Conspiracy Brews

"La la la la. La la la la." Ryoma Sengoku swayed the pen in his hand as he looked at the job application documents.

"Sigh. This guy seems pretty interesting. Why would he apply to a company like this?" Ryoma Sengoku said to the interviewer beside him, looking at the documents in his hand. "I need to meet with this applicant."

The interviewer's expression turned awkward. "But, before you arrived, we already screened him out."

"Is that so?" Ryoma Sengoku blinked, then gave a sly smile as he looked at the documents in his hand.

"This way seems fine too."

"How much longer will these days last?" John Walker, who had failed his interview, was dissatisfied with his life after retiring from the military.

John Walker had been full of confidence about joining Vanko Tech. With his resume, a new type of enterprise like this would surely need him. However, the interviewer's arrogance and his own pride, combined, led to this outcome.

"Working in the wrestling league isn't the life I want either. Only the military life."

John Walker took a large gulp of the beer in his hand.

In fact, besides yearning for his deceased brother, John Walker also had a dream: to become a "superhero." When he was young, he admired his brother the most, and he admired Captain America. Now, with the appearance of various "superheroes," it made John Walker want to get closer to them.

Unfortunately, Hawke Group no longer needed security personnel, and Stark Industries was not even an option he considered.

He only thought of working at Vanko Tech after a comrade, who had joined the military after retirement, told him about it. This gave him the idea to go to Vanko Tech. Thinking about his resume, perhaps if the company became successful in the future, with the Iron Legion, he would definitely get to wear a battle suit, even if it wasn't a new model.

"It seems I still need to follow my comrade's suggestion and join the military."

John Walker shook off his bothersome thoughts and stopped dwelling on them.

Ding dong!

The doorbell of his detached house rang.

"Who is it?" John Walker frowned, wondering if it was one of his comrades or a colleague from the wrestling league.

He opened the door to find an East Asian man wearing a white lab coat and glasses looking at him with a slightly excited gaze.

"Hello, Mr. John Walker. My name is Ryoma Sengoku, but I must point out that I am older than you. Perhaps you should add 'ge' after my name." Ryoma Sengoku smiled at John Walker, who exuded a sharp, youthful aura, completely unfazed by the man's obvious unwelcoming attitude.

"I am a member of Vanko Tech, you could say."

John Walker sneered at Ryoma Sengoku, who had barged into his house like an old friend, and threatened him, "If you don't leave, I'll put a hole in you."

"Wow! I like that about you. Although I know the laws in this country about trespassing." A look of provocation flashed in Ryoma Sengoku's eyes.

"But you can try." After saying that.

Ryoma Sengoku took out a belt, and under John Walker's increasingly disbelieving and stunned gaze.

"Henshin"

"Lemon"

"Lockon"

"Kamen Rider Duke"

In an instant, John Walker felt as if he were in a dark house, completely enveloped in blackness. Only the eyes of the armor opposite him seemed to reflect his own, flickering with a light called "desire."

His mouth fell open, his hands unconsciously rose, and then his knees buckled in shock, and he knelt down.

"This! This is the 'superhero' I've always wanted!"

"Looks like this guy is really getting somewhere," Justin Hammer said, wearing a light blue suit and exquisite crocodile leather shoes, sipping red wine as he watched the parts for battle suits being manufactured on the production line.

"Are your affairs settled?" Nathan Hawke asked leisurely.

"Hmph." Justin Hammer felt a surge of anger just thinking about it.

"Not all of those military figures are your 'friends'," Nathan Hawke said meaningfully.

"Don't worry, this time I'll make a comeback." Justin Hammer looked at the production line below with fiery enthusiasm, feeling smug.

"Are you planning to personally endorse Vanko Tech?" Nathan Hawke's question carried a deeper meaning.

"Uh. Men, right? Who isn't a passionate mecha enthusiast?"

Facing Nathan Hawke's question, Justin Hammer's answer was more of a wink and a nudge.

Nathan Hawke shook his head inwardly. He could understand Justin Hammer's unhealthy obsession. It was like a seductive slut being played; the military's primary consort had always been Tony Stark, not him, yet he kept trying to get close, presenting himself as so great.

It was clear that with Ivan Vanko's involvement this time, the design, rationality, and safety of the battle suits had improved by leaps and bounds. This made Justin Hammer, who had always been suppressed by Stark Industries and never became the primary consort, decide to "hold his head high" and take it all back, with interest.

