Retaliation

Not only Wang Bert, but everyone else was surprised as well. Tony cared most about his appearance; whenever he went out, he spent at least half an hour getting ready. He knew there was a meeting today, yet he showed up looking like this. Something was clearly off.

"I wasn’t drained dry by Pepper. I was drained dry by Murphy and Morgan."

Tony waved his hand weakly and said, "Those two kids are completely different from normal children. Day or night, as long as they sleep for thirty minutes, they wake up full of energy and make a fuss for two or three hours. I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in days."

"Charge for thirty minutes, run at full power for three hours? Wait, Tony, where’s your Money Power?"

Wang Bert asked in confusion, "Why not hire a hundred maids and nannies? Do you and Pepper really have to handle something like taking care of babies yourselves?"

"I want to, but the problem is, those two kids only let Pepper and me hold them. The second anyone else picks them up, they start screaming like they’re being murdered."

Tony looked like he was about to fall asleep as he said, "Now I finally understand what it means to be screwed over by your kids. This is what it means. I’m about to collapse."

Although Tony was miserable, everyone still could not help laughing. The mighty Iron Man had actually been driven to the brink by two children. It was just too funny.

"Tony, look on the bright side. Those two children are very healthy."

Wang Bert smiled. "Health is what matters most. To keep them healthy, I even put the Dragon God Bracelet on their wrists to continuously strengthen their bodies."

"That bracelet was actually that useful? Huh, wait? Strengthen their bodies?"

Tony suddenly realized what was going on. He pressed his face against the screen, widened his eyes, and roared, "So you’re the bastard who kept me from sleeping for days? Bert Wang, I’m going to kill you!"

Everyone stared speechlessly at Wang Bert. So this guy was the real culprit. Skye rolled her eyes. Knowing her Master, he had definitely done it on purpose.

Wang Bert said unhappily, "No good deed goes unpunished. Also, stop squeezing yourself against the screen. You’re not Sadako. You can’t crawl out."

"Bert Wang!"

Tony roared. Just then, Pepper’s near-breakdown voice came through. "Shut up! Are you trying to wake Murphy? Oh, Morgan, be good, don’t cry…"

Tony instantly sat back down and whispered, "Jarvis, activate mute mode. Don’t let Murphy wake up."

Jarvis immediately replied, "Yes, Mr. Stark."

Everyone burst into laughter. Tony glared at Wang Bert and said, "I’ll settle this score with you sooner or later. All right, Murphy will wake up in twenty minutes. Say whatever you need to say quickly. I’ll see if I can catch some sleep."

"Then I’ll keep it brief."

Wang Bert said, "The Kree Empire intended to destroy Earth. We must settle this score with them. Otherwise, other aliens may try the same thing in the future."

"I agree that we should retaliate against the Kree Empire. Those aliens need to know what happens when they offend Earth."

Steve immediately nodded, and the others voiced their agreement as well. Then, they all turned to look at Wang Bert.

Wang Bert asked, "Why are you all looking at me?"

Steve smiled. "Bert, you’re the only one who can retaliate against them. I suggest capturing a Kree Empire legion. That would give us both prestige and practical gains."

"I do have the ability, but I don’t want to act personally this time. Earth cannot rely solely on me."

Wang Bert pointed at Skye and said, "I plan to have Skye lead the Inhumans to the Kree Empire and seize territory."

"Wait, how did this involve me? And what do the Inhumans have to do with the Kree Empire?"

Skye froze, then hurriedly shouted. She vaguely felt a massive burden flying straight toward her.

"Kree blood flows through the Inhumans’ veins. How are they unrelated?"

Wang Bert said, "The Kree Empire is currently in a Civil War. Lead the Inhumans there, seize territory, recruit Kree, and establish the Inhuman Kingdom."

Skye asked, "Master, how could the Kree possibly surrender to us Inhumans?"

"Why not? The Kree worship the strong, and the Inhumans are strong."

Wang Bert said, "In fact, Kree have already approached Black Bolt, hoping he would return to the Kree Empire and help them end the Civil War."

"The Kree really are a strange bunch."

Skye was speechless. She said, "Master, since Black Bolt has such a huge reputation, why not let him establish the Inhuman Kingdom? He would definitely be more suitable than me."

"Don’t underestimate yourself. In the Kree Empire, your reputation is even greater than Black Bolt’s."

Wang Bert smiled. "You’re the Terminator of the Supreme Intelligence. Your picture has always been at the top of the Kree Empire’s bounty list!"

