Chapter 123

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...

In the underground laboratory of a villa perched high on a cliff overlooking the ocean in New York, Tony Stark leaned back in his chair, his head slightly tilted as he tried to relax. On the workbench nearby, partially assembled metal components hinted at the creation of exoskeleton armor. In front of him, a brand-new armor design was displayed on a holographic projection screen.

This was the armor Tony had envisioned ever since his escape from the cave where he had been held captive. With the miniaturized Ark reactor, Jarvis' artificial intelligence system, and his nearly maxed-out technical skills, he had turned what once seemed impossible into a reality. This armor would become his ultimate safeguard.

After being kidnapped, Tony had felt utterly powerless. His status as a billionaire and a genius scientist had meant nothing in the face of armed terrorists. A single bullet could have erased everything he owned in an instant. It was during that time he realized that he could only rely on himself. Flesh and blood alone couldn't stop a bullet, but the hardest armor could.

Thus, the MK armor was born. But even with this new creation, Tony wondered: would it truly keep him safe? Or was it just a source of fleeting comfort?

His mind drifted back to a memory from the cave—the vision of a beautiful woman with short, burgundy hair that had shattered his understanding of reality. He would never forget the scene: blazing flames licking the walls of the cave, bodies lying in despair, eyes wide with disbelief. Among them stood the woman, holding the terrorist leader by the neck, tossing him like a ragdoll against a distant wall. The man's body burst like a bubble, blood splattering everywhere.

Could the MK armor he developed ever protect him from that kind of power? Tony had his doubts.

Coulson's recent words, coupled with the vast information Jarvis had collected by hacking into New York City's networks, only deepened his confusion. Yelena's cryptic message echoed in his mind. It wasn't just talk—two individuals had single-handedly intimidated world-class crime lords, including the most powerful in New York, with devastating force.

Tony felt an oppressive weight settle on him, a pressure brought by power and mystery far beyond human limits. For the first time, Tony Stark—always confident, always proud—began to question himself.

He didn't know whether the knowledge and creativity he possessed—the crystallization of endless inspiration and advanced technology—could bridge the vast gap, as wide as mountains, rivers, and oceans, between him and what he was facing now. Tony's expression darkened.

He hated this feeling—the insecurity, the self-doubt, everything.

Time passed, and Tony remained slumped in his chair, eyes vacant, almost like a lifeless corpse. He wasn't sure how long he'd been sitting there. Then, by chance, his eyes fell on an object in the corner of the room, something he had forgotten about.

It was an unfinished star-shaped shield leaning against the wall.

The shield was based on one of his father Howard's earliest designs. Tony recalled words his father had once said to him as a child—words he had long forgotten and never cared much about at the time.

"Tony, you are the son of Howard Stark, the greatest scientist of this century. You are also my greatest work. I believe that in a more prosperous and advanced world, you will create stories far greater and more legendary than mine."

"Hey, Tony, put down those damn comic books. It's always Carl Anderson books you're reading."

"Son, crying is not how the Stark family deals with problems. We may be proud and arrogant, but we never doubt ourselves, never give up, and never cry."

"In this world, no one can bring the Starks down. If your beliefs remain strong, once the race begins—whether you're on a curve or a straight road—you must surpass it. You must stay determined and grit your teeth."

The voice, once blurry in his memory, came rushing back into his heart, and Tony's dull eyes began to brighten.

"Dad, maybe you were right."

Tony murmured to himself, then stood up from his chair, stretched his muscles, and walked over to the workbench. "Jarvis, we're not done yet, so don't fall asleep on me."

"Nice to have you back, sir."

Zzzt! Zzzt!

The sound of a laser cutting metal echoed through the underground lab. Tony's voice broke the silence occasionally.

"Hey, don't hold it against me—I'll donate you sooner or later."

"I'm sorry, am I blocking you?"

...

Meanwhile, at the S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, in the large hall with floor-to-ceiling windows, Agent Hill approached Nick Fury, who was holding a cup of coffee and staring out at the city below.

"Sir, according to the results from our one-month facial recognition search, we've come up empty. We checked a total of 383 city surveillance networks and found fewer than 30 people whose facial match exceeded 35%."

"However, our agents investigated all their backgrounds and histories, and ultimately eliminated them all."

Fury took a sip of his coffee, his expression unchanged, as if he had expected this outcome all along.

"What do you think, Hill?"

"They're like ghosts," Hill replied helplessly.

She had been with S.H.I.E.L.D. for over ten years. As Fury's right-hand and a senior agent, she had seen and investigated more than a hundred bizarre and seemingly impossible cases. Yet, thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s advanced technology, she had always managed to find some clue.

But this time, she couldn't even begin to describe this group. All she could say was that they were ghosts.

Their numbers were unknown, their information was unknown, their powers were unknown, and their movements were impossible to track. Even though Kingpin had verbally described the appearance and figures of the two people, there was no trace of them on the internet.

A group of ghosts, living beneath the gaze of society's watchful eyes, invisible and untouchable, leaving everyone feeling powerless.

Fury nodded, but kept his thoughts to himself.

After a moment of silence, Hill added, "Secretary Pierce is looking for you."

Fury raised an eyebrow.