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[Frog] Chapter 180: Are You Not Afraid of Death?
🕑 Added 2024-11-27 03:38:59 +0000 UTCS.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Nick Fury stood on the command platform and issued orders to the team below: “Prepare for liftoff, everyone!”
Under the control of the technicians, the Helicarrier, which had been floating on the ocean surface, began to reveal its massive propellers on either side. With immense power, the carrier slowly lifted into the air.
Technicians on-site reported the operational status of all systems.
At the entrance, two figures walked into the control room side by side.
One was none other than Steve Rogers, personally recruited by Nick Fury.
The other, however, was far less pristine compared to Rogers. Yet his identity and fame were no less remarkable.
This man was Bruce Banner—the only known individual in the world to survive gamma radiation exposure.
After surviving the radiation, a powerful and uncontrollable second persona awakened within him: the Hulk.
This time, Black Widow herself had brought him in because Nick Fury believed that Dr. Banner might be the only person on Earth capable of tracking the Tesseract’s energy.
Nick Fury turned back to the control panel and, once the Helicarrier had reached a certain altitude, commanded, “Activate the cloaking panels!”
The Helicarrier, now in the sky, slowly disappeared from view as the cloaking system engaged.
After completing the launch, Fury turned toward the two men behind him. “Captain, you’re free to look around now.”
Rogers nodded and handed Fury a ten-dollar bill.
This was the result of a small bet between the two. When Fury had approached Rogers to bring him on board, he’d told him that the world had advanced far beyond anything Rogers could imagine.
Rogers didn’t believe him.
Their bet? Ten dollars.
Fury pocketed the money and walked over to Dr. Banner. “Doctor, I appreciate you coming.”
After some hesitation, Banner shook Fury’s hand. “Thank you for the polite invitation.”
Seeing Banner’s clear reluctance, Fury chose not to press him further. Though he had promised Banner that he could return to his secluded life after this mission, Fury knew all too well how hard it would be to get off his ship once aboard.
“How long will I need to stay here?” Banner asked.
“Until we recover the Tesseract,” Fury replied.
Banner nodded and said, “Just this once. Let’s get started.”
His demeanor made it clear he wanted to leave S.H.I.E.L.D. as soon as possible.
During his years on the run, Banner had been evading the U.S. government. As a former top scientist, he knew all too well the corrupt and ruthless side of the administration.
For them, his brilliant mind was secondary to the secrets in his blood—secrets tied to the Hulk.
If they could unlock the mysteries of his blood, they could create controllable Hulks en masse, which would elevate the U.S. to unprecedented global dominance.
Banner had only agreed to come with Black Widow to S.H.I.E.L.D. because he didn’t want to make enemies of them unprepared.
“Do I have a place to work here?” he asked.
“Of course,” Fury replied, gesturing toward another part of the ship. “Romanoff, please escort Dr. Banner to his lab.”
Black Widow stepped forward. “This way, Doctor. You’ll like it there—it’s fully equipped with everything you’ll need.”
Just then, Hill approached Fury with a report. “Director, we’ve located Loki!”
Fury’s expression grew serious as he quickly moved to the computer. Utilizing global facial recognition software, they finally matched an image with a 95% similarity rate.
Fury immediately recognized him. “It’s him, no doubt about it.”
“He’s wearing a suit. Where is this?”
“Stuttgart, Germany. Königstrasse 28,” the monitoring team replied.
Steve Rogers, standing nearby, stared at the information on the screen in astonishment. Once again, his understanding of the modern world was shaken.
He hadn’t realized how easy it was to find someone in this era.
“Captain, it’s your turn to step up,” Fury said.
Rogers nodded in understanding.
---
Stuttgart, Germany.
At an extravagant gala, open only to the elite and nobility, Anna arrived in a stunning red gown. Her striking features, coupled with her alluring figure, instantly made her the center of attention.
Numerous notable figures from German high society approached her to toast and strike up conversations, each hoping for a closer connection. But Anna skillfully and politely declined their advances with her eloquent conversational finesse.
Watching one person after another attempt to flirt with her, Anna felt a growing irritation. Yet, bound by etiquette, she had no choice but to exchange a few words with each of them.
It was at that moment she regretted her decision to attend this gala out of a sense of obligation. She would have much preferred to stay in New York. If she were in New York right now, she might even be enjoying a relaxing bath in Alan's house.
Just then, Loki—having reverted to his original appearance—strolled over. Holding a glass of wine, he approached Anna and said with a smirk, “My lady, it seems you are quite popular here.”
Anna offered a polite smile. “Perhaps it’s just that I’m standing in a favorable spot. People just happen to pass by me and stop for a drink.”
Loki chuckled lightly. “I see. However, there’s one thing I truly dislike—when others take what is rightfully mine. Soon enough, I will be the one everyone is paying attention to.”
He handed his glass of wine to Anna before turning and walking toward the back of the room.
Instinctively accepting the drink, Anna stared after him as though he were a lunatic.
Is there something wrong with this guy?
A female friend beside Anna chuckled and said, “That man was rather charming, don’t you think?”
“And? Did anyone catch your eye tonight?”
“Charming?” Anna laughed at her friend’s starry-eyed expression. “If you like him, go ahead.”
Compared to Alan’s understated elegance, which was uniquely Eastern, this man’s erratic energy wasn’t even in the same league.
With that, Anna handed the glass Loki had given her to her friend.
“Good luck.”
Anna then moved toward a quieter corner of the venue. She had no interest in encountering another lunatic like that and just wanted to wait out the event in peace.
However, as she walked just a few steps, a piercing scream from her friend rang out behind her.
“Ahhh!”
Anna’s face fell as she turned back. The sight before her stunned her into silence.
The man from earlier—Loki—had used a staff inlaid with a sapphire gem to impale a middle-aged man’s stomach.
Not only that, but he lifted the man high into the air.
The victim struggled in agony, suspended above the ground, his breath growing weaker and weaker.
The entire crowd was paralyzed with fear, their courage shattered by the sudden violence. One by one, they began to back away.
Loki flashed a wicked smile and, looking in Anna’s direction, said, “I told you—I will be the center of attention.”
At that moment, Anna confirmed: This guy is absolutely insane!
With a casual flick, Loki sent the man he had impaled flying across the room, and then he slowly advanced toward the crowd.
Panic erupted. The guests fled in all directions, rushing for the exits in a chaotic stampede.
Anna, having experienced her share of dangerous situations, remained composed. Her psychological resilience showed as she stood her ground, retreating carefully without turning her back to Loki. At the same time, she urged her friend to leave first.
This display of calm caught Loki’s attention.
He asked with curiosity, “Are you not afraid of death, Earth woman?”
... (To be continued) ...
