Kapitel 37: 361-365
Regarding the return of Captain and Pietro, Tony didn't leave the lab to greet them.
Although he said it wasn't because he would be awkward after meeting, anyone with clear eyes could see the real reason he didn't want to show up.
But since he didn't want to come out, Mark didn't want to force anything. He could only go downstairs by himself to confirm the situation with Captain and the others.
...
After coming downstairs, what Captain and Quicksilver brought back truly surprised Mark.
Not only did they obtain the remaining regenerative serum and related research data in the Osborn Manor, but they also unexpectedly gained another surprise—a lizard doctor who had been imprisoned by the Green Goblin in the experimental chamber!
Doctor Lizard that Mark saw now no longer had the fierce and furious appearance from the previous films.
Being subjected to long-term blood and tissue extraction by the Osborn family's researchers for research purposes, and constantly injected with excessive sedatives to suppress Lizard's violent tendencies.
Doctor Lizard in the experimental chamber that Mark saw now even gave him a feeling of being emaciated.
With the unexpected gain of Doctor Lizard, Mark now had an additional subject for testing the reversal serum, which was undoubtedly a good thing.
After exchanging information with Captain about the current progress, Mark returned to the lab with samples and data of the regenerative serum. After all, time was of the essence, and both sides understood this implicitly.
With the original samples of the regenerative serum, the research progress of Mark and Tony could be described as advancing at a rapid pace.
One of these two men was someone who could rely on a hammer to create steel armor in a cave in Afghanistan—a formidable individual.
The other was a being elevated by the gods of Asgard as one of the wisest creatures in the Nine Realms, even in the entire universe, with no equal.
With these two working together to tackle the development of the reversal serum, the results need not be stated explicitly; the only question was how fast can it be.
...
"Old man, have the calculation results on your end come out? I'm already prepared for the genetic transcription of the Extremis virus."
Working in his own lab, Mark was clearly more adept at tasks compared to Tony. With the assistance of Baymax and miniaturized robots, Mark finished his task ahead of Tony.
"It'll be ready soon, stop rushing me!" Mark's lead made Tony feel somewhat uneasy and his tone turned sour in response.
However, after living with Tony for so long, Mark had already grown accustomed to his unpredictable childlike temper.
So, he didn't really bother with Tony's attitude. After all, he had already won in terms of completing the work quickly. As a winner, he should show some tolerance to the loser and comfort their fragile heart.
A few minutes later, Tony's data calculations were also successfully completed. Combining the data Tony provided, Mark made some adjustments to the entire transcription process.
"I've transferred the data to the experimental monitoring server for Baymax to access directly. You can load it onto the transcriptor."
Hearing that Tony had finished the data calculations, Mark nodded and quickly loaded the data onto the instrument in front of him, starting to attempt the configuration of the reversal serum.
"It worked! This should achieve the desired effect." After about an hour of busyness, Mark confidently looked at the tube of pink potion in his hand.
"Whether it can achieve the effect we calculated remains to be seen by actually performing it in the real world." Tony took the opportunity to throw a bucket of cold water on Mark.
It turned out that in order to save time in the preliminary trial and data calculations, Mark deliberately activated a virtual laboratory and accelerated the passage of time in the virtual world.
The successful result of the simulated experiment now indicated the feasibility of their calculations. The next step was to return to the real world and see if they could achieve the desired results.
Exiting the virtual laboratory, Mark wasted no time transferring the Extremis virus to the prepared petri dishes and mixed it with the regenerative serum in the biological cell culture medium. The first experimental trial in the real world officially began.
Speaking of which, the Extremis virus, discovered by his father's ex-girlfriend, or rather, his former fling, Dr. Maya Hansen, was truly remarkable. It could be considered a versatile existence in genetic modification technology.
Using the Extremis virus as a medium, Mark could freely manipulate gene expression and sequences within a living organism.
Combining the experience from previous attempts at developing variants of the Extremis virus, even though this was the first trial, Mark was confident in achieving success on the first try.
Once the experiment started, Mark and Tony no longer needed to closely monitor it and could relax a bit.
Baymax, now upgraded to an intelligent lifeform, was fully capable of supervising and controlling the entire experiment.
However, this experiment was of great importance. Although Baymax was highly reliable, both of them still couldn't relax their guard. So, they decided to stand by the incubator, closely monitoring the virus's gene transcription and mutation.
"Baymax, How much longer does it take to complete the gene transcription of this batch of viruses and reproduce an entirely new variant?"
"Master, it will take approximately thirty-five more minutes. I suggest you and the old master take a rest together. I will be tracking the process throughout. Based on the simulated experiment in the virtual laboratory, there shouldn't be any unexpected occurrences."
"It's not that we doubt you, you were designed and coded by my own hands, and now you've become the intelligent life form. Of course, I trust you.
However, time is running short, and the situation is tense. Even if you let the two of us rest, we would still be preoccupied with this matter, and the effectiveness of the rest wouldn't be ideal. It's better to stay and observe the entire process for any factors we might not have considered.
If any problems arise, it would help us identify the source quickly during the next experiment and resolve it."
In reality, the anxiety about the success or failure of the experiment wasn't confined to just Tony and Mark. Outside the laboratory, other members of the Avengers had no insight into the lab's conditions or research progress. Their worries were even greater than those of Mark's group.
Finally, after enduring the agonizing wait for over thirty minutes, the red status light in the incubator went out, and the green status light turned on. This signified the completion of the entire virus gene transcription process and self-renewal replication.
