Vice President, President

At the White House, the Vice President was now in command. He asked everyone, "How does President Ellis usually handle this sort of thing?"

"Go to New York and ask Blood God."

An official replied, and everyone laughed. The Vice President frowned. "Is there no other way?"

Everyone was stunned. It seemed the Vice President was not fond of Blood God. A military general said, "If we don’t ask Blood God, then we can only have the Super Heroes, the military, and S.H.I.E.L.D. attack New York Harbor together."

The Vice President neither agreed nor disagreed. He asked, "What is the situation at New York Harbor now?"

The general asked, "Iron Man is investigating. Should we connect to him?"

The Vice President nodded. "Connect him."

Soon, Iron Man’s holographic projection appeared. He said, "The situation isn’t good. New York Harbor is covered in fog, and we have no idea what’s happening inside."

"Fog?"

"Yes. It should be some kind of special technology. I sent drones in, but they were destroyed."

"What about the people at the harbor? Have they all evacuated?"

"Mayor George is having people count them."

Tony said, "Mr. Vice President, if Mandarin dares to be this arrogant and openly provoke America, he must have a trump card. I suggest we proceed carefully."

"I want to be careful too, but we don’t have time. Before noon tomorrow, we must deal with Mandarin and rescue the president."

The Vice President shook his head. "Otherwise, not only will we become the laughingstock of the world, we will also lose our position as the dominant power."

"That’s true."

Tony could not help frowning. The Vice President was right. This had to be resolved before noon tomorrow.

The Vice President asked, "Iron Man, what do you think we should do?"

Tony fell silent for a moment, then said, "The best option right now is to ask Blood God to act."

"Blood God again? Without Blood God, can’t we accomplish anything?"

The Vice President said unhappily, "Iron Man, don’t forget that he is Blood God, the god of the Blood Clan."

Tony and the others were all startled. They had not expected the Vice President to be a hardliner.

Some were pleased by this news, while others were worried. A man stepped out from the military and said, "I think there’s no need to ask Blood God. With the military, the Super Heroes, and S.H.I.E.L.D., we have enough strength to take down Mandarin."

Tony glanced at the man and asked in surprise, "General Ross, when were you reinstated?"

That was right. The man who had stepped forward was General Ross. He said, "Naturally, when America needed me."

"General Ross, well said."

The Vice President looked at General Ross with satisfaction and said, "Iron Man, lead the Super Hero team to gather intelligence. The military and S.H.I.E.L.D. will launch an attack before noon tomorrow and deal with Mandarin."

"Fine."

Tony did not refuse. He shut down the holographic projection and went offline.

The Vice President turned to General Ross and said, "General Ross, the military will be under your command."

"I will never disappoint you, Mr. Vice President."

General Ross was overjoyed. He immediately saluted and accepted. He was incomparably excited. Blood God, I’m back. This time, I will never let you drive me away again.

At the same time, at S.H.I.E.L.D., Pierce looked at the council members and asked with a frown, "Deploy the Helicarrier to cooperate with the military in attacking Mandarin?"

A council member nodded. "That’s right. Wasn’t the Helicarrier built for moments like this?"

Pierce gritted his teeth and nodded. "Fine. However, I hope to personally command this battle."

The council members were surprised. "You will command it personally? Wouldn’t it be better for Director Hill to command this war?"

"Director Hill has other matters to attend to."

Pierce said, "Besides, I want to personally verify the Helicarrier’s combat capabilities."

"Is that so? Fine."

After discussing it, the council members agreed. Then, they went offline, leaving only Councilor Malik behind.

Councilor Malik asked, "Do we join the battle, or rise up ahead of schedule?"

"Not yet."

Pierce shook his head and said, "Eliminate Mandarin first. His existence is also a threat to us."

"Fine, handle it as you see fit."

Councilor Malik left. Pierce could not help shaking his head. Earlier, he had wanted to thank Mandarin, but now, he only wanted to kill him.

He could only hope there would be no accidents this time.

At New York Harbor, Dr. Killian respectfully reported to Mandarin, "Mandarin, everything is going smoothly. After tomorrow, this world will be ours to command."

The Mandarin before Killian was not the actor from television, but the real Mandarin—a middle-aged man wearing ten rings, with an imposing aura of a king.

"It will be mine to command."

Mandarin said indifferently, "Also, you have already failed twice. Next time, I want to see Iron Man’s head."

