Chapter 152: Win and Rule the World, Lose and Rise Again!

Bucky had been a ticking time bomb from the start, capable of igniting Tony and potentially affecting Clark directly as a super bomb.

During his control by Hydra, he was sent on numerous missions, indicating the meticulousness of Hydra's brainwashing before each operation. Bucky's involvement meant the targets were no ordinary individuals.

Howard Stark was just one of them.

Hydra, capable of orchestrating numerous assassinations, certainly held plenty of evidence, like the video from December 16, 1991.

The biggest charge wasn't the assassination of Howard Stark but the successful assassination of a US president!

Once this information was exposed, without fully unveiling the truth and identifying the real culprit, nobody could protect him.

Foreseeing Hydra might use such tactics, Clark was naturally prepared.

The government's search was bound to yield nothing, as Clark's villa had a special escape route that required Pym particle technology to pass through. Once activated, it could shrink a person to the size of a matchbox, transporting them through a micro-channel as if they vanished into thin air.

When Clark, moving at supersonic speed, arrived back at his Los Angeles seaside villa, the government's search had already been smoothly completed with Little White's "cooperation."

Seeing Clark's return, the FBI agent in charge of the search operation took the initiative to greet him: "Mr. Clark, I didn't expect we'd meet again under these circumstances. Seems we're quite fated."

Clark hadn't expected the officer directing the search at his home to be an old acquaintance. It was FBI Agent Everett Ross, who, ten years ago after Hank Pym was critically injured and fell into a coma, led the team that "protected" him and demanded Clark hand over the Ant-Man suit.

"I feel like it's more of a bad fate," Clark retorted, not hiding his displeasure. "Every time I see you, it's never good news."

"This time I'm here not for bad news. Mr. Clark, you might not be aware, but that Bucky Barnes guy is a highly dangerous terrorist. Even with your exceptional abilities, being ambushed unawares could be very dangerous."

Pausing briefly, Agent Ross asked, "May we talk?"

Clearly, he wanted to inquire about Bucky, and since Clark had brought him back, he couldn't refuse the invitation.

Nodding, Clark invited him to discuss further in the living room.

Agent Ross's questions inevitably revolved around Bucky, and Clark's responses were typically uncooperative.

Essentially, he acknowledged bringing Bucky back but claimed their interactions were minimal, even having Bucky act as a temporary bodyguard, suggesting a basic employer-employee relationship.

Bucky proposed leaving the previous night, and Clark didn't hold him back.

As for Bucky's crimes, Clark claimed ignorance.

Clark also claimed to have no idea about Bucky's whereabouts.

After talking for over half an hour, Agent Ross couldn't extract any useful information from Clark.

Now a significant figure in the US, the FBI couldn't simply apply force against Clark. Without concrete evidence of Clark's guilt, they had to take his word, even if they didn't believe it.

With Agent Ross and his team leaving, Clark faced Nalan Bai's anxious gaze and reassured, "Don't worry, everything is under control. But the coming period might not be peaceful. Just remember the 'three don'ts' mantra: 'don't know, don't understand, don't remember.' Regardless of who asks, just keep yourself out of it, and don't worry about the rest."

Nalan Bai still expressed concern, "Are you sure everything's okay?"

"What could possibly go wrong?" Clark said, sipping juice handed by a mechanical arm, continuing, "I'm no longer the small fry politicians could easily manipulate ten years ago. Anyone who tries something should be ready for me to fight back."

Nalan Bai seemed to understand, then hesitated, as if wanting to say something else but decided against it.

Clark, seeing this, couldn't help but chuckle, "Just speak your mind. Could it be worse than the FBI showing up at our door?"

"Not really a trouble," Nalan Bai quickly clarified. "It's about the movie promotion. Yena has already released the trailer for 'Breaking the Sky,' attracting widespread attention. If we don't act now, we'll miss the prime promotional period."

Nalan Bai initially didn't plan to discuss business competition with Clark, intending to handle it herself. But since Clark asked, she had to be truthful to avoid him guessing.

"So, that's the issue," Clark said nonchalantly, confidently adding, "I've already thought of a solution for the promotion. Just release a few of Steve's training videos, especially the one where he bursts the sandbag. That should be enough to attract the audience's attention."

Halfway through his enthusiastic plan, Clark suddenly frowned.

Thinking about it, neither Pierce nor others targeting him would be unaware that mere evidence against Bucky couldn't trouble him.

They must have further plans if they've taken action.

What would their next move be, and from which angle would they attack him?

And could their next step involve Captain America?

Such thoughts barely surfaced before he dismissed them.

With the enemy making their move, now was not the time for self-doubt!

The plan involving Captain America starring in "Man of Steel" was his trump card for winning the box office battle. If the enemy's next move targeted Captain America, there was no hiding from it.

In that case, why hesitate?

Meet force with force, water with a dam!

With this in mind, Clark looked at the worried Nalan Bai and smiled, "Just do as I said. Release Captain America's training videos."

After Nalan Bai left the Los Angeles villa and released the videos as Clark instructed, she drove straight to Hank Pym's lab in New York.

Despite Clark's reassurances, Nalan Bai remained concerned and sought Hank Pym's opinion.

"You're right, Clark's situation isn't as relaxed as it appears," Hank Pym sighed, explaining, "He's actually making a huge gamble."

"A gamble?"

"Yes," Hank Pym elaborated. "If he had been more discreet about Bucky, not letting irrelevant people see Bucky entering his company or villa, the FBI wouldn't have targeted him, avoiding much subsequent trouble."

"His decision to let things progress to this point, even facilitating it behind the scenes, is indeed a gamble," Hank Pym reminisced, as if recalling his own reckless youth. "He's betting his foundation in the US for greater gains, a risk invisible to outsiders before it erupts, akin to walking a tightrope."

"Win, and he rules the world!"

"And if he loses?"

Hank Pym's smile turned profound, "I asked him the same question."

"What was his response?"

Hank Pym adopted a carefree demeanor, mimicking Clark, "If I lose, then I'll just make a comeback."

Nalan Bai was taken aback by Hank Pym's sudden change in expression, but he soon returned to his usual composure, sighing, "That's what I admire about him."

"Youth is wonderful."

Hearing Hank Pym's words, Nalan Bai's heart settled.

Indeed!

Win and rule the world; lose and make a comeback. Clark is young enough to afford a loss.

With that in mind, what's there to worry about?

However, it's best not to lose such a high-stakes gamble.

So, I'll handle the company with ease. You can focus entirely on this gamble without worrying about business matters.

Win, and I'll watch you conquer the world;

Lose, and I'll be by your side for a comeback!

Meanwhile, Clark sat alone in his villa's living room, his right hand lightly resting on the coffee table, rhythmically tapping his index finger, creating a rhythmic sound reminiscent of a monk striking a wooden fish.

This was Clark's habitual action when deep in thought.

After Nalan Bai left, he had a vigorous workout in the gravity room, took a shower, and changed clothes.

Then, he calmly sat down, replayed recent events in his mind, and reevaluated his plans until he was sure there were no mistakes. Only then did he stop tapping and massaged his slightly aching temples.

Thinking through so many complex issues in a short time, even Clark's brilliant mind felt the strain.

Taking a deep breath, Clark accessed the system interface.

He remembered receiving a new Random BGM Lottery Card the night Captain America went missing and hadn't used it yet.

Now was the perfect time to relieve some stress.

With a thought, he selected the lottery card and confirmed its use.

"Congratulations, host, for using the 'Random BGM Lottery Card.' You've won BGM..."

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