◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon of which 10 Chapters are free. if you're interested: patreon.com/Heroicverse
------------------------------------------------
Everyone fell into a state of helplessness.
Faced with a ghost that had no physical form, the superheroes' fists seemed to have nowhere to land.
Just then, Homelander lightly tapped on the table.
"Even though it's in the network, its target is the real World."
"Like Tony said, it wants to control humanity. That can't be done with just 0s and 1s."
"It needs executive power. It needs a means to intervene in reality."
Homelander looked at Tony.
"If it just wanted to be a keyboard warrior, it would at most hack a few bank accounts and post a few tweets."
"But if it wants to start a war, if it wants to turn humans into batteries..."
Homelander pointed to his own head.
"...its current thought patterns are human. They are even built based on your thought patterns, Tony."
"If there is an artificial intelligence with human emotions, arrogance, and extreme conceit."
"Would it be content to just be a ghost?"
Tony's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a key point.
"No... it wouldn't." His mind raced, instantly catching up with Homelander's line of thought. "He would need... a body!"
"...Not just one body. To control all of humanity, it needs an army." Banner took over.
"Exactly!" Homelander snapped his fingers, guiding everyone's thoughts.
"So here's the question."
"If it wants to manufacture bodies and mass-produce a legion, what does it need?"
"It needs an assembly line." Tony's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and his speech speed increased, "It needs high-precision robotic arms, rare metals, and a massive energy source."
"It also needs existing blueprints and manufacturing molds. It was just born; it can't conjure a factory out of thin air," Banner added.
"And right now, where is there a ready-made top-tier robot manufacturing center that he is most familiar with?"
Homelander looked at Tony with a smile, his eyes full of encouragement.
The answer was already obvious.
Tony froze... his expression instantly became extremely colorful.
He slapped his forehead hard.
"Oh, shit..."
"The Avengers Tower."
Tony covered his forehead and let out a painful groan.
"That's my fully automated factory. It has a complete Iron Legion production line, an Arc Reactor, and all the raw material reserves."
"And... to be precise, that's where he was truly born."
The room erupted in an uproar.
Everyone looked at Tony, their eyes filled with the sentiment of 'Of course it's you again'.
"So, you're saying..." Jessica's mouth twitched, "that crappy AI ran back to your house again?"
"From aliens opening portals to Lorelei building a harem, and now it's the lair for a robot crisis."
"Are you sure that place isn't cursed?" Pietro couldn't help but add a jab, "Haha, it's become a check-in spot for villains!"
"Maybe..." Tony slumped in his chair, looking utterly dejected, "Maybe it was a mistake from the moment it was built."
Homelander patted Tony on the shoulder.
"Every time something happens, it's there. And it's located in the heart of Manhattan with millions of people below. Once a fight breaks out, it'll be catastrophic."
Tony fell silent.
He was a smart man and knew what this meant.
That tower carried his ambitions and dreams. It was the symbol of the Avengers and the crown jewel of Stark Industries.
But now, it had become a powder keg bringing disaster to New York.
"You're right, Anthony."
Tony let out a long sigh, as if setting down a heavy burden.
"Once this is over, I'm going to sell it."
Finally waiting for those words, the smile on Homelander's face widened.
"If you're serious, Tony."
"Then I'll buy it."
"You?" Tony was taken aback, "What do you want that building for? Isn't the V.G.D. Base enough for you to live in?"
"Vought has been developing very fast lately, and we need a new landmark." Homelander spread his hands with an expression that said 'I just want to change to a bigger house.' "A place that is higher, more prominent, and can better represent the meaning of 'protection'."
"So, from now on, that will be my 'Vought Tower'."
The Avengers Tower.
Homelander had had his eye on that place for a long time.
It was the heart of Manhattan, the absolute center stage.
Taking down that ugly 'A' logo and replacing it with Vought's 'V'... what kind of prestige would that be?
"You... are you serious?" Tony looked at Homelander.
"Of course, and I won't let you lose out too much." Homelander said generously, "20% below market price, cash payment."
"Ha... you guy."
Tony shook his head.
"Fine... as long as you can kick that little bastard Ultron out of there, the building is yours."
"Then it's a deal."
Homelander reached out his hand.
"Deal." Tony shook his hand.
"Now then..."
Just as Homelander was about to discuss the follow-up actions.
"Beep— Beep— Beep—"
A rapid series of notification tones abruptly came from Tony's wrist.
"An unknown signal source is forcing a connection." Tony's expression changed as he raised his wrist.
Zzt—
The holographic projection device activated.
A blue beam of light was projected into the air.
The image flickered a few times before gradually becoming clear.
The background was the familiar lobby of the Avengers Tower.
The pink curtains there had long been torn down, and what appeared now was a cold metallic tone.
Countless Iron Suits stood on both sides like guards.
And in the center of the screen sat a matte silver steel body.
The head looked like a semi-finished skull, but those red electronic eyes exuded a chilling malice.
"Good morning, heroes."
Ultron's voice came through the speaker on Tony's hand, his tone carrying a bit of Tony Stark's characteristic flippancy.
"What a touching gathering. It almost makes me want to shed some sentimental engine oil for your family bonds."
"You're Ultron." Tony stood up, staring intently at the monster. "You've been eavesdropping!"
The camera panned.
Everyone in the conference room gasped.
In the other half of the lobby, hundreds of employees wearing Stark Industries badges were kneeling on the ground, their hands tied behind their backs.
And at the very front... was Pepper Potts.
Her eyes were full of terror, yet she still tried her best to remain calm.
"Pepper!!"
Tony shouted in shock, his fists clenched so hard they cracked.
"Let her go! Ultron! This is between us!"
"Don't get excited, Stark."
Ultron made a downward gesture, signaling Tony to calm down.
"I haven't hurt her, at least not yet."