Later that day.
Following the address Natasha gave her, Reze arrived at a safe house in Midtown Manhattan.
This was a secret base under the name of S.H.I.E.L.D.
There was no one in the house for the time being.
Reze tossed her baseball cap onto the sofa, sat for a while out of boredom, and then, feeling thirsty, stood up and walked to the open kitchen, opening the refrigerator to find a can of ice-cold Cola.
Just as her hand touched the cold metal shell of the Cola can, before she even had time to close the refrigerator door—
Footsteps suddenly echoed from the hallway, accompanied by a man's slightly flippant voice.
"Listen, Coulson, I have to state first, is your S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence network a bit too outdated? This famous flower of mine already has a master, and Pepper has been keeping a very close eye on me lately."
The voice drew closer, every word filled with the kind of excessive self-consciousness that made one want to punch him: "So, there's no need to specially find two young and beautiful female Agents to work with me, trying to use a honey trap to change my attitude toward you guys."
"I am a man of principle; I won't be easily swayed, absolutely not."
"I'm here for official business, not..."
Click.
The door was pushed open.
Wearing an expensive custom suit and sunglasses, Tony Stark strode in with a cynical smile on his face.
At the same time, Reze, holding the Cola in one hand and resting the other on the refrigerator door, slowly turned around.
As it happened, Tony also looked over.
Their eyes met... time seemed to freeze at this moment... the smile on Tony's face instantly solidified.
It's you?!
"Hiss—!!"
In that split second, Tony felt like he almost had a heart attack on the spot.
The events from over a month ago seemed to flash before his eyes—
The young girl before him gradually merged with that hateful figure who carried a canvas bag of US dollars in her left hand and dragged the wreckage of his armor in her right.
"Thanks, Mr. Stark. If there's a need, I'll come again."
Recalling Reze's words, where she didn't treat herself as an outsider at all, Tony almost spat out a mouthful of blood in anger... After two seconds of dead silence.
Tony Stark took a step back with an expressionless face.
Bang!
As if doubting he had opened the door the right way, he closed it again.
Except the soundproofing of this door wasn't great.
Tony's exasperated, even slightly voice-cracking roar immediately erupted from outside the door.
"Coulson!! What the hell are you doing?!"
Tony's voice sounded like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"You never said the person I'd be cooperating with would be that crazy woman! God, did you do this on purpose? Did I just have a hallucination? Why is that terrorist taking a Cola from a S.H.I.E.L.D. refrigerator?!"
"Also, didn't I tell you guys? Once you find her trail, contact me immediately!"
"And the result? Are you guys actually together? Are you teaming up to play me?!"
Tony was truly panicking.
Ever since his life was threatened at close range by Reze, he would subconsciously twitch every time he saw anything purple.
Agent Phil Coulson's gentle voice sounded from outside the door.
"Calm down, Mr. Stark, please calm down."
"That's a misunderstanding. Miss Reze has already deeply realized her past mistakes, feels very regretful, and has agreed to cooperate with us."
Coulson's tone was so sincere he almost believed himself: "Actually, she's a very kind person, really, and she's an expert in handling these monster disputes. Didn't you see the news from Harlem earlier?"
"Miss Reze even risked her own life for the sake of justice to repel the terrible Abomination."
Don't be fooled by Coulson's honest appearance; he didn't even blush while lying through his teeth.
"...Justice?"
There was silence outside for a few seconds; clearly, Tony was processing this absurd vocabulary.
"Are you sure it's because of justice? Not because of something else?"
A just person?
Would fly into his home for no reason to extort him?
And self-destruct if he didn't give in?
What kind of justice is that?
Muslim justice?
"One hundred percent sure. She is now also our important external consultant."
Coulson guaranteed solemnly, "And with her around, the success rate of this operation against General Ross will be greatly increased."
Another long minute passed.
Under Coulson's persistent persuasion, the door was finally pushed open a crack again.
Tony poked his face in, half-doubting.
At this time, Reze had already opened the Cola; with a 'pssh' sound of bubbles, she chugged it down.
This made Tony's eyebrows twitch involuntarily again.
Leaning against the cabinet, Reze narrowed her eyes at Tony, who was peeking through the door, and gave a sweet smile, even waving her other hand friendlily:
"Hi, Moneybags, long time no see~"
Tony swallowed hard.
No... you call this 'deeply realizing her past mistakes and feeling very regretful'?
Why does it sound like she regrets not robbing enough last time?
Even if he were wearing the Iron Man Suit, Tony wouldn't want to face this young girl, let alone now when he was only wearing a suit.
Tony turned his head and firmly grabbed Coulson, who was trying to back away beside him.
It was clear that although Coulson's words sounded nice, he was actually a bit intimidated himself.
Tony gripped the good-natured Agent's arm tightly, forcibly dragging him in front of himself to use as a human shield.
"Alright... alright."
Hiding behind Coulson with only half his body showing, Tony pointed at Reze and warned:
"Listen, I don't care what kind of magic potion you gave S.H.I.E.L.D., if you dare to touch your pull-ring even once in this room, or if there's even a hint of an explosion, I'll... I'll have Coulson dock your entire salary! That's right, exactly!"
It might seem like Tony was being merciful by only mentioning docking her salary, but in reality... he was truly out of options.
He really couldn't beat this crazy woman in front of him.
Looking at the jittery Iron Man, Reze could only shrug helplessly, raising the Cola can in her hand to gesture: "Don't be nervous, little Iron Girl in the red dress. Big sister is a good person and won't bully a virtuous woman like you, don't worry~"
"Little Iron Girl in the red dress?"
The "virtuous woman" Tony's face turned red and white with anger.
He was always the one teasing others and calling them "babe."
When did it become his turn to be teased by a girl who hadn't even fully grown up yet?
But Tony didn't dare to talk back, fearing he would provoke the purple-haired Creeper in front of him, so he forced himself to swallow this resentment.
Reze in Tony's eyes
Coulson's lips were pressed tight as he listened.
He thought through all the saddest things in his life, fearing he would laugh out loud in front of Tony and cause this cooperation to end prematurely.
However, the answer to who came up with the wicked code name "Welcoming Committee" was now clear.
If it wasn't Tony, who else could it be?
Then a new question arose.
Who would be the final member of the Welcoming Committee?
Tony was very curious; he hoped she was a good woman, at least one who could keep Reze in check.
Just as Tony was thinking this, the sound of high heels echoed outside the door.
The third member of the Welcoming Committee had arrived.
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