Chapter 51 Morgan Bank
At the same time, unpleasant things were happening at Morgan Bank, just a street away… A few minutes prior.
A somewhat thin man stood before a crosswalk, stretching his arms, waiting alone for the red light across the street to flash.
The man wore a black hoodie and jeans, with a terrifying demon mask on his face. His appearance resembled the recently infamous villain Demon, yet passersby didn't even give him a second glance.
Demon was the most popular villain online, with a fanbase even larger than many Superheroes… This led to all sorts of demon masks selling out, and countless Demon fanatics roamed the streets wearing the masks all day.
If you ride the New York subway, there's a high probability you'll see a group of passengers in a single car wearing demon masks… At this point, it's advisable to stay away from these lunatics, preferably exiting the car and waiting for the next train.
But this particular fan had high moral standards; at least he waited for the red light before crossing the street.
The Sun cast his Shadow long, illuminating the foul ditch and the common restaurant behind him, where a huge skull graffiti adorned the wall.
In the alley nearby, thugs were gathered, snorting powder, their faces looking listless.
Opposite them, however, stood the luxurious Morgan Bank, one of JPMorgan Chase Group's pillar industries.
The red light across the street flickered, until it ended.
The green light appeared, and as the man was about to step forward, a dilapidated pickup truck suddenly screeched to a halt in front of him.
The demon mask on his face showed an expression of displeasure. He flexed his wrists… "Demon! Glad you're not late this time, but did you forget something?" The car door was pushed open, and a man wearing a black balaclava roared, "Are you really planning to rob Morgan Bankempty-handed? As expected, people who worship Demon aren't very smart!"
"We don't have much time. If we keep chatting, the next time we meet will be in Rikers Island prison." The pickup driver said with a smile, turning his head. He wore a black stocking over his head, with holes cut out for his eyes.
The man in the black balaclava angrily moved aside. Demon paused for a moment, then got into the car and closed the door.
No one noticed that in a dumpster dozens of meters away, a man struggled to crawl out. He laboriously pulled off his deformed demon mask, his face covered in an unknown liquid… In the passenger seat sat a Black man, his face without any disguise. He nodded to Demon and tossed him a Browning pistol and several magazines.
Demon took the pistol and magazines without speaking. The stocking-clad driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror… The stocking-clad man suddenly saw the demon mask smiling!
The stocking-clad man blinked, and the demon maskreturned to its fixed expression… He exhaled, shaking the impractical thought from his head. Although he was already an A-class criminal wanted by the police, he still felt nervous facing Morgan Bank.
But his nervousness wasn't fear; it was… excitement!
Morgan Bank's total deposits were 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 25% of the total U.S. deposits. Even if this was just a branch, the U.S. dollars and gold stored in the vault far exceeded those of the banks he had robbed before!
"Guys, this is definitely our last job." The stocking-clad man turned the steering wheel hard to the left. "Succeed, and the wealth we gain will be enough to squander for a lifetime. Fail, and it's death or life imprisonment."
The stocking-clad man floored the accelerator, and the pickup truck's engine roared!
The man sitting next to Demon instantly flushed crimson. He pulled out a submachine gun, extended it out the window, and sprayed bullets at passersby, shouting frantically.
A powerful push-back sensation came, and the pickup accelerated at full throttle, honking its horn all the way, crashing with a roar into the Morgan Bank opposite!
The security guard at the entrance realized something was wrong and immediately picked up his weapon to stop these people.
The Black man in the passenger seat directly raised his hand and fired a burst, riddling the security guard with bullet holes.
The pickup truck smashed through Morgan Bank's glass doors, entered the lobby, and continuously struck several staff members and waiting customers until it stopped in front of the bank's counter.
The stocking-clad man opened the door, stepping on a body that had been dragged under the car, and got out, firing his gun.
"Esteemed gentlemen and ladies, if you squat down and cover your heads now, you still have a chance to live…"
Gunfire instantly roared in the lobby. The Black man and the other balaclava-clad man skillfully fired, eliminating the security and staff in the lobby, and simultaneously cut off the alarm calls.
The lobby manager had just been chatting with a lady, but seeing this scene, he knew what was happening in the bank.
"The cash is in the vault. Don't hurt my employees and customers…"
He hadn't finished speaking before he fell to the ground amidst gunfire. The stocking-clad man lowered his gun and, with practiced ease, rushed to the counter to find the key.
"You watch these hostages, and guard the door!" The stocking-clad man said to the Black man.
Demon followed the stocking-clad man and the balaclava-clad man, passing through the opulent hall to the vault, using the key to open the vault door.
The vault door swung open, revealing piles of green banknotes inside.
The balaclava-clad man rushed in first, but suddenly the stocking-clad man at the door raised his gun and fired. A 9mm bullet directly pierced his chest, and blood splattered.
The balaclava-clad man looked back at the man behind him, an expression of disbelief etched on his balaclava, then fell to the ground with a "thud."
"You know, one less person means we get to share more money… Of course, the biggest reason is that he deserves to die; he dared to abandon me last time!"
The stocking-clad man walked into the vault with a canvas bag. As he stuffed money, he turned back and smiled at Demon, "Of course, I won't forget that you drove back to save me last time. Go kill Mo outside, and we'll split it evenly…"
Suddenly, his words came to an abrupt halt. This time, he clearly saw the demon mask reveal a smile… Arthur raised his hand. The stocking-clad man raised his gun in terror, but it was all over.
Flames spewed like Dragon breath, and in an instant, both the stocking-clad man and the massive amount of U.S. dollars turned to ashes.
Arthur raised his head, smiled at the camera in the corner, and then turned and left.
By the time he returned to the lobby, he could already hear the distant wail of police sirens.
"Where are they?" The Black man, clutching his gun, rushed up and asked anxiously.
Arthur pulled out the Browning pistol, "You'll be seeing each other soon."
Arthur fired somewhat clumsily, emptying the magazine. Everyone knew Demon didn't use firearms.
Arthur leisurely approached the counter. The tax in this area was high, and the police response was quick. Officers with riot shields had already exited their vehicles and rushed to the entrance.
Arthur raised his hand and once again activated the Dragon Talisman. The shattered glass door completely melted. Several riot police officers were blasted away, rolling on the ground engulfed in flames, their fates unknown.
A pillar of Fire flew out again, and the hit police car instantly exploded.
"Report to headquarters, we've encountered a Superpowered individual! Requesting backup! Requesting backup!" an officer yelled into his walkie-talkie.
Amidst the chaotic screams, Arthur gently tapped the bulletproof glass of the counter. A female staff member hiding under the desk could only emerge under his gaze.