Killian said fearfully, "I will offer you his head, and offer it to myself as well."

Mandarin waved his hand, signaling Killian to withdraw. Then he slowly said, "Tomorrow, we will see Blood God and the Divine Dragon."

"That is merely a Dragon Soul. I can easily devour it."

An arrogant voice suddenly rang out. It asked, "Mandarin, you have always been cautious. Why are you being so aggressive this time?"

Mandarin asked, "Do you know what Terrorists rely on to exist?"

"War?"

"No, oil. Oil brings profit, profit brings war, and war brings Terrorists."

Mandarin said, "The problem is that oil is being replaced—replaced by the Arc Reactor’s clean energy. In a few years, oil will lose its position, and Terrorists will cease to exist.

"So I can only take a gamble. If I succeed, I will possess the whole world!

"Actually, I am not the only one gambling. Those oil tycoons are gambling as well. That is why everything has gone so smoothly for us this time."

"You humans really are complicated."

The voice said, "Tomorrow, I will deal with the Dragon Soul, while you deal with Blood God. Are you confident?"

Mandarin looked at the rings covering his hands and smiled disdainfully. "A mere brat. What difficulty could there be?"

At the same time, inside the ship cabin where the president was being held, President Ellis was complaining. "I told you long ago, ask Blood God, ask Blood God. You wouldn’t listen. If we had asked Blood God earlier, how would there be so much trouble?"

Senator Stern comforted him, "Mr. President, don’t worry so much. Blood God will definitely come save us."

President Ellis sighed. "What use is it even if he saves us? The people do not need a president who was captured!"

Everyone fell silent. President Ellis was not wrong. He would not remain president much longer.

When no one spoke, President Ellis grew even more depressed. Just then, a faint voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. "Toilet."

President Ellis froze and listened carefully, but no other voice sounded. After thinking for a moment, he stood and shouted toward the door, "I need to use the toilet."

The guard outside impatiently shouted, "Do it where you are."

President Ellis angrily said, "I am the president of America. Don’t I even have the right to use the toilet?"

The guard outside burst into laughter. "President? Sorry, but presidents are exactly who we kill."

President Ellis’s expression turned extremely ugly. He shouted, "I’m going to die tomorrow. Can’t I even use the toilet once?"

The guard outside ignored him. President Ellis kept shouting until the guard grew annoyed and opened the door to take him to the toilet.

Once inside, President Ellis immediately closed the door. At that moment, a blue ring of sparks appeared out of thin air and gradually grew larger.

President Ellis jumped in fright, but then remembered Kamar-Taj’s magic and was instantly overjoyed.

Soon, a figure stepped out of the ring. When President Ellis saw him, he froze, because the other man looked exactly like him, even wearing identical clothes.

The man did not waste words. He signaled for President Ellis to enter the ring, and President Ellis immediately complied, quickly stepping through it.

On the other side of the ring was Blood God Manor, where Wang Bert was waiting for President Ellis. Seeing him was like seeing family, and President Ellis excitedly rushed over to hug him.

Wang Bert hurriedly dodged. You’re an old man, so let’s not. He waved his hand to disperse the ring and smiled at President Ellis. "Mr. President, don’t worry. You are safe now."

"With you here, I’m definitely safe."

President Ellis nodded repeatedly. Thinking of something, he said excitedly, "Blood God, contact the White House immediately. There is still a chance to salvage this."

Wang Bert gestured for President Ellis to sit down and said, "No rush, Mr. President. Have a drink to steady yourself first. I have two rather shocking pieces of news to tell you."

"More shocking than the president of America being kidnapped?"

President Ellis sat down, picked up a glass of red wine, and took a sip. He smiled bitterly. "Blood God, I won’t be easily shocked anymore."

Wang Bert smiled and asked, "Do you know who was behind your kidnapping this time?"

President Ellis asked in confusion, "Wasn’t Mandarin the mastermind?"

"Not only Mandarin."

Wang Bert pointed at the Vice President, who had personally gone to New York on television, and said, "Him too."

President Ellis, who had just said he would not be easily shocked, asked in shock, "What? The Vice President? That’s impossible, isn’t it?"

"Nothing is impossible."

Wang Bert asked, "Do you remember Obadiah from Stark Industries?"

"I remember. The one who sold weapons to Terrorists and was killed by Iron Man."

President Ellis suddenly reacted and asked in astonishment, "The Vice President was the one behind him?"

