I have finished translating this fanfic, IMUC (I Am In Marvel With Unlimited Cards) and have posted all the advanced chapters on Patreon (100 Chapters). (https://www.patreon.com/c/marvel6395). You can read all the advanced chapters there.
Three months later.
Three months had passed since the Sokovia battle, and the world had seemingly returned to a long-lost sense of peace and quiet. Yet, whether this was a signal of lasting peace or the calm before the storm, no one could say for sure.
Beneath the surface, unseen forces were still at play.
During this period, Kyle officially declared the founding of a nation and withdrew from America. He took the Supernatural Incident Bureau with him, fully relocating out of New York City, leaving behind only an empty shell of a building. No one knew where his new country was or where they had gone.
The Avengers had added new members: Scarlet Witch Wanda, Quicksilver Pietro, and Vision. With this, the team's overall strength had skyrocketed, and their crime-fighting efforts became more swift and efficient.
As of now, the Avengers' roster has grown into double digits. The core members were Captain America (Steve Rogers), Iron Man (Tony), Black Widow (Natasha), Hawkeye (Clint), and Falcon (Sam), along with the newly added twins and Vision.
Some members like Venom (Eddie) and Thor came and went, while others, such as Superman (Caesar), Hulk, and the symbolic presence of Kyle, remained missing.
However, an unavoidable pressure was closing in on the Avengers.
---
''At the Stark Industries Expo''
Appearing as though he had moved past the shadow of the Ultron failure, Tony stood on stage, wearing a sharp suit. He addressed hundreds of university students about a groundbreaking technological product: the B.A.R.F. (Binary Augmented Retro-Framing) system.
The technology, originally developed by Mysterio, had reverted to Stark Industries after Mysterio's death.
After explaining the B.A.R.F. system, Tony publicly announced the creation of a new fund. This fund would dedicate significant financial resources to encourage the creation and development of future technologies.
This announcement instantly ignited the crowd, whose cheers filled the venue.
At the conclusion, Tony stood in the spotlight, gazing at the enthusiastic crowd, and casually said, "For the future, don't be afraid of failure!"
With that, Tony coolly left the stage, though inside, he still felt rattled.
Yes, he had inspired the world to embrace the future and not fear failure, but he still couldn't let go of his own. Every night, he blamed himself for the catastrophic mistake he made, which had indirectly caused the deaths of over a thousand people.
Tony had fled. Without his Iron Man suit, he hastily left the stage, avoiding the press and heading to the quiet backstage area.
When Tony reached the elevator, a woman was already waiting for him. With a blank expression, she said, "I've been waiting for you, Mr. Stark."
"And you are?" Tony asked, puzzled.
"I'm nobody. Just a mother." She pulled a tablet from her bag, its screen displaying the image of a vibrant young man. "That's my son, Denny. He was only twenty-two, interning in Sokovia three months ago."
"Remember, you're the one who killed him." With that, Denny's mother turned and walked away.
Tony stared after her, then at the image of Denny on the tablet, falling into a long silence, consumed by guilt.
---
''Avengers Tower - Top-Floor Hall''
Steve, Natasha, Sam, Vision, Wanda, and Pietro were sitting in casual clothes, watching the television broadcast.
On the news, Wakanda's current king was addressing the United Nations, questioning the Avengers' actions.
"I must say, the Sokovia battle was not the start of their reckless actions. It was just the final straw that broke the camel's back. This brutal internal conflict has exposed the Avengers' dark side. These so-called protectors of the world act without any legal authority, and the destruction they cause in pursuit of justice often rivals that of the criminals they oppose."
In front of the cameras, the King's aged face was stern as he criticized them: "Their actions are beyond international law, and their victories come at the cost of innocent lives…"
Steve picked up the remote and turned off the TV. The room was silent. Everyone felt the weight of the accusations.
Steve scanned the room and spoke gravely, "I know. This is something we must face. If not now, then in the future. We were always going to be questioned by the world."
No one responded, unsure of what to say.
"If we can't hold on to our beliefs, we'll fall apart," Steve continued, his brows furrowed. "By the way, where's Clint? I haven't seen him lately."
Natasha replied, "Hawkeye said he's tired. He wants to spend more time with his wife and kids. He won't be coming around for a while, and as for the future… who knows."
"Yeah, living a normal life sounds good. What are we even fighting for anymore?" Sam muttered with a bitter smile.
The Avengers had always been an unofficial group, a collection of gifted individuals who stood up to protect the world, willingly fighting to the bitter end. But now, even the world had turned against them. People questioned their methods, and if they continued on this path alone, they would lose the recognition they had once earned.
"If any of you want to leave, I won't stop you," Steve said firmly, "but I'll stay to the end. I'll keep fighting. I believe Kyle would say the same."
"Captain," Natasha spoke up softly. "The Secretary of State is coming tonight to discuss matters with the Avengers."
"Got it." Steve thought for a moment, then said, "Bring Tony back. The Avengers are his legacy, after all. Whatever decisions we face, he should be here."
"Okay, I'll contact him later."
Natasha nodded and then turned to the twins. "You two haven't returned to the Carl Family in three months, right?"
Wanda and Pietro exchanged a glance and shook their heads. "Actually, we've lost contact with them for now. It seems like they're renovating their base. I'm not sure of the details."
While pouring coffee, Vision froze for a moment, relieved that no one questioned him. The Carl Family's plans, if revealed, would certainly shock everyone. But for now, Kyle had ordered absolute secrecy.
(End of Chapter)