"We're investigating."
Coulson lied with a smile, looking highly convincing. Tony did not press further. Just then, Pepper Potts hurried in.
"Watch the TV."
Pepper turned on the television and switched to the Daily Bugle channel. Host J. Jonah Jameson was loudly reporting, "According to information obtained by our station, Tony Stark wore a ridiculous suit of armor last night and battled Stark Industries director Obadiah..."
As Jameson spoke, footage of last night's battle appeared on screen. The image quality was remarkably clear, and they could even hear Tony and Obadiah's conversation.
Tony frowned. "How did this happen? Coulson, didn't you say you'd already handled it?"
"The Technical Department dealt with all the footage. I don't know why this happened either."
Coulson hurriedly called to have the Daily Bugle interrupt the broadcast. Unfortunately, the Daily Bugle refused the request from above and continued airing it.
Without a doubt, this was Wang Nanxuan's doing. He wanted the public to know the truth while building the Daily Bugle's credibility—it would help him collect souls in the future.
"As far as we know, Tony Stark and Obadiah fought because Obadiah had been selling weapons to terrorists for a long time. In addition, Tony Stark's attack was also arranged by Obadiah."
Jameson went on and on. Tony quipped, "Where did this guy come from? He knows more than I do, and I was there."
As he spoke, Tony casually tossed his speech aside. He would not need it anymore. Everyone knew he was Iron Man.
The station continued airing footage. Both the Peace Knights and the later Hellfire Knight appeared, and the coverage was quite comprehensive.
Finally, Jameson continued, "Many people have stated that the videos they recorded last night mysteriously disappeared. At the same time, some people were warned to keep their mouths shut.
"I have every reason to suspect that a special organization is infringing upon the public's right to privacy and right to know. I will spare no effort in digging this organization out.
"Also, TikTok has a large number of videos about last night. Everyone is welcome to download it."
After Jameson finished speaking, a QR code appeared on the screen. Pepper and Tony both took out their phones and scanned it. Coulson was speechless. Did they have to be this cooperative?
Coulson said with a headache, "We need to prepare a new explanation."
"No need. Since it's already public, we'll just tell the truth. I never wanted to hide it anyway."
Tony said, "From now on, I am Iron Man."
Coulson hesitated, then did not try to persuade him further. For some reason, he suddenly felt that the curtain had risen.
The age of superheroes had officially arrived.
At Rebirth Tower, Wang Nanxuan walked toward his office with some annoyance. As for Susan, she was still asleep after being exhausted last night.
Wang Nanxuan was not annoyed because he had to come to work, but because he had had a strange dream last night.
In the dream, a little boy whose face kept changing stood beyond a glass-like barrier, constantly shouting at him. The boy seemed furious, but the glass blocked the sound, so Wang Nanxuan could not hear what he was shouting. That irritated him greatly.
"This probably wasn't an ordinary dream. I'm the Demon King. I don't usually dream."
Wang Nanxuan thought to himself. At that moment, he sensed what was happening in his office and became even more annoyed. He opened the door and walked in.
The moment Wang Nanxuan entered, the boss's chair turned around. A bald, one-eyed Black man asked in a deep voice, "Are there really angels in this world?"
Expressionless, Wang Nanxuan took out his phone and called the security room. "Send two guards up here. Someone broke into my office. Also, call the police. You can tell at a glance that guy isn't a good person."
Nick Fury was dumbfounded. He had intimidated many people with this move, but no one had ever called the police. If the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. got arrested over this, that would be something.
Nick Fury stood up and asked coldly, "Calling the police? Aren't you afraid your secrets will be exposed?"
Wang Nanxuan said arrogantly, "I, Andrew Wang, have lived openly and honorably all my life. I have nothing to fear people knowing."
Nick Fury stopped beating around the bush. "Ghost Rider Andrew Wang, I am Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. On behalf of the United Nations Security Council, I want to talk with you."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Never heard of it. And don't try to scare me with the United Nations."
Wang Nanxuan sneered. "You're filled with sin. Your organization must be evil. Whatever you've got, bring it on. I'll take it."
"Filled with sin?"
Nick Fury paused, then said, "I am indeed filled with sin, but it was necessary. Everything S.H.I.E.L.D. and I have done was to protect this world."
Wang Nanxuan said, "Save that for the police. They'll be here soon."
Seeing that Wang Nanxuan was impossible to reason with, Nick Fury grew somewhat angry. "Andrew Wang, I bear you no ill will. Otherwise, I would not have come here to meet you personally."
Nick Fury had come personally because he wanted to recruit Wang Nanxuan. The other man was well suited to the Avengers' requirements.
Wang Nanxuan laughed. "I don't mind if you have ill intentions at all. In fact, I'm looking forward to you making a move against me."
Nick Fury was speechless. At that moment, he heard the guards coming upstairs. He sighed helplessly and raised a hand. The floor-to-ceiling window behind him shattered with a crash. Then, a Stealth Quinjet descended from above and appeared outside the window.
Hawkeye Barton was piloting the Quinjet. In addition, Black Widow Natasha had led a team to lie in ambush in the adjacent room. Nick Fury was not about to gamble with his own life.
"Andrew Wang, I'll come back for you."
Nick Fury gave Wang Nanxuan a look, then turned and headed toward the Quinjet.
"You think you can leave? Did you ask me?"
Wang Nanxuan snorted and raised a hand, hurling a mass of Black Flame at the Quinjet. The Black Flame swiftly merged into the aircraft, and Hawkeye immediately discovered that he had lost control of it.
Then, the six-barreled Gatling beneath the aircraft rose and aimed at Nick Fury. Nick Fury's heart jolted. He turned around and asked, "Andrew Wang, do you know what you're doing?"
"You smashed my hundred-thousand-dollar glass and sat on my nine-hundred-thousand-dollar chair. You think you don't have to pay?"
Wang Nanxuan said righteously, "Either pay up, or wait for the police. We'll follow the proper procedure."
Nick Fury gritted his teeth a little. It was a good thing he was Black; otherwise, his face would definitely have turned terrifyingly dark—the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was actually being extorted. Would anyone believe it?
Nick Fury said, "I'll have someone transfer the money into your company's account."
Wang Nanxuan withdrew the Hellfire and said, "Make it quick. I'll charge a hundred thousand in interest for every day you delay."
Nick Fury returned to the Quinjet with a grim expression. Moments later, the Quinjet spewed blazing light and shot into the distance.
At the same time, Natasha ordered the elite squad to withdraw from Rebirth Tower. As for herself, she continued working with a bitter expression.
"That's it? They just flew away? Didn't they say S.H.I.E.L.D. was tough? Why did they turn so soft when it came to me?"
Wang Nanxuan was somewhat displeased. He had been provoking Nick Fury all along, waiting for him to attack so he could gain many more souls. And this was all he got?
S.H.I.E.L.D., my ass!
Before you continue