Tony's Invitation?!

"Banner, calm down, calm down!!!"

Even though she was certain Banner would not turn into the Hulk over ordinary anger anytime soon, Hill still feared an angry Banner deeply.

She used an especially gentle tone to soothe Banner, but that tone only made him more irritated.

"Damn it!"

Banner said unhappily to the others.

"I'm not simply getting angry. This is a dispute over academics and principles, Selvig. I hope you respect our profession and don't bring any gambling-style conjectures into a formal discussion!"

"But the proposal I raised really is the best solution available right now!"

Selvig was still trying to persuade Hill, but his words only made Banner increasingly dissatisfied.

Bang!

Banner slammed his hand down on the table.

"Selvig!"

He shouted at his colleague.

"Do you even know what you're doing? You want to deliberately detonate a bomb that could very well destroy the Earth. You want to open Pandora's Box with your own hands when you know perfectly well what's hidden inside. I can't believe this is your decision. Has that damn Cube fried your brain?!"

As Banner's words fell, Selvig's expression suddenly changed.

He looked as though he had just awakened from a dream, staring at his own hands in surprise.

But that surprise vanished in an instant. Ignoring Banner's anger, he continued explaining to Hill.

"Director, I trust my own judgment more. As for Dr. Banner's opinion, burying the Cosmic Cube is simply absurd.

"That is the Cosmic Cube. It has already entered an active state. No matter how we suppress it, the day it erupts will eventually come. We can only delay that day; we cannot prevent the final eruption!"

"But I have performed precise calculations. From its active state to its critical point, it will need at least three cycles of diffusion reactions. If we restore it to stability, it can remain stable for at least forty years!"

"Those are only calculations. Before they are proven, your plan is just speculation as well. Mine, on the other hand, solves the Cosmic Cube problem completely!"

"Yeah, you want to solve it by using a method that might destroy everything!"

"But that is still a method. If the Cosmic Cube's eruption grows more severe as its active period extends, you will regret it for the rest of your life, and you will never be able to make up for it!"

"But if we do as I say, we will have at least forty years. Forty years is enough for us to make a breakthrough in our research using the Cosmic Cube's existing energy!"

"But if we can accelerate the Cosmic Cube's active period, we may have unlimited time to study it. And this eruption of the Cube can help us enter the third stage of research!"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Banner pounded the table furiously. Even without turning into the Hulk, his expression looked almost identical to Hulk's.

He suddenly looked at Hill and shouted at her.

"Hill, I am now the chief executive of Project Pegasus. I demand my rights. The Cosmic Cube must be sealed away, because I have personally experienced the cost of an experiment going out of control!

"Think about the big guy inside me. He was born from an accident in a Gamma Rays experiment, and that was only Gamma Rays. But now we're dealing with the Cosmic Cube. No one knows what its active state might brew!

"I don't know what happened to Selvig. It's like the Cube has burned his brain out!

"I admit that in the field of science, unexpected factors are sometimes necessary to push technology forward.

"But what we need is unpredictability, not an accident!

"That would be a disaster!!!"

With things having reached this point, the decision fell into Hill's hands.

Looking at the two great scientists before her, Hill truly did not know what to choose.

Because from an observer's perspective, both of them were right!

Professor Selvig wanted to trigger the danger ahead of time in order to reduce it.

Bruce Banner wanted to bury the danger and seek a breakthrough that would allow them to handle it perfectly in the future.

Both were good methods!

But she had to make a choice between them.

After thinking for a moment, she finally made her decision.

She turned to Professor Selvig and said apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Professor Selvig. Although I prefer your method, S.H.I.E.L.D. truly cannot withstand any more damage or setbacks right now!"

As she spoke, Hill shook her head helplessly.

"At present, S.H.I.E.L.D. has completely withdrawn to the Americas. We have lost the funding and manpower support of the other seven continents.

"The losses Hydra caused to the world have also been pinned on us for now. Even though we traded countless benefits for the Security Council's support, we cannot allow another scandal to erupt at this stage, especially a scandal involving the testing of large-scale destructive weapons!

"So, Professor Selvig, I hope you can understand my decision!"

When Hill finished speaking, Banner let out a long breath.

As for Selvig across from him...

He sighed regretfully.

Yet beneath that regret, there was actually a trace of relief, though it was deeply hidden beneath the disappointment he displayed.

Perhaps only that relieved—or rather, clear-headed—part of his mind knew this.

Banner's words were actually somewhat right.

He really had been controlled.

By the Cosmic Cube, by desire, or perhaps... by Thor's brother!

That was right...

Back when Thor destroyed the Bifrost and Loki was separated from Asgard, Loki had already come to Earth.

There, he obtained video records concerning the Cosmic Cube and planted his own pawn long ago.

That pawn was Selvig, who should have independently overseen Project Pegasus.

But at this moment, Loki could never have imagined...

On the Chitauri flagship, in the command room, atop the Teleportation array.

Loki was filled with confusion as he sensed the power of the Space Stone.

