Avengers Assemble!

Stark Industries District, press conference venue.

The night before last, Iron Man and Iron Machine had battled with high-tech weapons on the highway and atop the Stark Industries factory, causing an uproar across the city and even the entire world.

In the end, there were rumors that someone had seen Kyle, the Symbol of Peace, appear as well. That elevated an already major current-event focus by several more levels.

After all, this was the beginning of an era of change. Any topic involving the Symbol of Peace, Superheroes, Alien Invasion, and the like had basically risen to the exaggerated height of nationwide discussion.

So when a press conference featuring Tony was held, nearly every media reporter in New York showed up, filling the seats below the stage. Television channels also broadcast the event live.

Representing the military, Colonel Rhodes was the first to deliver a lengthy string of official remarks from the podium, boring some reporters into near sleepiness so early in the morning.

"Now, let us welcome the chairman of Stark Industries, Tony Stark!"

Only after Rhodes finished speaking and loudly raised a hand to the side did the media present erupt in expectant applause.

Dressed smartly in a formal suit, Tony walked onto the stage with the speech prepared by S.H.I.E.L.D. in hand.

Rhodes, wearing a military uniform and cap, stood beside him in a soldierly posture and gave him an encouraging nod.

Tony cleared his throat and said, "Well, you must all think that I was the one fighting an iron monster on the road and atop the factory the night before last…"

A female reporter raised her hand and interrupted him. "Mr. Stark, someone witnessed even your godfather showing up. Are you still going to claim Iron Man is your bodyguard?"

"Of course not. Please let me finish." Tony shrugged. He had not glanced at the speech once from beginning to end. With a solemn gaze, he continued, "To be honest, I was never cut out to be a Superhero. I have plenty of personality flaws. Unfortunately… my godfather happens to be the Symbol of Peace."

"Tony." Rhodes lowered his voice, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding.

"That’s right." Tony swept his gaze across the media below and faced the cameras as he firmly admitted, "I am Iron Man!"

The instant his words fell, the entire press conference exploded into chaos. Countless reporters rose in shock and amazement, surging forward excitedly with microphones in hand.

"May we ask how that flying iron suit was made? Does Stark Industries possess any unrevealed advanced technology?"

"As the third Superhero recognized by the world after the Symbol of Peace and Captain America, how do you feel?"

"How much has your godfather helped you? How did he guide you onto the path of becoming a Superhero?"

"Will you make the weapons used by Iron Man available to the military?"

Questions rang out one after another. Tony selected a few and gave brief answers, while Rhodes helplessly slapped a hand against his forehead beside him.

All the preparations S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military had made beforehand had gone to waste.

Whether revealing Iron Man’s identity was good or bad, from this day onward, Tony was destined to be tied to Superheroes. He would never again be able to live in peace and leisure.

The questioning at the press conference continued. The excited reporters were nearing the point of losing control, and several staff members began forming a human wall to maintain order.

Just then, the phones of many tightly packed reporters began vibrating and ringing at the same time.

They took out their phones, answered calls, or checked the contents of text messages. Their faces suddenly flushed red with excitement. No longer bothering to question Tony, they grabbed their camera crews and sprinted for the exit.

In only half a minute, nearly all of the hundred-plus reporters had run off, leaving the seats below the stage in complete disarray.

Tony let out a breath of relief, then looked at Rhodes in surprise. "What happened?"

"You’re asking me? How would I know?" Rhodes spread his hands irritably.

But soon, as if he had received a message as well, he took out his phone and looked at the screen. He immediately raised it in realization. "Well, your godfather just bought Emperor Building and founded a company called the ‘Supernatural Agency.’ He’s announced it publicly, too."

"I knew it." Tony smiled with easy grace. "Only he could steal the headlines from me revealing that I’m Iron Man."

Rhodes fell silent for a moment before saying with a sigh, "The times really are changing."

That day, newspapers, magazines, and online news outlets hurriedly published two headline stories: "Iron Man’s True Identity" and "The Founding of the Supernatural Agency."

People had long known that Tony Stark’s godfather was Kyle. Now that Tony had publicly revealed himself to be Iron Man, it once again sparked widespread discussion.

After all, Captain America Steve also shared an exceptionally deep bond as comrades-in-arms with Kyle.

Of course, Kyle’s founding of the Supernatural Agency was even more talked about.

The Supernatural Agency publicly announced itself as a private enterprise of the Karl family, the family to which Kyle, the Symbol of Peace, belonged. It only handled matters related to the supernatural.

The company was not recruiting externally. The entire building had only thirty-some employees, all of whom called themselves members of the Karl family. Kyle himself was the chairman.

The Supernatural Agency also divided its cases into four danger ranks: King, Dragon, God, and Calamity—supernatural disasters beyond the scope of human common sense.

The lowest King rank was something like Iron Machine from the night before last…

The public discussed it endlessly, finding it incredibly novel and truly feeling that the world was changing at an unprecedented pace.

Late that night.

In the conference room on the top floor of Emperor Building, under gentle lighting, several people sat close together on leather sofas, savoring fine wine.

Every person here possessed an identity and record that would shake the world if revealed. Yet at this moment, they had gathered because of one person.

Kyle sat on a single sofa, with Yutong standing close beside him. Tony reclined nearby, seated with Natasha on the same long sofa.

Another large sofa was occupied entirely by Fury alone.

The group formed a roughly triangular arrangement.

"Fury, I’ve helped you gather everyone here. Say whatever you want to say." Kyle smiled calmly, staring directly at Fury’s dark, fierce face, which was nearly invisible in the night.

"First, I can say that everyone present, except me, is a ‘Superman’ beyond the scope of ordinary people."

Using that as his opening, Fury swept his single eye over the group and said in a deep voice, "Because of the information Kyle brought back from space, as well as what happened the night before last, I’ve decided to form a team using S.H.I.E.L.D. as its foundation and resources!"

Kyle’s eyes brightened slightly as understanding dawned on him first.

"A team?"

Tony repeated the word, asking with some curiosity, "What kind of team?"

Fury answered solemnly, "A team of heroes. I call it the Avengers!"