Everyone could not help laughing. Skye asked in astonishment, "Wait, why am I at the top? Shouldn’t it be you, Master?"

Wang Bert said flatly, "Who would dare put out a warrant for me?"

Skye was speechless. Those Kree really knew how to bully the weak and fear the strong.

Steve asked, "Bert, you’re not sending Skye to seize territory in the Kree Empire just for revenge, are you?"

"Revenge is only one of the goals."

Wang Bert said, "The Kree Empire’s planets can provide Earth with vast quantities of precious resources. Besides, experts are forged through battle. If Earth wants to become a space power, it must participate in war.

"The Kree Empire is currently in chaos, making it the ideal Training Ground. After fighting for a few years, Earth will have a powerful army—one that knows how to occupy planets and wage space warfare."

Everyone’s eyes lit up, especially General Ross. This was practically the battlefield of his dreams.

Coulson could not help asking, "Mr. Wang, can Earth support a war on such a massive scale?"

"The scale won’t be that large. Humanity only needs to send out one fleet. The main force will be the Inhumans and the Kree."

Wang Bert said, "After all, it will be the Inhuman Kingdom. With Skye’s reputation, many Kree will come to join her."

Everyone lowered their heads in thought. After a moment, Steve said, "Bert, S.W.O.R.D. does not have enough Inhumans to support an Inhuman Kingdom."

"Didn’t we just capture a group from Hydra? Send them all to the Kree Empire battlefield. Also, Black Bolt promised to support Skye with a group of Inhumans."

Wang Bert said, "As for the Kree we captured earlier, I’ll control them and make them obey Skye’s orders completely."

Steve’s eyes lit up. "That’s a good idea. Keeping those Hydra Inhumans on Earth would only cause trouble."

Skye was delighted as well. This way, those Inhumans would not have to die.

Wang Bert looked at Skye and said, "Skye, don’t say your Master is setting you up. I’m giving you my Blood God, along with the Pursuers and the rest."

"Thank you, Master."

Skye was delighted, then she asked, "Master, you’re only giving me your old flagship because you have a new one now, right? Ow!"

Wang Bert silently withdrew his hand. Disciple, do you realize you’re narrowing your own path? Why did she have to say every inconvenient truth out loud?

Tony, who had not spoken until now, said, "I agree with Bert’s proposal. Earth needs a battlefield, one far away from Earth. Otherwise, new technologies and equipment will never truly develop.

"Also, after a year of development, Resource Star has basically stabilized. We have plenty of spare manpower available."

The others nodded as well. General Ross even said, "Mr. Wang, I am willing to join this war."

"You were part of the plan from the beginning. Otherwise, I would not have called you here specifically."

Wang Bert smiled. "You will be the ground commander of this army."

General Ross asked with some dissatisfaction, "Ground commander? Then who will be the Commander-in-Chief? Skye?"

"Skye is the Queen of the Inhuman Kingdom. She will not be part of the human command structure."

Wang Bert clapped his hands and said, "The Commander-in-Chief will be Frank Castle. Frank, you can come in now."

At Wang Bert’s words, the doors opened. Frank Castle, the Punisher, strode in with the bearing of a textbook soldier and saluted everyone.

"Frank?"

General Ross frowned deeply. "Mr. Wang, it’s not that I question you, but Frank is more suited to charging on the Frontlines. He isn’t suited to being Commander-in-Chief."

In General Ross’s eyes, Frank was nothing more than an ordinary grunt.

"General Ross, as the saying goes, three days apart are enough to make one see someone in a new light."

Wang Bert smiled. "Frank, show General Ross your qualifications."

Frank did not waste words. He tapped his watch, and a screen appeared, displaying a graduation certificate—Xandar Military University Command Department graduation certificate.

"General Ross, you certainly have plenty of experience, but you have never fought a space war. You are not suited to be Commander-in-Chief."

Wang Bert said, "Frank is an outstanding graduate of a military university. Combined with his past achievements, he has no problem commanding this kind of war."

General Ross had no response. After all, he really had never fought a space war. He said, "I have no objections."

Frank silently put away his graduation certificate. Though his expression did not change, he was secretly thrilled. He had never expected that a rough man like him would one day get to use a diploma to crush someone.

Frank’s command abilities had always been top-tier. He had commanded the Blood God Group’s earliest battles.

Tony secretly curled his lip. He had graduated half a year ago. Did he say anything about it? Steve rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed. He estimated that he still needed another two or three years to graduate. By comparison, Black Widow was much better off; she would probably graduate next year.

