Tony and Chen Tian's New Hero Organization

Bright moonlight spilled across Malibu Beach, while the waves gently lapped at the shore with a soothing rustle. Tony and Chen Tian lay side by side in two luxurious beach chairs, each holding a glass of whiskey as ice cubes softly clinked in the amber liquid.

2B stood beside the grill, attentively turning the steaks and lobsters. Her movements were as precise as if she were executing some sort of program. Occasionally, she looked up at the two men to make sure they needed nothing before lowering her head and returning to work.

Tony swirled his glass, a document bearing the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem pinched in his other hand. His brow furrowed slightly. "So, what do you think about this 'Avengers Initiative'?"

Chen Tian tipped back his head and took a swig, smacking his lips. "It's just Fury wanting to have a team of extraordinary people under his control." He turned his head and glanced at the document. "But seriously, do you think it's reliable?"

Tony snorted and tossed the document onto a small table beside him. "S.H.I.E.L.D. people never do anything without a benefit in it for themselves. He wants a superpowered team he can deploy at any time, but the question is—" He paused, his gaze turning sharp. "Who decides what that team does? And who can guarantee they won't be abused?"

Chen Tian shrugged. "So you don't want to join?"

"Me?" Tony let out a derisive laugh. "I'm not the kind of guy who obediently follows orders." He drained his glass and casually set it on the table. "But... if the team has some interesting people in it, like you, like that lead guy from The Hurt Locker..." A playful smile curled across his lips. "Then I might consider it."

Chen Tian raised a brow. "Oh? So if the team is cool enough, you're willing to get involved?"

"Hey, don't twist my words." Tony rolled his eyes. "I just think that if there's an alien invasion or some world-ending disaster, going solo really isn't enough." He paused, his tone becoming serious. "But the condition is that this team has to be free, not S.H.I.E.L.D.'s private army."

Chen Tian fell silent for a while, his gaze drifting toward the distant sea, where moonlight scattered fragments of silver across the waves.

After a long moment, he chuckled. "Why not build a team ourselves?" He raised his glass. "After all, once a superhero team that upholds justice gets tangled up with a government agency, it runs into all kinds of trouble."

Tony's fingers suddenly froze against the rim of his glass. The crisp clink of ice cubes seemed especially clear at that moment. His pupils contracted slightly, as though some sudden thought had struck him.

Moonlight cast stark shadows over his sharply defined profile, making the faint crease between his brows seem even deeper.

"Build one ourselves..." Tony's Adam's apple bobbed as amber whiskey swayed in his eyes. "But the problem is, we might not have enough people." Frowning, he began to count. "You, me, 2B, and if we add Thor... wait, are we still short a few?"

Chen Tian suddenly burst out laughing, nearly spraying out the drink in his mouth. "Tony, did you forget something?" He set down his glass. "Madara, Diablo, and maybe even more in the future."

Tony slapped his forehead with a sharp smack and nearly knocked over his glass. "Holy shit!" His eyes widened. "How did I forget that?"

He grabbed Chen Tian by the shoulders, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "That summoning ability of yours is practically a cheat code!" Tony gestured animatedly. "Think about it—we can build an all-star team—"

"Sir, you spilled your whiskey," JARVIS's voice came from the speaker beside the beach chairs.

Only then did Tony notice that he had splashed half a glass onto his beach shorts, but he casually shook his hand. "Who cares!" He turned toward Chen Tian like a child who had discovered a new toy. "We can build a super alliance beyond government control!"

Chen Tian smiled and shook his head as he watched Tony get excited like a child. "So now you're interested again?"

"Of course!" Tony snapped his fingers. "Think about it—we don't have to report to anyone, we don't have to listen to politicians' nonsense, and we can do things entirely our way!" He suddenly lowered his voice. "Besides... we can put the headquarters in Malibu, so we can throw parties whenever we want."

2B walked over at just the right moment, carrying freshly grilled steaks. "Gentlemen, dinner is ready."

Tony took a plate, but his eyes remained fixed on Chen Tian. "Seriously, how many of those... uh, heroes from other worlds can you summon right now?"

Chen Tian grabbed a steak, stuffed it into his mouth, and took a bite. "For now, just Madara and Diablo, but there'll be more later." He gave Tony a meaningful look. "But I should warn you, neither of them has a particularly pleasant temperament."

