Chapter 74: Braised Egg’s Invitation

Almost all of them? Egg and Black Widow exchanged a glance, both startled by the same thought—could the True Purity Society really be that powerful?

Granted, as long as one isn’t a martial arts master—hasn’t mastered “Qi”—even bullets are unavoidable and unstoppable. But what if people like Stick and Erica started using guns as well?

With such outstanding physical qualities, a little training would turn each of them into sharpshooters. Each bullet could eliminate an enemy, and they’d be adept at close-quarters gun-fighting techniques—a single person could take on ten.

Why is Captain America so formidable? Because the comprehensive improvement of physical fitness leads to an all-around enhancement of abilities: strength, speed, reaction time, all senses sharpen, even the mind becomes keener.

A doubling of physical qualities could translate into a tenfold increase in actual strength, or even more.

Why did General Ross insist on restarting the super soldier program? This was the reason.

If the members of the True Purity Society were equipped with a full set of S.H.I.E.L.D. field agent gear, just how powerful would they become...

Wait a minute!

Master Wang requested ten sets of equipment—could it be for them?

The finest weapons always remain in the hands of state machinery; the True Purity Society, the Hand, and even Hydra lag far behind in this regard.

The union of exceptional physical strength and the most advanced weaponry is how a new generation of super soldiers is born.

Egg suddenly thought of something else.

If S.H.I.E.L.D.’s field agents all became martial arts experts, with fully upgraded physical attributes, their capabilities would rise at least a notch—their mission success rates and speed would increase, making them more cost-effective.

Perhaps it was possible to invite people from K’un-Lun to help train S.H.I.E.L.D.’s agents?

General Ross had toiled for years over the super soldier program, pouring in untold resources, making countless under-the-table deals, and in the end, not a single super soldier was produced—only a colossal headache that hadn’t been cleaned up after four years.

Granted, much of it was due to the “Hulk”—whose problems were too large—but those problems were created by General Ross himself, so he can hardly blame anyone else.

As for himself, perhaps he didn’t need any experiments at all to gain a batch of super soldiers, safe, efficient, and pollution-free, without any side effects?

Of course, careful screening was necessary. S.H.I.E.L.D. might have more Hydra agents than he imagined—spending his own money to train enemy operatives would be the worst side effect...

Thinking of all this, Egg gazed at Old Wang with a look full of longing, as if he’d seen a walking treasure.

“Don’t look at me like that—just say what you mean.”

Though long used to being the center of attention, Old Wang could not accept the fervid gazes of men—it made him uneasy.

Especially a face like Egg’s; just looking at him made one want to eat him, best admired from afar and never touched.

He wasn’t Marcus, that “human autumn wind”; Old Wang had principles, interested only in female creatures—males, undead, and demons were off the table... succubi, destruction demons, matriarchs, female Eredar, and female blood elves were exceptions.

“Alright, I want to hire people from K’un-Lun as special consultants for S.H.I.E.L.D., to teach martial arts.”

Egg spoke directly: “If K’un-Lun can help me cultivate a batch of martial arts masters, the terms are negotiable.”

“Martial arts masters?”

Old Wang’s expression was strange—was Egg joking?

How many martial arts masters exist worldwide? Egg certainly doesn’t know, nor does he, but one could guess roughly.

Daredevil, Stick, Erica don’t count, neither Black Widow nor Melinda, and S.H.I.E.L.D. has none at all—yet Egg wants a whole batch?

He’d like that himself!

Egg, experienced as he was, could tell from Old Wang’s face that it was a non-starter. Curious, he asked, “Master Wang, how many people does K’un-Lun have, and how many martial arts masters?”

He wanted to know that himself... Old Wang, face unreddened and breath steady, replied with inscrutable confidence: “Many.”

Egg sighed inwardly—this Master Wang was too thick-skinned, as unreadable as himself, impossible to discern from expression alone whether he was lying, a born agent. So he asked, “Then, could K’un-Lun dispatch a batch of martial arts masters to serve as S.H.I.E.L.D. special consultants?”

“Certainly.”

Old Wang’s answer delighted Egg—until he heard the next sentence: “One hundred million per person per year. No overtime, holidays as usual, nine to five, a three-hour lunch break, twelve days of annual leave, plus summer and winter vacations.”

Egg: “......”

What on earth are summer and winter vacations?

He understood now—Master Wang was just making things up, the meaning plain: forget it, it’s impossible.

And rightly so.

“Qi” and martial arts are K’un-Lun’s core competencies, not something to be handed out lightly. And it’s said that people from K’un-Lun rarely venture outside—the emergence of one “Immortal Iron Fist” is already remarkable.

Though this “Master Wang” is a martial arts master, Agent Romanoff’s investigations revealed he was merely an orphan favored by Iron Fist, who had hardly ever left Chinatown for years, almost certainly never been to K’un-Lun, a homebody spinning tall tales...

“K’un-Lun doesn’t communicate with the outside world; Iron Fist came out this time to deal with the Hand, to clean house.”

Old Wang confirmed Egg’s suspicions at just the right moment, then relented: “S.H.I.E.L.D. is a friend to K’un-Lun. Since a friend is in need, Iron Fist is willing to help. If necessary, Stick and I can serve as special consultants to S.H.I.E.L.D.—the financials are negotiable.”

Egg, for the first time, thought himself thin-skinned, at least not as thick as Master Wang.

“The financials are negotiable,” and still talking about money?

In any case, since Master Wang was willing, it was a good thing—S.H.I.E.L.D. never lacked funds.

The details would be handled by dedicated personnel; the director could hardly attend to such minor matters. So he nodded: “I’d like to meet the Immortal Iron Fist and establish a comprehensive partnership with K’un-Lun.”

As for serving as a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant, Old Wang was quite pleased.

With S.H.I.E.L.D.’s credentials, everything would become easier. He could slip Skye, Robbie, Gabe, Matt, Erica, Stick all in at once—whether they knew martial arts or not, Egg probably wouldn’t care.

They’d get paid, and receive equipment.

Of course, being a consultant didn’t mean joining S.H.I.E.L.D.—no official position, and Old Wang preferred it that way, avoiding unnecessary complications.

He wasn’t a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, just a collaborator.

As for meeting Iron Fist?

In fact, you already have—surprised?

Old Wang shook his head: “Iron Fist won’t appear; I represent him fully. Comprehensive partnership? What kind of cooperation does S.H.I.E.L.D. want—against the Hand and Hydra?”

“Not just that.”

Egg coughed, lowering his voice: “There’s another matter. I am planning to form a secret organization to protect the world—a league of superheroes.”