"Mr. Banner!" Coulson hadn't expected Bruce to react so defensively. He quickly tried to reassure him, "Our organization's mission is to maintain peace. I can assure you that weapons manufacturing is absolutely not our priority."
"You're an honest man, Mr. Coulson," Bruce replied with an unnervingly calm and resolute expression. "But even you must know that you won't be able to resist developing the Hulk's power into a weapon. You've witnessed his destructive capabilities firsthand. Imagine what the world would become if such power were truly weaponized."
"That's just a hypothetical, Mr. Banner. We have a very thorough oversight system."
"I'm sorry, but in my eyes, those so-called 'thorough' systems are full of loopholes. And government institutions are absolutely untrustworthy. I learned that lesson the hard way the day I was hunted down and declared a wanted man."
Bruce Banner's stubborn refusal made things incredibly difficult for Coulson.
If it weren't for Zhou Yi's presence and Jennifer being there, he would have loved to use some "special methods" to force Bruce's hand. But he knew it was a ridiculous fantasy—Bruce didn't seem like a threat right now. Yet once he transformed into the Hulk again, even a dozen agents like himself wouldn't be enough to withstand a single punch.
He had no choice but to keep trying to persuade him, using every tactic he could think of.
"So, Mr. Banner, how do you plan to take responsibility for your mistakes? Given your current status, you might never be able to repay such a massive debt in your lifetime!"
This was the question he'd posed earlier to make Bruce doubt himself. Now he raised it again, hoping the guilt would make him compromise.
If he would just compromise, things could be resolved. That was Coulson's genuine belief.
Yet under Coulson's hopeful gaze, Bruce firmly shook his head.
"I'll take full responsibility for everything the Hulk has done. But I won't join you. I'm sorry, I can't risk even a sliver of danger to the world from the Hulk's destruction. I'll find a way to control him and dedicate the rest of my life to helping others."
"I don't know if this will redeem me for my mistakes, but it's far more reassuring than joining you. I'm sorry, Agent Coulson, I don't think there's anything more to discuss."
Bruce unilaterally ended the conversation, and Coulson had no choice but to accept his decision. After all, Bruce Banner wasn't an ordinary man; he was essentially a monster called the Hulk. Moreover, behind this man stood an even more terrifying figure.
He didn't press the matter further, knowing it would be pointless. So he simply said,
"Very well, Mr. Banner. If that's your wish. And if you change your mind, you can reach me through this method anytime." He handed Bruce a small slip of paper with his phone number. Bruce took it and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
"I hope that day never comes. And thank you for the clothes. I'll find a way to repay you for them."
"Consider it a gift!" Coulson smiled. Even if the deal fell through, there was no need to part on bad terms. He wasn't the type to turn hostile over a disagreement.
A black suit might not be a valuable item, but it was exactly what Bruce needed after transforming back from the Hulk. He accepted Coulson's kindness and turned to Zhou Yi.
"The rest is up to you, Dawn Knight!"
"Leave it to me!" Zhou Yi nodded after watching for a while. "Mr. Banner, Miss Betty... and Miss Jennifer will be joining us too, right?"
"If possible, we'd like to stay together," Betty said quickly. She knew that if she remained silent, Bruce would likely abandon her and run off alone. So, she voiced her desire before he could speak.
They had already been separated for five years last time. If something like that happened again, she couldn't be sure she wouldn't go mad.
"I understand!" Though it was challenging, Zhou Yi accepted Betty's suggestion. Just as he had appeared without anyone noticing, he vanished from the spot, taking Bruce and his group with him.
This discovery left Coulson deeply disappointed. His mission had clearly failed completely. When he returned to S.H.I.E.L.D., he knew he would face thorough investigations and interrogations. This would be a real headache.
"Officer, we found this!" an agent suddenly reported to Coulson, leading him to a massive refrigerated container. Through the glass, Coulson could clearly see what was inside:
A severed, massive green arm. Without a doubt, it belonged to a giant who had vanished from this world. Seeing the arm, now secured by S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson finally managed a faint smile.
