"Sorry, James, if I could have figured out the problem sooner after I hung up."

Washington, Military Hospital.

Tony looked at his friend lying on the hospital bed, and the expression on his face was a little remorseful.

If he had paid more attention to James' task before, maybe the whole thing wouldn't have happened.

"It's not your fault, Tony."

Looking at Tony's self-reproachful expression, James shook his head on the hospital bed.

More than half of the bones were shattered, and it was a miracle that he survived.

"I'm a soldier, and every time I put on a war machine and go out on a mission, I'm ready to die."

"At least, the worst didn't happen, and I'm still alive, although it's not good."

On the hospital bed, James shook his head and downplayed the bad condition of his body in a pretending relaxed tone.

"I'll get you back on your feet, James, I promise."

In this regard, Tony pulled the corners of his mouth to reveal an extremely reluctant smile, and said categorically.

Looking at Tony with a serious face in front of the hospital bed, James raised his arm with difficulty, and Tony, who saw his movements on the side, hurriedly reached out and held his palm.

"Maybe we're all wrong, Tony."

"I originally thought that the decision to register the bill was too hasty, but the mission in California made me understand that many battles are predestined, and the power gathered by the grotesques has become a problem that cannot be ignored, even without my mission this time, the battle between humans and grotesques will eventually happen, not only the grotesque, but also the superhero problem, not everyone can survive as lucky as me, maybe it's time to make a decision, Tony ......"

“……”

Feeling the power coming from the palm of James' hand, Tony's expression was a little silent.

……

"Whew~"

Coming out of James's hospital room, Tony breathed a sigh of relief and put on the sunglasses in his hand to cover his confused eyes.

Before the hospital bed, the conversation of his friend James caused a great touch in Tony's heart.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Tony Stark."

In silence, from behind Tony, a gentle voice spoke slowly.

Turning his head, he saw Charles in control of the wheelchair.

"This is not what we freak out in the fraternity of the Freaks wanted."

Eye-catching Tony's gaze under the sunglasses, Charles said apologetically.

"I don't think this is where you should be, Charles, or Professor."

Glancing over the unpropelled wheelchair under Charles, Tony's brow furrowed tightly under his sunglasses, and he noticed that with Tony's appearance, the entire hospital seemed to lose its breath for a moment.

"I'm here to find peace, Mr. Tony Stark."

In the face of Tony's vaguely hostile attitude, Charles in a wheelchair still maintained his rational and gentle appearance.

"What happened in California made me understand that human beings are afraid and incomprehensible about grotesques, even if we are humans, but this incomprehension breeds war and hostility, especially under the policies of the federal government, which is becoming more and more obvious towards grotesques."

"If this hostility is allowed to grow, it will eventually become a disaster, and you and I both know that there will be no winners in this war, whether it is grotesque or human."

"So, what is your purpose, don't tell me that you just came to me to complain."

The arc reactor on his chest made a faint whisper, and Tony looked at Charles in a wheelchair, but the expression on his face did not relax a little.

"I want a promise, Mr. Tony Stark, a place for the grotesque."

"And in exchange, I can support the signing of the Superhero Registration Act on behalf of some of the grotesque people who yearn for peace."

"You should have said these things to the federal government, not me."

Hearing Charles open his mouth to express his attitude towards the registration bill, Tony's eyes changed under his sunglasses, but he still spoke.

"I don't trust the federal government, which is not friendly to the grotesque."

The events in California had a huge impact among the grotesques.

It is precisely because of this that fierce voices began to appear within the grotesques.

"How can you be sure that I'm on the side of the registration bill."

His gaze lingered on Charles's face in the wheelchair for a long time before Tony asked.

"I can see the confusion in your heart at the moment, Mr. Tony Stark, but I can also see your final decision in this confusion."

In response to Tony's questioning, Charles looked up and looked at him.

In a wheelchair, Charles's eyes seemed to be able to see through Tony's sunglasses.

……

"How's it going, I mean...... James. ”

The Avengers Mansion, because of the problem of the freak brotherhood, the members of the Avengers rarely gathered together.

"It's bad, but at least he's alive."

Hearing Natasha's inquiry, Tony shook his head and tried to pull the corners of his mouth to make his expression look more relaxed.

"Can you tell me about that guy?"

"Eric, the exact name is unknown, and so is the identity."

Hearing Tony's words, Natasha's fingers moved quickly on the keyboard, and soon some information about Eric appeared in front of the Avengers' eyes.

"However, it is certain that the other party is a member of the Freaks, and the first place where they appeared was in a small town in Mexico, and their abilities seem to have a certain correlation with metal, and they can control the metal to attack, and they are called Magneto by the people of the Freakish Brotherhood."

When talking about the title of Magneto, Natasha's eyes subconsciously glanced at Tony, and the ability shown by Eric was obviously very restrained to Tony.

The latter, on the other hand, was silent.

"All of this is because of the actions of the military, they are trying to kill the grotesques of the Brotherhood of Freaks, and I know that there is also the shadow of General Ross involved."

With a tight frown, Captain America Steve's mouth spoke.

Judging from the information currently available to the Avengers, the whole incident stems from the actions of the American military against the Brotherhood of the Grotesque.

"Someone was injured or even killed because of this, captain."

Steve's vague display of duty to the military unexpectedly touches Tony's heart, especially when he has just visited a friend who has been seriously injured in the hospital.

