S.H.I.E.L.D. Consultant

An inconspicuous roadside restaurant.

After a busy day, the bald Sitwell was eating with great relish.

Behind him, Coulson, also dressed in a suit, pushed open the door and walked straight over to sit across from him.

Sitwell set down his coffee and wiped his mouth. "Are you hungry too? The food here is pretty good."

Coulson said nothing, his expression somewhat complicated.

Seeing this, Sitwell asked, "Looks like there's a problem?"

"That's right. They made a stupid, hasty request." After a pause, Coulson lowered his voice. "They want Blonsky on the team."

"Abomination?" Sitwell looked shocked.

Coulson hurriedly said, "Don't call him that. At least, don't let the Security Council hear it."

"Then what about the Harlem incident?"

Coulson shook his head. "They plan to pin it on Banner."

"Banner?"

"Yes, the guy you said we really shouldn't provoke. Of course, that's the official story. In reality, they want that unidentified group to take all the blame."

Sitwell adjusted his glasses. "Then why not simply announce that another force was involved?"

Coulson said, "For Ross, for the military. They don't want the public to know that people outside the military fired artillery in the city. It would be a disgrace to the military. Besides, they previously blew up a major drug lord in the suburbs. Even now, quite a few people still see them as heroes. The Harlem incident was the same—their actions really did reduce a lot of potential losses. Now, all the credit has gone to General Ross."

"Interesting. That's how they see it?"

Coulson licked his lips. "They see Blonsky as a war hero. They want to make sure he bears no responsibility from the very beginning, and they even want to give him credit for it. Although Blonsky still hasn't been found, those people already see him as one of us."

Sitwell suddenly laughed. "They can't even find him. What's the point of saying all this?"

"General Ross hasn't given up the search. He's already found where Blonsky came ashore."

Sitwell's smile vanished.

Coulson continued, "We have to assume General Ross can find Blonsky. After all, Blonsky used to be his subordinate, and he tracked Banner for so long that Banner was nearly left with nowhere to run. He really is experienced in this regard."

"Does Director Fury really want Blonsky?"

"Of course not. But he can't openly ignore a direct order from the World Security Council, so everything we do has to be based on ensuring that point."

"Then what should we do?"

"I don't know either. But we have to send someone to meet General Ross within twenty-four hours."

Sitwell frowned. "So, following the World Security Council's orders, we have to send someone to meet General Ross and ask him for a Blonsky we don't want at all?"

"That's right."

For a time, silence filled the air, and both men wore helpless expressions.

A moment later, Sitwell suddenly pulled his gaze back from the window.

"I have an idea."

Coulson immediately looked at him.

"We arrange for some reckless fool to mess up the mission. Let him cause trouble and make General Ross refuse to hand over Blonsky. I could do it. I'm very good at that."

Coulson raised his brows and said thoughtfully, "Yes, that's a good idea... Wait, I have an idea too. We can't handle this so directly. We can find someone who can genuinely piss General Ross off."

"Go on."

"We need someone extremely arrogant and easy to dislike, someone who despises those in power from the bottom of his heart and can easily make General Ross furious."

Sitwell instantly understood. "You mean that consultant?"

Coulson immediately shook his head. "I didn't."

"You mean him."

"No. I'm not sending him."

Abroad.

Tony, who was watching a pole dance on a plane, received his first mission after becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant.

"A mission already? I thought I was just a consultant who didn't have to worry about anything. Let's see, General Ross, Colonel Blonsky... So it's the Harlem incident... Hmph. If I hadn't gotten drunk that night, there wouldn't have been so much trouble. And these people actually want a monster that kills without blinking on the team..." As Tony read the mission briefing, his eyes gleamed.

The third basement level of the manor.

Crackling sounds echoed through the secret chamber, mixed with agonized wails and screams that made the place especially chilling.

A moment later, Hong Fei walked out of the room, unable to hide his disappointment.

Inside the room, Samuel Sterns was curled up in the corner, his huge head bowed deeply, looking exactly like a newly bullied young wife.

Three days had passed, and Samuel's head was still growing, yet he still had not dropped a Skill Card. Moreover, his skin had recently begun turning green, clearly showing that he was becoming kin to Hulk and Abomination.

Hong Fei said, "Keep him locked up. Notify me when his head stops growing."

"Yes."

Turning toward the room beside the armory, Hong Fei pushed open the door and found Frank lying beneath the tank, inspecting it.

"How is it?"

"It's in excellent condition. Every part is new, with no signs that it's ever been started. It's in perfect factory condition."

After a while, Frank crawled out and still unwillingly asked, "How exactly did you do it?"

"Secret."

It was inconvenient to explain something like that. Even if he did, it would be pointless, because only he could see the Skill Cards.

Frank shook his head and sighed. "Fine, forget it if you won't say. But I have another question."

"Go ahead."

"How do you plan to get it out? The corridor isn't wide enough, and we don't have an elevator large enough to hold it."

"No rush. If I could get it in here, I can get it out."

Frank stared at Hong Fei for a long time, then slowly looked away and picked up his toolbox. "Then handle it yourself. I'm going to get some shells. Those things aren't easy to buy."

Hong Fei immediately grinned and bowed to him. "Thanks for your hard work!"

After Frank left, Hong Fei turned his back to the tank, took a breath, placed the Skill Card into the Card Slot again, and poured energy into it.

After the same process, a brand-new tank appeared before him.

At the same time, however, the first tank began to fracture and dissolve inch by inch like a virtual projection, merging into the void and vanishing completely.

The second tank appeared intact, while the first tank disappeared entirely.

Hong Fei felt regret, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.

It was regrettable that he could not create multiple tanks at once, but that was within expectations.

What relieved him was the transportation issue.

A new one appeared, and the old one disappeared. That meant Hong Fei could summon a brand-new tank anywhere at any time without worrying about transportation in between. It would save him enormous time and effort while also reducing the risk of exposure.

Furthermore, even if this tank were captured, Hong Fei could simply abandon it. At worst, he could just make another one later.