The night was ink-black. A brightly lit cruise ship sailed slowly across the sea, like a moving island.
The Quinjet hovered in the shadows nearby.
"This ship belongs to Ulysses Klaue, an arms dealer and an old hand on the Black Market."
Tony's voice came over the comms with a note of understanding. "My guess is he's got plenty of good stuff, like vibranium. That's probably what Ultron came for."
Dr. Banner said thoughtfully:
"No surprise there. Ultron probably doesn't dare take us head-on yet. It needs a stronger body, and vibranium is undoubtedly the best choice. Only by getting stronger can it feel confident enough to face the Avengers."
Everyone agreed.
"All right, people. Let's move."
Steve's voice was calm and decisive. "Banner, stay on the jet and provide intel support. Tony, Skye, Thor-the four of us will go down and pay it a visit."
The four slipped silently aboard the cruise ship. A faint trace of blood hung in the air.
After passing through several empty corridors, they stopped inside a storeroom.
The room was a wreck. Ulysses Klaue lay in a pool of blood, clearly no longer breathing.
Two figures stood beside his corpse.
One was the familiar figure of Ultron, its metal frame gleaming coldly beneath the lights.
The other was covered from head to toe in a tight-fitting suit and a mask. Judging by her build, she was a woman.
"Hey, Ultron, you little brat. You actually found yourself a helper?"
Tony broke the silence first, his tone teasing. "Well, Daddy brought some friends today too. If you know what's good for you, hand over little Hermione's Mind Stone, or I'll drag you home for a spanking!"
Ultron's electronic eyes flickered, and it spoke in a cold voice:
"Stark, your sense of humor is as