Mark couldn't wait any longer and opened the incubator. Looking at the medium that had turned pink in the petri dish, Mark knew that the results of this experiment should be a success!
Although at the moment, the just-obtained sample of the reversal serum closely resembled the serum manufactured in the virtual laboratory in terms of appearance.
But the actual results were yet to be confirmed through instrument testing and practical trials on Dr. Lizard and Bucky before its effectiveness could be determined conclusively.
Of course, before this, they needed to perform an additional step: purifying the cultured variant virus.
The final product obtained would be the antidote of regenerative serum that could be used for the reversal treatment.
...
Click—buzz!
After nearly an hour had passed, the laboratory doors finally opened once again.
The people who had been waiting at the door swarmed in as soon as they saw Tony and Mark emerge, akin to husbands waiting outside a delivery room in a hospital.
"How is it? How is it? Has the research for the antidote of the regenerative serum been successful?"
"Don't be hasty. The research work has temporarily concluded, and the reversal serum sample has been developed. However, the actual effect remains to be tested to know for sure."
Mark gestured with both hands in the air to calm everyone down.
As for Tony, he was currently exchanging an awkward gaze with Captain by the door. He didn't have time to explain to others.
*Cough cough.* Captain cleared his throat twice, using it as a means to redirect his gaze towards Mark and ending the uncomfortable eye contact.
"Mark, in that case, proceed with clinical treatment quickly and assess the effectiveness of the reversal serum.
The sooner we complete the production of the antidote, the smaller the losses caused by this incident will be."
"I'm aware of that," Mark nodded, saying, "but scientific research follows a strict standard procedure.
We can't abandon the rigorous pursuit of science just because time is pressing.
This is even more crucial in clinical medicine, as any problems arising from widespread application would significantly increase the time and effort required for remediation.
After discussing it with my dad, we believe it's best to begin with extracting a portion of active tissue from two patients for testing."
"If this experiment can confirm that the reversal serum we've developed can truly reverse the effects of the mutant regenerative serum, then we'll formally start clinical trials."
"How long? According to the plan you've proposed, how much time will it take to complete the verification of the reversal serum's effects?"
For Captain, he didn't really care about the rigorous scientific research logic that Mark and his team were discussing. What concerned him more was when the antidote would be successfully developed and when they could resolve the crisis in Europe.
"We currently don't have any clinical data on the effects of the reversal serum on individuals. We can't accurately predict its duration of action or treatment effectiveness.
All I can say now is that if everything goes smoothly, optimistically, it will take at least a day to incorporate the reversal serum into widespread treatment."
Captain's sense of urgency was fully understandable to Mark, but his unwavering faith in science was supreme. If they were to forsake the principles of rigorous research, it would be more unacceptable to him than losing another day.
"Too long. If we have to wait for another day, who knows how many deaths will occur among the European residents who have already mutated into lizard people.
Moreover, it's difficult for the defense at the European border to hold up for that long. The lizard people move swiftly, and before long, a large number of them will gather at the border defenses.
When facing a large army of lizard people that's both powerful and fearless of death, if the border line collapses, this incident won't be confined to the European continent anymore."
Both Captain and Mark had their own considerations and convictions, and neither could persuade the other to accept their viewpoint. The discussion reached a deadlock.
But soon, Captain broke the impasse first, saying, "Mark, if I'm willing to be a volunteer for the clinical trial, can we skip the pre-trial phase you mentioned and directly test the effectiveness of the reversal serum?"
"That's impossible. The reversal serum won't have any effect on individuals who haven't mutated into... Captain, are you out of your mind!?"
Initially, Mark thought Captain's words were about using the reversal serum on regular people, which would have no effect and yield meaningless data. But he quickly grasped Captain's true intention—Captain was suggesting injecting the regenerative serum into himself, turning into a lizard person. This would ensure the voluntary principle of the experiment and eliminate concerns about the unknown risks of direct medication.
"I'm not crazy. Just like during World War II, countless soldiers bravely went to battle, and even sacrificed their lives, to achieve peace and tranquility for their homeland."
And the current situation is no different. We need someone to make a sacrifice to save those ordinary people who were living peaceful lives.
In that case, I'm willing to be that sacrificial person. It's my duty and responsibility to be the primary candidate."
All the Avengers present, including Tony, who had been avoiding direct eye contact with Captain, were shocked and admiring as they heard Captain's decision.
"I cannot agree with you risking your safety like this!" Mark unhesitatingly rejected Captain's dangerous idea. "It's just a matter of a little more time. I can work with my dad to compress the plan and keep the time within half a day. But I absolutely won't allow you to take such a risk."
"You can't stop me, Mark. Even if you disagree, given my speed, you won't be able to prevent me from obtaining the regenerative serum. If I inject the regenerative serum and become a lizard person, then you'll still have to accept my plan.
Furthermore, I have complete trust in your and Tony's abilities. The reversal serum you've developed will definitely be able to restore me to my original state, without any risks."
"Captain, you're being too stubborn!" Faced with Captain's determined resolve to sacrifice himself, Mark was truly helpless.
"Alright, there's no need to discuss this any further; everyone listen to me! Ultimately, all responsibility lies with me. Whatever consequences arise, I will bear them myself!
However, I hope the entire experimental process can be carried out by Tony. If the final result is success, that's great; but if unfortunately it fails, Tony, you won't have any psychological burden, after all, I'm the one who's betraying, right."