"How may I help you, Mr. Demon?" In New York, no one didn't recognize that mask.
He casually picked up a paper bag nearby and handed it in. He smiled: "Old bills, non-sequential, fill it up, thank you!"
Even with a sturdy layer of bulletproof glass separating them, the staff member dared not disobey Demon's words and could only comply obediently…
Chapter 52 Captain America's Shield
Captain America was riding in a S.H.I.E.L.D. vehicle on the road when, after alarms and gunshots rang out, everyone looked at the chaos on the roadside.
"Morgan Bank? Is it a bank robbery?" Captain Americaasked Director Nick, "I deposited some money in Morgan Bank in 1944, and I hope I can still get it out."
"Even if it's an anti-riot drill by the bank, they wouldn't use a car to smash the main door," Director Nick glanced and said, "It looks like a carefully planned bank robbery by criminals, but it has nothing to do with us; the police have already arrived."
Captain America frowned, listening to the continuous gunshots; every gunshot could mean the death of a life.
"Stop the car!"
The vehicle braked sharply; even after seventy years, people would still subconsciously obey Captain America's command.
"Captain, even if a hound helps a house cat catch a mouse, the house cat might not appreciate it," Director Nickgrabbed Captain America's shoulder and reminded him, "S.H.I.E.L.D. and the police are two different systems, and our division of labor and functions are also different."
"But I can't just stand by and watch criminals escape, waiting for him to slaughter more innocent people!" Captain America's attitude was firm.
"But you've just woken up! You've been asleep for seventy years; you don't understand this World at all!" Director Nick waved his hand and said, "Interfering with police work will cause all sorts of trouble; S.H.I.E.L.D. is a covert department."
Captain America put his hand on the car door, "No matter how much time passes and how much the World changes, weak people need help, and the stance of justice will never waver!"
Captain America pushed open the car door and got out. Director Nick shouted from behind him: "S.H.I.E.L.D. is also just; our mission is to prevent ordinary civilians from being troubled by supernatural events or advanced technology..."
Suddenly, an explosion interrupted Director Nick's words. Under everyone's gaze, a high-temperature Fire ignited a police car, and several officers were thrown back by the heatwave.
Captain America looked back at Director Nick, who shrugged helplessly and said, "Alright, someone's going to have a bad day... All Agents, attention!" He yelled into the intercom.
Captain America slowly walked towards Morgan Bank, adjusting his state with deep breaths. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.
"Captain, you might need this!" It was the female Agentfrom the hospital room earlier; she threw him a shield.
Captain America reached out and caught it, skillfully placing it on his left hand.
"Thank you!" Captain America said without looking back.
He ran his hand over the red paint on the outer rim of the shield, gazing at the White five-pointed star. Many past memories flooded his mind... Seventy years had passed; his teammates were no longer by his side, but this shield still accompanied him in battle.
Captain America looked at the mess in front of Morgan Bank. He started to run and accelerate, his fearless charging figure inspiring reverence in all the Agents!
"Captain America!" Someone murmured to himself. Suddenly, in the next moment, all the Agents enthusiastically cheered: "Captain America!"
Captain America rushed to the bank entrance. He had just seen bodies lying in pools of blood and people huddled, trembling in a corner, when suddenly, three blasts of Fire attacked him head-on!
Captain America quickly raised his shield to block.
"Boom!"
A huge flame erupted on the shield, and Captain Americawas instantly blown away, crashing heavily into a police car more than ten meters behind him before stopping.
His shield also flew out of his hand, heading towards the unlucky Director Nick. Fortunately, Director Nick had been observing the battlefield; he quickly ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being cut in half by the shield.
"Thud!" A loud crash was heard; the shield actually shattered the vehicle's bulletproof glass, with one-third of the shield embedded in the car window.
The cheers of the crowd abruptly stopped, their expressions frozen... Before their eyes, Captain Americahadn't even entered the bank and was blown away in a single exchange... Director Nick grabbed the shield with both hands, stepping on the car body, and pulled the shield out with all his strength.
"Hey, Captain! Are you alright?" Director Nick asked, holding up the shield, "I believe you've just slept too long; you should need some time for recovery training..."
A hand was raised from the dented car roof, "I'm fine!"
Captain America rolled over and climbed off the car roof, taking the shield that Director Nick threw to him.
"Seventy years, the World has changed so much!" Captain America said with emotion, "Even criminals robbing banks can control high-energy flames now?"
"No, that wouldn't be an ordinary criminal!" Director Nicksaid, "It seems we need some intelligence support."
...Inside the bank lobby, the explosion that had just occurred at the entrance also passed through the bulletproof glass and reached the ears of the female staff member, causing her to pause her action of stuffing cash.
Arthur looked back at her, and she quickly continued to put 100-dollar bills into the bag.
"Was I seeing things just now?" Arthur leaned on the counter and said, "I think I saw a man holding a red, White, and blue shield."
"That's Captain America's shield..." The staff member interjected, "Red symbolizes courage, White symbolizes truth, and blue symbolizes justice..."
Arthur didn't speak, just looked at her with a full smile.
The staff member quickly shut up, bowed in apology, and continued her work... Outside Morgan Bank, Captain America rolled out of the car. He shook his numb left arm and re-strapped on his shield.
That attack was swift and fierce; he hadn't even seen the situation inside the bank lobby before he was blown away by high-energy Fire. If it weren't for the Vibranium shield absorbing most of the energy, he would likely have been in serious trouble from that single blow...
"Director, there aren't many super-powered individuals in New York who can use Fire attacks. After data analysis of the footage transmitted from the scene, the person who attacked Captain Rogers is most likely 'Carnage'." A voice came through Director Nick's earpiece.
"Carnage?"
Director Nick felt it was tricky. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s duty is to deal with supernatural events. Whenever Superheroes or criminals appear that the police cannot handle, S.H.I.E.L.D.intervenes.
Ever since Carnage killed those robbers at the Park Hyatt Hotel, S.H.I.E.L.D. had noticed this super-powered individual. After multiple subsequent incidents, Carnagewas defined as a criminal by S.H.I.E.L.D. and needed to be eliminated or imprisoned.
S.H.I.E.L.D. had used a lot of resources to capture Carnage, but it had all been in vain.
Carnage always appeared erratically in certain districts of New York, doing good or bad things as he pleased. His attire was not fixed; his only distinguishing feature was the demon mask on his face. But ever since Carnage became popular online, more people wearing demon masks were wandering the streets of New York... Of course, a bigger reason was Carnage's powerful strength and versatile abilities, making it impossible for S.H.I.E.L.D. to arrest or track him.
According to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s data, Carnage's known abilities included invisibility, super speed, Fire attacks, and laser attacks.
