There's not much to say about the conversation with the new leadership of the SSR. It's the same old political routine. Su Ming directly threw Howard at them, letting him go on with that old bearded man.
The goal has been achieved, Howard is no longer useful.
The payment he made earlier was actually just for Deathstroke's safe escort of him to the SSR Headquarters.
The people who want to kill him are not the same as those who murdered Brian, meaning Howard is safe here. If he still feels uneasy, Su Ming suggests he could hang out with Dr. Zola.
If these two encounter danger, a bunch of hidden Hydra agents will surely emerge to protect them.
It's not just the Americans who covet Dr. Zola's technology; Hydra wants Howard's technology too.
During Hydra's infiltration period, those who are embedded within SSR have the primary mission of gathering intelligence and stealing technology.
Howard's research results are right there in the lab, a little effort and they can see it. The Paperclip Project indirectly brings these two genius scientists together, where one plus one is far greater than two, a rare opportunity for the sparks of wisdom and technology to collide.
Although the lab is located on enemy territory, it's not a big problem. Who can even distinguish SSR from Hydra?
Now there's a mysterious organization trying to kill Dr. Stark? Sorry, Hydra is the first to object...
Howard is still useful for the moment, the leaders are waiting for ballistic missiles combined with nuclear weapon technology. The mysterious blue cube has been lost by Red Skull, Hydra needs some more substantial military assurance.
Su Ming is here to investigate the mutant issue and to repair the timeline. As for Howard? Just as long as he doesn't die.
"Nick, how have you been lately?"
In the corridor leading underground, a man wearing black and yellow armor asked the Black man, who was deep in thought, silently.
Nick Fury slowed his steps a bit, looked around: "Same as always, not good, not bad, at least I don't have to clean the toilets anymore."
"Has there been anything unusual around Dr. Stark lately?" Su Ming walked alongside him, their footsteps echoing in the corridor.
Nick Fury rolled his eyes, still wearing that half-awake expression: "He's a scientist, and an adventurer. Everything around him is unusual. Does wearing clothes made of sausage while skiing count?"
Fury openly admitted to the surveillance of Howard. It's the rule of the game in the darkness, protection and surveillance are always two sides of the same coin.
"Alright then, where were the people 'protecting' him when Howard was attacked?" Su Ming glanced at Fury's hairdo, feeling something awkward about it, but even with hair, his information is quite insightful.
"I am also pondering this question. I fear we have lost a few agents." Fury's expression didn't change, as being an agent inevitably means facing omnipresent death, that's the cost.
"In protective surveillance, what's the feedback interval for SSR?" Su Ming asked another question.
In an era without satellites and the internet, agents generally don't use phones or radios to transmit intelligence, it's not safe. They trust traditional methods more, which is to meet up in person.
Gathering intelligence on Howard, compiling it into reports, and sending it back to the Caspian Camp ensures that the reports can't be delivered daily due to the journey, causing inevitable intervals.
In the relaxed post-World War II environment, this interval is likely quite long.
Fury glanced at him, is there anything Deathstroke doesn't know? Even knows how the grassroots intelligence agencies operate, where did this guy come from?
He thought for a moment, figuring there was no need for secrecy here, this would all need adjusting anyway, and past intelligence is of no value.
"Once a week."
"When was their last contact?"
"Two days ago."
"Not bad at all. The surveillance department isn't under your control, and yet as an operations team leader, you are aware of what's happening at headquarters. You have a bright future."
"I'm an agent, gathering intelligence is basic. Personally, I lean more towards placing manpower beside scientists to protect openly, rather than lurking in the shadows, getting killed without knowing why."
Here comes Nick Fury's clingy protection style.
In the future, the most famous clingy person under Nick Fury will be Coulson, that guy always smiling, would leave phone numbers and other things for the surveillance targets, asking so many questions that they couldn't shake him off.
Tony described that as the haunting spirit of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
Su Ming clicked his tongue, making a 'tsk' sound: "I estimate the task of protecting Howard will be handed over to the Roaring Assault Team, since their assassination attempt seems more like a military operation. Your Colonel wouldn't possibly let me wander around freely, my time is limited."
Nick Fury neither confirmed nor denied, he took out a piece of gum and tucked it into his mouth, chewing hard: "From the start, you never intended to kill anyone, it wasn't just me who saw that."
"So letting me wander here is an inevitable choice for politicians. The SSR retains its strength and lives, Howard will feel 'valued' because SSR concedes to him. I achieved my goal, there's no reason to go mad. Your new Colonel is quite the politician."