"I couldn't care less about your life or death. Don't think that by taking this stance, I'll easily forgive you. I came to help resolve this incident. If the experiment succeeds, it's also for the sake of saving Europe's people. It has nothing to do with you!"
"I know." Hearing Tony's somewhat defiant words, Captain suddenly felt like their relationship had returned to the scene when the Avengers first gathered on the Helicarrier. At that time, their relationship was similarly tense and conflicting, but the situation wasn't as complicated as it was now.
"Hmph! Knowing is enough. Good luck," Tony muttered with a voice almost only he could hear, but from the knowing smiles on everyone present, it was clear that they understood what Tony had said.
Captain: "Thank you, Tony!"
"Roar——!"
After the regenerative serum entered Captain's body, it quickly took effect. Dense green scales grew on his body, a thick tail gradually formed behind him, and he now looked like a giant lizard.
However, even Captain's strong will couldn't suppress the biological instinctive changes brought about at the genetic level. He began to transform like the other lizard people, becoming savage and bloodthirsty.
He roared in anger, attempting to break free from the restraints on his body. Unfortunately, Mark had prepared thoroughly this time.
Apart from allowing Captain to have his head exposed for breathing, he had used ropes woven from graphene fibers with a diameter of one centimeter to tightly bind him below the neck, securely immobilizing him.
Compared to the restraints used on Green Goblin before, this time it was truly airtight. Yet, Mark now regretted not gagging Captain's mouth earlier because that earlier roar not only hurt Mark's eardrums but also sprayed saliva all over his face, leaving him in a sticky state.
"Now it's up to you, old man. I need to take a good bath. Who knows how long it's been since Captain last brushed his teeth..."
Tony didn't react to Mark's words. At this moment, Tony frowned with a serious expression. Even to those who were closest to him, it was difficult to see him wearing such an expression.
Mark noticed Tony's tense state and refrained from saying anything more. He silently left the laboratory.
Since Captain entrusted Tony and handed over the entire experimental process to him, Mark had no way to ease Tony's current stress. All he could do was hold onto the same trust and support, praying that this experiment would succeed.
After taking a shower, Mark joined the other Avengers outside the laboratory, waiting for the final results of the experiment. This time, he experienced the agony of being kept outside, unaware of the progress of the experiment, just like the others.
However, the most concerned among the group weren't Mark, but Falcon and Coulson, who were fans of Captain. This was evident from their pacing in front of the laboratory door.
It wasn't clear how much time had passed, but after what felt like an eternity to everyone, the laboratory doors finally opened.
As before, two figures emerged from the door, only this time, the other person changed from Mark to Captain.
"!"
Seeing two people appearing simultaneously in front of them, everyone knew that the experiment had succeeded.
Tony didn't keep anyone in suspense and directly announced to the group, "The experiment was successful. The serum's reversal effect is very good.
After being injected into the lizard person's body, the effects took place very rapidly. In less than three minutes, Captain's appearance returned to normal from that of a lizard person.
Five minutes after the injection, rationality completely returned to a normal state, and he can independently control his emotions."
"Since you guys were done in five minutes, why did it take so long for you to come out? It's been nearly half an hour!"
Upon hearing that the entire treatment experiment only took five minutes, Rhodes immediately complained. It ended in five minutes and they made them suffer outside for almost half an hour; no wonder Rhodes was unhappy.
"The treatment was done, but I still need to test the final effects of the reversal serum, right? In the time that follows, I've collected some blood and tissue samples from Captain.
After identification with the testing equipment, it was confirmed that both the genetic-level mutations and the residual amount of regenerative serum in the blood have met the compliance standards. Only then did I dare to come out and deliver this good news to you.
Otherwise, I could have announced the new information first. If problems arose later, then it would be false news.
And this time, the treatment I used was injection therapy, which might not be universally applicable to the current widespread mutations in Europe.
Next, we still need to test the effectiveness of the aerosol inhalation therapy.
If the results still meet expectations, then we can truly apply the reversal serum on a large scale in this incident.
Otherwise, further optimization and enhancement of the reversal serum's efficacy would be necessary."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Hurry up and perform the testing!" Rhodes stepped forward and pulled Captain out, then pushed Tony and Mark back into the lab.
"You two just stay here. Get ready for the aerosol inhalation therapy test. I'll bring those two lizard folks over!"
After saying that, Rhodes hastily left with Falcon to bring Lizard Doctor and Lizard Bucky to the lab.
"Wait!" Seeing Rhodes about to bring Lizard Doctor and Lizard Bucky into the lab, Mark quickly spoke up.
He had always been cautious and hadn't told Tony that the other lizard person was Bucky.
At that time, both Tony and Rhodes weren't present, so it hadn't been revealed through their unspoken understanding.
But if Rhodes brings Lizard Bucky over, once the treatment is successful, it will be impossible to keep this matter a secret.
At that point, Tony and Bucky might end up having a confrontation in their lab, and that's not a scene he wants to witness.
"Uncle Rhodes, let's leave this to Wanda and Pietro. Wanda has telekinetic abilities, and Quicksilver is fast enough to escape if needed. They'll be safer."
"Yes, yes, let us handle it. Safer, safer."
Scarlet Witch immediately understood Mark's implication and quickly chimed in.
Quicksilver was even more straightforward. He simply dashed over with a "whoosh" sound and had already returned Falcon and Rhodes to their original positions.
"Just remember to bring Lizard Doctor over, the other one can stay as a backup." Mark still had some concerns and reminded Quicksilver.
"No problem, leave it to my sister and me. Don't worry." After saying that, Quicksilver picked up Scarlet Witch and vanished.