"Well, perhaps the situation isn't so bad after all!"
The chaotic battle on Broadway in New York City finally came to an end, with all participants having left the scene. Only S.H.I.E.L.D. remained, working to clean up the aftermath. As for the battle between superheroes and monsters, many remained baffled as to its true purpose, and even those who knew the truth found it inexplicable.
The battle had yielded no real winners. Neither the military nor S.H.I.E.L.D., which had dealt the military a fatal blow from behind the scenes, obtained what they had hoped for.
The core of the incident, Hulk, had vanished into thin air, completely disappearing from everyone's sight. The only person who knew Hulk's whereabouts was beyond their coercion and would never reveal any secrets about him. Thus, both the military and S.H.I.E.L.D. were left with the bitter taste of having to swallow their humiliation.
Not only would they have to pay for all the losses caused by the battle, but they also faced intense public scrutiny. S.H.I.E.L.D. fared slightly better, as their existence remained unknown. But the military's authority had been utterly shattered.
Almost all public opinion was condemning their incompetence. Some information about the Super Soldier Program was even leaked online by those with ulterior motives. Given the past Biohazard Crisis in Raccoon City, New Yorkers who had suffered this time were almost to the point of refusing to let it go.
"The military is creating monsters!" This claim spread like wildfire, becoming the second biggest news story after the New York Heroes' chaotic battle. The information spread rapidly across the internet. Not just Americans, but people in Europe and Asia as well began to condemn this madness.
A tidal wave of public opinion crashed over the military, making them the immediate target of criticism, completely defenseless. Members of Congress were already proposing a thorough investigation into this insane plan and a purge within the military.
In the past, anyone who dared to act like this would have been considered a madman or a fool. But now, most members of Congress remained silent. The situation had become so dire that no one dared to speak out in defense of the military. As a result, the proposal was rapidly moving toward becoming an imminent law.
The military's vast power was about to face a devastating blow, a prospect many wished to avoid, while others eagerly anticipated it. Zhou Yi's actions had caused immense losses for some, simultaneously revealing opportunities for others. Within Congress and government agencies, unity was a rare commodity; infighting and backstabbing were endemic.
None of this concerned Zhou Yi anymore.
His relationship with the military had long since settled into that of a former customer and seller. Now, the only American agencies with close ties to him were the IRS and the FDA. Compared to the bloodthirsty bastards in the Department of Defense, the FDA personnel seemed as gentle as rabbits.
After seeing off the miraculous Giant family, Zhou Yi quietly returned home.
Standing in his study, the black Dawn Armor on his body kept shifting and contracting, but it repeatedly malfunctioned with bursts of ionized flashes. The Dawn Armor's inability to fully compress was a grave concern. "Medusa, have you identified the problem?" After several failed attempts to fix it, Zhou Yi had no choice but to turn to his intelligent assistant.
"Detection complete. Damage exceeds 70%. The core deformation device is compromised. I recommend waiting until repairs are finished before attempting another recovery, sir!"
"Are you kidding me? I don't want the kids to see me like this." Zhou Yi said, reaching for the armor on his other arm. With a series of sharp clicks, he forcibly detached the nanite plating.
"Sometimes I really wish I could forge a suit of armor from Adamantium. That's probably the only thing that could truly function as armor for me."
"You know, sir, that's impossible. The Adamantium alloy's inability to reassemble simply doesn't meet the Dawn Model's requirements!"
"I was just saying. Medusa, you need to develop a sense of humor!"
"Like Jarvis?" Medusa suddenly asked.
Zhou Yi's face lit up with astonishment. "Alright, that was quite funny," he admitted, forcefully prying off his helmet. Though the nanometal still tried to reassemble itself, it was utterly impossible against Zhou Yi's extraordinary power.
As he removed the helmet, he noticed someone standing outside the study.
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