News from the Ten Rings

When Oaks returned to Earth from Nidavellir, it was already the end of the year.

The Earth Biogenome Project had gotten underway smoothly under the joint advocacy of three top scientists and Avengers—Oaks, Tony, and Banner. Scientific communities around the world had already begun preliminary discussions on the matter.

Still, Oaks was rather surprised when he saw Tony, who had come specifically to find him.

"You actually came looking for me on your own? Doesn’t sound like good news."

Usually, when there was good news, Tony would just send an email, make a phone call at most, or have Malorne pass it along.

"Hmph… this is a real headache. Don’t be too shocked when you see it."

Tony curled his lip.

"Malorne, did you receive the information from Jarvis?"

"Yes, Mr. Stark, I received it… It really is astonishing."

The next moment, a Holographic Projection appeared before Oaks.

"Brother, the location of the Ten Rings headquarters is highly sensitive. No wonder Mr. Stark finds it troublesome."

"Hunan?"

Oaks raised an eyebrow. What was it with this province? Why was it so popular?

"It took so long to find it… No wonder they’re a mysterious organization with a thousand-year legacy."

After carefully reading through Tony’s information, Oaks’s expression turned strange.

"Well? I told you, kid, you’ve got acquaintances everywhere…"

Tony stroked his chin and looked at Oaks teasingly.

"He ran away from home, he’s skilled in kung fu, and he’s been a target of the Ten Rings for years. What does that make you think of?"

"I knew there was something strange about this kid. He said he ran away from home because he was afraid his father would find him and drag him back, but he never said his father was such a big shot…"

Oaks swept his gaze over the two photographs in the file, though his words did not match his thoughts.

Even with the Avengers Alliance’s current intelligence network, Tony still had not been able to determine the exact location of the Ten Rings headquarters. He could only narrow it down to a province.

Nor had he been able to find any precise information about the Mandarin, including his appearance.

However, through the Ten Rings’ members and organizations operating around the world, Tony discovered that they appeared to be monitoring two young people.

The first photograph showed a Benevolence Society member who had just graduated from high school: Xu Shangqi.

The second showed a young girl with a resolute expression.

"What relationship do you think these two have?"

Tony folded his arms, tapping his fingers lightly.

"Heh… kids these days are something else. This little girl is only sixteen, yet she’s already making her way alone in Macau?"

"Do you even need to ask? Xu Shangqi and Xu Xialing—they’re obviously siblings!"

Oaks rolled his eyes. That kid Xu Shangqi had never told him he had a younger sister back in China!

And Oaks could see clearly from the photograph that Xu Xialing wore a gemstone necklace identical to Xu Shangqi’s!

It seemed that the Mandarin had indeed been watching his children all this time… or rather, the two treasures they had taken with them.

"What, can’t get anything done in China?"

Oaks understood why Tony had come to him. Though Tony was an Avenger and one of the world’s richest men, he had once been a staunch defender of American interests.

Although he was no longer like that now, in the East, he was still far less welcome than Oaks.

"This is already the limit of what I can uncover. If I keep digging, I’ll inevitably have to go deep into the local area… I don’t have that kind of capability."

Tony shrugged and pointed at Xu Shangqi’s photograph.

"Besides, this kid is with you now. It only makes sense for you to handle this personally."

"You’re not going to get revenge yourself?"

Oaks was somewhat surprised by Tony’s attitude. Before, Tony had practically wanted to tear the Mandarin to pieces with his own hands.

"You should know that the previous Mandarin might have been an actor, but the organization in Afghanistan should indeed have been under the Ten Rings."

"I’ve been busy lately."

Tony sighed and waved a hand weakly.

"I know very well what we need to do first. At most, the Mandarin is a terrorist leader, but the extraterrestrial threat has been hanging over our heads every second.

Recently, with the launch of the Earth Biogenome Project, some data previously kept hidden away in laboratories around the world has been brought out. I ran some projections and discovered that the Biological Computer’s algorithms still have plenty of room for major improvement."

"So I’m trying to upgrade the algorithms further, but this time, the changes are fundamental. It isn’t something that can be finished in a short time."

"Plenty of room for improvement?"

Oaks blinked. Though he was not especially proficient with computer algorithms, an algorithm upgrade was always a good thing.

"Mm, it does sound important. I can’t help you with that, but leave the Ten Rings to me.

I’ll have the Asia Branch gather relevant information right away. They count as locals, after all."

"Mm, that would be great."

Tony let out a sigh of relief. It had taken a great deal of resolve for him not to insist on taking revenge personally.

"The human brain isn’t merely a Biological Computer—it’s also a Quantum Computer. That truly exceeded our expectations…

The Mind Stone’s powerful underlying architecture still has enormous potential to be explored. We’ve only managed to utilize less than half of its computing power…"

"A Quantum Computer?"

Oaks blinked again, falling into thought.

"Perhaps… I can help a little with this too."

"Hmm?"

"Ms. Carter, how have you been lately?"

Oaks called Peggy Carter. She and Steve were still out carrying out missions with the Howling Commandos.

