"Just three days ago," Fury explained in a low voice, "S.H.I.E.L.D. raided a cult known as the [Sons of Baphomet]. According to the intelligence we obtained from interrogations, they worship an entity calling itself 'Mephisto' and were attempting to perform a live sacrifice ritual."
Tony whistled. "Mephisto? Now even Devils are showing up?"
Fury ignored his mockery and continued, "During the raid, the ritual was forcibly interrupted. However, video observation showed that a goat skull underwent a mutation during the sacrifice, and one of its horns perfectly matches the characteristics of the item you're looking for. But just as we were preparing to recover it, a well-equipped third-party squad launched a surprise attack and stole all the sacrificial offerings, including the crystal you want. Their tactics, equipment, and extraction methods all bear the signature of that 'internal threat' we are currently investigating."
He looked at the three of them and gave the final mission briefing: "We tracked them to a private airport in Austria, where they will conduct a hand-off in 20 hours. Same deal as before: you take your pick first, and the rest belongs to me. Natasha is already waiting there."
"So, what you're saying is HYDRA stole from cultists, and now we're going to steal from HYDRA?" Tony summarized, turning excitedly to Banner beside him. "Hey, Bruce, want to join us for a little high-stakes practical exercise? It's time to test the chemical reaction of our 'Science Trio.'"
Since reaching a reconciliation with the Hulk in Harlem, Banner no longer deliberately suppressed the big guy's existence. He replied calmly, "As long as I can control myself enough not to dismantle the target, I have no objection."
The communication ended, and Tony immediately said, "Jarvis, prepare for takeoff. Notify Pepper downstairs and tell her us men are going out to... well, go fishing."
12 hours later, Austria.
"Alright, gentlemen, the battle plan is simple." Tony stood before the holographic tactical table, assigning tasks with high spirits. "I'll handle the high-altitude penetration, acting like a precision scalpel to cut away the peripheral guards. Bruce, you're on point for the main assault; use the simplest and most brutal method to create enough chaos. Lin," he looked at the composed Lin Huai, "use your 'coins' to 'plug up' all their eyes and ears. I don't want any distress signals getting out."
"After we grab the goods, we can actually go fishing. This flight is a pain, and after all, we told Pepper we'd bring back some fish." Having said that, Stark winked at his two teammates.
"Sir, the target cargo plane has been locked," Jarvis reported. "Thermal imaging shows six people in the cabin and two armed guards beneath the wings. They are carrying several crates stored in a reinforced cargo hold."
"Let's get them ready to receive their delivery." Before Tony's voice even faded, he added, "Lin, now!"
Lin Huai nodded and fished the [Probability Mist Coin] out of his pocket. He walked to the cabin door, looked down at the two guards in the night wind, and lightly tossed the coin in his hand.
Simultaneously, Stark activated his latest model suitcase armor. The thrusters on his back erupted with a dazzling blue light, and he shot toward the ground like a meteor.
An almost negligible ripple of energy flashed and vanished. The communication headsets of the two HYDRA guards were instantly filled with piercing static noise, and even the displays on their night-vision goggles suffered several seconds of snow and double-imaging.
"What was that?!"
"Zzt... zzt... comms... damn it!"
This sudden turn of events made them subconsciously check their equipment. And that brief moment of confusion was already fatal.
They looked up in horror, only to see a red-and-gold stream of light descending from the sky with the force of a thunderbolt.
"Bang! Bang!" Two Sentinels were struck by precise light beams and collapsed to the ground.
"Can casing peeled." Tony's voice rang out over the squad channel. "Bruce, you're up!"
The cabin door was violently smashed open. Four HYDRA elites armed with German assault rifles had just poked their heads out when they heard a roar from hell.
"Roar—!"
Under their stunned gazes, a massive green giant descended from the sky with a terrifying momentum capable of crushing mountains, slamming hard into the middle of the cargo plane's fuselage!
"Creeeeak—!"
The entire plane let out a tooth-aching metallic wail. Under the absolute strength of the Hulk—comparable to a meteor strike—the sturdy fuselage was forced into a terrifying 'V' shape. The massive Impact caused the entire plane to lurch violently, snapping the fragile landing gear on the spot. The soldiers in the cabin were like dolls tossed into a tumble dryer, left dazed and completely incapacitated by the destructive force.
The quinjet slowly came to a halt, and Lin Huai gave a thumbs-up to the green behemoth. "Hulk, nice job. Bring those cargo crates out for me. Be careful, don't crush them."
Hulk let out a low growl and tore the plane wide open. Like grabbing building blocks, he dragged several distorted but intact metal cargo crates out of the wreckage and threw them roughly onto the ground.
Lin Huai stepped forward and used a crowbar to pry open the largest crate. It was filled with various bizarre ritual props, emitting a scent mixed with blood and sulfur. He rummaged through it for a moment and pulled out a palm-sized gray crystal shaped like a goat's horn.
Just as he turned around, a sleek black quinjet landed not far away. The hatch slid open, and Black Widow, dressed in a black tactical suit, jumped down from the plane.
"Looks like you're finished picking." Her gaze swept over the deformed plane and the small lead box in Lin Huai's hand, then landed on the pile of crates on the ground. "We'll take the rest. Fury told me to tell you that your commission is complete, and he'll contact you later."
Lin Huai held up the item in his hand as a response. Natasha nodded, and a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents quickly disembarked from the jet and began efficiently processing the scene.
On the private jet returning to Malibu.
Banner had returned to human form and was drinking a cup of hot cocoa, his expression more peaceful than ever before. Meanwhile, Tony leaned spiritedly against the bar; the shape of the reactor on his chest had changed into a more stable and bright inverted triangle.
"By the way," Tony raised a glass of healthy soda toward Lin Huai, "thanks for the tip. My father's old Expo model actually did hide a new element. Bruce and I figured it out, and it feels great."
Lin Huai smiled without saying much. He opened the lead box that never left his side, which contained the [face rose].
When the two main materials were taken out simultaneously, they seemed to produce a peculiar resonance. The expression on the [face rose] became more vivid, while complex light and shadows emerged within the [Grey Goat One-Horned Crystal].
"Both main materials for Sequence 8 [Joker] have been gathered." Lin Huai's eyes became brighter than ever before.
He looked at the two allies before him who already fully trusted him and announced calmly:
"Tony, Bruce, thank you for your help. Next, I need a few days. To adjust my mental state—it's time to put on a new costume."
"Of course, don't forget to buy some sea fish, otherwise Tony, you won't get past Pepper," Lin Huai said, and he and Banner burst into laughter.