Chapter 88

Future chapters (15+) at patreon.com/FFAddict. Thank you!

Stark is Stunned: Am I Living in a Novel or Movie?

It was for this reason that Nick Fury felt increasingly burdened.

Does this mean that SHIELD has truly been infiltrated by HYDRA to such a harrowing extent?

This is certainly not good news!

Even Coulson, the king of SHIELD agents, couldn't help but feel a headache looming.

However, such matters cannot be hurried; they require long-term planning.

"I understand, bring Captain back immediately!"

Nick Fury quickly put those thoughts aside and issued this order to Coulson.

"Understood, Director!"

After ending the communication with Nick Fury, Coulson made swift and proper arrangements.

Leading his impressive team, he brought Captain America back with utmost speed.

Considering Captain America's identity, Nick Fury gave it high priority.

He spared no delay, quickly preparing a safe and reliable sanatorium for the Captain.

Once Coulson returned with Captain America, he arranged for him to be admitted to the sanatorium without delay.

A series of examinations were conducted on the Captain.

"Director, Captain's physical state is fundamentally sound."

"It's just that due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures, his organs have been in a dormant state for an extended period."

"Furthermore, his muscles, having not been used for a long time, have stiffened."

"Therefore, corresponding rehabilitation therapy is necessary."

Outside the sanatorium.

The medical team, specifically responsible for examining and treating Captain America, reported the situation to Nick Fury.

"How long before the Captain wakes up?"

Nick Fury nodded, indicating he understood, then posed this question to the team.

"It's hard to say because the Captain is not an ordinary man. It might take one to two months, or it might just be one to two weeks."

The team provided such an estimate.

"Let me know the moment the Captain awakes."

"Also, without my orders, nothing here is to be disclosed."

"Yes, Director!"

After giving such an order, Nick Fury did not linger any longer at the sanatorium.

He had a lot of issues to address and couldn't afford to wait indefinitely at the Captain's bedside.

Little did Nick Fury expect.

No sooner had he issued the order to keep things under wraps than the intelligence was swiftly leaked.

That's right.

Despite Nick Fury's careful selection of trustworthy individuals, he ended up choosing a HYDRA mole.

In fact, Alexander Pierce received the news while Coulson's team was still in the Arctic.

"Captain America is truly alive!"

"That guy really has a strong will to live!"

Inside the top-floor office, Alexander Pierce couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

However, this news was favorable for HYDRA.

After some manipulation, their agents had successfully infiltrated Captain America's medical team.

Pierce also just received intelligence that Captain America would be in a coma for a while before awakening.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to collect a sample of Captain America's blood?

Damn it.

The opportunity to obtain a sample of the Super Soldier Serum is simply irresistible; to not take advantage of Nick Fury's assistance would be a waste!

Adding to that the other individual who had mastered Arc Reactor technology, Nick Fury was truly an excellent subordinate!

Thinking this, the smile on Alexander Pierce's face became even brighter.

"By the way, Director, Senator Stern's side is also ready; the hearing should be held soon."

The good news just kept on coming, as Pierce's senior undercover agent reported another positive update.

Senator Stern might not be very well-known, but he was the background figure in the memorable scene where Iron Man "shone at a hearing."

He was the one who used various means to try to take the armor from Stark during the hearing, only to be flamboyantly rebuked by Iron Man, who even pointed at his nose and cursed him.

He also made an appearance in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

He was the one who, outside the Triskelion, exchanged "Hail HYDRA" salutes with another HYDRA mole.

"Tell Stern that this is our best chance to obtain the Iron Man suit; make sure he succeeds."

Speaking of which, Alexander Pierce's expression also turned serious as he gave his instructions.

HYDRA highly valued the Iron Man suit.

If HYDRA could also control such a powerful weapon, who could stop them?

Unfortunately for Pierce, he would never imagine that this operation he so highly valued would be effortlessly thwarted by Tony Stark – in a highly insulting manner!

Of course, such events had not yet happened, and Tony Stark, for now, could not bother with "minor" things like a hearing.

Because Tony Stark was very busy.

Busy with what?

Without a doubt, he was busy with the preparations for the Stark Expo.

After months of anticipation and preparation, the effort that Pepper Potts had invested was about to bear fruit.

The Stark Expo was set to begin in a week.

As the sole heir to the "Stark" name and the tech genius of Stark Industries, even a hands-off manager like Tony Stark had to get busy.

With Iron Man's special status, there were too many aspects that required his personal involvement.

Even a laid-back person like him was as busy as a dog throughout the continuous week.

But how to put it?

For an expo of such significance to Stark Industries and Howard Stark, Iron Man, no matter how hard or tired, was willing.

Especially when he saw how much effort he had put forth, and everything was ready for the gala opening that night.

Tony Stark was very satisfied and looking forward to it.

He believed that once the opening ceremony arrived, he, Tony Stark, could once again set New York alight.

No, ignite the whole of America!

And indeed, it turned out to be exactly so.

When night fell and Tony Stark descended from the sky in his Iron Man suit, landing with a spectacular crash on the central stage of the venue.

The atmosphere at the expo site immediately surged to its climax.

Accompanied by a group of hot-bodied, scantily-clad dancers performing the "Iron Man" dance, the rhythmic music that made people want to twist their bodies along, and the fireworks throughout the venue.

