Lu Yifang's Dignity

Professor X can easily locate mutants because their brainwaves differ from ordinary humans—this difference makes them easy for **him to detect and pinpoint.

So, relying on the cerebro amplifier, Professor X can globally locate mutants. But ordinary people are a different story. Setting aside the brainwave issue, just look at the numbers: can the mutant population compare to ordinary humans?

The most important thing is that Professor X has never even seen Tony. He has no idea what Tony's brainwaves are like. He can only narrow it down to the Middle East and search person by person. Just imagine the sheer workload.

Tsk! If you said that to Professor X, he'd probably glare, jump out of his wheelchair, and whack you over the head with it.

Damn it, I am the esteemed Professor X, not a library search computer!

"I see." Hearing this, Fury let out a sigh.

But this was within expectations. If Professor X could find Tony that easily, Fury might have to consider upgrading his threat level.

"Yifang, you can find Mystique, right?" Fury shifted the topic and continued questioning Lu Yifang.

"Huh?" Lu Yifang was taken aback.

"Don't play dumb. Last week, Mystique infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. just to see you. If you say you have no way to contact her, do you think I'd believe that?" Fury said, his expression unchanged.

"What do you want Mystique for? Trying to save face after last time? Even if I don't get along with her, I'm not about to sell her out. No matter what you say, it's useless—even a raise won't work." Lu Yifang shook his head firmly.

"You're overthinking it." Fury shook his head. "The fact that Mystique could infiltrate S.H.I.E.L.D. just shows our security isn't up to par yet. I've thought about meeting her, but not now. What I want is for her to impersonate Tony."

Hearing Fury's words, Lu Yifang frowned. "What's the point?"

"Very much so." Fury smiled meaningfully.

First, "Tony's" return would quickly quell the internal conflicts at Stark Industries, getting the company back on track. That way, his Sky Carrier could be maintained and launched on schedule.

Beyond that, the other key role was to flush out the enemy. Whether it was Tony's whereabouts being exposed in the Middle East, leading to his kidnapping by terrorists, or someone deliberately leaking news of his disappearance—

All of it pointed to someone pulling strings in the shadows. By putting a fake "Tony" out there, Fury was betting that the hidden culprit would slip up when faced with this sudden development.

And with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources, even if they couldn't catch the mastermind, they'd have a good chance of finding the real Tony's location.

"I can get in touch with Mystique, but do you think she'll trust you?" Lu Yifang spread his hands.

"Of course she won't trust me. But that doesn't matter. She trusts Magneto, and she trusts you—that's enough." Fury said, his gaze on Lu Yifang turning meaningful.

It was as if he were saying: "Kid, you think I'm blind? Professor X and Magneto's half-century of love-hate rivalry—you think I haven't caught the scent of that sourness? I joined this game before you were even born. And with how much Professor X values you, there's no way Old Magneto doesn't have something going on."

"Alright, since you've put it that way, I've got nothing to say." Lu Yifang admitted defeat and held out his hand to Fury.

"Hand it over."

"Hand what over?" Fury was momentarily confused.

Lu Yifang rolled his eyes. "Money, of course. First, this isn't even in my job description. Second, you think I can just ask someone for a favor without paying?"

"Mystique needs money?" Fury shot back with disdain.

"You can tell Mystique this: after this is done, all her records at S.H.I.E.L.D. will be wiped. As long as she doesn't cause trouble, I won't come after her. Isn't that a better deal than money?"

"Damn, that's a move I didn't see coming!" Lu Yifang's eyes widened. This wasn't what he'd expected.

"So what about Mystique's cut? And me—I'm the one asking her, using my own reputation as collateral. Brokerage fee, this much. You figure it out." Lu Yifang held up one finger.

A million! Fury nearly flipped the table. Why don't you just go rob a bank? But just as Fury was about to explode, his strong psychological composure kicked in, and he calmed down.

Wait. Am I misunderstanding something? With that thought, Fury studied Lu Yifang again. After getting burned last time, he'd made a point to look into Lu Yifang's background.

