"Agent Romanoff, I want to ask about the progress of the mission to recruit new members."
Nick Fury looked expectantly at Natasha with his one remaining eye.
However, Natasha shook her head and said expressionlessly, "I apologize, sir, but the current progress in recruiting new members is not very optimistic."
"I've approached several famous street-level heroes in Hell's Kitchen, such as the Jewel, Jessica Jones; Power Man, Luke Cage; and the Iron Fist, Danny Rand."
"The Punisher, Frank Castle; Daredevil, Matt Murdock, and others."
"But they all have a very poor impression of official organizations."
"I'm still trying to find a way to persuade them."
"Furthermore, Hell's Kitchen has been very chaotic recently. A ninja organization from Japan called The Hand has been fighting street-level heroes everywhere like crazy."
"These street-level heroes are preparing to join forces to encircle and annihilate The Hand. I can't intervene for now, and I plan to talk to them again after they've dealt with The Hand."
A look of disappointment crossed Nick Fury's face.
"What about the other potential recruits?"
"There are still many high-priority individuals in the top-secret files. For example, that agile female thief who loves breaking into museums to steal."
"The Blade, who is active year-round in New York hunting vampires."
"And the Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, who only appears at night."
"The abilities of these individuals aren't bad either. Have you tried talking to them?"
Natasha shook her head: "Their whereabouts are uncertain. I'm still trying to find them."
"Phew..." Nick Fury took a deep breath, fighting the urge to start cursing on the spot.
"And what about that geologically impossible earthquake in Manhattan two months ago? Have we figured out what happened?"
Natasha still shook her head and remained silent.
"Motherfucker!" Nick Fury couldn't hold it in anymore and cursed.
"Is there not a single piece of good news?"
Natasha thought for a moment and said with absolute seriousness, "I found out that the Mandarin once had contact with Vice President Rodriguez. Agent 13 is currently tracking that lead..."
At that moment, an urgent notification popped up on the holographic projection on the desk.
Nick Fury clicked open the message, glanced at it, and immediately started cursing profusely.
"Shit! The President's plane, Air Force One, has sent out an emergency distress signal. Someone is trying to hijack the plane!"
"Where is Stark? Right now, he's the only one who can arrive the fastest for a rescue."
Remembering the headline in the New York Times today, Natasha said with a grave expression:
"At two o'clock this afternoon, Stark's mansion in California suffered a terrorist attack. He is currently out of contact."
Nick Fury silently cursed 'fuck', then instructed with rapid-fire speed:
"Immediately relay the news of the President's plane being hijacked to the Captain, and deploy two Quinjets to prepare for an aerial hostage rescue operation."
"Understood, sir!" Natasha responded and hurried out of the office to execute her orders.
Meanwhile.
In the southeastern United States, five kilometers outside Rose Hill, Tennessee.
Inside a classic two-story American townhouse.
Tony Stark, holding crude repair tools, sat at a workbench, focused intently on repairing the heavily damaged Mark 42 Prodigal Son armor.
Beside him was a brown-haired boy, propping his head up and watching with rapt attention. He suddenly pointed at the wiring in the armor's arm.
"Why does this have to be forcefully welded together? Won't that reduce the energy transmission efficiency?"
Tony Stark, earnestly acting as a mechanic, stopped his movements, looked up at this curious child, and said sternly:
"Listen, don't interrupt me while I'm working. If you're really that curious, I'll explain it to you slowly after I've dealt with the Mandarin."
"Also, where is the sandwich I asked for?"
Hearing this, the little boy named Harley Keener immediately trotted over to the sofa, opened his backpack, and pulled out something wrapped in old newspaper.
"This is a tuna sandwich my mom made. It's the only thing I have, do you want it or not?"
Looking at this crudely packaged sandwich, wrapped in old newspaper with oil seeping through the outer layer...
Tony Stark really wanted to refuse, but his empty stomach churning with acid was even more unbearable.
"Looks like I don't have a choice."
With a self-deprecating chuckle, he took the sandwich, tore off the outer wrapping, and started devouring it.
In less than ten seconds.
After finishing the sandwich, he simply wiped his mouth with his sleeve and continued repairing the armor while complaining.
"Honestly, that's the first time I've ever seen such a terrible-tasting sandwich. No wonder you saved it until now."
Harley Keener smiled, his eyes crinkling. Not caring about Tony's complaints, he instead asked curiously:
"I heard your house got blown up. Does your house not have any high-tech defense systems?"
Without looking up, Tony Stark said, "That's a good suggestion, kid. When I go back this time, I'll consider installing an anti-missile system for the house."
"But for now, could you please keep quiet for a moment?"
Harley Keener curled his lip but didn't argue.
Two minutes later.
The preliminary repair work was completed.
As for the deeper issues, like the chipped paint on the armor's shell and certain non-essential components...
Tony Stark didn't have the time to fix them.
One reason was that the repair tools here were too crude, but the main reason was that he had just restarted the armor's system.
The moment Jarvis came online, a rapid alert sounded immediately.
[Beep beep! Beep beep!]
[Sir, welcome back. Mr. Nick Fury sent an urgent email at 6:21 PM. I believe you need to see it.]
"Then let's see whose ass that old geezer Fury wants me to wipe this time?"
The moment Tony Stark finished speaking, the armor lying flat on the workbench projected a holographic screen.
However, due to insufficient power, the screen flickered constantly, and the projection was severely dropping frames.
[Eastern Time... 4:37 PM, Air Force One... hijacked by the Mandarin's... terrorists...]
"Shit, even as the richest man in the world I have to work every day. It's just Christmas, yet the President specially flies to Las Vegas for a vacation?"
Cursing continuously, Tony Stark hurriedly plugged in the power cord. After confirming the armor was charging, he quickly turned his head and asked:
"Kid, you heard that Iron Man has to go save the world again. Do you have a phone in your house? I need to contact backup."
Harley Keener pulled a smartphone from his jeans pocket; the back of the phone even bore the Stark Industries brand logo.
Tony took the phone in surprise.
"You're actually using a Stark Industries product. You've got good taste."
Saying that, he dialed a contact using a phone number he barely remembered.
"Beep—beep—"
After waiting anxiously for nearly a minute, the call finally connected.
"This is Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes..."
"Listen, the President's plane has been hijacked. You head over there to rescue him first, and I'll be right behind you!"
"Tony? Where are you right now? Do you know, when I heard the news that you had been missing for over twenty hours, I almost thought you'd been blown to pieces!"
"Time is tight. Do as I say first. I don't want to see a sensational headline tomorrow about the President being publicly hanged by the Mandarin."
"Alright, then be careful yourself. I'm going to rescue the President right now."
"OK!"