Good Things Shouldn’t Be Brought Out Right Away

Names were just details. They weren’t important.

Egghead wasn’t concerned about that.

No one wanted to get beaten up. In fact, there had always been debate within the Shengun Bureau… S.H.I.E.L.D. Some people wanted to continue Hydra’s World War II research and use the Cosmic Cube’s energy to create second-stage weapons to deal with potentially emerging powerful enemies.

Protection was essentially forced upon them. Revenge was inherently tragic.

The universe showed no mercy. Those who fell behind got beaten. The reason advanced civilizations had not invaded Earth was because, in their eyes, humans were merely inferior creatures not worth noticing—

Would you travel hundreds of kilometers just to stomp on an ant nest?

Carol had once said that there were no fewer than a million intelligent races in the Milky Way alone—too many for anyone to count. Her universal translator contained several million recorded languages. Earthlings who could not even leave their own planet were less than nothing.

But things were different now.

Earth had already made enemies of the Kree, and as its technology rapidly advanced, it would inevitably attract the attention of other civilizations.

What were they supposed to do?

They were helpless too!

Project Pegasus, Project Goliath, Project Exodus—S.H.I.E.L.D. had done a great deal to protect Earth, but it still wasn’t enough.

With a sigh, Egghead said, "Master Wang, we don’t have that kind of capability."

"You underestimate Earthlings too much. We may not be a particularly advanced race, but humanity’s intelligence must not be underestimated. Tony Stark is a true genius even in the entire universe."

Old Wang shook his head. "Director Fury, you understand far too little about humanity itself."

Humanity’s origins were connected to the ancient Celestials. They possessed the most diverse genetic variations in the universe. Whether Inhumans or Mutants, the dominance over their genes belonged to humans, not the Kree—

It was only when Ego combined with a human that a true demigod offspring was born, one capable of withstanding even the Power Stone’s energy. There was a reason for that.

As the eternal protagonists of the Marvel Universe, humanity’s potential was limitless.

Besides…

Isn’t there still me?

Old Wang tapped the table and reminded him, "Director Fury, you still owe me several favors. It’s time to repay them."

Egghead: "…"

So he wanted to use those favors to make him persuade the Council, perhaps even the United Nations and leaders of various countries, to establish the Shengun Bureau?

Wasn’t that far too difficult?

"I believe you can do it." Old Wang smiled.

Egghead said helplessly, "S.H.I.E.L.D.’s establishment had an extremely complicated background. Without Hydra, there would have been no S.H.I.E.L.D. If you want to establish the Shengun Bureau, there would have to be a real alien invasion. Otherwise…"

"One hundred Resurrection Serums," Old Wang interrupted.

Egghead’s mouth twitched, and he shook his head. "Master Wang, no matter how many Resurrection Serums you give me, I can’t do it. Unless aliens invade, everyone will think there’s no need to establish the Shengun Bureau. Earth doesn’t need an organization like that. Taxpayer money can’t be wasted like this…"

"Five hundred," Old Wang interrupted again.

Egghead froze.

Master Wang valued this matter that much? Did that mean there was hope of raising it to a thousand?

Thinking that, Egghead put on a show of hesitation for two seconds, then gritted his teeth. "Master Wang, I’m truly sorry. How about I return the three Winter Soldiers to you…"

"Four hundred." Old Wang turned around, his back to Egghead.

He took the bait… Egghead hesitated for another two seconds, his face full of bitterness. "Master Wang, I’m really in a difficult position. You have to understand, I just went to beg them before. Asking me to go beg them again… Wait, f-four hundred?"

Why had the price dropped instead of rising?

Who negotiated like that?

"Three hundred." Old Wang started walking away.

"Hey, wait, wait!"

Egghead had originally wanted to play hard to get, but Old Wang had already reached the door. He hurriedly called out, "Okay, okay, five hundred it is!"

"One price. Four hundred."

Old Wang turned back with a faint smile. "Or give me all five Winter Soldiers, plus Captain America."

There was no way Egghead would spit out a duck already in his mouth. Cursing himself for being so loose-lipped, he watched a hundred Resurrection Serums vanish just like that. Helplessly, he nodded. "I’ll help you."

