Watching the information constantly scrolling on the news channel, and countless celebrities, politicians, and wealthy people being beaten to death or imprisoned, the resurrected Iron Man Tony Stark opened his mouth with an expression of extreme shock.
Because no one knows better than him that what the other party did is actually equivalent to directly purging the original upper ruling class in human society, which will definitely cause severe social unrest and chaos.
Especially the stock, financial and securities markets, which are bound to experience an unprecedented bloodbath.
In addition, manufacturing plants and companies will also fall into panic because the entire board of directors is wiped out.
As the saying goes, everything has a price.
It would be great to directly carry out a major purge of the capital groups whose hands are stained with blood and sin, but the biggest challenge is how to fill the gap left after their disappearance.
You must know that trade and commerce are an important part of any mature civilization.
Although the current productivity of the earth is enough to allow most civilians to live well under a rationing system.
But this is obviously not a long-term solution.
"Calm down, Stark. These evil guys should have died long ago. Eradicating them will definitely be a good thing for all mankind."
Captain America Steve Rogers, who was also resurrected, clearly expressed his support.
As someone who had one foot halfway into the realm of gods, he could clearly feel that none of these captured guys could be called innocent.
Especially those who often donate money and participate in charity activities, all of them are flashing with black and red camp auras that symbolize extreme evil.
Needless to say, most of these so-called charitable activities are just a cover for them to achieve their ulterior motives.
As for the secret activities, illegal organ trading, human trafficking, and forcing children to provide special services are commonplace.
“Of course I know they are not good people.
But the problem is that this is too drastic!
What the People's Federation should do now is to calm the public sentiment and ensure social stability and avoid large-scale unrest as much as possible.
But Grant Ward did the exact opposite.
What on earth does he want to do? Does he really want to emulate Caesar and become a lifelong dictator? "
Tony Stark's tone was filled with strong concern.
Because this is, in some ways, equivalent to a military coup.
It’s just that Grant Ward was originally a member of the highest decision-making level of the Human Rights Union, so legally he does have the power to issue such an order.
After all, the evidence that was made public was true.
Even if formal legal procedures were followed, they would all be sentenced to death.
You must know that since the introduction of the concept of soul currency, the movement to abolish the death penalty, which was originally popular around the world, has completely fallen from the moral high ground of human rights to a rat crossing the street that everyone shouts and beats.
Especially the media controlled by capital, their attitude did a 180-degree turn almost overnight, and the speed of changing their face is the fastest in the world.
The reason is very simple.
The capital giants behind the media are in urgent need of souls in exchange for Baator's advanced technology and various treasures that can cure diseases, slow down aging, and even prolong their lifespan.
In some areas, there was even a period of heavy sentencing for minor crimes, which directly led to the slaughter of a large number of uneducated blacks and Latinos who could only hang out on the streets and join gangs, like livestock being released from a pound.
In addition, with the help of some mercenaries from the ninth layer of Baator, some bureaucrats of the Human Union will encourage local governments to confiscate the bodies of death row prisoners, and then secretly transport them to Baator to sell them to devils, demons and necromancers to earn "foreign exchange".
In short, as the connections between the two sides become more frequent and closer, even many gray and even black industries are constantly upgrading, presenting an overall scene of vitality and development.
Iron Man is now very worried that after the purge is over, relations with the ninth level of Baator will deteriorate.
You have to know that they paid a huge price and finally established various trading channels.
Especially those scarce materials related to magic and supernatural powers, there is simply no other way to obtain them.
"Tony, our Stark Industries should not be affected, right?"
Pepper Potts had a nervous and worried look on her face.
After all, this was a major purge of the entire ruling class and capital interest groups. She knew many of the families and had good personal relationships with them.
But now, these people who were once high and mighty have either become prisoners awaiting trial, or have been killed for trying to resist arrest.
Yes, you read it right, it means to exterminate the entire family rather than simply shooting them to death.
Because the ones responsible for this capture operation are the Astartes Legion and the Hydra elite team.
The weapons used by the former are all bolters, melta guns, and disassembly weapons designed to deal with the most brutal space wars.
Anyone affected by that terrifying power would probably not even be left with a corpse, let alone their life.
