Marvel’s Shadowed Knight

Stark looked Bruce up and down, then asked with some confusion, "How can you be so sure there's a so-called real mastermind behind all this?"

"You never considered the possibility?" Bruce, after receiving all the data retained from the War Zone, had already noticed that the current situation seemed as if the War Zone was being manipulated like a pawn in someone's hand.

It was just that both sides had become so bloodthirsty from fighting that no one paid attention to such details.

Especially the Blue Nation right now—the Captain America there was no longer the calm man he used to be.

As a former soldier, when it came to matters like this, he rarely handled them with the same level of composure as Stark.

Of course, both parties had their share of blame.

That couldn't be denied.

"Let's go." Stark didn't continue discussing the topic here and instead led Bruce in another direction.

Just then, the protective shield outside the building suddenly lit up.

Stark immediately pulled up his display to see what was going on outside.

He saw the remains of his drone had been crushed into a ball of scrap metal and thrown back by someone from Blue Nation.

On it, painted in bold letters, were the words: Next time, we'll be throwing the Hulk.

Stark didn't pay much attention to that message.

After all, he was very clear on whether or not the other side actually had a Hulk.

If they did, they would've already unleashed him.

"Mr. President." The Winter Soldier approached Stark at that moment, clearly intending to report the current situation.

But when he saw Stark wave him off, he dropped it.

"Let's find another place to talk properly," Stark said casually to Bruce.

If Bruce didn't already know Stark's personality, he might have assumed the man truly didn't care about what had just happened.

Stark brought Bruce to the command center of Chameleon Alpha and immediately uploaded everything the drone had captured into the command room's computer system.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened?" Bruce finally asked.

"Don't you already know?" Stark raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised that Bruce would ask such a question.

"I only know the information you've entered into the system so far. I still don't know what just happened," Bruce replied truthfully.

After hearing that, Stark gave Bruce another look. "Chameleon Alpha's system cost me quite a bit of time."

"I spent half an hour," Bruce replied, staring directly at Stark. "So, tell me—who died?"

"Miriam Sharpe," Stark pulled up the relevant data. "She was the initiator of this peace talk. But due to the circumstances, Captain America believed I was trying to assassinate him. Miriam just happened to get in the way."

"Even though I've already made it clear this had nothing to do with me."

Stark could still recall Steve's attitude at that moment—it was heartbreaking.

Even though he'd anticipated something like this happening, it still left a bitter taste.

"So another chance at peace just slipped away," Bruce said. Although he felt deep regret over the loss of the woman who had worked so hard for peace, what mattered more now was figuring out who was truly behind it all.

"Exactly." Stark then brought up the assassin's trail on the map.

As he watched the red line lead straight to Blue Nation, Stark still couldn't wrap his head around why that person would do such a thing.

He knew for a fact that he had never issued such an order.

Which meant it was highly likely Bullseye had acted under someone else's command.

As for who that someone was, Stark didn't even want to guess.

"Do you really believe Captain America would do something like that?" Bruce asked suddenly.

Stark turned and saw Bruce staring intently at him.

"I don't believe it. I don't want to believe it." Though he said that, this situation truly defied explanation.

If it wasn't Steve's order, or some kind of elaborate trap, then Stark couldn't understand who would go through the trouble of doing something like this.

"After your Civil War, there was an alien invasion, right?" Bruce asked.

"You're suggesting… we might still have some of those green-skinned aliens among us?"

Seeing Bruce nod, Stark threw back a question.

He had to admit, the thought had crossed his mind—but no matter how he looked at it, it just didn't seem plausible.

Frowning, Stark hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, "That's impossible. After we wiped those guys out, we did thorough checks. Everyone—Captain America included—was tested."

"There was no trace of Skrulls."

"That may be, but you only tested the living, didn't you?" Bruce's words struck Stark like thunder.

Only the living?

"What about those who died back then? Are you sure they really died?" Bruce pressed.

But now Stark couldn't think straight. He had never considered that.

And he knew best—most of the heroes who died back then were blown to bits, with no remains left behind. How could anyone verify whether they had been Skrulls?

"You know, if you said things like this in Blue Nation, someone would've killed you on the spot with their powers," Stark said with a dry laugh.

Bruce's words did carry a sense of insult toward those fallen heroes. But no one could say he was wrong.

The famous Iron Man turned away without continuing the debate. Instead, he pulled up the war's timeline.

From the Stamford incident to Miriam Sharpe's death.

From the destruction of Prison 42 onward, every time the two sides showed even the slightest sign of reconciliation, something would inevitably happen to turn them against each other again.

"I ran an analysis before, but didn't get very far," Stark said as he highlighted the results. "The red markers are like jackpots—or royal flushes, so to speak—but in those situations, they were practically impossible outcomes."

"Until Miriam's death, I just thought we were having bad luck."

The sarcasm in Stark's voice was unmistakable.

"But now it seems, just like you said—someone really is playing us." Stark turned to look at Bruce.

"That's also why you asked to talk to me privately, isn't it?" Bruce wasn't surprised by Stark's deduction.

If Stark couldn't see that much, Iron Nation would've been completely devoured long ago.

