December 20, 2012. Three days had passed since Steve and Tony's visit, but twenty days had already slipped by since Big Head promised to locate the Ten Rings' lair within a month. Time was running out. Big Head had assured Dr. Helen Cho he'd return before the New Year. If there was no progress in the next few days, Hong Fei wouldn't wait any longer.
He wondered if Big Head would be too terrified to show his face again.
On that same day, Frank finally returned after leading a team on an extended mission. His expression was as cold and sharp as ever. Hong Fei greeted him with a broad grin, practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
"Come on, come on! I've got something amazing to show you. Hurry up!"
Frank frowned but followed.
"What did you dig up this time?"
"Something incredible. I swear, you've probably never seen anything like it in your life!"
Frank's mind raced, trying to decipher what Hong Fei could possibly be so excited about. But the man's words and energy gave nothing away.
They entered the Underground Room, passed through the metal corridor, and stopped at the warehouse door. Hong Fei turned, hand on the handle, and grinned.
"Ready?"
Frank recognized that glint in his eyes. The last time Hong Fei had looked like that, he'd shown him a tank.
"What kind of equipment is it this time?" Frank asked, unable to resist.
"Guess," Hong Fei teased.
Frank raised an eyebrow. "A fighter jet?"
Hong Fei shook his head, laughing. "Of course not. Where would we even fit that? Stop guessing. Just prepare yourself for a miracle."
With that, he yanked the door open.
In the center of the room, on a black metal rack, lay a white cylinder over three meters long. Its front end tapered into a sharp cone, while the rear flared out with tail fins. Frank's brow furrowed deeply. He stood frozen at the doorway, studying it silently before striding forward.
When he spotted the letters and numbers etched into its exterior, memories clicked into place.
"W! T! F!!"
His roar echoed through the empty room, the sheer volume reflecting his shock. Hong Fei burst into laughter by the door, clearly enjoying the reaction. Frank stared, incredulous.
He circled the cylinder repeatedly, reaching out but only daring to brush it with his fingertips. The cool alloy surface felt surreal.
"Go ahead, touch it!" Hong Fei encouraged. "I give you permission!"
Frank shot him a glare. Permission? That wasn't the point. He fixed his gaze on the object, muttering, "You're insane. Absolutely, completely insane."
"That's a bit harsh," Hong Fei replied, unfazed. "It's not like I'm the only one with these. This country has thousands of them — way more than anyone else. So, by your logic, who's the real madman?"
Frank didn't argue. He stared at the cylinder for a long moment before finally turning to Hong Fei, his eyes blazing.
"Where did you get it?"
"Long story. Short version? It's mine, and no one's coming to take it."
"Just one?"
Hong Fei's smile widened. "Actually, it's like the tank and the helicopter."
Frank groaned, pressing a hand to his forehead as he exhaled sharply.
A while later, they left the Underground Room and returned indoors. Frank sank into a chair, letting out a long breath, though his brow remained furrowed.
"You just keep it down there? And sleep right above it every night?"
Hong Fei shrugged, casually preparing tea. "Well, it's not like it's going to explode on its own, is it?"
"Aren't you worried at all?"
"A little," Hong Fei admitted.
"What are you planning to do with it?" Frank asked, his tone heavy with disbelief.
Hong Fei sipped his tea, his expression thoughtful. "That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"
"I'm not sure," Frank admitted, his fingers digging into the tabletop. "I haven't really thought about it yet. Something like this… it's not the kind of thing you just pull out and use casually, right?"
His jaw clenched as he corrected himself. "Not 'shouldn't' — it's absolutely not."
Hong Fei glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow. "Absolute is absolute. Why are you getting so worked up?"
Frank took a deep breath, forcing his emotions under control.
"If you ever decide to use this thing, promise me you'll contact me first."
"Why?"
"Because it's a nuke. One wrong move, and you could trigger a global nuclear war. Do you know about the Perimeter system?"
"I know."
The Perimeter system — more commonly known as Dead Hand.
In essence, if a nuclear-armed country's leadership were wiped out and failed to respond to the system's queries, it would activate automatically, launching attacks against every nuclear-capable nation on the planet. Add to that the fact that many countries now maintain a nuclear triad system, ensuring retaliatory capability even after a first strike. The stakes couldn't be higher.
Frank leaned forward, his tone deadly serious.
"So, don't get impulsive. This isn't like driving a tank or piloting a helicopter. The consequences are on a completely different scale."
Hong Fei nodded calmly. "I understand. Don't worry, I'm not planning to lob it at the White House or the Pentagon."
Frank's teeth flashed in a grimace. The more Hong Fei joked about it, the less reassured he felt.
