Chapter 149: Return to Earth

"Damn it! What have you done?" Zemo shouted at Arthur, his voice filled with anger. His plan was on the verge of success, only to be ruined by this man.

"I think you were getting too cocky, and I wasn't happy about it. You thought you could single-handedly destroy the Avengers, but you don’t understand the consequences of your actions," Arthur said calmly.

"What consequences?" Helmut Zemo asked, staring at Arthur.

"I'm under no obligation to tell you. But I can say this: before absolute power, all schemes are meaningless!" Arthur declared, releasing a burst of red energy from his hand, which struck the steel wall of Zemo's small cell.

Under Arthur’s red energy, the wall, made of over a meter-thick steel plate, instantly became transparent.

"Come out yourself!" Arthur commanded.

Zemo’s vacant eyes stared through the now-transparent steel wall as he walked out obediently, standing in front of Arthur.

"What did you do? How could he obey you like that?" Tony Stark asked in disbelief, looking at Arthur.

"I controlled him. You know I possess the gem from Loki’s scepter," Arthur replied.

"I'm really glad you're not our enemy," Tony said, marveling at Arthur’s myriad powers.

"Your enemies are far stronger than I am. Now, tell me, why do you want the Avengers to fall apart completely?" Arthur asked Zemo.

"My father lived just outside the city of Sokovia. I thought it was safe there. My son was excited because he could see Iron Man through the car window. I told my wife not to worry—they were fighting in the city, we were far away, nothing would happen..." Zemo’s eyes showed a flicker of struggle as he spoke, the painful memory weighing heavily on him even under control.

Steve Rogers and Tony Stark fell silent upon hearing Zemo’s words.

"After the ashes settled and the screams stopped, it took me two days to find their bodies. My father was still clutching my wife and child tightly. And the Avengers? They just went home! They knew I couldn’t kill them; even those stronger than me had tried. But what if I made them turn on each other?" Zemo’s expression grew more twisted as he spoke, then suddenly his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed backward.

"You’ve heard everything, right? Come out, T’Challa!" Arthur shouted.

Everyone was shocked by Arthur’s call—T’Challa was here too?

T’Challa stepped out from behind a door and approached Zemo.

"Your father’s death was his doing. I leave him to you. Kill him and avenge your father. That’s why you came here, isn’t it?" Arthur said, looking at T’Challa.

T’Challa was silent, staring at the unconscious Zemo on the ground. He removed his Black Panther helmet.

"He has been consumed by hatred. I cannot let myself be consumed by hatred like him. He has killed so many and must be held accountable," T’Challa said.

"I want to ask how he planned to make us turn on each other," Tony suddenly interjected.

"You better not know. It’s for your own good. Now, let’s go." Arthur turned and walked toward the exit, with Wanda following behind.

I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.