Three Perks of Being Bald

Azeroth Laboratory.

A red silk ribbon suddenly appeared, forming a period in midair as a mental fluctuation entered Skye’s mind.

"The fight over there is finished? Director Fury is still alive? Wang wants us to fly a Quinjet invisibly over San Juan Military Base and keep watch at all times, in case missiles attack The Laboratory again? And monitor Commodore Porter too? He doesn’t get along with S.H.I.E.L.D. and received General Ross’s orders long ago to keep an eye on us?"

Skye hurriedly asked, "What about Wang? How is he?"

The Crimson Magic Belt swayed, rippling into a beautiful wave, forming several M-shapes in a row—flirty as hell.

"Wang is fine, because I’m here? Fine, I admit you’re powerful, but please don’t challenge the limits of my eyesight… I’m going to throw up."

Relieved, Skye suppressed her discomfort and nodded. "Then hurry and help him. Leave this place to me!"

One end of the Crimson Magic Belt shook horizontally. Then it circled above The Laboratory once more and continued making M-shapes.

"Wang wants you to stay behind and deal with Gordon, and help us intercept the missiles?"

Skye understood. "He said this is a small matter, just Hydra, nothing dangerous?"

One end of the Crimson Magic Belt nodded vertically, while the other pointed at itself and swayed in a seductive curve.

"All right, he can only rest easy with you there. I understand."

As Skye headed outside, she said, "Matt, Stick, Elektra, go to the central plaza now!"

Ten minutes later, two Quinjets took off.

Skye and Elektra piloted them, quickly entering stealth mode and flying toward San Juan Military Base.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion Headquarters, top floor.

Sitwell rushed in, gasping as he shouted, "M-Minister, it failed! It all failed!"

"I already know."

Pierce stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the three-dimensional projection before him.

It was the Earth.

Red dots marked base after base, including Triskelion Headquarters, headquarters across every continent, branches in every country, and those secret bases known to very few people—

S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secret bases, not Fury’s secret bases.

At that moment, every known base had descended into chaos. Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel were clashing, even fighting wars, everywhere. On the global stage, Hydra held the absolute advantage.

Although their operations against Fury, Iron Fist, Ghost Rider, and Iron Man had failed, the overall situation remained under control.

Pierce had victory in his grasp.

"How is the battle downstairs?" he asked.

"The propaganda has been handled. Everyone now knows that Nick Fury is Hydra’s head snake, while Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton, Agent Coulson, and the others are all Hydra infiltrators plotting to overthrow S.H.I.E.L.D. and governments around the world to rule the world. They’ve all been put on wanted lists. Our people in the military and police have mobilized, and the situation is stable."

Sitwell hurriedly assured him, "We’ve basically taken control of Triskelion Headquarters. Only a few areas still have resistors, and they’ll be dealt with within half an hour at most. But some of them are troublesome, like Ms. Carter’s niece. For now, we can only keep her contained, or it’ll become a real problem."

"What else?" Pierce continued.

Sitwell said, "Iron Fist rescued Fury. Tony has disappeared. Ghost Rider drove off in a Quinjet and vanished. Romanoff and Barton are missing, but they probably went to Fury’s secret base. Coulson and Melinda took a Quinjet ten minutes ago and unilaterally cut off all communication. There’s no way to track them."

"Fury won’t give up easily. They’re coming."

Pierce said, "Send people to take over the weapons systems. If you spot anyone suspicious, don’t report it. Attack immediately!"

"Yes." Sitwell hurriedly went to carry out the order.

He was more anxious than ever, as though he had returned to the days when he had first joined S.H.I.E.L.D. He did not dare make the slightest mistake. This was the most critical moment, the turning point of his life. As long as he completed the Minister’s assignment, he would become the great hero who utterly destroyed S.H.I.E.L.D.

Maybe he could even get himself a deputy director position.

It might even be possible for him to replace Fury and become Director.

After all, the Minister could not possibly demote himself to become Director. There were not many other suitable candidates, and only a few major competitors, such as Garrett…

Sitwell was secretly delighted, but his expression remained calm. He could not lose his composure before his boss.

Image was important.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly noticed that the Minister’s expression was off. What was wrong?

Then, a hand landed on Sitwell’s shoulder.

Who was being so casual? Did they not want to keep their job…? He turned, about to reprimand them, but his face froze instantly as though he had seen a ghost.

That smiling face looked so familiar. A large color photograph of him had long sat on Sitwell’s desk, while a smaller one remained tucked against his heart in his breast pocket. That was an order he had given himself: keep an eye on this man at all times, learn everything possible about him, and find a way to deal with him.

Master Wang, the Immortal Iron Fist!

Who could have imagined that the man would be standing before him today?

Damn it, how had he avoided the surveillance? And how had he fooled the DNA scanners to get through the entrance?

This was impossible!

And irrelevant.

An orange "door" stood before him—a sorcerer’s portal. Iron Fist had apparently just stepped out of it, with another person beside him.

Seeing the black-skinned man before him, Sitwell was overwhelmed by fear.

Director Fury!

The higher one stood in S.H.I.E.L.D., the more one understood how terrifying its Director was. Though he had only one eye, it seemed capable of seeing through people’s hearts. Every time Sitwell dealt with him, he feared accidentally exposing a secret.

Minister Pierce had been right. He really had come back.

But why couldn’t he have waited until after I left?

Sitwell could not help swallowing, his mood utterly miserable.

"Drop your weapons… whoosh!"

Several other S.H.I.E.L.D./Hydra higher-ups immediately drew their guns and opened fire.

Yet before they could even pull their weapons free, their faces flushed deep red, as though invisible hands had clamped around their throats.

Accompanied by a series of crisp cracks, they all collapsed dead.

At the sight, Sitwell shuddered from head to toe and nearly pissed himself.

He had spent more than a decade in S.H.I.E.L.D., but he had always held administrative posts and had never gone into the field. How had he ever seen anything like this?

"Would you mind making way?" Old Wang smiled warmly and amiably. "Being bald has three perks: it saves water, it shines, and it doesn’t block the way."

Though he could not understand the words, it sounded impressive… Sitwell gave Pierce a look that said, What can I do?, then hurriedly stepped aside.

This man killed without batting an eye. The sweeter his smile, the crueler his hand.

Who knew how many people from The Hand and Hydra had died by his hand? Killing was as easy as drinking coffee to him. Better not provoke him, absolutely not.

Hydra’s mission was important, of course, but his own life was clearly more important.

The other man was Iron Fist. He was merely bald, not iron-headed. He could not take it.

Old Wang smiled and stepped aside as well.

This was not his stage, and he was not the protagonist now.

The real protagonists were Egghead and Pierce, these old best buddies who had once relied on each other and now loved and killed each other.

In a moment like this, they surely had plenty to feel and plenty of heartfelt words to say.

"Sounds like several dozen people are coming. I’ll handle them. You two talk." Old Wang smiled. "You can beat him, right?"

Egghead stared at Pierce with an icy face. "I can take ten of him!"

"Good."

Old Wang glanced at Sitwell. "Trouble yourself to lead the way. You identify the Hydra members, and I’ll do the killing… Once we’re done, I won’t kill you. How about it?"

I believe you won’t kill me, and I also believe Fury will… Sitwell hurriedly nodded.

Any extra moment alive was a moment gained. Maybe there would still be a turn for the better.

Who did not fear death?

The two quickly left, leaving only Egghead and Pierce at the scene.

Their eyes met, and sparks flew.