MC POV
???: "Hail Hydra."
Upon hearing the greeting, I activated my Rank E classification skill.
"Hail Hydra. I've come to confirm the progress of the plans," I replied, perfectly mimicking the voice of the Kingpin.
"Good. Focus on distracting the police as we agreed. We also need to strengthen the plan to contain the vigilantes, and continue construction of the port. We need to transport more than expected. Is everything on schedule?"
Hearing him reveal some of the objectives, I couldn't help but smile discreetly before answering:"Yes. However, the vigilantes are causing a few issues."
"Understood. We received reports of the last incident. Our special soldier and a few subordinates were attacked by someone called Daredevil and a mysterious assistant. Eliminate or contain them as quickly as possible."
"The most important thing," the mysterious voice continued, "is to be careful with the vigilante called Immortal. We haven't been able to gather sufficient information on him, not even through deep investigation. He has been classified as a threat comparable to Alpha or even Omega-level mutants — possibly worse."
I raised an eyebrow and asked,"Is anything being done to contain or eliminate him?"
There was a brief pause."We're looking into alternatives. But given his peculiar nature, nothing solid yet. Just proceed with the plan."
"Understood," I replied. After a short farewell ritual, I ended the call. I then connected a small device to the phone to monitor future communications and ordered my AI to track the associated numbers and connections.
With that done, I stored the phone and drew my wand. I adjusted any trace of magical presence in the area to ensure no one could detect I had been there. All set, I used Kai Kai.
I reappeared in a small workshop filled with mechanical parts and ongoing projects. In the center, Tony Stark and a boy — probably around 12 or 13 — were working on a suit of armor.
The armor had red and gold tones, but what caught my attention was a faint presence of magical energy. It was weak and mostly ineffective, but the symbols I detected felt familiar — crude, yet similar to those I had once left behind as magical protection.
Even without guidance, he had managed to study something about mystical energy. It wasn't like the knowledge I possessed, but interestingly, the symbols he created seemed to adapt to the laws of this universe. They weren't like those used by sorcerers — more of a raw, natural form of magic.
I figured this difference might be due to incompatibilities between universal laws. If he wanted to deepen his understanding, he should seek out sorcerers or focus on local magical patterns.
Even so, the improvement in resistance against magical attacks was valid. I also noticed that the armor's tech was far more advanced than I had expected.
While I observed, I ended up speaking:"Alright, you can greet me now."
Both of them were startled by the sudden voice. The boy pointed a nail gun at me, clearly alarmed. Stark, on the other hand, quickly relaxed once he recognized me.
"I know him, kid. Didn't expect him to actually show up."
"I had to come," I said with a smile. "We're still allies, right?""Besides, the events involving this corporation seem to be tied to several organizations. I don't plan to get directly involved in the fight, but I'll do what's necessary to support you. When do you plan to strike?"
He thought for a few seconds before replying:"Potts is safe, thanks to your help. Aldrich will be at an oil base tomorrow night. She plans to intercept him and shut down his experiments. Since he attacked the president, he's already considered a criminal. Capturing or eliminating him won't be a problem."
"And the Mandarin?"
"Seems to be just an actor using a codename. But… something tells me there's more to it than that."
The doubt in his voice was clear, but I chose not to comment. We discussed a few details and agreed to meet at the site the next day. Then I left.
On top of an empty building, I created a magical barrier that blocked sound and visibility. I called two people.
The first was Shang-Chi. According to him, his father once used the name "Mandarin," and there were signs of involvement in the events surrounding Stark. Since this information came from a question posted on our internal vigilante channel — and considering this would be a good opportunity to test him — I authorized his participation.
Then, I spoke with my AI to confirm the data routes. After that, I made another call — to someone skilled in gathering information and who had already been investigating this case with me.
A holographic screen appeared in front of me, revealing a man with an eyepatch.
"Uncle Fury. I'm sure you received the recent intel. How's the investigation going?"
He rolled his eyes before responding:"Straight to the point… just like your father. Yes, Hydra likely survived and may have infiltrated SHIELD. I've already identified a few members, but…" — he paused and sighed — "...I believe they're more numerous than I thought. Possibly even occupying high-ranking positions. This goes back decades."
"Are you keeping an eye on Agent Ward?" I asked, recalling the message I had sent him.
"Yes… still investigating. I've ordered May and Coulson to proceed more cautiously. If it's true, we've got a serious problem — especially since his mentor was someone I trusted deeply."
The pain in his eyes told me the matter was personal. I didn't press further. We discussed other strategies and agreed to share information as needed.
I intend to help him, if necessary. SHIELD is still useful for protecting civilians and Earth itself. I have plans for it — still vague, but promising. Just like Osborn Corp's genetic research, Stark's armor technology, and my network of vigilantes, I want to use these forces as a foundation to defend and strengthen the planet.
Maybe because of my Haki or my connection to the Force, I can sense that Earth's future will only grow more chaotic... and full of enemies.