XElenea
patreon
Ch. 107 What Qualifies You
🕑 Added 2023-10-26 16:01:00 +0000 UTCAlthough Russell appeared amiable on the surface, Coulson felt an indescribable and nameless pressure.
While Russell's words weren't explicitly direct, they carried a substantial threat.
"You can give it a try?"
This might not sound like much.
But Coulson could guarantee that if they did try, S.H.I.E.L.D. would immediately face Russell's frenzied retaliation.
This guy is insane!
His title, the Mad Traveler, said it all.
"Since Mr. Bradley, you're unwilling to sell the battle suit and its related data, we won't insist."
"However... should Hulk be handed over to us?"
Coulson spoke as if he hadn't sensed Russell's threat at all, smiling as he said so.
"Why should I hand Hulk over to you?"
Russell countered.
"Hulk is a significant fugitive wanted by the government. He stole military secrets and is implicated in the deaths of two scientists, a military officer, an Idaho state police officer, as well as two Canadian hunters."
"Mr. Bradley, you once assisted General Ross in apprehending Hulk. You should be aware of this, right?"
Coulson said calmly.
"And then?" Russell continued.
"And then?"
Coulson hadn't expected that, after being so straightforward, Russell would still ask "and then."
Nevertheless, he was an experienced S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
After contemplating for a second or two, he continued, "He's also suspected of attacking military forces at Culver University. As for what he did yesterday, I believe I don't need to say anything."
After Coulson finished, Russell suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... Hahahahaha..."
"Agent Coulson, I used to think you were quite competent. Otherwise, you wouldn't have become the director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York division."
Upon hearing this, Coulson had a somewhat foreboding feeling.
Sure enough, Russell continued, "First, it's Dr. Bruce Banner who's wanted by the U.S. government. If you don't remember what Dr. Banner looks like, I can provide you with his picture for free."
"Second, you mentioned Hulk's attack on the military forces at Culver University. If I'm not mistaken, there wasn't a single American soldier injured because of Hulk at that time."
"Oh, right, the only casualty was a U.S. soldier named Emil Blonsky."
"I killed him, personally crushed his head with my hands, right in front of General Ross."
"If you're thinking of using this excuse to arrest Hulk, I suggest you contact your superiors first and see if they support you in offending both me and General Ross at the same time."
"Lastly, it's true that Hulk engaged in activities harming ordinary citizens and damaging public facilities yesterday. There were also instances of resisting arrest and assaulting officers. However, none of this concerns S.H.I.E.L.D. in the slightest."
"Even if Hulk were to be prosecuted, that falls under the jurisdiction of the New York Police Department. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s responsibilities and authority don't cover that!"
"So, Director Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s New York division, please tell me, what qualifies you to demand that I hand over Hulk?"
Russell didn't give Coulson any face, speaking candidly.
Surface-level observation might make S.H.I.E.L.D. seem like a behemoth, supported by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
However, on closer examination, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s authority was not nearly as expansive as it appeared.
Let's not even discuss other countries.
Just within the United States, there were more than one or two official agencies that held a grudge against S.H.I.E.L.D.
For example, the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Agency, the Pentagon, and so on.
Power is like a cake!
If some people have more, naturally, others will have less.
In principle, what S.H.I.E.L.D. was doing wasn't wrong.
Upholding world peace, guarding against significant threats, protecting this fragile blue planet.
However, the problem was that they overstepped their boundaries.
No department would enjoy another department reaching in and taking away their rights.
If there really was such a department, it could only mean that the department itself had little authority.
"Mr. Bradley, we've never had intentions to be your enemies nor have we done anything to infringe upon your interests. There's no need for you to harbor such hostility towards us."
"If there's any misunderstanding, I can explain!"
Up until this point, Coulson couldn't figure out why Russell had such obvious animosity towards S.H.I.E.L.D.
While it was normal for someone with an assassin's background to dislike official organizations, it was clear that Russell's aversion to S.H.I.E.L.D. had exceeded the norm. It was as if they were archenemies who had been at odds for years.
"No intentions to be my enemy?"
"Director Coulson, it's best you say a little less of the sort of words that even you can't believe."
"The message is clear: I won't sell the Battle Armor, not even a single screw! And Hulk, I won't hand him over either!"
"If you want to play, I'm game to the end!"
Russell and Coulson's second meeting yielded no different results from the first, and Coulson left empty-handed again.
Um...
Strictly speaking, he didn't leave empty-handed.
At least he learned that Russell held more than ordinary dislike for S.H.I.E.L.D.
After Coulson left, Russell donned the Endosymbiotic Battle Armor and left the office, flying toward the manufacturing facility.
When he arrived at the facility, Hulk had just finished a breakfast that had lasted over an hour. He was holding a small iron bucket, originally meant for ice, pouring alcohol into his mouth.
Upon seeing Russell's arrival, Hulk happily stood up and jogged toward him.
Then, he handed the small iron bucket, which now had his fingerprints all over it, to Russell.
"I'll use a glass instead!"
Russell glanced at the iron bucket in Hulk's hand and quickly spoke.
The room where Hulk currently resided had originally been a workshop for processing the external armor of the Zaku Battle Armor.
No. 3 had temporarily modified it to serve as Hulk's room.
Approaching the mountain-like pile of bottles, Russell didn't let the mechanical arms in the room pour him a drink, opting to select a bottle himself.
No. 3 had specially arranged for these mechanical arms to help Hulk open and pour drinks.
Hulk's palms and strength were too great, making it difficult for him to pour drinks himself.
After taking a sip of whisky from the glass, Russell waved at Hulk, who was nearby, motioning for him to come over.
Then, he faced Hulk, who was nearly three meters tall and reeked of alcohol, and said, "Hulk, do you want to be a beloved superhero?"
"Superhero?"
Hulk took a moment to understand what a superhero was.
"Hulk wants to be a hero, Hulk wants people to love him, Hulk wants to be respected!"
Upon hearing Hulk's response, Russell showed a satisfied smile.
Although he wasn't a match for Hulk in terms of power, the best way to make Hulk obedient wasn't to argue logically, but to get him to do something from the heart.
Otherwise, even if he managed to defeat him, he wouldn't listen obediently.
