Just Hearing the Name Isn't Eco-Friendly

"What price?"

Facing Oaks's question, Fury just curved his lips slightly, arms crossed as he leaned back into the sofa:

"You know, people with special abilities aren't exactly common, but they're not rare either—especially on a global scale.

And the reason they stay out of the spotlight is because we handle the messes they make, or we handle them.

So what makes you think you have any leverage to negotiate with me, Dr. Lin?"

He pointed at the potted plants on the shelf: "These?"

Then at the three little ones: "Or these?"

Then at Tony: "Or him?"

"None of them."

Oaks let out a soft laugh and shook his head:

"It's me."

"..."

Fury furrowed his brow.

He didn't mock Oaks for overestimating himself.

Because that statement clearly meant he had the power to flip the table.

It seemed that Fury's repeated investigations and tough attitude had already rubbed him the wrong way.

People with special abilities were bound to have some pride, and that was exactly why S.H.I.E.L.D. always took a hard line with them.

But still...

"What do you want?"

True, Oaks had been very cooperative at first, even leaving the door open to see how Fury would act.

The unknown was the hardest thing to deal with, so he might as well hear what Oaks was after.

"I need the Benevolence Society to be affiliated under your Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."

The moment Oaks spoke, Nick Fury was taken aback:

"What did you say?!"

Was this guy drunk or what?

What was the Benevolence Society? A barely-there, just-officially-formed environmental charity, whose members were all poor folks with criminal records!

They'd be lucky not to get shut down, and now he wanted them under the umbrella of a world-protecting organization? What was he planning?

To have all those agents go plant trees for him?!

"Think I'm being too fanciful?"

Oaks still wore a smile, but not just Fury—even Tony and Zhang looked at him with sheer admiration.

That was insane. Coooool~

"I've always been a fan of win-win situations, whether in research or in making friends.

If you've looked into my background, Director, you'd know that everyone who collaborates with me on research projects walks away with huge gains."

When Oaks said this, Fury, Tony, and even Zhang silently nodded.

The first two had checked Oaks's academic record, while the latter had seen media analyses of Oaks's academic achievements back in his home country.

Otherwise, how could he have single-handedly pushed Cornell's biology department from top ten in the U.S. to top three?

How could he, after leaving the school for two years and even fading from the academic scene, still have six senior professors successively invite him to join their research projects?

Simple: his academic prowess was top-tier, and his character was impeccable.

And Tony and Zhang, as Oaks's "friends," had deeply felt the truth of "friendship is also a win-win."

"So you're saying this demand of yours is also a win-win?"

Fury flashed his habitual sarcastic grin:

"I don't see how that charity of yours could win us anything—holiday fruit baskets?"

"Director Fury, I've done some research on your organization too."

Fury nodded. Their organization wasn't some hermit sect; plenty of info was out there.

"Though your goal is to protect the world, a lot of the time, it seems you go way overboard."

Under Fury's odd stare, Oaks launched into a lengthy critique of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s modus operandi:

"Look at the weapons and agents you control—violence, violence, and more violence. When have any of your big operations ever left anything but rubble in their wake?

Sure, you usually protect people—I won't even get into how you kill more to save a few—but just from the sheer firepower, the areas you hit are uninhabitable afterward.

You've been around for decades, right? I can't find the data, but Director Fury, you know best—how much destruction have you caused in all those years?

Yes, you've got money—world-class organization, after all, budgets don't run short. But the question is, how much of that budget goes into fixing the environment you've wrecked?"

Usually it's still the various governments cleaning up your mess, right? You can figure that out with a little thought.

Weapon damage, residual pollution—a single senior agent or two can destroy facilities and environments worth tens of millions to build and maintain.

In short, calling your operations a textbook example of environmental destruction—no problem there, right?"

Nick Fury's expression went a bit blank.

Over the years, he'd been questioned on national security, on intelligence reliability, on his hiring practices, and of course, most often, on his budget being too big...

But never once had anyone questioned him on the environmental friendliness of his operations!

Never!

For a few seconds, Fury even wondered if the special-powered Dr. Lin in front of him had his head stuffed full of grass:

"You're ranking our world-saving operations as less important than a little environmental damage?"

He downed his coffee in one gulp. Yeah, the taste was top-notch:

"Dr. Lin, do you even understand the importance of our work?!

If it weren't for these, these 'environmentally damaging' operations of ours, who knows if you'd even have a safe, stable environment to do your research right now!"

"Exactly, very reasonable."

Oaks clapped lightly:

"Director Fury, you should win the Nobel Peace Prize. But the issue I'm raising is becoming more and more serious today, as global environmental awareness gradually awakens.

Believe it or not, if the President said what you just did, he'd even face impeachment proceedings."

"...Fine, but I'm not the President. I don't care about that crap. What does this have to do with the issue we need to discuss?"

"Ha, it's very relevant!"

Fury twitched the corner of his mouth, because it was Tony who said that.

The guy had a delighted expression as he winked at Oaks:

"Nice work, buddy. I've already invested in the environmental Foundation. Looks like I need to throw in some more for eco-friendly public ads... How about a million?"

Then, with a look of satisfaction, he tugged at his collar and turned his sights on Fury across from him:

"That whatever bureau of yours..."

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division!"

"Right, that whatever bureau of yours. Just the name sounds very un-eco-friendly!"

Tony raised his eyebrows smugly:

"You have no idea how annoying those environmentalist protest marches are, do you? Give it three to five days, and they'll probably be blockading your office building!"

"...Motherfucker!"

Nick Fury slapped a hand to his forehead.

That tactic was too shameless, but from what he knew, he was a hundred million percent sure and certain it would be very effective.

Extremists were disgusting—just like those extreme animal rights groups.

With Tony's million-dollar ad campaign thrown in, the extreme environmentalists would probably have their carnival.

"What weapon has Stark Industries ever produced that was eco-friendly!?"

"But I'm investing in environmental protection now!"

Tony picked up his coffee and took a savoring sip:

"Paying to grind reputation? I'm good at that!"