On the flight back to the United States, Tony, who had been somewhat unconscious from dehydration, finally came around.
The instant he opened his eyes, he spotted Su Zhou sitting bolt upright beside him, looking down at him from above.
"Black-haired kid, I'll remember you!"
Tony struggled briefly, only to discover that he was strapped to a stretcher.
"If possible, could you untie me again?"
"Sure! But I have a few things to say."
Su Zhou agreed readily enough, but showed no intention of moving.
He pointed his nostrils straight at Tony, looking thoroughly displeased!
"First, saving you was just my assignment, but you haven't even thanked me.
I'm very unhappy about that. I never imagined you lacked even basic manners!
Second, putting you in cuffs was also my duty. After all, you're the greatest butcher of this era.
You're also suspected of tax evasion and bringing unidentified medical equipment into the country! Do you admit it?"
Only now did Tony realize what sort of person Su Zhou was. He was far too upright!
For some reason, he kept reminding Tony of someone his late father had mentioned countless times.
Captain America, the man in the Stars and Stripes uniform. Tony hated people like that most of all!
But he was still strapped to a stretcher. He had to find a way to get Su Zhou to release him first.
Where the hell had Rhodey gone?! Why wasn't he the one looking after him?
"Uh... first, thank you for saving me.
Second, I have the best tax team. I guarantee I haven't underpaid my taxes by a single cent.
As for this thing in my chest, my life depends on it."
Tony sounded very sincere. Even though he really disliked Su Zhou,
Su Zhou was right. He really was the greatest butcher of this era.
When that bomb bearing the name Stark Industries had exploded beside him,
he had finally realized that what this world needed wasn't an arms dealer.
Perhaps it needed a hero more!
[Under your influence, Tony Stark has decided to shut down his company's weapons division. Justice Points +100]
Su Zhou: ?
So I can earn Justice Points without killing people?!
Persuading people to do good works too?
Compared with ordinary lackeys, these plot characters really do yield more fleece!
[Ding! Justice Points have reached 100. Would you like to draw a prize?]
"Not for now!"
Having gained something from Tony, Su Zhou suddenly found him much easier on the eyes.
He took the initiative to undo Tony's restraints and helped him sit up.
As though suddenly remembering something, he opened the insulated container beside him.
Then he took out two hamburgers that still retained a little warmth and offered them to Tony.
"I'm guessing you really miss these, even if they're a little cold."
"Are they cheeseburgers? Please, let them be cheeseburgers!"
Tony looked at the two burgers with delighted surprise and snatched them straight out of Su Zhou's hands.
Having relied on an IV for hydration all this time, he could have eaten a whole cow!
As he tore open the wrapper, the rich scent of cheese filled his nostrils.
Before long, both large cheeseburgers had vanished into Tony's cavernous mouth!
Once the two burgers were gone, Tony also found Su Zhou much easier on the eyes.
"Su... Zhou? You Asians have such hard names to pronounce.
If possible, could I have another burger?"
Su Zhou nodded, then took another burger out of the insulated container.
"We at the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division have prepared enough hamburgers for you.
If you'd like, you can keep eating until we land."
"You need a new name."
Tony still accepted the burger from Su Zhou. He really wasn't full yet.
After wolfing it down, Tony rubbed his rounded belly.
He let out a satisfied burp and looked at Su Zhou with a smile.
"All right, kid, tell me. What do you want me to do for that whatever-division of yours?"
Tony was a businessman, and he had figured out why Su Zhou was the one looking after him.
At the very least, the United States military didn't have as much clout as this organization.
He had never even heard of this ridiculously long name!
"If you can't remember our name, you can call us S.H.I.E.L.D.
Originally, S.H.I.E.L.D. needed you to do something for us, but I've changed my mind now.
I need you to hack into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s systems for me. I suspect my superior is embezzling the agency's funds
and is involved in building weapons of mass destruction for terrorist activities!"
Su Zhou wouldn't rest until he said something shocking, but he had successfully piqued Tony's interest.
After all, to Tony, the Pentagon's database was like his own backyard.
He could wander around it however he pleased. But now a mysterious organization he had never even heard of had appeared,
along with a man so upright that it was hard to dislike him, who actually suspected his own superior of doing something bad?
This was far too interesting!
Still, Tony had his pride, and he knew very well that he couldn't agree so readily in a business negotiation.
Otherwise, it would be hard to drive down the price later. For the sake of greater returns, he needed to play a little hard to get.
"What's in it for me?"
"After World War II, America's top scientists took the lead in bringing together some German scientists and technological resources
to establish an organization called the Strategic Scientific Reserve. That was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s predecessor."
"The United States' top scientists? Don't tell me..."
"That's right. Your dead womanizer of a father!"
Su Zhou cast his bait straight out, aiming to drag Tony into this.
Although he had long known that Nick Fury was embezzling funds to build a Helicarrier,
he still needed evidence in black and white!
There might be no definitive answer to who had the strongest sense of justice among all the Avengers,
but the most curious person among them was definitely Tony!
As long as he mentioned Howard Stark's name, their Tony was sure to take the bait!
"Howard Stark was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders.
That's precisely why I was assigned to rescue you.
A scientist who had risen to fame back in World War II, dying just like that in an ordinary car accident?
I'm sorry, but my clearance level as an agent isn't high enough. There are a lot of files I'm not authorized to view.
If you want answers, it'll depend on just how capable you are."
Tony: (๑ŐдŐ)b
Well, damn. Just... damn!
Although his father had been a womanizer, that car accident back then had also taken his mother's life!
If they hadn't died in a car accident, but had been murdered instead, then he needed a powerful ally!
And right in front of him was a sharpshooter who could take out over a hundred armed men!
One who wouldn't make exceptions for anyone, at that!
"Deal! I admit you've caught my interest!
I have one condition too. If we uncover the truth about what happened back then..."
After hearing Tony's words, Su Zhou showed him the M9 in his holster and the handcuffs at his waist.
"Even if it's the president, I'll arrest him!"