The laboratory fell into a brief silence.
Tony's gaze flicked between the test tube and Xiao Han, finally settling on the other's calm expression.
"Why?" he asked softly. "This… this is far beyond our original agreement."
Xiao Han placed the test tube into a portable refrigerated case and pushed it toward Tony. "Because… it's interesting."
He had casually made up an excuse, a decision he had reached while Tony was unconscious.
He suddenly wanted to see what an ordinary human-surpassing genius like Tony Stark would do in the Marvel world.
Of course, the most important thing was that, as a superhuman, he would later obtain the Silver Superhuman template in the system.
Exploring different worlds would be his ultimate goal.
The Marvel world would serve as a base, and he needed a strong ally to watch over it.
And now, Tony was the perfect choice.
"Interesting?" Tony frowned. "What's interesting?"
"That suit of armor," Xiao Han offered casually.
"Or rather… you could have used every resource at your disposal to develop countermeasures. But you chose to trust."
Tony opened his mouth, then paused, speechless. He glanced at the refrigerated case and suddenly laughed. "So this is your gift? You're making me Captain America 2.0?"
"3.0," Xiao Han corrected, "and you can choose not to use it. It's just insurance. Also… this is only one of the surprises."
Tony picked up the refrigerated case, feeling the cold metal against his palms. "After injection, will I get that Rogers-level surge of justice?"
"No," Xiao Han shook his head. "It only enhances your physical capabilities. Your will, personality, morality—those are entirely up to you."
Tony slid the case into the security compartment beneath the workstation. The fingerprint lock beeped in confirmation.
Turning, his smirk returned, playful as ever. "So… now we're really partners?"
"If you're willing," Xiao Han replied, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling windows as New York's morning light began to streak across the skyline.
"But I suggest a full checkup before injection. I removed the side effects, but everyone's physiology is different."
"Yeah, yeah, you're as talkative as my dad…" Tony waved a hand, then suddenly remembered something.
"Wait, you said this is one of the surprises? There's more?"
A faint, mysterious smile tugged at Xiao Han's lips. "You'll see the other only after you use the serum."
Tony squinted. "I want to know now."
"Patience is a virtue, Mr. Stark." Xiao Han began to hover, moving toward the window.
"Complete the injection within seventy-two hours, or the active compounds will degrade."
"Hey! Wait!" Tony reached out, but Xiao Han was already gone.
The lab echoed with Xiao Han's final words:
"See you in three days. Hopefully, by then, I'll meet an upgraded version of you."
Tony stood frozen for a moment, then shouted into the empty lab, "JARVIS! Prepare analysis."
"Yes, sir." JARVIS paused, then asked, "Shall I contact medical to prep for a full checkup now?"
Tony's fingers tapped unconsciously on the workstation as he stared at the security compartment.
Finally, he drew a deep breath. "No… first, retrieve all data on the Super Soldier Serum. Especially Dr. Erskine's original research notes from 1943."
The holographic screen unfolded in front of him, but Tony's gaze couldn't resist drifting toward the safe.
A long-forgotten, almost childlike sense of curiosity and anticipation thumped in his chest.
It had been years since he'd felt anything like it—ever since his father passed.
Outside, sunlight pierced the clouds, gilding the Stark Tower in gold.
Tony remained at the window, lost in thought, until JARVIS's voice cut through the quiet.
"Sir, unauthorized landing detected on the rooftop helipad."
Tony arched an eyebrow. "Media chopper? Tell them this is private airspace."
"Not media, sir." JARVIS's tone held rare caution. "Signal identification indicates a S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet."
Tony's expression instantly darkened.
He strode to the workstation, quickly sliding the refrigerated case into a hidden compartment. The holographic molecular structure of the serum vanished along with it.
"Activate defense protocols. Lock all research data related to Xiao Han," he murmured, straightening his rumpled shirt.
"Let our one-eyed guest in."
The elevator doors opened. Nick Fury stepped into the lab, black leather trailing behind him, his single eye sweeping the room.
Two fully armed agents followed, stationed at the elevator entrance, alert and ready.
"Stark," Fury said lowly and directly, "we need to talk about your new friend."
Tony leaned casually on the console, grabbing a glass of whiskey, feigning nonchalance. "Nick, visiting personally this late—is this about investing in my clean energy project?"
Fury ignored the joke and moved directly to the central holographic display.
With a flick of his wrist, a miniature projector landed on the table, immediately displaying surveillance footage from a Queens bank just hours ago.
Xiao Han, clad in black armor, effortlessly subdued a superpowered mutant.
"Explain, Stark. Who is this person wearing your armor and exhibiting supernatural abilities? Don't tell me he's Superman." Fury's single eye locked onto Tony.
"He's not in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database," Tony said, sipping his whiskey, eyes lingering on the footage. "Guess what? He is Superman."
Pausing briefly, he looked at the still-serious Fury. "Okay, fine. This is a business secret, Nick. Stark Industries' new security consultant. That's it."
"Security consultant?" Fury scoffed, swiping through the display to a set of energy readings.
"This consultant's casual strike in combat could destroy Stark Tower. Imagine if he went all out."
Tony set down his glass, his usual smirk fading. "So… you've been monitoring me?"
"We monitor all potential threats," Fury stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
"Especially when a billionaire suddenly starts collaborating with an unknown superhuman."
The tension in the lab tightened instantly.
Tony could feel the pressure emanating from Fury, but he didn't flinch.
"Listen, Fury," Tony's voice chilled. "Xiao Han is my partner. His abilities and objectives are my private business. S.H.I.E.L.D. has no jurisdiction."
Fury's eye narrowed slightly. "Any supernatural phenomena fall under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction, Stark. Especially when it might threaten national security."
"National security?" Tony snorted.
"You're the real threat. I've seen S.H.I.E.L.D.'s security measures, treating the Tesseract like a toy for research. I don't even know what it does."
"But as far as I know, Hydra is using cosmic magic for evil."
Fury's expression shifted subtly. "How do you know that?"
"I know far more than you think, Director," Tony interrupted, walking toward another holographic terminal.
"For instance, your twenty-four-hour surveillance on the big green guy."
Fury fell silent for a few seconds, then changed tactics. "Stark, I'm not here to oppose you."
His tone softened. "In fact… I'm here to invite you to join the Avengers Initiative."
Tony turned, raising an eyebrow. "Avengers? Sounds like some second-rate band."
"A special task force," Fury said, producing an encrypted file from his inner pocket.
"Composed of the world's top superhumans and scientists to handle threats conventional armies cannot."