The commotion at the Stark Expo soon dominated the front pages.
Whether it was Hammer Industries' plunging market value or Iron Man's appearance and battle with the Iron Soldiers, both were major stories that held the public's attention.
The battle between the two sides had caused enormous damage to the buildings and even destroyed an iconic landmark, the Big Earth.
But it also proved one thing: the armor Iron Man built was powerful.
Tony had also tacitly conceded, allowing Rhodey to keep the suit. It was a compromise with the military.
Otherwise, those people would never sit by and let Tony possess such powerful armor, even if he was Tony Stark.
Morning came.
Yesterday had certainly been an exciting day.
John sat on the couch, drinking plain hot water.
His slender fingers pressed the remote, flipping through channels filled with news reports about yesterday.
He finished the steaming water in two or three gulps.
Throughout this, someone kept watching him.
Seeing John finish an entire kettle of freshly boiled water, the bandaged Ivan looked down at his own cup of scalding coffee.
He reached out and touched it, deciding he wasn't blessed with the ability to drink it hot.
"So... the Ten Rings sent you too?" John stopped on a channel reporting on Justin Hammer and asked in surprise, "You came all this way just to get revenge on Stark?"
Ivan did have some connection to his parents.
But he hadn't taken part in the mission to assassinate them. He hadn't even known the Ten Rings were hunting the Wick family.
He had only wanted to go after Tony Stark, and the Ten Rings, as Stark's longtime enemy, had been more than happy to help.
That was why he had appeared in Monaco. After attacking Tony, however, he had never seen anyone from the Ten Rings again.
Ivan fell silent for a while, running a hand over the tattoos on his fingers.
"Stark stole everything from my father," he said, hatred in his eyes. "That bastard Howard Stark was the reason my father died bitter and resentful."
John got a general idea of the feud between the two.
Put simply, the elder Vanko had wanted to make money, while the elder Stark, who had made his fortune selling weapons, had refused.
"Wow," John said expressionlessly. "That's it?"
"Hm?" Ivan stared at John, his gaze sharp.
John sighed. "You have a doctorate in physics?"
"Yes." Ivan didn't know why John was asking.
But since John had saved him yesterday, he chose to answer.
John continued, "You can build reactors?"
"Yes."
"And you can build powered armor?"
"Yes."
"Have you never considered another way to get revenge?" John rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on. "You're a genius and a scientist, Ivan."
"Any country would be eager to recruit someone with your abilities, yet you chose to go down in flames with Tony Stark."
John looked utterly exasperated.
What kind of painfully straightforward Russian scientist was this?
Everyone knew how profitable Tony's energy technology and armor were. They simply didn't have his technology.
As someone who did have that technology, Ivan only needed to put the word out. Whether it was Russia or the United States military, they would clear Vanko of every charge and recruit him immediately.
Hearing John's words, Ivan thought it over carefully, and his stalled brain began working again.
"You want to stop me from getting revenge?" Ivan looked at the man who had saved him.
"I'm not going to tell you it's wrong to take revenge on Stark for your father," John said, shaking his head. "But right now, you have no advantage against Stark."
"Howard Stark wasn't a good man. I have no sympathy for him."
John wasn't someone whose sympathy overflowed.
Lest anyone forget, Stark Industries had once been the largest arms manufacturer in the United States.
Howard Stark had certainly not been a good man.
Not merely because he had driven out the elder Vanko, but because he had been thoroughly American through and through.
His position had also been that of the United States.
The fact that he had owned the largest arms company alone showed how many weapons he had supplied to the military.
So John wouldn't sympathize with Howard Stark and tell Ivan to let go of his hatred.
"But you could try another approach. You aren't Tony Stark, so why insist on doing it yourself?"
John told Ivan earnestly, "You could take your technology anywhere you wanted."
"Don't let Tony Stark become your only option."
"It's not like you're in love with his ass."
The Iron Soldiers could be mass-produced and controlled remotely. Once a production line was established, it was easy to imagine how terrifying they would be.
Ivan seemed dazed. He hesitated. "But my father..."
"Only when you're strong enough can you make your father proud." John touched the steaming cup of coffee, and its contents rapidly froze solid. "Right now, you're too weak."
John leaned back against the couch. Seeing Ivan still hesitate, he rubbed his chin and said, "Kill Tony, and you become a wanted man across the world, wasting all those years you spent learning."
