The workers stopped their movements, whispering as they watched the fighter jet fly overhead.
Emil Blonsky's hulking frame remained motionless, like an iron statue cast at the entrance of the medical laboratory.
His gray eyes were fixed on the approaching S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem, the ferocious smile on his face growing more intense.
He hated surprises.
And he hated uninvited guests even more.
Especially those flies draped in official attire.
"Mr. Blonsky!"
Lei Ling's voice came from behind him.
"Boss, his... all his vital signs have disappeared! Heartbeat, breathing, brainwaves... all gone! But... but the energy reaction within him is climbing exponentially! This isn't scientific! It's like... like a bomb being activated!"
Blonsky didn't respond.
He didn't understand any of that!
He didn't even bother to turn his head.
For Blonsky, the life or death of the man in the cabin had temporarily taken a backseat to expelling the intruders.
This was his duty as a Guardian.
It was the embodiment of his contract spirit.
Protecting this island was the price he paid for freedom and peace, and any entity attempting to disrupt that tranquility was his enemy.
The Quinjet hovered overhead, its powerful engine airflow wildly swaying the palm trees below.
The hatch opened.
Nick Fury's signature black trench coat and single eye patch appeared at the top of the gangway.
Beside him was a stern-faced Maria Hill.
Fury's gaze swept across the futuristic island, and his apprehension towards William Rodriguez deepened a few notches.
This insurance salesman was like a black hole.
No matter how many resources you invested in monitoring and analyzing him, the result was always more unknowns.
"Emil Blonsky," Fury's voice came, carrying official authority, "We mean no harm. I need to speak with William."
"He's busy right now."
"Then you will speak."
Fury's single eye narrowed.
"Manhattan is falling, and we need the Abomination's strength."
"I refuse."
Blonsky's answer was simple and direct.
He looked up, his mockery unconcealed, "You want me to help you, and fight alongside that green idiot?"
"Fury, have you been on the Helicarrier too long, is your brain oxygen-deprived?"
"This isn't a request, it's an order!"
Hill snapped sharply.
Her gun was already cocked.
Blonsky looked as if he had heard the biggest joke.
"An order? Little girl, the last person who gave me an order, the grass on his grave is taller than you."
"This is my territory!"
"My rules are the rules!"
"Now, take your people and get off my island."
Just as the two sides were at loggerheads, and the atmosphere was about to ignite, inside the medical laboratory...
The semi-enclosed medical pod emitted a faint "click."
All alarms ceased abruptly at this moment.
The various data inside the pod, which had been chaotically off the charts, instantly returned to a stable yet incredibly powerful level.
Lei Ling stared blankly at the thick, strong heartbeat curve on the screen, muttering to herself.
The hatch slowly lifted upwards amidst a gush of white cold air.
A figure sat up inside.
William felt like he had a very, very long dream.
In the dream, he was bound by countless burning chains, sinking into a deep sea composed of intense pain and darkness.
Every cell in him screamed, disintegrated, and then was forcibly reassembled by an even more domineering force.
The cold system prompt, like a divine oracle from the beginning of creation, echoed continuously in the depths of his consciousness.
"Toxin sample analysis complete... initiating targeted immune assimilation..."
"'Toxin Resistance (Primary)' ability upgraded to 'Omni-Adaptation (Primary)'..."
"Cell optimization progress 120%... 150%... 200%..."
"'Super Soldier Serum (Optimized Version · Potential)' has been fully activated and integrated..."
"Warning: Integration has produced unknown benign mutation... generating new ability template..."
"Abilities 'Accelerated Healing' and 'Omni-Adaptation' have linked... new ability 'Evolution in Adversity' has been generated."
When he opened his eyes, the World in his perception was completely different.
Dust floating in the air.
The heartbeats of Fury and Blonsky in the distance.
Lei Ling's nervous breathing.
Even the minute vibrations of every part inside the Quinjet engine... everything appeared in his mind with unprecedented clarity.
