Mandarin, Attack

After the man finished speaking, he immediately pulled the pin on the grenade in his hand. The reporters screamed and fled in every direction.

Human Torch had wanted to rush forward, but when he saw those grenades, he hesitated.

"Damn it."

Tony activated the armor on his arm. It transformed into a small Iron Man gauntlet, and he aimed it at the man. An Arc Pulse Cannon fired.

Bang! The man was blasted away, but he immediately climbed back up. At the same time, his body lit up with a dazzling red glow, like boiling magma.

"Long live the Mandarin!"

With that fanatical cry, the man exploded with a deafening boom. The entire street shook, countless windows shattered with a crash, and flames and black smoke filled the area.

A moment later, the black smoke dispersed. Two people slowly crawled out of the ruins—Human Torch and Iron Man.

Human Torch was made of fire to begin with, and he had escaped with Happy at the last moment, so his injuries were not serious. As for Iron Man, he had the energy-shield cloak Wang Bert had given him, so he was unharmed, though rather disheveled.

Looking at the charred corpses all over the ground, Tony and Human Torch both looked grim. Human Torch slapped himself hard. If he had not hesitated and had simply grabbed the man and flown into the sky, perhaps so many people would not have died.

At that moment, Human Torch finally began to understand the responsibility of a Super Hero.

"Damn it. Wait, Happy!"

Tony punched the wall in fury. Then he remembered Happy and hurriedly began searching the area.

Human Torch quickly joined him—they had been separated from Happy by the shockwave earlier. Before long, they found Happy, blackened all over. Fortunately, he was not dead, only severely injured.

"Mr. Stark, I’ll take him to the hospital right away."

Human Torch spoke immediately. Tony nodded. "All right. Take him to the Osborn Corporation hospital. It’s the best in all of New York. I’ll stay here and handle the aftermath."

"Yes, Mr. Stark."

Human Torch immediately flew away with Happy. To avoid burning Happy, there were no flames on his arms.

After Human Torch left, Tony sat amid the ruins and used his phone to look up information on the Mandarin. He discovered that the man was a terrorist from the Middle East.

"Mandarin… that name sounds familiar?"

Tony thought for a moment, then called Wang Bert. Before Wang Bert could complain, he asked, "Do you remember the Mandarin?"

"The Mandarin?"

Wang Bert was stunned. He said, "Of course. The Ten Rings Gang that kidnapped you back then belonged to the Mandarin. What happened?"

Tony told him everything that had just occurred. Wang Bert frowned. The Mandarin, exploding humans? Wasn’t this the plot of Iron Man 3? The problem was, why had they blown up Iron Man right from the start? That was clearly wrong, wasn’t it?

"I won’t let that bastard go. I’ll tear him to pieces."

Tony gritted his teeth. Wang Bert thought for a moment, then said, "Tony, send Pepper to my manor."

"Hm?"

Tony froze, then understood. "All right. Thanks, Bert."

Wang Bert laughed. "No need to be so polite. Send anyone else you’re worried about along with her."

"I will."

Tony nodded and hung up. At that moment, another large group of reporters arrived. They had learned absolutely nothing from the previous group and surrounded Tony, interviewing him nonstop. "Mr. Stark, what exactly happened?"

Facing the cameras, Tony said coldly, "Mandarin, I live at Malibu Villa No. 10880. I’ll be waiting with the door open. Let me tell you this: you’re dead, because I will kill you."

The reporters erupted in an uproar. Was Iron Man declaring war?

At Blood God Manor, Wang Bert called James and asked, "Has there been any recent change at A.I.M? Has the Extremis Virus research succeeded?"

A.I.M was the company of Dr. Killian, the villain of Iron Man 3. Wang Bert had ordered James to monitor them long ago.

"Nothing has changed. The Extremis Virus is still stuck at the explosion stage and can’t break through."

James immediately replied, "However, Dr. Killian took a trip to the Middle East some time ago. After coming back, he became very secretive. Our spies aren’t high enough level to get close to him."

"Is that so? Keep watching him."

Wang Bert put down the phone, his brows slightly furrowed. "The Middle East… could it be connected to the real Mandarin?"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Bert called out, "Elektra!"

The professional assassin Elektra immediately emerged from the shadows and lowered her head. "Master, what are your orders?"

Wang Bert ordered, "Go monitor Dr. Killian at A.I.M. I want to know his every move."

"Yes, Master."

