"It not Cyborg."
Jarvis was very certain: "Captain disappearance was very sudden, as if he was cloaked or teleported through time and space. Cyborg has not indicated any involvement, but I suspect he is aware of it."
"This is interesting. After so many incidents, could there still be an unknown underground force hidden right under our noses?"
Tony frowned, pondering for a moment: "Any movement from the Justice League?"
"None."
Jarvis replied, "Anton spent the entire day at the company, with no intention of communicating with Batman."
"Even if they did communicate, it wouldn't be so easily detected."
Tony shook his head, well aware: "That Batman isn't so easy to deal with."
"What about Harry?"
Suddenly, he asked: "Before Harry found me and informed me about my parents death being connected to the Winter Soldier, did he have any interactions with Anton or anyone from the Justice League?"
"None."
Jarvis said.
"Is it none, or you can't find any?"
Tony asked.
"I don't know, sir."
Jarvis responded, "I am just an ordinary AI, your question is beyond my scope."
Tony, speechless, decided to enhance Jarvis logical framework and give some upgrades to Ultron.
The Bucky incident had disrupted Tony original plans.
Now, even though he busy with government negotiations, he won't abandon his prior preparations, merely delaying them slightly.
His meeting with Batman and others last night had even more spurred his intent to challenge Batman.
As the public opinion erupted, Tony and Captain America both kept a low profile.
The general public was unaware that Captain America disappearance was complete, akin to evaporating.
Although Tony didn't disappear, his constant comings and goings at the White House and surveillance from all sides also kept him from appearing publicly.
Neither side had any intention of controlling the public discourse, allowing the public discussions to explode continuously.
Even the Justice League members who appeared at the event site that night, including Batman team, became the subject of public discussion.
Netizens unanimously believed that Batman should not have intervened and ended the fight between Tony and Captain America.
The reputations of both individuals were thoroughly tarnished due to the details of the incident coming to light.
There was a prevalent view online that people were pleased to see the two fight to death.
This bizarre view actually became the mainstream thought.
Anton was not surprised by this.
But he didn't take it to heart either.
As the event became a thing of the past, Anton focus also shifted to other matters.
Such as the Power Stone .
Yes.
Anton, having waited for a long time, finally received a transmission from the cosmos.
Star-Lord had gotten hold of the Orb.
However, in the process of seizing the Orb, Star-Lord quite reasonably angered Ronan of the Kree.
The two became enemies.
Realizing the importance of the Orb, Star-Lord started to drive a hard bargain, demanding Carol pay a higher reward, otherwise, he would hand over the Orb to his enemy, Ronan.
After receiving the news, Carol, while dealing with Star-Lord, also contacted Superman.
Anton, aware of the current situation, was very calm, but his eyes hid a trace of coldness.
He had somewhat overestimated Star-Lord bottom line.
However, speaking of it, Star-Lord in the original movie plot wasn't exactly known for having a high moral ground.
Raised in the cosmos by the Ravagers, Star-Lord learned various tricks from a young age.
Within the Ravagers, as a human with no special powers ever displayed, Star-Lord growth to this point was partly due to his adoptive father, Yondu help and teaching, and partly due to his own clever mind and tactics.
Despite having a sense of justice, these do not negate that Star-Lord himself is greedy, lecherous, impulsive, and reckless.
Clearly, in this operation, Star-Lord once again fell prey to his old habit of greed.
Unfortunately, Star-Lord picked the wrong person to deal with.
"Since you're greedy, then I'll just have to make sure you don't get a dime..."
Anton muttered to himself, having made a decision.
The Knowhere.
Superman walked through this haven for alien drifters, reuniting with Carol and Nick Fury who were waiting for him there.
"Let get to the details, where is Star-Lord?"
Superman expression was calm.
"I don't know."
Carol shook her head: "I promised to buy the Orb from him at a higher price, so he arranged to meet us here in the Knowhere.
You must understand, this universe is vast, beyond what you or I can comprehend.
If he doesn't show up himself, it nearly impossible for us to pinpoint his location."
"What the deal with Ronan?"
Superman asked further.
"After Star-Lord found the Orb on Morag, he got into a fight with people sent by Ronan... This made Star-Lord suspicious."
Carol had clarified the situation: "Ronan, as an enforcer for the Kree military, holds a high reputation and status in the universe, and few dare to oppose him.
Obviously, learning that Ronan also wanted the Orb, Star-Lord had other ideas."
"He wants to sell the Orb at a high price."
Superman understood Carol implication.
Star-Lord was looking to sell the Orb at a high price, completely forgetting that the information about the Orb being on Morag was actually shared with him by them.
But for Star-Lord, who grew up with the Ravagers, this isn't considered a betrayal of principles.
The Ravagers, known mercenaries in the universe, are notorious.
For them, betraying an employer, as long as the price is right, is not against their principles.
Only betraying a comrade is beyond their pale.
"So, Ronan is also looking for Star-Lord."
Superman said: "Do you know Ronan whereabouts?"
"Still investigating."
Carol nodded: "I'm tracking Ronan to locate Star-Lord. However, I need time."
Need time?
Hearing this, Superman glanced at Nick Fury beside Carol.
Speaking of which, although he had encountered these two Earthlings in the cosmos, he had never seen Nick Fury bring other old friends from Earth, namely the shape-shifting Skrulls.
Superman had reason to suspect that these Skrulls had already conducted a secret invasion against the Kree.
After all, for many years, the Kree have been enemies of the Skrulls.
If it wasn't for the relentless pursuit by the Kree, the Skrulls wouldn't have had to leave their home and wander through the cosmos, eventually settling on Earth.