With all these elements combined, Tony Stark stepped out of his Iron Man suit and walked to the forefront of the stage amidst the attention of the crowd.First, he flamboyantly spread his arms wide, striking an imposing and impressive pose.

After basking in the screams and cheers of the crowd for a few seconds, Tony Stark began his cool and swaggering opening speech.

...

"I'm not saying that the world has experienced a long period of stable peace because of me."

"I'm not saying that I've risen from the ashes to become the greatest phoenix in human history!"

"I'm also not saying that Uncle Sam can comfortably lie on his lawn and sip his drinks because I couldn't find anyone brave enough to take me on!"

On the TV screen.

Dressed in a suit, Tony Stark spoke with an arrogance that most people would never dare to utter.

It was not just any arrogance, it was an arrogance that knew no bounds, reaching for the skies.

Zhou Cheng was genuinely intrigued.

If such an extremely adolescent style were to be spoken by another man in his thirties, it might have been too awkward to bear, possibly even scraping away at the fabric of reality.

But somehow, when Tony Stark said these words, they flowed so smoothly.

Far from being cringe-inducing, it didn't even provoke dislike.

The roaring applause on the TV screen bore witness to this fact—the more boastful Tony Stark got, the more explosive the applause became, like a rocket taking off.

"Before I knew it, the Stark Industries Expo has already begun!"

Shaking his head, Zhou Cheng withdrew his gaze from the TV screen, letting out a sigh of how quickly time passed.

It had been just a blink of an eye since Tony Stark revealed his true identity, and half a year had already slipped by.

Or to be more precise, it had been half a year since the plot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe officially unfolded.

As someone who had traversed from a world that had seen the Marvel movies, Zhou Cheng felt quite sentimental.

It was like witnessing the birth of several iconic scenes.

It was an unmistakably great feeling.

Even with the early capture of Stane and Iron Man becoming the Destroyer, such surprises led Zhou Cheng to lose his accurate judgment of which universe he was in, which heightened his desire to explore an unknown future.

With two variables already present in this world, would others appear?

And could these variables lead to interesting changes?

It was like the "What If" series.

A seemingly insignificant change could lead to colossal consequences, even to the point of being revolutionary!

Zhou Cheng was very curious to see what this Marvel world had in store for the future.

He was also more concerned about whether his foreknowledge would still be of use.

However, based on his observations thus far, he hadn't noticed anything that deviated from the movie universe.

Captain America was still lying low, and Thor was probably still out conquering the Nine Realms.

None of the other superheroes had emerged prematurely or undergone any notable changes.

All seemed normal.

And now, six months after the events of the first Iron Man movie, the plot of the second had officially begun.

What would the main narrative of Marvel be like next?

Zhou Cheng was looking forward to it.

With a thought, he subconsciously recorded his feelings in his journal.

...

At the backstage of the main venue of the Stark Industries Expo.

"Not bad, right?"

"Yes, spectacular!"

A spirited Tony Stark, under the protection, or rather, the accompaniment of his loyal bodyguard Happy, basked in the flattery from his subordinates while striding towards his luxury car with grandeur.

As he approached his vehicle, it was only then that he noticed a sizzling hot lady already waiting by his car.

"Does she come with the car?"

"I hope so!"

Bantering with Happy, Tony walked over to the lady and began to flirt with her naturally.

"Where are you from?"

"Bedford."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for you."

"Well, you've found me."

Sitting comfortably in the driver's seat of his car, Tony spared the lady a glance and asked, "Are you looking for me for a reason?"

"Serving a subpoena!"

"You are required to attend Senator's Armed Forces Committee hearing at 9 AM tomorrow. Don't be late!"

She handed Tony Stark a subpoena as she spoke.

A hearing, huh?

Tony had anticipated this and remained utterly composed, not even a frown marring his brows.

After letting Happy take the subpoena, he nonchalantly stepped on the gas and sped away.

"Sir, your speech remains as understated and humble as ever, and your appearance, as explosive and fiery."

Back at the mansion, JARVIS offered more sycophantic compliments.

Tony Stark, accustomed to such praise, didn't allow it to inflate his ego and remained very calm.

"Sir, there was an update in the journal during your speech."

After greeting his boss, JARVIS finally began to report on something substantial.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Tony's cool façade couldn't be maintained.

After making a snide comment, he quickly grabbed the journal and flipped to the latest entry, indeed finding new content.

"[Really, when it comes to showing off in the whole Marvel universe, Stark really takes the cake.]

[Just look at this grandstanding; I reckon only the likes of Chen Beixuan and Li Qiye (protagonists in other OP MC novels) can even come close.]

[Stark has wowed the audience once again!]

[But after such a long prelude, the Stark Industries Expo has finally begun.]

[This means that the plot for 'Iron Man 2' is about to officially unfold!]"

Sure enough!

This Zhou Cheng was criticizing me again!

Tony Stark's lips twitched slightly, the urge to punch someone returning.

What do you mean by showing off?

All he, Tony, did was speak the truth!

Were his opening remarks not factual?

Was the dramatic reduction in America's crime rate and the increased sense of security among citizens not because of his Iron Man suit?

Such nerve... Can't people speak properly?

"Wait a second, 'second part'? 'Plot'?"

In his mild annoyance, Tony's attention was hooked by the last line in the journal.

That strange description, what did it mean?

"The second part," "plot," it felt as though it was describing some book, comic, or movie! 

It was indeed a very strange and awkward way to describe one's life.