"Whatever you say, but can you really control Ivan Vanko?"

"Of course, I hold the 'lifeline' of this guy."

Justin Hammer inhaled the air of the production line with a look of intoxication.

"Idiot."

According to Umbrella Corporation's intelligence, Ivan Vanko had been secretly contacting many influential figures lately. There were people from the military, political parties, and big capitalists.

There was reason to suspect that Ivan Vanko was preparing to pull off something big.

Nathan Hawke was also looking forward to seeing what Ivan Vanko was up to. If it was something "evil," then...

Perhaps that would be enough to bring out the superheroes.

Everything was proceeding at full steam.

The workshop production line.

"Ivan, I can handle the press conference. You just need to manage the coordination from the command center," Justin Hammer ordered directly.

"But I want to attend the press conference too. This is my life's work," Ivan Vanko said with a faint smile, highlighting his contribution.

"No. Ivan, you don't understand. You're an outsider, and you desperately need someone to stand up for you. I'm the person who can give you a solid footing," Justin Hammer shook his head, ignoring Ivan Vanko. He continued, "Your foundation is still too shallow. Even though my Hammer Industries is investing in your Vanko Tech, they won't admit it. Only with my endorsement will they know that your Vanko Tech has a part of my Hammer Industries in it."

Ivan Vanko let out a cold laugh, listening to Justin Hammer's words, which were full of feigned concern for him.

"If that's the case, then you can stand up for me properly." With that, he raised the syringe in his hand and injected it.

"You!" Justin Hammer turned around, his eyes wide. As he tried to raise his trembling arm, his legs gave out, and he collapsed.

Ivan Vanko looked down at Justin Hammer, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

"I want it all."

At a hot dog stand, Nick Fury sat at a table, awaiting Tony Stark's arrival. He had an important mission: to persuade Tony to join the Avengers he was assembling. Tony walked into the hot dog stand, wearing his signature sunglasses.

"One hot dog, please."

Black Widow quickly placed a hot dog on the table.

"You're fired," Tony Stark said sternly to Black Widow, who was standing behind Nick Fury.

"Whatever," Black Widow shrugged.

Nick Fury waved Tony over to sit down. The two sat facing each other. Nick Fury's expression was serious and resolute as he began to speak.

"Tony, we need you. Earth is facing an unprecedented threat, and I'm putting together a powerful team to deal with it. You're the only one who can help us."

Tony Stark listened, a hint of mockery and disdain on his face.

Tony Stark drawled, "You think I'm going to play hero? I'm a rich man living a life of luxury. Why would I want to get involved in all this trouble?"

Nick Fury looked deeply at Tony. He knew Tony's personality, but he also knew that only Tony had the capability to handle the impending threat.

Nick Fury: "Tony, this isn't a game. Earth is facing a destructive threat, and we need your technology and your intelligence. You have a responsibility to protect humanity's future."

Tony Stark smiled slightly and took a bite of his hot dog, seemingly unfazed by Nick's words.

Tony Stark wiped his mouth and shouted, "A Coke!"

Immediately, someone brought him a bottle of iced cola. After taking a large gulp through a straw.

"Burp..."

"I've always been protecting humanity's future, just in my own way. I don't need to play those childish games with a bunch of people. It's just a game."

Nick Fury didn't get angry. He took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Tony, I'm not just here for that. The element in your reactor is gradually poisoning your body. If it's not dealt with promptly, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Tony Stark's expression shifted slightly. He couldn't help but become interested in Nick's words. "How do you know about that? I've kept it absolutely secret."

If only I could tell him he doesn't want his secretary to know about this, Black Widow thought, but considering Nick Fury was present, she let it go.

Nick Fury: "We have some information about you. We've been monitoring your every move. All of this is because your father was once a member of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"What!" Tony Stark looked at Nick Fury in shock, then disbelievingly furrowed his brow. A thought was about to escape his lips, but he held back. He could only say something half-true, half-false: "Huh? Are you bringing up my father to drag me into your little game?"

"It's your father's legacy. Perhaps, within it, there's something that can help you."

Nick Fury stood up, looking directly into Tony's eyes. "You don't have to refuse me now. I'll be waiting for you."