???
What is all this?
Tony's face darkened, and he quickly interrupted, "Enough! Richard!"
"Now all you have to do is tell me, are you HYDRA?"
Richard smiled and shook his head. He tilted his head back, took a swig of wine, and looked up at the clear swimming pool.
"That's not important, Tony..."
"A person's identity is like the water in this swimming pool!"
"It looks clean and clear, but who knows what ingredients it contains..."
" Tony, what do you think of my mentor, Professor Jennings Phillips?"
Tony paused for a moment, then replied, " Professor Jennings is a truly remarkable medical master!"
"That's right!" Richard nodded with a smile. " Professor Jennings is a world-renowned master of surgery. And for decades, he has dedicated himself to treating and saving lives, never intentionally harming anyone..."
"But he was also a HYDRA..."
Tony was completely stunned. " Professor Jennings is also HYDRA?!"
Richard shrugged. "Hmm, surprised, Tony?"
" HYDRA is an ancient organization with a history spanning over a thousand years! Perhaps one of the kings or nobles in history was a HYDRA!"
"You've probably heard the saying, 'Cut off one head, and two will grow back!'"
No one can figure out exactly how many HYDRA there are in the world!
"But HYDRA is a terrorist organization!" Tony said.
"Tsk..." Richard sighed softly, " HYDRA was designated a terrorist organization because of John Schmidt during World War II!"
"But that's war! The winner wins everything, including fame!"
"Besides, Red Skull is only one of HYDRA's heads; he doesn't represent the entire HYDRA!"
" Tony, can you simply and crudely label an ancient organization with a history of over a thousand years as a terrorist organization?"
Tony opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
But he knew perfectly well in his heart that he couldn't...
Frustrated, he poured himself a glass of red wine, tilted his head back, and gulped it all down.
"But HYDRA can't operate in the light of day..."
"I know," Richard said with a smile, "That's why I brought all these well-connected HYDRA under my command..."
Tony perked up. "What are you planning to do next?"
Richard opened his right hand, and an orange-red fireball appeared in his palm, which he then crushed with force.
"They have impressive backgrounds and amazing potential, but they are still young and need a mentor to guide them on the right path..."
"That's why I brought you to meet them, Tony..."
"You'd be a perfect mentor for them!"
"Me? My mentor?!" Tony exclaimed in surprise, pointing to himself.
"Are you kidding me?!"
"I'm the most famous playboy in New York!"
"Irritable, Pride, and ruthless in achieving her goals..."
"That's right!" Richard nodded in agreement. "You're a rotten person!"
Tony was so offended by Richard's comment that he couldn't help but roll his eyes at him before turning around and lying down on the beach chair.
"So you've got the wrong person, Richard..."
"No, Tony!" Richard's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Leaving aside your terrible flaws, your strengths are also quite evident..."
"You have a strong sense of responsibility and an indomitable spirit!"
"You're smart and confident; nothing can ever defeat you!"
"You're a perfect fit..."
"No way!" Tony firmly shook his head in refusal.
Richard began to patiently persuade him, "You just had contact with these Little Snakes, and although it wasn't for long, you should have been able to sense that they aren't truly evil villains..."
"They received rigorous elite education from a young age and are all rare talents!"
Then he changed the subject.
"In this world, HYDRA's power is vast and well-hidden!"
"You should have investigated Nick Fury's S.H.I.E.L.D.., right?"
Tony nodded. "Although I really dislike that Pride director, S.H.I.E.L.D.. is indeed very powerful!"
"Then let me tell you something..." Richard smiled meaningfully, " S.H.I.E.L.D.. is also jokingly called ' Hydra-Shield '..."
"What the hell!" Tony sat bolt upright, staring at Richard in disbelief. "Are you kidding me, bro?!"
Richard shrugged. "You know I don't like joking..."
"..."
"That's insane..."
Tony slapped his forehead in exasperation, then suddenly turned and asked, "So Nick Fury is also HYDRA?"
"No!" Richard's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "This is the most interesting part..."
" Nick Fury isn't HYDRA; he always thought S.H.I.E.L.D.. was S.H.I.E.L.D.."
"Ha~ Ahahahaha~" Tony burst into laughter, "Interesting, so very interesting!"
After laughing for a while, Tony finally sat up, clutching his stomach. "I really want to see Nick Fury's expression when he finds out the truth!"
He'll yell "Fuck you!"
Richard mentally scoffed, then gulped down his drink. He chuckled and said, "That day will come... provided you join us..."
Tony's smile faltered. He hesitated, rubbing his chin, and after much deliberation, he finally agreed.
"My salary isn't low, Richard!"
" The UN Security Council can afford it!" Richard chuckled, raising his bottle. "Welcome to HYDRA, Mr. Tony Stark!"
Tony rolled his eyes, then picked up his glass of red wine and clinked it against his. "I only joined you, I didn't agree to join HYDRA!"
"Yes, yes, you're right!" Richard replied perfunctorily, tilting his head back and gulping down the entire bottle of Whiskey.
Tony's lips twitched, and he cursed inwardly, "Are you trying to drink me to death?!"
He quickly put down the wine and stood up.
"I'll go in first!"
"The little ones inside are still waiting for me!"
After saying that, he quickly made his escape.
Richard shook his head, put down the empty bottle, lay down on the beach chair, and stretched comfortably.
"Ah~ Tool number No. 1 is here~"
Suddenly, the Comm Watch started vibrating.
'Buzz~'
White Queen: " Richard, Richard, Simmons is calling!"
"Connected~"
Simmons's voice came urgently. "Boss! A group of FBI agents have arrived at the lab, and they're trying to forcibly take all our research data!"
Richard frowned and abruptly sat up.
"FBI? Simmons, notify Ms. Pepper Potts of Stark Industries and let her handle this!"
Simmons replied anxiously, "I've already notified the boss! But these people are extremely uncooperative; even when President Pepper personally intervened, they showed no respect whatsoever!"
"Not giving me face?" A knowing look flashed across Richard's face; he guessed who these 'FBI' people were...
Nick Fury, you've finally made your move...
"Wait for me!"
After saying that, Richard hung up the call immediately.
He got up, opened the Portal, and stepped inside.