Pepper wore a perfect professional smile as she put away the signed tablet.
"It was a pleasure working with you, Tel-Rol."
Tel-Rol couldn't wait any longer. He sprang from his chair, bounced twice in place, and stretched his limbs.
"Stop with the 'Mister' stuff, it sounds awkward."
"It's settled, right? So what are we waiting for? Let's go! Where's Hammer Bro? We're going to find him right now!"
He looked as if he was about to rush off the planet immediately.
Pepper rubbed her forehead and patiently explained.
"Not so fast, Mister Tel. According to the agreement, you need to go to Avengers Tower in New York first to complete your onboarding process."
"I still have to do paperwork? That's so troublesome?"
Tel-Rol's face fell.
"It's just a fight, why does it feel like going to work?"
Kara, standing nearby, rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"You *are* going to work! Working to pay off your debts, understand?"
Clark also walked over, his face tired, and began his parting advice.
"Tel, once you're there, follow instructions and don't cause trouble."
"Especially with Tony Stark, he has a weak heart, so don't provoke him again."
Kara quickly added.
"And! Don't say those outrageous things to girls again! Do you hear me!"
"I know, I know, why are you two more naggy than Aunt Martha?"
Tel-Rol waved his hand impatiently, his gaze drifting towards Martha at the kitchen door.
Martha wiped her hands, walked up to him, and without any extra admonitions, simply reached out to tidy his messy collar.
"When you're out, eat on time."
Tel-Rol paused, then nodded heavily.
"Mm!"
He grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and hugged Aunt Martha goodbye.
"I'm leaving! I'll be back to see you all once I've knocked that Hammer Bro down!"
With that, he followed Pepper out of the farmhouse cottage without looking back.
Clark and Kara exchanged glances, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
New York, in danger.
Pepper's silver sports car drove on the highway to New York.
Tel-Rol fidgeted in the passenger seat, feeling uncomfortable all over.
"This car is too small, I can't even stretch my muscles."
"That Tin Man is so rich, can't he get a bigger one? He's too stingy."
Pepper, who was driving, twitched at the corner of her eye.
She silently turned on the car stereo, and a soothing classical piece flowed out.
The next second, Tel-Rol directly mimicked her actions on the central console, switching channels, and deafening heavy metal rock almost blew the roof off the car.
"Now this has some kick!"
Pepper: "..."
She felt that her professional career had met its biggest challenge.
A few hours later, the sports car pulled up below Stark Tower.
As soon as Tel-Rol got out of the car, he saw the masterpiece he had left behind.
The giant hole in the ground.
Many construction robots were busy around the edge of the hole.
Far from feeling any guilt, he stood with his hands on his hips, a proud look on his face.
"See? Isn't the lighting much better than before?"
"This is art! He should be paying me a design fee."
A voice full of anger came from beside them.
"Design fee? I'm trying to charge you for emotional damages!"
Tony Stark, dressed in casual clothes, was glaring at him through gritted teeth.
"Welcome, my new employee. You're very punctual, just in time for your first paycheck to be completely deducted."
Tel-Rol completely ignored his trash talk, walked straight up to him, and extended his hand.
"Less talk, Tin Man. Where's Hammer Bro? I've started my job, can I fight now?"
"According to the contract, you have to arrange opponents for me."
Tony was so angry he almost laughed out loud.
He pointed at the robots that were being repaired.
"See? They're working overtime because of you. Your salary, a hundred years of your salary, is all going towards their bonuses."
"Now, you still want me to arrange a fight?"
Pepper walked over at the opportune moment, standing between the two.
"Tony, calm down. Tel, you too, calm down."
"Let's get settled first and get familiar with the environment."
She half-pushed, half-pulled the two into Stark's tower.
In the public area of the tower, Clint was lounging on the sofa, while Natasha was wiping a dagger by the bar.
Seeing Tel-Rol enter, Clint's eyes immediately changed.
"Well, well, isn't this our new colleague, the walking demolition expert?"
Tel-Rol glanced at him, then at Natasha, twitched his nose, and then looked disgusted.
"Two ordinary people, how boring."
"You two shouldn't be on my sparring list, right? Good, then don't get in my way when I'm training."
Clint almost jumped off the sofa.
Natasha, however, showed no reaction, only slowing down her dagger-wiping motion, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Tony, with a dark expression, led Tel-Rol to the door of a huge bedroom.
"This is your room, the best suite in the building, satisfied now?"
Tel-Rol walked in, completely uninterested in the floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the entire New York skyline and the king-sized bed that could fit five people.
He walked directly to the huge refrigerator in the corner of the room and yanked open the door.
Empty.
His face immediately darkened.
"You call this hospitality?"
"The contract states food and lodging included! Where's my food!"
A vein throbbed on Tony's forehead.
"The kitchen is downstairs! The communal kitchen! I've already had f.r.i.d.a.y. stock it for you by the container!"
"Fine."
Tel-Rol closed the refrigerator door, looked at Tony again, rubbing his hands expectantly.
"Can we now? Everyone's here, I've seen the room, quickly call out Hammer Bro, I'm already warmed up!"
Finally, Tony had waited for this moment.
A cunning, triumphant expression appeared on his face.
"Oh, you mean Thor."
He deliberately drew out his words.
"Unfortunately, he went back to Asgard to handle some family matters."
"When will he be back? Hard to say, maybe a week, or maybe half a year."
The expectation on Tel-Rol's face instantly froze.
Then, his face visibly darkened at an alarming rate.
The air around them began to feel oppressive, and the lights flickered inexplicably.
"You... played me?"
His voice was low, carrying a dangerous undertone.
Tony spread his hands, looking innocent.
"The contract is clear, in black and white: 'regularly arrange high-level opponents.'"
"'Regularly,' understand? It didn't say 'immediately,' or 'right now.'"
"Welcome to the adult world, kid. Sometimes, you just have to wait."
"I can't wait!"
Tel-Rol roared, his fists clenching with a cracking sound.
"You swindler! Liar! I'm going to tear down this decrepit building! This time I'll even rip out the foundation!"
White energy began to emanate from him, and all the glass in the room vibrated with a hum.
Tony jumped back, retreating quickly.
Just then.
A steady and powerful voice came from the doorway.
"No fighting here."
Everyone turned to look.
They saw a tall man with blond hair and blue eyes standing there.
He wore a blue form-fitting uniform with a large letter "A" on his chest, and in his hand, he held a red, white, and blue circular shield.
Steve Rogers, Captain America.
He had just returned from a mission and had also heard about Tel-Rol.
Tel-Rol stopped his actions, curiously sizing up the newcomer.
"Who are you? The head of security here?"
Tony breathed a sigh of relief and quickly introduced him.
"This is Steve Rogers, Captain America, a living legend!"
Tel-Rol completely ignored Tony's words, his gaze fixed on Steve.
He could feel a very solid power contained within this man.
It wasn't as violent as Hulk, nor as energetic as that Hammer Bro, but it was like steel compressed to its extreme, indestructible.
A look of interest slowly appeared on his face.
"Legend?"
He looked Steve up and down, tilting his head.
"Old Man, you look... quite sturdy."
He flexed his wrists, producing a series of crackling sounds.
"Since that Hammer Bro isn't here, I'm just sitting around anyway."
"How about... you play with me first?"
"Consider it a welcome party for me."
As his words fell, Clint let out a helpless laugh, and Tony's expression looked like he was about to have a heart attack.
Natasha, on the other hand, watched the scene with great interest.
And Steve Rogers, he just tightened his grip on his shield, his brow furrowed, his face full of an expression that clearly said, "You're in big trouble, kid."