Years of experience as an agent told Coulson that Yang Bo wasn't lying, but he was definitely hiding something.
He raised his arms and rested both hands on the table.
"Would you be interested in joining us? We warmly welcome talented people with special abilities like yours!"
At Coulson's invitation, Yang Bo leaned back lazily in his chair and tapped the table, a thoughtful look on his face.
S.H.I.E.L.D.? Pah! Serpent S.H.I.E.L.D. is more like it. If I joined now, Hydra would chew me up and spit me out!
Yang Bo knew his own intellectual limits. Charging in on impulse and hacking a few vampires to death was no problem, but spending his days with people who constantly schemed would just be asking for misery.
With an apologetic look, he told Coulson, "Sorry!"
"As for joining your Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, I'll have to decline!"
"Right now, I just want to be a Vampire Hunter in peace!"
Coulson wasn't disappointed by Yang Bo's refusal. After all, they barely knew each other yet, and his question had only been a probe.
"That's all right, but a friendly word of warning: the vampires' power isn't as simple as it looks. Their main power base is in Europe, and they don't place much importance on their kin here in the United States. Still, they're all descendants of Dracula!"
Yang Bo nodded slightly. Coulson's warning was a friendly gesture. After a moment's thought, he said, "Thanks for the reminder!"
His fast food was ready by then. Yang Bo stood up with a smile. "Give me a moment. I'll go get my breakfast and lunch!"
With that, he walked toward the counter. With his back to Coulson, Yang Bo frowned slightly. He wanted S.H.I.E.L.D. to help him collect some materials, but he currently had nothing worthwhile to offer, so there was no way to strike a deal. All he could offer was information.
But the information he had came from the movies, and it was extremely important. If he revealed it, he would definitely attract the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D.-or rather, Hydra.
He carried his tray back to his seat.
Seeing Yang Bo's troubled expression, Coulson asked warmly, "Yang, something seems to be bothering you. You can tell me about it. Maybe I can help!"
Yang Bo looked at Coulson's likable expression. Although he knew Coulson was an agent and this was part of his job, he still couldn't help feeling fond of him. Shaking his head with a rueful smile, he said, "I'm wondering how I can get a little help from you without joining your organization!"
Coulson's smile grew even brighter. Compared with the targets he'd dealt with before, Yang Bo's straightforward nature caught him a little off guard, but he liked it. Everyone needed something. Help each other out long enough, and wouldn't they become friends? Once they were friends, surely Yang Bo couldn't refuse to lend a hand when Coulson needed something.
"Why don't you tell me what you need first?"
Coulson didn't agree outright, but he'd already decided that if it wasn't too much trouble, he would help.
"I want to find a volcano-one that's currently erupting. I need some lava!"
That's it? That's all??
Coulson immediately said, "No problem. Whenever it's convenient for you, I can arrange to take you to the nearest volcanic crater!"
He didn't ask what Yang Bo wanted the lava for. Finding volcanic lava couldn't have been easier for him. They wouldn't even need to leave the country, and if they moved quickly, they could make the round trip in a single day. After all, the United States was one of the most volcanically active countries on Earth, with 165 potentially active volcanoes.
He already had a destination in mind: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Just a few days earlier, he'd seen news that the volcano there had begun erupting continuously again, with lava almost reaching the road.
Yang Bo looked a little stunned by how readily Coulson had agreed to his request.
He studied Coulson carefully, then suddenly smiled. "I really do want to be friends with you now. Would you mind giving me your number?"
He took out his phone, set it on the table, and slid it toward Coulson. Yang Bo thought Coulson really was a decent guy. Sure, he was coveting Yang Bo's "body" a little, but that was his job, wasn't it?
Coulson picked up the phone and entered his number. A ringtone sounded, then he hung up and returned the phone to Yang Bo.
Yang Bo smiled and tucked the phone into his pocket. "I need to go home first and grab a few things. After that, we can leave whenever you're ready!"
He picked up a hamburger from the table and started eating. Perhaps it was thanks to Steve's buffs, but Yang Bo stuffed three hamburgers and an assortment of snacks into his stomach in just over a minute.
Coulson was astounded. He joked, "Yang, it's a good thing you didn't join us, or the director would definitely fire me!"
Yang Bo smiled. "I'll head home first. Are you going back, or will you wait here?"
After a moment's thought, Coulson smiled and said, "If it won't take long, I can wait here. I'm getting a little hungry myself!"
"It won't take long."
With that, Yang Bo stood up and headed toward Central Park. Once home, he first sorted out all the odds and ends he was carrying, then crafted a large number of iron buckets.
Suddenly, a new message flashed before his eyes.
[More Stacking Mod activated]
"Holy shit..."
Startled by the sudden message, Yang Bo broke into a delighted expression.
"You little rascal, always springing something new on me!"
The [More Stacking Mod] allowed previously unstackable items to stack, such as Lava Buckets, Water Buckets, potions, and so on.
"I was just thinking this volcano trip wouldn't be worth it if I couldn't bring back enough lava. Now that's sorted. This is fantastic!"
He planned to bring some lava back from the crater this time. He wanted to try casting a Portal to see whether it would lead to the Nether.
Unfortunately, he didn't have a Diamond Pickaxe. Otherwise, he could have crafted an Enchanting Table.
"I'll raise my Hunter Level first! Then I'll find Coulson and head to the volcano!"
With his plan settled, Yang Bo went over to the Vampire Hunter. Three days had passed, but the Vampire Hunter hadn't changed at all. He was still as blocky as ever.
Yang Bo opened the interface and placed the [vampire blood] he'd collected this time from his inventory into the slots on the screen, silently thinking, Confirm.
Fifteen bottles of [vampire blood] were consumed, and Yang Bo winced at the sight.
Making money is a bitch. Those fifteen bottles took at least thirty dead vampires, and here they disappear with one little click!
It felt like spending money in a game: one little click, and his wallet was empty, but he was stronger.
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