Over the next few days, the entire team entered a period of intense preparation.
Tony and Banner plunged into the lab, working day and night with the Skrulls blood samples and biological data provided by Nick Fury. In just a few days, they finalized and launched a brand-new testing device.
The principle behind this device is very simple: it doesn't check body temperature, test genes, or perform routine biological screening; it specifically captures the unique fluctuation frequencies of living organisms.
The life-source frequencies of humans and Skrulls are vastly different. Even if the Skrulls perfectly replicate human appearance, memories, habits, and even physiological characteristics, the racial frequency inherent in their bones can never be faked.
Actual testing showed that the accuracy rate was ridiculously high, with virtually no possibility of misjudgment or missed judgment.
The only drawback is the limited detection range; a single device can only cover a radius of tens of meters, making it impossible to perform large-scale one-click screening.
But this flaw was nothing to most people.
Their original plan was to gradually erode and eliminate in specific locations; there was no need to deploy a massive operation all at once. With each unit operating on a smaller scale, they could mass-produce and deploy more equipment, screening and advancing the operation in different areas and zones. This would be just as effective in controlling all potential threats, and would be more than enough.
With everything prepared, the group, following the intelligence provided by Nick Fury, chose a densely populated area with a high number of suspected spies for their first field test.
The moment the device was turned on, the effect was immediately and intuitively displayed before everyone's eyes.
The screen was filled with countless bio-light dots that moved rapidly. The vast majority of them represented the normal wavelengths of ordinary humans, while a few scattered abnormal red dots were precisely locked onto the crowd.
Even if the target is mixed in with passersby and does nothing unusual, the device can still instantly identify them with ridiculously accurate positioning.
Rimuru stood in front of the instrument screen, quietly watching the constantly updated test data, and couldn't help but sigh.
As expected of Tony, his ability to build things is truly unparalleled, and his cutting-edge technology is always reliable.
But seeing the abnormal frequency red dots popping up one after another on the screen, he couldn't help but frown, feeling a little alarmed.
"But isn't this frequency... a bit too high?"
In just this small area of a few dozen meters, they managed to find so Skrulls.
This is hardly a sporadic infiltration.
Judging from this situation, this area has probably already been quietly infiltrated and partially occupied by these green-clad people.
Rimuru clicked his tongue inwardly. It seemed he really needed to hurry up and mass-produce the equipment and advance the cleanup plan. If he delayed any longer, the infiltration would only become more serious.
As his thoughts drifted, he couldn't help but start ranting about Nick Fury again.
To be honest, he really couldn't understand this Black Nick Fury's thought process.
Many countries around the world are plagued by racial conflicts and the infiltration of foreign ethnic groups every year, resulting in constant disputes and hidden dangers.
The racial issue involving Black people has been troubling us for so many years, and the various contradictions that have accumulated have yet to be completely resolved.
As it turned out, Nick Fury, with his outrageously audacious nature, ended up bringing an entire alien race of green people to Earth.
The funniest thing is that Fury himself is black and has personally experienced and witnessed all kinds of troubles caused by racial conflict and ethnic groups, yet he didn't consider at all the huge hidden dangers brought about by the influx of alien races.
Is it a genuine lack of foresight, or simply a lack of thinking?
Could it be that the current timeline is too early, and the various racial conflicts on Earth haven't fully erupted or been brought to the forefront, so he's completely unaware of this kind of crisis?
Rimuru stroked his chin, pondering to himself, and even couldn't help but have a thought come to mind.
Should we take this opportunity to curb the political correctness trend that has emerged in the US in recent years?
The Ironheart that followed was truly an eyesore; it was practically a challenge to human aesthetics. Rimuru certainly didn't want such a thing to inherit Tony's mantle.
If he knew that this thing had become the second Iron Man, he'd probably turn into Doctor Doom or something on the spot.
Otherwise, if this trend continues, in the future, not only will there be racial conflicts, but there will also be the added threat of an alien race, making it seem like it will never end.
Just as Rimuru lost in thought and muttering to himself, his communication device suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from Nick Fury.
The message was very short, just one sentence: Carol is back.
Rimuru was genuinely surprised to see this message.
He had originally estimated that it would take Captain Marvel at least ten days to two weeks to travel across the universe back to Earth.
I didn't expect them to be so fast; they returned and arrived in just a few days.
But as surprising as it may seem, this is definitely a good thing.
The sooner Carol returns, the sooner they can gather their forces and completely eliminate the Skrulls threat.
This kind of time bomb, hidden in the shadows of the earth and ready to explode at any moment, is best dealt with as soon as possible.
The longer it drags on, the more variables and hidden dangers arise; prolonging the situation will only lead to more trouble.
Nick Fury's message about Carol's return wasn't sent to Rimuru alone.
Almost simultaneously, everyone on the Avengers' side received the notification.
Without any unnecessary words, the content is consistent, simple, and straightforward: Carol has returned to Earth.
Just a few days later, the group, who had previously gone their separate ways to prepare, reunited at Rimuru's manor.
As the group arrived at the manor courtyard, they immediately spotted two people who had been waiting for them.
Nick Fury, with his ever-present calm and stern face, stood to the side with his arms crossed, his expression revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Beside him stood a woman with a completely different aura.
With long hair, a tall and straight figure, and an aura that is both restrained and extremely imposing, you can guess without an introduction— Captain Marvel, Carol Vers.
This was the first time the Avengers had truly met the legendary first Avengers.
The atmosphere wasn't exactly lively; in fact, it could be described as somewhat lukewarm.
Everyone knew perfectly well that Fury's urgent call for people back from the depths of space was not for any reunion or acquaintance.
It's purely because of the mess the Skrulls have made on Earth; things have reached a point where whoever has the bigger fist can make the decisions.
Everyone was focused on their business, and no one engaged in unnecessary pleasantries.
Tony, Banner, and the other Avengers who arrived glanced at Carol and gave each other a slight nod, which was their way of greeting her.
Simple, straightforward, with a touch of tacit adult estrangement.
Carol also keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere on the scene.
The crowd remained indifferent, even slightly aloof. They showed no curiosity or fawning over the powerful figure they had just met, nor any eagerness to make friends. The entire atmosphere was serious, with an emphasis on getting down to business.
However, she didn't care at all.
Ultimately, this was the first official meeting between her and this group of Earth's Avengers. They were strangers and had no connection whatsoever, so there was no need for her to force a friendly rapport.
What she was more curious about now was Nick Fury's purpose.
Before returning, she only received an emergency recall notice and knew that it was related to the Skrulls, but she knew nothing about the specifics.
So she turned to Fury, who had been slacking off for a while, and asked him for details.
No matter how she asked, Nick Fury remained incredibly tight-lipped.
They stuck to one statement: the remaining issues concerning the Skrulls needed to be addressed.
He refused to utter a single word about the details, hidden dangers, the scale of the threat, or the upcoming purge plan.
If you ask too many questions, he will simply change the subject and insist on keeping quiet.
This unexpected turn of events cast a shadow over Carol's heart, filling her with a strong sense of foreboding.
If it were just a minor dispute, it wouldn't have warranted an emergency call back to Earth from her mission across the universe.
The more Fury concealed the truth and refused to reveal the full picture, the more it indicated that the situation was far more troublesome than she had imagined, and might even... be completely out of control.
The air in the courtyard instantly quieted down, carrying a tense feeling of impending storm.