Elektra immediately retreated into the shadows and vanished. Wang Bert rolled his eyes. Couldn’t she just walk out through the front door like a normal person? Did she have to act so mysterious?

"Iron Man 3 and Captain America 2 are colliding. This is a little troublesome."

Wang Bert considered it, then decided to wait and see.

The attack on Iron Man, along with the dozens of casualties, immediately became a major news story. Everyone was discussing who the Mandarin really was. Some even questioned Iron Man, saying he was undeserving of his reputation if he could not even protect reporters.

About an hour later, America’s television signals were hijacked. A strangely dressed old man appeared on every screen, claiming to be the Mandarin of the Ten Rings Gang and taking responsibility for the attack.

"This is the first lesson I am giving you, America. Super Heroes cannot protect you. They cannot even protect themselves."

The Mandarin gave a vicious grin, and the screens returned to normal.

The audience erupted in outrage. Who did this Mandarin think he was, acting so arrogantly and claiming he would teach America a lesson? At the White House, President Ellis cursed furiously. What were the people in the cybersecurity department doing? How had they allowed a terrorist to hijack signals across all of America?

"Send War Machine to support Iron Man. Have the Air Force keep watch over Malibu Villa as well. No matter what, nothing can happen to Iron Man. America can’t afford that humiliation."

President Ellis gave the order, and the military personnel immediately nodded.

After thinking for a moment, President Ellis turned to Senator Stern and asked, "Should we ask the Blood God to intervene?"

"Is it really at that point already?"

Senator Stern was somewhat speechless. Since the Wakanda incident, President Ellis had become increasingly dependent on the Blood God. Whenever something happened, he wanted to call him.

"You’re right. Let’s wait and see."

President Ellis nodded. At that moment, an official reminded him, "Mr. President, it’s time for your speech in California. Air Force One is ready."

"All right, let’s go."

President Ellis stood up. He did not know that after everyone had left, an agent quietly sent a message out: "The president has departed."

At Malibu Villa, Pepper packed while shouting at Tony, "Tony, you were too impulsive. Hurry up and come hide at the Blood God’s manor with me."

"You go yourself. I have to stay here and fight the Mandarin."

Tony shook his head. Pepper kept trying to persuade him, but Tony refused to listen and even had someone send Pepper away.

Not long after Pepper left, Steve and Hawkeye Barton arrived in a Quinjet to provide support.

"Tony, you were too impulsive."

Steve could not help saying it. Tony replied, "I admit I was a little impulsive, but these are extraordinary times. We don’t have time to waste on the Mandarin. We need to cut through the mess quickly and deal with him as fast as possible."

"That’s true."

Steve asked, "Tony, could Pierce be behind this?"

"He isn’t that stupid. Right now, he definitely wants stability."

Tony shook his head, then added, "But he might take advantage of the chaos."

"If that’s the case, we’re a little short on manpower."

Steve said, "Rumlow is on a mission in Germany. He can’t make it back."

"It’s better if he can’t. There’s an eighty percent chance he’s Hydra."

Hawkeye shook his head—Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Daredevil had all been won over by S.W.O.R.D.

"It’s fine. Others are coming. I may be impulsive, but I don’t fight battles I can’t win."

Tony said. Before long, Human Torch, Electro, Wind Demon, and War Machine Rhodey arrived one after another.

Human Torch said, "Mr. Stark, Happy’s condition has stabilized."

"That’s great."

Tony breathed a sigh of relief. Electro and Wind Demon said, "Mr. Stark, Mr. Wang sent us to support you."

"Good. Let’s get ready. The attack will be here soon."

Tony nodded and fully activated the villa’s defensive systems. The home base of Iron Man was not so simple.

Councilor Malik asked, "Pierce, was this your doing?"

"It wasn’t."

Pierce said, "I’m not that crazy. Before Project Insight is activated, I won’t alert the enemy."

Councilor Malik asked suspiciously, "Really?"

"Of course. That Mandarin is a Middle Eastern terrorist with a grudge against Tony."

As Pierce spoke, he sent the information to him. After reading it, Councilor Malik nodded. "Good, as long as it wasn’t you. Project Insight will launch in less than half a month. Don’t create unnecessary complications."

"Don’t worry. I know what to do."

Pierce nodded. However, once Councilor Malik went offline, his eyes immediately filled with killing intent. If not for this Mandarin incident, Pierce would not have moved against Tony so easily, because if he did, the Blood God would definitely not let it go.