Tony waved dismissively. "Ha! Could their tempers possibly be worse than mine?" He took a swig of whiskey. "Besides, dealing with bad guys requires even worse guys. It's called fighting poison with poison!"

Under the moonlight, ambition gleamed in Tony's eyes, as if he could already see the super alliance they would control. He raised his glass. "To the future 'Anti-Avengers Alliance'?"

Chen Tian smiled and clinked his glass against Tony's. "How about the 'Free Heroes League' instead?"

"Whatever!" Tony drained his glass. "Either way, it'll definitely be better than that old fox Fury's crappy plan!"

The distant waves gently beat against the shore, as if playing the overture for the new alliance that was about to be born. 2B stood quietly nearby, like a silent witness.

Early morning—Malibu Villa Underground Laboratory

The morning sun had yet to fully disperse the mist over the sea when Tony was already standing in his underground workshop.

The blue glow of holographic projections shone on his slightly weary yet still excited face. His fingers flew across the virtual keyboard, occasionally swiping to enlarge certain architectural details.

"JARVIS, pull up the 3D terrain map for that land on the north shore." Tony rubbed his reddened eyes and grabbed a half-cold coffee from the workbench, taking a gulp. "A hero headquarters needs to look impressive, but don't make it one of those gloomy S.H.I.E.L.D. bunkers—we need a 'don't mess with us' vibe, not a 'we look suspicious' atmosphere."

Within the hologram, an ultramodern complex rose from the ground. Its streamlined glass curtain walls reflected the glittering sea, while its top floor housed an open training ground and helipad. Beneath it stretched reinforced command centers, laboratories, and armories.

Tony suddenly frowned and drew out an area on the virtual model. "Wait, this part needs changing. Add a recreation area—Chen Tian will definitely complain that we're being too serious."

"Sir, you have not rested for thirty-six hours," JARVIS's voice echoed throughout the laboratory. "Furthermore, completing the site selection, design, and construction plans within forty-eight hours will require mobilizing at least three of Stark Industries' top engineering teams."

Tony unbuttoned the top two buttons of his collar and tossed the design draft aside. "Then call in every team we can mobilize."

He turned and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling observation window. Though they were three stories underground, Tony's villa was built into a mountain, and the madman had expanded the originally single-level underground laboratory three more levels down. He suddenly snapped his fingers. "Right, use the nano-coating technology 2B provided for the exterior defenses, and pair it with—"

Before he could finish, the laboratory's blast door slid open, and Chen Tian wandered in with a sandwich between his teeth. "I heard some madman skipped breakfast to work on an illegal construction project?" He leaned over the hologram and took a look. "Whoa, are you seriously going for this 'luxury villain headquarters' style?"

"It's called tactical aesthetics." Tony snatched the other half of Chen Tian's sandwich. "The top floor has your game room, and the second basement level has a hot spring area. Now shut up and don't interrupt genius at work."

Chen Tian looked at the recreation area marked "Exclusive to Chen Tian: Tony Forbidden Entry" on the blueprint and could not help laughing.

At that moment, the projection flickered, and Pepper's image appeared above the workbench. With her arms folded, she raised a brow. "Tony, the Pentagon just called seventeen times, and the head of engineering says you've transferred all—"

"Tell them I'm saving the world." Tony waved without looking up, shutting off the communication before enlarging the building's core power system. "JARVIS, mark the Arc Reactor power lines in gold. I want people to see from miles away just how cool we are."

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the virtual projection of the morning sun had fully risen above the sea.

Tony watched the metallic sheen flow across the building he had designed in the morning light, a characteristically arrogant smile rising onto his lips. "Fury wants to build the Avengers? Just wait and see what a real super team looks like."

Chen Tian silently tucked the neon sign design for the Free Heroes League into the corner of the blueprint, then casually muted another health reminder JARVIS was about to issue.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters · Fury's Office

The blue glow of holographic projections flickered in the dim office as Nick Fury's one eye stared intently at the live surveillance feed.

The construction site on Malibu's north shore blazed with lights. Stark Industries' heavy machinery was operating day and night, while long convoys of construction vehicles raised clouds of dust.

"Coulson," Fury's voice was rough as sandpaper, "tell me this isn't real."

Coulson held a stack of freshly printed intelligence reports. "Sir, I'm afraid it is. Stark has not only rejected our invitation..." He hesitated. "He's building his own team."