...
"Baymax, administer the antidote for the sedative to him. After he's fully awake, release the aerosolized reversal serum into the airtight chamber."
"Don't forget one important thing, start with a low concentration of the aerosol and gradually increase it. We need to determine how much dosage will be required if the reversal serum is ultimately applied on a large scale in Europe." Tony stood beside Mark and reminded him.
"Okay. Baymax, follow what Dad said."
"Understood, Master."
Everything was ready, and from here on, they could entrust Baymax with the entire automated operation and supervision. They didn't need to invest too much of their own effort.
Taking advantage of this moment, Mark turned to Tony and posed a dilemma, "Dad, how do you intend to handle the issue between you and Captain?
This incident has shown that there are certain problems that must be solved by the collective efforts of all members of the Avengers.
As long as both of you haven't given up your roles and responsibilities as Avengers, sooner or later, you'll have to work together and fight alongside each other.
We can't keep relying on situations like this where cooperation is awkward, you don't communicate or work together until a critical moment arrives. Continuing like this, we'll inevitably encounter accidents during missions."
The question Mark raised was very realistic. Even if we don't consider the deep friendship between the two, for the stability of the Avengers and the success rate of their missions, resolving the issues between them is indeed a crucial matter.
"Then one of us should leave the Avengers. I'm willing to be the one to leave. If there are situations in the future where you need my help, I can provide support as an outsider... Is that not a good solution?"
"Dad, please don't say things like that! I'm having a serious discussion with you about this issue."
"I'm also seriously answering your question and not just speaking out of anger. After all, who between us has done something wrong?
No one!
I want revenge against Winter Soldier Bucky to seek justice for my parents. Is that wrong?
But Captain America wants to protect his best friend, a comrade-in-arms. Is that wrong either?
The problem is that the friend he wants to protect and the person I want to take revenge on are the same. Unless one of us is willing to compromise and back down, this issue can't be fundamentally resolved.
That's why I said I'm willing to leave the Avengers. This way, it's the best choice for both him and me, as well as for the whole team. It avoids division and conflicts.
And Pepper and I broke up. I haven't told you about this matter all this time, nor have I told anyone else.
There are people in the world who need the help of superheroes every moment. Iron Man can't help everyone.
I've been doing my best to play the role of Iron Man, but unintentionally, I neglected Pepper's feelings and lacked care and companionship for her.
So, that is why I wanted to create Ultron and agreed to sign the "Seoul Accords."
There are many superheroes in the world: you, Captain, Natasha, and the new generation like Pete and Wanda.
But for Pepper, there's only one Tony Stark. It's also time for me to give her an explanation.
This time, it's an opportunity for me. Leaving the Avengers would allow me to spend more time on my relationship with Pepper."
"What?! Dad, you're really disappointing!
I've gone this far to help you and Aunt Pepper, and now you're letting her slip away?"
Mark looked at Tony in shock and asked.
Tony hadn't expected Mark's focus to be on this matter rather than his decision to leave the Avengers.
Being questioned by Mark, Tony also felt a bit embarrassed.
It was true that Mark had helped facilitate Tony's pursuit of Pepper in the first place, and now that he had messed things up, it was somewhat embarrassing.
"Alright, if you want to leave, just leave. I'll handle the Avengers' affairs, considering it as passing down the family business.
However, if you fail to win Aunt Pepper back, I won't let you off easily!
I'll expose your impotence issue and all the ugly things from the past. I'll make sure you can't hold your head up in public again."
*Cough cough cough!* "You... you're too harsh! Right now, let's focus on the matter of the reversal serum.
I'll devote all my energy to dealing with Pepper's issue after this incident ends."
"Hmph! Don't think you can divert the topic and placate me. If you don't meet my requirements, just wait and see!"
"..."
Just as Tony didn't know how to respond to Mark, the savior, Baymax, suddenly descended from the sky, "Master, the experimental results are in. The aerosolized reversal serum achieves the same effect as the injection therapy.
When the aerosol concentration reaches 0.02 milligrams per cubic meter, the reversal serum starts to take effect. At a concentration of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter, optimal therapeutic results can be achieved.
It's estimated that at this concentration, from the moment the serum takes effect to complete recovery, it would take approximately twelve minutes, meeting the standards for large-scale treatment application."
"So, to completely resolve the issues in the European continent, how much reversal serum do we need to prepare?"
"Conservatively, we would need 5,000 liters of concentrated serum with an effective ingredient concentration of 95%. Given the current equipment capacity in the laboratory, it would take around 100 hours to complete the preparation."
"That's too long. Preparing under the lab's conditions won't work. We don't have that much time to waste." Hearing Baymax's response, Tony shook his head and directly denied the approach.
"It's a pity Stark Industries doesn't have any pharmaceutical-related businesses; otherwise, things would be much simpler."
Suddenly, it seemed Mark had thought of something. Looking at Dr. Curt Connors before him, who had already returned to his original appearance, he revealed a mysterious smile.
"Perhaps things aren't as complicated as we imagine."
"What do you mean?" Tony asked, puzzled.
"Just because Stark Industries lacks biopharmaceutical equipment doesn't mean other companies do. I believe for the world's largest pharmaceutical company, Osborn Group, a capacity of a mere 5,000 liters shouldn't be a problem.
Moreover, since this trouble was caused by their company's founder, we can't just clean up after them. It's time for Osborn Group to pay a price too!"