Thinking this, Nick Fury bringing Skrulls from Earth to join Carol in striking back at the Kree also made sense.
"Since it will take time, perhaps we should use a simpler method to handle this."
Superman pondered for a moment, speaking softly.
"What method?"
Carol was curious.
"As far as I know, Star-Lord is actually a human named Peter Quill, who left Earth during his childhood and was raised by a band of Ravagers.
In that group, Yondu was their captain and effectively Star-Lord adoptive father."
Superman explained: "Although we can't contact Star-Lord directly, Yondu certainly has a way to find him."
"You mean…"
Carol eyes widened, instantly grasping Superman idea.
This was unlike the Superman she had known.
His approach could be described as ruthless.
"In necessary times, necessary actions must be taken."
Superman looked at Carol, seemingly perceiving her thoughts, his tone still calm:
"I overestimated Star-Lord principles. Dealing with someone like him, if we continue to communicate in the usual way, we will always be at a disadvantage, and the problem will never be resolved."
"I have no objections, just a bit surprised."
Carol nodded.
Having spent many years in the cosmos, she certainly wasn't a prude.
The two made a decision, and Nick Fury, standing beside them, had no say in the matter, nor did he have any objections.
He had been accustomed to such methods since his time on Earth.
Among the three, if anyone methods were the dirtiest, it would definitely be Nick Fury, the man with both a dark face and heart.
Since they had decided to use Yondu to force Star-Lord out, the first issue naturally was finding Yondu and his team.
This was easy to handle.
They just needed to issue a mission directly to Yondu group of Ravagers, and then wait for Yondu to come knocking.
Of course, things were never that simple.
But for Carol, this was very straightforward.
She could make an official complaint to find Yondu team.
Who else but Star-Lord was a member of Yondu team?
According to Carol, although Star-Lord had accepted this particular job under the name of Yondu team on the mission platform, he was actually doing it as a side job.
Yondu could ignore the complaint.
No Ravager team takes their employers seriously they only care about money.
For Yondu, Star-Lord using the team public platform for private jobs was like being slapped by his own subordinate.
Doing side jobs without the team knowledge was not allowed in the tightly-knit Ravager community.
So, Yondu would definitely come to them to talk.
Sure enough.
After receiving the complaint from Star-Lord, and learning about the side job he took, Yondu brought his whole team to the Knowhere, where they found Superman, Carol, and Nick Fury.
To these three individuals who looked exactly like Star-Lord, Yondu subconsciously treated them as humans, overlooking the dangerous aura emitted by Superman and Carol.
"Gentlemen, I've understood the situation. Peter actions have embarrassed our team, and we will take full responsibility for this matter."
Yondu said sternly.
"How will you take responsibility?"
Superman asked, "He raised his price while threatening to hand over the item to our enemies.
We agreed to his price and arranged to meet in the Knowhere, but he disappeared.
We have given enough trust, Yondu, how do you plan to restore our trust?"
"We are doing everything we can to find Peter."
Yondu sighed, "But it seems he has hidden himself well."
"So you mean, you can't find him either?"
Superman inquired.
"Yes."
Yondu responded, "I thought he was on vacation until now, when I learned he had taken a side job.
After receiving your complaint, I immediately began searching everywhere for him, only to find he not in any of the places he reported to me..."
Superman asked, "Can you give me a precise time when this issue will be resolved?"
"I can't."
Yondu answered decisively, "I only promise to resolve this matter, nothing beyond that."
"Isn't that just giving you the chance to drag this out indefinitely? Using this kind of evasive tactic is very much in line with the Ravagers style."
Superman looked at Yondu, speaking flatly, "Since you can't find a way, perhaps you should try mine?"
"Oh?"
Yondu raised an eyebrow, sensing an unusual vibe from this nearly perfect man in front of him, as if something was about to happen.
He asked, "What way?"
"You stay here."
Superman said, "As far as I know, Star-Lord, Peter Quill, was raised by your group of Ravagers from childhood.
If you stay here, he might want to come to save you, right? I've heard he someone who values old ties."
"Huh?!"
Yondu was taken aback, then burst into laughter, rocking back and forth as if he'd heard something inconceivable.
His laughter, triggered by Superman words, caused the entire team of Ravagers that Yondu had brought along to erupt into boisterous laughter.
"Sorry, sorry, it been a long time since I've heard something so funny," Yondu said, eyes seeming to tear up from laughter as he wiped them.
"Kid, where do you get the courage to threaten me and my team?"
Click, click, click!
During this exchange, the members of the Ravagers behind Yondu all raised their energy weapons.
Buzz, buzz!
Many activated their weapons, gathering energy. The temperature in their vicinity involuntarily rose, with dangerous and terrifying vibrations spreading out.
"I came here to see you, which was already giving you face," Yondu gaze turned cold.
"Do you really think I care about your complaints? I came to resolve a nuisance, but now it seems, you are the nuisance."
"It sounds like we're being made out to be the villains," Superman and Carol remained unphased, even as they faced dozens of gun barrels.
Carol sighed.
Behind them, Nick Fury, unable to remain as composed, subtly shifted towards their rear, wary of being caught in the crossfire of an impending fight.
"Even if we are the villains, we've been forced into it," Superman chimed in.
Following this, he locked eyes with Yondu, his casual, unconcerned demeanor not taking Yondu or his men seriously, which made Yondu instantly realize something was off.
"Not good!"
With a thought, Yondu had an epiphany and shouted, "Ambush!"
In the next moment, he was blasted backward, knocking over several of his own men behind him.
"You're right," Superman said with a smile, stepping forward.
"Indeed, there is an ambush. I alone am the ambush for all of you!"