Today, Carnage actually came to rob Morgan Bank, and S.H.I.E.L.D. encountered him without any preparation!
I've opted for a single female lead. For opinions on multiple female leads, everyone can check the pinned post in the book club ~
Chapter 53 First Meeting
"Alright, Captain, it seems it's not the criminals who are unlucky, but us."
Saying that, Director Nick handed the work tablet to Captain America, which contained detailed information about the demon mask.
Captain America held the tablet, somewhat at a loss, his finger accidentally touching a function key and jumping to another page.
"Alright, I forgot you're an old man who fought in World War II." Director Nick held the tablet and demonstrated to Captain America.
"Although I was born in 1918 and participated in World War II, I am not an old man," Captain America retorted, "I'm only 27."
"The demon mask is a criminal with superpowers. In recent months, it has committed multiple crimes in New York, even involving Superheroes like Spider-Woman and Iron Man. The situation is very complex," Director Nickexplained, "In short, the demon mask's abilities are very strong, and everyone present today are ordinary Agents. We don't have professional equipment like electromagnetic wave detectors specifically for the demon mask. Ordinary firearms are ineffective against the demon mask, so we can only temporarily avoid its Edge."
"You are an organization established to deal with these superpowered individuals, yet you retreat when facing a superpowered criminal? Those hostages are facing life-threatening danger!" Captain America shook his head, "And I am not among your so-called 'ordinary Agents.' Even if I can't defeat the demon mask, I can keep it busy all day!"
"It's not retreating, but temporarily waiting for backup. Even if these Agents bravely charge, they would only be providing the demon mask with a few targets for amusement, having no effect on the battle whatsoever," Director Nick said calmly, "Also, the demon mask's probability of killing civilians during a crime is only 13%. If it's not provoked, those hostages are safe."
"Although I haven't understood S.H.I.E.L.D., I am very disappointed in S.H.I.E.L.D. now." Captain America turned, "The safety of the public should be protected by us, not dictated by the demon mask's mood! If we let the demon mask go this time, then what will happen next time it threatens public safety?"
Captain America once again walked towards the door of Morgan Bank, holding his shield diagonally in front of him, wary of attacks that could come from any direction.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently formulating a plan against the demon mask. Our goal is to capture it and study its power," Director Nick's voice came from behind him, "Dealing with such a powerful enemy requires a precise plan and ample preparation, not just mindless charging based on courage."
Captain America ignored Nick's words. In World War II, he relied on courage to repeatedly break through HYDRA's Bases. He believed that even after seventy years, whether soldiers or Agents, courage was still needed!
Captain America was about to approach the entrance of Morgan Bank again. The frightened police officers were still hiding behind their patrol cars, not a single one daring to peek out.
Director Nick looked at his solitary back and exchanged glances with the other Agents, who were holding pistols and waiting for his command.
Director Nick reached up and scratched his bald head. Well, Director Nick was defeated by Captain America's persistence.
People from that era always possessed such admirable qualities: bravery, justice, kindness, perseverance... a very strong infectiousness. Not to mention this person was Captain America; all the Agents present grew up listening to his stories!
"Captain!"
Captain America turned and caught the pistol Nick threw to him.
"Although this thing is useless against the demon mask, I remember the demon mask has never directly withstood a bullet."
Captain America nodded, holding the shield in his left hand and the gun in his right.
A group of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents, including Director Nick, disengaged their safeties and followed behind him.
Captain America looked back... people who don't belong to this era often recall the past.
When he led the Howling Commandos to dismantle HYDRA, his team members followed behind his shield just like this... "Mr. demon mask, I think you are mistaken. Captain America has been gone for seventy years." The brave female bank employee, after a brief interaction with the demon mask, dared to speak to him, "The bag contains 400,000 U.S. dollars... I hope you are satisfied with my service."
She had been working as a bank teller for several years, but this was her first time serving a demon mask... "Of course I'm satisfied, beautiful lady!"
Arthur tugged at his collar, and his hoodie and jeans immediately transformed into a well-tailored suit.
"So cool! Is that also your superpower?" The female teller clenched her fists to her chest, "From today on, I'll be your loyal fan, Mr. demon mask!"
No woman could resist a man who was simultaneously powerful, violent, ruthless, mysterious, terrifying, elegant... and he was so charming and good at complimenting.
Today, the demon mask had stolen 400,000 U.S. dollars from Morgan Bank, so he was still wealthy.
She was already imagining the handsome face beneath the demon mask, a handsomeness that surely surpassed that of Bourne Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio... Arthur put his index finger to his lips, and the woman, understanding, shut up. He pointed below the table, and the woman rolled back to her original hiding corner.
Arthur leaned against the counter, watching the entrance and waiting.
Soon, that red, white, and blue shield appeared at the door again... Arthur smiled, a happy and joyful smile.
Thus, Steve Rogers first saw the demon mask in this scene:
The demon mask was leaning sideways, dressed in a fitted white suit, with medium-length black hair combed back, looking refined and elegant.
The hand resting on the counter held a bag of U.S. dollars, which seemed to be his haul for the day. In the palm of his drooping right hand was a dragon-shaped totem... Captain America had seen this totem in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files, but it was extremely blurry, with a note stating that all of the demon mask's Fire attacks originated from this totem.
Of course, the most striking thing about the demon maskwas the demon mask on his face... With just one glance, Captain America knew he would never forget that smiling face.
"Hello, Captain Rogers."
Captain America did not speak to the demon mask. He was fully on guard against any potential attack from the demon mask, as he had already felt the demon mask's power in their recent skirmish... Before today, the strongest enemy Captain America had encountered was the leader of HYDRA—Red Skull. He knew that from today on, it would be the demon mask, and it might not change for a long time.
Captain America saw the demon mask rotate the hand with the dragon-shaped totem. He instinctively raised his shield, but the demon mask's palm was facing the ceiling.
"Don't be nervous," Arthur said with a smile.
The next moment, he activated the Dragon Talisman again.
Captain America heard a series of explosive sounds in the air. Dozens of high-speed, high-temperature flames shot out from the demon mask's palm, one after another. They rushed straight towards the ceiling, then sharply turned, leaving behind arcs of trajectories in the air.
Captain America quickly brought his shield overhead, but those incredibly powerful flames seemed to come from all directions, and his shield couldn't provide 360-degree defense...
Chapter 54 Confiscating Your Shield
However, what Captain America didn't expect happened: the dozen or so berserk crimson flame pillars bypassed him, easily penetrating the glass and precisely striking every Agent behind him.
Screams rose and fell, and even Agents with astonishing willpower couldn't endure the pain of being burned by the flames.