Wang Bert nodded. "That’s right. This time, they intend to kill you and let the Vice President take your place."

"Bastard! I won’t spare that traitor."

President Ellis angrily said, "Blood God, let’s go to the White House and expose him immediately."

Wang Bert said, "Mr. President, we have no concrete evidence."

President Ellis said carelessly, "It’s fine. I am the president. Arrest him first and deal with the rest later. We absolutely cannot let him escape."

"He cannot escape, Mr. President. I have something else to tell you."

Wang Bert said, "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Secretary Pierce is Hydra."

"Hydra?"

President Ellis did not react at first. A moment later, he asked in astonishment, "Wasn’t Hydra already destroyed?"

Wang Bert said, "Not only were they not destroyed, they have grown extremely powerful. Even Senator Stern is one of them."

"What? Senator Stern is Hydra?"

President Ellis was shocked again. Senator Stern was one of his closest confidants. He asked, "Blood God, that can’t be true, can it?"

"I wish he were not, but he truly is."

Wang Bert shrugged. "Besides, they are preparing to rise up in a little over ten days, kill all opponents, and unify the world."

"Kill all opponents? Can they do that?"

President Ellis was dumbfounded. Was Blood God holding some kind of shocking revelation conference? Each revelation was more explosive than the last.

"Unfortunately, they really can."

Wang Bert clapped his hands, and Peggy Carter opened the door and walked in. Wang Bert said, "Ms. Carter will explain Hydra’s situation to you next. She is the expert."

"Blood God is joking. If I were truly an expert, I would not have let S.H.I.E.L.D. become Hydra S.H.I.E.L.D."

Carter smiled bitterly and said to President Ellis, "Mr. President, do you mind if I explain?"

President Ellis did not dare put on airs and hurriedly said, "Not at all. Please sit, Ms. Carter. Actually, I am a fan of both you and Captain."

"Steve is busy saving you, so he did not have time to come."

Carter smiled, then explained everything they had uncovered in detail. As President Ellis listened, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Hydra’s influence was far greater than he had imagined.

"We must stop Project Insight and eliminate Hydra!"

President Ellis declared firmly. After thinking for a moment, he turned to Wang Bert and asked, "Blood God, what do you think we should do next?"

"What you do next is for you to decide."

Holding a glass of red wine, Wang Bert said calmly, "I am only responsible for helping you deal with Mandarin and Hydra."

"With Blood God here, what are Mandarin and Hydra?"

President Ellis felt greatly reassured. Thinking of something, he said excitedly, "Once Mandarin and Hydra are dealt with, the public will definitely forgive me for being captured."

Wang Bert asked, "When were you captured, Mr. President? Weren’t you luring the snake out of its hole? The one captured was merely your double."

President Ellis froze, then burst into laughter. "That’s right. I was merely luring the snake out of its hole. Blood God, I need to contact the military. Please give me an encrypted phone."

"No problem."

Wang Bert nodded, but he did not immediately fetch a phone. Instead, he said, "Mr. President, S.H.I.E.L.D. must certainly be eliminated, but the world needs a global protective organization."

President Ellis asked, "Blood God, what do you mean?"

Wang Bert gestured for Carter to speak. Carter said, "We have formed an inclusive S.W.O.R.D. that can replace S.H.I.E.L.D. I guarantee there is absolutely no Hydra in S.W.O.R.D."

"An inclusive S.W.O.R.D.?"

President Ellis glanced at Wang Bert. He knew this was Blood God’s condition.

Blood God was a capitalist. There had to be benefits for him in whatever he did.

To be honest, President Ellis did not resent such a condition. America was a nation of businessmen to begin with. He said, "I will strongly support S.W.O.R.D., but America must take the lead in S.W.O.R.D."

Wang Bert smiled. "No problem. After all, alien invasions basically happen in America anyway."

"America really is unfortunate."

President Ellis smiled bitterly. Then Wang Bert had someone bring over a phone, and President Ellis and Carter began contacting others to prepare to deal with the Vice President and Hydra.

Wang Bert quietly left. Standing on the balcony, he took out Elektra’s Soul Stone and asked, "Is Killian on that ship?"

"Yes."

Elektra’s soul suddenly changed from dull to alert. She replied with telepathy, "Master, besides Killian, there are two super-powerful beings on the ship. I did not dare get too close, but one of them resonates with my bloodline."