Marvel: Father of Superheroes

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*****

In the office, the Mandarin sat across from Trask, with Killian standing behind him, quickly reading aloud from a freshly obtained file.

"Wolfgang von Strucker, one of HYDRA's leaders, currently wanted worldwide. You…"

As Killian continued reading, Trask's expression remained calm.

Everything the man said was true. Why should he be nervous?

Besides…

He looked at the person in front of him—he wasn't entirely unfamiliar.

The Mandarin.

The same man involved in the incident that led to Tony Stark's capture—an event that became the catalyst for him becoming Iron Man.

So, Aldrich Killian's mysterious backer was actually the Mandarin?

Strucker waved his hand dismissively. "Don't waste time with that pointless background check. I know myself better than you do."

Killian closed the folder and sneered. "Now that we know your secrets, what makes you think you have the right to negotiate with us? We could turn you in right now… ha!"

"You won't."

Strucker's expression was calm.

"What?"

"I said, you won't turn me in."

With a faint smile, Strucker looked directly at the Mandarin and said confidently, "Right, Mandarin?"

The Mandarin looked intrigued. "Go on. What do you want?"

"An alliance."

Strucker picked up the cup of coffee in front of him with grace. "Now that I've met you in person, I'm convinced—we can work together."

The Mandarin's actions had already revealed who he was.

A powerful warlord. A terrorist with vast resources.

What would such a man want most?

The Mandarin tapped the armrest of his chair lightly. The rings on his fingers shimmered with multicolored lights.

After a few seconds, he smiled faintly. "So, how do you propose we work together?"

"A partnership based on mutual benefit and equality."

"And you expect that… from a bunch of stray dogs?"

"Perhaps. But we were once this close to controlling the world."

Strucker held his fists apart, indicating a narrow gap.

"Hmph."

The Mandarin chuckled with indifference.

He didn't care about their former glory. What he wanted to know was—what could they offer him now?

"Let's cut to the chase," the Mandarin said coldly. "What can you give us, and what do you want in return?"

He had no interest in playing negotiation games.

"We both need Extremis warriors created by the Extremis virus. We need this formidable force. I can help you. Like a production line, I can mass-produce Extremis soldiers."

Strucker spoke with certainty.

The Mandarin nodded calmly.

That much was obvious.

"We have a common enemy."

Strucker's target for revenge was the Avengers.

And the Mandarin's plans would undoubtedly be hindered by them—especially considering his history with Tony Stark.

Strucker and the Mandarin locked eyes for several seconds. In each other's gaze, they saw a flicker of mutual hatred. In that moment, they almost… felt a sense of camaraderie?

Tony Stark was an Avenger. The Avengers were one of the main reasons HYDRA had been destroyed.

Tony Stark and the X-Men had hunted down the Ten Rings in the Middle East, nearly wiping out their entire organization.

"Tony Stark…"

They both muttered his name simultaneously and then shook hands firmly. "Pleasure doing business."

Seeing the partnership formed, Strucker suddenly said, "Oh, by the way, I have another plan. I wonder if you'd be interested."

"Oh?"

The Mandarin was intrigued.

Strucker gestured toward the now-empty coffee cup, looking at Killian standing behind the Mandarin.

Killian scowled, snorted heavily in his heart, then picked up the cup and walked out.

Moments later, Strucker's voice slowly echoed through the room.

"Interested in taking control of this country?"

"Oh?" The Mandarin's eyes lit up. "Tell me more."

"The Vice President of this country isn't content living under others—and his beloved daughter is disabled."

Upon hearing that, the Mandarin instantly understood.

"Zzzzt, zzzzt!"

Wade sat on the rooftop of a building, a pair of binoculars hanging around his neck, absentmindedly sharpening his blade.

"Damn it! How can someone that lazy be so rich?"

"Does he even know what 'setting an example' means?"

"He hasn't shown up for work in a week! What kind of boss is that?"

Dripping with sarcasm, Wade grumbled, then slid his knife back into its sheath. He grabbed the binoculars and looked through them toward Stark Industries in the distance.

"Still nothing! What the hell is that guy doing?!"

He had thought he was already lazy, but now...

"Someone that lazy doesn't deserve reproduction rights!"

Wade cursed bitterly, then picked up the lunchbox beside him and began happily eating.

He had been staking out this spot for a full week, hoping to catch Tony.

Yet, he hadn't even seen a shadow of him.

And to think he'd even bought binoculars for this!

After quickly finishing lunch, Wade lifted the binoculars again and continued watching the distant tower.

Bored out of his mind, he lay along the rooftop's edge, shifting positions constantly. Despite that, he nearly fell asleep—and nearly fell off the roof.

If not for the explosion…

Clutching his chest in shock, Wade turned to the source of the blast.

The scene was already in chaos.

Flames and thick black smoke billowed skyward. People screamed, the wounded cried out…

"Tut tut."

Wade shook his head.

There was no safety in any world.

Just then, he saw a golden-red figure shoot out of Stark Tower and fly toward the site of the explosion.

"I-Iron Man?!"

He shouted in excitement, nearly leaping off the roof.

"Wait for me, Tony Stark!"

He shouted again, bolting down from the rooftop.

He couldn't catch up to him.

But—he could infiltrate Stark Tower and wait for his return.

He darted into a shop on the street.

A few minutes later, a blonde woman with long legs in black stockings and heels, carrying a large shopping bag and wearing a mask, strutted out of the store.

Click, clack.

Her heels echoed crisply against the pavement.

Wade swayed his hips, flicked his hair, and slung the bag over his shoulder with flair—oozing seductive charm.

If it weren't for the eerie mask he wore, quite a few people might've approached to ask for her number.

Even so, he still drew a lot of attention along the way.

Wade, of course, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Adjusting his "chest," Wade—now calling himself Vicki—marched boldly into Stark Industries.

(End of Chapter)