Chapter 539: A Ghost Named Xun Zong... (Part 2) (Patreon)

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As is well known, since the Cold War era, the U.S.'s red allergy has been incurable. If you want to bring someone down from their position, the fastest way is to accuse them of being a communist collaborator.

And there's a precursor symptom of this red allergy, which is part of the "paranoia spectrum," the "seeing everyone as red syndrome."

After entering the modern era, this symptom has eased a lot and is almost on the verge of recovery, as the root cause of the illness is no longer present. However, with the shadow of the root cause reappearing on this planet, the old ailment that hasn't healed for years has resurfaced.

"Boss, I think this is really a bit outrageous. Regardless, can't we search Captain America's personal belongings?"

A young agent followed behind their superior, and their superior walked through the corridor without expression, saying, "Don't ask why, just follow orders."

"Not only Captain America, but all members of the Avengers organization must undergo a secret investigation."

"But haven't we already voted for global cooperation? Why do we still need to conduct internal secret investigations?"

"That so-called Hero Registration Act failed, and the senators have no way of understanding these superheroes' information, so they have to investigate on their own. Thanks to their desire to control everything, this is our job."

Turning a corner, the superior pointed to a door next to them and said to the young agent behind them, "Go there, get your equipment, and follow your team leader."

After the young agent nodded and left, the superior shook his head helplessly, sighed, and said, "If it weren't for the damn S.H.I.E.L.D. taking away most of our manpower, we wouldn't send this inexperienced newcomer on field duty."

Having said that, he strode downstairs and entered an office. Inside, he greeted the person sitting in the seat, saying, "Marc, good afternoon. Don't you have field duty today?"

"Well, there is one, but I don't quite understand. Why do I have to protect Stark?"

The superior walked to Marc's side, put an arm around his shoulder, and said, "I thought only newcomers would ask such questions. Do you remember our principles?"

Marc sighed and said, "Don't ask why, just ask how to do it... Well, I'll go now, but seriously, how much longer until I can resign? My mental state is getting worse."

Marc placed his hand on the side of his head and continued, "Just a while ago, I passed out for a moment. When I woke up, I still didn't know what happened. Can't I take sick leave?"

The superior comforted him for a while, then watched as he left the room with his equipment. After he left, the smile on the superior's face faded. He took out a communication device and said, "He's gone. Go search his belongings, don't leave any traces. He's still useful."

On the other side, inside Stark Tower, Stark looked at the arriving Marc's team and felt quite puzzled.

He scrutinized Marc and said, "Aren't you the Khonshu devotee who went crazy with Schiller the other day? But please don't tell me you're in charge of security for this exhibition."

"Correct, it's me." Marc was not very patient. For someone who was about to retire, all the work before retirement was just a formality.

Moreover, he found it really absurd. Why did he have to come to protect Iron Man? What does Iron Man need protection for?

But instead of asking that, Marc opened his mouth and turned it into another question: "Why are you organizing a science and technology exhibition now?"

Stark hesitated for a moment and then said, "Someone is out to get revenge on me. He said he can only change light bulbs and yet caused a lot of trouble. He even altered Earth's landscape, uniting them all."

"Previously, the Solar System construction plan wasn't making much progress. He helped me with that, but Stark never owes anyone any favors."

"Now, displaying some advanced technology will boost the confidence of the newly formed alliance. At the same time, I'll use these technologies as rewards. Whoever contributes the most takes the prize, regardless of the country, regardless of stance..."

Stark crossed his arms and said, "While our goals are the same, I must prove that only Stark is the cornerstone of human civilization. Every Stark, in every era, is."

"Well then, I'll take the team to inspect the exhibition area, eliminate any potential hazards, and the products must be inspected by me before entering, to ensure that there are no parts that could pose a public safety risk..."

Marc mechanically began reciting the contents of the agent security manual to Stark, who grew increasingly impatient.

But Marc was even more impatient. He was supposed to be retiring, yet he ended up with this pointless and difficult job. Sure enough, his superior had it out for him, intentionally making things difficult.

After debating with Stark for a while, Marc was extremely annoyed. He could only say, "I'm going to the restroom. Let's confirm the details when I come back."

Entering the restroom, Marc finally couldn't hold back anymore. He vigorously shook his head, turned on the tap, and tried to wash his face with cold water to clear his mind. However, when he looked up at the mirror, there was a moment of grim expression.

It wasn't his own expression – it was a cold and cruel eye contact. Marc clung to the edge of the sink and muttered, "No... don't, don't let him come out... help me..."

But Khonshu didn't respond. Marc held onto the sink, burying his face in the basin as he retched. When he lifted his head and stood up straight, the expressionless face of Jack appeared in the mirror.

