Talismans and Infinity Stones

"Hmm, interesting. So the Infinity Stones can be used like this."

Shendu looked over the information the ninjas had brought him. He had assumed it would all be confidential S.H.I.E.L.D. intelligence, or proof, as Glenn had said, that Natasha harbored ill intentions toward S.H.I.E.L.D.

But the information recorded in Natasha's journal before him was nothing of the sort. It documented another kind of power in this world: the Infinity Stones.

Shendu continued flipping through Natasha's journal.

The first day after the Battle of New York.

Today, Fury took me to a secret room within S.H.I.E.L.D. There were no agents guarding it; its defenses were entirely made up of advanced technology.

Fury suddenly struck the back of my neck. I passed out, and when I woke up again, I found myself tied to a chair, with a golden gemstone before me.

I recognized it. It was the gem on Loki's Scepter.

I angrily demanded to know what Fury intended to do. Fury merely told me calmly that he meant no harm. The gem was unstable now, and I was the best vessel for it.

He embedded the gem inside my body.

Perhaps just as Fury had said, I felt no discomfort whatsoever.

The fourteenth day after the Battle of New York.

Today was very interesting. I acquired a magical stone from an agent. It could grant me a special ability: invisibility.

I kept testing this ability in my room until I accidentally discovered that it could resonate with the Mind Stone.

Using this stone, I could briefly wield the Mind Stone's power. I could make myself invisible to a designated person while appearing completely unchanged to everyone else.

Laughably, those agents thought my infiltration skills had improved again.

I think the gap between Tony and the others and me has narrowed. Perhaps I can use this ability to make them fear me.

The twentieth day after the Battle of New York.

Damn it, Fury took the Mind Stone away.

But with this magical stone, reclaiming the Mind Stone would be effortless. Let that old bastard keep it for a while longer.

When I take the stone back, I can frame Hydra for it.

I just need to leave Hydra's mark at the scene. With Fury's stupid brain, he definitely won't notice anything unusual.

Shendu flipped to the later pages, which were all about the mole.

After doing the math, Shendu determined that the Mind Stone was still at S.H.I.E.L.D.

Since the Infinity Stones could enhance the talismans' power, his next objective was clear.

While gathering the talismans, he would obtain the other Infinity Stones as well.

"Valmont."

Just as Shendu was still planning how to acquire more power, Steve's voice came from outside the door.

Speak of the devil. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s urgently sought-after partner, Valmont could hardly ask about the Mind Stone's location, much less obtain it.

But Steve was different. As Captain America and a spiritual leader, getting information about the Mind Stone from Fury would be easy for him.

What a fittingly good-hearted man from the Marvel world.

Shendu suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth and turned Natasha's journal invisible, ensuring that no trace remained.

The door opened, and Steve saw someone who looked as though he had just woken up.

"You were sleeping just now?" Steve asked, looking doubtfully at the blazing sun overhead.

Shendu yawned and stretched. "There's a time difference between this world and my original world. I had mostly adjusted to it before, but I can't interfere in the matter of the mole. I've been too idle, so I got sleepy."

Steve put on an understanding expression, paused, then said, "I went to see Tony just now, but the guards there said he wasn't available."

"So you came to find me?" Shendu's tone revealed his displeasure at having his sleep disturbed.

Steve scratched his head awkwardly. He had heard in myths that dragons were rather fond of sleeping. He had not expected Eastern dragons from another world to be the same.

Shendu invited Steve inside. "Go on. You wouldn't have come looking for me without a reason."

Steve entered Shendu's room. There was only a bed, a table, and a chair inside.

Looking at the sparse surroundings, Steve casually pulled up a chair and sat down. "I'll be direct."

Steve's expression turned serious. "Valmont, I am formally inviting you to join S.H.I.E.L.D. in my capacity as Captain America."

Shendu narrowed his eyes. Joining S.H.I.E.L.D. and gaining an official identity would make it easier to approach the Mind Stone, but he could not agree immediately.

Seeing Valmont's wary expression, Steve had expected as much. "I know you don't trust us right now because of the mole within S.H.I.E.L.D. But you also understand that joining S.H.I.E.L.D. is the only way for you to be safer."

"Hmm? Why do you say that?" Shendu asked sternly.

Steve sighed. "Actually, I can't guarantee that S.H.I.E.L.D. itself is any safer. I've been overwhelmed by the mole investigation, yet I haven't found a single lead."

"But once you join S.H.I.E.L.D., I can protect you better."

"Oh?" Shendu raised a brow.

Steve froze for a moment at Valmont's provocative response. Just then, he had sensed something peculiar emanating from Valmont.

It was the disdain of one in a higher position mocking someone beneath him.

Yet when he looked at Valmont, all he could see was distrust toward S.H.I.E.L.D. written across the other man's face.

Was that an illusion? Steve wondered.

Before he could think about it for long, Shendu's words pulled him back. "Don't you think the matter of the mole is rather strange?"

Those words woke Steve up. He had also felt that something was odd. If there really was a mole, how could there be no clues at all within S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Shendu continued, "The Chitauri planted a mole in S.H.I.E.L.D. If it was only to drive a wedge between S.H.I.E.L.D. and me, wouldn't that be absurd?"

Steve seemed to grasp something. "You mean?"

Shendu guided him along. "I feel that driving a wedge between us is merely a smokescreen. They must have another goal, a greater goal."

"For example, perhaps S.H.I.E.L.D. has intelligence that could be fatal to them, or an item they desperately want to obtain."

Steve lowered his head and fell into deep thought. Shendu did not interrupt him.

Not long after, Steve suddenly looked up. "There's nothing that could threaten them, but there is something they might desperately want."

"Hmm? Such a thing really exists?" Shendu pretended to be shocked.

Steve explained, "You may not know this, but there were two Stones during the Battle of New York. One was the Space Stone, which Loki used to open the portal. The other was the Mind Stone on Loki's Scepter. S.H.I.E.L.D. has kept it ever since the battle ended!"

The more Steve spoke, the brighter his eyes became. "No wonder we couldn't find any leads. We were looking in the wrong direction!"

"Valmont, you're a genius!"

Steve stood to leave. When he reached the doorway, he turned back and said, "There's no one in the organization I can trust anymore. When the time comes, I'll need you to work with me to find the mole, Valmont."

"No problem. I'll be ready whenever you need me," Shendu said with a smile.