The deadly poison in his body had long vanished, replaced by an unprecedented, powerful feeling as if he could control everything.
He looked down at his right hand.
The arm, which had been charred black by the electric arc, had now fully recovered.
His skin was even whiter and more delicate than before.
But beneath the skin, there was a terrifying power capable of tearing steel apart.
William stepped out of the medical pod, and the various tubes and probes connected to him automatically detached.
Lei Ling tried to step forward to support him, but William stopped her.
He emerged from the medical room.
The dazzling sunlight fell on him, but it brought him no discomfort.
He looked up at the one-eyed man standing on the gangway.
"Director Fury."
His voice was much deeper than before, with a peculiar texture.
"What new insurance business brings you to my private island?"
Fury's pupils suddenly constricted.
He looked at the man standing in the sunlight, and a storm raged in his heart.
Intelligence indicated that William should have been seriously injured, on the verge of death.
That's why he rushed over immediately. Persuading Blonsky was the goal.
Then he could just push all the blame onto Rodriguez.
But the man in front of him, apart from his overly pale complexion, showed no sign of injury whatsoever?
That powerful confidence and dangerous aura emanating from his very bones were even stronger than the Abomination's!
"Rodriguez."
Fury quickly composed himself, his voice returning to its usual steady tone.
"It seems your recovery ability is much stronger than we estimated. I'm here to invite you and your 'employees' to join this war."
"Invite?"
William smiled.
He walked towards Blonsky.
He patted the latter's rock-hard shoulder, signaling that he could relax.
Then, he looked back at Fury.
"Director Fury, you seem to have misunderstood something. I am not a Super Hero; I am a businessman. Businessmen never do business without a return."
"Saving New York, saving millions of lives, that is the highest return."
Hill interjected coldly.
"That's the Avengers' job, not mine."
William's eyes also grew cold, "My job is to provide services to my clients and collect reasonable compensation."
"Now, I was attacked by the very people you protect, and I suffered severe physical and mental trauma."
"And you, S.H.I.E.L.D., as the nominal Guardian of this country, knew nothing about it."
"So, don't talk to me about saving the World; let's first talk about your dereliction of duty, the emotional distress, and the lost wages you caused me."
This shameless statement made Hill so angry she almost fired her gun on the spot.
Fury, however, raised a hand to stop her.
He knew that lecturing someone like William was futile.
"State your terms."
Fury asked directly.
"Very good, I like doing business with smart people."
The smile on William's face became "professional" again.
"My terms are simple. First, I want S.H.I.E.L.D. to publicly recognize the legal status of my 'Rodriguez Risk Management Company' and grant me the highest level of operational freedom."
"From now on, my company will conduct any 'business' worldwide, and S.H.I.E.L.D. shall not interfere for any reason."
"Impossible!"
Hill blurted out.
This was equivalent to giving him a pass to run rampant across the globe!
William ignored her, simply looking at Fury and extending his second finger.
"Second, after this war, my company will have priority in selecting all Chitauri technology, equipment, and wreckage left on Earth. I want to take two-tenths of the total value."
Fury's single eye twitched violently.
This was no longer just asking for a lot; this was trying to swallow the entire lion!
"As for the third..."
William's gaze swept past Fury, as if he saw the space portal leading to the Universe in the center of Manhattan, and a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I want Loki's scepter."
At these words, the composure on Fury's face finally vanished completely.
William looked at Fury's ghost-stricken face, his thoughts incredibly clear.
It was rare for the black-hearted Director to show such an expression.
His last request was certainly impossible for him to agree to.
Then Fury would have no room to refuse his first two reasons.
The scattered words about the "Insight Project" in Madame Hydra's phone had given him enough intelligence clues.
All of these could be sold to S.H.I.E.L.D.
He took a step forward.
"Director Fury, my patience is limited."
"What's your choice?"
-------------------------------
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