Chapter 56 Black Widow Comes Knocking? Tony's Request for Protection

Tony had spent the morning rampaging through Afghanistan in high spirits.

Now, however, he looked utterly miserable.

He had never expected that old bastard Obadiah to resort to robbery and a sneak attack!

Caught completely off guard, Tony had fallen into Obadiah’s trap.

Even his newly built arc reactor had been stolen.

Obadiah had since disappeared without a trace, while Pepper carefully bandaged Tony’s wounds with a heartbroken expression.

At that moment, two uninvited guests arrived.

Natasha and Skye entered the villa fully armed and immediately saw Tony in his battered state.

Tony hadn’t expected two agents to witness him looking so miserable immediately after being ambushed.

He recognized Natasha.

“I remember you. Weren’t you applying to be my assistant a few days ago? Hah! You people aren’t even trying to maintain your cover anymore.”

“You’re actually an agent from that Strategic Homeland… Logistics… Attack… whatever Division, right? Breaking into a private residence in the middle of the night is a serious violation of federal law.”

Natasha ignored Tony’s rambling complaints and holstered her pistol.

“Mr. Stark, you’re in danger. We were ordered to come here and ensure your safety.”

Tony showed her no courtesy whatsoever.

“Then you’re a little late.”

Seeing that the situation was relatively under control, Skye quietly asked, “Who did this?”

Before Tony could continue running his mouth, Pepper answered with a worried expression.

“It was Obadiah. He also stole something from Tony’s laboratory.”

She looked at the two agents.

“Were you sent by the federal government to protect Tony? Did you intercept Obadiah on your way here?”

Natasha shook her head.

“We didn’t encounter him. Someone must have helped him escape.”

She looked solemnly at the injured Tony.

“Mr. Stark, your current situation is extremely dangerous. According to our intelligence, someone has targeted you. You should follow our arrangements and relocate somewhere secure.”

Tony rejected the proposal without the slightest hesitation.

“I don’t trust you.”

“I received a warning today that Obadiah might be planning something. I just never expected him to launch a sneak attack. Damn it, I should’ve revoked his access to the villa.”

Natasha seemed to realize something.

“Who warned you, Mr. Stark? Was it the Foundation?”

“That’s right. The Foundation warned me today, but I didn’t expect Obadiah to act so quickly.”

“Your residence may be attacked again. According to our intelligence, Obadiah is working with an organization capable of posing a serious threat to national security.”

“Mr. Stark, I strongly recommend that you cooperate with us and relocate somewhere secure. This place is no longer safe.”

Pepper was visibly worried.

“She’s right, Tony. Listen to them. It isn’t safe here, especially in your condition.”

Tony seemed to think of something.

“I know a place…”

He looked at Natasha.

“Your name was Natalie… Rushman, right?”

“You may call me Agent Natasha. I’m assigned to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Anomaly Containment Unit.”

“All right. I need to make a call. You probably know who I’m calling.”

“The Foundation?”

“Yes. Right now, the Foundation is the only organization I trust. They saved my life. I have no reason to trust you.”

Natasha and Skye both fell silent.

There was little they could say.

The Foundation’s formidable reputation spoke for itself. Considering Tony’s previous interactions with the organization, it was perfectly reasonable for him to trust the Foundation more than S.H.I.E.L.D.

“JARVIS, call this number: 10XXXXXX.”

The call connected a short while later.

“Uh, it’s me. Tony Stark. Buddy, everything you warned me about turned out to be true. There really is something wrong with Obadiah.”

“Yeah. He ambushed me and stole some important Stark Industries assets. Can I request the Foundation’s assistance?”

Tony glanced at Natasha and Skye.

“There’s one more thing. Two agents from that Intervention-and-Protection-whatever agency are here…”

After ending the call, Tony visibly relaxed.

He turned toward the two agents.

“Agent Natasha and, uh…”

“Skye.”

“Right, Agent Skye. Commander Ethan said the Foundation will send support and place me under its protection.”

“He also invited both of you to visit the Foundation’s base for an intelligence exchange.”

“So, would you like to come along, or would you prefer to make your own arrangements?”

“I understand. We’ll accompany you to the Foundation base, Mr. Stark.”

Natasha and Skye immediately contacted Coulson.

Once he learned that the Foundation had invited them to its base for an intelligence exchange, Coulson agreed without hesitation.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was currently treating the mysterious Chaos Insurgency as an existential threat.

Ever since SCP-096 appeared, anomalous incidents had erupted continuously across the United States.

Even after SCP-096, the Shy Guy, was contained, S.H.I.E.L.D. remained overwhelmed by a constant stream of anomalous situations.

It now appeared that the Chaos Insurgency had been responsible for all of them.

The covert war between the two organizations hadn’t ended with SCP-096’s containment.

In only a few days, S.H.I.E.L.D. had suffered hundreds of casualties.

The situation had left the entire organization scrambling.

With the Foundation now offering assistance, both Nick Fury and the ever-amiable Coulson were more than eager to accept.

Before long, a V-44X Blackfish transport arrived at Stark’s seaside cliff mansion, accompanied by a contingent of Foundation Mobile Task Force operators.

Under their protection, Natasha, Skye, Pepper, and the injured Tony boarded the V-44X Blackfish.

The transport then lifted into the air and headed toward the Foundation base.