This kid was an orphan from a welfare home just a month ago. He'd never even seen a stack of hundred-dollar bills. Even now, after awakening his powers, his mindset was still in transition.

Sure, some people get a little power and blow up, talking about making billions left and right. But in reality, those idiots don't even know how to spend a million dollars. And Fury believed Lu Yifang wasn't that kind of unrealistic fool. In an instant, Fury reached a conclusion: this kid wasn't the type to show off or pretend to be rich. So why would he ask for that number?

"So... a hundred thousand dollars is unacceptable." Fury stood up and slammed the table. He was just asking Mystique to show her face.

Damn it, just showing her face for a hundred thousand? That's so outrageous, why not go buy a celebrity in China?

S.H.I.E.L.D. might have deep pockets, but they were still watched by their benefactor, the World Security Council. Every monthly expense had to be accounted for. And this kind of shady spending was allowed, but the less of it, the better.

That's why Fury was known as a tight-fisted miser. There was a reason for it.

"What did you just say?" Lu Yifang's eyes flickered.

Seeing Lu Yifang's expression, Fury felt a knot in his stomach. Damn, did I overestimate this kid's bottom line again?

Sensing trouble, Fury tried to backtrack, but it was too late. Lu Yifang's eyes were already lighting up, and in those gleaming eyes, Fury seemed to read three words: "Fat Cat."

"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly accept the hundred thousand. No more discounts." Lu Yifang slapped the table.

"Don't even think about it. That price—"

After a fierce round of haggling, Lu Yifang walked away with a six-thousand-dollar invoice from Fury, heading to the finance department satisfied. The reason he accepted that price wasn't that he was afraid to push back—it was because, with this added, he'd almost have enough.

Meanwhile, in his office, Fury collapsed into his chair like a deflated balloon. After several days of overtime, he'd thought a change of pace would help. But after butting heads with Lu Yifang, he felt even more drained.

Staring at the half-meter-tall stack of documents on his desk, Fury suddenly noticed a file about Lu Yifang sitting in front of him. Looking at the smiling photo of Lu Yifang on the file, Fury felt a surge of anger and tossed it aside.

"Is this kid obsessed with money? What does he need so much for?" Fury remembered that Lu Yifang had just gotten an advance on two months' salary a few days ago, and now he was pulling this stunt again. How could Fury not be pissed?

"Sir, from what I know, Lu Yifang is indeed a bit short on cash right now." Coulson, who had been silently standing in the corner, suddenly spoke up.

"How so?" Fury turned to look at Coulson, only then remembering that Coulson hadn't left yet.

"Because Lu Yifang's account has been under surveillance, I have some insight into this. Part of that ten-thousand-dollar advance went to cover that girl's medical expenses."

Fury frowned. "That girl is in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s recovery ward. Isn't her medical care free?"

"Director, the so-called free coverage only applies to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. While the girl's initial surgery costs were already allocated as mission funds, the follow-up care and hospitalization fees still need to be paid." Coulson explained patiently.

"And the other portion of the money?" Fury pressed on.

"Lu Yifang anonymously donated it to the orphanage—the one he stayed in until he came of age. That orphanage suffered considerable structural damage during the Abomination incident, and it was already dilapidated to begin with. They urgently need a substantial sum of cash. Yifang noticed this problem last time, and I think he also knew that the money from you was the cleanest, hardest-earned income he could get."

"That kid..." Listening to Coulson's explanation, Fury opened his mouth but found nothing to say.

"Director, you're thinking right. He's a stubborn and tenacious little fellow." Coulson chimed in.

Fury fell silent. After a moment, he silently rose from his chair and personally picked up the scattered documents.

"Coulson, here's your task." Fury suddenly spoke. "Change the girl's injury record to mission-related collateral damage. If I remember correctly, under regulations, that should make her medical expenses fully exempt."

"Your memory serves you well, Director." The corner of Coulson's mouth lifted slightly, revealing his trademark smile.