" The Avengers Initiative?"
Tony Stark read the name on the cover of the manila file and asked.
"So the name of this boy band is Avengers?"
Why are they called the Avengers?
Nick Fury turned his gaze from Richard to Tony.
"It's not *NSYNC, Tony Stark!"
Then he spoke with great passion.
"Avenge, righteous revenge!"
"We stand against tyranny for all ordinary people who have been harmed!"
"We avenge the victims on behalf of all the victims!"
"We must ensure that all those scoundrels who infringe upon national and social interests receive the punishment they deserve!"
"Wow!" Tony Stark exclaimed dramatically, clapping his hands in praise. "Just like the Justice League from DC comics? That's amazing!"
So who is Batman and who is Superman?
Nick Fury: "???"
I was getting so excited talking about it, and then you ask me who Batman is?!
"Hmph..." Richard chuckled at Nick Fury's bewildered expression and said to Tony, "You can be ' Batman,' Tony!"
"In DC comics Bruce Wayne is a super-rich man, and so are you..."
" Bruce Wayne possesses exceptional intelligence and excels in the research and development of various technologies and equipment. You are also very clever, and you have the Mark Series Iron Armor..."
Batman is hailed as "someone who, despite being only human, rivals the Deity..."
Richard paused for a moment, looked at Tony seriously, and said meaningfully.
"Maybe one day you'll be able to do it too..."
Tony, oblivious to the implication in Richard's words, puffed out his chest proudly and said...
" Batman? No, Richard!"
"I am Iron Man! I do it better than Bruce Wayne!"
Richard gave him a thumbs up. "You're right, buddy!"
"Enough!" Nick Fury could no longer contain himself, slamming his hand on the bar and shouting angrily.
"The formation of the Avengers is a very important and very serious matter!"
"This is not a joke, nor is it child's play!"
"You have no idea what the real world is like?"
"It's more dangerous than you think!"
"Hmph..." Richard chuckled again, turning his head away disdainfully.
" Richard!" Nick Fury glared at Richard menacingly and threatened, "You'd better return the stolen Cosmic Cube right now! Otherwise, don't blame S.H.I.E.L.D.. for taking action against you!"
" Nick Fury!" Tony shouted angrily, "This is my home! How dare you threaten my friend in my own home?!"
Nick Fury looked at the angry Tony, took a deep breath, and suppressed his boiling anger. "Sorry, I lost my temper just now..."
"Hmph!" Tony snorted and opened the " Proposal ".
"Reserves? You actually put Tony Stark on the reserves list?!"
Tony grumbled as he continued flipping through the pages.
He couldn't help but laugh when he saw Richard's page.
"You're on this list, Richard!"
Richard was taken aback upon hearing this.
What the heck? How did I end up on the Avengers roster?!
He asked curiously, "What's written on it?"
"Let me see..." Tony read aloud, " Richard, Surgeon, support staff..."
"Uh, the logistics support section was crossed out with a pen!"
"Suspected of possessing extraordinary abilities, codename: Mage!"
"Ha, Richard, S.H.I.E.L.D.. has figured you out completely!"
"Tch!" Richard glanced at Nick Fury dismissively. "This director of S.H.I.E.L.D.. is always suspicious by nature. He won't really believe I'm Mage until he finds more evidence..."
" Mage?!" Nick Fury looked at Richard in surprise.
Does Magic really exist in the world?
Watching the Black Braised Egg's performance, Richard's aversion to stupidity suddenly kicked in. He suppressed his disgust, sighed, leaned back on the sofa, and looked up at the ceiling.
Tony glanced at Nick Fury with surprise and skepticism in his eyes.
"So, you didn't know that Mage exist on Earth?"
"Then how did you just say those things with such confidence...?"
"'You have no idea what the real world is like...'"
"It's more dangerous than you think..."
"You, hmph..." A hint of shame and anger flashed across Nick Fury's face. He lowered his head and gripped his wine glass tightly.
Richard suddenly stood up and casually opened Portal.
Before leaving, he said to Tony, " Tony, the technology for Directed Stem Cell Migration should make progress next month. Prepare in advance, and I'll let you know when to have the surgery!"
Tony perked up and quickly said, "So fast?! Thanks, Richard!"
"No need to thank me, we're all brothers..." Richard waved his hand and rushed into the Portal as if avoiding a plague.
Nick Fury stared at the Portal that had dissipated into crimson energy specks and asked, "Mr. Tony Stark, is Richard really a Mage?"
Tony shrugged and said, "Didn't you see everything just now?!"
"No wonder Richard said you were suspicious..."
"You're doubting something you saw with your own eyes..."
"With you as director of S.H.I.E.L.D.., things are really..."
He shook his head and didn't finish his sentence.
Nick Fury, his face dark, stiffly changed the subject. " Tony Stark, have you finished reading the Proposal?"
Tony pursed his lips, slammed the " Proposal " shut, and pushed it away with a look of disdain.
"I'm sorry, Nick Fury, I'm not interested in your *NSYNC band..."
"You!" Nick Fury picked up the Proposal, got off the bar stool, and turned to leave.
After taking a couple of steps, he suddenly turned back, looked at the Arc Reactor on Tony's chest, and said meaningfully.
" Tony Stark, we'll meet again soon..."
"Hmph..." Tony mimicked Richard's expression, scoffing, " Jarvis, you need to update the database..."
Jarvis apologized, looking aggrieved. "I'm sorry, sir."
Tony waved his hand. "Tell Pepper Potts to buy two dogs. Next time someone breaks in without permission, just unleash the dogs on them!"
Jarvis: "Yes, sir!"
Nick Fury paused, then quickened his pace, somewhat disorganized, as he left.
Starlight Bar, Washington, D.C..
Richard stepped out of the Portal, HYDRA Little Snakes around him hurriedly stood up.
"Boss, you're here!"
"Good day, boss!"
Richard smiled and replied, "Good day, everyone..."
He waved to Adele, who was not far away, and said, " Adele, come here for a second."
Adele quickly put down her glass and hurried over.
"Boss Richard!"
Richard nodded and led her to an empty booth, where they sat down separately.
He asked directly, " Adele, how many people can you contact right now?"
Adele was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Boss Richard, what do you mean?"
Richard: "I want you to contact more HYDRA members and invite them to join us..."
Adele's face lit up with surprise. " Richard," she exclaimed excitedly, "You mean we don't need to hide anymore?"
"No!" Richard waved his hand and said, "Now is not the time for us to officially step into the limelight!"
"I need you to discreetly reach out to and recruit young, talented HYDRA, including those within S.H.I.E.L.D...."
"When the time is right, we'll swallow HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D.!"
Adele gaped in shock. "Swallow HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D.. together?!"
"That's so cool!"
Her eyes shone as she looked at Richard, a surge of unprecedented excitement welling up inside her!
'Ding-a-ling~'
The wind chimes at the bar entrance rang, and bald Thomas pushed open the door and walked in, turning back to wave.
"Hey, come in quickly, Grant..."
A handsome young man, slightly thinner and shorter than him, followed him into the bar...