Meanwhile, Stark stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the outside scenery.

He was also impatient dealing with these agents, but he knew that now was not the right time to turn against them. Schiller's opportunity was seamless; whether human civilization could truly gather and follow a path of strength depended on this moment, and it wasn't wise to create trouble now.

Soon, a figure appeared behind him, and Stark didn't react in time. A massive cross-shaped light formed by intersecting swords came at him.

"Bang!

!"

The floor-to-ceiling window at the top of Stark Tower shattered, and the Mech armor shot out, followed by the bandaged Moonlight Killer.

"Marc!

You've gone mad?!"

Stark shouted.

But Marc paid no attention. He continued to create enormous blade-like light with his twin knives, and even in broad daylight, the strange Khonshu's light effects were visible throughout New York.

Soon, news of the battle between Marc and Iron Man spread to various departments, and nobody knew what was happening.

However, very unexpected information followed closely.

"Hey, boss, there's bad news. We did find something related to the Soviet Union among Marc's personal belongings. It seems to be a Soviet Union medal, but I don't recognize the specific medal."

Marc's superior held a telephone, frowning. He said, "I knew it... He's so eager to resign; he must be afraid we'll discover his secret!"

He took a deep breath and continued, "Let's not take hasty action. During this sensitive period, an arrest warrant might not be approved. Put the items back where they were, and I'll report this to the council first."

After hanging up the phone, he dialed again. This time, he called the senator who was in a meeting.

Hearing the situation from the superior, the senator furrowed his brows deeply. He said, "I remember you said last time that this agent named Marc disappeared for a long time with Schiller?"

"Correct, and their displayed special abilities have some similarities. They might both be products of Soviet Union experiments..."

The senator sighed and said, "Let's not move him for now, so as not to provoke Schiller. We need further investigation."

After hanging up the phone, he turned around and looked at the other senators seated there. These senators were all old, with graying hair and receding hairlines. The senator who took the call explained the situation, and the others had solemn expressions.

"It seems they're everywhere," one of the elderly men said.

"This proves that our investigation is necessary," another person said. He knocked on the armrest of his chair with his hand and added, "But I didn't expect that the one to propose this investigation first would be Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Indeed, Pierce didn't misjudge him."

"We need to find a reliable person to oversee the covert side of things. I think Nick Fury is good for that. However, we also need someone else to shoulder the overt responsibility, to compete for the position of head of the Solar System construction plan." Another senator turned his eyes around and said.

"Of course, Captain America is the one. He's been doing this kind of work all along, right? I remember watching his propaganda films when I was a kid." An old man said, and the others chuckled. Another person said:

"Indeed, he's very useful and easy to control. He's simply perfect..."

Just then, a piercing telephone ring sounded. The senator who was holding the telephone pressed the answer button again. From the other end came a loud voice:

"Bad news! When we were searching Steve Rogers' personal belongings, we found a medal, and it looks like... it looks like a Soviet Union-era Medal of Motherland Defense!"

"Medal of Motherland Defense? How could Captain America have a Soviet Union Medal of Motherland Defense? ... Wait, which era is he from? The U.S.-Soviet relationship should have been good back then, right?"

The senator who received the call clutched his heart, gasping for breath. He propped himself up on the table, stood up straight, turned around, and looked at the group of elderly men behind him. He swallowed his saliva and said to his secretary, "Call for a doctor..."

The secretary left puzzled, and others also looked at him with confusion. Finally, the senator opened his mouth and said:

"Captain America might be the recipient of the Soviet Union Medal of Motherland Defense."

"Bang!", "Bang!", "Crackle..."

"Ugh!", "Oh!"

"Doctor! Where's the doctor? Someone has fainted!"

Half an hour later, Stark, who had managed to drive the crazed Jack away, flew back into Stark Tower through the shattered windows. He let out a sigh, shook his head, and felt that he was truly having a stroke of bad luck.

At this moment, JARVIS said to him, "Sir, Mr. Schiller's communication. Should I put it through?"

"Patch it through."

On the other end, Schiller's voice remained calm, but the content made Stark's heart skip a beat.

"Get ready to take full control of the Solar System construction plan and become the rightful person in charge. No one would be more suitable than you."

"Why?"

"Because we all have medals, and you don't."

"Huh?" Stark couldn't make any sense of Schiller's nonsense.

However, Schiller disconnected the call directly. Soon, JARVIS spoke again:

"Sir, communication from Congress. Should I put it through?"

"Connect."

On the other end, the senators sounded utterly distraught:

"Stark!

We have only you left!

!"

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 540: When Will Grudges End (Part 1)