"Doctor Strange, Barton, who are they?"
Iron Man glanced at Nick Fury beside him and asked seriously.
Captain America was a super-soldier, so no need to explain him, and James Rhodes was Iron Man's good buddy, so he obviously knew him.
But Doctor Strange and Hawkeye — these two names were new to him. Judging by their nicknames, they sounded pretty badass, definitely not ordinary people.
"Barton is a senior agent in our S.H.I.E.L.D.," Nick Fury explained to Iron Man.
"An ordinary human kind?" Iron Man asked cautiously.
"An ordinary human kind," Nick Fury nodded emphatically.
"Then why does he have a nickname like Hawkeye?" Iron Man asked seriously, "Are his eyes shaped like an eagle's? Is he born with some eye deformity?"
"His eyes are as sharp as an eagle's!" Nick Fury corrected him with a hint of irritation.
Stark, you must be doing this on purpose. Even if you use your big brain, 'Hawkeye' isn't describing the physical shape of his eyes, right?
"As for Doctor Strange, this is the first time I've heard of him... wait, Stephen Strange?" Nick Fury was about to say he didn't know him, but then suddenly a thought hit him.
Based on Coulson's sketches, he had found a few suspects who might be the mysterious sorcerer involved in the final battle, and one of them was indeed Stephen Strange.
After checking around, no one mastered magic, so Nick Fury had no choice but to monitor everyone on that list.
But now it seemed the identity of the mysterious sorcerer had surfaced.
"Could it be... Doctor Strange is him?" A gleam flashed in Nick Fury's one eye, "Stark, he should be the sorcerer in the final battle."
"The one who pointed a finger at me? So it was him!" Iron Man suddenly understood and reacted.
He didn't ask how Nick Fury knew — surely Coulson had informed Nick Fury about the quiz system's info, and Nick Fury must have uncovered something.
"Are there really sorcerers like that in this world?"
Captain America asked, a little shaken in his worldview — he always thought those only existed in books and movies.
"Captain, you yourself are the greatest kind of magic!" Nick Fury said meaningfully.
A guy who slept for seventy years has no right to be shocked here.
"Then what about War Machine, James Rhodes?" Captain America shrugged and asked Nick Fury.
"James Rhodes is a colonel in the military and also a friend of mine."
Iron Man introduced him to Captain America, but a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes, "But what's with War Machine? Does Rhodes have that nickname?"
Thinking carefully, Iron Man didn't remember Rhodes having that nickname.
"War Machine?" Nick Fury also pondered the title, "Since the quiz system recognized this title, it definitely isn't just a casual nickname."
"Just like titles such as 'Iron Man' or 'Hawkeye,' Colonel Rhodes' title must be widely accepted by society or within his circle — an official codename."
Both Iron Man and Captain America nodded in agreement.
Although they had no direct proof, they shared Nick Fury's view.
For example, Iron Man — nicknames like "arrogant," "playboy," or "billionaire" would never be recognized by the quiz system.
Only titles like Iron Man, accepted by society at large, the military, politicians, and all social strata, were used by the system.
"Hawkeye" is similar — not very flashy, but widely recognized within his circle.
S.H.I.E.L.D. and other intelligence agencies recognize that codename.
It's obvious — the system isn't so lowbrow as to accept all kinds of random nicknames.
So Rhodes' "War Machine" codename must be the same kind of situation.
"Stark, since neither of us knew Colonel Rhodes had this codename, it means Rhodes doesn't have it now but will get it in the future."
"Otherwise, we wouldn't be unaware of it." Nick Fury told Iron Man.
"Most likely, yes." Iron Man nodded.
Then a teasing smirk crossed his face as he teased his old friend, "'War Machine' sounds pretty badass, but Rhodes is skinny as a monkey — how the hell did he get that title?"
"War Machine" sounds like a fierce, powerful combatant.
But Colonel Rhodes' physique? That's another story — completely mismatched with such a tough nickname. The style clash is real.
"Such a codename isn't given out lightly. Rhodes must have done something in the future to earn that title." Captain America offered his opinion.
"Rhodes is an Air Force colonel — what could he have done to earn 'War Machine'? Surely it wasn't just performing well in a future war?" Iron Man pondered.
But then, after thinking further, Iron Man felt this was a bit far-fetched — after all, a single fighter jet's impact in a war is limited.
It wouldn't be enough for Rhodes to gain recognition from his military circle and earn the codename "War Machine."
"Could it be..."
Suddenly, Iron Man's eyes lit up.
He recalled that since the Iron Man armor was created, the Department of Defense and various military institutions had repeatedly contacted him, hoping to get a suit.
Rhodes had come to see him countless times representing the military.
Though Iron Man acted all stubborn, deep down he was considering finding a good opportunity to give Rhodes a suit.
And during the final battle quiz, Rhodes appeared wearing the Iron Man armor indeed.
"It has to be that!" Iron Man said firmly, full of certainty, "Rhodes must have gotten the codename War Machine because of the Iron Man armor!"
No other explanation makes more sense.
Only something as globally recognized and eye-catching as the Iron Man armor could earn Rhodes that codename.
"Iron Man armor? What does that have to do with Colonel Rhodes?"
Nick Fury was stunned, "Stark, you actually gave the Iron Man armor to the military in the future? That doesn't sound like you."
"No, Rhodes is my best friend, got it? I'm not handing it over to the military — I'm giving it to my good friend. That's a big difference!"
Iron Man said proudly.
(End of chapter)