Haibolun Industrial Park.
Luke's laboratory.
"Don't be nervous. This is not some evil experiment. I'm just giving you a physical examination and telling you some information you must remember. You don't have to worry about me doing anything to you. You are now Director Fury's key focus." Luke walked out of the portal opened by the Mage King and said to Frank, who was following behind in silence.
"I'm not nervous, I'm just thinking back to the feeling of losing control." Frank sighed and glanced around at the space filled with all kinds of mysterious and powerful instruments. His eyes, which had regained their clarity, were full of complexity.
"Oh? When you lost control, you still had some consciousness left? Can you tell me how you felt at that time? This may help me understand your state at that time. You know, only if you are open and honest can I find the safest and most effective solution for you based on your state and my understanding of this energy." Luke said frankly.
"I will." Frank nodded.
"Is his condition troublesome?" Steve, who walked in later, asked with some concern. He was afraid Frank wouldn't be able to control this power. He was present today. If he hadn't been there, hadn't received the original and earliest Ring of Discernment from Heberon beforehand, today's story might have ended differently. Steve even felt that Frank shouldn't be allowed to wear the ring until he could no longer control this power.
"It depends on the follow-up inspection results." Luke replied.
"If, I mean if, the inspection results are not ideal, can this ring be recycled?" Steve glanced at the ring still on Frank's hand, gave him an apologetic smile, and continued speaking.
"Of course it can be recycled, but you have to understand that a ring, even a mass-produced version, will be bound to the DNA of the wearer. And the Ring of Discernment, which is the customized version for the two of you, will be bound even more deeply. In words you can understand, you can think of it as a living thing, and you are its inseparable master. Unless the master dies, it generally won't choose the second wearer to be its new owner." Luke asked the White Queen to start the equipment and make the corresponding preparations, while explaining to Steve who asked the question and the few people beside him who were listening attentively.
Steve and Frank, upon hearing this, moved in unison to touch the Soul Rings on their right hands with the fingers of their other hands. Steve understood what Luke said more deeply than Frank did. After all, he had worn the ring longer than Frank and was more familiar with it.
In his opinion, Luke's Mind Ring was more like an upgraded version of the Super Soldier Potion. For example, both could amplify certain emotions and desires within a person. But the ring's destructive power was far greater than that of a Super Soldier.
"I'm sure you have a solution, Luke, right?" Nick asked anxiously. He might not have been anxious about other things, but when it came to Frank and the Ring, he couldn't be anxious! He'd taken on such a huge debt to recruit thugs for S.H.I.E.L.D., or rather, his super team.
If there was no way to solve this problem, then Frank, wearing the ring, would be a time bomb that could explode at any moment. Instead of getting the added strength from Frank, Nick would have to spend a lot of time and energy focusing on him.
As for giving up Frank's fighting power? Nick had never considered it. The thought of a bill that would make his heart ache would completely dispel his idea. The sunk costs were simply too high, so high that even he wouldn't dare to give up easily unless things were irreversible and there was still room for maneuver.
"After I finish the test and understand all the circumstances, I can give you an accurate answer. Or simply say it's a reasonable solution. But I don't work for nothing." Luke said as he led Frank towards a bed-like instrument in the laboratory.
"I need to return to fulfill my duties. You know, for your trip, I hired another mage to take over my duties." The Mage King had no intention of interfering. Although the Supreme Mage had expressed interest in contacting and cooperating with the real world, it was currently only targeting Heberon. Many mages were unable to completely change their mindsets in a short period of time and continued to act as usual, simply fulfilling their duties as a mage and paying no attention to the affairs of the real world.
Perhaps only the wizard Strange who came after Ancient One would pay more attention to the real world and intervene more.
"Of course, say hello to the Ancient One for me. Um, and tell Strange not to keep calling me late at night to harass me. His current situation is not my fault at all. I think I have almost blocked all the cell phone numbers of wizards in that area. I hope you can protect your communicator. If he gets it, I will block you too." Luke waved to him and said goodbye in the embarrassed look on the Wizard King's face.
"I will tell Master Strange." The Wizard King hurriedly opened the portal, rushed in nimbly, and then immediately closed the door.
"Master Strange? It seems that our doctor has made a good transformation. He has been upgraded from an apprentice to a mage." Luke noticed the way the Mage King addressed Strange, which meant that the other party had probably gotten rid of the status of an apprentice and grown up.