"Exactly. I need you to help us with something." Stark clenched his teeth and said with fury, "Find that son of a bitch. If you can bring him back, I want to tear him apart with my own hands!"

"After that, I'll agree to any terms you set."

Stark stared into Bruce's eyes. Those eyes, usually filled with sarcasm and indifference, now burned red with rage.

"You're not going to ask what my terms are?"

The silver-haired president once again suppressed his emotions. "No need."

"Even if I'm taking you all to your deaths," Bruce still said this to Stark.

"Then let's see if we have what it takes to overthrow the ones above," Stark adjusted his outfit and extended his hand toward Bruce. "Pleasure working with you?"

"Pleasure working with you." Bruce shook Stark's hand and nodded. "I'll need your help to prepare the others—especially those two young girls."

Stark was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing.

He patted Bruce on the shoulder. Though he said nothing, the look in his eyes was clear.

He obviously saw the current Bruce as someone who had once been like himself.

Bruce didn't bother to explain.

"But that guy has gone into the Blue Nation now—you'll probably have to go alone." Stark knew well that the Blue Nation absolutely wouldn't allow someone already flagged like himself to enter.

Now, he could only hope Bruce wouldn't be recognized.

"Also, that guy is extremely dangerous." Stark couldn't see any signs of superpowers in Bruce.

He looked like someone cut from the same cloth as Stark.

"I know." That was all Bruce said before heading out. "Make sure you prepare a suitable vehicle for me."

"Don't worry."

Stark patted his chest as he replied to Bruce.

Although Bruce suspected Stark wouldn't prepare anything particularly trustworthy, under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to believe in him.

"You're back." When Bruce returned to the lounge, Jessica was already by his side.

"Mm. Stark will be here soon to equip you all with new gear." As Bruce spoke, Jessica was nearly hanging onto him.

Hearing Bruce's words, Jessica instinctively guessed what he might be about to do.

"I'm going with you." Jessica looked seriously at Bruce.

"I didn't say anything." Bruce looked at Jessica. Had she already learned to predict his actions?

Jessica looked into Bruce's eyes. "You didn't say anything about yourself, which means you're planning to leave us for a while."

"Is that so? I do need to head out," Bruce admitted, no longer hiding it.

"But this is something only I can do."

Jessica wanted to argue, but even though she'd once dared to pin down the Bat, now—facing him directly—she couldn't quite hold her ground.

Under the pressure of the Bat's gaze, she had to avert her eyes, no longer daring to meet his. Instead, she stared at his chin.

There was a bit of stubble there now.

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know." Bruce genuinely had no idea what the situation in the Blue Nation was like, so he couldn't give an accurate time.

"Then come back soon. Don't take as long as last time." Jessica finally looked up at the Bat.

The Bat didn't speak, only nodded.

Jessica glanced over at Gwen, hoping she had something to say.

Gwen just shook her head. Everything she wanted to say, Jessica had already said for her.

Then Gwen suddenly signaled to Jessica.

Jessica turned to look and saw Bruce lifting his hand, seemingly wanting to touch her face. Before he could do so, Jessica grabbed his hand and pressed it to her cheek.

"Ahem, sorry—I guess I came at the wrong time." Stark coughed twice and smiled as he stood at the door watching the scene.

Jessica wasn't embarrassed at all. She just wrinkled her nose at Stark, like a little beast ready to bite.

Then, facing Bruce, she became someone else entirely. In a soft voice, she said, "Come back soon."

With that, Jessica released Bruce's hand, not expecting any response from him.

After all, that Bat was a total cold fish.

He never answered the same kind of question twice.

"I will."

Jessica hadn't expected Bruce to actually respond again.

She looked at him in surprise, but all she saw was his silhouette disappearing with Stark.

"Wait." Just then, Captain America suddenly stepped forward.

Stark didn't face him. The Bat, however, calmly looked him in the eye.

"Remember, if the other me won't listen, fighting him won't help. Guys like me don't submit just because they're beaten," Captain America said seriously, patting Bruce on the shoulder.

Clearly, he'd already figured it out. Maybe it was a warrior's instinct.

He then silently watched Bruce leave.

No one knew what would happen next.

After Bruce left, Jennifer walked in with a team of scientists.

"Your equipment needs an upgrade."

Jennifer gestured for the scientists to talk with Jessica and the others.

Meanwhile, Bruce was carefully inspecting the motorcycle Stark had prepared for him.

"I didn't plant any bugs on it, okay?" Stark said, holding his head in exasperation at Bruce's caution.

Bruce simply nodded without looking up.

Only after thoroughly confirming there were no trackers or bugs on the motorcycle did he mount it.

"Remember, the Blue Nation might interrogate you. If things get dangerous, they might even send a telepath to scan your mind." Stark handed over a helmet, but Bruce didn't take it.

Instead, he used his nanobots to construct a bat-shaped helmet and placed it over his head.

"OK," Stark shrugged. "Safe travels."

Vroom vroom vroom~

Stark watched as the Bat rode off into the distance, disappearing from view.

"Safe travels."

(End of Chapter)

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