Chapter 102: You Should Ask the Price First

“Man, I’ve brought you someone!”

Two hours later, Lu Dan personally drove to the Azeroth Specialty Store, accompanied by his dedicated bodyguard, the “Black Widow,” and two young scientists.

The moment he stepped out of the car, Lu Dan’s face darkened. “By the way, the identity issues with Eli and Lucy’s group will be resolved within three days. As for the equipment and materials you need to procure, I’ll help you get in touch with the sellers—Stark Industries, Hammer Industries, Pym Technologies, and several other companies. Wang, I really want to know—how many secrets are you really hiding inside that head of yours?”

“That’s something I can’t tell you. You’re no worm inside my stomach...” Old Wang chuckled, thinking that without Lu Dan, it would be far harder to resolve the identity issues and procure the equipment and materials needed for the ‘Dark Grimoire Laboratory.’ It would be easy to get scammed. He made a polite beckoning gesture.

It’s best not to hit a smiling face, especially since you can’t win anyway. Lu Dan snorted arrogantly and strode inside with his hands clasped behind his back. His black trench coat rippled majestically with each step.

The Black Widow glanced at Old Wang.

She had planned to have a serious talk with Master Wang, hoping to ask him to help cultivate her “Qi” so she could become a kung fu master. That way, she could significantly increase her strength, perhaps even confront the Winter Soldier head-on and settle old scores.

But with her boss in a bad mood, this wasn’t the time to bring it up. So she just smiled at Old Wang and followed along.

As subordinates, one must be perceptive!

“Mr. Wang, when do we start work? Where is your laboratory?”

Fitz and Simmons got out of the car, each carrying several boxes of luggage. They looked at the specialty store before them, somewhat bewildered.

Mr. Wang, who had been personally received by the Director and was entrusted with such a precious essence of Azeroth, was running what appeared to be an ordinary grocery store. The scene felt off—it didn’t fit his ‘big shot’ persona.

Were we being conned?

“Your workplace is in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There’s a dedicated flight leaving for there today. Our ‘courier,’ Mr. Reyes, will take you to the airport, and the lab’s senior engineers will pick you up.”

Old Wang reached out and Sky handed him two documents.

“Take a look at the contracts first. If there’s anything you’re unhappy with, raise it now.”

Fitz and Simmons quickly took the papers. At first glance, their eyes were drawn to the boldly marked salary section.

“An annual salary of one million dollars? And that’s just the base pay, with bonuses for each completed project?”

“A company car valued at no less than fifty thousand dollars, the best apartment in San Juan... Why do two people share a three-bedroom apartment instead of each having a single apartment? Strange.”

“Up to two months of paid vacation annually, and if unused, the remaining vacation pays triple daily wages?”

“Fuel reimbursements, company-paid maintenance, utility fees covered, company-sponsored trips, and biannual top-tier health checks?”

“Once you enter the lab, you become a project leader. Perform well, and you get promoted to deputy director. Salaries automatically increase by 10% every year?”

They exchanged glances and spoke in unison, “The benefits are amazing—better than those of the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s tech department!”

Lu Dan’s footsteps faltered briefly, cursing inwardly, “Two idiots,” “Master Wang, you’re such a big spender.” Of course, his face showed no expression, and his stride quickly resumed, maintaining an air of nonchalance and inscrutability.

A distinguished U.S. General and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director doesn’t stoop to argue with these people.

The Black Widow shook her head silently, thinking these youngsters really don’t know when to hold back. And Master Wang wasn’t much better...

Wait!

Could it be that Master Wang did this on purpose? Just to get under the Director’s skin because the Director had lost his temper and been rude?

Such petty spite isn’t worth provoking.

“If there are no objections, sign the contracts. For specific matters, ask Sky. She handles the finances. For project updates, come to me.”

From Lu Dan’s hastened heartbeat and somewhat heavy breathing, Old Wang knew the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director was genuinely angered. Since they’d have to work together going forward, it was best not to push too far. He followed them into the store.