"Do they always come and go freely like this?" Nick asked with a frown, looking at the place where the Mage King disappeared.
"Of course, this is their specialty." Luke said, and took Frank to the bed-like instrument, using his eyes and gestures to signal him to lie down. Frank did not hesitate, and he lay down according to Luke's instructions.
The surface of the bed-like instrument was composed of tiny cylinders. The tops of the cylinders were neither needle-pointed nor flat, but rather slightly rounded and spherical. When Frank sat on it, these cylinders, like mechanical forces, partially sank and partially expanded, tightly wrapping around Frank's body.
"Don't worry, the test won't take long. We'll talk about other things after it's done," Luke said. The whole process wasn't as difficult as Frank had imagined; it was simple and easy, which made him feel somewhat relaxed. This gave him a little more trust in Luke and a little more favorable impression of him.
"Doesn't this mean that if they want, they can go wherever they want and take away whatever they want?" Nick was worried. He was worried about the wizard's elusive portal.
Luke only needed to glance at him to know that Nick's special ability was kicking in again. "Do you think the wizard would take your treasures without your knowledge? Don't worry, the wizard won't be eyeing your things."
"What about you? This is an important laboratory of yours, right? If you were me, what would you think when faced with a group of people who could break into your house and take something away at any time?" Nick asked back.
"I'm sorry, there aren't as many valuable things in this laboratory as you might imagine. Of course, I'm not referring to these instruments, they're still very advanced and valuable, but whether they're lost or not doesn't put much pressure on me right now. Heibollen's technical reserves and all the data are under the control of Queen Bai. I don't think those mages can crack the encryption and understand those boring things. Besides, I don't have time to explain too much to you. To be honest, I understand your worries, but there's no need. Anyway, you can't stop the other party from entering and leaving your house, right?" Luke was a little impatient.
Admittedly, this laboratory was indeed built by him, and he spent a lot of money to renovate and upgrade it bit by bit over the years, but men always get tired of the old and love the new. His mind is now full of planning his own laboratory in the Dark City. Now this laboratory has become too much in his mind. How can he treat it as his lifeblood as before?
Even if there really is some mysterious intruder, are the laboratory's surveillance and defense measures just for show?
"I don't mean to disturb you, but the light on that instrument is green. Is the test done?" Captain America Steve pointed a finger at the green light on the bed instrument and asked.
"White Queen." Luke casually pulled in the air, and a virtual screen appeared in front of him. White Queen projected all the physical data obtained from the test onto the virtual screen for Luke to watch.
"How is it?" Nick asked nervously, looking at the densely packed data that looked like a heavenly book. This was related to his huge new currency debt.
"Apart from some hidden injuries, he's generally healthy," Luke said.
"In other words..."
"In other words, the erosion of the mind ring did not bring serious burden and damage to his body. This is gratifying. But some mental tests will need to be done later, and this time may be extended, and some more professional psychologists will be needed to conduct the assessment. Of course, you can also delegate trustworthy personnel to participate. After all, the probability of agents having psychological problems is quite high, and you should have a whole set of familiar experiences." Luke took over Nick's unfinished words.
"Can I get up now?" Frank, who was still lying on the instrument, turned his head and asked Luke who was next to the instrument.
"Okay. Can you tell me about your state of consciousness when you lost control? It doesn't need to be too detailed, even a vague feeling will be fine." Luke nodded and turned the topic to the direction that interested him.
"Feeling? Terrible!" The cylindrical body of the bed-type detection instrument sensitively judged what Frank wanted to do based on his movements, and pushed and supported him to sit up almost seamlessly, without him having to expend any effort during the whole process.
"I felt my heart was filled with resentment. The flames of anger and revenge immediately broke through my mental defenses. My will was devoured, my rationality was crushed, my calmness completely collapsed, my consciousness was chaotic, and I just felt that my whole body was filled with surging power that I wanted to release. I wanted to fight, I wanted revenge, I wanted to destroy. My consciousness at the time was only composed of these pure and strong emotions. And the stronger these emotions were, the faster the power in my body grew." Frank looked at the ring on his right index finger, which had become very simple at this time, with a complicated look, and whispered how he felt at the time.
"In other words, you know everything you have done? And you still maintain a certain level of consciousness?" Nick's eyes flickered.
"No, I was like a wild beast at that time. I was not conscious at all. I could only vaguely feel what I was doing. I was powerless to fight against that force, nor was I able to stop it." Frank shook his head.
