Chapter 9

Tony Stark's reaction didn't surprise Liu Rui'an. After all, the man was still in the dark about the matter as far as S.H.I.E.L.D. was concerned. With a composed demeanor, he said:

"Mr. Iron Man, don't be so agitated. Compared to what I'm about to say, what just happened is nothing."

Rationality told Tony Stark that the man in front of him was likely not lying. Suppressing his shock and suspicion, he sat back down and said:

"Alright! I want to hear what other shocking things you have to say."

After stuffing the agreement, which had little binding power, into his suit pocket, Liu Rui'an smiled and revealed the truth:

"Do you know, Mr. Iron Man, that even in my eyes, your father remains a remarkable person."

"However, I'm sure you don't know that your father not only left a relic with S.H.I.E.L.D., but he was also one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"What!!"

Faced with such an answer, even Tony Stark, with his thick skin, couldn't help but be stunned.

"Don't be surprised. I'm sure you'll get a clear answer from S.H.I.E.L.D. after you ask them," Liu Rui'an said, still composed.

Hearing this, Tony Stark, who had recovered from his shock and disbelief, indeed felt that the other party had no reason to lie about something so easily verifiable.

"What about the next step?" Taking a deep breath, Tony Stark asked.

"The next step is that you need a Prism Accelerator and install it," Liu Rui'an said with a smile.

"Is there a third step?" Tony Stark asked, knowing this wasn't the last step.

"The treatment process has five steps. I'll tell you the next three once you're ready," Liu Rui'an said, still smiling, ignoring the other party's sour expression.

"You!" An extremely annoyed Tony Stark glared and said.

"Don't be so agitated, Mr. Iron Man. Don't forget, I deliver the goods first and then get paid. I need some way to protect my own interests, right?" Liu Rui'an shrugged and said with an innocent look.

Faced with this unyielding person, Tony Stark found that he had no choice but to compromise.

As for taking advantage of the situation to kidnap this annoying guy, it wasn't Tony Stark's style. In his heroic American mindset, such tactics were only used against equal enemies.

Initially, Liu Rui'an thought he needed to leave for a while to give the other party some time to prepare.

But unexpectedly, after Tony Stark chose to compromise, it took only two hours for the two requirements to be met.

When Liu Rui'an, led by Tony Stark, arrived at the laboratory where the Prism Accelerator had been installed, a familiar figure appeared on the scene.

"Hello, Mr. Liu, I am Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D.," said Coulson, who looked very honest and had no trace of a spy, as he extended his hand with a smile.

"Hello, Coulson, I am Houtian Liu. As for my identity, I believe there's no need for an introduction," Liu Rui'an said with a smile, shaking his hand.

The reason he gave himself another name wasn't because he was forgetting his roots. In the world he was in, not only were there powerful alien civilizations, but there were also mythological forces.

Though such forces weren't prominently displayed in the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to avoid someone using his real name for curses or other means, Liu Rui'an decided to use a pseudonym.

The reason he chose the name Houtian was mainly because it was not only a name for ordinary people but also held significant status in the Eastern pantheon, such as the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Palace.

Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe truly had the Norse pantheon, to promote the Chinese pantheon, he chose this name.

Previously, Liu Rui'an had the most affection for Pepper Potts in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The person he liked second most was this Agent Coulson.

Perhaps because he really liked the TV show "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," which was also based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Liu Rui'an had a fondness for Coulson.

Sensing something unusual in the other person's expression, Coulson suppressed his doubts after shaking hands and said:

"Mr. Liu, I hope we can meet and talk after this matter is over."

Liu Rui'an knew very well that this request was entirely due to his actions in making Tony Stark ask S.H.I.E.L.D. for Howard Stark's relics.

Fortunately, the appearance of S.H.I.E.L.D. was part of the plan.

So, in response to this probing invitation, Liu Rui'an readily agreed:

"Sure, but I'm quite busy lately. How about a month from now, Agent Coulson?"

Coulson, who had thoroughly investigated the person before the relics were delivered, also readily agreed to the meeting time.

"Alright, see you in a month."

After saying this, Coulson didn't make any further probing moves, as the previous investigation results were quite bizarre.

If it weren't for the real person standing in front of him, Coulson would have doubted that Houtian Liu even existed.

Such thoughts weren't surprising, given that S.H.I.E.L.D. was one of the top human organizations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't trace the person's background a few months ago, it was already a significant issue.

Fortunately, since the person had entered the United States, he hadn't shown any behavior that threatened national security.

He rarely even left his biopharmaceutical company, spending most of his time in the laboratory, looking like a pure tech geek.

Others might not take a small company with only two products, "Dragon Blood" and "Succubus," seriously.

But as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Coulson knew that no one could replicate these two products, and they were entirely the work of this person.

Given Liu Rui'an's apparent age of around twenty, achieving such results was already a sign of genius.

S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't help but pay attention to such talent.

Moreover, the person seemed to know some secrets that ordinary people had no right to know, making it even more necessary to keep an eye on him.

Tony Stark, eager to save his life, said with a stern face after dismissing all irrelevant personnel:

"Mr. Niu, you've made me do what you asked. Now, you can't keep pushing this off, right?"

Neither Coulson nor Pepper wanted to leave at this moment.

Especially the former, who was eager to hear more shocking statements or secrets from the person.

Fortunately, Liu Rui'an was already on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s radar, so there would be other opportunities to interact.

"Don't rush, Tony, be patient."

Walking to the box that S.H.I.E.L.D. had just delivered, Liu Rui'an opened it, which contained Howard Stark's relics.

Without waiting for Tony Stark's reaction, he pulled out the blueprint of the original Arc Reactor and opened it.

With his powerful memory, Liu Rui'an instantly memorized all the content and then handed it to Tony Stark, who was standing beside him, saying:

"Look at the signatures and tell me what you see."

Subconsciously taking the blue blueprint, Tony Stark quickly found two names: Anton Vanko and Howard Stark.

Tony Stark had no impression of Anton Vanko, but the fact that he was signed on the blueprint, and even before his father's name, indicated something.

Don't underestimate the order of signatures. Whether in a paper or an invention, the earlier the signature, the more important the person.

Of course, those who steal others' papers or inventions were a different matter.

"Anton Vanko? Who is he?" Tony Stark asked, knowing no one could steal his father's honor.

After handing the blue blueprint to him, Liu Rui'an picked up the notebook inside and quickly flipped through it while explaining:

"He was a Russian scientist who co-developed the Arc Reactor with your father. However, he later defected, at least that's the official story."

Though he was already convinced that this stranger couldn't steal his father's honor, Tony Stark still couldn't help but ask:

"Are you saying the Arc Reactor was invented by my father and him?"

Relying on his strong memory, Liu Rui'an quickly memorized the content of the notebook and then handed it to Tony Stark, smiling and hinting:

"Wrong, it should be that he and your father invented it, not your father and him. Understand?"

Faced with this answer, if Tony Stark still didn't understand the implications, he would be wasting his genius mind.

"Then why..."

Before he could finish, seeing that the most important items in the box were already in his hands, Liu Rui'an picked up the two reels of film containing Howard Stark's recorded messages and handed them to him, saying:

"Why? Who should I ask? I just told you, the official story is that Anton Vanko defected."

"As for the truth, it doesn't matter to either of us. Let's focus on completing our deal."

Tony Stark, catching the film reels, though eager to know the truth, understood that now wasn't the time. He said:

"OK, what should we do next?"

"Watch it," Liu Rui'an said, pointing to the film reels.