Therefore, once the fire was opened, it was basically impossible to leave any survivors, and often the entire building would be razed to the ground. Even the pets, cockroaches and rats inside would be buried with their owners.
As for the elite action team under Hydra, they believe in using any means necessary to achieve their goals and do not care about accidental injuries at all.
In their eyes, this was a military action organized to seize supreme power.
Therefore, every target on the list is an enemy or a potential enemy, and we must strike hard to ensure that no one escapes, otherwise there will definitely be big trouble in the future.
Guided by such extreme ideas, their style of doing things is almost the same as that of the Inquisition and Assassins' Court in the Warhammer universe.
Once any act of resistance is discovered, the entire family of the other party will be uprooted immediately, and a complete cleansing will be carried out at the blood and genetic level to eliminate all future troubles.
Right now, the number of gunfights mentioned in reports alone has reached over fifty, and the death toll has reached a terrifying four-digit number.
As a person who had just entered this circle, how could Pepper Potts not be nervous and afraid.
But Tony Stark shrugged his shoulders and consoled him, “Don’t worry, Grant Ward and Hydra won’t touch me.
Because I am fundamentally different from them.
Stark Industries is the company with the largest investment in scientific and technological research and development, and the highest output results and conversion rate on the entire planet.
There is no evidence of crime or any black material at all.
What's more, my current identity is a hero who fights for humanity until the last moment.
If nothing goes wrong, they will contact me soon. "
Before he finished speaking!
A spacecraft that can only operate in low-Earth orbit was parked in front of the window of the Avengers headquarters.
Before everyone could react to what was happening, the floor-to-ceiling window that had been tightly closed opened automatically, and a black officer walked out and greeted them with a smile.
"Hey, Tony, long time no see. You look good, and you don't seem to be affected by the previous death, right?"
"James? My God! Look at your new uniform. Did you get promoted again?"
Iron Man walked straight up to him and gave him a warm hug.
Needless to say, the visiting black officer was none other than his former friend in the military, Colonel Rhodes.
However, he did not obtain the iron armor and become a war machine as originally planned. Instead, he was directly incorporated into the Human Alliance after its establishment and became a senior military officer.
Later, for some reason, he was recruited by Hydra and became the head of the equipment and logistics procurement department, mainly dealing with technology companies and arms dealers such as Tony Stark that have strong R&D, manufacturing and transformation capabilities.
But today, he was wearing a military uniform with a rank as high as major general. Anyone who was not blind would know that he must have been promoted.
Rhode also warmly hugged his friend who had a genius mind, and responded with a smile: "That's right! I have left the logistics department and officially been appointed as the chief of staff of the 17th Landing Operations Corps."
"So you came here today just to show off your new uniform and new position to me? Or do you want me to help you throw a party to celebrate?"
Iron Man teased with a smirk on his face.
As we all know, there are two things that are indispensable at any party he hosts.
One thing is a variety of expensive drinks, and the other thing is a large number of beautiful women dressed sexy and cool.
Especially the latter, even after establishing a relationship with Pepper Potts, she still did the same, except that she would no longer mess around with these party beauties.
Rhodes waved his hand quickly: "No, don't do that.
I didn't come all this way for this.
I believe you have already watched the news report on TV? To tell you the truth, the leader has decided to reorganize the Human Union into the Human Empire and establish a complete centralized system.
From now on, all the rich people's games such as political donations, revolving doors, votes, and charitable donations will be banned.
But the lands, resources and privileges previously acquired by Stark Industries can be retained.
In addition, the leader wants to meet you and talk to you face to face about the future of human civilization."
"Leader? You don't mean Grant Ward?"
Tony Stark raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
Just from this title and the Human Empire, he could judge the huge political ambitions of this young Hydra leader.
Rhodes shook his head mysteriously: "No, the leader is only using Grant Ward's body temporarily.
His greatness and selflessness, as well as his unfathomable wisdom and thoughts, can only be experienced after you see them in person.
Believe me, he is the perfect ruler that mankind has been waiting for. He will surely lead us to build a strong and prosperous civilization, and even conquer the entire galaxy and the universe."
Looking at the admiration and fanaticism on his former friend's face, Iron Man felt a chill running straight from the soles of his feet to his forehead. He immediately and calmly cast several detection spells, trying to figure out whether the other party was controlled by magic or brainwashed.