“Please, have a seat,” Old Wang said politely.

The Black Widow ignored him.

Aside from the rattan chairs, the only stools were at the cashier’s counter, where Sky was sitting. Did he expect her to sit on a rattan chair?

She still remembered the last time the Director was kicked off one of those chairs!

Lu Dan ignored him too, quickly drawn to the items on the shelves.

Cheap daily goods were gathered on the shelves near the door, while the two shelves at the back held new items.

A bottle of rum produced in 1780—the world’s oldest—priced at two hundred thousand dollars?

Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” manuscript—price negotiable?

A Stradivarius violin—only gifted to those destined? Wealthy, no doubt.

And what was with this set of lingerie and evening gown? Why embed diamonds in clothes? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?

Lu Dan’s face darkened further.

He could guess where these things came from.

If not for his respect for the Unyielding Iron Fist and Kunlun, and being in a honeymoon phase where he couldn’t cause a rift, he’d have sent men to seize this store!

“Should we leak some intel to Hydra and have them come rob it?”

At that moment, Lu Dan really wanted to give that chubby Wang a good beating.

“Let’s get down to business.”

Old Wang thought for a moment but didn’t sit on the recliner—it seemed impolite.

He leaned against the cashier’s counter, arms folded, and asked, “You want the dragon bone. Who are you planning to resurrect?”

“That’s none of your business,” Lu Dan replied stiffly.

During World War II, agents Carter and the Howling Commandos confiscated a Kree corpse from a secret Hydra base. It had been preserved for years in a S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility, soaked in formalin.

The Kree, a blue-skinned race whose homeworld’s gravity far exceeds Earth’s, possess physical capabilities two to three times that of humans, along with extraordinary regenerative abilities humans lack. This had long been coveted by S.H.I.E.L.D.

The recently launched “Tahiti Project” aimed to study the Kree body to revive important figures on the brink of death or already deceased.

Such as trusted elite agents, high government officials, and members of the soon-to-be-formed Avengers.

The “Tahiti Project” was top secret—level 10 clearance. Even Pierce and Hill were unaware. Why would he tell Lu Dan?

“Never mind, it’s not important.”

Old Wang already knew about the Tahiti Project and how much Lu Dan valued resurrection capabilities.

This was the perfect time to squeeze some profit.

With a flick of his hand, a fragment of dragon bone appeared.

It was a small piece accidentally broken off when the dragon bone was snapped—only palm-sized.

“This is the dragon bone,” Old Wang said generously, handing it over to Lu Dan.

Master Wang had changed his tune... Lu Dan quickly took it and examined it carefully.

It looked somewhat like cow bone, but with an extremely high density. This small piece weighed at least two kilograms.

As a top agent, Lu Dan had a strong grip and plenty of experience. With just a squeeze, he could tell this material’s hardness far exceeded steel—how it compared to diamond or corundum, he wasn’t sure.

Could it really bring the dead back to life?

“This small piece can revive about ten people,” Old Wang said calmly.

Though just an estimate, it was roughly accurate—this was what the Five Fingers had told him.

When the Five Fingers defected from Kunlun, they couldn’t have carried an entire dragon bone with them. They only took a small section.

And that small piece kept all five of them alive for over a thousand years.

Each resurrection required about sixty grams of bone powder, a conservative amount, plus numerous auxiliary materials like fresh children’s blood—enough to fill a resurrection coffin—an extremely cruel process.

Because the dragon bone was limited, the Five Fingers had no choice.

In fact, if the dragon bone were abundant, no auxiliary materials would be needed—the mysterious substances within the bone could revive ordinary people by themselves.

Ten people?

Lu Dan’s heart skipped a beat. He fought the urge to snatch the dragon bone and run, his voice low and urgent.

“How much do you have?”

He wanted to say, “I want it all,” but knew the other party wouldn’t sell everything and that showing desperation would only lead to a higher price.

Old Wang smiled. “You should ask about the price first.”