Everything Is Ready but the Enemy

"Based on all the information we have so far, we have reason to suspect that Master Wang of Azeroth Specialties Shop is the Immortal Iron Fist. He has joined forces with Fury."

Somewhere in San Juan’s old city, a middle-aged man in a suit spoke respectfully. "After investigating from multiple angles, we found Master Wang’s laboratory. We can basically confirm that the laboratory is conducting certain secret experiments. The two youngest graduates in S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy’s history are there as well."

Secret research?

As Whitehall stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the wind, several terms surfaced in his mind:

Darkhold, Winter Soldier, Obelisk.

The spies embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D. had learned that these items had not appeared in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s technology department, nor were they at any of its other secret research bases.

Perhaps they were at a research base Nick Fury had secretly established, or perhaps they were at Master Wang’s research base.

Or, more precisely, Master Wang’s research base was most likely Fury’s secret base.

Otherwise, why would he send his two finest young scientists there?

It couldn’t be that the Immortal Iron Fist had poached them, could it?

"Fury seems to be planning to create an emergency squad made up of Special Ability Users. The Immortal Iron Fist should be one of them. He works for Fury." Whitehall believed he had figured out the truth.

"Also, strange phenomena occurred near that laboratory not long ago."

The middle-aged man continued, "People saw large numbers of fish and shrimp die, birds fall from the sky, and animals flee in panic. After our people dissected them, they discovered that the animals had been killed by shockwaves."

Killed by shockwaves?

Whitehall immediately thought of the shallow-source earthquake beneath the ancient underground city.

It was definitely connected to the Obelisk.

Could Iron Fist have already mastered the Obelisk’s power?

"Bakshi, are all our people here?" he asked.

The middle-aged man called "Bakshi" hurriedly nodded. "Everyone we could gather has arrived. Pierce sent some manpower, including a group of African mercenaries and pirates active in the Atlantic Ocean. Everyone has been equipped with the best weapons."

"Justin Hammer’s?"

"No, Tony Stark’s. They belong to Obadiah now. Our people bought them from Stark Industries through terrorist organizations, including many extremely expensive weapons, such as Jericho Missiles and the most advanced sonic weapons," Bakshi answered quickly.

He had to carry out the boss’s orders properly, or he would definitely get bitten to death.

Compared to Pierce and the other Hydra heads, Whitehall was more vicious and more deranged. He had personally dissected countless living people, including elderly people on the verge of dying of old age and newborn infants.

"Good."

Whitehall was quite satisfied with this capable subordinate. Of course, that was mainly because he had only been resurrected nineteen years ago and had few people under his command whom he could use. His influence within Hydra was weak, and he even had to rely on Pierce to a certain extent.

"We move tonight. Besides dealing with the Immortal Iron Fist and S.H.I.E.L.D., keep an eye on Pierce’s people as well."

Whitehall looked calm on the surface, but inwardly he was burning with fervor. The Darkhold, the Obelisk, the Winter Soldier… they’re all mine!

"The Winter Soldier was mine before, he’s mine now, and he’ll be mine in the future."

In an office within a government building, Alexander Pierce said in a low voice, "Remember this! Find the Winter Soldier, awaken him, and order him to seize the Obelisk and the Darkhold. Bring them to me!"

The bald agent Sitwell hurriedly nodded, then asked, "Should we take care of Whitehall too…"

He did not say more, but his meaning was obvious.

As a member of Hydra and a Level 7 Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Egghead was his superior in public, but Pierce was his master in secret—the most steadfast of all Hydra’s heads.

Having latched onto such a thick thigh, Sitwell did not think much of Whitehall. Still, he had to admit that Pierce valued Whitehall far more than he valued him.

But where there was appreciation, there was also wariness. Whitehall was, after all, an old Hydra hand and Red Skull’s former colleague. He had already gained the trust of several other Hydra heads and possessed considerable prestige. He was capable of threatening Pierce’s position.

Pierce suddenly wanted to seize the Obelisk and the Darkhold now. Could it be that he intended to…

"This is not something you should concern yourself with. Go do your job." Pierce looked at Sitwell with a smile.

Sitwell shuddered and hurriedly wiped away his cold sweat. "Yes, yes!"

How could he possibly influence his superior’s decisions?

Watching Sitwell leave, Pierce’s gaze turned slightly cold.

He knew very well that Sitwell wanted to climb higher.

Ambition was a good thing. How high one could climb depended entirely on one’s own ability, as long as one did not fall to one’s death.

As for Whitehall?

He had been pursuing the Darkhold, studying the Obelisk, and had once worked alongside Red Skull. His mind held many secrets.

Only he might be able to produce results from researching the Darkhold and the Obelisk, but they had to be given to him by Pierce—not seized by him from Iron Fist.

An old man who had been locked up for forty-four years should stop jumping around.

Wouldn’t it be better to conduct research obediently?

As for inheriting Red Skull’s will and ruling the world, Pierce could handle that himself!

Night fell.

The Darkhold Laboratory was still brightly lit.

The laboratory was large. Aside from several separate laboratory buildings, it had a dedicated residential area. All the researchers lived there, as did Daredevil and the others who had quietly come over.

The equipment ordered from S.H.I.E.L.D. was delivered by Quinjet that very day and installed. Egghead generously provided some valuable raw materials, while Old Wang found the smallest Dragon Bone fragment from the Heart of Azeroth as payment in return.

It was only proper to exchange gifts. The two were still in their honeymoon phase, so giving each other a token of affection was perfectly normal.

Old Wang had immediately asked Fitz to carefully inspect the equipment and scan it with psychic power. He quickly found deeply concealed listening devices and surveillance cameras, then had Melinda, who had flown the plane, return them to Egghead, who had driven the SUV.

There was no need to include listening devices and surveillance cameras with the equipment. Old Wang decided to help Egghead save a little money; whoever managed the household did not know the cost of rice and tea.

The sentiment was accepted, but the gifts were returned.

Fitz was very familiar with this equipment. In less than a day, he completed the design for the combat uniform. It used a high-performance, high-strength fiber. Although its protective capabilities could not compare to Iron Man’s armor, it was snug and flexible, allowing free movement.

There was also a green fist on the chest, the symbol of the Immortal Iron Fist.

It was also the symbol of the True Pure Ones Society.

Stick had proposed it just a few days ago, and both Daredevil and Black Sky had unanimously agreed.

Although Fitz had personally designed the uniform based on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s standard field-agent gear, Old Wang had offered plenty of advice from the perspective of a martial artist. They sacrificed some protective capability to focus more on comfort.

No matter what, it could not interfere with the use of fists and kicks.

The uniforms were easy enough to make, but the necessary weapons were much more difficult. Since they were high-tech equipment, many factors had to be considered. Even after they were made, they required testing again and again. The staff and gauntlets Old Wang had given Daredevil could only be considered untested versions.

They would have to make do with them.

Stick and Black Sky were not much of a problem.

Skye’s bracers had demanding requirements, and with the schedule tight and the task heavy, Fitz said he could not finish them in time.

Of course, with Old Wang around, there would not be any major problems for the moment.

Everything was ready but the enemy.

And now, the enemy had finally arrived.

Somewhere less than ten kilometers from the Darkhold Laboratory, Old Wang slowly opened his eyes.

Thanks to Ziyuan882 and woofer for the 100 reward!