"So what are we waiting for? Quickly gather all the experimental data for the reversal serum and approach the Osborn Group!"
"Not so fast. Handling this ourselves might not necessarily yield results. Professional matters should be left to professionals. And who's more professional at coercion and pressure than government agencies?
Baymax, summon Coulson for me, and let him know that I have an urgent task for him to complete."
...
The efficiency of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s operations are indeed clean, efficient and very rapid. Of course, there is also the influence of the behind-the-scenes pressure from the World Security Council, but for Mark, the process is not important; what matters is the result.
Coulson personally appeared and brought two dozen pieces of information to meet with the executives of the Osborn Group. One set was about the concealed Lizard Doctor incident involving the Osborn Group, as well as evidence that Norman Osborn, as the founder, is the Green Goblin.
When the shareholders of the Osborn Group saw these pieces of evidence that were sufficient to drag the company's reputation and stock price into the abyss, along with the shady methods Coulson mentioned that government departments often use as threats, these profit-driven capitalists soon complied, agreeing to lend the Osborn Group's biopharmaceutical factory to contribute to the noble cause of world peace.
Well, that's the kind of positive energy, with no trace of dirtiness or power struggle.
As for the second set of information Coulson brought, it includes the scaled-up production process and technical data for the reverse serum. Coulson clearly stated the specifications and quantity of serum he needs. Some shareholders indicated that they would produce the serum as soon as possible, which would take about two hours.
Having obtained the desired results and answers, Coulson left the two sets of information directly on the conference room table and then left the gates of the Osborn Group in a carefree manner.
He needed to hurry back and tell the Avengers the news, so that everyone could prepare to depart for Lithuania. Once the Osborn Group produces the required 5000 liters of high-concentration reverse serum, they can set off immediately without wasting any time.
The reason for choosing Lithuania as the release location for the reverse serum is mainly because of its central position on the continent of Europa. Releasing the antidote here would allow the serum mist to spread most evenly.
Two hours later, Mark and the others were already prepared in front of the spatial teleportation gate in New York. The most important equipment, the large-scale biochemical gas emitter, had been transported to Lithuania in advance and set up. Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Falcon, and Natasha were dispatched to stay nearby to ensure its safety.
Now, all they needed to do was to bring the reverse serum and converge, starting the collective treatment for all the organisms on the Europa continent that had undergone mutations due to the regenerative serum's influence.
"Coulson, why hasn't the Osborn Group's transport vehicle arrived? This is way too slow. We've been waiting here for almost ten minutes!" Rhodey, who was already impatient, complained.
"Indeed, based on the distance between the Osborn Group's pharmaceutical factory and our spatial teleportation node, they should have arrived five minutes ago. If this continues, the situation in Europa could change again, and that's something we can't accept."
Captain also harbored dissatisfaction with this. He didn't want the time he risked his life to secure to be wasted by others. If there were understandable reasons, it would be fine, but if the shareholders of the Osborn Group had some ulterior motives, then the Avengers couldn't be blamed for not showing any mercy.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the Avengers are a superhero organization dedicated to maintaining peace, justice, and combating evil. The influence they can exert is not limited to just battles and confrontations.
In the political field, Rhodey's background as a former military colonel and the alliance's deep connections with high-ranking officials like Coulson and others in government departments are noteworthy. It's said that Tony and Mark's substantial capital have supported countless government legislators and leaders.
In the economic arena, Stark Industries ranks among the top ten global supergiants in terms of market value. Although Mark's research center is not publicly listed, its operations cover almost all open countries and regions globally, with trading shares accounting for five percent of the world's economic output.
As the founder and largest shareholder, Mark has long held the top position on the list of billionaires, making him a force to be reckoned with. (Wakanda is still closed to the world at this time, appearing to the uninformed as an agrarian nation, so T'Challa is not included in the wealth rankings.)
In the realm of technology, Mark's research center and Stark Industries hold the majority of top-tier technology patents, ranging from basic materials science to high-end manufacturing industries, making them the world's two largest patent-licensing companies.
With such overwhelming advantages across multiple fields, if they decide to use these connections to punish the Osborn Group, it would spell an inevitable disaster for the group, leaving them utterly defenseless.
Of course, such measures can't be employed lightly. Taking such actions would project a sense of dominance and bullying in the public eye, damaging the reputation and image of the Avengers.
Simultaneously, other companies and even political groups would likely unite to impose a series of restrictions and countermeasures against the Avengers to prevent themselves from facing similar blows in the future.
It's akin to how the United Nations introduced the "Seoul Accords" due to concerns about the Avengers' formidable strength and public influence.
"Rest assured, Captain. The Osborn Group's transport vehicle left the pharmaceutical factory on time and is also prepared to arrive here.
As for why it's five minutes late, Captain and Uncle Rhodey, you both haven't experienced metropolitan workplace life, so you might not understand.
Right now, it's the closing time for most companies and businesses. A large number of employees leave their workplaces during this time, and many of them use cars as their mode of transportation.
A massive number of cars flood into the city roads within the same time frame, radiating outwards from the city center, which naturally leads to slow traffic and congestion.
The Osborn Group's transport vehicle was only delayed due to rush hour traffic, causing a slight delay. Please be patient, as this falls under circumstances beyond our control."
However, Mark's words were barely finished when the Osborn Group's transport vehicle appeared within their line of sight.
Just as Mark had mentioned, the transport vehicle had arrived nearby. In an instant, it was right in front of them.
"Hurry up, it's already five minutes late. Why are we still dragging our feet here!?