But now, things were different.

Pierce summoned his trusted subordinate, Sitwell Agent, and ordered, "Go to the base. Have the Winter Soldier lead the Lizardmen squad to kill Tony and the others."

The bald Sitwell Agent was stunned. "Director, didn’t you say this wasn’t the right time to act?"

"It wasn’t before, but things are different now. Someone else will take the blame for us."

Pierce sneered. "Afterward, the Blood God will only go to the Middle East to settle things with the Mandarin. He won’t suspect us at all."

Sitwell Agent suddenly understood. "That’s true. This way, we won’t even need to figure out how to lure the Blood God out of New York."

"Exactly."

Pierce nodded. "Also, make sure the Mandarin’s people strike first. This time, we might be able to wipe out that group of Super Heroes in one stroke."

"I’ll go at once."

Sitwell Agent accepted the order and left. Pierce stared excitedly at the sky. Heaven really was helping him. If he got the chance, he would have to properly thank the Mandarin.

At Malibu Villa, Tony and the others did not have to wait long. Several armed helicopters flew in from the sea. Iron Man looked at the screen and sneered disdainfully. "That Mandarin doesn’t seriously think a few helicopters can defeat me, does he?"

Steve said, "Don’t underestimate him. The Mandarin has never been captured, so he can’t be an easy opponent."

Just then, Jarvis suddenly sounded an alarm. "The enemy has launched five missiles. They will strike the villa in twenty seconds."

Tony said coldly, "Intercept them."

"Yes!"

Under Jarvis’s control, several gun barrels suddenly emerged from the cliff beneath the villa. Immediately afterward, more than ten interceptor missiles launched at once.

"My place is completely impregnable—"

Tony was about to boast when one of the missiles suddenly exploded. A powerful pulse microwave beam swept through the area, paralyzing both the Iron Man Armor and the villa’s intelligent systems.

"Another EMP! This is clearly top-tier technology, so why does everyone have one?"

Tony was close to losing it. Fortunately, after the previous lesson, he had made preparations in advance. The Iron Man Armor and the intelligent systems immediately rebooted and recovered.

Just then, a submarine suddenly surfaced from the sea beneath the villa. Several missiles then launched at the villa’s base.

"Submarine detected. Missiles detected—"

Jarvis, having just finished rebooting, immediately issued a loud warning, but it was too late. The missiles struck the bottom of the villa one after another. The villa shook violently and began collapsing downward.

"Damn it, my home!"

Tony was both furious and alarmed. He immediately led everyone out of the villa, while Jarvis controlled twenty Drone Armor suits to follow close behind.

Standing on a Glider, Steve asked, "Tony, didn’t you install sonar beneath the sea?"

"I did. I installed radar and sonar. Damn it, that submarine can counter sonar. Jarvis, blow it up."

Tony cursed. Jarvis immediately controlled the Drone Armor to fire missiles at the submarine. The submarine sank while launching a large number of interceptor missiles. Explosions boomed continuously all around them.

At that moment, several armed helicopters flew over and began spraying Tony and the others with gunfire and missiles.

"Take them out."

Tony immediately led the others into battle. Countless bullets and missiles streaked chaotically through the air.

"Iron Man really does keep getting slapped in the face. Today might be bad for him."

Electro secretly shook his head. He thrust both hands forward, and a massive current slammed into an armed helicopter. The helicopter immediately lost control and crashed downward.

Seeing this, the four Terrorists inside the helicopter immediately flew out. Yes, flew. A pair of wings grew from their backs—or rather, dragon wings.

"Humans can have wings?"

Everyone was stunned. Steve sighed and said, "I’m starting to miss my era again."

War Machine mocked, "Captain, people are going to call you an antique if you keep saying that."

The movements of those four Terrorists seemed to be a signal. The other Terrorists also flew out of the helicopters and submarine one after another. More than forty of them surrounded Iron Man and the others.

As for the helicopters and submarine, they swiftly withdrew and waited in the distance.

Sai Wen, Dr. Killian’s top subordinate, chewed gum as he said to Tony, "Tony Stark, my boss sends his regards."

"Who’s your boss? If he wants to see me, tell him to make an appointment with my secretary first. If I’m in a good mood, I might see him."

Iron Man snorted. Although the other side had more people, they had twenty Drone Armor suits on their side, so they were not at a disadvantage.