Chapter 72

However, Tony Stark had somehow learned of the new element’s existence and had taken the initiative to request the data from S.H.I.E.L.D., which significantly diminished the effectiveness of their recruitment attempt.

This also meant Nick Fury couldn't afford to be too overbearing at the moment; he didn't even bring out Seeing Seeing Natasha’s negative evaluation report on Stark—otherwise, Iron Man would have walked out immediately, and that would have been a disaster.

And for the "Black Egg," not being able to be overbearing was certainly frustrating.

[How on earth did Tony find out about the new element...]

The "Egg" was puzzled.

Click—

Tap, tap.

The hatch was opened by the guarding S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and the invited Ye Li walked in, bringing Barbara with him.

"Li, why are you always arriving later than me?"

Tony was much more enthusiastic toward Ye Li, patting the seat beside him. "Come, sit here. Let’s talk with Director Nick Fury."

"Hello, Fury."

Ye Li pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling as he introduced Barbara to Nick Fury—

"This is Barbara, my personal bodyguard."

"I think she should be allowed to hear whatever we discuss, right? Hmm?"

Nick Fury: "..." (Playing quite the game, aren't you, kid? Bringing an agent from my own bureau to introduce to me...)

Looking at Fury’s deeply meaningful, pained expression.

Barbara offered a forced, insincere smile. "Heh heh..."

Her inner thoughts: Heaven knows why Li dragged her here to meet the Director! (つД`)!!

"Hello, Vice President Ye."

Nick Fury acted as if he didn't see Barbara.

With his seniority, which was a level higher than Barbara’s, he naturally wouldn't assume Ye Li was unaware of the agent S.H.I.E.L.D. had planted.

It was just that Nick Fury couldn't be bothered to play these childish, petty games with Ye Li.

He figured it didn't matter if Barbara stayed at the Ghost Spider Club for the time being; perhaps she could be cultivated into a liaison between the two sides.

"Since everyone is here."

"We can begin."

Nick Fury moved the two files on the table in front of Ye Li and Stark. "Take a look at this first."

Ye Li and Stark took them and began to flip through them simultaneously.

Hmm... aside from the names, the files were mostly the same; they were just looking to hire the two as S.H.I.E.L.D. consultants.

Ye Li and Stark took them and began to flip through them simultaneously.

Hmm... aside from the names, the files were mostly the same; they were just looking to hire the two as S.H.I.E.L.D. consultants.

"Finished reading, Li?"

Having finished, Tony handed the file in his hand to Ye Li. "Shall we swap and take a look?"

"Ah, sure."

Ye Li readily agreed, and he and Tony swapped files to read them...

Nick Fury: "..." (Could you please show some respect for our confidentiality protocols...)

"Ahem! Since you've finished..."

Nick Fury snatched the files back from these two guys and asked, getting straight to the point, "What are your thoughts?"

"You can't afford me."

Tony spoke first, spreading his hands. "However, I happen to need someone to do me a small favor. Washington is going to present awards to me and Rhodey, and I’m willing to use my consulting fee to have you help me invite an award presenter."

Iron Man’s subtext was that he was reluctantly agreeing to this "consultant" position, which had no real binding power.

Nick Fury nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at the remaining Ye Li. "And you, Mr. Ye?"

"Sorry."

Ye Li refused flatly. "I will not work for Hydra... I mean, S.H.I.E.L.D."

Nick Fury: "It’s just a consultant role."

Ye Li: "That’s still a position, isn't it?"

"However, I can..."

Ye Li leaned back slightly, spread his arms, and smiled faintly. "As the Vice President of the Ghost Spider Club, I can engage in certain collaborations with S.H.I.E.L.D.—the kind that benefits both sides, a win-win~"

"..."

Nick Fury was silent for a moment, finally exhaling a breath of murky air, and nodded. "Fine... since Vice President Ye is unwilling... then we shall proceed through a partnership."

Given the current influence of the Ghost Spider Club, Director "Egg" still didn't want to give up on building a rapport, so he chose to settle for the next best thing.

"Then, I think both sides need a liaison..."

Ye Li stood up, rested his hand on Barbara’s shoulder, and smiled. "I recommend two candidates: Ms. Barbara from our club, and Agent Seeing Seeing Natasha from your S.H.I.E.L.D. They happen to have already met."

Nick Fury: "..." (The number of times I've been silenced today is getting a bit high...)

Although he had thought of this as well.

But.

Ye Li had just finished saying he didn't want to work for S.H.I.E.L.D.

And then turned around to make a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent work for the Ghost Spider Club...

That was too ruthless...

S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Rest Base.

"Seeing Seeing Natasha, you don't know, Li is too bad, he actually brought me to see the Direc... huh? What’s wrong with you?"

As Barbara was speaking, she saw Seeing Seeing Natasha holding her hands under the faucet, washing them repeatedly...

[Could it be...]

A guess surfaced in Barbara’s mind; she had seen some rookie agents exhibit this behavior before.

That was because—

After killing someone, their hands were stained with blood.

Lacking sufficient psychological resilience, they developed mental illnesses and frequently suffered hallucinations.

They thought the blood on their hands hadn't been washed off, so they kept washing, even until the skin broke...

But...

How could a seasoned agent like Seeing Seeing Natasha have such a problem...

Could it be that she killed someone she regretted deeply?

Thinking of this.

Barbara stepped forward and patted Seeing Seeing Natasha on the shoulder, comforting her. "Seeing Seeing Natasha, forget it, those things are nothing... that’s just how we agents are... some things are not for us to decide..."

Seeing Seeing Natasha: ???

She was indeed left with a shadow...

But not the kind of shadow Barbara was imagining...

What was on her hands wasn't red...

It was white...

The more Seeing Seeing Natasha thought about it, the angrier she got.

She said irritably, "It’s all your Li’s fault! Now whenever I see him, I can't help but want to wash my hands!"

"Ah? Why?"

Although Barbara didn't understand the cause and effect, she still reminded her, "But from now on, you will be representing S.H.I.E.L.D. to liaise with the Ghost Spider Club. This was decided by Fury."

Seeing Seeing Natasha: ??? (Doesn't that mean I’ll have to see that guy all the time?)

"Brother, why are you looking at me like that?"

Matilda sat obediently in front of Ye Li, swinging her legs, feeling a bit strange as she saw her brother staring at her.