Transaction

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

Because I'm a drifter who was smuggled in from China. I bear you no ill will, and I can understand why you don't trust me. So I'm currently living with the future first Super Soldier test subject. If you're worried, you can keep both of us under surveillance."

Han Lin unhesitatingly threw out his second trump card. Hearing this, Howard Stark rose to his feet again. "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 check with the people on your team and see whether anyone has leaked this crucial information.

Second, you don't believe that the man living with me is the first Super Soldier test subject. Then I think time can prove my words. All you need to do is watch. Just don't influence anyone's opinion of Steve Rogers. I won't tamper with anything. 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. Can you provide me with one? What do you think of trading those three things for 10% 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 saying that, Han Lin began attacking the steak on the table, paying no attention to Howard's stare, which nearly bored through him. It wasn't until Han Lin had finished the dessert brought by the waiter that Howard exhaled and spoke. "For the next few days, I need you to stay by my side at all times. When you rest, I'll arrange for people to watch you. As for Steve Rogers, I'll have him monitored. I can meet your demands, and I hope you can fulfill yours as well. As for protecting my family, do you really think you can keep me safer than thirty special operations soldiers?"

Han Lin nodded at Howard Stark. "Let's go. I'll show you what I can do."

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

Howard Stark brought Han Lin to a secret Stark Industries research base in New York. Looking at the various precision instruments and processing machines around them, as well as the constant stream of firearms, ammunition, and weapons coming off the production lines, Han Lin felt that this place was essentially a massive arms factory.

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

Seeing only amazement in Han Lin's eyes, Howard breathed a sigh of relief. If he had been an NC spy, his first reaction upon seeing this would definitely have been delight. Taking out this production line could cause supply shortages at the front, damaging the Allied forces' morale. A spy would have been ecstatic. Yet all Howard saw in Han Lin's eyes was astonishment, nothing more.

Howard led Han Lin into a training room. Although Han Lin did not know what the room was used for, the fitness equipment around it and the octagonal cage in the center told him exactly what was about to happen.

Han Lin turned to Howard Stark and said, "I wouldn't advise you to arrange for anyone to spar with me. I don't have very good control over my body yet, so it's better not to fight anyone."

As he spoke, he walked toward a hanging punching bag. He clenched his right fist and punched. Since it was not a person, Han Lin used his full strength this time. His fist cut through the air with a howl as it slammed into the bag. Boom...

An explosive crack rang out. The punching bag burst apart from the side facing Han Lin, and grains of sand shot out like bullets, leaving shallow marks across the wall. They could not kill from range like Firearms, but at close range, they could hopefully pierce human flesh.

Han Lin looked at his fist and the punching bag, then shook his head as he looked at Howard Stark. "Well? Do you still need to test it?"

Howard's mouth was wide enough to fit an egg. After recovering, he stared at the wall that had been turned into a honeycomb and slowly asked, "How did you do that? That isn't strength a human being can possess. How did you make yourself this powerful?"

Han Lin laughed and shook his head. "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know? I've only had this kind of strength for a few days, so I still can't control it very well."

Howard Stark looked at Han Lin as though he had discovered a new species, practically ready to devour him 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 warning.

Howard Stark jolted again. Shaking his head, he 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 enhance the human body, yes, but only up to the limits of the human body. 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 Super Soldier Serum can still help me. Really.

Although I won't be the first test subject, 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 fragments of what I saw!"

Howard Stark stared blankly at the eloquently speaking Han Lin, with the strange feeling that he might have walked into a trap.

Han Lin looked at Howard Stark with a light smile. "Is there anything else you need me to prove?"

Howard Stark frowned slightly. "Is great strength all you have?"

"Not at all. My body seems to have undergone comprehensive evolution. All three aspects of my physical attributes have been enhanced. My current abilities 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, reaching the ceiling of the five-meter-high facility...

Howard Stark silently recorded the data so that 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. Therefore, Howard Stark already believed Han Lin's words. However, he still thought it would be best to verify Han Lin's claim of seeing the future.

After all, even if Howard believed him, others might not. So they would do as Han Lin suggested: 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 to get a complete understanding of your physical data. Is that all right with you? You can rest in my lounge tonight, and we can conduct the tests tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Han Lin nodded indifferently. "As long as food is provided, I don't care about anything else. Do I need to stay in my room and not move around? If necessary, I won't wander off."

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

Han Lin wore an expression that said, At least you know what's good for you. "Then I'll go look around." As he walked through the factory, watching all kinds of firearms and ammunition come 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 said, "Yes, sir. It's for our usual training. If you'd like to go, I can take you there."

Han Lin looked at the overly respectful elite soldiers and felt somewhat uncomfortable. "In China, we don't stand on so much ceremony. 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, burly, somewhat wooden white elite soldier, who stood a head taller than Han Lin.