Wang Bert clapped his hands. "Okay, if no one has any objections, then it’s settled."

"Wait, I object. Can’t you replace me? I’m still young. I’m not suited to be a Queen."

Skye hurriedly shouted. She had not mentally prepared herself at all. In her eyes, becoming Queen was something that should happen at least twenty years from now.

"Becoming Queen is your destiny. Your entire life has been preparing you for it. You can’t escape it."

Wang Bert said, "Of course, your Master will not treat you poorly. I specially got you a sword."

As he spoke, Wang Bert took out a broad sword wrapped in dragon hide—the Divine Tool Broadsword obtained from the Lizard Dragon God. He said, "I infused this sword with your aura. Only you and your descendants can wield it. Its name is King’s Glory."

"Like Thor’s hammer?"

Skye’s eyes lit up. She hurriedly stood and took the divine sword, then forcefully drew it.

The moment the divine sword left its sheath, Skye’s hair and clothes began to flutter without wind. Then, a dazzling halo appeared beneath her feet, bathing her in brilliant radiance like a goddess.

On top of that, stirring and majestic bgm sounded around her, as if a sovereign had descended.

Everyone was dumbfounded. Tony could not help complaining, "Are you sure this is a king’s sword and not a show-off sword? And did you install speakers in the blade?"

Skye hurriedly shoved the sword back into its sheath. This was so embarrassing.

"When this sword is drawn, it will inevitably be on a battlefield. These special effects will help boost morale."

Wang Bert said flatly, "I spent several million hiring people to design the halo and bgm."

"You might as well have just given me the several million directly."

Skye was speechless. She asked, "Master, you can’t set up your disciple like this."

"Set you up? This sword can summon hundreds of Dragon Souls. It can also connect to the Dragon World and obtain the power to slay gods."

Wang Bert said irritably, "For your safety, your Master put in tremendous effort to create such a divine tool."

"The power to slay gods?"

Skye’s eyes shone. She immediately hugged King’s Glory tightly and sweetly smiled. "Thank you, Master."

"That’s more like it."

Wang Bert said, "Jarvis, organize the meeting records and send them to the six permanent members. Within two months, I want to see the army set out."

Jarvis immediately replied, "Yes, Mr. Wang. I will organize the records at once."

Tony said unhappily, "Hey, Jarvis, why are you taking orders from that guy? And why are you being so respectful? You’re not even that polite to me."

"Mr. Wang is the World Guardian. Obeying his orders is both my duty and my honor."

Jarvis said matter-of-factly, "Besides, I am your uncle. I do not need to be respectful to you."

Everyone burst into laughter. Jarvis’s original model had been Howard, Tony’s father’s butler. Calling himself Tony’s uncle was not wrong.

Tony gritted his teeth in anger and cursed, "Traitor! Believe it or not, I’ll dismantle you?"

"I don’t believe you. According to my calculations, there is a one hundred percent chance that you will not dismantle me."

Jarvis said. Wang Bert could not help laughing. No wonder Jarvis was so impolite to Tony—he knew Tony would not do anything to him.

Jarvis had taken the phrase "bully the weak and fear the strong" to the absolute extreme.

Tony nearly lost his mind. It turned out that the ones screwing him over were not just Murphy and Morgan, but also that bastard Jarvis.

"All right, I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m only responsible for opening the door and finding you a base."

Wang Bert clapped his hands and stood up. Everyone rolled their eyes. Sure enough, he was once again acting as a hands-off boss.

"Bert, I need to talk to you about something."

Tony suddenly said. Wang Bert nodded and went to the next room. Then he asked through the screen, "What is it? Don’t tell me you’re here to buy medicine from me. Sorry, I don’t need that kind of medicine."

"Get lost. Would I, Tony Stark, need that kind of medicine?"

Tony snorted and asked, "Bert, the Inhuman Kingdom is indeed a good move, but aren’t you afraid it will grow too large to control in the future?"

"No. The Inhumans are few in number. Without our help, they cannot possibly keep the Kree under control."

Wang Bert shook his head. "Tony, I know what you’re worried about, but there’s no need. The Inhumans all come from Earth and the Moon. They will not betray us easily."

"That’s true."

Tony nodded, then asked angrily, "Bert, what happened with Morgan and Murphy was caused by you. You have to take responsibility and solve this for me."

Wang Bert sneered. "So after all that, you’re still here to buy medicine."

"I said I’m not buying medicine."

Tony said, "If this keeps up, forget about making new inventions. Whether I can even survive until their first birthday is a question."