"It's the same with weirdos."

"Sometimes, I really hate the kindness you show, Captain."

Tony gave Steve a deep look and spoke.

"Perhaps, we should turn our attention back to Magneto."

Noticing the-for-tat between Tony and Steve, Banner pushed his glasses and spoke relentingly.

Receiving a glance from Banner, Natasha also cooperated.

"At present, Eric's whereabouts are unknown, but, judging from some intelligence clues, he seems to be also looking for the existence of some grotesque people, judging from the information of these grotesque people he has contacted, they are all some dangerous and even extreme weird people, obviously, the other party's purpose is not simple."

"It's clear that time in California has not only caused casualties, but it has also stimulated Eric, and if such a dangerous grotesque is allowed to continue to operate, the damage will not only be caused by the refuge of grotesques in California, but by the whole of America."

Hearing Natasha's information, Tony's brow furrowed, and he swept over Eric's gloomy face in the photo in front of him.

"Continue to track Magneto's intelligence, and notify me as soon as I find out."

……

Avengers Mansion, underground base.

A large number of personnel are busy dealing with various disasters and dangers, and in the cabin, a steel armor is awakened, and under the control of Ultron, go to the dangerous place to carry out the mission.

"Perhaps, we should be serious, Captain."

Among them, Tony found Steve and said to Captain America seriously.

"If it's just that in the building, I apologize, Tony."

Stopping the punching action in his hand, Steve wiped the sweat on his face, held the sandbag in front of him, turned his head to look at Tony who appeared at the door, and said with a slight gasp.

"Sometimes, I'm not very likable."

"I understand, you're right."

Tony shrugged his shoulders and took the initiative.

"Regardless of James's situation, the military's actions against the Brotherhood of the Freaks are indeed deniable, even self-inflicted."

Walking into the training ground, Tony's gaze swept over Steve's tense muscles and continued.

"But, admittedly, while the military's approach is fraught with criticism, perhaps they also have their own reasons for having to carry out this operation."

"This time they're dealing with grotesques, but next time, I don't want the Avengers and the military to be in this scene one day, because that would represent a complete break between the Avengers and the American government."

Tony's description was tactful, but Steve understood the meaning of his words.

"So, you're here to register the bill."

"This is just an opinion, and it is clear that the current federal government is full of biased stance on superheroes, and perhaps the signing of the registration bill will do a little bit of de-escalation of the situation, which is just a slight compromise."

"It's not just a compromise, Tony."

However, in the face of Tony's tactful persuasion, Steve shook his head silently.

He looked Tony in the eye and said in a deep voice.

"Obviously, the implementation of the registration bill will cause all the transcendents to become weapons of the American government, and we will lose our freedom and become weapons and tools to obey orders, I have felt this way, believe me this is not a very good experience."

"Perhaps, all this is just your speculation, captain."

"I'm sorry, Tony, I can't do that."

Shaking his head silently, Steve's position was very firm.

"Haven't you thought about the outcome of such a struggle, Captain? There is a good chance that someone will die because of this. ”

"If someone dies because of this, then it proves even more that the registration bill is wrong."

“……”

In the training ground, Tony and Steve looked at each other silently for a long time.

Eventually, Tony was defeated.

He turned his head and swept the sandbag behind Steve, and his hand was quickly wrapped in the nanobot, firing a shockwave that pierced the sandbag.

A large amount of fine sand flowed out of the hole where the sandbags were broken, and Tony looked at the captain as he spoke.

"Sometimes, I really smash your nice face, Captain."

"I'm going to continue to deal with the federal government."

After venting the anger in his heart, Tony looked at the sandbag that had lost its effect, and turned his head to Steve.

"Need me to get you a new punching bag?"

"No, I'm almost done."

In this regard, Steve showed a calm face.

……

"Yes, I understand, but I also express the Avengers' position that the Superhero Registration Act is too restrictive for the use of superhero powers, and it will be difficult for us to negotiate if we can't amend it."

ended up with a not-so-smooth conversation with Captain America.

Tony has shown a tough stance in the face of pressure from the military and Congress.

Regardless of the differences within the Avengers over the Superhero Registration Act, at least when it comes to the outside.

Tony still respects Steve's idea and shows his opposition.

"Mr. Stark, the president is not happy about this, and if you've seen his tweets, you know that we are very passive in Congress because of the Avengers' position."

"Well, please tell our new president, Mr. Congressman, that if he has so much time and energy to tweet, then perhaps more attention should be paid to more important things."

Unceremoniously answering the councillor on the phone, Tony hung up the phone and reached out to rub his furrowed brow.

"Mr. Stark."

And just when Tony had a headache, Ultron's gentle and rational voice began to sound again.

"I received an unknown video with the file named 'Answer'."

"Answer?"

Hearing Ultron's words, Tony's face couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"Can you find the address where the file was sent?"

"It can't be locked, the other party seems to have extremely sophisticated hacking skills, and all traces have been eliminated by the time the file is transmitted, leaving only some obvious springboards."

Hearing that even Ultron couldn't lock down the identity of the target who sent the file, Tony's face began to show curiosity.

"When I open the video, I want to see what the so-called 'answer' is."

Decisively ordered Ultron to open the video in the file named 'Answer'.

"Yes."

With Tony's command, the video is clicked on and enters playback mode.