I’m Here, Where Are You?

S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters, Director’s Office.

Egghead stood with his hands behind his back. Before him was a three-dimensional projection from the toolbox, where vast amounts of data had been compiled and the target finally identified. Agent Koenig’s report from ten minutes earlier echoed in his ears:

"Skye’s biological father, Carl, has been found."

"Her mother appeared on Bahrain Island once, but vanished soon afterward. We tried to track her, but failed. The cameras never caught her, as if she could teleport."

"For an entire year, people have been investigating without making any progress. We suspect she’s hiding somewhere even S.H.I.E.L.D. can’t find, such as an Inhuman settlement."

For more than a month, Egghead had mobilized every secret agent at his disposal to investigate Skye’s biological parents through covert channels. The results had been far from ideal.

Neither of them was easy to deal with. One was a lunatic, and the other was an Inhuman.

Finding Carl had not been easy.

The man was extremely vigilant—and terrifying. He had spent all these years searching for Skye. More than one person had died at his hands, and he had controlled quite a few people into serving him.

He seemed to possess a formula similar to the Super Soldier Serum. Once injected with a certain drug, a person gained abilities beyond those of ordinary humans. Though far inferior to Captain America, it was still something normal people could not handle.

His muscles could even withstand small-caliber bullets. He was strong enough to push a car, and Freeze Guns were ineffective against him. He was essentially a weaker version of Captain America.

Someone that talented should have joined S.H.I.E.L.D.

A formula like that should have been in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s hands.

Those agents assigned to monitor Carl were far too unprofessional!

"Agent Romanoff."

Egghead made a call. A black spider weaving a web appeared on his phone screen. "Go somewhere and invite someone over."

"Invite?" Black Widow was surprised. Her always-overbearing superior was actually using that word?

Egghead snorted. "Don’t hurt him. He’s Skye’s father, and I don’t want to anger that Iron Fist lunatic."

On the other end of the call, Black Widow looked utterly baffled.

How had Master Wang become a lunatic?

Director, you’re just jealous—jealous that he’s whiter than you, taller than you, younger than you, stronger than you, and has more eyes than you. That’s prejudice!

They said you needed to have no bottom line to work in this field, but wasn’t this a little too shameless?

After hanging up, Egghead stood with his hands behind his back and looked out the window.

There was naturally no need to question Black Widow’s strength.

Even if Skye’s father possessed superhuman abilities, even if he was stronger, even if he was as crazed and brutal as could be, he could never be Black Widow’s match. Black Widow had even less of a bottom line than he did; they were not even in the same league.

Besides, Black Widow was no longer the Black Widow she used to be. After drinking so much Essence Wine and receiving Master Wang’s personal training, her combat ability had clearly risen by another level.

What he needed to consider now was how to deal with Carl.

Killing him was out of the question. Even imprisoning him would not work.

Carl felt nothing but hatred for S.H.I.E.L.D. Trying to force him to hand over the formula was clearly impossible.

Forced fruit was not only unripe—it could be bitter.

He would probably have to ask Master Wang for help with this.

After all, Carl only cared about Skye, and the person who could influence Skye most in this world was Master Wang.

"Why is he everywhere?"

Egghead sighed.

Was I, Fury, destined to be entangled with that guy for the rest of my life?

No way!

The Quinjet was fast. Only three hours later, Egghead received a call from Black Widow. "The target has been delivered. Mission complete."

"Very good."

After hanging up, Egghead paced back and forth. After giving it careful thought, he finally decided to call that detestable number.

"So, you kidnapped Skye’s father?"

After hearing Egghead’s request, Old Wang snorted. "Did you come to threaten me, or negotiate terms with me?"

Who do you think you are, Ancient One or Doctor of Kidney Deficiency?

"…I found Carl for you. I’m letting Skye reunite with her father."

Egghead was somewhat displeased, but when he thought of Little Fatty Wang’s record, he could only swallow his resentment. "Don’t worry. No one hurt him. He’s safe now. If you’re willing, you can bring Skye over right now. Her father wants to see her."

