Ronin stood on the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against his face as he looked out over the city lights. The events of the day kept replaying in his mind—the fake attack at S.H.I.E.L.D., the real Hydra ambush, and the chaotic brawl in Harlem.
He couldn't keep playing the lazy CEO forever. The Marvel world was speeding up, and he needed to keep pace.
He opened the system interface in his mind and checked the Faith Points again. The recent battles and public appearances of Soldier: 76 and Winston had generated a massive surge. The numbers were more than enough.
"Time to unlock the next one," he muttered with a small smile.
He scrolled through the available Overwatch heroes. His eyes stopped on one name that made his grin widen.
Tracer.
The energetic, time-jumping British pilot with the chronal accelerator. Fast, agile, and full of personality. She would be perfect for hit-and-run tactics and adding some much-needed speed to his arsenal.
He selected her and confirmed the unlock.
A warm surge of energy flowed through his body as the transformation form activated. He didn't test it immediately—he was too tired for that tonight. But he could already feel the potential: the ability to blink short distances, rewind time for a few seconds, and move at incredible speed.
"Tracer, huh? This should be fun," he said to himself.
He went back inside, collapsed onto the sofa, and finally allowed himself to relax. Thomas had already gone to bed, and the villa was quiet.
Tomorrow would be another day. He still had to deal with the aftermath of the Harlem fight, the Hydra situation, and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s growing suspicion. But for now, he could enjoy the small victory of adding another hero to his collection.
The next morning, Ronin woke up to the sound of his phone ringing.
It was Lucy.
"Mr. Ronin, the company is in chaos. The news about the Harlem incident is everywhere, and people are connecting it to Overwatch Films. Some reporters are already outside the building asking about Winston. What should we do?"
Ronin sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Issue a simple statement. Say Overwatch Films has no comment on fictional characters appearing in real life, and that we're focused on making great movies. Tell the staff to stay calm and keep working as usual."
Lucy sighed. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one dealing with the media circus."
Ronin chuckled. "You're the best assistant in the world, Lucy. I trust you can handle it. If things get too bad, just say I'm on vacation."
"Vacation? After yesterday's mess?" Lucy sounded incredulous.
"Exactly. I need a break after dealing with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra."
There was a long pause on the other end.
"…Hydra?" Lucy asked cautiously.
Ronin realized he had slipped up. "Never mind. Just handle the company. I'll be in later if I can."
He hung up and stretched. Time to test the new form.
He went to the large open space in the basement (which he had turned into a private training area) and activated Tracer's transformation.
In an instant, his body changed. He became a young woman with short brown hair, goggles, and the signature orange-and-white chronal accelerator on her chest. The accelerator hummed with energy.
Ronin (now Tracer) blinked forward a few meters, then rewound time by a couple of seconds, returning to his original spot.
"Whoa… this feels amazing!" he said in Tracer's cheerful British accent.
He dashed around the room at incredible speed, blinking in and out of existence, leaving afterimages behind. He fired a few test pulses from the twin pulse pistols that came with the form. The energy shots were fast and precise.
After a few minutes of playing around, he canceled the transformation and returned to his normal self, breathing a little heavier but grinning from ear to ear.
"Tracer is going to be a game-changer. Perfect for quick escapes and surprise attacks."
He showered, changed into casual clothes, and headed upstairs. Thomas was already in the kitchen making breakfast.
"Morning, boss. You look… happy," Thomas said, raising an eyebrow.
Ronin grabbed a piece of toast. "New toy unlocked. I'll show you later. For now, eat up. We've got a busy day."
As they ate, Ronin's phone rang again. This time it was an unknown number.
He answered cautiously. "Hello?"
A familiar voice came through. "Mr. Ronin, it's Tony. I saw the news about Harlem. You okay? Need any new armor upgrades?"
Ronin smiled. "I'm fine, Tony. But if you're offering, the Soldier: 76 suit could use some improvements. Winston's gear too, when the time comes."
Tony laughed. "You're turning into a one-man superhero factory. I like it. Come by the workshop whenever you're free. We can talk about the Iron Man shoot as well."
"Will do. Thanks, Tony."
He hung up and looked at Thomas. "Looks like we're heading to Stark's place today."
Thomas nodded. "I'll get the car ready."
Before they left, Ronin received one more call—this time from Lucy.
"Mr. Ronin, Blizzard's vice president, Mr. Morton, is back in the country. He wants to meet you this afternoon to discuss the cooperation deal. Should I set it up?"
Ronin thought for a moment. "Yes. Schedule it for 3 PM at the company. I'll be there."
He hung up and sighed. "Busy day indeed."
As they drove toward Stark Tower, Ronin leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.
The pieces were moving faster now. Heroes were appearing, villains were rising, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was watching his every step.
But he was ready.
With Soldier: 76, Winston, and now Tracer in his arsenal, he had options.
And soon, there would be even more.
The game was on.