Inside the director's office at S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury and Lu Yifang stared at each other. Though neither said a word, a subtle tension filled the entire office. Coulson, standing off to the side, sensed trouble and wondered if he should find a chance to slip out. But he didn't dare move, worried he might upset the delicate balance.
Fury clenched his fist, then let it fall open again. This new thorn in his side was giving him a real headache.
If it had been anyone else, Fury would have blown his top already. You're in my S.H.I.E.L.D., and you still dare talk back to me? Do you even know who's in charge? Do you know what the boss of S.H.I.E.L.D. is called?
But he didn't dare try that with Lu Yifang. He worried that if he tried to "teach him a lesson," Professor X and a whole squad of X-Men might show up at his door.
"What's wrong with helping yourself to a little fruit and a drink? What gives you the right to lecture my Yifang? Are you trying to start something? Yifang, let's go. We don't need this lousy part-time job!"
Just imagining the scene gave Fury an even bigger headache. Having an influential family that was so fiercely protective was a real nuisance.
In truth, Fury was underestimating Professor X's tolerance. Was he the sort of person who spent all day thinking about fighting? At most, he'd be a little annoyed, then accidentally let something slip the next time he had a chance to chat with Magneto.
As for whether the hot-tempered Old Magneto would storm S.H.I.E.L.D. with a nuclear bomb to have a frank discussion with Fury, freely exchange opinions, improve relations while still keeping his reservations, and so on—
That was beyond his control. Professor X insisted he knew nothing about any of it!
After weighing things up, Fury decided not to stoop to a child's level. He had more important business to attend to.
"Yifang, do you know Tony Stark?"
"Is there anyone in New York City who doesn't know that mega-rich playboy?" Lu Yifang rolled his eyes and replied irritably.
"The news said a couple of days ago that he went missing in the Middle East. Is that true?" Lu Yifang knew perfectly well that Tony really had gone missing—and had been kidnapped by terrorists. Right now, he was holed up in some unknown hole in the ground, building the Mark I.
He was just following Fury's lead, to avoid any misunderstandings.
"In fact, Tony went missing more than two months ago. We originally planned to keep it quiet and create the illusion that Tony Stark was still active in the Middle East, then secretly send an elite team to search for him. Unfortunately, someone leaked the news behind our backs." Fury's expression darkened.
"Now Stark Industries' stock has plummeted, the company is in chaos, and the major shareholders are starting to get restless."
"Oh." Lu Yifang rested his hands behind his head and answered casually, as if to say he'd heard.
"What does the state of Stark Industries have to do with you? Did you buy its stock?" Lu Yifang asked Fury.
"Uh, the market looked good a while back, so I bought a little," Fury said, nodding without thinking.
"So it hit the limit-down and you're stuck holding the bag." Sympathy and pity showed in Lu Yifang's eyes.
"Do I need your pity? Wait, that's not the point. Do you really think I called you here because I'm worried about the money I put into those stocks?" Fury slapped the desk.
"If you've got nothing better to do than put your underwear on over your pants and save the world, why are you suddenly so concerned about a rich kid's whereabouts? Are you bored?"
"I'm bored as hell!" Fury felt like flipping the desk. You think everyone's like you? I've been working like a dog these past few days, pulling all-nighters and building up dark circles until— Wait, something about that didn't sound right.
He shook his head, pushing the odd thought aside. He had to admit, the kid's smart mouth was really good at getting under his skin.
"So someone with connections asked you to look after Tony Stark," Lu Yifang continued.
"That's not far off," Fury said with a nod.
Tony Stark wasn't an ordinary rich kid. His father, Howard Stark, had been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, though he was now dead. Peggy Carter, another S.H.I.E.L.D. founder who had been close to Howard, had watched Tony grow up. In a sense, Peggy was practically his aunt.
So part of the reason Fury was putting so much effort into finding Tony was that Carter had called him.
"A dirty backroom deal," Lu Yifang scoffed, turning his head away.
"Enough," Fury growled. I only called you once. Are you really going to hold a grudge this long? What could it possibly have cost you? Did it stop you from getting a girlfriend—or joining a club?
"Fine, go on. I'll keep my mouth shut." After needling Fury for so long, Lu Yifang had more or less worked off his anger. His expression finally turned serious.
"Actually, Stark Industries has far more ties to S.H.I.E.L.D. than you might think." Fury sat down and began to explain.
As everyone knew, America's major sectors, including finance and oil, were controlled by powerful tycoons and capitalists. The arms industry was no different. Stark Industries was a giant in the military sector, controlling advanced military technology that even the U.S. government didn't have. That was why the government placed so many weapons orders with the company.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was no different. Since Howard Stark, the former head of Stark Industries, had been one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, the agency got almost all of its weapons from Stark Industries.
Not long ago, the Sky Carrier had ordered a batch of parts from Stark Industries for maintenance. Two of its four flying propellers had already been taken apart, and now the chaos at Stark Industries had delayed the work. How could Fury not be worried?
So, if only to get his incredible, flying carrier back in action, Fury would turn the whole Middle East upside down to find Tony Stark.
"I see. So what do you want me to do? You can't seriously expect me to go looking for him in the Middle East. I've got classes every day, and you should know that even if I agreed, Professor X would never let me go." Lu Yifang spread his hands.
"I know that. Actually, I just want you to go to Professor X. I remember he has something called a Cerebro Amplifier," Fury said, revealing his plan.
In the past, even if Fury had thought of Professor X, he would never have gone to him. But things were different now, because he had already made contact with Professor X.
Fury had wanted to establish ties with Professor X's moderate Mutants for a long time. Metahumans like the X-Men were a useful force. Even if they couldn't join his ranks, having them as allies would still be worthwhile. Now, he'd finally built a connection to Professor X: Lu Yifang.
Dealing with Hulk was one reason, but as far as Fury was concerned, this was the real way to get his money's worth out of Lu Yifang.
"I know what you mean." Lu Yifang shook his head. "Unfortunately, Professor X can't do what you're hoping for."
Before you continue