Afterlife

Wang Khan returned to Laboratory Zero, froze Abomination's corpse, then asked about something else.

"Red Queen, Skye should have returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. by now. Has the tracker on her reacted?"

"Yes. The signal is strong, and S.H.I.E.L.D. has not detected it. Your plan succeeded."

Wang Khan chuckled.

When he had fought Tony and the others earlier, he had not merely been fighting. There had been a deeper purpose, and Skye was the key to it.

"But Guardian, is that Skye really so important? You seem to value her especially highly."

"Skye's real name is Daisy Johnson. Her father is Cal Johnson, an American doctor and chemist. He invented a powerful drug similar to the Super Soldier Serum, one that can greatly enhance physical strength in a short period of time."

"Although the drug's side effects are severe and excessive doses can even be fatal, Dr. Cal is undeniably impressive."

"You're valuing her so highly just because her father is talented?"

Wang Khan shook his head.

"I already possess Thor's Power, so naturally I have no use for that inferior Superhuman Serum. Skye's importance lies with her mother. Her mother is Chinese, named Jiaying, and she is also an Inhuman. She possesses Life Absorption, an ability that can absorb life force from others and thereby achieve immortality. In theory, she can live forever!"

"Immortality! That truly is an incredible ability. You want to obtain her mother's immortality through Skye? That makes sense."

Wang Khan smiled again.

"What I want is not merely Life Absorption, but the abilities of numerous Inhumans. If possible, it would be best to obtain the abilities of every Inhuman."

"Jiaying is no ordinary Inhuman. She is also the leader of the Inhumans in this era, practically the Inhuman King. Deep in the mountains, she has built a hidden paradise called Afterlife, where a great number of Inhumans live in seclusion. Skye can lead me to Afterlife."

This time, Red Queen understood.

"Skye is Jiaying's daughter. That means she will eventually go to Afterlife. When that happens, the nanotracker hidden inside her will guide us there. Guardian, your plan is highly feasible. But I must remind you that the nanotracker you placed inside Skye has a limited lifespan. If she has not gone to Afterlife within five years, you will need to find another way."

"Haha, five years won't be necessary. At most, three years. Skye will definitely enter Afterlife, perhaps not even three years will be needed."

Wang Khan knew very well that Jiaying and Cal Johnson had been searching for their daughter all along. If not for S.H.I.E.L.D., they would have found Skye long ago, taken her away, and given her a happy childhood.

And because of his intervention, Skye had already awakened her Inhuman Ability ahead of time. Jiaying might already know Skye's location.

The only thing making her wary now was S.H.I.E.L.D. In other words, once S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed, she would immediately send someone to take Skye away. At that point, Wang Khan would learn Afterlife's exact coordinates.

Once he knew Afterlife's location, it would mean countless Inhuman abilities were beckoning to him. Wang Khan only needed genetic modification technology to replicate them all. Then, he would become someone like Apocalypse, possessing countless superpowers and becoming omniscient and omnipotent.

"To avoid detection by S.H.I.E.L.D., the tracker sends a signal once every hour."

"Understood, Guardian. Once Skye's location changes, I will report to you immediately."

Elsewhere, Skye had no idea Wang Khan had planted a nanotracker inside her. Burdened with worries, she was walking back while the mysterious Gordon had already left.

"Director, Skye's mental state is extremely unstable after returning. It seems Shockwave Man's words affected her greatly. We must be on guard."

As an old expert in psychology, Coulson was remarkably adept at reading people's hearts. Otherwise, he would not have succeeded Bannick Fury as the next director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

"What do you suggest?"

"Director, Skye's childhood experiences have left her desperately craving family, yearning for the warmth and acceptance of loved ones. I suggest we begin from those two angles. As long as we give her a family, she will become the most loyal Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. No matter how Shockwave Man tries to sway her then, she will not waver."

Nick Fury nodded in satisfaction.

"Send Melinda. Have her become Skye's partner. They both have Chinese blood, so they should get along. Also, assign her a logistics team. Let the team carry out relatively positive missions centered around Skye, and do not let her come into contact with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dark side."

As he spoke, a sinister expression appeared on Nick Fury's dark face.

"What family can compare to comrades who have faced life and death together? Besides, she has no family. I won't let this superhuman agent fly out of my grasp."

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements right away... Director, if possible, I would like to join this team. That would make it even more foolproof."

"I'll consider it. For now, coordinate with Dark Energy Operations. Given the current tangled situation, I think our equipment needs an upgrade."

"Yes, sir!"

Just as Wang Khan had anticipated, due to his intervention, Skye's importance had risen dramatically. S.H.I.E.L.D. had already begun launching a series of operations centered around her.

Meanwhile, at the Inhuman faction Wang Khan had been longing for—Afterlife—azure energy surged within a building before contracting. Gordon, the eyeless Inhuman who could see farther than anyone, suddenly appeared inside.

"Did you find her?"

"I found her, but she is very guarded. And since that place is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s territory, I had no way to take her away by force."

A woman's sigh came from the darkness.

"She has suffered greatly over the past twenty-odd years. It is only natural that she is wary. We cannot be too hasty. Since I have already waited more than twenty years, I do not mind waiting a few more. Time means nothing to me anyway."

"Jiaying, she is your biological daughter! Give me another chance. I promise I will choose the best moment and give S.H.I.E.L.D. no time to react!"

Amid the sound of footsteps, a woman dressed in Chinese clothing approached. She had distinctly Eastern features, though her hair was somewhat yellowed. She looked to be around thirty.

Judging from her appearance alone, she looked more like Skye's older sister than her mother.

"Do not underestimate S.H.I.E.L.D. That violent organization is far beyond our ability to confront. I absolutely cannot endanger all our people just to save my own daughter. What I went through back then must never happen to any of you."

As she spoke, Jiaying raised her right hand and touched several scars on her face, each over ten centimeters long. There were even more gruesome surgical scars on her body. Back then, all her internal organs had been removed and transplanted into a high-ranking Hydra member named Whitehall.

After the surgery, Whitehall had gone directly from a white-haired old man in his seventies or eighties back to middle age. From then on, his appearance never changed, while Jiaying, her body hollowed out, had been thrown into a filthy ditch like garbage.

Whenever she recalled that nightmare, Jiaying trembled in fear from head to toe.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is too powerful now, even stronger than Hydra was back then. We can only endure, endure until the day that organization completely collapses!"

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