"Terms." Old Wang snorted. He did not believe the king of spies could possibly be so kindhearted.

"Carl developed a formula that can enhance physical abilities."

Egghead did not beat around the bush. "I hope you can persuade him to sell the formula to S.H.I.E.L.D."

Old Wang frowned slightly.

Are you planning to improve the formula and create a Patriot?

I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Carl’s version of the formula really isn’t that great…

Everything was proceeding according to plan. Old Wang had long known Egghead would investigate Skye and seek out her biological parents. He just had not expected it to happen so quickly. Hydra truly was Hydra—impressive.

"I can try, but I can’t guarantee the result." Old Wang spoke honestly. He truly was not confident he could persuade that lunatic.

An old fox’s smile appeared on Egghead’s face. "I believe you can complete the mission. The reward S.H.I.E.L.D. offers will satisfy you."

You’d better satisfy me, or I’ll make sure you’re dissatisfied… Old Wang raised his brows. "Where?"

Egghead visibly relaxed. "Feuerstein Base."

He was about to hang up after saying that.

Every second spent talking to Master Wang was torture. He could not wait even one more second.

"Wait."

Old Wang kept the call connected and quickly found Skye.

"Wang."

Skye was hugging her laptop and studying diligently.

The Darkhold was the origin of all dark magic, and the knowledge it contained far exceeded ordinary imagination.

A thousand people would see a thousand Darkholds, and the contents each person saw were completely different. As a top hacker, Skye saw extremely complex material, including quite a bit related to computer technology.

Brain mapping and memory uploading occupied only an insignificant page in the Darkhold. To a mage, that page was probably something like mind reading or Mind Steal.

Another page was related to illusion magic, which manifested in science as virtual technology.

A sufficiently powerful mage could create illusions and even illusionary realms. Science could do the same.

In Old Wang’s plan, this technology was crucial. It was called the "Framework." Using computer technology and vast numbers of high-performance computers, it would build a virtual world incredibly close to reality.

That way, as long as someone put on a helmet for brain mapping and memory uploading, they could enter the virtual world.

Not only could they travel the globe without ever leaving home, they could have whatever they wished for.

Want to become the world’s richest person and earn tens of millions of dollars in minutes? You could!

Want to become President of the United States and casually launch Nuclear Bombs for fun? You could!

Want to learn thousands of spells, become the Sorcerer Supreme, and crush Thanos? You could!

Want three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines, spending every day in bed?

Of course you could.

Every regret you had could be remedied. Those people you could never defeat or afford to offend—you could torment them hundreds or thousands of times in the "Framework," and they would still treat you like their first love.

Just like the movie called Ready Player One, except even more magical—a world ten or a hundred times more wondrous than OASIS, and more wondrous than The Matrix as well.

Such a world could not only take money from the pockets of billions of people around the globe, but could also greatly advance technological development and human progress.

Many dangerous experiments could be conducted within the Framework;

many practical combat exercises could also begin within the Framework.

Virtual technology would bring a revolution to the entire world, while the "Framework" would allow virtual technology to enter a sufficiently mature stage from the very beginning.

Skye was a top hacker with exceptional programming skills. This was exactly where she was needed.

She could write code in the study and fire shockwaves in battle. That was the model of an outstanding woman in the new age.

"Egghead found your father," Old Wang said.

"Huh?"

Skye became flustered. What if I’m not ready yet?

You’re meeting your father, not me. What are you panicking for? Old Wang raised his hand and drew a circle. "Weren’t you always looking for him? Let’s go. We’re going to meet him."

Though Egghead was extremely displeased to hear Old Wang call him "Egghead," he did not flare up. He merely snorted. "You can prepare first. I’ll send a Quinjet to pick you up. It’ll take at most two hours for the round trip…"

Before he could finish, Old Wang’s voice came through. "I’m here. Where are you?"

Thanks to "H Helios H" for the 100 reward.