Captain America 3.0

Tony took the file and quickly scanned the names on it.

Black Widow, Hawkeye... His gaze lingered briefly on one pending slot: Bruce Banner.

"Interesting list." Tony tossed the file back to Fury.

"But I have a question. Who does this team answer to? S.H.I.E.L.D.? The World Security Council? Or some Secret Organization I don't know about?"

Fury's expression became unreadable. "Under special circumstances, the team will have autonomous decision-making authority."

"So in the end, we still have to listen to you."

Tony shook his head. "Sorry, Nick. I'm not good at following orders, especially when the leader is a self-righteous old man."

Tony paused, hesitated slightly, then finally said, "Also, I don't like working for an organization that Hydra has infiltrated by more than half."

Nick Fury's single eye narrowed. "Hydra? How did you know?"

"Xiao." Tony lied without hesitation. "He has a... special ability. He can see through disguises. He said at least a third of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents are working for Hydra."

The laboratory fell into dead silence.

Fury's expression became exceptionally grave, and Tony could tell he was assessing the credibility of the information.

"Even if that's true," Fury finally said, his voice low.

"That only proves we need someone like Xiao to join us. His abilities can help us purge the spies."

Tony walked back to the window and looked out over New York's nightscape. "Xiao isn't someone you can control, Fury. His power is far beyond what you imagine."

"No one is beyond control, Stark." Fury's voice carried a dangerous edge.

"Including you."

Tony turned and met Fury's gaze. "Threats don't work on me, Director. I have a better partner now."

The air between them seemed to freeze.

At last, Fury took a step back and put away the projector. "We'll continue investigating your partner, Stark. If we find that he poses a threat to the public..."

"Save it, Nick." Tony waved a hand impatiently.

"Instead of wasting time investigating Xiao, why don't you check your own base? I heard Agent Sitwell has been particularly interested in the Tesseract lately?"

Fury's expression instantly turned alert.

Sitwell was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent responsible for multiple classified projects.

Tony had deliberately mentioned that name to verify the intelligence Xiao Han had intentionally told him about Hydra's infiltration.

"Thank you for the... reminder," Fury finally said, turning toward the elevator.

"But our conversation isn't over, Stark. S.H.I.E.L.D. will be watching you."

After the elevator doors closed, Tony let out a long breath and sank into a chair.

JARVIS immediately reported, "Sir, thermal signatures have been detected on the upper floors. Someone is hiding in the ventilation system."

Tony sneered. "Black Widow, I'm guessing? Let her stay. She won't find anything anyway."

He walked to the hidden safe and took out the modified serum. The blue liquid glimmered enticingly beneath the lights.

"JARVIS, prepare the injection procedure." Tony's voice turned firm.

"If S.H.I.E.L.D. has already started moving, we need to speed things up."

"Sir, are you certain you wish to use an insufficiently tested biological agent?" JARVIS asked.

"According to protocol..."

"I wrote the protocols, JARVIS." Tony cut him off.

"And... I trust Xiao's technology."

The moment those words left his mouth, even Tony was somewhat surprised.

He had never trusted anyone easily, much less an alien with unknown powers.

But some instinct told him that Xiao Han was serious, that the serum truly was a gift as he had claimed, not a trap.

"Also," Tony continued, "activate the Iron Legion Initiative. I want every Mark Armor in combat readiness."

"Executed, sir," JARVIS replied. "However, based on the analysis of Mr. Xiao's abilities, our weapons systems are almost ineffective against him."

Tony looked at the liquid in the test tube, a smile curling across his lips. "Who said it was for dealing with Xiao?"

He loaded the serum into the auto-injector, his gaze sharpening.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sudden visit had confirmed his suspicions. Fury would not easily let an existence like Xiao Han go.

And if Hydra truly had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., then an even more dangerous enemy might already be moving in the shadows.

"Prepare the holographic display. I'm redesigning the Mark Armor." Tony rolled up his sleeves.

"Also, contact Rhodey. Tell him this weekend's party is canceled. I have more important things to do."

When the auto-injector pushed the blue liquid into Tony's veins, a strange warmth instantly spread throughout his body.

He felt his muscle fibers reorganizing, his neural transmission speed increasing, and his senses becoming extraordinarily sharp.

"Vital signs stable. All indicators have improved significantly," JARVIS reported. "Preliminary scans show muscle density has increased by 240%, bone strength by 180%, metabolism..."

"Based on muscle density analysis, you can exert 16.7 tons of force at full strength."

"Sir, you have already surpassed Captain America..."

Tony rose before JARVIS could finish, feeling the power surging through his body.

He casually picked up a metal wrench and gave it a light squeeze. The hard steel bent like putty.

"Wow." Tony murmured, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Xiao wasn't lying. This really is version 3.0."

He walked to the center of the laboratory, suddenly accelerated into a run, and became little more than a blurred shadow in ordinary eyes. Then he easily leaped three meters into the air and landed steadily atop the workbench.

"Sir, your heart rate is somewhat elevated," JARVIS reminded him.

"That's because I'm too excited, JARVIS!" Tony laughed as he jumped down. "This feels... incredible!"

But his expression soon turned serious again.

Enhanced physical abilities were only the beginning. He needed more preparations to face the coming storm.

Whether it came from S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, or even more dangerous enemies.

"JARVIS, send Xiao a message." Tony walked toward the armor assembly area. "Tell him... I accepted his gift, and I can't wait to see what surprise number two is."

Outside the window, New York's night sky was covered by dark clouds. A storm was brewing.

And within Stark Tower, a brand-new Tony Stark was being born—not merely a technological genius, but a true superhuman.

Tony knew that from tonight onward, everything would change.

S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers Initiative... These once-important names no longer seemed so crucial after Xiao Han's appearance.

"With this kind of power and technology..." Tony looked at his tightly clenched fist and murmured, "maybe we really don't need S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore."