Chapter 104: Phil Coulson and the Hearing

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Seeing Phil Coulson, Wang Jing felt no surprise at all. Coulson approached with his signature friendly smile, bowed slightly, and said, “Mr. Wang, I sincerely apologize for what happened last time. On behalf of Director Nick Fury, I offer you our apologies and hope we can return to normal communication.”

Hearing Coulson’s polite words, Wang Jing felt a mix of amusement and disgust. He pulled a summons from his pocket, shook it, and asked, “Is this your way of apologizing? Pointing a gun at someone’s head while saying you want normal communication?”

Seeing the summons in Wang Jing’s hand, even Coulson’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, but he still forced an explanation: “Sorry, Mr. Wang, this is a military action beyond our interference.”

“Hmph! Is it that you can’t interfere, or that you don’t want to? I won’t argue with you. Go back and tell that bald-headed blackguard of yours: if you want normal communication, show some sincerity. Don’t think everyone is so easy to fool,” Wang Jing said bluntly, giving no face.

“I will sue the director,” Coulson replied with a smile still on his face.

“Hope so. But I don’t expect him to change. After all, a dog can’t stop eating shit, and an intelligence chief can’t stop scheming,” Wang Jing taunted.

Before Coulson could respond, the roar of an engine echoed from afar. A flashy yellow sports car sped over, then suddenly executed a 180-degree drift and stopped precisely in front of Wang Jing, automatically opening the door.

To Coulson’s surprise, the driver’s seat was empty, and the car had no cameras or radar devices.

Although S.H.I.E.L.D. was researching autonomous driving, it required numerous cameras, radars, and a supercomputer to assist. Moreover, the autonomous driving was poor, only capable of 40 km/h in well-marked routes.

Yet this car was clearly moving far faster in the dark, with no route markings, performed a perfect drift stop, and parked with extreme precision. Its technology was evidently at least a decade ahead of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s.

Watching Wang Jing and Alice drive off, Coulson wore a helpless expression and took out his phone to call Nick Fury.

“How is it? Did he agree?” Fury’s voice came confidently from the other end.

“No, Director. He’s willing to cooperate but was intercepted by the Military Committee, which demands his attendance at tomorrow’s hearing,” Coulson explained.

“Damn it, I knew it!” Fury cursed, then said, “Your next mission is to follow Wang Jing and gather as much information about him as possible.”

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“But Director, this might anger him!” Coulson worried.

“This is the United States of America. We are an international organization. If he attacks you, he is making an enemy of the whole world!” Fury said dominantly before hanging up, leaving Coulson bewildered in the wind.

“Damn it, why do I always have to do these dirty jobs!” Coulson grumbled, then got into his beloved Lola and drove toward Washington.

At the 9 a.m. hearing the next day, Wang Jing sat next to Tony Stark. Wang Jing leaned back with his eyes closed to rest, while Stark chatted with Pepper Potts behind him. Only when Senator Stern rapped on the desk to call the meeting to order did Stark reluctantly turn and tease, “Oh, of course, no problem!”

“Do you possess a special weapon?” Senator Stern asked with a smile.

“No,” Stark answered without hesitation.

“You don’t?”

“No, not really. It depends on how you define ‘weapon.’”

“What about the Iron Man suit?” Stern pressed further.

“My device doesn’t fit your definition,” Stark shrugged.

“But how do you explain your device…” Stern was cut off by Stark.

“I’ll explain it according to his specific definition, Senator!” Stark said.

“And what is that?” Stern frowned.

“It’s, uh, a high-tech prosthetic limb. Yes, that’s the most accurate description I can give!” Stark’s words triggered laughter from everyone present.

“That’s a weapon, Mr. Stark, without a doubt!” Stern tried to close the matter.

But Stark didn’t yield and continued to argue.

The two sides clashed until Stern declared, “I demand you hand over the Iron Man suit to the United States.”

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Hearing this, Stark’s face darkened. He said firmly, “Sorry, that’s impossible. I am Iron Man. I am one with my armor.”

“You want me to hand over my suit, which is tantamount to handing over myself. Wouldn’t that make me a slave or a prostitute providing special services? Of course, that depends on which state you’re in!” Stark’s verbal barrage left Senator Stern speechless, who then shifted the topic to the still resting Wang Jing.

Before Stern could speak, Wang Jing interjected, “You should settle Tony first. I won’t hand mine over!”

“No, no, Mr. Wang, that’s not what I’m asking. I want to know who you really are, why you have an Iron Man-like suit, and why our records can’t find any trace of you?” Stern pressed.

“Can you explain, Mr. Wang?” Stern asked confidently.

Everyone at the hearing looked curiously at Wang Jing, eager to hear his explanation. Stark also turned to him, curious.

“First, I developed my armor independently. Secondly, my armor is at least one generation more advanced than Tony’s,” Wang Jing declared.

Everyone glanced at Stark, who coughed awkwardly and nodded in reluctant acknowledgment.

“One generation ahead? Not exactly. At most, it’s just more convenient to wear. But I’m confident I’ll surpass him!” Stark said with a touch of arrogance.

Hearing Stark’s proud explanation, Wang Jing smiled and looked at Senator Stern on the stage: “As for who I am, you can call the Chinese Embassy. They’ll tell you the answer.”