After a moment, Hong Fei poured him a cup of steaming tea, his voice soothing.
"Relax. The world's actually pretty safe. Sure, war's inevitable, but if humanity ever decides to flirt with annihilation, someone will step in to stop it. You're lucky, you know."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said." Hong Fei smiled faintly.
This world had superheroes, magic, and superpowers — luxuries some worlds didn't enjoy. If humanity elsewhere pushed their luck too far, there'd be no one to save them. From that perspective, people here were living on borrowed time.
Frank downed the scalding tea in one gulp, exhaling sharply as the heat burned its way down. He stood abruptly.
"You enjoy your tea. I'm heading downstairs."
"Alright. Take a shower and change before you come back. I've got something to tell you."
Frank waved a hand in acknowledgment.
......
Later, the two of them lounged on the balcony in their shorts, soaking up the sun. Hong Fei lay on his stomach, his voice casual.
"The Avengers came to see me a few days ago. They proposed a cooperation plan. I thought it sounded decent, so I agreed."
Frank closed his eyes, unmoved. "That's your business."
"This time, it's not just mine."
Hong Fei went on to outline the details of the plan. Frank listened in silence, his expression unreadable. When he finally spoke, his tone was skeptical.
"What's the angle this time?"
Hong Fei clicked his tongue, too tired to argue. "There's no angle. I just think keeping the Avengers around is beneficial for us."
"How so?"
"Think about it. When I first found you, this world was quiet. Sure, there were people with powers, but it wasn't widespread. Now? Superpowered individuals are everywhere. It's proof that what I said back then was right — this world is getting more interesting by the day."
Frank grunted noncommittally.
Hong Fei continued, "In a situation like this, governments must have realized it by now. Forming superpowered teams isn't just a trend — it's inevitable. Strictly speaking, S.H.I.E.L.D. itself was an agency that temporarily filled that role back when superpowered individuals were still rare. Its scope was broad, covering not just North America but nominally the entire globe — though powerful countries could always choose to ignore it."
Given its founding background, the Avengers naturally maintain closer ties with our homeland, which somewhat dilutes their core identity."
He tapped the table thoughtfully.
"The Avengers set the standard. They prove superheroes can reach a global stage that commands worldwide attention. They've successfully unified this group's efforts while attracting more qualified candidates to join their ranks."
"But nothing's perfect. For all their current glory, as a semi-official organization, they carry Tony and Steve's ideals while submitting to government oversight."
He smirked. "You know what they say — tall trees catch the wind, and prominent figures draw criticism."
"Never mind the future — right now, since the Battle of New York, authorities have been promoting the Avengers while quietly sidelining us. Honestly, that works in our favor. They're our buffer. Without them, certain people might focus their scrutiny on us, and then I might be tempted to drop a nuke in their bedroom."
Frank rolled his eyes hard enough to strain something.
"Bottom line? The Avengers' existence helps us more than it hurts. Cooperation's the smart play. I'm not expecting some grand partnership — consider it charity work."
Frank crossed his arms. "So what exactly are you planning to teach them?"
"Teach? Nothing structured. They'll learn through exchange programs — if they're quick studies."
"Aren't you worried they'll uncover your secrets?"
"Doubt any Avenger's got that kind of skill. I'm more concerned our people might start throwing punches during visits."
Frank gave a curt nod. "At least you're self-aware."
"Enough chatter. We'll sign the cooperation agreement next year when exchanges begin. Still need to decide who goes over first from our side. Oh, and you're handling orientation for their people."
"Me again?"
"Don't play dumb. Everyone knows you're the best. More work for the capable — I'll bump your year-end bonus."
......
The next morning found Frank back in Sokovia. Meanwhile, Hong Fei drummed his fingers on the desk, watching Big Head's report flash across the screen.
"Mission accomplished, Boss! Found it!"
The feed cut to aerial footage — a snow-capped mountain range blanketed in winter white. As the aircraft cleared a jagged peak, the camera revealed a blackened fortress clinging to the mountainside. The ancient-style compound blended into the rockface, its sprawling courtyard alive with movement. The drone maintained a cautious distance, zooming in just enough to capture details before circling away.
Big Head's voice crackled through: "This is their main stronghold, no question. Buried deep — most Ten Rings members don't even know it exists. Never heard whispers about that name you mentioned either."
"Then how'd you track it?"
"Grabbed local lieutenants, worked my way up the chain. But their network's vast — some cells operate independently. Almost lost the trail a few times."
"Good work." Hong Fei leaned forward. "Name your reward later."
The screen visibly shook as Big Head bowed. "Thank you, Boss!"
"Assemble the team at 0700 tomorrow. We move at dawn."
"Copy that!"