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One Side waited about two hours before setting off.
Shen He didn't pay too much attention.
As long as there were no powerful artifacts or unknown abilities in that area, even a lv3-level One Side was enough to handle it. You couldn't bring a nuclear warhead just to kill a mosquito, nor mobilize an entire army for a few scattered enemies.
The most important point was that, as a male follower, One Side wouldn't worry Shen He too much.
While waiting, Shen He thought quietly for a long time, and finally decided to go find Tony Stark.
At this time, Tony was in his company's private training room, sparring with his assistant Harry to blow off some steam.
When Shen He arrived, he was a bit surprised.
"It's rare," Tony said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "The most legendary billionaire in history actually left his tower. What brings you here?"
"There is something important." Shen He's face was serious, with no trace of a smile. "It's about your parents. Find somewhere private to talk."
"My parents?" Tony was stunned.
He didn't waste time asking more; he immediately led Shen He to a lounge next to the training area, asked Harry to bring wine, and locked the door behind them before speaking.
"You said 'parents'—not just 'father.'" Tony keenly caught the difference. "My mom... she always gave me everything without hiding anything, unlike my dad, who liked secrets and riddles."
"How much do you actually know about how your parents died?" Shen He got straight to the point.
It was a hurdle he couldn't dodge. He had thought about hiding it for Steve's sake, but too many people knew about it already. As Tony's friend, hiding it would cause far more damage.
"A car accident..." Tony was silent for a long moment, then looked up at Shen He. "But it wasn't that simple, right?"
If it had been a simple car crash, Shen He wouldn't have come with such a grave tone.
"Exactly." Shen He nodded. "They were murdered."
"...Who?" Tony asked, voice tightening.
"Hydra," Shen He answered. "You know your father helped found S.H.I.E.L.D. Hydra targeted people standing in their way. Your parents were among them. This information likely only exists in Hydra's classified records."
"…"
Tony dropped his head, then abruptly stood up, pacing a few steps before stopping in front of Shen He.
"Why are you telling me only now?"
He wasn't stupid. Shen He must have a reason for choosing this moment.
"I didn't say it before because the incident had already passed, and we didn't know exactly who gave the order," Shen He explained, motioning for Tony to sit down again. "Since your father's death didn't trigger catastrophic consequences for humanity, our Prophets never picked it up. I pieced this together myself after investigating Hydra's old records."
"…Thanks." Tony slumped onto the sofa again, visibly struggling to contain his emotions. "I regret not hunting down more Hydra scum when I had the chance."
He had once suspected his parents' deaths weren't ordinary and even investigated, but given the normalcy of assassination attempts among the wealthy, he found nothing definitive. Plus, his complicated relationship with his father dulled his suspicions.
Now, after learning to appreciate his father's love, hearing this was agonizing.
Every dutiful son feels the pain of being raised and loved, yet unable to repay it.
Seeing Tony's guilt-stricken face, Shen He suddenly thought of something else and casually mentioned:
"This world might have... a hell."
"What?" Tony's head jerked up, and his face lit with hope. "You're serious? Hell actually exists?"
If the legendary afterlife existed, then maybe—just maybe—his parents' souls still existed.
The concept of the soul is the ultimate comfort to the living. And for Tony, having powerful friends like Shen He meant even impossible things no longer seemed absurd.
"I'm not entirely sure." Shen He shook his head slightly. "Realms like hell and heaven are difficult to observe directly. But... traces suggesting the existence of hell have appeared."
He instantly regretted speaking so carelessly.
The greater the hope, the deeper the disappointment.
In fact, the appearance of Robbie Reyes—the Fourth Ghost Rider—in the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. proved the existence of hell.
But this world had its differences.
Still...
"There are methods to bring people back to life." Shen He finally chose to give Tony a bit of hope. "Some worlds have individuals who can perform resurrection. If we're lucky…"
"Thank you!" Tony interrupted, his voice slightly choked as he exhaled hard and looked embarrassed. "Sorry, He... Even after all these years, I can't fully accept that they're gone. If there's even a glimmer of hope, I'll chase it."
Shen He's words gave him that glimmer.
That was enough. Tony Stark was a miracle worker.
If hope existed, so did a way forward.
His gratitude toward Shen He was genuine—perhaps Shen He was the one person Tony had said "thank you" to most in his life.
"It's nothing. I, too, have people I can't afford to lose. I understand." Shen He smiled faintly, then decided it was time to move on to the real reason he had come. "Actually, there's something else I need to discuss. About the assassin... the one Hydra used to kill your parents. It was Bucky—brainwashed by Hydra."
Tony's entire body froze.
Earlier, Shen He had said he didn't know who issued the order. But thinking about it carefully, the mastermind wouldn't have personally executed it.
Bucky Barnes... Steve had gone searching for him personally, and Tony was familiar with that name.
"Steve doesn't know this part," Shen He said with a helpless expression. "If he found out, he might protect Bucky no matter what. You know... Bucky might be even more important to Steve than any lover. And at the time, Bucky had no self-awareness—he was a brainwashed puppet. That's why I'm coming to you first: I want to ask—what do you plan to do about Bucky?"
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