Old Wang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Look at you, why act so reserved? If you throw yourself into my arms, could I possibly shortchange you?

They said only Chinese people were polite like this, yet he was doing the same thing.

Seriously!

Egghead was even happier than Old Wang.

The backroom deal had hurt a little and exhausted him a little, but getting so many Resurrection Serums made it worth it.

They had just made a backroom deal, so while the iron was hot, with his slick tongue, he believed he could settle it with at most a hundred Resurrection Serums. The rest would be pure profit.

Wait… pure profit?

Egghead suddenly became alert and realized something was wrong.

Master Wang never made a losing deal. Since the guy had offered him such enormous benefits, he definitely had other intentions.

What else did he want?

"The Resurrection Serums will be delivered within ten days."

With the deal complete, Old Wang felt refreshed in both body and mind. Smiling, he asked, "S.H.I.E.L.D. should have gotten hold of the Light Speed Engine blueprints Mar-Vell left behind, right? I remember that one of the people in charge at the Project Pegasus base was Howard Stark."

Egghead gave Old Wang a wary look. "They’re somewhere you’ll never find."

The Light Speed Engine was so important. How could he possibly let him know?

Old Wang didn’t care and merely smiled. "Without the Kree technological foundation, even with the blueprints and the Cosmic Cube, you can’t build it, can you?"

Egghead snorted.

That was right, S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t build it.

But he still wasn’t giving it to him!

Old Wang shook his head. What a miser.

Fine, he wouldn’t argue with him.

The Light Speed Engine wasn’t some incredible technology anyway. The Naaru and Burning Legion from World of Warcraft could both do it, not to mention Titans technology. If necessary, he could just exchange for it directly.

I wonder how much blood an entire Tempest Keep would cost…

"Director Fury, I’ll be waiting for your good news."

Something this important would definitely require a long period of preparation and one backroom deal after another to win over the important figures capable of making the decision. Egghead had a lot ahead of him.

The reason Old Wang was willing to pay such a high price rather than handle it himself was mainly because he was too busy and had no time.

After leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., Old Wang did not go to the Azeroth Laboratory. Instead, he went to the Azeroth Industries weapons factory in Queens, New York.

"Boss, I conducted a comprehensive assessment of Hammer… the Azeroth Iron Soldier. It has 361 flaws."

Fitz spoke at length. "There are twenty-four errors in the hand and sole thrusters, so it can’t fly at all. The external armor structure doesn’t conform to aerodynamics, causing at least forty percent more energy loss during flight. The weapons system configuration is flawed, the neck connection is too fragile, and why is the intelligent control core installed in such an obvious location as the head? I think the butt would be better…"

"Hold on."

Old Wang listened for a full ten minutes and realized Fitz had no intention of stopping, so he could only interrupt helplessly. "If every one of your ideas is implemented, roughly how much would one Iron Soldier cost?"

"Uh… I haven’t calculated it yet, but it probably wouldn’t exceed two hundred million dollars." Fitz made a quick estimate.

Old Wang sighed and reminded him, "Under the agreement we signed with the Department of Defense, each Iron Soldier sells for 125.7 million. Fitz, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Fitz was stunned. It took him a full half minute to recover. "You mean…"

"Research according to your ideas, but we can’t produce them that way."

After thinking carefully for two seconds, Old Wang said, "Tony’s Iron Man armor already has nine models. The Azeroth Iron Soldier can also be developed in different versions. Model One will have the lowest configuration, Model Two slightly higher, and so on."

Fitz thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"I understand! For example, external armor—Model One uses ordinary stainless steel, Model Two uses Titanium Alloy, Model Three uses Gold-Titanium Alloy, and Model Four incorporates a small amount of Vibranium. The Arc Reactor can be the same: Model One at one-tenth power, Model Two at one-fifth, Model Three at half power, and Model Four at full power. And the weapons systems…"

Old Wang snapped his fingers. Fitz was teachable.

"Looks like it’s time to meet Colonel Rhodes."

Old Wang took out his phone and dialed. "Justin, it’s me. Have you arranged a meeting with Colonel Rhodes? Yes, I want to see him."