Quickly unload the goods so we can set off promptly.
Otherwise, if our mission is delayed, you won't get away with it!"
Rhodey's bossy and overbearing demeanor made him look like an annoying lackey, causing Mark beside him to burst into laughter.
"Don't listen to him, work efficiently, and let's complete the mission and return quickly.
Uncle Rhodey, you're something else. They're just workers for the Osborn Group, why make things difficult for them?"
"I know that, of course. I'm just worried they might not grasp the importance and urgency of this task. A little scare can push them to move faster.
See? Their pace is much quicker now."
Indeed, after Rhodey's little scare, the Osborn Group workers appeared more serious in their expressions and moved faster.
In less than five minutes, the 5000 liters of reverse serum, weighing half a ton, had been handed over to Mark and his team.
Controlling microbots to transport all the reverse serum through the spatial teleportation gate, they reached the spatial teleportation node in Lithuania. A Quinjet was already waiting there.
The serum was loaded onto the Quinjet's cargo bay, and then, under the skillful hands of the S.H.I.E.L.D's pilot, the team and the serum were transported to the square at the Vilnius TV Tower at the fastest speed.
Above the square, a massive energy shield revealed a gap just wide enough for the Quinjet to pass through.
This energy shield was designed to prevent the lizard-like creatures near the Vilnius Television Tower from approaching the emitter.
At this moment, through the cockpit windshield of the Quinjet, the pilot could clearly see that the energy shield acted as a boundary, and they were surrounded by lizard-like creatures coming from all directions.
The pilot, experiencing this scene for the first time, couldn't help but shiver. They swiftly landed the Quinjet, unloaded the cargo and personnel, then promptly took off from the area.
The serum and equipment are all prepared. Mark and Tony injected the serum into the large-scale biochemical gas emitter and completed the final calibration of the device.
Next, they could hand over the startup process entirely to Baymax.
The emitter had undergone modifications and upgrades by Mark beforehand, not only replacing the central control system but also adding a wireless networking module.
At the same time, Mark upgraded the energy system and release functionality of the entire device. It no longer requires prolonged charging, and the diffusion effect of the nano-energy waves is significantly enhanced.
"Baymax, we're ready on our end. It's up to you to handle the activation from here on out.
Based on atmospheric conditions data from weather satellites, you'll determine the appropriate moment to release the reverse serum."
"Leave it to me, Master!"
Baymax received the task and responded. Shortly after, the propulsion device at the bottom of the emitter started, lifting the emitter into the sky.
"Alright, everything we can do, everything we should do, has been done. Now, we'll see the effectiveness of the reverse serum in practical application..."
"Don't worry, Mark. We all believe in your and Tony's abilities. This mission is sure to succeed!"
At the critical moment, Captain, the soul of the team, stepped forward to boost morale.
"It's starting to get windy!" Tony next to him commented, feeling his hair tousled by the wind as he looked up at the emitter in the sky.
A pink mist emerged from the emitter's nozzle, and under the dual effects of nano-energy waves and air circulation, it rapidly expanded its coverage.
In an instant, within the visible range of the Avengers, the sky had turned into a romantic shade of pink, creating a spectacular scene.
"Look, it seems like the lizard creatures over there are already affected by the reverse serum. Their mutations are starting to reverse!"
Scarlet Witch noticed that in the area near the energy shield, which was first covered by the mist of the reverse serum, the dense group of lizard creatures was beginning to show signs of recovery.
Their originally agitated and bloodthirsty behavior began to subside, and the fine green scales and skin on their bodies started shedding, much like snakes shedding their skin.
Especially the enormous lizard tail behind them began rapidly shrinking and retracting. In just a few minutes, it had completely vanished.
Ten minutes later, the group of lizard creatures that were the first to receive the effects of the reverse serum treatment had shed their lizard-like appearances completely, returning to their original human forms.
However, due to the weakness that followed the transformation, they fell unconscious, lying naked on the ground without any awareness.
Meanwhile, in the span of these ten-plus minutes, the mist of the reverse serum that had been released had covered the entirety of Europe. It began healing the lizard people in other countries and regions as well as other creatures mutated by the regenerative serum.
After approximately half an hour, according to the analysis of monitoring data obtained by Baymax from military satellites, the entire treatment process had been completed. The coverage spanned the entire continent of Europe, with the possibility of any stragglers being less than one percent.
"Baymax, expand the monitoring scope to include all street and indoor surveillance systems. Confirm again.
If there's any single one that's been missed, immediately dispatch drones to administer treatment!"
After the first large-scale treatment operation, Mark instructed Baymax to conduct a thorough search for any potential oversights. The entire operation took nearly an hour.
During this time, those who had reverted back to their original appearances gradually woke from their comas. However, they had hazy memories of the various experiences they had as lizard people, not quite remembering why they were lying naked alongside unfamiliar strangers.
While the overall cultural norms in Europe were relatively open-minded, it wasn't to the extent of being comfortable with public nudity. Normal individuals, unless psychologically problematic, wouldn't typically feel at ease baring all in public.
As a result, upon regaining consciousness, almost everyone immediately covered their private areas, blushing with embarrassment and wishing they could escape back home.
For those who had stayed relatively close to their homes, things weren't too bad. However, some individuals, after becoming lizard people, seemed to have an excess of energy. They ended up running to different cities or even neighboring countries, which created awkward situations.
Particularly noteworthy were some well-known figures from various fields who had frequently appeared in the media. It remained uncertain if they would have the courage to continue showing up in front of cameras.
