As the meeting concluded, Pierce assigned Nick to handle the matter regarding General Ross. Once everyone else had dispersed, a figure walked into Pierce's office.
He was Sitwell, Pierce's assistant and also one of the Hydra spies lurking within S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Director, you wanted to see me."
Sitwell wore a respectful expression.
With his back to him, Pierce slowly turned around, looked at him, and said, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has decided to capture Tony. You go notify Bucky. Once the operation begins, quickly locate Bruce and take him away."
"I understand, Director."
Sitwell nodded, then left the office.
Watching his retreating figure, Pierce felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.
With the military intervening, the probability of him detaining Bruce was low, so the best course of action was to have someone take Bruce away directly.
When the time came and they discovered Bruce was missing, the military would only be able to look for Tony, not pin it on him.
On the other side, Nick, having accepted the mission, also arrived at the military district to meet General Ross. After stating his purpose, Nick calmly awaited General Ross's reaction.
Thump, thump, thump!
General Ross tapped on the desk, his sharp gaze fixed intently on Nick.
"What you said is true?"
"Bruce is in Tony Stark's hands?"
"That's right, General. The news has been confirmed and is not false,"
Nick Fury affirmed.
"In that case, you plan to make a move against Tony?"
"Then do you know how many weapons Stark Industries provides to the military every year?"
"You make a move against Tony, do you think the military will just sit back and do nothing?"
General Ross spoke in a casual tone, his words filled with intense chill, seemingly appearing as though he wanted to stick up for Tony.
Witnessing this, Nick did not panic at all; instead, a smile surfaced at the corner of his mouth.
"General, as far as I know, you've always wanted to capture Bruce, and I heard that you and Stark Industries don't really get along?"
Saying this, Nick did not continue, but his meaning was expressed very clearly: everyone had the same objective, so there was no need to put on an act.
Where there were people, there were struggles, and the military was no exception. The United States military was divided into two factions, the Hawk Faction and the Dove Faction, and the generals who had a better relationship with Stark Industries belonged to the Dove Faction.
As political rivals of the Dove Faction, the Hawk Faction naturally held no good feelings for any forces close to the Dove Faction.
Under normal circumstances it might not matter, but once something happened, they would have no reservations whatsoever.
Similarly, the Dove Faction was the same, which was one of the reasons Nick dared to openly seek out General Ross.
Lifting his eyebrows slightly, the expression on General Ross's face remained nonchalant. "Since that's the case, let's spell it out. What do you people in S.H.I.E.L.D. need me to do?"
"Help us block the pressure from the military. Afterwards, Bruce will be handed over to the General."
"Not enough."
General Ross shook his head directly.
"I can also send people to capture Bruce myself; I don't need you to hand him over."
"If you want me to help you, show some sincerity."
General Ross's decisive refusal caused Nick to inwardly curse him as an old fox.
Fortunately, he had already made preparations before coming. Therefore, after General Ross's refusal, Nick continued to offer terms: "The design blueprints for the Laser Gun."
As the words fell, the pupils of General Ross's eyes contracted, and even his desk-tapping motion stopped.
The Laser Gun was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s exclusive equipment and possessed immense destructive power. The military had long coveted this firearm, but because it was independently researched and developed by S.H.I.E.L.D., they had no way to make S.H.I.E.L.D. hand it over voluntarily.
He had not expected Nick to actually pull out this item as a bargaining chip, instantly striking his weak spot.
"Fine, it's a deal. But you must give me the blueprints first."
"Deal!"
The two successfully negotiated the terms, and Nick did not linger any longer, directly rising to take his leave and depart.
Having eliminated any worries behind the scenes, S.H.I.E.L.D. rapidly launched operations. Large numbers of elite operatives dispersed directly, deploying surveillance around Tony's villa to seek an opportunity to strike.
Similarly, after seeing Nick off, General Ross quickly assembled the elite squad under his command, arranging for them to take action together with S.H.I.E.L.D. to ensure they brought Bruce back.
While S.H.I.E.L.D. and the military were moving, Tony was currently enjoying life without a single care.
Starlets, models, and throngs of beauties became Tony's prey. In the span of just three days, Tony changed over a dozen groups of beauties to dine with him, thoroughly rewarding himself.
Because of this, Potts's gaze toward him had turned incomparably resentful over the past few days.
However, after several days of debauchery, Tony's blissful life was forced to end as Reed's research achieved breakthrough progress.
Inside the underground laboratory, Tony walked in with brisk steps. Reed, standing in front of the experimental workbench, immediately turned his head upon hearing the commotion.
Spotting Tony, a flash of excitement appeared on his face.
"Boss, you're here. Come take a look."
Heeding the call, Tony hurried over to the experimental workbench, atop which sat a biological chamber containing a small white mouse.
They saw that the white mouse inside the biological chamber was gnawing on a hollow iron ball, inside of which food was placed.
Meanwhile, Reed began introducing it with an excited expression.
"I eliminated the berserk factor in that fellow's blood, retaining only the enhanced genes. After injecting that fellow's blood, not only has this little guy's body been comprehensively enhanced, but its strength has also increased by more than tenfold."
"If the human body can adapt to this power, then we can mass-produce Captain America."
"No, even stronger than Captain America!"
Listening to Reed's narration, Tony could not help but feel somewhat tempted. A single Captain America could turn an entire army upside down; if there were a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand Captain Americas, how terrifying would that be?
He continuously daydreamed in his mind, but Tony quickly cast aside this impractical notion.
Not to mention that the Human Experiment hadn't even been conducted yet; even if it succeeded, it would be impossible to mass-produce Captain America.
After all, this power originated from the Hulk's blood. Even if they drained the Hulk dry, it would be impossible to manufacture ten thousand Captain Americas.
"What is the success rate of the human experiments, and what are the side effects?"
Tony quickly calmed down and inquired.
At those words, the excitement on Reed's face dissipated quite a bit.
"According to my projections, the success rate of the Human Experiment is over eighty percent."
"As for the side effects, it stifles growth potential."
"According to my research, the berserk factor contained within that fellow's blood, although it will cause him to temporarily lose his mind, can also allow his strength to continuously rise."
"That is to say, he will keep growing stronger as time passes."
"Moreover, after injecting this serum, the subject's strength is practically fixed. It's impossible to improve it through any further means, nor can they transform like that fellow."
Saying this, Reed shook his head with regret.
Yet Tony was not disappointed. The heights a human being could reach were inherently limited; apart from a small minority, most people in the world could never break through human limits for their entire lives.
Leaving aside that point of potential, this was practically a flawless enhancer.
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