Chapter 61: Recruiting Banner.
"What's wrong? Why is everyone so quiet? If you have any questions, just ask," Tony said, scanning the room as the crowd fell silent once again.
"Stark," Captain America spoke up, his tone filled with concern, "do you really think this plan is feasible? I'm still uneasy about allowing someone like that—someone as dangerous as the Hulk—to join the Justice League. Can we really trust that he'll work alongside us peacefully? I can't help but feel this is a risky decision."
His worry was understandable. The Hulk, known for his uncontrollable rage and immense destructive power, could cause catastrophic damage if provoked. If he lost control in a city, the casualties could be devastating—countless innocent lives at risk.
Tony responded calmly, "Captain, if you're still unsure, then why don't we go meet him ourselves? Let's see firsthand whether Dr. Bruce Banner is a good fit for our team."
He glanced around the room before continuing, "Besides, Felix and Thor are both present. If anything were to go wrong, they're more than capable of handling it. Yes, the Hulk is destructive, but I don't believe he's even stronger than both Thor and Felix—and with proper guidance, maybe he can control that power for good."
Seeing the lingering doubt on Captain America's face, Tony stood up from the sofa, his voice resolute. "Let's not waste time. Let's go see Bruce Banner right now."
"I also agree to meet this guy named Banner. I'm quite curious to see how he turns into that kind of monster," Thor said as he stood up, reaching for both his axe and hammer.
"What about you, Felix?" Captain America didn't give a direct response. Instead, he turned toward Felix, seeking his opinion.
"I think Tony makes a lot of sense. We might as well go meet this Bruce Banner ourselves," Felix replied calmly, voicing his agreement with Tony's plan. After all, if anyone present understood Bruce Banner better than the rest, it was Felix.
The Hulk was undeniably a powerful force, even after being significantly weakened in film portrayals. Leaving someone like him out of the alliance would be a serious waste of potential.
To be honest, Felix already knew that Banner was destined to join the league. In the original timeline, he joined the Avengers, but now things had taken a turn—he was about to become part of the Justice League.
The thought made Felix feel a bit of sympathy for Director Nick Fury, who would be likely pulling his hair out over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s unraveling situation. Fury could never have expected that three of the founding Avengers he was preparing to recruit had already joined the Justice League—and now a fourth was on the verge of doing the same.
It seemed like Nick Fury was about to become the commander of a team with no soldiers. S.H.I.E.L.D. was rapidly turning into the "Snake-S.H.I.E.L.D." The only agents he had left were Hawkeye (Clint Barton) and Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff).
If Fury ever found out what was happening today, would his face darken with rage and he shout his usual phrase, "Motherf—!"
The mental image of Nick Fury cursing and jumping in frustration nearly made Felix laugh out loud. But he wasn't about to abandon the idea of recruiting Bruce Banner into the Justice League just to spare Nick's feelings.
"By the way, Tony," Felix asked, standing up, "do you even know where Bruce Banner is hiding right now?"
"Of course I do," Tony replied with confidence. "I've had J.A.R.V.I.S. keeping an eye on him ever since our last encounter with the green guy. Banner's been cautious—avoiding crowded places and wiping all traces of his movements—but not even he can escape J.A.R.V.I.S.'s surveillance."
"He's been on the move for over two weeks, but he's finally stopped. He's currently in a remote area, acting as a doctor. He treats the local residents to get by."
As he spoke, a nostalgic look softened Tony's expression. "Felix, speaking of doctors, I can't help but think of Yinsen—back when we escaped from that terrorist cave together. I wonder how he's doing now…"
Tony's proud demeanor faded, replaced by a tinge of sadness.
"It's okay, Tony," Felix said gently. "When we get the chance, let's go find Yinsen together. But right now, we have more pressing matters to deal with."
Mentioning Yinsen made Felix think back to his earliest days in the Marvel universe—how he had been helped by kind souls like Uncle John, and even that boy named Barry Allen who shared the same name as the Flash. He hadn't seen them in so long...
"Time really flies," he thought. "It's already been over a year since I arrived in this Marvel world. I wonder what's happened to my original world. Is there still a way back? Will I ever return?"
He had been suppressing those thoughts ever since he arrived—telling himself not to think too much about the world he left behind. After all, he didn't even know how to go back… or if returning was even possible.
If you could go back, would your loved ones still be there? This question had haunted Felix from the beginning. It was something he refused to speak about, something buried deep within him. So instead, he numbed himself—choosing to push those thoughts aside and focus on the present.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., show us Bruce Banner's current location," Tony commanded.
"Yes, sir. Displaying now."
The AI's voice pulled Felix out of his thoughts. He looked toward the map that materialized in the air, pinpointing Bruce Banner's position. Without saying another word, Felix raised his right hand and traced a glowing blue circle in front of him—a portal instantly opened.
"Let's go," he said firmly.
Tony, never missing a chance to be cheeky, grinned. "Hey, Felix, ever since you started doing this portal thing, I feel like I've lost all the thrill of flying in my armor."
Felix gave him a deadpan look. "Then don't come through. Suit up and fly there yourself—no one's stopping you."
Tony chuckled, clearly amused. "Hehe... I'm just kidding. Honestly, I love your way of traveling. It's fast, clean, and stylish. And let's be real, –Banner's thousands of kilometers away. I'd be crazy to pass up a shortcut like this!"
In a run-down, dusty alleyway of a remote town, a glowing blue portal—over two meters wide—suddenly shimmered into existence. One by one, five figures stepped out of it.
Two of them looked especially eye-catching. One wore a red cloak and carried both a hammer and an axe; the other had a shield strapped to his back and wore a star-spangled suit. To the average bystander, they looked like performers straight out of a superhero-themed play.
As they exited the alley and stepped into the street, countless townspeople turned their heads, staring in confusion and curiosity. It was as if they'd just seen creatures from another world.
"Are we really going to walk up to him dressed like this?" Captain America muttered, clearly uncomfortable under the gaze of dozens of strangers. "We're... kind of hard to neglect."
Tony smirked. "Now that you mention it, yeah—your costume's a bit on the flashy side. Maybe it's time we got everyone matching suits. We are members of the Justice League now. Gotta keep up appearances."
Despite the awkward stares and awkward fashion statements, they finally reached their destination—a modest, weathered house surrounded by villagers in plain, worn clothes. The entire town exuded poverty and isolation, making it the perfect hideaway.
Tony stepped forward and knocked gently on the cracked wooden door.
A voice called out from inside, followed by the sound of footsteps: "Who is it? The door's unlocked—come in."
It was a man's voice. Calm. Unbothered.
Everyone exchanged glances, knowing they were about to meet Bruce Banner face-to-face.
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