Prior to this, in the rush to save time, both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers hadn't considered this issue. Now, everyone could only say that there was nothing more they could do. If anyone were to blame, it would be the Green Goblin. Perhaps people might even vote to make him the first openly executed terrorist in history...
"Coulson, you need to give us a clear explanation. The World Security Council's actions are hypocritical and fickle!"
In the meeting room of the Avengers' base, Rhodes was engaged in a heated argument with Coulson.
The reason behind this was that after they had jointly resolved the Lizard People incident on the Europe continent and handed over the mastermind, Green Goblin, to S.H.I.E.L.D., the United Nations reneged on their previous promises to the Avengers.
They used the "Seoul Accord," which the Avengers had not officially agreed to, as a basis to place Captain America, Scarlet Witch, and Falcon – three members of the Avengers – under charges that violated international conventions, and subsequently detained them all.
At the same time, Natasha had previously revealed information about the pursuit to Captain America, and her assistance in evading the pursuit was uncovered by a United Nations investigative group. This led to Natasha being charged with complicity and harboring.
However, Natasha's instincts as a spy were still sharp. When the United Nations' action unit began to apprehend Captain America and his team, Natasha had already sensed the danger and made preparations. By the time the capture was attempted, she had vanished without a trace.
As for the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, after undergoing treatment to restore his original appearance, he remained hidden within the old office building of the Mark Research Center, much like before.
Therefore, he escaped the ordeal and found himself on the global wanted list alongside Natasha. However, he did not lose his freedom.
As for T'Challa and Mark, while the World Security Council possessed evidence of their violation of the "Seoul Accord," both were formidable figures – T'Challa being the next king of Wakanda and Mark a tech genius and a super-billionaire. Disturbing them wouldn't be wise for the Council members; thus, they turned a blind eye and didn't focus their efforts on them.
Even so, after the Avengers had helped inept governments and international organizations solve significant problems, they ended up facing this kind of treatment. The remaining members couldn't help but feel anger and resentment.
And to make matters worse, the World Security Council members had passed a resolution to incarcerate Captain America and his two companions in the Raft Prison!
It's important to note that the Raft Prison is one of the most tightly guarded and technologically advanced high-security prisons on Earth. Situated in the middle of treacherous oceans and submerged beneath the water's surface year-round, it's often referred to as an inescapable underwater tomb.
From its inception, this prison was designed to house exceptionally dangerous super-criminals possessing special abilities. Some of these inmates were old acquaintances of S.H.I.E.L.D., handed over to them by the Avengers after being defeated.
Now, the Council members had placed Captain America and his companions in this prison. This wasn't just an insult to their reputation; it was clear that they were intentionally causing trouble for them.
"Sorry, Rhodey. I had no idea something like this would happen either. You know, I'm a devoted fan of Captain America. If I had known the senators were going to pull such a stunt, how could I not have informed Cap in advance?"
Coulson felt unjustly accused by Rhodey's questioning, and for him, the actions of the Security Council were equally difficult to accept. This wasn't just because of his admiration for Captain America; it was also due to the deep bond he had forged alongside the Avengers, fighting side by side.
"Alright, enough of this quarreling. The hypocrisy of politicians is beyond shameless. You both know it well; don't mistake the conditions set by politicians for promises.
The reason they fulfill their own conditions isn't to uphold their reputation but to amass enough political capital and other interests.
Once they're enticed by greater benefits, these so-called promises and agreements are nothing more than empty words in the end, utterly meaningless.
In the beginning, Green Goblin incident shook their fundamental interests, so they made all sorts of 'promises' without any moral boundaries.
But now that the matter is resolved and Green Goblin has been handed over for detention, the phase where this incident could destabilize their core interests has ended.
The trouble now is that Captain America and his two companions have blatantly violated the 'Seoul Accord' they were instrumental in creating.
If they don't provide an explanation to all representatives of the United Nations, it will seriously damage their future credibility and reputation.
At this point, the charges against Captain America and his team are nothing more than chips in the political game – chips that can be exchanged for larger stakes and benefits while avoiding their own risks, of course."
Tony, having a thorough understanding of this outcome, saw through it all. As someone who had once been the biggest arms supplier to the defense department and the military, he was well-versed in such political games, having participated in them himself.
However, this didn't mean he was willing to accept the outcome. Tony Stark would never be subservient! Those who wanted to ride roughshod over him and cause trouble were now pushing up daisies.
But unlike Rhodey, Tony wasn't limited to verbal retaliation when facing dissatisfaction. He would take action.
...
On the evening after Natasha's escape, Tony and Mark had already begun planning for their trapped comrades.
In the meeting room of the newly constructed building at Mark Research Center, the two had been waiting for a while. It was now late at night, and apart from the security robots patrolling, there were no employees or clients within the building.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Suddenly, a knocking sound echoed on the window of the meeting room. Tony and Mark turned to look; the source of the commotion was none other than T'Challa, the Wakandan king who had participated in the Europe rescue mission.
At this moment, he was wearing the Black Panther suit, adhering firmly to the glass curtain wall of the building's facade using the electrostatic adhesion devices on his palms and soles.
Mark opened the window for him, letting T'Challa inside. Clearly, he was the person they had been waiting for on this late night.
"Why did you climb in from the outside?" Tony looked at T'Challa, who appeared mysterious, making this meeting seem like a clandestine deal. Although that was indeed the case – something not meant to be seen.
"It's just to avoid being noticed. Climbing up the wall is a bit more discreet."
