"In my opinion, the key is right here. Look at the arrangement of these diodes, and then this line..." Howard pointed at a few places with a screwdriver, lifting a few wires, as he argued passionately with the person next to him.
"No, you're focusing on the wrong place. It's clearly this small ball that's the key." The other person disagreed, pointing with the pen in his hand at an incomprehensible device inside the robot's chest cavity.
Zola looked left and right, a humble smile on his face, trying to soothe the situation: "Let's not argue, let's not argue. You both have valid points. We can experiment next."
Su Ming easily arrived outside Howard's lab. None of the agents dared block his way, except for the persistent Long Hair Braised Egg who followed him back to headquarters to maintain order.
Returning, he immediately heard Howard arguing with someone. Zola, who was supposed to be crucial, was slacking off again.
"Ahem, that's our new science genius, Dr. Henry Jonathan Pym. Only 14 years old and already holds a doctorate in biology and physics from the California Institute of Technology. He's a good person, and you can call him Hank."
Noticing Deathstroke had stopped in his tracks, Fury timely introduced the newcomer.
Honestly, Xiaohuzi's actions this time, plus Faust's disruption of SSR, left both him and Steve in a bit of a fix.
Peggy, Steve, and the Second Captain America stayed in Washington to stabilize the situation, while he returned to Caspian Camp with the Roaring Assault Team to resolve other issues. In this environment, if Deathstroke was willing to help take out Xiaohuzi, it would be greatly appreciated.
So, despite his face being as dark as coal, his attitude was uncharacteristically enthusiastic.
"He's clearly named Henry, but his nickname is Hank?" Su Ming casually quipped. "And a graduate of the California Institute of Technology, you know? Tying anything to that school means trouble."
Why, you ask? Just look at the people the Marvel World's California Institute of Technology has produced.
The Hulk, Big Boss, Scammer De, and if it's the MCU, also Lady Thor, all problem children. Of course, Scammer attended four universities, so California Institute of Technology probably bears only a quarter of the blame.
"Uh... people can choose their own nicknames. Like me, no one calls me Nicholas; they all call me Nick or Fury." Fury explained helplessly, beginning to suspect if Deathstroke was foreign, because nicknames don't necessarily relate to names.
"Then why don't you call yourself 'Bruce'?"
Behind the mask, Su Ming rolled his eyes and walked towards the three in the lab.
Fury shuddered. For some reason, hearing that name made darkness feel all-consuming, accompanied by the deep malice in Deathstroke's words.
It's as if changing that name would immediately bring immense suffering. Was it some kind of curse?
The Afro Little Black didn't immediately follow Deathstroke but discreetly signaled Dugan in the distance to investigate California Institute of Technology and all the Bruces nationwide. It felt like that person might owe Deathstroke a lot of money.
To still be alive while owing Deathstroke money, such talent must be absorbed into SSR!
"Hey, Howard, I'm back. How's it going?" Su Ming casually dragged a chair to rest on it.
Howard glanced back at him, put down the screwdriver in his hand, wiped his oily hands on a rag, and proudly lifted his chin:
"Just in time. The kid and I have a little disagreement. I believe Lady Nine-Heads' memory storage mechanism should be in the robot's head, with the body merely a transmission frame. But Hank thinks the small ball has some magical function."
Dr. Pym also wiped his hands, smiling as he extended his hand to Su Ming: "Hello, Mr. Deathstroke, I often hear people talk about you."
Upon hearing this, Su Ming turned his head, seeing Howard and Fury quickly avert their gazes to look at the corner of the room and the ceiling, as if there were flowers there.
Su Ming smirked, casually shaking Pym's hand: "Seems they didn't say anything good about me."
"No, they complimented you as the world's strongest warrior. I believe 'strong' is a compliment." Pym smiled gracefully, even explaining for Fury.
How to say it, Pym and Charles have similarities in their precociousness, but Charles' smile is more genuine, while Pym's shows traces of performance.
"Let me take a look at that..." Su Ming said politely but didn't need their permission. He looked at the dissected metal body; beneath the dense pipes and cables in the chest was a silver-white small ball: "Ah, so it's this."
"You recognize it?" Howard brought his eyes closer, rubbing his hands, asking.
"That was a long time ago. I was involved in World War II, and in Paris, I met a Hydra leader named Blue Gloves." Su Ming plucked the small ball, holding it for a closer look. Although it wasn't the one strangled back then, it was still quite similar: "He was actually a bionic man. I once pulled one of these from his brain; it could upload intelligence and memories to a signal station thousands of kilometers away as backup for the next body."
"What's the principle?" Howard frowned, wondering if Hank was right and he was wrong.
"Who knows? You're the physicist, not me." Su Ming tossed the silver ball into Howard's arms with annoyance: "Anyway, I left the previous one in a brick crevice at Notre-Dame Cathedral's clock tower."
Hearing this, Fury calmly hid his hand behind him.
"Did you kill Blue Gloves?"
Zola looked at Deathstroke in shock, his legs trembling. He still remembered that elegant man, as strong as a noble. Originally thought to be hiding during the war, who knew he silently died at Deathstroke's hands without anyone knowing.
Su Ming looked at him: "That's right, and just a few hours ago, I also killed Hydra's Faust, your new director, what's your plan? Avenging your former friends?"
"No! No, no. Haha." Sweat poured down Zola's forehead as he wiped his face with a red and white checkered handkerchief: "Blue Gloves and Faust always bullied me back then. I hated them, and Red Skull too. They're all monsters and deserved to die!"
"Since Faust infiltrated SSR with a disguise, it was normal you didn't recognize him; otherwise, you'd be highly suspect." Fury warned Zola with a cold tone: "The best way is to quickly help us find Root of Hatred's whereabouts; only his death can prove your innocence."
"Of course, of course, haha... um, Dr. Stark, may I see that small ball?" Zola's wiping frequency increased, and he tiptoed nervously, using a flattering tone toward Howard.
Su Ming, watching Zola and the pensive Pym, knew he needed to wait a few minutes, so he idly decided to mess with Fury.
"Faust's body is at a corn farm outside Montgomery. Send someone to bring it back. Whomever takes credit doesn't matter to me, but let's settle the fee first."
Saying this, Su Ming rubbed his fingers towards Fury.
Howard discreetly glanced at him.
Acting! Keep acting! Obviously a billionaire pretending to be a masked mercenary—where did these dark behaviors come from?
If I weren't afraid of dying, I'd have exposed you long ago!