Unlike most Marvel fans,
even before his transmigration, Carl had never had a favorable impression of Nick Fury.
Arrogant, suspicious, greedy, paranoid, willing to stop at nothing...
In Carl's eyes, Nick Fury had always used S.H.I.E.L.D. and protecting humanity as a facade while doing dirty deeds based on the principle that those who obeyed him prospered while those who defied him perished.
It was as if anything that did not receive his approval was destined to be an evil act against justice.
But in truth, many disasters had ultimately worsened and erupted because of that one-eyed Mute Man's excessive interference.
Take the later Skrull Uprising—the Secret Invasion TV series—for example...
If Nick Fury had not privately promised to help the Skrulls find a home, only to use them as tools,
and secretly ordered the Skrulls to carry out a classified operation called Harvest without anyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. knowing,
using blood samples left behind by the Avengers and other superhuman warriors across various battlefields to collect genes,
then synthesizing a special serum similar to "genetic fusion,"
Gravik, the Skrull leader who had always hated humanity, would not have later become a Super-Skrull capable of freely switching between more than a dozen superpowers!
And the most ridiculous part was that Gravik was personally appointed by Nick Fury to carry out the Harvest plan.
So the greatest threat to the Marvel Universe did not actually come from outside.
It came from this self-righteous troublemaker!
The reason Carl had dared to confront Nick Fury head-on just now was because he was no longer afraid of the cards Nick Fury held.
Even if they really came to blows and square-jawed Captain... ahem, Captain Marvel rushed over to save the day, he could call The Ancient One to hold the fort.
No matter how formidable the other side was, her attacks were still only on the physical level.
She was no match for the bald demon lord at all.
It was even possible that a single Mirror Dimension would end the fight outright!
That was where Carl's confidence came from.
After ending the call,
Carl first sent Nick Fury his bank account number, then began brainwashing Black Widow.
He erased every piece of information in her memories involving Carl and Sokovia.
As for whether such extensive memory loss would leave her with any aftereffects, that was none of his concern.
At that moment, Pietro, who had remained silent until then, suddenly stepped forward with tears in his eyes and said,
"Carl, my good brother, I never thought you'd treat me this well..."
"Once that ten million comes through, we'll split it seventy-thirty. You take the larger share, and I'll take the smaller one!!"
Clearly, the kid had been moved by Carl demanding breakup compensation for him just now.
He had never imagined it.
His two-and-a-half-minute performance had somehow fetched the astronomical price of ten million dollars.
If other people found out, wouldn't they start calling him Sokovia's Golden Gun King?
But how should he spend those three million dollars to make up for the emotional trauma he had just suffered?
"Hey, little bro, what the hell is wrong with you?!!"
Carl said with a look of disgust, "What sweet dream are you having in broad daylight? That ten million is going into the company coffers."
You still wanted a share?
Stop drinking and eat something, would you?
If you had even had some peanuts with your drinks, you wouldn't be this drunk.
I was obviously just using you as a pretext to extort a payout from S.H.I.E.L.D. How did you take it seriously?
Besides, when you marry your sister off to me someday, shouldn't you give me a dowry?
That ten million can only count as a deposit, understand?
Work hard from now on, kid. Try to save up Wanda's dowry as soon as possible.
A good man must know his worth.
Very soon,
as the notification tone sounded, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ten million dollars arrived as promised.
It also included the time and location for the hostage exchange—five days later, at San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge!
Well then, it was that disaster-prone unlucky place again...
"By the way, does Black Widow really have so little status? Why do we have to wait five days for the handover?"
Carl curled his lip, clearly dissatisfied with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sluggish efficiency.
After all, every extra day Black Widow stayed here meant another day of feeding her!
No, S.H.I.E.L.D. had to reimburse the meal expenses too.
Warp Group absolutely did not keep freeloaders!
"Carl, if there's nothing else, I'll head back first."
Pietro said with a lifeless, heartbroken expression.
Seeing the bleak and desolate back of the pure-love warrior, Carl felt somewhat sorry for him.
No matter what, Pietro was his future brother-in-law.
Since Carl was eating meat by the mouthful, he should at least let Pietro have some soup, right?
After thinking about it, he pointed at the expressionless Black Widow standing beside him like a puppet and asked somewhat uncertainly,
"Since we won't be returning her for another five days, how about... I lend her to you for a few days?!!"
Latest novel first release!
(＾＾●)
Pietro: Good brother, you really understand me best!
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Warp Group Headquarters.
Inside a luxurious training ground built specifically for Carl.
On the ring, two burly figures were locked in fierce combat.
Whoosh...!!!
Carl nimbly dodged Frank's incoming strike.
Then, with a feint from his left hand, he threw a jab forward to draw Frank's attention.
His right hand, meanwhile, whipped out a beautiful wide hook as fast as lightning.
Bang...!!!
A trace of surprise flashed through Frank's eyes.
While raising his arm to block the attack, he used a concealed low sweep to disrupt Carl's balance and knock him to the ground.
Then he pounced forward like a tiger, wrapping his left arm in a V-shape around Carl's jaw while bracing his right hand behind Carl's head and pushing forcefully forward, quickly forming a chokehold with his left arm.
Slap, slap, slap...!!!
Seeing that Frank's rear naked choke had already taken shape, Carl gave up struggling and slapped the mat to signal his surrender.
"Pant... pant... pant..."
Frank stood up wearily. When he glanced at the timer and saw that more than twenty minutes had passed, he cried out in disbelief,
"Boss, your rate of improvement is just too fast... No, I should say it's downright monstrous."
"If this keeps up, I'm afraid that in a few more days, I won't be qualified to serve as your sparring partner anymore."
Frank was absolutely not flattering Carl.
Rather, the latter was improving at an astonishing pace every single day.
Without using any "superpowers" whatsoever, Carl had gone from a complete fighting novice who could only last thirty seconds in the ring before being knocked down,
to exchanging blows with Frank for over twenty minutes now, to the point that even Frank, this elite super-soldier, was beginning to feel faintly exhausted.
Carl had completed such an astonishing transformation in less than five days!
If Frank had not witnessed Carl's growth with his own eyes,
he would probably have suspected that Carl had deliberately been playing weak all along.
At this point, it seemed he could only forcefully explain it with the words "exceptional talent."
But then again... wasn't Boss a Dimensional Demon?
Why was he still practicing fighting techniques?
Frank thought: I've truly never seen such a diligent Dimensional Demon before!!!
Thanks to "Pretending Not to Be Rich" for the two monthly tickets, "Ending in 4599" for one monthly ticket, "Wind and Fire Once" for one monthly ticket, and "Rocket Team," who has commented many times, for one monthly ticket. This little author is immensely grateful!!!
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