This damned thing had been incredibly active half an hour ago. Why had it suddenly lost its activity?

Of course, that activity had not vanished entirely. It was gradually weakening at a stable frequency.

But weakening was already troublesome enough, because he had never successfully communicated with the Space Stone in the first place.

Even if the Space Stone's activity kept increasing, it would still be difficult for him to control it remotely.

Let alone now!

That was an Infinity Stone. Across the entire universe, fewer than a few dozen people could directly use an Infinity Stone.

Most people could only use Infinity Stones indirectly through special containers, just like the Scepter of Mind in Loki's hand, where a Stone was embedded into a tool.

Even Thanos could only directly use one Infinity Stone at a time.

Without the Infinity Gauntlet, he could not use the unified power of all six Infinity Stones with his body.

Not to mention remote control. Remote control was obviously more difficult than manipulating one face-to-face.

But what could Loki do? He had no other option but to continue trying to communicate with it here.

He had no way back.

Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s temporary Project Pegasus base on Earth.

Hill was leading Coulson in relocating everything from Pegasus Base.

Banner stood carefully beside the centrifuge and gently removed the Cosmic Cube embedded within it.

Even as the Cube was pressed into the sealed container, slightly chaotic energy currents still flowed across its surface.

Fortunately, those currents soon slowed.

"It's done!"

Banner closed the container and spoke to Hill.

"Based on its current frequency, as long as we seal it properly, it will take at least forty years to reach the critical point again.

"We have enough time to formulate a plan."

"Very good. Thank you for everything you've done for S.H.I.E.L.D., Dr. Banner!"

Hill thanked Banner softly.

Perhaps because no one had thanked him in a long time, Banner looked a little awkward. He nervously shook his head.

"No need to thank me. Besides, although the Avengers Initiative was declared over with Nick's death, I am still a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant. This is what I should do!"

"Yes, Nick's departure truly took too much away. I really do feel regret and sorrow for him..."

Unlike those who did not know the truth behind Nick's death, Hill truly regretted Nick's death.

Because the Nick Fury she knew was not the hero others believed him to be, someone who sacrificed himself to protect the lives of S.H.I.E.L.D. trainees.

The real Nick Fury, just like his habit of hiding in gutters, had died in his own schemes.

But there was something else she did not say. No matter how regretful she was, she would never pursue Heisenberg, the one who had truly killed Nick.

First, she did not have that ability. Second, in some ways, she should even thank Heisenberg.

After serving as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a full two months, she was no longer the person she used to be.

Now, she no longer wanted to return to the life of an assistant.

Near Central Plaza in New York, inside the Columbus Circle Theater, Heisenberg lounged in the backyard, basking in the sun.

Beside him, Billy continuously reported on recent developments.

"Boss, around thirty percent of all police officers in New York have already joined us. Maybe we can start collecting protection money from the police department!"

"No, not enough. I want to wait until we have completely crushed the police system before taking the rights and money that should belong to the police.

"We'll take their salaries and illegal income, then use that money to provide them with massive gang allowances.

"This is merely a way of making use of New York's tax revenue, yet it will make those blue-uniformed public servants fall in love with us."

Heisenberg said with a smile, leaving Billy in complete awe.

His boss's way of thinking was truly wild beyond imagination!

His former boss, Kingpin, the emperor of the United States underworld, had only ever bribed those public servants.

But once it came to Heisenberg...

Billy began to feel sorry for the future New York City Hall.

"Keep going. What else requires my attention?"

Seeing Billy pause, Heisenberg asked softly.

Billy immediately straightened up and continued reporting to Heisenberg.

"The New York Mayor has invited you to a charity dinner this Saturday at Eilenburg Restaurant. What do you think...?"

"I'll go take a look when the time comes. I've been here for more than two months. It's time I showed my face in public." Heisenberg seemed thoughtful.

"The next matter is that Tony Stark, chairman of Stark Industries, sent you a letter inviting you to attend his wedding on the fifth day of next week!"

"Cough, cough, cough...!!!"

This time, Heisenberg was genuinely stunned. He could not help coughing lightly twice.

Then he asked Billy in disbelief.

"The fifth day of next week!!!

"A wedding!!!

"You're sure Stark himself is the one getting married?!!"

"Of course, BOSS. Stark is an indispensable piece of New York's upper society. I have always kept track of every bit of information about him. He really will be holding a wedding on the fifth day of next week, and he really has invited you.

"At the same time, I believe that if you attend his wedding banquet, it will be extremely beneficial in shaping public opinion. Everyone loves Superman, and everyone wants to become Iron Man.

"So they will be excited by your contact with Iron Man."

I only recently learned that I'm apparently already a powerhouse in ranking. My God!!!

I'm sure you veteran readers all understand what ranking powerhouse means. Little Ban Si is going to start asking for votes, follow-up reading, and favorites too.

Same old words: I hope Ban Si can go farther on Qidian together with everyone who likes this book. Love you all.

Oh, and happy fifth day of the Lunar New Year! (☆☆)