But the results were all negative.
Rhodes was neither controlled by any spell nor brainwashed, and all his reactions came from the most sincere emotions in his heart.
To put it in a more understandable way, he was overwhelmed by someone's strong personal charm and developed a fanatical worship for him.
For example, Napoleon, who could make soldiers and armies defect to his side with just a speech on the battlefield, or the failed art student who drove the whole of Germany crazy and was better at painting on maps than on canvas...
What these people have in common is a strong personal charm that is difficult to describe in words.
Anyone who comes into contact with it will be infected unknowingly, and will willingly give everything they have for it, even their most precious life.
What makes Tony Stark even more unbelievable is the sentence "The Leader is merely borrowing Grant Ward's body."
You must know that after this coup and the purge, the young Hydra leader has become a veritable dictator, holding the highest power of the Earth government.
If he were controlled by unknown creatures of unknown origin, it would be a terrible disaster for the entire human civilization.
Thinking of this, Iron Man took a deep breath and asked tentatively: "Who is the leader you are talking about?"
"If you really want to know, then come with me. And you, Captain."
Rhodes turned his gaze to Steve Rogers, who was not far away and also showed curiosity and vigilance.
"I?"
Captain America was visibly stunned.
He remembered clearly that he had completely fallen out with those in power since the end of the last expedition.
Normally speaking, judging from what humans are doing now in their efforts to colonize space, people like him who uphold the spirit of justice, kindness, and bravery are not only not helpful, but are also an absolute stumbling block.
Because the so-called interstellar colonization is essentially no different from the Age of Exploration.
Anyone who knows a little about that period of history knows what kind of people these navigators, explorers, merchants, pirates and colonists from the European continent were like.
It almost brings the selfishness, greed, bloodthirstiness, coldness and cruelty in human nature to the extreme.
But it was precisely these dark sides of human nature that made them successful, allowing them to replace the indigenous peoples of America and Australia, occupy large tracts of fertile and resource-rich land, and establish modern world hegemony.
By the same token, humans also need the dark side of human nature to come into play when conducting interstellar colonization, destroying as many civilizations as possible that occupy precious resources and planets suitable for human habitation, and then taking over these planets bit by bit.
So Steve Rogers didn't think at all that after the purge and replacement of the ruling class, the top leaders would change their attitude towards him.
This is determined by interests and objective factors, and is not affected by the will of one or a few people.
"Including you, of course.
The leader said that you represent the noblest and most beautiful qualities of mankind.
It is only natural that they should be absorbed into the imperial system and exert their own strength.
Never regard great leaders as insects and capital representatives of the original human union.
His mind is as broad as the sea. As long as you are truly concerned about all of humanity, he will be willing to listen to your ideas and entrust you with important tasks.
Otherwise, why do you think we soldiers are willing to obey him and follow him?"
When he said this, Rhodes' tone was full of excitement, pride and pride.
His reaction undoubtedly aroused the curiosity of all the Avengers present.
Even Doctor Strange, who didn't want to deal with the government, showed an expression of great surprise.
In this way, under the leadership of Rhodes, people who were interested in the political situation, including Iron Man and Captain America, boarded the spaceship and flew with him towards the direction of the Human Alliance headquarters.
After about a few minutes, the aircraft chose to stop on the highest platform.
Through observation, it can be found that the original ordinary human guards here have all been replaced by super soldiers wearing golden power armor and nearly three meters tall.
They are obviously taller and stronger than ordinary Astartes, and the surface of their golden power armor is decorated with a large number of gorgeous patterns and reliefs, and there is even a red tassel on their helmet fluttering in the wind.
If it weren't for their extremely advanced weapons and equipment, one would even have the illusion that they were a group of fully armored knights from ancient times.
"What troops are these? Why have I never heard of them?"
Tony Stark asked in an uncertain tone.
Because through the detector, he could clearly observe that these new types of super soldiers were far superior to normal Astartes in terms of bone density, muscle density, nerve conduction speed and strength.
Maybe they could crush the Astartes as easily as they slaughtered ordinary soldiers.
As someone who has the power to freely enter and exit the ninth level of Baator, Iron Man is well aware that there is no such item on the list provided by Zuo Si.
