Gunfire

No mistake, it's Howard Stark!

Rorschach's eyes lit up slightly.

Why would someone of Howard Stark's status and position come to such a cheap tavern?

Could the playboy have taken a liking to some girl and was specifically here to stake her out?

Rorschach couldn't help but think wickedly in his mind.

After all, when it came to being a womanizer, Howard Stark was even more so than his son, Tony Stark. The guy didn't even spare his friend's wife!

He was practically an animal.

"No!"

"At this time... S.H.I.E.L.D. should have already been established, right?"

"Howard wouldn't be here on some mission, would he?"

The thought made Rorschach completely lose his sleepiness.

If something were to happen, it might trigger some missions.

"Raven, I was thinking, if Caliban is really that sensitive, perhaps waiting for you outside would be a good decision."

Rorschach paused his steps, making up his mind instantly.

Why bother with Caliban when he could be watching Howard Stark?

"Alright, Caliban is inside. I'll go talk to him. You wait for me here." Raven didn't overthink it, nodding in agreement.

Rorschach casually found a seat and ordered a drink just for show.

Outwardly, he was drinking alone, but inwardly, he was secretly keeping an eye on Howard Stark.

And his observation did reveal something.

"Commander, it's been over two hours, will that guy really show up?"

The young bartender, while casually working, subtly said to Howard Stark.

No wonder Old Henry called in sick; it turned out this young bartender was actually a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

"He will."

Howard Stark replied with absolute certainty, "The Soviets never let traitors go, especially scientists like him. No one can protect him but us."

"Then why hasn't he appeared yet?" The young bartender placed a polished glass back on the rack.

"Given his situation, it's understandable that he's being cautious." Howard Stark maintained a very optimistic attitude about it.

"Alright, focus on your work. Perhaps he's already appeared and is just observing the situation from the shadows."

"Understood, Commander!"

The quiet exchange between the two ended without a sound.

They believed that in such a noisy environment, their hushed conversation wouldn't be heard by anyone.

Little did they know, a cheater had already snuck in.

"A Soviet traitor, a scientist?"

Rorschach's thoughts churned, and he quickly thought of someone.

Could Howard Stark be talking about the father of the future Whiplash, Ivan Vanko, Anton Vanko?

Considering the timeline, it was about this time.

But if Howard Stark was waiting for Anton Vanko, then he would be witnessing history, wouldn't he?

He just didn't know if this event could trigger any missions.

Rorschach was unaware of this and could only wait in secret to see.

Creak!

The tavern door opened again. A middle-aged man walked in. Naturally, no one else in the tavern paid much attention to a rough-looking guy.

But Howard Stark at the bar couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

The arrival was their target!

Anton Vanko!

"I told you, he would appear."

Howard Stark smiled lightly, with an air of everything being under his control, and downed the wine in his glass before striding towards Anton Vanko.

Even on such an important mission, he didn't forget to show off.

"Hey, Charlie, why are you so late!"

Howard Stark walked towards Anton Vanko with a smile, greeting him like an old friend.

"Don't even mention it. That leech Hans, I already waxed it, but he insisted I hadn't and made me do it again."

The two then chatted idly as they moved to a secluded corner.

"Howard Stark?"

Only then did Anton Vanko begin to confirm the other party's identity.

"Of course it's me! I'm so famous, it's easy to investigate. Don't tell me you didn't check me out before coming to see me," Howard Stark said with an arrogant expression.

"I did check, but I couldn't be sure if you were someone else in disguise," Anton Vanko shrugged. "But even disguises are easy to see through."

As he spoke, Anton Vanko asked Howard Stark a profound academic question.

Howard Stark answered fluently, and only then did Anton Vanko feel completely at ease.

"Now, can I see what I want?"

It was now Howard Stark's turn to inspect the goods.

Anton Vanko took out several prepared papers from his clothes. Howard Stark quickly scanned them and nodded with great satisfaction.

They were an extremely important research report on energy that Anton Vanko had prepared.

With this research, Howard Stark's recent ideas for the Arc Reactor could become a reality.

Although the academic report was only half complete, with Howard Stark's level, he could naturally tell it was genuine.

"OK! Let's go!"

Howard Stark unceremoniously put away the research report, then stood up and gestured for Anton Vanko to leave with him.

But just then, a bearded man suddenly stood up.

He pulled out a gun and aimed it directly at Anton Vanko, about to pull the trigger.

Did that guy Anton Vanko really think he could escape to New York and be safe?

"Watch out!"

A bartender, having keenly noticed this, immediately leaped forward and lunged at Howard Stark and the other man.

He instantly tackled them to the ground.

At the same time, he quickly drew a gun and fired back at the bearded man.

Bang bang bang!

The piercing sound of gunshots immediately echoed throughout the bar.

The scene instantly descended into chaos, with everyone fleeing in panic.

But Rorschach didn't move.

Because at this moment, some content had been updated on Rorschach's system panel as expected.

[New quest generated:]

[Quest: Protect Howard Stark completely and unharmed]

[Quest Reward: 50 Origin Points]

Five, fifty Origin Points?

Rorschach was immediately stimulated. This time, the Origin Points were too few.

When he killed Sabretooth, he had received a hundred Origin Points, and this time it was only half of that.

But considering the current situation, well, it was just dealing with some weaklings, so the reward couldn't be too high.