Chapter 120: Everything Is Ready, Only the Enemy Remains

"Based on all the information gathered so far, we have reason to suspect that Master Wang from the Azeroth Specialty Shop is the Immortal Iron Fist, and he has joined forces with Fury."

Somewhere in the old district of San Juan, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit spoke respectfully. "Through multi-faceted investigation, we have located Master Wang's laboratory. It is basically certain that secret experiments are being conducted there, and the two youngest graduates in the history of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy are also present."

Secret research?

Whitehall, standing with his hands behind his back and gazing into the wind, saw several terms flash through his mind: The Darkhold, the Winter Soldier, and the Obelisk.

Undercover agents embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D. had reported that these items had not appeared in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Science and Technology Division, nor were they at any other known secret research bases. Perhaps they were at a facility secretly established by Nick Fury, or perhaps they were right there in Master Wang's lab. Or, more accurately, Master Wang's lab was likely Fury's secret base. Otherwise, why would he send two of his most brilliant young scientists there? Surely they couldn't have been poached by the Immortal Iron Fist.

"Fury seems to be planning to create an emergency task force composed of individuals with special abilities. The Immortal Iron Fist must be one of them. He is Fury's man," Whitehall concluded, believing he had uncovered the truth.

"Additionally, strange phenomena occurred near that laboratory not long ago," the middle-aged man continued. "Witnesses saw a massive die-off of fish and shrimp, birds falling from the sky, and animals fleeing in terror. Our people performed autopsies and discovered that these animals were killed by concussive force."

Killed by concussive force?

Whitehall immediately associated this with the shallow-focus earthquake that had occurred in the underground ancient city. It was definitely related to the Obelisk. Could the Iron Fist have already mastered the power of the Obelisk?

"Bakshi, have our people arrived?" he asked.

The man known as Bakshi nodded quickly. "Everyone who could be mobilized is here. Pierce sent some men, including a group of African mercenaries and a band of pirates active in the Atlantic. Everyone is equipped with the finest weaponry."

"Justin Hammer's?"

"No, Tony Stark's, currently under Obadiah Stane. Our people purchased them through terrorist organizations, including many very expensive weapons, such as Jericho missiles and the most advanced sonic weaponry," Bakshi replied hurriedly.

He had to execute his boss's orders perfectly; otherwise, he would surely be torn to shreds. Compared to Pierce or other Hydra heads, Whitehall was far more ruthless and twisted. He had personally dissected countless living people, including the elderly nearing death and newborns just brought into the world.

"Good."

Whitehall was quite satisfied with this capable subordinate. Of course, this was largely because he had only been resurrected nineteen years ago; his available manpower was limited, and his influence within Hydra was weak, forcing him to rely on Pierce to some extent.

"We strike tonight. Aside from dealing with the Immortal Iron Fist and S.H.I.E.L.D., be wary of Pierce's people."

Whitehall appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was burning with fervor. "The Darkhold, the Obelisk, the Winter Soldier... they will all be mine!"

...

"The Winter Soldier was mine, he is mine, and he will always be mine."

In an office within a government building, Alexander Pierce whispered, "Remember! Find the Winter Soldier, wake him, and order him to seize the Obelisk and the Darkhold, then bring them to me!"

The bald agent, Sitwell, nodded quickly before asking, "Should we also take care of Whitehall..."

He did not elaborate, but the implication was clear. As a member of Hydra and a Level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, his nominal superior was Fury, but in the shadows, he served Pierce—the most steadfast of all the Hydra heads. Having latched onto such a powerful figure, he did not hold Whitehall in high regard, though he had to admit that Pierce valued Whitehall far more than he valued him.

Yet, there was both regard and wariness. After all, Whitehall was an old guard of Hydra, a colleague of the Red Skull, and now held the trust of the other Hydra heads; he had the prestige and capability to threaten Pierce's position. Was Pierce planning to take the Obelisk and the Darkhold to...

"That is not for you to consider. Go do your job." Pierce looked at Sitwell with a smile.

Sitwell was startled and quickly wiped away cold sweat. "Yes, yes!"

How could he possibly influence a superior's decision?

Watching Sitwell leave, Pierce's gaze turned cold. He knew very well that Sitwell was trying to climb the ladder. Ambition was a good thing; how high one climbed depended on their own ability, as long as they didn't fall to their death. As for Whitehall? He had been chasing the Darkhold and studying the Obelisk; having worked with the Red Skull, his mind held many secrets. Only he was likely to achieve results with the Darkhold and the Obelisk, but those results had to be delivered to him by Pierce, not taken by Whitehall from the Iron Fist.

An old man who had been imprisoned for forty-four years should just stop stirring up trouble. Wouldn't it be better to just focus on his research? As for "inheriting the Red Skull's legacy and ruling the world," that task was better left to him!

...

Night fell.

The Darkhold laboratory remained brightly lit. The facility was large, and besides several independent laboratory buildings, there was a dedicated dormitory area where all the researchers lived, along with Daredevil and the others who had quietly arrived.

The equipment ordered from S.H.I.E.L.D. had been delivered by Quinjet that very day and installed. Fury had generously provided some valuable raw materials, and in return, Master Wang had taken the smallest fragment of dragon bone from the Heart of Azeroth as a token of appreciation. It was a mutual exchange; the two were in a "honeymoon phase," and it was normal for them to exchange such "tokens of affection."

At the time, Master Wang had asked Fitz to carefully inspect the equipment. With a sweep of his spiritual energy, he had quickly found the deeply hidden bugs and surveillance devices, asking Melinda, who had flown the plane, to return them to Fury, who was driving the support vehicle. Sending equipment while simultaneously including bugs and cameras was truly unnecessary; Master Wang decided to help Fury save a little money—after all, he didn't know the cost of living. The sentiment was acknowledged, and the gift was returned.

Fitz was very familiar with this equipment. It took him less than a day to complete the design of the combat uniforms. They used a high-performance, high-strength fiber; while the protection was not quite on par with Iron Man's armor, they had the advantage of being form-fitting and flexible, not hindering movement.

On the chest was a green fist—the symbol of the "Immortal Iron Fist." It was also the symbol of The Chaste. Just a few days ago, Stick had proposed it, and it had been unanimously agreed upon by Daredevil and Black Sky. Although the uniform style was designed by Fitz himself, referencing the standard gear of S.H.I.E.L.D. field agents, Master Wang had provided many suggestions from the perspective of a martial artist, sacrificing some protective capabilities to prioritize comfort.

In any case, it could not hinder the execution of strikes.

The uniforms were easy to make, but the necessary weapons were more difficult. Because they were high-tech equipment, many aspects had to be considered, and even once completed, they required test after test. The batons and gauntlets Master Wang gave Daredevil were, in reality, only "untested versions."

They would have to make do.

Stick and Black Sky were easier to manage. Skye's gauntlet requirements were very high, and with time tight and the task heavy, Fitz had expressed that he couldn't finish it. Of course, with Master Wang there, there would be no major problems for the time being.

Everything was ready; all that was missing was the enemy.

And now, the enemy had finally arrived.

...

Somewhere less than ten kilometers from the Darkhold laboratory, Master Wang slowly opened his eyes.