Captain America looked back to see many Agents collapsed and unconscious from the Demon's heavy blows, flames still burning on their chests. Director Nick struggled to get up, his chest charred black, blood flowing profusely, and white bones exposed amidst the mangled flesh.
If the Dragon Talisman's energy hadn't been dispersed into a dozen parts, reducing its attack power, a casual strike from the Demon could have taken their lives.
Captain America, having reacted, fired several shots at the Demon, his speed so fast that the sounds of the bullets leaving the barrel merged into a single prolonged note. But no matter how fast he was or how accurate his aim, the bullets couldn't hit Arthur.
The Rabbit Talisman not only increased Arthur's speed but also enhanced his reaction time. Arthur's maximum speed was 680 meters per second, while a pistol bullet's speed was only about 400 meters per second, so he could naturally dodge them with ease.
Suddenly, the target vanished from Captain America's sight, and the bullets, with a single loud bang, embedded themselves in the counter's bulletproof glass.
"Captain Rogers, pointing a gun at people isn't a good habit."
Only then did Captain America see that the Demon had already sat down on a nearby public seat at some unknown point.
The Demon had his hands clasped together on the armrest of the seat, a paper bag full of U.S. dollars on the empty seat beside him, his smile composed and elegant.
"Captain, if you can't give me a surprise today, then I don't mind letting you continue to sleep," Arthur said. "Of course, this time it will be an eternal sleep."
The highly tense Captain America continued to fire, the bullets predictably missing, and the Demon vanished again... Suddenly, Captain America quickly turned, placing his shield against his chest with both hands.
This time, Captain America witnessed the entire process of the dragon-shaped totem lighting up at close range... After fully charging, the Dragon Talisman emitted a heart-pounding energy, and countless light and heat erupted in an instant.
"Boom!"
Captain America was blasted away again, smashing the row of chairs Arthur had just sat on. The flying shield crashed through the ceiling with a clang, then bounced several times before landing on the ground.
Captain America struggled to get up, then flipped over to retrieve his shield, once again confronting the Demon.
"A ninety-year-old Superhero should retire. Even a Demon knows to respect the old and cherish the young." Arthursmiled coldly, "Captain, are your legs and feet still nimble? Attack me, don't just hide behind that pot lid!"
"I can last all day with you!" Captain America spat out a mouthful of blood, holding his shield in front of him.
Before he was injected with serum and became a Super Soldier, he, a scrawny man, was cornered and beaten by thugs in an alley, and he said the same thing in the face of their fists.
As things stood now, the Demon was as unconquerable as those thugs that day, but he would not yield.
Arthur also glanced slightly, not because Captain Americahad repeated that classic line.
The villain points system had already prompted him that he had gained villain points from Captain America, collecting negative emotions such as tension, anger, guilt... but there was one emotion that was consistently absent: fear!
Despite the vast disparity in strength, facing such a violent and terrifying enemy as the Demon, Captain Americasurprisingly hadn't shown any fear!
This was a situation Arthur had never encountered. As a Demon, he could easily make other Superheroes or villains feel fear, regardless of whether they also possessed powerful abilities, such as Spider-Gwen, Iron Man, Green Goblin, Lizard Man... "Burning you to ashes won't even take all day," Arthur scoffed contemptuously, slowly walking towards Captain America. "You really should retire. World War II Superheroes can't keep up with the times. Iron Manhas his intelligence and suit, Spider-Woman has her reaction time and webs, but you only have that shield!"
The Dragon Talisman was activated again, and Captain America was blasted away, stopping only when he crashed into the counter's bulletproof glass. His head hit the solid bulletproof glass, leaving him covered in blood.
Captain America got up again, but this time it was even harder. He showed no sign of giving up, his blood-streaked face bearing a determined gaze as he stared fixedly at the Demon!
Director Nick's words had some truth to them; after all, Captain America had just woken up from seventy years of ice, and his body hadn't fully recovered to its peak state... though even at his strongest, Captain America couldn't defeat the Demon.
Captain America could only watch helplessly as his shield floated into the air and flew towards the Demon... Did the Demon also have the ability to control objects?
Arthur grabbed the edge of the shield with one hand, fiddling with it for a while before slipping his left hand into it.
Arthur bent his fingers and tapped the front of the shield forcefully. Aside from a faint ping, he felt no rebound, confirming that the force was indeed absorbed.
"Vibranium shield, not bad at all." Arthur was very satisfied. He looked at Captain America and said, "From now on, I can't call you Captain America, only Captain Rogers... because I've confiscated the shield!"
Captain America, who had just managed to get up, wasn't yet steady when he heard this, stumbled, and spat out a mouthful of blood... Arthur placed the shield against his chest, his face filled with solemnity and gravity.
"I am... Captain America!"
But the seriousness on his face didn't last a second; the next moment, Arthur was curiously examining the shield, as if he had received an interesting toy.
"Shield throw!"
Arthur threw the shield, which hit the wall and then ricocheted off the bulletproof glass, but ultimately did not return to Arthur's hand, instead falling to the ground.
The survivors hiding in the corners of the lobby were all secretly watching, and even the female counter clerk behind the counter poked her head out to peek... "Cough cough... Second throw!"
Arthur extended his hand, using the power of the Rooster Talisman to retrieve the shield into his hand.
"Shield bash!"
Arthur forcefully slammed the shield onto the floor, instantly shattering the marble floor. The shield rebounded towards the corner, and after several ricochets, it landed to one side.
"Captain America... Captain Rogers, are there any tricks to playing with this shield?" Arthur asked earnestly and without shame after retrieving the shield, "For example, the angle and force of the throw."
Captain America spat out another mouthful of blood upon hearing this... He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and charged towards Arthur.
Arthur raised the shield and nodded, saying earnestly, "I want to learn from your courage, but I also need to be wary of your foolishness... Wouldn't it be easier if you just lay down and didn't get beaten?"
Captain America ignored his taunts and bravely threw a punch.
Arthur deliberately dodged, "On your left!"
Captain America's punch was easily blocked by Arthurwith the shield. Arthur flashed behind Captain America, kicked him in his U.S. butt, and the unsteady Captain America fell straight to the ground.
Chapter 55: Turning Stillness into Movement
"Get up, come on! Captain Rogers, aren't you going to hold out with me until tomorrow?"
Arthur, holding a shield, moved around Captain Americawith small hops, like Bruce Lee, though he wasn't preparing to attack; his sole purpose was provocation.
Captain America's injuries were too severe; he couldn't get up for a while.
"That's the good thing about old people, they can fall asleep anywhere!" Arthur exclaimed.
