"I knew there was going to be such a day." Despite Rogers' dismissal, Tony continued to himself, "A battle of heroes. Mr. Fantastic Reed Richards and I, we developed a big project together, a project of true genius...... We tried to integrate all the variables — all the people, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, governments, and so on, and we tried to write an algorithm that had never been done before to predict the future. ”

The captain's eyelids twitched, and he glanced at him obliquely.

"Yes, I know, you're not going to be happy to hear that. If you had known, you would have reprimanded me for being another stupid and pointless attempt...... Well, I know you're not even bothering to discipline me now. Tony sighed, "But the point is, it works." We really wrote an algorithm where we put in all the variables and look at what we might get in the end. And that result...... You should already know that. A battle of heroes, we fight ourselves against ourselves, and that is inevitable. ”

Tony shook his head, "I never expected this to happen. We are heroes, we are warriors, we are all willing to shed our blood for the same ideals, and we can do whatever it takes to do what is worthwhile. That's our principle, our fight.

But the battle we foresaw was different. There are no demons, no aggressors, nothing like we are the good guys and the bad guys are opposite, there is not even the so-called good and evil. This battle is about only opposing wills.

So that's what I saw, I saw us killing each other. ”

He held out his right hand. Liquid metal was released from his pores with a simple thought, and armor wrapped around his palm.

"That's what I became...... I barely recognize myself now. Tony looked at his hand and continued, "Recently a guy reminded me who I am, and I think that's probably the answer. The newspapers called me a 'scientist of the future,' and I've always tried to do that. I see what the future world will look like, and then I go to discover what the future world will need and what will be worthwhile. I invent, I create, I shape the future the world needs.

That's why I built the armor, and it's also the reason why Iron Man was born, and even the Avengers.

Everything we have now is like that, and that's how the ideal becomes a reality. I'm a problem solver, and I invent ways to crack it. And now that I know that there is a heroic battle waiting for us in the future, so as always, I have to be the one to look at the problem directly - how do we solve it? ”

"So that's the solution you chose?" The captain spoke, sneering, "Then you are really a great inventor." If you want me to say, you should go to the doctor.

Maybe I'm old, after all, I'm 85 years old, I have communication barriers with others, and I still deceive myself. But you're sick, do you understand? ”

Tony didn't say anything, and let him continue.

"You think self-righteously that you can do anything by fiddling with a computer and writing a few algorithms? What do you think is human? A bunch of inconsequential variables in your program?

We defended the morality of the sworn word, and you betrayed it—simply because of a boring program you used to pass the time. I'm sitting here now, but at least I've fought and fought for it, and I've paid everything I have to pay. And you? You chose to compromise before you even went to war. You've already lost from the start. ”

"Maybe." Tony whispered, "But that's not mine...... Well, let me start at the beginning.

For a long time, I thought it would be between ourselves. But I was wrong. I saw the beginning of the problem, but not between the Avengers, but in the reaction of the people to us.

Over time, people have become accustomed to our existence. In the beginning, the Avengers existed as a symbol, a hope to look up to when the world plunged into darkness. But that's not the case anymore. People are starting to take it for granted, and they rely on us to solve problems instead of hoping for them. They weren't aware of the change themselves, but it was there.

That's what kind of society is that. The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. People are demanding more and more from heroes, expecting more and more, and less tolerant.

And then it was at this time that the Superhero Registration Act came into being.

It was the moment I saw it that I knew I had finally found the cause of our split. I know what it means, and I know what it all entails. That's where it all started.

I know we're going to split in the heat of the bill on that. I know how everybody is going to stand in this fight, especially you and me. You can't compromise, I understood it from the beginning. And I'm ...... I know myself equally well and I know what choices I will make.

I warn everyone who listens that we must act according to the law. I said that we must have a leader chosen by the people to represent them. Anyone who ignores this is an arrogant criminal.

But at the same time, I also knew very well that I myself was destined to be forced to choose this path. Because if it weren't me, who else could it be? Who else could it be? Nobody. So if this is hell, it has to be up to me. If there has to be one demon in this war, it's me.

So I did what you would do too, I made a choice, I made a promise.

Because if I don't, innocent people will die.

Maybe that's the last piece of good news, but at least I succeeded. I know this means that maybe you and I won't be able to talk properly again, and I know I'm going to lose one of the few best friends in the world who can tolerate my temper...... also lost the best partner in this life. But I told myself it was okay because it was right, because somebody had to do it.

People will always sympathize with the weak, and they will naturally have an aversion to the stronger, pressing side, and I know they will. I also knew that I had to be this ruthless character, to be this demon...... That's it. ”

He kept his mouth shut and didn't speak again for a few moments. Neither did the captain. Two former comrades-in-arms and now enemies sit facing each other across a high-tech cage, but they don't look at each other.

"Pretty quibble." Rogers said coldly, "So this should change anything?" ”

"I can't." Tony glanced at his watch and stood up, "But I just wish you knew." I also want to say I'm sorry for all this...... But I have no regrets, never. ”

He got up, turned his head, and left the room, leaving the captain to sit in the darkness, as if lost in thought.