Chapter 20: Old Wang’s Team of Scientists

Lucy lunged at Old Wang, claws bared.

Whoosh!

Old Wang reached out, true energy swirling, and seized Lucy by the throat, lifting her as easily as one might pick up a chick.

Though he usually wore a genial smile, Old Wang’s height and build were imposing, and when he grew serious, his presence was commanding—intimidating even. He had clawed his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of bones, faced the Titans’ star souls and ancient gods head-on. In ten years of crossing worlds, there had been barely a peaceful day to be had; fighting was simply part of his path. The aura forged in such relentless adversity could make even vengeful spirits cower, let alone someone like Lucy.

Watching Lucy struggle desperately, Old Wang smiled faintly, half amused, half threatening. “Take a good look at your situation, madam. Trapped between dimensions, able to shift between illusion and reality at will—impressive, is it? Physical attacks can’t hurt you, but what about energy?”

Someone like you isn’t even as formidable as a ghost from Moon Creek Town, yet you dare cause trouble?

Lucy froze in disbelief, then her eyes blazed with the fervor of a scientist. “You can manipulate energy? How is that possible? It’s impossible!”

This wasn’t reality—it was like something out of a movie or a novel!

“There’s nothing impossible about it. That’s a scientist’s mindset.”

Old Wang glanced at his watch—about five minutes had passed. Time was short.

“Do you want a second chance at life?” he asked.

“Yes!” Lucy answered without hesitation.

I haven’t lived enough—I haven’t finished my research, haven’t fulfilled my value to society… I haven’t even had children!

“Then stop making trouble. You and I are on the same side now. I’ll help you.”

Old Wang snapped his fingers. A bolt of jade-green lightning materialized from thin air. “If you think you can withstand it, you’re free to try to escape.”

She couldn’t. Everyone knew ghosts in movies and novels feared lightning… Watching this fantastical scene unfold, Lucy felt as if a new world had opened before her eyes. She realized she was truly beaten, but still, she protested, “You’re with Eli! I’ll never serve Eli! I’d rather die!”

“…Who told you I’m with Eli? At your age, why do you still love jumping to conclusions?”

Old Wang rubbed his temples, exasperated. “Maybe watch a little less soap opera, hmm? Do you really think Eli is qualified to give me orders? What are you thinking?”

Lucy hesitated.

That… actually makes sense!

Someone who could conjure lightning from nothing was probably more formidable than the Captain America the Americans had hyped up for decades. He was a superhero—no, a super-villain! In front of him, Eli was just a mid-level elite, nowhere close to being a final boss.

So…

“Is Eli working for you, then?” Lucy speculated again.

You’re overthinking… Old Wang was utterly speechless. “I have nothing to do with him, OK?”

Good… Lucy finally let go of her last psychological hurdle. The prospect of a second chance at life was appealing, and her scientific reasoning triumphed over fear and anger. “Then what’s the price?”

Three years at the very least, death at the most… Old Wang released her, patted her shoulder, and smiled warmly. “That’s more like it. I don’t want to get rough… Relax, I’ll help you start anew. You work for me, continue your research, and you’ll get paid—none of it will be missing.”

So you want me? You should’ve said so earlier… Lucy stopped resisting completely.

I want to live again. I want to pursue my research. Nothing else matters.

Who you work for doesn’t make a difference, does it?

But I still want revenge, and what about my Joseph? What’s become of him now?

Never mind, the man before me seems to be in a hurry—now’s not the time for this.

Boss, your orders, please!

“Here’s your first task,” Old Wang said, pointing to the other boxes nearby. “Release your colleagues, and persuade them. Otherwise, I’ll make them submit by force—or I’ll kill them.”

…

Five minutes later.

Old Wang hadn’t needed to lift a finger.

After Robbie transformed into Ghost Rider and nearly destroyed one of Lucy’s colleagues, the three newly freed ones fell in line. They had no choice.

They couldn’t win in a fight, nor could they outrun “Jade Lightning.” Old Wang even had the “Cloud-Seeking Whip!” And Ghost Rider was the natural enemy of freaks and phantoms like them—a single misstep could mean total annihilation. They could only comply.

Hugo, Vincent, and Frederick—three new ghosts stood in a row.

Add Lucy, Joseph, and Eli, and the entire New Energy Lab team was present.

Anyone who could join this lab, at minimum, held a doctorate, all elites in quantum mechanics. Perhaps none compared to the first Ant-Man, Hank Pym, or the multi-doctorate Hulk, Bruce Banner, but they were still noteworthy scientists with considerable skills.

Moreover, except for Eli, all had read the Dark Grimoire. In some ways, that made them even more remarkable than famous scientists—five divisions couldn’t match them, but five battalions certainly wouldn’t suffice.

In just a few minutes, Old Wang had acquired a rather formidable scientific team.

Such talent was beyond the reach of most small- or mid-sized fortunes—it would take Stark Industries or, at the very least, Hammer Industries-level wealth to afford such a group.

Now that he had the talent, only money was lacking…

“Excellent.”

Old Wang clapped his hands. “Let’s go find the Dark Grimoire.”

Lucy blinked, sensing an opportunity. “The Dark Grimoire is with Joseph. Let’s go find him. Boss, I can persuade him! He’s the greatest among us—a true genius! He alone is worth more than all of us put together. Boss, you need him, don’t you?”

Hugo, Vincent, Frederick: “…”

Lucy, what are you saying?

You’re responsible for what you say, you know!

The three of them glanced at the group photo on the distant wall, all eyes fixed on Joseph, their faces twisted with resentment.

It was all Joseph’s fault!

He was as hateful as Eli!

“No need.” Old Wang glanced at Robbie and saw the fire of anger still burning in his eyes. Clearly, the others didn’t matter—Joseph, the real culprit, was unforgivable.

Joseph was important?

No, the truly important thing was the Dark Grimoire!

Besides, ten Josephs couldn’t compare to one Ghost Rider—Old Wang could do that math.

And, Lucy, just look at your colleagues’ faces—they’d eat Joseph alive if they could!

Old Wang said coolly, “Joseph hid the Dark Grimoire right where you found it.”

Lucy wanted to argue further when Skye suddenly called out, “Wang, SHIELD agents are coming!”

On the phone screen, a group had materialized from nowhere, blocking the entrance to the lab and preparing to break in.

A strange smile crept onto Lucy’s lips.

Looks like the boss is about to clash with a government agency called SHIELD. Maybe I’ll get a chance to escape?

“Coulson contacted other SHIELD agents? As expected, SHIELD is everywhere!” Old Wang sighed.

A government agency is impressive indeed!

“Wang, what do we do?” Skye sounded anxious.

We can’t possibly take on SHIELD directly, can we? And there’s no face mask disguise to be found!

“Don’t worry. There are plenty of ways.”

Old Wang strode over to the battery box, placed a hand atop it.

In the next moment, the box vanished.

“Miss, time to cash in!”