Upon hearing this, Captain America raised his head, and with his extraordinary willpower, he got up again, trembling all over, still clenching his fists, and charged at Arthur once more.
Arthur used his shield to knock Captain America away, then threw a heavy uppercut to Captain America's face. Captain America flew sideways, and this time, he wouldn't be getting up for a while.
"K.O.!"
After the K.O., Arthur held his pose, turning his back to Captain America and saying indifferently, "If you can't give me a surprise, one shield isn't enough…"
Suddenly, the system's voice interrupted him:
[Detected 'Superhero Captain America', 'Rat Talisman' has been unsealed, can be upgraded using villain points.]
[Try to make Captain America feel negative emotions; more surprises await your exploration!]
Arthur had considered that the sudden appearance of Captain America could unseal a Talisman for him. Although Captain America's strength wasn't immense, he was, after all, the Captain of the Avengers and one of the absolute protagonists of Marvel Universe… But Arthurhadn't expected that Captain America would unseal the Rat Talisman!
The Rat Talisman represents the power of life, capable of imbuing inanimate objects with life and granting them their predefined abilities. While it cannot resurrect the dead, it can give life to statues of humans and gods, along with the divine powers they are fabled to possess… The upper limit of the Rat Talisman's power is extremely high; if used properly, a single Rat Talisman is enough to change the tide of battle.
Even before unsealing the Rat Talisman, Arthur had many expectations and visions for it.
He had a very interesting plan… Acquire a comic team, have artists create characters according to Arthur's ideas, publish them, and then contact model or toy manufacturers to produce action figures of the characters… Character One: She possesses the ability to fly, and is very fast, fast enough to easily catch up to Spider-Gwen, or easily dodge Spider-Gwen's webs, and her strength is very powerful, far exceeding Spider-Gwen's… Character Two: He has a powerful magnetic field around him that can block all signals and affect the operation of circuits, and he can attract metal… such as Iron Man Suit.
Character Three: His body is made of rubber, rendering any lightning attacks ineffective… What interesting things would happen if Arthur used the Rat Talisman on these dolls that possess abilities to counter Superheroes?
…Of course, these were just some simple ideas Arthurhad; besides these, he had many other ways to find fun.
Arthur opened the system, and the fluorescent blue 3D interface appeared. Sure enough, the Rat Talisman's emblem had been lit up.
[Rat Talisman Lv1, grants life to inanimate objects, and allows them to possess 40% of their original set energy.]
[The target granted life will follow your commands!]
[The total energy granted by the Rat Talisman to all targets will not exceed the energy possessed by the Dragon Talisman…]
Reading this description, Arthur drew his first conclusion: he could use the Rat Talisman to grant life to multiple targets simultaneously.
Arthur opened the Talisman upgrade interface.
[Rat Talisman Lv1, upgrading to Lv2 requires 30,000 villain points, grants the target 45% of its original set energy.]
The previous Dragon Talisman required 10,000 villain points to upgrade from Lv1 to Lv2… Now Arthur was certain: the later a Talisman was activated, the more villain points it would require to upgrade.
This was truly a disheartening conclusion… He had now unsealed three Talismans, with nine still unsealed. The third Talisman's initial upgrade alone required 30,000 villain points. With such an escalation, the initial upgrade villain points for the last Talisman would have to be measured in hundreds of thousands… He opened his personal panel.
"villain points: 70927;
Rabbit Talisman Lv8, villain points required to upgrade to Lv11: 16500;
Dragon Talisman Lv7, villain points required to upgrade to Lv11: 225000;
Rat Talisman Lv1, villain points required to upgrade to Lv11: 525000;
…"
Arthur found it hard to imagine how many villain pointswould be needed to upgrade all twelve Talismans to Lv11… A slightly melancholic Arthur spent 16,500 villain points to casually upgrade the Rabbit Talisman to Lv11, which also brought his maximum speed to Mach 5!
This was his first Talisman to reach Lv11. The system had once stated that if all twelve Talismans were upgraded to Lv11, all Talismans could then be upgraded to Lv12. After reaching max level, the Talismans' power would undergo a qualitative leap. He presumed that by then, he could truly act without restraint in the Marvel Universe… But he knew he had to work even harder, collect more villain points, and walk faster and further down the path of evil.
The traditional way of collecting villain points was to wander the streets, yielding about 10,000 villain points per night. If he was lucky enough to encounter a Superhero or a criminal villain, this amount could double or even multiply several times.
But Arthur still felt that this traditional method of collecting villain points was too slow; he had to innovate and find a faster way to collect. Conveniently, he already had some ideas… Of course, while seeking change, he couldn't abandon tradition. Only by advancing tradition and innovation simultaneously could he achieve villain pointsfreedom sooner.
"Alright, Captain Rogers, Lady Luck hasn't forgotten you; you've kept your little life." Arthur still needed to find a place to slowly study the Rat Talisman; he had no time to play with Captain America.
Arthur's gaze swept over the crowd and suddenly spotted a small boy squatting in a corner, holding a doll in his hand.
Arthur walked towards the crowd, an action that instantly caused the quiet crowd to become chaotic. Some were trembling and praying, while others frantically pushed their way inwards.
Arthur frowned slightly at the chaotic crowd. After kicking a few people aside, he finally reached the little boy. The little boy was holding a panda toy; judging by its appearance, it was a "kung fu panda" doll.
Beside the little boy, a provocatively dressed noblewoman trembled as she hugged him. Kneeling on the ground, she seemed to have realized the demon's target, and tears of fear streamed down her face: "No, don't…"
"Give it to me." Arthur pointed to the kung fu panda in the little boy's hand.
The little boy didn't speak, just clutched the doll tightly in his arms. The noblewoman beside him was already terrified, her mind completely frozen, unable to make any move.
Suddenly, Arthur flashed, dodging Captain America's punch, and then pushed his shield, knocking Captain America down.
Captain America watched Arthur walk towards the crowd, thinking he would slaughter the hostages. At the critical moment, he unleashed his last burst of strength, but it was still ineffective.
He didn't even glance at Captain America throughout the entire process. Arthur smiled and said to the little boy, "Give it to me."
The little boy paused for a few seconds, then fearfully handed the kung fu panda doll to Arthur.
Arthur picked up the doll and tossed it. He activated the power of the Rat Talisman, feeling a continuous surge of life force emerging from the fabric doll.
"Go, Po!" Arthur threw the kung fu panda doll.
A faint glow flashed, and something that stunned everyone occurred: the doll, less than half a meter tall, rapidly grew until it became a panda nearly two meters tall! The little boy was also dumbfounded… "Often, on the path of escaping destiny, one unexpectedly encounters it…"
kung fu panda Po stood with his eyes closed and his hands behind his back… Of course, those two hands couldn't clasp behind him.