Fury's fingers slowly tapped against the desk, each tap like a countdown. "So Tony Stark is building a 'superhero club' right under our noses?"

"According to our intelligence," Coulson said, opening the file, "he called it 'Cooler Than Avengers.' But Chen Tian rejected that name. The currently confirmed members include Stark himself, Chen Tian, and..." He paused. "Two special individuals—2B and Madara Uchiha."

Fury's one eye narrowed slightly. "Those two dangerous elements?"

"Yes, sir." Coulson nodded. "2B is suspected to be Chen Tian's maid, but her combat power is extremely formidable. Her combat capability has been assessed as A-rank. As for Madara Uchiha..." He handed over a blurry photograph. "Sir, you know what he is. He's a freak. He can breathe fire, summon giant robots, and even summon meteors. He handled all twelve missiles that attacked Monaco by himself without affecting any other area."

Fury stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at Washington's nightscape. After a moment of silence, he suddenly turned around. "Notify Natasha and Barton. Tell them they've been fired from S.H.I.E.L.D., then have them join Stark's team under their personal identities."

Coulson looked up in surprise. "Sir? This..."

"Since we can't stop it, we'll get involved." Fury's voice was firm. "I need to know every move Tony's organization makes. And..." A sharp glint flashed through his one eye. "If they really can succeed, we need to make sure this force does not spiral out of control."

Coulson quickly recorded the orders. "Understood, sir. I'll arrange for them to contact Stark immediately."

"Tell them it's a long-term infiltration assignment," Fury added. "Have them find out Chen Tian's abilities as soon as possible. The unknown energy pulse he fired in Monaco was completely different from his previous behavior of only using a Japanese sword. And..." He pointed at the surveillance image. "Every secret inside that building."

"What about Agent Hill's surveillance plan?"

"Continue it." Fury returned to his desk. "A double safeguard is always more reliable."

Coulson hesitated. "But if Stark finds out..."

"He will." A cold smile tugged at Fury's lips. "Tony Stark is smarter than you think. But that's fine. It might be better if he knows we have someone inside." He spoke meaningfully. "Sometimes, an open hand is more intimidating than a hidden one."

Outside the window, lightning tore through the night sky. Fury stood in the darkness, his one eye reflecting the flickering points of light on the surveillance screen like a black panther poised to strike, silently observing every movement of its prey.

"Tell Natasha," Fury added at last, "that if Stark asks, say it's a gift of goodwill from S.H.I.E.L.D. After all..." His voice carried a trace of mockery. "Who would refuse Black Widow and Hawkeye joining them?"

An Upscale Café in Los Angeles

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight coated the street in gold. Chen Tian slowly stirred the black coffee in his cup, his gaze moving back and forth between the two people across from him.

Natasha Romanoff wore high-waisted jeans and a fitted white shirt, her red hair casually draped over her shoulders. She looked relaxed and seductive. Clint Barton, on the other hand, wore a casual suit and looked as serious as though he had come to attend a funeral.

"So..." Chen Tian suddenly laughed, lightly tapping his silver coffee spoon against the rim of the porcelain cup. "Black Widow and Hawkeye want to join Tony and me in our 'gaming club'?"

A faint smile curled across Natasha's red lips. "We were fired by S.H.I.E.L.D." She lifted her latte and took a sip. "Fury thought we were 'too individualistic.'"

"What a coincidence." Chen Tian lightly tapped his fingers on the table. "The very day after Tony refused to join the Avengers Initiative?" Tilting his head, he looked at Hawkeye. "You got fired faster than a S.H.I.E.L.D. coffee machine breaks down."

Barton's mouth twitched. "We came with sincerity."

"Oh?" Chen Tian raised a brow. "What kind of sincerity?"

Natasha slid a data chip out of her handbag. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance plan for your base, the list of twelve agents Fury plans to plant there, and..." She paused meaningfully. "The decryption method for that energy-reactive device on your third underground level."

Chen Tian stared at the chip for three seconds, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, drawing glances from several nearby tables.

"Brilliant!" He wiped away tears of laughter. "Fury sent you here as double agents? Or triple agents?" He reached out and pushed the chip back. "Tell your director that next time, he can just send an email. No need to go through all this trouble."

Natasha lightly tapped the chip with a red fingernail. "We're serious."

"Of course, of course." Chen Tian made a surrendering gesture. "So... what do you two super agents want from our shabby little club?"