"Quite well. Lately, it almost feels as though I’ve truly returned to my younger days."

There was a trace of amusement in Peggy’s voice.

"Why did you suddenly think to contact me? We should be back in a few days."

"Mm, I suddenly had an idea."

Oaks glanced at Tony, who was sitting on the sofa opposite him pulling up information, his eyes gradually widening, and grinned.

"Ms. Carter, I heard that S.H.I.E.L.D. once had a… Dr. Hank Pym?"

"Pym?"

Carter froze slightly, as though she had remembered something, and her tone became somewhat strange.

"Indeed… And not long ago, I went to see him."

"Oh?"

Oaks’s eyes lit up.

"You went to see him? Among all the scientists we currently know, no one can compare to Dr. Pym when it comes to research on the Quantum Realm…

Our Life Sanctuary Project needs his help now…

Could you ask Dr. Pym to come to the Avengers base? There are some things we would like to discuss with him."

"I’m afraid that will be difficult."

Carter hesitated.

"Originally, I had no intention of looking for Pym either, but a while ago, he seemed to have taken on an apprentice and had him steal something from the training base…

But I caught him, so I went to find Pym afterward.

They ran into a bit of trouble, which has since been resolved, but he is now focused on a very important research project.

I have no idea what he is researching. That man has a terrible temper. I asked for a long time, but he refused to tell me."

"Mm… all right, then let’s put this matter aside for now."

After thinking for a moment, Oaks smiled.

"Ms. Carter, please help me pass a message to Dr. Pym. In half a year, I invite him to witness a miracle—

A scientific miracle, and a magical miracle.

It will be created by Tony, Banner, and me together. If he doesn’t come, he’ll regret it for the rest of his life."

"A miracle?"

Peggy Carter laughed as well.

"Pym did mention you. You should know that your ability to communicate with animals makes his proud method of controlling ants seem rather lackluster.

All right, I’ll pass it on exactly as you said. Even with that terrible temper of his, he won’t be able to resist the temptation of a miracle created jointly by the three of you."

"Good. Then I’ll leave it to you."

Oaks ended the call and looked at Tony, who had fallen into deep thought.

"So? You have a general idea of Dr. Pym’s situation now?"

"Mm… so that old man is this impressive."

Tony rarely admired anyone in the scientific field, but Banner’s accomplishments in Gamma Ray research, Oaks’s achievements in biology, and even Selvig’s work in astrophysics were enough to earn his respect.

And now, Dr. Hank Pym’s achievements in quantum physics had earned his admiration once again.

As early as the founding days of S.H.I.E.L.D., he had discovered Pym Particles, which could enlarge or shrink objects at will.

He had also been a major figure from his father Howard’s generation, and they had originally been close friends—

Until S.H.I.E.L.D. attempted to replicate his research, causing him to leave in fury and fall out with Howard.

Even more frustratingly, the man had originally been a biochemist.

If his temper had not been so terrible, his reputation would not have existed only in archival records—

He had even been driven out of his own company, Pym Technologies.

"Trouble, huh? An old man with that kind of temper probably won’t pay us any attention."

Tony silently complained about the mess his father Howard had left behind, then shut off the Holographic Display.

"Half a year. You mean you’re confident you can do it by then?"

"With the current progress, I should be able to do it in half a year."

Oaks was silent for a moment, then nodded.

On his "Gaia Hypothesis reputation bar," his current progress was already around "Revered 50%."

With the Benevolence Society flourishing and the Earth Biogenome Project advancing further and further, it would not take half a year for Oaks’s reputation to truly reach "Revered."

At that point, he could activate his connection to the Gaia Hypothesis at any time.

And through that connection, he could guide the Gaia Hypothesis to "descend" upon the Sacred Oak and leave behind a mirror image!

"At the current pace, in half a year, the Life Sanctuary simulation project will reach its minimum threshold and be able to accommodate the Gaia Hypothesis’s mirror image."

Tony’s expression became excited.

"This truly is an unprecedented miracle… I’m already getting impatient!"

"Then I need to resolve the Ten Rings matter as soon as possible within the next half year…"

Oaks thought for a moment and finalized the plan.

"I need some time to obtain more detailed intelligence on the Ten Rings. I’ll begin after Spring Festival. I can’t miss the annual meeting, after all."

"No problem!"

New York, Queens, an ordinary apartment building.

"Hi, Peter, you’re back?"

Aunt May heard the door open and knew her nephew had returned.

"Wash your hands and get ready to eat."

"Aunt May… I-I’m exhausted… I think I need to sleep for a while."

Peter dropped his backpack and staggered back to his room.

"I’m not having dinner for now… Sorry."

"Overdid it with exercise again today?"

Aunt May shook her head helplessly.

"Then go sleep. I’ll save you some food. Eat it if you get hungry tonight."

Bang!

The bedroom door closed, and Peter Parker fell into a deep sleep.

PS: I received a notice from the review team. Apparently, SQ can’t be written? I can’t just bluntly cut it out either, so I can only try changing it to letters for now. Please take note. (_)