"Ah!" Po flew out and crashed onto the floor.
Arthur retracted his leg; he wouldn't allow anyone more ostentatious than himself! Not even a panda!
Po scrambled to his feet, rubbing his backside with a look of grievance.
"Beat him up!" Arthur said, pointing at Captain Americaon the ground, "Beat him until he smokes!"
After Arthur finished speaking, he turned and left Morgan Bank, leaving everyone dumbfounded…
Chapter 56 Dinner
Manhattan District, Park Row Street.
The Stacy family, along with Arthur, were having dinner, and the evening news was playing on the TV:
"At 3:47 PM today, a robbery occurred at the Morgan BankBrooklyn branch, resulting in the deaths of 17 bank employees and customers. A large amount of cash in the vault was burned, and the main culprit was identified as the Demon. After causing destruction, he also took $400,000 in cash.
"When the Police arrived, they exchanged fire with the Demon, and 5 Officers were killed, while 7 Officers were injured..."According to survivors, the one who finally stopped the Demon from committing further crimes was none other than Captain America, Steve Rogers, who had disappeared for seventy years. He fiercely battled the Demon with his shield, and with his strong will, he drove the Demon away, protecting the lives and property of the citizens..."
"Captain America! It's Captain America! I've already seen the video on Twitter."
Gwen's younger brother, Howard, was very excited. He pointed at the beautiful female anchor on TV and said, "But she's lying. In the video, Captain America was beaten up by a panda, and if the Police hadn't arrived, he would have been finished!"
"An ordinary panda can't beat Captain America, that's kung fu panda!" The youngest brother, Angus, emphasized. He was also a fan of kung fu panda, and there were several related dolls on his bed in his room.
"No, no, no, kung fu panda is no match for Captain America! One is a cartoon character, the other is a war hero." Howard retorted, "kung fu panda was able to beat up Captain America because the Demon had already beaten him half to death..."
"kung fu panda is the strongest!" Angus said, dissatisfied, "Even the Demon plus Captain America can't beat kung fu panda!"
The two brothers got into an argument. Howard found it difficult to explain to Angus that kung fu panda was just a plush toy, and that the Demon was omnipotent. Angusalso couldn't understand that there was any creature in the World more powerful than kung fu panda... and it was a panda that knew kung fu martial arts!
"The Demon is the strongest!"
"It's kung fu panda!"
"Demon!"
...When they heard the news, everyone except Arthurstopped what they were doing. George and Gwen watched the TV screen in silence, and Mrs. Stacy's face was a little sad. She was a peace-loving housewife, and in her kindness, she put down her knife and fork and prayed.
Arthur saw this scene, put down his dinner fork as well, and held his hands up to his chest, mumbling something.
"Fushou Wuliang Tianzun, Amitabha, Amen, co..."
"What are you doing?" Gwen asked curiously. She could only distinguish that Arthur was speaking Chinese, but she couldn't understand the meaning of those syllables.
"Uh... this is our Eastern prayer." Arthur looked at her and said seriously, "I am praying for those who died because of the Demon."
Gwen gave him a deep look, as if she had a lot of words buried in her heart that she hadn't spoken... Arthurfinished his "prayer" and continued cutting his steak. Mrs. Stacy's cooking was excellent, and the ingredients were the best sirloin, with soft and tender meat.
But compared to that, his "prayer" seemed a bit half-hearted, not as serious and focused as when he was savoring the steak.
"Luo, would you like some more vegetable salad?" Mrs. Stacy asked, seeming to like Arthur's kind behavior just now.
"If possible, please." Arthur said with a smile.
Mrs. Stacy shook her head. For a cook, eating the food she made was the best compliment.
George, sitting at the head of the table, chewed his food silently with a stiff expression. As the highest Officer of the New York City Police, he knew all the inside details of this bank robbery.
The Police had once again been defeated by the Demon, and he no longer knew how many times he had cleaned up the mess left by the Demon's destruction.
If one counted the street brawls, robberies, and public property damage cases, the crimes the Demon had participated in or caused already numbered over a hundred, but to this day, the Demon remained at large.
"Dad..." Gwen hesitated.
"I'm fine." George put down his knife and fork and said, "For my job, this little setback is nothing."
Mrs. Stacy nodded and said, "The Demon, Spider-Woman, these people have made New York a mess, and the Police's work has also become heavy, but I think you should relax, George, these superpowered individuals are not something the Police can solve..."
"But that cannot be an excuse for the Police. Our mission is to protect citizens and maintain order, no matter who the enemy is." George forced a smile, "Citizens won't consider these things. They will only think that they are feeding a bunch of useless good-for-nothings with their taxes..."
Spider-Woman, on the side, buried her head awkwardly, staring at her plate, while the Demon looked up, nodding frequently, frowning frequently, and often showing an expression of empathy.
The reactions of the two perpetrators were completely opposite, but they both tacitly avoided participating in the discussion at the dinner table.
"Arthur, what were you doing today?" Gwen turned her head and asked casually, "I didn't see you all day, and you didn't contact me."
"Sorry, I was at home playing games and watching anime. There's a web series called 'Spider-Woman vs. Demon' that just started." Arthur answered offhandedly.
"Did you see the plot where the Demon robs the bank? Spider-Woman should be punishing him severely, right?" Gwen cut a broccoli floret in half and used her fork to place one half on Arthur's plate.
"The anime plot is indeed taken from real cases, like the Brooklyn battle with the Lizard Man. The bank robbery plot will probably be drawn later, right?" Arthur said uncertainly, "But Spider-Woman won't punish the Demon..."
"Why?" Gwen asked curiously, "Because Spider-Womanwasn't enhanced in the comic? She can't beat the Demon?"
"Uh... because it's a romance-style comic, and such an 'interesting' plot won't appear yet." Arthur said seriously.
Gwen was stunned. After a moment, she said with a slight blush, "The Demon and Spider-Woman, one is a villain, and one is a Superhero. How can they be in love?"
"Isn't that common?" Arthur said, "In many literary works and TV dramas, the male and female leads come from different factions or even opposing factions, but they come together through the power of love, experiencing various hardships together, loving and hating each other. It's quite interesting. I even tipped the comic's creator!"
"No, Spider-Woman must hate the Demon!" Gwen said assertively, "Even in the comic!"
...After dinner, Gwen walked Arthur downstairs, and the two strolled along a pebble-covered path in the greenery.
"You also have the attribute of a homebody? I just found that out tonight." Gwen looked at Arthur and said, "Didn't you go out with friends on the weekend? Billiards, board games, parties, anything..."