"They are the Custodians created by the Great Leader through special methods. They are the most perfect and powerful form that humans can achieve. Well, stop making a fuss and follow me."
Rod held his head high and informed the captain in charge of security of his identity and purpose, and was then allowed to pass.
Needless to say, the Lord of Mankind has already begun to replicate and build the team from the past in the Warhammer Universe, and has directly copied the most powerful and terrifying Imperial Guards.
Moreover, it is even more powerful and terrifying than the original one. It is simply an absolute killing machine.
Because with the help of various technologies and magics collected and developed by Zuo Si from different time and space and even the universe, the original biological alchemy technology used to create the Imperial Guards has been upgraded countless times.
It also includes the demon bloodline and Kryptonian genes from the world of Sanctuary.
The Lord of Mankind even felt that if he could ensure that they were not affected by the warp, he would only need 10,000 such super-upgraded and strengthened Imperial Guards to achieve even more brilliant results than the Great Crusade.
After all, these new versions of the Imperial Guard not only have inexhaustible bodies and spirits, but can also draw strength from the light of stars, awaken all kinds of incredible supernatural magical powers, and even fly across astronomical scales without the aid of any external equipment.
It can be said that there is not a single shortcoming from head to toe.
I guess the only weakness might be its slightly fragile magic resistance.
However, in this universe without the influence of subspace, this small flaw is obviously nothing.
Passing through corridors and tunnels that had been transformed beyond recognition, the group finally arrived at a heavily guarded hall deep underground.
When everyone, including Tony Stark, saw the figure sitting on the golden chair, they immediately understood what Rhodes had said before.
Because no one would think that this man radiating golden light is Grant Ward.
The temperament, habits, eyes and momentum of the two are completely different.
“You’re finally here.”
The Lord of Mankind stood up from his chair, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
Because in his opinion, these most outstanding humans on Earth are just like the original sons he created back then. Although they have various problems, they are undoubtedly very excellent.
Especially Steve Rogers, who has already stepped half a foot into the threshold of demigod, made him vaguely see the shadow of Saint Jarles.
Both of them were equally brave, fearless, loyal, strong, and perfect. They also both knew they would die but still resolutely chose to die heroically.
"Who are you exactly? And why are you occupying Grant Ward's body?"
Doctor Strange was the first to break the silence and question.
After all, as the Sorcerer Supreme, one of his duties is to prevent dimensional demons and various dangerous creatures from entering the earth.
The terrifying spiritual energy emanating from the Lord of Humanity is no different from the aura of the dimensional demon.
“I have had many names and have been worshipped like a god.
But now you just need to call me Leader or Emperor.
Because what I have to do next is to lead mankind to build a vast interstellar empire spanning the entire galaxy.
I've already done this once, in another universe.
By the way, it was Soth who invited me to do this.
So you don’t need to worry about me doing anything harmful to humanity.”
The Lord of Mankind did not hide anything and revealed his identity openly.
"What?!"
Everyone present was stunned.
Obviously, the fact that Zuo Si pulled humanity and the earth back from the brink of destruction several times is enough to prove that he has no hostility towards humanity.
Just the opposite!
This great demon has been using a whip to drive human civilization to become increasingly stronger, and has actively expanded its influence outward to become a powerful force in the universe.
Only when the human population continues to grow and the scope of his rule continues to expand can he continue to obtain more souls.
Similarly, the originally weak human beings on Earth can continue to grow and develop under Zuo Si's protection and help, using all kinds of incredible advanced technologies and magical powers to improve productivity and make ordinary people live better.
It can be said that both parties are aligned in their interests, although the relationship may not be so equal.
The Lord of Mankind smiled and said, “Don’t be so surprised.
You should be aware that Soth has the ability to travel between different time and space and universes.
For him, operations like this are nothing.
And I can teach you how to establish an interstellar hegemony and deal with other alien civilizations.
Don’t worry, I won’t dwell on Grant Ward for too long.
Once the shelf is set up, I will choose to leave.
Because in another universe, I still have a lot of things to deal with.
Perhaps when I have completed my mission, I will consider reincarnating into this world and meet you again.
Well, that’s enough of the self-introductions and pleasantries. Now let’s talk about the system construction of the future human empire…”