Winds of Change

"Superman! Who was that?" Nick Fury's eyes narrowed, then... he was thoroughly confused.

"Director, Superman is a superhero from DC Comics. He possesses super strength, super speed..."

"Wait, you're saying he's a character from a comic? One of those superheroes who wear pajamas, masks, and save the world?"

"More precisely, Superman doesn't wear a mask, Director. He has a Biological Force Field that prevents people from remembering or photographing his appearance!" Coulson rattled off the details.

Nick Fury studied the satellite footage carefully. "It really can't capture any facial details... You seem to know a lot about him?"

"I'm a Superman fan. Of course, I'm also a Captain America fan!" Coulson sounded rather excited when discussing his hobbies.

"Then how do you think we should deal with this Superman?" Nick Fury leaned back in his chair with his hands clasped. "It seems he doesn't want anyone discovering his true identity."

"Based on the comic's plot, he stands on the side of justice and stops unjust violence, so perhaps we could try making contact," Coulson said.

"That's a comic, Coulson. In reality, this is just an imitator, and what he's doing right now is using violence!"

"This... does seem to be the case. The Superman in the comics doesn't kill. He has a no-killing rule, unlike Captain America..."

"Stop talking about your comics, Coulson!" Nick Fury rapped the desk. "Take Barton and make a trip to Afghanistan. Try to investigate him."

"Yes, Director!" Coulson ended his report and headed out with his new assignment.

When he reached the door, Nick Fury's voice sounded behind him again. "Also, send me a set of Superman comics."

At the same time, the military was experiencing the very same scene.

However, unlike Nick Fury, who knew more about extraordinary powers,

the military command center was in complete chaos.

As a colonel in the weapons development division, Rhodey was the first to step forward and explain that the figure in the video was a living person, not a humanoid individual combat weapon.

A major from the missile corps stepped forward and said that if even Jericho missiles could not harm the enemy, then only nuclear weapons would be powerful enough.

A Navy colonel said they had no way to deal with someone who could fly.

An Air Force lieutenant colonel said air-to-air missiles would have a hard time hitting a target that moved that fast and was that small.

In the end, General Ross slammed his hand on the table and made a decision: ignore him for now, keep him under observation, and if he showed no hostility, attempt negotiations. Ideally, they would get him to cooperate with research and create super soldiers for the United States.

Then the meeting was adjourned! Prepare for war!

That morning, the major classified agencies were in turmoil and uproar.

Meanwhile, Stark Mansion on the Los Angeles coast was warm and languid.

That was, until JARVIS woke Tony from his sweet dreams with a recording of suona music Leon had made earlier.

"God!! JARVIS, what are you doing!?"

Tony climbed up from the floor while clutching his blanket. The sudden blare of the suona had scared him right out of bed.

That rousing melody, like galloping horses, made his heart pound. He had thought someone was about to trample his soft bed beneath a stampede.

"Sir, Master Leon just instructed me to wake you and play this video for you."

After saying that, JARVIS controlled the holographic projection equipment and displayed the footage Leon had recorded on his phone before Tony.

In the footage,

thousands of guns fired in unison, hundreds of grenades carpet-bombed the area, and vehicle-mounted missiles and Jericho missiles appeared one after another.

The screen was filled with fire, huge flashes, explosions, and even bigger explosions, leaving Tony utterly stunned.

Before he even had time to worry about Leon facing those dangerous weapons head-on, the progress bar had already reached the end.

"What was that? A promotional video Leon made overnight? Where is he now?"

"Master Leon is currently eliminating the Ten Rings in Afghanistan, sir. The footage in the video was recorded live for you at his request ten minutes ago."

"He's in West Asia? God, when did he leave the house? It's only... Oh, it's ten o'clock already."

Tony looked at the blazing sun outside and rubbed his face. "He actually ran off by himself... So why did he send me that video?"

"Master Leon wanted you to take a good look at the Stark weapons in the video, sir."

"Stark weapons..." The expression on Tony's face froze.

He dragged the video back to the beginning and watched it again, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"They're almost all Stark weapons. And why are Jericho missiles in a Ten Rings base!?"

Tony's face was expressionless, but his twitching cheek revealed the turmoil in his heart.

"I only sold those missiles to the military. Where did these people get them? The military? Or Obadiah?"

"Sir, only one batch of Jericho missiles has ever been produced—the batch you sold," JARVIS said.

"..." Tony remained silent, his face wooden.

A few seconds later, he threw on a shirt and pushed open the door.

"JARVIS, control Leon's suit and come with me to West Asia. Oh, right, and the Middle East."

"Certainly, sir. Also, do you think you will still be able to sleep tonight?"

"Why are you asking that?" Tony frowned.

"Master Leon asked me to ask you that question and report your answer to him promptly."

"..." Tony opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally drew a deep breath, snorting through his nose. "Tell him that when I can't sleep, I'll make sure he can't sleep either!"

With that, he spread his arms, and the Mark III armor immediately assembled around him.

"Keep up, JARVIS."

He controlled the armor as it took off, followed by the Super Mark I controlled by JARVIS.

Super Mark I was a name Leon had come up with himself.

That damned competitive streak of his—even naming something, he had to gain a little advantage.

Morning in Los Angeles was night in Afghanistan.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Flames from guns and cannons erupted into the sky across this land one after another.

From high above, they looked like candle stands lighting up one after another, only to go dark in an instant.

They lit up from the northeastern corner of the map, one area after another, until everything in the southwestern corner finally dimmed.

"Tell me the time, JARVIS." Leon looked down at the last Ten Rings base below, now reduced to ruins and billowing smoke.

"It is currently 11:08 p.m. local time."

"Mm... I wasted some time. It took eight minutes longer than planned."

For some reason, whenever he saw Ten Rings members using missiles,

he could not help but wait.

Wait until the missile was launched, then blow it up right in front of the terrorists.

By then, even the most devout and stubborn Ten Rings members would be so despairing that they would piss themselves.

Killing them was not enough; he had to crush their spirits too.

Even Leon felt he was being a little excessive.

But he had to admit, it really felt good.

Especially when he looked down at those militants sobbing and streaming with tears and snot in terror, then said, "Is this all you can do? How disappointingly weak."

That felt even better.

It was just a bit time-consuming.

"Now that the Ten Rings within this country have been cleared out, the next target is the United States military bases."

"Master Leon, what do you intend to do?"

"Show them our strength and destroy their weapons. After all, the decisions are made by those at the top. Most ordinary soldiers are simply following orders; they may not all be willing to start a war."

"Your choices have always been wise... Master Leon, Mr. Stark has entered Afghanistan's border and is contacting you. Shall I connect the call?"