"But we specifically chose this time so you could walk in through the front door without a fuss. If we had known you were going to take such an unusual path, we would have scheduled the meeting during the day.
Now I'm sacrificing my sleep, spending the middle of the night in this room with you two grown men." Tony once again displayed his sardonic nature.
"Alright, enough with the banter, old man. What we need to discuss now is how to rescue Captain America and his team. T'Challa, we brought you here hoping you'd cooperate with us to free them and then take them back to Wakanda to evade the UN's scrutiny."
Seeing that Tony was about to start rambling again, Mark quickly interjected, steering the conversation back on track.
But faced with Mark's request, T'Challa hesitated. On one hand, he had fought alongside Captain America and his team and also owed Mark a favor.
In principle, considering the situation, T'Challa should have agreed to Mark's request, both ethically and practically. After all, for him, it would be a simple nod of agreement.
However, on the other hand, Wakanda's long-standing policy of isolation was primarily aimed at safeguarding the secret of their vast reserves of vibranium, preventing other forces from coveting and invading the country due to this significant resource.
Bringing Captain America and his team back to Wakanda would mean exposing the closely guarded secret of the nation's vast vibranium resources to them.
If Captain America and his team were to leave Wakanda in the future and disclose the secret of vibranium to the outside world, it could potentially lead to an unprecedented crisis for his nation.
Sensing T'Challa's hesitation, Mark, being a reincarnator with knowledge of Wakanda's truths, could roughly guess the concerns weighing on T'Challa's mind as the next king.
It's important to note that the previous Wakandan king, T'Chaka, went to extreme lengths to protect the secrecy of vibranium, even going so far as to order the assassination of his own brother. T'Chaka's brother's orphan, Erik, was also abandoned outside Wakanda.
And according to the original movie's storyline, T'Challa only had a change of heart after his cousin, Erik defeated him and he fell off a cliff. He then rejected the isolationist policies of previous Wakandan kings and was willing to open Wakanda's borders and technology to the world...
T'Challa's hesitation now stemmed from the recent passing of his father, T'Chaka, who was also the former king. He believed it was his duty to carry on his father's mission of safeguarding Wakanda.
However, his inner goodness and the friendship he had forged with the Avengers made it impossible for him to turn a blind eye to their current predicament.
"T'Challa, I know what you're hesitating about, and I also understand that Wakanda isn't as backward as the outside world assumes it to be.
You're concerned that if Captain America and his team enter Wakanda, it would increase the risk of your nation's long-guarded secret being exposed. It could also bring about complications and trouble for your country.
However, we've been through some difficult times together, especially you, Captain, Wanda, and Sam, working together to thwart Green Goblin's plans.
I believe that in this process, you've come to understand Captain America's character. If he and his team weren't truly worth entrusting your back to, if they weren't trustworthy partners, you wouldn't have helped them evade pursuit and fought alongside them against the enemy.
Don't let past traditions and rules limit your thinking. Times are changing, society is progressing. You've studied at Oxford University for so many years; you surely have your own viewpoints.
What I want to say is that whether from your own perspective or from the standpoint of Captain America's character, the risk of our request is close to zero. I hope you can agree to help us accomplish this."
In response to Mark's persuasion, T'Challa was initially shocked! He hadn't anticipated that the secrets Wakanda had been striving to keep hidden would be known by people outside his country, and they seemed to have a clear understanding of the matter.
Then Mark's words hit a chord deep within him, causing the balance in his mind to tilt increasingly toward Captain America and his team.
"Where did you learn about Wakanda's secrets?" While T'Challa had already made up his mind, he still needed to clarify certain matters first.
Of course, Mark couldn't reveal the true reason that he was a reincarnator who had seen the "Black Panther" movie. He needed to fabricate a reasonable and convincing lie to deal with the situation. For someone as intellectually adept as Mark, this wasn't a problem.
"You attended the United Nations meeting held at their Vienna headquarters this time. Besides announcing Wakanda's intention to strengthen its communication with other nations, do you also recall the 'Seoul Accord' that we were supposed to officially sign?"
Instead of directly answering T'Challa's question, Mark responded with a counter-question.
"Of course, I remember," T'Challa answered succinctly.
"In the Seoul incident, Max acquired a substantial amount of vibranium from a smuggler named Ulysses Klaue. It was used for his own augmentation."
"From Ulysses Klaue's activities, our investigation revealed that the vibranium he possessed was smuggled out of Wakanda. Subsequently, through continuous inquiry, I followed some clues. After piecing together these fragmented bits of information, I finally arrived at an incredible truth—that which Wakanda has been safeguarding for a long time."
After Mark's explanation, T'Challa was even more astonished! However, he wasn't shocked by the lie Mark had constructed; he was astonished by the logic and intelligence exhibited within that lie.
With only a few leads, Mark had managed to follow the trail and uncover the truth about Wakanda. Such an ability was both admirable and eerie, as if his keen eyes could expose any secret, leaving one shivering.
Of course, Mark was unaware of T'Challa's thoughts and speculations. Even if he knew, he would probably just chuckle nonchalantly, thinking that the indigenous inhabitants wouldn't understand the world of reincarnators.
"Alright, as the heir to the Wakandan throne, I agree to this request. How do you need me to cooperate in this operation?"
Upon hearing T'Challa's agreement, Tony and Mark exchanged glances—it was a done deal!
"Given the circumstances, General Ross is currently in charge of the Raft prison. Both Mark and I have some rapport with him. Tomorrow, we'll..."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein