In the comics, The Mandarin is real. His organization, the Ten Rings Gang, wields ten mystical rings, each imbued with unique powers. The Mandarin himself stands as one of Tony Stark's greatest foes. In the cinematic universe, however, the Ten Rings Gang doesn't exist—only the Ten Rings. The rings once worn on fingers in the comics have been replaced by ten armbands.
The title "The Mandarin" is nothing more than a fabrication by Aldrich Killian, a cover for his crimes under the Ten Rings' name. If Hong Fei recalls correctly, this so-called "Mandarin," the imagined leader of the Ten Rings, is actually a washed-up actor named Trevor Slattery.
Yet, watching Slattery now, his portrayal of a terrorist is surprisingly convincing. His expressions, movements, and delivery are chillingly authentic. The television signal gradually flickered back to life, and news anchors began broadcasting incessantly about "The Mandarin."
Though this marks "The Mandarin's" first public appearance via hijacked airwaves, his terrorist activities aren't new. Attacks against the United States have been ongoing, though few were aware of them until now.
The situation suggests Killian is fully prepared, and his puppet master, the "Big Head," is already pulling the strings. On television, President Ellis delivered a speech reaffirming his commitment to eradicating terrorism. He also unveiled a government-controlled superhero: the Iron Patriot.
Iron Patriot is essentially War Machine with a fresh coat of paint, designed to mimic Captain America's patriotic aesthetic. Truthfully, War Machine was one of Tony's early creations. When Colonel Rhodes took it without permission, Tony didn't push to reclaim it, effectively giving the government an out.
Now, it seems the government is pleased to have secured an Iron Man suit—though, realistically, they were backed into a corner by Tony's unyielding stance. Tony, a powerful capitalist, wields immense influence through Stark Industries' vast resources and connections. And this is, after all, a capitalist country.
......
At S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Alexander Pierce stood by his office window on the top floor, gazing at the river in the distance. Behind him, Agent Sitwell delivered his report.
"Someone's been stoking the flames of this case, keeping public opinion volatile. We suspect the current confrontation was deliberately provoked. Congress and the White House have already stepped back, yet the tension hasn't eased."
Pierce turned calmly. "The situation is intriguing. Any guesses what the other side wants?"
"Sorry, sir," Sitwell replied, head bowed. "We haven't pinpointed their motives yet."
Pierce walked to his desk, sat down, and folded his hands. "Have you seen this 'Mandarin' who recently appeared?"
"Yes, sir."
"I think these two events might be connected."
Sitwell's eyes narrowed. "Should we investigate?"
"No need," Pierce said, waving a hand. "This doesn't concern us. Our priority is ensuring S.H.I.E.L.D.'s continued existence within legal bounds. Until our plan is complete, nothing should disrupt our operations."
"Yes, sir. And what about the politicians?"
"Let Stern handle those fools," Pierce said dismissively. "Whether it's Congress or the White House, these politicians panic at the first sign of trouble. They rush to release their carefully crafted statements, exposing their true intentions and pouring fuel on the fire."
Sitwell frowned, his voice tinged with concern. "Sir, do you think Captain America will win?"
"Of course not," Pierce replied, his lips curling into a cold, dismissive smile. "Those who truly hold power—beyond the masses—will never allow it. But we'll need to make some concessions. It's all about reclaiming public opinion, spinning another lie about 'freedom.' They once pushed Captain America as their hero, and now they're finally realizing what they've created. In a way, they're no different from us."
Sitwell nodded slowly. "You're right. They're even more hypocritical."
Pierce turned to Rumlow, who had remained silent throughout the exchange.
"Rumlow, you've fought that Dragon King, haven't you?"
Rumlow gave a slight nod, but his jaw tightened as the memory surfaced. His expression betrayed the bitterness of that encounter.
"How would you assess his strength?" Pierce pressed.
Rumlow took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "He's… incredibly powerful. His combat skills are unmatched—technique, strength, speed, reaction time—he surpasses anyone I've ever faced. I couldn't lay a finger on him. He toyed with me the entire time, like I was nothing."
Pierce nodded, gesturing for him to continue.
"But what's more alarming is how quickly he's improved. When I fought him, he didn't even have that golden energy. From what we know, he started as just an ordinary man. Yet, in just a few years, he's leapt forward in strength—until the Battle of New York, when he shocked the world. His secret is the key."
Pierce agreed. "You're right. He's hiding something monumental. And that team of his—the one that seemed to appear out of nowhere—there's a pattern to it. He's been deliberately recruiting people with special abilities, and he's done it faster and better than Fury ever could. The Avengers were always a fragile alliance, and now they're on the verge of collapse because of Captain America's actions."
