Trade

Han Lin nodded indifferently. "I don't mind, but you probably won't be able to verify my identity now.

Because I'm a drifter who was smuggled over from China. I mean you no harm, and I understand if you don't trust me. That's why I'm living with the first future Super Soldier Serum test subject. If you're worried, you can keep both of us under surveillance."

Han Lin did not hesitate to drop his second bombshell. Howard Stark shot to his feet again when he heard it. "That's impossible!"

Han Lin looked at the agitated Howard Stark. "Nothing is impossible, Mr. Stark. You may not believe me, but you should believe in fate. First, you need to confirm with the people on your team whether anyone leaked this crucial information.

Second, you don't believe that the man living with me is the first Super Soldier test subject. I think time can prove my words. All you need to do is watch. Just don't affect anyone's impression of Steve Rogers. I won't interfere in any way. If you're still worried, I can stay in the room next to yours until Steve Rogers completes the Strategic Scientific Reserve enlistment physical.

Third, I don't have legal identification. Could you provide me with a legal identity? What do you think of exchanging those three conditions for ten percent of your company's shares? As for how I'll protect your company in the future, this isn't a suitable place. We can go somewhere else, and I'll demonstrate it for you."

After finishing his last sentence, Han Lin began attacking the steak on the table, completely ignoring Howard's gaze, which seemed ready to bore through him. Only after Han Lin had finished the dessert brought by the waiter did Howard finally exhale and speak. "I need you to stay with me over the next few days. When you rest, I'll arrange for people to watch you. As for Steve Rogers, I'll have him monitored. I can meet your conditions, and I hope you can fulfill your promises as well. As for protecting my family, do you really think you can keep me safer than thirty special forces soldiers?"

Han Lin nodded at Howard Stark. "Come on. Let me show you what I can do."

With that, he stood and headed downstairs with Howard. As for the bill, Howard Stark, the top arms supplier to the U.S. military, certainly would not care about a meal this cheap.

Howard Stark brought Han Lin to a secret Stark Industries research base in New York. Seeing the precision instruments and processing machines all around them, with weapons, ammunition, and firearms constantly rolling off the production lines, Han Lin felt as if this place was a massive arms factory.

Howard had another reason for bringing Han Lin here: he wanted to see whether Han Lin was a spy gathering intelligence. He had taken the risk of losing an entire production line by bringing this Chinese man of unknown origin here.

When Howard saw that Han Lin's eyes held only amazement, he quietly sighed in relief. If Han Lin had been a Nazi spy, his first reaction to this sight would definitely have been delight. Destroying this production line could cause shortages at the front, dealing a blow to Allied morale. A spy would have been overjoyed. Yet all Howard saw in Han Lin's eyes was amazement, nothing more.

Howard led Han Lin into a training room. Han Lin did not know what the room was used for, but the fitness equipment around them and the octagonal cage in the center made its purpose obvious.

Han Lin turned to Howard Stark and said, "I wouldn't recommend arranging for anyone to fight me. I still don't have great control over my body, so it's best not to spar with anyone."

As he spoke, he walked toward a hanging punching bag. He clenched his right fist and threw a punch. Since it was not a person, Han Lin used his full strength this time. The force of his punch howled through the air as it slammed into the bag. Boom...

An explosive crack rang out. The bag burst open on the side facing Han Lin, and sand blasted outward like bullets, leaving shallow marks across the wall. It could not kill from a distance like firearms could, but at close range, it should be able to punch through human flesh.

Han Lin looked at his fist, then at the sandbag, and shook his head before looking at Howard Stark. "Well? Do we still need to run more tests?"

Howard's mouth hung wide enough to fit an egg. After recovering, he stared at the wall riddled with holes and slowly asked, "How did you do that? That isn't strength a human can possess. How did you make yourself this powerful?"

Han Lin shook his head with a laugh. "Would you believe me if I said I don't know? I've only had this power for a few days, so I still can't control it very well."

Howard Stark stared at Han Lin as if he were looking at an entirely new species, as though he wanted to devour Han Lin with his eyes.

Han Lin shuddered. "You'd better stop looking at me like that, or I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from beating the shit out of you." Han Lin gave Howard Stark a small threat.

Howard Stark shuddered again. He shook his head and said to Han Lin, "Although I don't know how you did it, I think I believe you now. Dr. Erskine said that the Super Soldier Serum could improve the human body, but at most it could only reach the limits of human potential. You've already surpassed those limits, so I don't think you're after the Super Soldier Serum."

"No, no, no... Mr. Stark, I really did come for the Super Soldier Serum. I don't know how my body became like this, but I think the serum can still be useful to me. Really.

I may not be the first test subject, but I hope to become the second and the last. As for why, once Steve Rogers completes the enhancement and proves that I was telling the truth, I'll give you some more of the fragments I saw!"

Howard Stark stared blankly at the eloquent Han Lin, with the strange feeling that he had somehow fallen into a trap.

Han Lin smiled lightly at Howard Stark. "Is there anything else you need me to prove?"

Howard Stark frowned slightly. "Is your strength the only thing exceptional about you?"

"Not at all. My body seems to have undergone a complete evolution. All three of my physical attributes have been strengthened. My current stats are probably four times those of an elite special forces soldier." As he spoke, he ran a lap around the fairly large training room. The two-hundred-meter circuit took him less than ten seconds. Then he jumped twice, and Han Lin touched the ceiling of the five-meter-high building...

Howard Stark silently recorded the data so he could report it to Dr. Erskine later. If this superhuman wanted to do something bad, now would be the best opportunity.

After all, if Han Lin killed him, the Super Soldier Serum experiment could not be completed. Howard Stark had therefore already believed Han Lin's words. Still, it would be better to verify his claims about seeing the future.

After all, even if Howard believed him, others might not. So they would do as Han Lin said: simply watch Steve Rogers and see how he became the first test subject. After that, Han Lin could convince the others himself.

Howard Stark slowly said, "I need to make some equipment so I can gain a complete understanding of your physical data. Is that acceptable? You can rest in my lounge today, and we can conduct the tests tomorrow. What do you think?"

Han Lin nodded casually. "As long as food is provided, I don't care about anything else. Do I need to stay in my room without moving? If so, I won't wander around."

Howard said, "No need. Based on what you showed earlier, even thirty special forces soldiers wouldn't be enough to take you on. Just don't leave their sight. In seven days, we'll go to Colonel Phillips's unit! I'll have someone prepare dinner for you."

Han Lin wore an expression that said Howard knew better. "Then I'll go take a look around." As he walked through the factory, watching all kinds of weapons and ammunition roll off the production lines, he felt like trying them out. He turned to the two security guards following him and asked, "Is there a shooting range here? Can I go take a look?"

The two elite soldiers looked at the Chinese man who had just displayed his prowess in the training room and respectfully replied, "Yes, sir. It's for our usual training. If you want to go, I can take you there."

Han Lin looked at the overly respectful elite soldiers and felt something he could not quite put into words. He said, "We Chinese aren't so particular about that. You can call me Lin. No need to be so polite..."

The Black elite soldier nodded. "You can call me Stephen. His name is Barry." He pointed at the tall, dull-looking white elite soldier, who stood a head taller than Han Lin.