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Shen He still pays significant attention to the Extremis Virus.
The movie's explanation of this virus is shallow, but the comics depict its immense power. One thing is clear: despite the larger universe, Earth remains the center stage.
A deeper understanding of it would improve the capabilities of ordinary Chaldean agents. This is why Shen He doesn't want to start unnecessary chaos, but still believes it's essential to remind everyone—these individuals can't be seen as mere terrorists. If even the renowned Iron Man is taken down easily by an Extremis mutant without his War Armor, it would be more than embarrassing.
Shen He's warning made everyone take it seriously.
"It's a shame I can't study the armor from your world," Tony said with some regret. "That thing isn't pure science—it involves some kind of occult elements. I bet it's impossible to replicate."
"You're just interested in getting your hands on it," Shen He said, waving him off. "Things aren't that simple in the rest of the world."
The armor's functions also include unique "curing" effects. There are general functions, but others defy standard scientific interpretation.
"Let's not go there," Tony shook his head as if defeated. "The alien army's arrival is less than half a month away, right? What more can we do?"
Upon hearing this, the room grew tense.
Even Steve couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh as he took a seat.
No matter how prepared they were, the pressure of facing such a war was undeniable.
"Yeah," Shen He said, after thinking for a moment. "This is the first global crisis your world has faced. Though it's a disaster, it's also an opportunity. Coulson, remember how I asked you to look into Wakanda?"
"Of course," Coulson nodded. "But no matter how much we investigate, Wakanda still appears to be a poor, weak African country. The only thing it's known for is the rare material used for Captain America's shield."
This was why Shen He hadn't pushed them to investigate too thoroughly. They needed to avoid raising suspicion in Wakanda. Their agents had merely monitored the situation and found nothing of note.
"You should go there yourself, Coulson," Shen He said, his voice firm. "Meet with their king. Don't say much, just tell them that when Earth faces its crisis, we can stand united."
While there were only a handful of Chitauri forces, there was no need to make a large show of things.
As Shen He pointed out, this was an opportunity to unite Earth's forces.
It was unfortunate that the Mage Association, represented by Gu Yi, had focused solely on the alien invasion, but Gu Yi's presence could still help deter Thanos. This was their greatest strength.
Shen He also feared that his involvement might inadvertently accelerate Thanos' plans.
"I'm good at this kind of thing," Coulson said, his voice confident.
"Are these people really that powerful?" Tony asked. "I'm not racist—I'm just curious about Vibranium."
"Wakanda's Vibranium technology is far ahead of the rest of the world," Shen He said, briefly explaining their prowess. "Their country also has a genius—someone capable of crafting highly advanced technology. Their Vibranium suit is much stronger than Captain America's shield."
"I can't wait to get in touch with them," Tony said, clearly intrigued.
"You'll have a chance in the future," Shen He smiled before steering the conversation back to business. "In addition, there's Attilan, the kingdom represented by Black Bolt. This presents an opportunity for an alien race to return to Earth. The reactions of China and other countries are things we'll need to handle carefully."
This was an equally crucial matter.
Shen He's goal was to turn the Battle of New York into a much more significant turning point than it was in the original timeline.
"I can't be much help with this," Steve said, leaning back on the sofa with a sigh. "Seems like I'm only suited to being a soldier."
At this point, Steve had found little room to contribute. Though it stung, he had come to accept his role.
"No, you're wrong," Tony said bluntly. "In Shen He's eyes, you're more like a mascot or a symbol—a rallying point for people to remember."
"If you're on the battlefield, you'll understand the importance of having a banner," Steve responded calmly. He was no longer offended. Ever since learning that his friend Bucky had been manipulated into killing Tony's parents, he'd developed a temper, particularly when dealing with Tony.
Tony didn't seem to realize that, from an outsider's perspective, their relationship was improving.
"Alright, I don't know much about this sort of thing," Shen He interjected, cutting through the casual banter. "What we lack right now is someone skilled at negotiating with governments. This is crucial. Fortunately, I have a candidate, but that's something we'll have to wait for. Coulson, for now, create a profile and hold off until the person is in place."
"Understood, sir," Coulson said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
He knew exactly who Shen He was referring to. After years under Nick Fury, it had been hard to let go, but Coulson was adapting.
The discussion continued on as they reviewed the next two weeks.
Shen He couldn't give an exact timeline for Loki's arrival, though he was certain it would occur before Stark Tower lit up the first large-scale clean energy source. The precise timing was still to be determined.
Despite the uncertainty, Shen He had made some gains in the meantime.
He had accumulated 27 Summoning Stones, and by the time the crisis arrived, he estimated he'd have at least forty. There hadn't been much activity, though his "resting" period had been a welcomed break. However, the slow acquisition of Summoning Stones remained a frustration.
The most significant gain, however, was the progress of his followers.
Thanks to Qi Mu's near-endless supply of "dog food" (materials for upgrading), the follower upgrades were progressing at a fast pace, with Shen He's daily mana recharge as the only limitation. To upgrade, both mana and dog food were required, and the mana was slowly regenerated over time.
The highest-level follower at the moment was Qi Mu Nanxiong, who had successfully broken through the 30th level ten days ago and was now at level 33.
Joan of Arc, Misaka Mikoto Alter, and the three five-star followers had all hit level 30 and were struggling to break through to the next level, looking for materials to help with that process.
The two four-star followers, Ryougi Shiki and Violet, had come from behind after hitting their bottlenecks at level 25, and now they were at levels 32 and 31 respectively.
The lowest was Misaka Mikoto, who was still at a lower level compared to the others.
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