American TV series: Start with the little Sheldon's wool

Chapter 680 The Truth
"Moritz, have you been studying hard while I was away? And how have you been getting along with your teachers and classmates?..."

In his own villa's dining room, Mike, who hadn't been back for over two months, was enjoying the food Scarlet Witch had brought him while giving Hit-Girl a "soul-searching interrogation."

I must say, this feeling of being the "head of the household" is quite enjoyable.

"Have you forgotten? It's almost Christmas, and school's already on holiday. Besides, I got first place in the whole grade in the year-end exams, and my teachers and classmates like me so much..."

The precocious HitGirl didn't take Mike's words seriously. After a haughty rebuttal, she continued, "On the contrary, you've been gone for more than two months without a word. I wonder where you've been gallivanting off to."

"They've long forgotten about us, and only now do they realize how hypocritically they cared."

"Don't you think it's too late?"

Well, not only did HitGirl not buy it, she even started criticizing Michael.

"Don't meddle in adults' affairs!!"

"Tch, I can't care about you~"

"..."

The two's bickering brought a rare liveliness to the villa.

On the other side, Scarlet Witch, dressed in casual home clothes, served Mike dessert after dinner.

I sat quietly to the side, watching with great interest the amusing interaction between the two people, one big and one small.

More than two months have passed, and the Scarlet Witch's face has lost some of its "bitter and resentful" indifference.

At this moment, as she gazed gently at Mike's profile, she unconsciously exuded the aura of a housewife.

Meanwhile, Tony, far away in Tennessee, also arrived outside the terrorists' estate.

Facing the manor's towering walls, he, who was prepared, took out two modified toilet plungers from his backpack.

Using the suction of the toilet plunger, it easily climbed the wall.

Then, with a graceful leap, like an assassin, he landed inside the manor.

"It doesn't seem that difficult~"

Tony, who wasn't wearing Iron Man armor but still felt good about himself, gave himself a quiet pep talk.

But before he could be smug for long, two vicious dogs came running at the sound, baring their teeth and ready to bite him.

“Ooh ooh… ooh…”

"You have absolutely no manners!!"

Tony dodged the vicious dogs' bites while opening the backpack behind him.

At a crucial moment, he pulled out two chicken legs and threw them a distance away, attracting the attention of the vicious dog.

"Shh, luckily I was prepared..."

Tony, relieved to have escaped unscathed, wiped the sweat from his brow and quickly walked past the vicious dog gnawing on a chicken leg into the manor.

After the case of the vicious dog, Tony also toned down his arrogance and became more cautious in his actions.

Next, using the modified stun gun in his hand, he knocked out several peripheral terrorists and successfully made his way to the terrorists' hideout deep inside the manor.

"Mandalin, I never imagined that you were behind all of this..."

Enemies meeting are bound to be furious, and they happen to run into Tony, who is having a good time with Mandarin.

He went straight up to Mandarin, stunned the two women accompanying him with a stun gun, and then held the stun gun to Mandarin's neck.

It gives the impression that someone might kill you to silence you at the slightest disagreement.

Mandarin, also known as the Mandarin, was an international terrorist leader who had been active in the United States for many years.

There have been instances of live television broadcasts of the insane executions of high-ranking government officials.

They were so heinous that no amount of death could atone for their sins.

"Wait, wait, actually I was just an actress. Everything I did before was an act..." Sensing Tony's murderous intent, Mandarin knelt on the ground without any regard for her image, begging for mercy with snot and tears streaming down her face, "I was forced into it. I'll tell you anything you want to know. Please don't kill me~"

This cowardly behavior certainly doesn't seem like that of a ruthless and cunning leader.

"So, you have a mastermind behind you. Tell me who he is and how he pressured you." Mandarin's behavior successfully piqued Tony's curiosity.

“I was originally a third-rate stage actor. Although I loved acting, I never had the opportunity. Until one day, a man named Killian approached me and gave me a chance, a chance to play a ruthless terrorist leader…” When talking about his profession, Mandarin became more and more confident, even a little smug. “You should have seen my performance on TV, executing high-ranking government officials. How was it? Wasn’t my performance very realistic?”

"Shut up!" Tony slapped Mandarin hard after realizing he was a complete madman.

After Mandarin collapsed to the ground in agony, Tony chewed and said, "Killian, that name seems vaguely familiar..."

"By the way, Dr. Killian, did he come to see me before?"

Tony, who also possesses a "memory palace," quickly recalled the memories.

Before Maya, there was indeed a guy who called himself Dr. Killian who approached him, wanting to get sponsorship for his genetic project.

However, not just any kitten or puppy can attract Tony's attention.

Therefore, Tony had also rejected the man named Killian before that.

“I did hear Killian mention that he went to see you…” Mandarin, enduring the pain, said humbly when questioned, “Moreover, I also heard him say that you two actually knew each other thirteen years ago and even worked together.”

