The Leader

Based on the intelligence Wei Xiuming had obtained from Alexander Pierce, among Hydra's many factions, the one led by Baron Strucker had the most extensive network of industries. It even included two ice cream factories, whose various flavors sold quite well. That was because the cream in their ice cream was churned in centrifuges designed to separate nuclear materials. The ice cream factories were a cover for producing nuclear weapons.

However, the basement's wiring had now been modified, and all the equipment was powered by the Arc Reactor. The one that had gone missing from Tony Stark's Hulkbuster Armor 1.0 had been recovered by Doctor Death and put to use here.

The most conspicuous thing among all this was a large box. It looked completely out of place with everything around it. The wooden box had iron strips along its edges, and its outside was covered with talismans meant to suppress evil spirits. Judging by the style, it seemed to come from a fantasy world, not the Marvel Universe.

The box contained none other than the large clump of soil that had been soaked in Dragon Blood. If bathing in Dragon Blood could forge a hero, then soil from which one could still squeeze Dragon Blood by clenching a handful was even more valuable. It would make excellent magical artifacts and spellcasting materials.

Later, Wei Xiuming's true self had gone through countless hardships to transport it to China. With the help of the Divine Spear Bureau's records and the magical knowledge he had learned at Kamar-Taj, he shaped it, then had it shipped back to the United States along with the other gifts, hidden in plain sight.

However, an esper from the Divine Spear Bureau had discovered a hint of evil in the soil. It was clearly cursed by that