"Sir, I suggest we infiltrate his circle," Sitwell interjected. "Dig deeper into his secrets."
"We're already working on it," Pierce said. "But he stopped taking in outsiders long ago. The only vulnerability lies in Sokovia—the land he's developing. He's turning it into his base of operations."
"That's a good thing," Sitwell remarked.
"Indeed," Pierce agreed. "And he's neighbors with Strucker, who's shown a keen interest in the Mind Stone. Sitwell, take advantage of the chaos from this lawsuit and arrange to send the Mind Stone to him."
Sitwell nodded. "Understood."
Pierce turned back to Rumlow, noting the simmering anger in his expression.
"I know you want revenge, but patience is crucial. Remember our ultimate goal. Once we achieve it, we'll have the power of the entire world at our disposal. No matter how strong he is, no matter what kind of 'King' he claims to be, he can't stand against the might of an entire world."
Rumlow's expression softened slightly, though the anger still lingered.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. needs stability," Pierce continued. "We'll bring this ridiculous lawsuit to an end as soon as possible. Fury has to go."
"I've already thought of the candidate to replace him," Pierce said, his tone decisive. "Maria Hill will serve as Acting Director."
Sitwell hesitated. "But—"
"Don't panic," Pierce cut him off. "Her only role is to keep the Avengers in line—ensure they don't openly defy S.H.I.E.L.D. or the World Security Council. The real power of the Director will remain with me."
Next, everyone will go silent; just do your own jobs well.
"Yes!"
At this moment, the phone on the desk rang. Pierce reached out and pressed it, then heard: "Officer, Mr. Malick wants to make an appointment to meet with you."
"Understood, tell him to wait for my call."
Rumlow frowned and said: "He is looking for you now, I'm afraid it's nothing good."
Pierce immediately laughed: "Of course, because the idea and order to launch the nuclear missile originally came from him. His brain is already too old and completely useless."
......
On the other side, at a certain secret base. Nick Fury probably never thought that one day he would come here with his current state of mind. He was still in his all-black attire, his hands behind his back, seemingly completely unaffected by the lawsuit. Barton and Coulson stood beside him.
Fury looked at the two and said with a calm face: "This reminds me of many years ago, when I often only had you two by my side."
Barton said apologetically: "Sorry, Officer, Natasha..."
Fury immediately raised his hand to interrupt: "I understand, I can understand her. Her family is there, right?"
"Yes, her adoptive parents and sister. Although there is no direct blood relationship, she values this family affection very much."
Barton explained slowly. At this time, Coulson on the side also took the initiative to speak: "Officer, I don't think Captain is intentionally targeting you."
Fury turned his head and aimed his one eye at him: "Coulson, I can also understand Captain. I should indeed be responsible for this matter."
Coulson's eyes were full of struggle. On one side was his respected superior, and on the other was his idol. Since the lawsuit broke out, he felt he had been caught in the middle, not knowing what to do.
Fury said in a low voice: "Now is not the time to discuss these things, because it has already happened and is unavoidable. From the beginning, I knew what the result of this matter would be, so I have been thinking about it these days. Now I have preliminarily made plans and preparations. Next, I need your help."
Barton and Coulson nodded at the same time.
"No one else in S.H.I.E.L.D. knows about this base, and the people here are all my people. Later, we will give you the high-level authority of this base, as well as corresponding tasks. Of course, the priority of these tasks is after the tasks that S.H.I.E.L.D. will arrange for you in the future. In addition, if you need to contact me, come here."
"Understood."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. will be fine. But this incident let me know that one S.H.I.E.L.D. is indeed far from enough; we need to have more preparations. I will contact the Avengers, and you don't forget to help them at all times. Right now, they are not yet a mature team. Barton, what do you think?"
Barton nodded slightly.
"I guess the person replacing me will be Hill, but her experience and qualifications are insufficient, so Pierce will temporarily exercise the power of the Director. Although Hill does not have extraordinary abilities, her command ability is beyond question; you can fully trust her. Pierce was once the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director; he knows everything about S.H.I.E.L.D., so S.H.I.E.L.D. will be very stable. What you need to do is the same as before; just keep it up."
Coulson felt more and more that something was wrong as he listened, so he asked directly: "Officer, you are not staying here?"
"That's right. Just like I said just now, we need more preparations. So I will take this opportunity to leave here; I still have many things to do."