"Freedom." Barton suddenly spoke, his voice low. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has too many rules."

Chen Tian's smile gradually faded. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze turning sharp. "Interesting," he said slowly. "But you'll have to prove yourselves."

Natasha's red lips curved into a dangerous arc. "For example?"

"For example..." Chen Tian took out his phone, swiped a few times, and pushed it in front of her. "Explain why S.H.I.E.L.D.'s satellite suddenly adjusted its orbit toward Malibu three days ago?"

Natasha glanced at the screen without changing expression. "Standard surveillance procedure."

"Is that so?" Chen Tian swiped to another image. "Then what about this tracker hidden beneath a Stark Industries Transport Vehicle?"

Barton's pupils contracted slightly.

"And..." Chen Tian suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. "That nanoscale communicator in your ears that's recording us right now?"

Silence fell.

Natasha suddenly gave a soft laugh, removed her hairpin, took out a tiny device hidden inside, and tossed it into her coffee cup. With a sizzle, a wisp of smoke rose from it.

"Now what?" she asked.

Chen Tian stared at Natasha for several seconds, then slapped the table and laughed. "Nat! I knew it! You really are my kind of person!"

He took out his phone and made a call. "Tony! Guess who showed up on our doorstep? Yep, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Natasha and..." He glanced at Barton. "That famous archer gentleman."

Barton's brow visibly furrowed, and his fingers lightly tapped the tabletop.

After hanging up, Chen Tian revealed a sly smile. "Congratulations, you two have earned a precious interview opportunity. As for the probation period..." He pretended to consider it. "How about we set it for the day Director Fury's blood pressure first blows through the roof?"

Natasha lifted her coffee cup. "Sounds fair."

"Welcome to our 'Cosplay Enthusiasts Club.'" Chen Tian raised his own cup. "Friendly warning: our confidentiality agreement is personally 'signed' by Madara Uchiha—with his Fire Style. If you go back on your word..." He made a grilling gesture. "You'll bear the consequences."

A commotion suddenly erupted outside, and cries of surprise rose from the crowd. Accompanied by the roar of engines and the distinctive hum of plasma thrusters, a gold-and-red figure cut through the sky.

Tony Stark descended from the sky in the latest Mark-Eclipse armor, the gold-and-red suit gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight. He hovered elegantly in midair as the flames from his thrusters left faint scorch marks across the asphalt.

"Hey! Los Angeles!" Tony flipped open his faceplate and gave the surrounding crowd his signature charming smile. He snapped his fingers with flair, and the armor immediately responded, performing a dazzling three-hundred-and-sixty-degree spin in the air that drew a wave of screams from passersby.

"Stark! Can we take a picture with you?" A blonde girl excitedly waved her phone.

"Of course, sweetheart." Tony landed beside her as his armor automatically adjusted itself to its most photogenic angle. "Remember to use a filter. My armor color scheme today is especially suited to a retro look."

After finishing his fan service, Tony's gaze passed through the café's floor-to-ceiling windows and precisely locked onto Chen Tian's group inside.

He dramatically raised his brows and mouthed, "WOW."

The café patrons had already been drawn in by the commotion outside, and they all pulled out their phones to record.

Tony looked at the scene with satisfaction and lightly snapped his fingers. Mark-Eclipse immediately disassembled into countless streams of liquid metal and retracted into the energy core in his chest.

"Looks like our flashy Iron Man has arrived." Chen Tian took a sip of coffee and raised his cup toward Tony outside the window. Tony answered with a trademark wink, straightened his suit and tie, and strode confidently toward the café entrance.

Chen Tian turned toward the two new members and winked. "Ready for the ultimate interview? Friendly warning: the boss has recently become obsessed with a little game called 'dismantling armor barehanded.'" He deliberately looked at Barton. "Though for you, maybe it should be changed to 'shooting armor with arrows'?"

Barton's face darkened noticeably, but he soon recovered his professional agent's poker face. "I prefer using my real name."

"Of course, of course, Mr. Clint Barton." Chen Tian gave an exaggerated bow. "But around here, Tony prefers calling everyone by code names. Look, we have 'Iron Man,' 'the cool ninja,' 'the insanely powerful maid'..." He deliberately paused. "And now we have 'the redhead' and 'the sharpshooter.'"

Natasha chuckled, while Barton silently reached for the table knife.