"No, I don't have friends." Arthur looked at Gwen with a smile, "Only you."
"We're not friends!"
Gwen said, putting her arms around Arthur's neck. They kissed for dozens of seconds before breaking apart.
After they separated, Gwen made a phone call gesture.
"Call me when you get home."
"That might be a bit late." Arthur said, "I still have some things to deal with tonight."
Gwen didn't mind: "I'll wait, call me..."
Chapter 57 Rooftop
Late at night, the rooftop of the Stark Industries Buildingwas covered in dark clouds, and gusts of night wind howled.
Natasha rubbed her shoulders with crossed arms, her brows furrowed as she looked at the empty rooftop; it was clear she was in a bad mood. No one would be in a good mood after standing on a rooftop in the dead of night for several minutes, being buffeted by the wind.
She took out her phone, opened the email, and reconfirmed that the agreed location was the Stark Industries Buildingrooftop, and the time was 10:30 PM tonight... Well, the information was accurate.
A day earlier, Natasha, newly employed, received a job transfer. Her new position was Assistant to the Chairman... Well, a position much to her liking, as her purpose in joining Stark Industries as an Agent was to get close to Tony Stark.
Recently, a new Superhero appeared in New York—Iron Man. He was very popular, popular enough to rival super-powered individuals like Spider-Woman and Demon.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s job is to deal with supernatural phenomena and advanced technology that could threaten public safety. Iron Man was noticed by them as soon as he appeared. S.H.I.E.L.D. immediately launched an investigation, with Agent Phil Coulson, Director Nick's capable assistant, in charge of the investigation.
Coulson's progress was slow, but he soon reached a turning point—the Midtown School of Science and Technology Prom Massacre!
After hearing that Iron Man was involved in the battle that night, Coulson immediately began his investigation. His gaze accurately fell on Harry, the sole survivor in the venue. In the end, his efforts proved not to be in vain, as he obtained valuable information from Harry... "Stark Industries" was mentioned in the conversation between Demon and Iron Man.
Although Coulson could sense that Harry deliberately leaked this information to him, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance of the Stark Industries Building and Tony Stark's seaside Villa confirmed the veracity of Harry's words.
S.H.I.E.L.D. identified Iron Man's identity, and the result was astonishing: the Superhero was none other than billionaire Tony Stark himself... S.H.I.E.L.D. quickly found his weaknesses using Tony's data. They formulated a detailed plan, deciding to have the sexy and beautiful Agent "Black Widow" approach Tony and gain his trust.
The facts proved S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plan was perfect. Tony, the playboy, after meeting Natasha once, used his authority to transfer Natasha to his side.
Natasha had no objection to this, as being Tony's assistant allowed her to work better... But what she didn't expect was that Tony's main task for her was to interface with a mysterious guest. For the past two days, her work only involved sending and receiving emails.
During this process, Natasha had investigated the account from which the other party sent emails, hoping to gather some information. As an Agent, she was proficient in hacking, but strangely, she couldn't find any information about that account. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s technical department's feedback was consistent with her conclusion.
That was an account that shouldn't exist! But now, the other party was sending her emails through this non-existent account... What was even stranger was that Tonyseemed to have some secret dealings with this You-Know-Who. Tonight, she carried a somewhat heavy box to the rooftop, ready to hand it over to the other party.
The cautious Natasha did not try to open the box to see what was inside. This box likely had self-protection features; Tony Stark, known for his genius, would never make such basic mistakes. Moreover, her mission was to be undercover by Tony's side, and information about the You-Know-Who was just an unexpected bonus for her.
"Sir, I've arrived." Natasha took out her phone, composed the email, and sent it.
Only one minute remained until the agreed time, but she still hadn't seen the other party... There was a helipad on the rooftop, but not even the shadow of a helicopter was in sight.
The phone screen lit up, and an email arrived.
Natasha opened the email; it contained only one sentence.
"To your left."
Natasha turned left in confusion... Suddenly, she stopped.
A few meters to her left, a figure slowly appeared... As an Agent, being approached without realizing it was potentially fatal!
Suddenly, Natasha pulled out a pistol from somewhere and aimed it at the other party! She clearly saw the other party's face: it was a demon mask. As a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, she was all too familiar with this attire!
Demon slowly walked towards her, seemingly oblivious to the pistol she had raised.
"A Stark Industries employee carrying a pistol to work?" Arthur asked curiously. "Next time I see Mr. Stark, I will definitely complain to him."
Natasha was still dressed as an employee, her shirt and suit trousers accentuating her figure. Her burgundy long hair fluttered in the wind, and the scent of her hair permeated the air.
Arthur glanced at Natasha; she was indeed Black Widow, with outstanding figure and looks.
At this moment, Natasha's jaw was about to drop. Tony's mysterious guest was actually Demon! Weren't Iron Manand Demon enemies? Did they actually have secret contacts and dealings?
Natasha quickly put away her pistol; she knew firearms were ineffective against Demon. Captain Rogers, who had just woken up this afternoon, was severely beaten by Demon, and Director Nick was also seriously injured and hospitalized at Demon's hands.
These were all lessons learned; she didn't want to follow in their footsteps... "Sorry, sir!" Natasha bowed slightly. "My reaction was a bit excessive. I just recognized your identity... I was too excited."
Arthur waved his hand, "Where is Mr. Stark's gift for me?"
"It's all here." She turned and pointed to the somewhat heavy box.
Natasha's eyes flickered. What gift could Tony give Demon? His latest weapon? But Demon seemed to never use weapons.
But this was important intelligence, and she decided to report it to S.H.I.E.L.D. tonight.
Arthur stepped forward and opened the box. Inside were Godzilla and Pikachu models, made of titanium, costing a fortune, but for billionaire Tony, it wasn't even a drop in the bucket.
Natasha stared at the contents of the box, stunned. What was that? Action figures? Why did that thing look like Pikachu?
"Sir, these are...?" she tentatively inquired.
"As you can see, models," Demon said with a smile.
Demon's smile was chilling, especially on this empty rooftop.
"Models?" Natasha was still wondering what Demon wanted with these models when a thought suddenly flashed in her mind, linking it to Captain America being severely beaten by a kung fu panda this afternoon... The combat report from S.H.I.E.L.D. showed that Demon snatched a kung fu panda from a little boy's hand, and then Demon turned that doll into a real kung fu panda... If a plush toy in Demon's hand could defeat Captain America, then what about these metal models personally made by the genius Tony?
Natasha recognized the other model, the monster Godzilla... Was Demon trying to destroy New York!
Chapter 58 Agent Hill
The demon closed the box, and Natasha finally recovered from her surprise.