"I can give you somewhere to go and build your strength. Once you're on the same level as Stark, you can decide whether to take revenge." John smiled. "The choice is yours."
Ivan picked up the frozen coffee and tapped it with a finger, confirming it had frozen solid.
He looked up at that familiar yet youthful face, and his father's guilt and regret on his deathbed flashed through his mind.
The gap between him and Stark was far too great right now.
Without Hammer, he might still have been stuck in prison.
After a long while, he said, "I'll consider it."
"A wise choice." John smiled.
A snowy owl flew in and landed beside John.
"Is this yours?" As a bird lover, Ivan was quite taken with the snowy owl, though the bird seemed a little fat.
"This is Basil. Usually delivers my mail."
John took the letter from Basil's beak and stroked the fluffy head.
He glanced at the letter, then handed it to Ivan.
"This is a letter from Uncle Andrei for you."
Andrei was the eighth of John's maternal uncles.
There were twelve siblings in his Russian mother's generation of the Jovanovic family.
His maternal grandfather's family doted on the Wick children.
This time, John had written specifically to ask about the connection between Ivan Vanko and the Jovanovic family.
A reply had arrived overnight.
The moment Ivan heard Andrei's name, his composed expression vanished. He stared at the letter as though facing a mortal enemy.
Even the color drained from his face.
The toothpick fell from his mouth.
"You're afraid of him?" John could sense Ivan's fear and was rather puzzled.
This was a ruthless man who had been ready to take Iron Man down with him.
Ivan picked up the toothpick and put it back in his mouth, pretending to be calm.
Biting down on it, he took a deep breath. "Can I have a moment alone?"
John looked at him and nodded. "Go ahead."
Taking the letter, Ivan looked so grave that he might have been walking to his death.
He stepped outside the Wick home and looked up at the sky.
The sky was blue. The foolish thing he had done yesterday didn't seem to have brought this city too much sorrow.
Ivan came back inside and looked at John with the expression of a man who had made peace with things.
"Thank you for finding me a good job."
"What did Uncle Andrei say to you?" John asked in surprise.
Just moments ago, Ivan had looked ready to endure any humiliation and wait decades for his fortunes to turn so he could take revenge on Stark.
Now he seemed as detached as a man who had entered a monastery.
Ivan would never mention that the letter had said, "Cause trouble for my nephew, and I'll cut off your balls and stuff them in your mouth."
He merely said he had come around.
After all, John had a point. With such a vast gap between them, talking about revenge was child's play.
"Have you heard of Taran?" John didn't dwell on it and smiled. "It's a very good company."
"Just the place for that brain full of knowledge."
"Taran?" Ivan repeated the name. He had heard of the company.
It seemed to be a weapons manufacturer.
The difference was that the weapons they made weren't ones commonly used on battlefields.
"They also have an internal production workshop." John extended his hand and said meaningfully, "Here's to working together."
Ivan reached out and shook John's hand.
Inside a makeshift S.H.I.E.L.D. base.
Agents stood guard at the entrance.
Tony looked at the projected information, then his gaze fell on a file on the desk.
"Superhuman Alliance preliminary report."
He understood what was recorded inside: the things Nick Fury had spoken to him about before.
Just as he was about to open it, a black hand pressed down on the report.
It was Nick Fury.
"I don't want you reading that report." Fury sat opposite Tony, scrutiny in his eyes.
He also held another report: Natasha's assessment of Tony from her undercover assignment at Stark.
But it contained nothing flattering.
Impulsive, self-destructive tendencies, narcissistic...
All the signs indicated that Tony was not recommended for membership in the Avengers, but...
He could still serve as a consultant.
Hearing that, Tony immediately stood and shook Fury's hand, declaring, "You can't afford me."
He started to leave, and Fury made no attempt to stop him.
After taking a few steps, Tony changed his tune.
"But I could use my consulting fee to ask you for a small favor."
Tony wanted the senator who had sworn at him in Congress last time to present him with his award.
There was nothing wrong with Natasha's assessment.
Fury wore an expression that said he had seen right through him.
He also had a question he needed Tony to answer.
"John Wick," Fury asked, staring at Tony. "What kind of person is he?"
Tony paused, thinking of the young Wizard who could strip off his armor at the touch of a button.
He put on a fake smile. "Maybe the kind who likes taking other people's clothes off."
Before you continue