Dr. Banner

If Earth were a living creature, then that place in India would definitely be its asshole.

Thor found it hard to imagine what kind of person would sword-fight a giant lizard.

And record the video too? So they could relive it whenever they wanted?

At that thought, Thor had the urge to lead the Asgardian army over and wipe out India.

That country was fucking disgusting!

"Once we find Loki, I’ll take him back to Asgard and leave this place, so…"

Thor took a deep breath and said, "Before that, I’m going to wipe out all the Indians. Well, at the very least, the ones here!"

People from that country existed purely to disgust others. Thor simply could not stand it.

"Sounds great. That country doesn’t have much strength anyway. Wouldn’t you be able to wipe them out easily?"

Wang Wei and the others said with cheerful grins.

They did not go looking for trouble, but they did enjoy watching a spectacle.

Those Indians loved provoking people whenever they had nothing better to do. Though they always ended up badly, everyone was more than happy to hear that Thor wanted to lead the Asgardian army to wipe them out.

It was not like they would be doing it themselves. They were just here to watch the show.

"Come on, come on. Let’s destroy their military district first."

Leng Feng and the other soldiers looked eager to get moving.

"No, let me do it!"

Thor looked solemn and righteous as he said, "I will seek justice for the Bengal Monitor Lizard!"

"…"

Elsewhere, in China’s Great Northwest, Tony Stark stepped off the plane looking refreshed and invigorated.

"Didn’t they say China’s Great Northwest was mostly barren land? Then why is it like this?"

Tony Stark looked curious. While on the plane, he had already looked down over the land below.

Now, the land was covered in lush trees, with forests and lakes everywhere. It was completely different from the reports he had heard.

But when he considered the nature of America’s media—mindlessly smearing China whenever China was involved—Tony understood.

Could America’s media be trusted?

Public opinion in America was controlled by capitalists. It was used to fool the masses, because in those capitalists’ eyes, only foolish people were easy to manipulate.

"Hey! Tony, you’re here."

A large green man stepped out of the crowd and waved happily at Tony.

It was Bruce Banner.

In China, Bruce Banner had not been restricted in any of his activities. With his brilliant mind, he had been researching how to turn the Great Northwest’s deserts green.

Over the years, he had achieved some results. By now, he had transformed most of the Great Northwest’s deserts into forests.

The current Bruce Banner was truly just a simple researcher. After devoting himself to this cause for several years, he had gradually come to love the work.

"Impressive. Is this the desert-greening technology you mentioned?"

Knowing that Bruce Banner had been studying this subject, Tony Stark naturally assumed that Banner had played a part in turning the deserts into the forests they were today.

"Not exactly. I only developed a nutrient solution. Plants soaked in it have stronger survival abilities. The reason the Great Northwest’s deserts could become forests is mainly because of the Chinese people."

Bruce Banner shook his head. He did not dare claim the credit for himself.

"Long ago, Chinese citizens began voluntarily organizing tree-planting and reforestation efforts in the Great Northwest’s deserts. People across the country provided funding, which was used to purchase seedlings suitable for desert growth from across China and even the world."

"Every tree you see here was, in truth, provided by every Chinese person."

This was one of the greatest differences between Chinese people and foreigners. Chinese people always hoped to benefit their descendants. Even if they had to suffer a little themselves, they did not want future generations to suffer.

Planting trees and creating forests in the Great Northwest was, by nature, a hardship for the present generation that would benefit generations to come.

Every Chinese person was willing to contribute to it.

"So everyone in China contributed money?"

Tony nodded. Having little concept of money himself, he greatly admired the Chinese people.

That would never happen in America.

Americans were all individualists. Did anyone really think they would contribute for the sake of others?

"So even if I wanted to bring in this technology, I’d have to pay for everything myself in the end?"

It would be an unimaginable investment, one that might not yield even the slightest profit. But Tony could accept that.

Tony Stark lacked everything except money.

After learning about Bruce Banner’s technology, Tony, who had already been feeling empty and lonely, felt that he should do something for the world.

For example, charity work?

He could introduce this technology and work to transform Earth’s deserts into forests.

Just thinking about the money it would take was enough to make it an astronomical figure.

But Tony Stark was not afraid. Money could be earned slowly, while charity was an undertaking that could affect an entire lifetime, even the next generation.

"You think technology and funding alone are enough?" Bruce Banner shook his head with a bitter smile and said to Tony:

"I can provide the nutrient solution technology to you for free. But planting trees in deserts is not something money can solve."

"What do you mean?"

Tony looked curious. Was there really a problem in this world that money could not solve?

"Can you imagine countless people devoting themselves to this cause without asking for anything in return, planting trees and hauling water in the harsh desert environment, then caring for those seedlings day after day for decades?"

Tree planting and reforestation in the Great Northwest had not begun only in the past two years, nor had it only achieved results after Bruce Banner arrived.

Many years ago, Chinese people had already begun improving the environment here. Their sole purpose was to benefit their descendants and give future generations a better living environment.

This work had continued for more than a decade. Countless people had devoted themselves to it, most of them asking for no reward at all. Some had even spent their entire fortunes, yet none of them regretted it.

To be honest, Bruce Banner had provided a great deal of help here, but that was all. He had merely made the trees easier to keep alive.

But now that the desert had become a forest, the greatest credit still belonged to those ordinary people. They had worked day and night, caring for the trees. That was the most important reason.

"…"

Tony fell silent upon hearing this.

This really was not a problem money could solve.

Even if the pay was high enough, there would certainly be people willing to do it. But how many could persist with such dull, tedious work as planting trees in the desert?

Labor would be the greatest future expense.

"Still, I want to give it a try."

It sounded difficult, but Tony still intended to try.

"Fine. By the way, what did you come to see me for?"

Bruce Banner shook his head and looked at Tony curiously.