"It's thirteen years again. Can't you come up with something new?" Because of the Mayan incident, Tony was almost allergic to the word "thirteen years".

“Wait, thirteen years ago… I remember now. There was indeed a Dr. Killian on my team.” Tony was lost in memories. “However, that guy’s research skills were terrible. He lost both hands in an explosion due to a violation of regulations…”

"That shouldn't be the case. Even if his research ability is mediocre, Stark Industries' workers' compensation benefits should not be so unfair to him."

Stark Industries is a large and powerful company, and its workers' compensation policies are also very comprehensive. In other words, Killian had absolutely no reason to seek revenge against Tony.

If the previous terrorist attack by Marbury was indeed orchestrated by Killian, it only proves that Killian is also a madman.

A madman even more twisted than Mandarin before him.

"One last question, what is the relationship between Killian and Maya?" Having received a lot of new information, Tony couldn't help but suspect the woman named Maya.

After all, it was too strange that she and Killian appeared one after the other.

"Are you talking about Maya Hansen?" Mandarin feigned a look of sympathy, revealing, "She's like me, a poor soul whose talents went unrecognized. It was Killian who gave her that opportunity..."

"And the gene-based drug Extremis virus researched by the Maya did indeed help Killian heal his physical injuries."

Overall, Maya can indeed be described as a talented person who has not been given the opportunity to shine. If it weren't for the huge side effects of the Extremis virus she was researching, she would have deserved a bigger stage.

Even so, Maya's genius was still recognized by Mandarin.

"Is that so? I was wondering why I didn't recognize Killian at first glance." Everything connected, and Tony finally understood the cause and effect of his attack.

The only thing he couldn't understand was why Killian harbored such deep hatred for him.

Ultimately, it can only be attributed to a loser's envy of a genius.

"Alright, I've asked everything I needed to ask. It's time for you to get going." Before going to find Killian, Tony had no intention of letting Mandarin, his accomplice, go.

Compared to purely evil people, people like Mandarin who make a living by aiding and abetting evil are obviously more hateful.

"Yes, everything will eventually come to an end." After pretending to be cowardly for a long time and stalling for enough time, Mandarin noticed the figure entering through the door out of the corner of his eye. He instantly adopted the demeanor of a boss and said in a deep voice, "However, it is not me who will be ended, but you."

Is this some kind of dramatic performance?
Tony, who was about to use the stun gun on Mandarin, was taken aback by the other party's sudden change of heart.

Then he realized something was wrong, and while turning around to check behind him, he also threw out a charger bomb.

With a loud "boom," the person who came was thrown back.

Before Tony could even catch his breath, Killian, who had burst through the sea of ​​fire, pressed his face against his.

With a chop to the neck, Tony's vision went black, and he fell into a deep sleep again.

"What did you two talk about?" Killian asked Mandarin beside him after grabbing Tony. "I swear, we didn't say anything. I just exchanged some acting tips with him." Mandarin's expression changed seamlessly again, a fawning smile spreading across his face.

“That would be for the best,” Killian said coldly. “Remember your place. You are just a puppet. When necessary, there are many people who can replace you.”

After intimidating Mandarin, Killian waved for two of his men to come and drag Tony away.

When Tony was jolted awake by the cold water, Killian had already changed into a white suit and was standing opposite him.

Tony, on the other hand, was strapped to a rack. "I advise you not to waste your time. Whatever you want from me, you won't succeed."

Despite losing the fight, Tony remained arrogant, even towards his former loser.

It was as if he wasn't the one who was arrested.

“Is that so?” Killian said with a smile, “I hope you can still be this stubborn in a moment.”

Even now, Tony is still Tony, but Killian is no longer the same person who messed up the experiment.

At this moment, he had enough confidence to stand in front of Tony.

Then, a video call was placed in front of Tony.

On the other end of the video was Pepper Potts.

She is now tied up just like Tony, with the Statue of Liberty's arm and torch faintly visible behind her.

Further to the side, Tony spotted a familiar figure—Maya Hansen.

"Tony, are you okay?" Pepper said quickly after seeing Tony in the video. "Don't trust anyone. Maya is with them."

Clearly, Pepper also knew the truth.

“I understand, I’m fine. Let me say a few words to Maya…” Tony reassured Pepper before turning the camera to Maya.

“Listen, Maya. If I have done anything to wrong you, come at me, but don’t hurt Pepper.”

Maya was clearly just one of Killian's accomplices, just like Mandarin, so Tony thought it was worth a talk with her.

It doesn't take much effort anyway, and what if we succeed in turning them to defect?

“Fine, as long as you support my genetic research, I’ll release Pepper.” Facing Tony again, Maya’s face showed a hint of satisfaction at having “gotten her revenge.”