"But you saw right through it, all within your calculations." Nick Fury quickened his pace; he had experienced Deathstroke's prowess before.
"Who knows... but politicians don't last long in places like this, what's your take?" A faint laugh echoed from beneath the black and yellow mask.
"Maybe." Fury dodged the question, giving an ambiguous answer.
"Alright, enough small talk for now, let's take a look at Howard's laboratory first." Su Ming made the request, waiting for Nick to lead the way.
The black man knew that if this protection mission was really handed over to the Roaring Assault Team, then gathering more intelligence was always beneficial, and there was no reason to refuse.
Deathstroke was offering intelligence for free and taking all the credit for himself afterward. Is there anything more advantageous than this?
Smart people wouldn't even mention the word deal when negotiating terms, so now Nick Fury would ensure Deathstroke had enough time to obtain the investigation outcomes he desired.
"This way, please."
Nick Fury opened a series of password-locked doors, verified fingerprints and work badges, and led Su Ming into a clearly lab-like area.
It should be the physics laboratory area because the sterilization and disinfection measures were not well-perfect; just some strong wind blew to remove dust.
It's not just Hydra that researches biological weapons; SSR does too, although it doesn't seem to be here.
Laboratories lined up along the corridor, with the bright white lights making it look like a hospital, extremely quiet all around.
Fury led Su Ming left and right to a laboratory's entrance.
"This is the shared lab of Dr. Howard and Dr. Zola. Some items inside are radioactive, best not to touch them."
Su Ming noticed a figure seemed to flash by at the corridor corner, likely a Hydra infiltrator.
Yet, what does Hydra have to do with him? He's not interested in dealing with SSR's mess.
"I won't touch those things; I just have some questions for Zola." Su Ming pushed the door open and saw a short figure in the corner of the lab wearing a lead protective suit, busy with something.
The lab was filled with the sparks of welding and a burnt smell.
"Howard, you came a bit early today. Come over to my place tonight for a drink; I got some good bacon." Zola didn't turn around; he merely heard the door open and, while continuing his work, cheerfully invited Howard.
"Can I come?"
A hoarse, deep voice answered him.
This voice often appeared in Zola's nightmares; hearing it made him feel as if he was naked, thrown into the winter Danube River, dancing on the line of death accompanied by Strauss's music.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Zola choked on his saliva, dropping his welding torch to the ground: "Devil, how did you get in here?! Guards! Guards!"
Nick Fury poked his head at the door, leaning against the frame. He waved to Dr. Zola in greeting, then crossed his arms as if even if Deathstroke killed Zola, he wouldn't intervene: "Action authorized by the Colonel, sorry, Dr. Zola."
Su Ming grabbed Zola with one hand, lifting him by his protective suit: "Not devil, it's Deathstroke."
"Alright, alright, I was wrong, don't kill me!" Dr. Zola gave in immediately; he was just a scientist, why treat him like this?
"I ask, you answer." Su Ming glanced at Zola's new glasses, his tone calm.
"Okay! Ask away!" Dr. Zola wanted to wipe off his sweat, but his protective suit isolated him.
"In you and Howard's experiments, did you use the blue energy block?"
Su Ming surveyed the lab, which looked like a messy garage, filled more with wrenches and screwdrivers than high-tech equipment.
"No, they've banned me from accessing those things." Zola nodded vehemently.
"Have you conducted radiation experiments on living humans?" Su Ming asked again.
"No, oh God." Zola raised both hands in a surrender position: "I am a pacifist, I was firmly against that Austrian corporal's massacre of Jews, I'm not a Nazi, I wouldn't use live humans for experiments!"
"As if Hydra is clean." Su Ming sneered.
"Hydra is already dead; I'm now an American, a U.S. citizen. Freedom forever!" Zola looked excited, seemingly ready to recite the U.S. Constitution.
Su Ming placed him back on the ground; Howard truly had no connection with Project Black Womb, the group wanting to kill him was unknown, but SSR itself had no ties to them.
The black and yellow hand armor patted the chest of the protective suit, as if tidying Zola's wrinkled clothing: "One last question, Dr. Zola, from a scientist's perspective, has Dr. Stark been behaving unusually lately?"
Zola sighed in relief, fortunately, Deathstroke was much less temperamental than the Red Skull; it was considered a blessing.
Wanting to expedite Deathstroke's departure, Zola seriously thought about it, his small eyeballs constantly rolling.
"Oh, right, there really is."