Ross: Hm? This Bet...

"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

General Ross looked at the figures above him and fell into deep thought.

As an organization also belonging to the United States, he naturally knew of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s existence, given his position of power.

This international intelligence organization ostensibly fell under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Security Council.

Although the United States held a dominant position within it,

it still could not freely mobilize S.H.I.E.L.D.'s forces.

In truth, they had always operated along the fringes of every nation's authority.

Even military generals like him found it difficult to grasp the true scope of their operations.

What angered him even more was that

those S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were like dogs that had caught a scent. They could sniff out any anomaly.

Not long after something happened, they would always barge in at the critical moment.

Could this time...?

"Is that one-eyed bastard Fury trying to steal my prey again?"

Ross gritted his teeth inwardly as he recalled several unpleasant past encounters with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Whenever the military was about to gain control of some strategic weapon or superhuman ability,

S.H.I.E.L.D. would always forcibly intervene under the pretext of "global security."

What he had not expected was for them to come looking for him at this particular time!

Had his plan already been leaked?

No, that was not the important part. What mattered was why they had shown up.

Would they affect his plan to capture Banner?

As General Ross's thoughts raced, he frowned slightly and looked at the man leading them. "What exactly does S.H.I.E.L.D. want?"

"Of course, we want to make a bet with General Ross, with Dr. Banner's fate as the stake."

"If we win, Dr. Banner comes with us. And from then on, you may no longer trouble Dr. Banner or interfere with his life!"

"If you win, S.H.I.E.L.D. will no longer concern itself with anything related to Banner. We will also help you research the Super-Soldier Serum!"

"How about it? I wonder if General Ross is interested?"

"If you think we're deceiving you—"

As the man spoke, he slowly extended one hand.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In an instant, an ice lotus formed from frost slowly bloomed and revolved in the man's hand.

"Th-this is..."

General Ross stared at the miraculous sight before him in shock, transfixed by the scene that seemed like a divine miracle.

This...

This was exactly what he wanted!

Power.

Overwhelming power!

As long as he could control this power, he would stand out in the global arms race and establish an absolute military advantage for himself.

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

The thing he desired.

If he could get even a little something from their hands, why would he need to go through so much trouble to capture Banner?

This was an excellent opportunity—an opportunity to bring S.H.I.E.L.D. into the game.

"State your terms! How do you want to make this bet?"

Yu Xian saw that Ross was tempted and did not hesitate, laying out the contest he had planned long ago. "General, aren't you carrying out the Super-Soldier Serum Project?

"Then let's bet on whether your project succeeds!

"As long as you can create a controllable super-soldier, we lose.

"But if the super-soldier you create cannot be controlled, then we win!

"Simple, right?

"So?

"Do we have a bet?

"General!!!"

Hearing this, Ross was delighted. He had been preparing for this project for a long time, and he was extremely confident that he could create a controllable super-soldier.

However, there was still one obstacle: the experiment's progress lacked a blood sample from Banner!

"Fine, but I need Banner on my side."

"Of course, no problem. Since the wager has been set, we will not interfere with any of your actions until it is settled.

"We'll make sure you lose beyond all doubt.

"Perhaps,

"we'll even offer you some help along the way!"

"Good. As long as you do not interfere with me, the bet is effective from this moment onward!

"Afterward, you are not allowed to obstruct any of my actions concerning Banner!"

"Deal!"

Ross was overjoyed upon hearing that, afraid that the other party might change his mind.

He had absolute confidence in this bet.

S.H.I.E.L.D., you're definitely going to suffer this loss!

Yu Xian looked at the delighted Ross below and knew that the man was brimming with confidence in this wager.

What a coincidence—so was he.

And besides,

he had not merely been talking about helping General Ross.

Later on, he might truly help him complete the Super-Soldier Serum sooner,

just so Ross could taste the bitter fruit of defeat.

Now that the wager had been set, it was time for him to visit Banner.

"Then, General Ross, until we meet again!"

[Detected that the host is in a pleasant mood. Pleasure Points +100]

Yu Xian signaled Medea with his eyes.

A pale purple glow suddenly lit up beneath the team's feet as a short-range teleportation magic array appeared.

Whoosh!

Under the moonlight,

the team that had been standing before Ross one second earlier

vanished together the next.

It was as though they had never been there at all.

Clink! Clink!

A S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia badge fell to the ground and rolled over to General Ross's feet.

Yu Xian had left it behind as proof of the wager before departing.

In a slum district, atop a certain building.

"Captain, are you really that confident?"

"If we fail, we won't be able to complete the mission the director gave our team!"

"Relax. I'm S.H.I.E.L.D.'s model operative! My mission success rate is one hundred percent!"

"Now, we should go check on our Dr. Banner."

Flutter! Flutter!

A shadow flashed through the night sky and landed on Yu Xian's shoulder.

Hoot! Hoot! Hoot!

(Boss, that green guy has stopped moving. He passed out!)

"Perfect. Let's continue with our operation!"

"No, don't... Don't try to provoke me!"

"Something terrible will happen!"

"Let me go..."

"..."

The morning sunlight shone over Banner's face as his eyes moved rapidly beneath his lids.

Whoosh!

Banner suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hmm????"

"Where is this??????"

Banner looked around in confusion. He saw the clean white blanket covering him and felt the softness beneath his body.

For a moment, he could not tell where he was.

He blinked.

His vision gradually focused, allowing him to see everything around him clearly.

At that moment, warm sunlight slanted in through the gaps of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

It dispelled some of Banner's fear at finding himself in an unfamiliar place.

This looked like a luxurious suite in a five-star hotel.

Banner looked at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

He looked at the thick white wool carpet spread across the floor in the distance.

He looked at the platter of fresh fruit, pot of hot tea, and breakfast pastries laid out on the solid wood table to his right.

It all felt so unreal.

"Where is this...?"

Banner muttered to himself.

The chaotic scenes from last night flashed through his mind.

—The soda factory, the special forces, those provoking thugs, and his final transformation.

But he remembered escaping afterward.

If he remembered correctly, he should have collapsed in the forest...

So how had he ended up here?

Had someone brought him here?

What did they want?

Could it be that bastard Ross?

No, impossible. That man would never bring him to a place like this!

If it had been Ross, only a cell would await him.

It seemed that whoever had brought him here bore him no ill will?

No, no. Perhaps they were another group like Ross, people who knew his value and wanted to create a weapon of war.

"You're finally awake, Dr. Banner!"

Just as Banner's thoughts were running wild,

the room's door opened.

He saw a very young Asian man with black hair and black eyes, carrying a bag of nuts in one hand.

He walked in while eating.