Tony Joins the Team

A brief, deathly silence fell over the office.

Tony turned around and looked at Valmont standing behind him, that harmless smile still hanging on the other man's face.

Tony took half a step back. "Valmont, when you called me earlier, you didn't mention there would be such a huge setup."

Shendu waved a hand. "Things have changed, Mr. Stark. With your personality, you should have anticipated this situation long ago."

Tony tapped twice inside his pocket, and JARVIS's voice came through his earpiece.

"Sir, all exits have been sealed. The window glass has been specially treated and cannot be penetrated by bullets. The portable armor you brought is locked in the car, and Agent Coulson has already moved away from the vehicle."

Fury walked out from behind his desk and stopped before Tony, his single eye fixed on him. "Tony, I'll ask you one last time. Hand over the new energy technology, and Stark Industries will remain S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most important partner. If you refuse..."

Tony cut him off. "What happens if I refuse? You'll lock me up? Or give me some psychological counseling, like you did to those board members?"

Fury's expression did not change. "You know quite a lot."

Tony raised his chin. "I know more than you imagine. For example, I know that thing you used to control Valmont—a contract empowered by the Mind Stone."

Fury raised a brow. "Oh?"

"It can't affect me."

Tony patted his chest. "In here, it's empty. After the shrapnel was removed, I had a little surgery done."

Tony pointed at Fury's chest. "What drives me now is the Arc Reactor. Unlike your heart, before you can control me, you'll have to ask whether JARVIS agrees."

As if to verify Tony's words, the office lights suddenly flickered several times.

Seeing that Tony had rejected his proposal, Fury instinctively moved a hand toward the pistol at his waist.

"What, you want to make a move already? If you get rid of me, you'll never get the technology you want." Tony's tone remained neither servile nor overbearing.

Shendu raised a hand to stop Fury.

He looked at Tony with an innocuous smile. The sight of it suddenly gave Tony a bad feeling.

"Mr. Stark."

The smile on Shendu's face remained unchanged, his tone light as though he were discussing some trivial matter. "You're right. The Mind Stone truly cannot affect you. But other people don't have your abilities."

Tony's face darkened like it could drip water. He stared into Shendu's eyes without saying a word.

"Miss Pepper Potts, Mr. Happy Hogan, and Colonel Rhodey, who serves in the U.S. Army—they don't have a 'heartless' body like yours."

Tony clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot. "You wouldn't dare. You wouldn't dare touch them."

Shendu asked softly, "Can you give me a reason not to?"

The office door opened again, and thirty-two armed agents rushed inside, surrounding Tony from every direction.

Tony looked around, his gaze eventually settling on Fury. "You're really letting him do this? Are you still the Fury I knew before?"

Fury did not answer. He merely stood to the side, his eyes devoid of emotion.

Tony took a deep breath and raised both hands in surrender. "Fine. You win. You can have the technology."

"A wise choice," Shendu commented from the side.

Tony paused. "But I have one condition. I want to see Pepper. I need to make sure she's safe."

Shendu glanced at Fury. He could not speak again now, or he would steal Fury's thunder.

"Of course." Seeing Tony agree, Fury answered readily. "Once the handover is complete, you'll naturally be able to see her."

Tony stared at Fury for a long time. After confirming that he was not lying, he lowered his head. "Then that's settled."

Shendu stepped forward, having been assigned by Fury to escort Tony back.

"Tony, what do you think of Fury now?" Shendu stopped at a corner and asked.

Steve did not answer immediately. He did not know whether Shendu's question was a test from Fury.

"You don't really think Fury can control me, do you?" Shendu's tone was calm. "You studied my blood. You should know I'm different from humans."

Tony still said nothing. Based on his current research, he could not conclude whether Shendu had any resistance to the Mind Stone.

"I have two hearts."

Shendu's words exploded in Tony's mind. If the other man truly had two hearts, then it was indeed possible for him to be free from the Mind Stone's control.

Seeing that Tony remained silent, Shendu continued to deceive him. "My heart has essentially stopped already. I'm using my abilities to force it to keep beating."

Tony fell silent for a while, then repeatedly tapped his fingers in his pocket, issuing an order to JARVIS.

Watching Tony's expression constantly shift, Shendu knew what he was doing. He had already concentrated the Mouse Talisman's power in two places inside his body, imitating the beating of hearts.

"You weren't lying." Tony's expression returned to calm. "JARVIS did detect two simulated heart locations. Their energy fluctuations are the same as during the Chitauri invasion."

"So," Tony let out a breath, "you really aren't under Fury's control."

"We can work together. Fury has already shown hostility toward me, and I imagine you don't think highly of S.H.I.E.L.D. either," Shendu said evenly.

"Don't put it like that. Fury just said Stark Industries is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most important partner." Tony did not take the bait. He had always known Shendu was no good person.

"Mr. Stark, you don't truly believe Fury's words, do you?" Shendu's tone was provocative. "You know very well that nuclear missile wasn't destroyed by impact."

The smile on Tony's face froze. He knew what Shendu was referring to—the nuclear missile from the Battle of New York.

"We both know what that missile was aimed at. It's just that no one mentioned it afterward." Shendu continued to tempt him. "It was meant to blow us up, but it detonated when you flew through the portal. In other words..."

Shendu did not continue. Tony was a smart man.

"That's only your speculation, your subjective assumption."

Tony also understood what Shendu was implying. He wanted to end the subject.

"Mr. Stark, say some forces emerged within Stark Industries that were difficult for you to control—forces powerful enough to threaten your position, your safety, and everything you currently possess. What would you do?"

Shendu asked, "What advice would JARVIS give you?"

Tony remained silent. The moment Shendu asked that question, JARVIS had already provided the answer: "Control those forces. If they cannot be controlled, eliminate them."

Tony took a deep breath and swept the hair hanging before him back over his head. "Pleasure doing business with you."