Let's Make a Deal

"My God!" Coulson lowered his binoculars, his expression one of profound shock, unable to speak for a long time.

Coulson had been a field agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. for many years and had encountered all sorts of bizarre phenomena—after all, dealing with such things was the agency's mandate—but lately, he felt as though his entire worldview was collapsing.

A pizza delivery boy had acted heroically to defeat bank robbers, claiming to be a time traveler from the future. Terms like Skynet, Overwatch, and Judgment Day left him utterly bewildered, and he had been questioning William's true identity ever since.

Yet, none of that compared to the scene before him today; the fierce battle between Iron Man and Iron Monger was intensifying, and William had transformed into an archer to assist Tony.

Who could have imagined that at the climax of the fight, William would actually summon two dragons? No, to be precise, they weren't real dragons, but rather spectral projections.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, thinking his vision was playing tricks on him, but the dragons' presence was overwhelming, their deafening roars echoing across the sky in a way he would never be able to forget, even in his dreams.

How was he supposed to report this to Director Fury? The man would surely think he had lost his mind.

However, having learned his lesson last time, he dared not lie again; he had no desire to be reassigned to the archives. He pulled out his phone, took a deep breath, and said, "Sir, you need to prepare yourself mentally—William just summoned two dragons!"

And just like that, one of the founders of Stark Industries, Obadiah Stane, vanished forever into the dragon's roar. Obadiah's conspiracy was laid bare.

Although S.H.I.E.L.D. immediately locked down the information, many people had witnessed the battle that night. Very few, however, had seen the illusory dragon souls in the sky; the public only wanted to know one thing: who exactly was Iron Man?

"Regarding the accident at Stark Industries last night, unconfirmed reports suggest that a robot malfunction caused the reactor to fail..."

On the television, Rhodey was explaining the incident. It was clear that S.H.I.E.L.D. had already intervened; until the public was ready, the agency would ensure they didn't learn things they weren't supposed to know.

Tony held a newspaper while Potts applied makeup to his face. The previous night's battle had left him bruised. If the reporters saw the injuries on his face during the upcoming press conference, wouldn't his secret be exposed?

"Iron Man? Hmm, I like the sound of that," Tony said, rubbing his chin.

Just then, Coulson and William walked over, both dressed in sharp suits. Coulson produced a note and said, "This is the speech. Read it exactly as it's written later. Remember, stick to the script, and this will all blow over soon."

"Got it." Tony glanced at the note and asked, "By the way, who was that archer who helped me last night? Is he one of your S.H.I.E.L.D. people?"

Coulson froze, unsure how to respond. He glanced at William, and just as he was about to speak, William cut in: "Mr. Stark, who he is doesn't matter. What matters is that you are still alive."

Tony curled his lip; the blonde agent did have a point. After all, this experience had taught him many things—he understood the meaning of life and had discovered his ambiguous relationship with Potts.

"Thank you so much for your help this time, Agent Coulson," Potts said, shaking Coulson's hand.

"You're too kind. Actually, you should be thanking him," Coulson said, gesturing toward William.

"Ms. Potts, it is our honor at S.H.I.E.L.D. to be of service to you," William replied politely.

Tony watched their pleasantries, then suddenly thought of something. "Wait, blonde agent, have we met somewhere before?"

Tony couldn't be blamed; he had only seen William's true face at the Disney Concert Hall, and so much time had passed that he couldn't quite recall. He vaguely felt the man looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere.

"Correction: I am a consultant, not an agent." William didn't answer his question, instead saying with a smile, "Mr. Stark, before I leave, let me recommend a beverage to you."

Tony frowned. "A beverage? I prefer alcohol."

"Trust me, you're going to need this in the future," William said, staring into his eyes. "Chlorophyll Juice—healthy, green, and all-natural. You're going to love it!"

Tony was left completely baffled. Just as he was about to ask what he meant, William and Coulson had already closed the door and left.

"Why did you say that just now?" Coulson asked curiously once they were outside.

"Just a personal preference. You should try it sometime, too," William smiled.

Coulson sighed. "I hope that guy Stark cooperates and doesn't cause us any more trouble!"

"Is this your first day knowing Tony Stark?" William gave a mysterious smile. "Do you really think that guy is going to stick to the script?"

Indeed, during the press conference, Tony Stark told the media the truth: "I am Iron Man."

The world-famous CEO of Stark Industries was actually a superhero in armor. No matter how much S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted to cover up the truth and keep secrets, this event shocked the entire world.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a playboy, a ruthless CEO, and a billionaire—he actually dared to declare himself Iron Man in front of the television cameras.

Generally, most superheroes were secretive about their identities, like William. Of course, Tony's arrogant personality would also bring him significant trouble, but that was a matter for another time.

Having completed the Iron Man mission, William could finally go home and rest. He had been taking leave for days, making his boss, Jonathan, want to fire him. But considering who else would deliver the pizzas, he had to endure it again and again.

Today, just after finishing his shift, William bought some fresh steak, planning to make a steak dinner that night. With his half-month salary advance, his life had finally become much more comfortable, and he no longer had to worry about being unable to pay rent and ending up on the street.

However, as soon as he reached his door, he noticed something wrong—the door wasn't shut tight; it was left ajar!

"Hey, William?" William pushed the door open cautiously. The lights were off, and only the light from the hallway spilled in. To his surprise, he found Coulson sitting on his sofa.

Ever since Coulson moved in next door, he would occasionally drop by, but this was the first time he had broken into his home while he was away. Wait, no—this was the second time.

"Coulson, even if you are my neighbor, you can't just pick my lock," William said helplessly. "Tell me, what do you want? Do you need me to catch someone again?"

Coulson shook his head. "No, it's not me looking for you today. It's him..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a man stepped out from the dim balcony. It was a one-eyed black man—Nick Fury. William was startled; it turned out Director Fury had been standing in the shadows the whole time, but he was so dark that William hadn't noticed him.

"Mr. Lister, sorry to disturb you so late," Nick Fury said as he walked over.

You know it's late and you're disturbing the peace, William thought, but he asked politely, "Director Fury, what can I do for you?"

Nick Fury was the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., usually found in his office at the Triskelion or aboard his Helicarrier.

Although he was the king of spies, he rarely did field work, preferring to sit in his chair and issue orders. Since he had traveled all the way from Washington to New York, it must be something important.

"I'm here to discuss something with you," Nick Fury said, standing before William. "Let's make a deal!"

One more chapter coming tonight~