"So, what major things happened on Earth while I was away?" Hermione asked.
He walked over to a huge holographic screen and tapped it with a finger, bringing up several portraits and their associated files.
"After Pierce died, three people divided up what was left of Hydra. One was Baron Strucker, who escaped after we locked him up. Another appeared out of nowhere-a woman named Ava Starr. She used some of the resources and technology Pierce left behind to gather a group of followers. The third was Jasper Sitwell. Yes, the bald guy."
"And the base we took out a little while ago was the one in Sokovia. It belonged to Strucker."
Hermione raised an eyebrow.
Ava and Xiao Yi?
Interesting. I never gave them any specific instructions back then, just left them to develop on their own, and they actually managed to carve out territories for themselves in Hydra's ruins.
"But," Tony said, changing tack as his smile grew even brighter, "they won't be running around for much longer. And that brings us to my latest masterpiece."
"Ultron!"
He pointed to a hovering robot projection nearby, which was analyzing complex streams of data.
"Ultron's intelligence has been evolving at an unimaginable speed. It's already infiltrated networks across the globe. Not long ago, it pinpointed Baron Strucker's hideout in Sokovia. All the Avengers went in, and we just took down the base and captured Strucker. The operation was a complete success.
"Ultron deserves a huge amount of credit for that operation. It provided precise intelligence and tactical support."
Tony's voice brimmed with pride, as though he were showing off his finest creation.
Something stirred in Hermione's mind. "Did you use my Mind Stone?"
"Of course!" Tony admitted. "How else could Ultron have evolved this far in such a short time?"