"Because this is the emotional power deep in your heart. The Mind Ring simply induces it to manifest, and then resonates with the power within the ring." Luke said.
"Can he control it? Just like Captain? Or, let Captain introduce him to the techniques and experience on how to control the ring?" Nick said, turning his gaze to Captain America standing beside him.
Steve, who was pointed out by Nick, shrugged. "If I can, I will offer my best help, but his situation is obviously different from mine. I think it's better to listen to Luke's advice."
"The captain's emotions are positive, which in themselves won't affect his thinking and rationality too much. But Mr. Frank is different. His negative emotions are too strong and are amplified by the mind ring. To be honest, apart from Captain Rogers, you are the second person who can resonate with a certain type of emotion so strongly. The degree of your compatibility with it is so high that even I am a little amazed." Luke's eyes were full of admiration.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" Nick was a little confused by Luke's words.
"It's a mixed bag. The emotions represented by the Red of Rage are the most violent and difficult to control of the new energy, but they are also the most destructive. Frank, who has a very high degree of compatibility with it, will have strong combat effectiveness. But the flaws are the same. This energy is dangerous and difficult to control. It can easily cause the wearer to lose themselves in battle and become a puppet who only knows how to fight and hunt." Luke commented.
"Where's the solution? You promised me." Nick stared at Luke with burning eyes, waiting for his answer.
"The ideal solution is to let him gradually become familiar with it, to confront it, and to control it. But this path is difficult, and I don't think he can succeed."
As Nick's expression shifted, Luke calmly continued, "So my opinion is, if you want something quick and effective that only treats the symptoms, the Blue Tranquility Crystal is the right one. Wearing the Blue Tranquility Crystal can fill his heart with tranquility and double his rationality. It can also effectively suppress the mental influence and erosion of the Red Ring of Rage. Simply put, it allows him to maintain a certain level of composure even in battle."
"What about the disadvantages? This method should have disadvantages, right?" Nick and Frank looked at each other and asked.
"The disadvantage is that when the Serenity Blue Crystal is used up, he will have to stop using the power of the Red Ring. And the power of the Red Ring will be weakened and affected to a certain extent. It will no longer be able to climb upwards, demand, and increase as unlimitedly as before." Luke explained the disadvantages in detail.
"Now, the last question." Nick suppressed the familiar uneasiness welling up in his heart and asked the question he was most reluctant to ask at this moment: "Quiet Blue Crystal, how much is it?"
Frank looked at his friend, his face grim but forcing a smile, feeling baffled. He knew his friend had embezzled funds for the safe house. In other words, this man was wealthy! But what price could he pay that would make him feel the pinch?
If Nick could hear Frank's question, he'd roll his eyes. The question of asking Luke for the price had truly scarred him, and he was already bracing himself for another blow. But watching Luke's chain reaction, his only hope was that the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. assets would be repaid before he sold them all off.
I can't leave a mess for my successor. This is the last stubbornness in Nick's heart!
"I have some black money from the gang, Nick should be able to launder it." Frank said kindly.
"Old buddy, you can't give Luke what he wants." Nick was deeply touched by his old friend's help, so he silently increased the repayment proportion he would bear. After all, he couldn't stop his old friend's kindness, right? Morality, this thing is too luxurious for him. Nick sighed inwardly.
"Don't make me sound like a man-eating devil. Our transaction was consensual. I didn't force you to buy my product, did I?" Luke waved his hand calmly. "I can offer you other payment methods."
"I'll pay." Nick raised his hand.
"I mean, it can be converted into the new currency in other ways." Luke turned his head and looked at Nick.
"I choose to give money!" Nick repeated firmly as he met Luke's gaze.
"You have no money," Luke pointed out.
"I can get a loan! The interest rate can be higher!" Nick became more determined.
"Do I look like some kind of monster?" Luke was bewildered by Nick's sudden determination. He really wanted to give him a break. After all, if he continued to mess with him, Nick's SHIELD would be ruined and renamed Hebron. He really wanted to ease the situation.
"It's a deal. Just give me the price when the time comes," Nick said, not wanting to hear anything more from Luke. He grabbed Frank and the captain and headed out of the lab like a familiar figure. As he walked, he called his subordinate, Hill, and asked her to arrange transportation to pick them up.
Nick was afraid that if he stayed any longer, the bill would go up again! Moreover, he had to have a good talk with his old friend about their debt problem.