra!” Afterward, the three straightened their clothes, stepped out of the alley, and began walking openly toward the hotel’s main entrance.
By now, it was past three in the morning.
The hotel entrance was brightly lit, its fountain tirelessly spraying water into the air.
This hotel was famous throughout California, widely considered one of the top luxury establishments in the state.
John walked in front, with Jack and Mark following behind.
They pushed through the revolving doors and entered the magnificent hotel lobby.
However, the moment he stepped into the lobby, Captain John froze in his tracks.
He quickly scanned his surroundings, sensing that something was wrong.
The lobby was too quiet.
Quiet enough to make one’s skin crawl.
Even though it was late at night and most guests were asleep, this was a five-star hotel!
Under normal circumstances, there should be at least two security guards patrolling the lobby!
There should be doormen at the entrance, and perhaps a few lingering drunk guests or cleaning staff in the lounge area.
Yet now, there wasn’t a single person in sight.
The surroundings were completely dead.
So quiet that the only audible sounds were the splashing fountain and the footsteps of the three men.
John frowned deeply.
As a strictly trained assassin, he picked up the scent of danger.
The three exchanged glances, all picking up on the abnormality in the lobby.
Jack clenched his fists, while droplets of water began to seep from Mark’s fingertips, preparing for combat at a moment’s notice.
“Captain, something’s off,” Mark whispered under his breath.
John said nothing, gesturing for them not to act rashly.
Then, he turned his gaze toward the deepest part of the lobby.
The only illuminated spot in the entire lobby—and the only place with a person—was the front desk.
Standing there was a rather plump man.
John made a gesture, and the three slowed their pace, walking slowly toward the front desk.
As the distance closed, John finally caught a clear look at the chubby man’s face.
The moment he saw the face, John froze.
John recognized the chubby man at a glance.
“Damn it…” He walked up to the front desk and stared at the fat man, who seemed to be sorting through some documents, asking in surprise, “Happy Hogan?
What are you doing here?
Aren’t you the Stark brothers’ personal bodyguard and driver?” Indeed, the man standing at the front desk was none other than Tony and Luca’s most trusted bodyguard, Happy.