Western Europe, Hydra Base.
Tony Stark was in the middle of a heated battle when his phone rang.
"Tony, it's Rhodey."
Colonel Rhodes' voice came through his earpiece.
"I'm busy, you've got three minutes," Tony Stark said, punching an enemy who was charging at him.
"Tony, Mandarin is in New York!"
Colonel Rhodes' words made Tony Stark, who was about to punch a second enemy, switch to using his repulsor blast instead.
After dealing with a batch of enemies, he flew to a relatively quiet spot and said,
"Alright, I have time now."
"Wasn't Mandarin at the border? Why is he suddenly in New York?"
On the phone, Colonel Rhodes sounded anxious as he said,
"S.H.I.E.L.D. discovered that Mandarin secretly traveled to New York a few days ago."
"And they've tracked him to the broadcast building."
Tony Stark frowned, scoffing,
"The broadcast building?!"
"Does he want to be on TV? No show is going to invite him, he's not as famous as me."
Colonel Rhodes continued,
"I'm not sure why he's there."
"But the director and S.H.I.E.L.D. have set up what looks like a thorough plan. They've apparently already moved in to take control of Mandarin."
"So, you're saying Mandarin is already under control."
Tony Stark was puzzled,
"This sounds like good news."
"Why do you seem so anxious?"
Colonel Rhodes, realizing Tony Stark hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation, quickly said,
"Tony, this isn't good news!"
"Would Mandarin be this easy to capture? You know him best, you've fought him before!"
A moment of silence followed.
After a while, Tony Stark asked,
"Where is Indra?"
"He didn't go."
"Right now, it's just Hill and Hawkeye leading the team, along with some security personnel."
Tony Stark frowned.
He suddenly remembered the call he had made to Indra about Anna.
"Damn, I think I know why he didn't go."
"I'll call him later."
"So, what's the current situation?"
Just as Tony Stark finished speaking, a cheer erupted from the phone.
"Don't tell me you're at a party right now."
Colonel Rhodes, somewhat speechless, said to Tony Stark,
"They're saying Mandarin has been captured?"
"What? Captured?"
This left Tony Stark in disbelief.
He knew Mandarin well, and what Colonel Rhodes was saying made it seem all too easy. Had he really been captured just like that?
As Tony Stark was thinking, Thor appeared in front of him, wielding his hammer.
"Are you slacking off?"
Thor asked Tony Stark half-jokingly.
Tony Stark shook his head,
"No."
He then raised his hand and dealt with an enemy, continuing,
"Colonel Rhodes just called to say that Mandarin has been captured in the broadcast building in New York."
Thor swung his hammer and asked,
"Who is Mandarin?"
Bang!
A loud noise echoed around.
The powerful shockwave sent snowflakes flying everywhere.
"He's a villain who knows some kind of sorcery."
"He has ten rings, each with different abilities."
"I know it sounds like he's copying Lord of the Rings."
After Tony Stark finished, Thor smirked, retrieved his hammer, and said,
"Really? Do you think my hammer could crush his head?"
Tony shrugged,
"Well, I don't have a hammer, but I have defeated him."
As they were talking, Captain America walked over and asked,
"Is there a problem?"
Black Widow followed right behind him.
Tony Stark shook his head,
"No, nothing major."
"Okay, actually, it might be a bit of a problem. It's about Mandarin."
"Although Colonel Rhodes told me that Hawkeye and the others have captured Mandarin, I feel like something is off."
"Is everything settled here?"
Captain America's expression turned serious.
He knew Mandarin was a formidable figure.
Although he wasn't sure what exactly had happened,
anything related to Mandarin was certainly not a simple matter.
"Up ahead is the Hydra base."
Captain America pointed to a fortress-like structure ahead and said,
"Let's hurry up and finish this, so we can get back to New York."
Thor swung his hammer again, saying,
"Then let's get to it!"
Tony Stark shook his head,
"I think I need to make a call first."
Captain America asked,
"To Indra?"
Tony Stark nodded.
Thor threw his hammer and asked,
"Who is Indra?"
"A superhuman. According to him, his superpower is good luck."
Tony Stark explained.
Thor laughed and asked Tony Stark,
"Good luck is a superpower?!"
Tony Stark thought for a moment and replied seriously,
"Actually, if your luck is as good as his, it definitely counts."