"Mr. Stark didn't tamper with my toys, did he?" the demon asked casually, "Like trackers or locators."
Natasha gave a charming smile: "I'm sorry, Mr. Demon, my job only involves transporting this box and handing it over to you. I don't know anything else."
Tony naturally didn't dare to tamper with these two models. Arthur had previously given him the blueprints for the Iron Spider Suit, and he had even plagiarized many technologies from those blueprints to improve his own suit.
So, in Tony's eyes, Arthur was also a technical expert, and a violent one at that! He naturally wouldn't play any petty tricks and risk his own life.
Natasha, however, felt some regret. If she had known in advance that the mysterious client contacting her was the demon, she would have definitely installed a tracker in the box, and might even have had an unexpected harvest.
Even if the demon discovered it, she could blame it on Tony, instigating a conflict between Iron Man and the demon.
After all, if Iron Man and the demon joined forces and entered the evil camp, it would definitely be a disaster!
The Stark family are all geniuses. Howard Starkparticipated in the research and development of the atomic bomb. Who knows if Tony Stark would develop some highly destructive weapon for the demon?
This was definitely a situation S.H.I.E.L.D. did not want to see... Suddenly, a vigilant Natasha stopped all thought! The demon did not leave after getting the box with the models, but slowly approached her!
Natasha couldn't help but take a step back, then immediately stopped... Even though she was an Agentwho walked on the edge of a knife, she would still feel a little fear when facing the terrifying demon, though with her willpower, she could overcome this fear.
She had to stop. If the demon intended to attack, even if she retreated to the edge of the rooftop, it would be futile.
"Mr. Demon, are you also a fan of action figures?" Natashadecided to parley with the demon, "But making models out of precious metals, that's too extravagant."
"No, my hobby is bringing fear and pain to people," Arthursaid with a smile, "These will all be little toys to help me amuse myself."
"Mr. Demon, what is your relationship with my boss, Mr. Stark?" Natasha continued to ask, "Friends? It's hard to imagine a demon being friends with a billionaire."
"Of course, I like making friends!" Arthur said confidently, "Whether it's the little spider swinging around the streets with a mask, or the flawed billionaire... Of course, Mr. Starkbehaves quite obediently in front of me. I also want to make friends with people with special professions, for example... Agents, or spies."
"That's a shame then, the CIA and FBI probably wouldn't want to be friends with Mr. Demon..."
Natasha's reply was flawless, but her surprise grew even more. Was the demon testing her? Or did he already know she was from S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Natasha's expression was relaxed and composed, but her mind was highly focused, and her nervous emotions were wildly spreading... because Arthur was very close to her! Less than a meter!
"Miss Natasha, you seem very nervous," Arthur reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Relax."
Natasha felt a warm hand cover her cold body, but this only amplified her fear... because she knew that the demon used this hand to unleash powerful Fire attacks!
She turned her head stiffly to look at the demon, and that demon mask actually revealed a smile... Natasha had seen the demon's terrifying smile many times before, but those were all pictures.
Witnessing the demon's smile for the first time shocked her, but Natasha always felt that the demon's current smile was not as terrifying, more insidious... "Sir..." Natashahesitated to speak.
Arthur suddenly withdrew his hand because he had already obtained what he wanted.
The system had just broadcast a reminder:
[Detected 'Superhero · Black Widow', 'Snake Talisman' has been unsealed, can be upgraded with villain points.]
[Try to make Black Widow generate negative emotions, more surprises await your discovery!]
Today, after Captain America, Black Widow also gave him a surprise, helping him unseal the fourth Talisman.
Natasha glanced sideways; the demon had swept past her.
"Good night," a voice came from behind.
Natasha turned around, her mind highly focused, but she suddenly couldn't see the demon, nor the box... "Good night," she whispered to the night.
A few seconds later, Natasha was certain the demon had left. Her slightly flustered expression instantly returned to normal, with even a hint of coldness in her calm demeanor.
She turned and went down from the rooftop, taking out her phone in a blind spot of the surveillance in the corridor.
"Agent Hill?"
This afternoon, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury was seriously injured and hospitalized after a battle with the demon at Morgan Bank. Agent Hill temporarily took over his duties.
"I just saw the demon. Tony Stark handed two monster models made of metal to the demon," Natasha carefully looked around, "They seem to be secretly maintaining contact..."
...S.H.I.E.L.D. West District, for safety and secrecy, the central control room was located dozens of meters underground.
The entire space was filled with the clatter of keyboards being typed at high speed, the hiss of printers working, the clack of mechanical cipher machines translating encrypted messages... This environment was maddening, but if one stayed there for a long time, they would gradually adapt, and Hill was like that; she could easily fall asleep amidst the noise.
Hill stood in front of a giant holographic screen. On the screen was a 3D virtual Earth, which would quickly rotate to the position she wanted to see with a gentle wave of her hand.
Red dots often flickered on "Earth," which were S.H.I.E.L.D.alarms, possibly indicating a firefight between Terrorists, or a super-powered individual monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D.committing a crime. All these matters required S.H.I.E.L.D.to handle.
Pale blue fluorescent light enveloped her, like a soft filter had been added, making her face look simple yet captivating under the filter.
Hill wore S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tight uniform, her figure very tall. Her smooth long hair was tied back at the nape of her neck, revealing her fair neck. The zipper was at her chest, allowing a glimpse of a black lining, so that whiteness extended to her front.
Even within the base, Hill had a pistol holstered on her thigh, appearing very cautious.
Her expression was serious. As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s acting Commander, she received a lot of information and handled several urgent incidents every hour.
Upon hearing Agent Black Widow's report about the demon, her expression became even graver.
"We will have a battle with the demon eventually," she sighed and then pressed her earbud to cut off communication.
At this moment, the Earth model on the holographic screen was minimized and moved to a corner, replaced by a face wearing a demon mask.
Hill turned to a staff member, "As of now, what is the success rate of the simulated battle plan to capture the demon?"
The staff member pushed up his glasses and typed rapidly on the keyboard: "Officer, the supercomputer has run tens of thousands of simulations and improvements on the battle plan to capture the demon, but the success rate of the latest battle plan is only 17.62%."
"Reason?" Hill's expression was serious.
"Lack of bait," the staff member replied, "If it's in an open outdoor area, the success rate of the battle plan is only 0.74%, but if the battlefield is indoors, where S.H.I.E.L.D.has pre-arranged personnel and equipment, the success rate can reach 41.12%.
"But we know very little about the demon. We don't know what bait could attract the demon, nor can we predict when the demon will go to a structurally sound indoor location..."
Hill turned to look at the demon on the screen without saying a word.