That look was as if she saw the scumbag finally getting his comeuppance.

"Don't listen to her, that genetic research is definitely not good." At the same time, Pepper's voice came from outside the video.

“Don’t worry, Pepper. Trust me, we’ll be fine…” Before Tony could say anything more, Killian gestured for his men to take the phone away.

"That's really touching. Who would have thought that the famous playboy Tony would actually care about women?" Killian joked for a moment before continuing, "So, our genius, have you decided to join us?"

"You've already seen the effects of the gene-editing drug developed by the Maya on me. As long as we cooperate, the entire United States and even the whole world will belong to us in the future."

While the Extremis virus can treat the wounded, its true value lies on the battlefield.

Just imagine, a group of warriors from the Desperate States, unafraid of firearms, march onto the battlefield—who could stop them?

Therefore, Killian now desperately needs Tony's financial support for his grand ambitions.

To build your own desperate army.

“I think the Extremis virus developed by Maya isn’t as good as you say. It must have some kind of huge hidden danger, right?” Tony said with certainty.

If the Extremis virus is really as good as Killian claims, then people wanting to cooperate would be lining up all the way to Washington.

There was no need for that at all; Killian really went to great lengths to get Tonya to sponsor him.

Seeing Tony's confident tone, Killian couldn't help but turn his gaze to Mandarin beside him.

It seems they suspect the other person of something they previously revealed to Tony.

“It has nothing to do with him. I saw a suicide bomber on the street before,” Tony said sarcastically. “Let me guess, your Extremis virus must be very unstable, which is why you came to me seeking cooperation.”

Moreover, in Tony's view, Maya's potion was still in the experimental stage and could have been tested on mice or other animals, but Killian and his group wanted to achieve the goal in one step.

It's obvious that my brain isn't up to the task.

Therefore, Tony had an absolute intellectual advantage when facing Killian.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Looking at Tony's annoying face, Killian could no longer maintain his previous elegance.

I feel like I've been offended.

“I want to say that you were on the wrong track from the start.” Tony glanced behind Killian out of the corner of his eye, then smiled just like Mandarin had before. “However, on the other hand, some of your ideas are not without merit. For example, your approach of recruiting thugs effectively solved a social problem.”

"If I were president, I would definitely award you the Best Peace Prize..."

Tony seems to have an extraordinary talent for being a chatterbox; in no time, the topic has been veered off to who-knows-where.

"Shut up~" Killian, who had been listening attentively, found Tony spouting meaningless nonsense and snapped impatiently, "If I hear another word of nonsense from you, I guarantee you'll regret it."

"Really? I don't believe it~" Tony's smile widened, reminding him, "If I were you, I should look back right now."

The Steel Patriot, also known as the Killing Machine.

It is a war robot that Tony provided to the government, modeled after his Iron Man armor series.

Having abandoned the flexibility and intelligence of the Iron Man armor, the only advantage of this replica armor is its ample arsenal.

The person qualified to use this suit of armor was Colonel Rhodes, Tony's good friend in the military.

Colonel Rhodes was the one officially sent to rescue Tony.

As Killian turned around, he was met with a barrage of laser cannon fire, like flashbangs.

Colonel Rhodes, clad in Patriot armor, strode out from the light.

Any terrorists who tried to resist along the way were eliminated by the machine guns that extended from the shoulders of his mech.

Killian, too, was shot in the forehead and fell to the ground with his eyes open.

"Hey Tony. I'm here to save you, aren't you surprised?" After clearing the battlefield, Colonel Rhodes slung the giant laser cannon he was carrying back on his back.

He walked up to Tony in a teasing manner.

There aren't many opportunities to see Iron Man get his comeuppance.

Colonel Rhodes, whose smile was equally radiant at this moment, was undoubtedly a qualified frenemy.

"Watch out!" Tony, who knew how dangerous the Extremis virus was, wasn't as relaxed as his friend.

However, his reminder came too late.

Terrorists injected with the Extremis virus are not so easy to kill. Just when Colonel Rhodes was careless, about half of the terrorists he had previously knocked down got up.

Killian, who had been hit in the head, appeared behind Colonel Rhodes at this moment.

As Killian embraced the Steel Patriot, a fierce red light surged from his body.

Before long, Colonel Rhodes was burned so badly that he jumped out of his mech.

"I knew this would happen." As Colonel Rhodes, who had abandoned his mech, was captured by the terrorists, Tony felt a sense of helplessness.

"Hey, I got arrested to save you, can't you say something nice?" Colonel Rhodes promptly expressed his dissatisfaction upon seeing the look of disgust on Tony's face.

"Then I really have to thank you for being willing to keep me company. You truly are my good friend, sharing my hardships."

"Forget it, you'd better stop talking."

"..."

(End of this chapter)