"I love this idea! This is a very interesting idea!"
Before Nick Fury, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and the other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents could say anything, Loki couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
His eyes were shining with light.
"You go undercover on me, and I go undercover on you. You think my people are your people, but in reality, my people are still my people, and your people are my people..."
Loki spoke like he was saying a tongue twister, eagerly joining the discussion.
"Stark, do you think I haven't considered this method?" Nick Fury shook his head somewhat dejectedly. "We're discussing how to reclaim S.H.I.E.L.D. from Hydra, and this method isn't suitable. After all, we don't have that much time."
The biggest drawback of undercover operations is that they are simply too slow to take effect.
Aside from anything else, just successfully planting an undercover agent requires a lot of preparatory work, including very detailed, network-like investigations in the early stages.
After all, an undercover agent isn't just about one person.
You have to thoroughly investigate everyone in that undercover agent's social circle, because the agent can't reveal themselves to others.
It's simply time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Even if you don't consider these things and an undercover agent is successfully planted, how much of a role can they play?
To be honest, given Hydra's current infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D., an undercover agent would be useless unless they were in a very important position.
But those important Hydra positions are basically very difficult to replace.
"Is that so, Nick Fury? You've also considered undercover methods?" Tony Stark looked directly at Nick Fury, saying profoundly, "Then have you considered directly replacing Pierce with an undercover agent?"
Tony Stark's words immediately stimulated Nick Fury and the others, almost making them burst out laughing.
Replace Pierce?
Stark really dared to think big.
Unfortunately, this idea was as fantastical as an Arabian Nights tale.
It was simply impossible to achieve.
"I just thought about it. Since we're planting an undercover agent, why not go straight to the top and replace Pierce with an undercover agent? Wouldn't that simplify many things?"
Tony Stark continued to speak eloquently. He glanced at everyone, spread his hands, and said, "What kind of look is that? Do you think I'm dreaming and being unrealistic? Use your imagination! Have you forgotten what my T-1000 can do?"
T-1000!
Tony Stark's words immediately made Nick Fury and the others' eyes light up.
If it was a T-1000, then Tony Stark's seemingly fantastical idea really had a possibility of coming true!
"The T-1000 can transform into Pierce, collect Pierce's relevant data, and accurately mimic Pierce. Theoretically, it can become Pierce 100%!"
"Gentlemen, what do you think of my undercover plan now?"
Tony Stark then folded his arms, a hint of smugness on his face, and said to everyone.
What do we think?
Of course, it's awesome!
Pierce is currently Hydra's highest leader. If Pierce were replaced by one of their own, there would be a lot of room for maneuver.
There's great potential.
"Stark, why would you suddenly want to help us?" Nick Fury stared intently at Tony Stark with his one eye, asking in a deep voice.
Dealing with Hydra had always been the business of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it had nothing to do with Tony Stark.
Tony Stark's willingness to develop a set of surveillance drones for them had already helped them greatly, and they dared not ask for more from Tony Stark.
Yet, unexpectedly, Tony Stark even offered the T-1000, and he did it proactively.
"I just said not long ago that I wouldn't let Hydra off the hook, right?" Tony Stark said in a cold voice.
Nick Fury and everyone present understood.
It seemed that Tony Stark was planning to take action against Hydra because he knew that Hydra had ordered the Winter Soldier to kill the Howards.
[Please answer: The lullaby "The sun's getting low" can turn the Hulk back into Bruce Banner, but it's only effective if spoken by one specific person. Who is this character?]
[A. Doctor Strange Stephen Strange]
[B. Black Widow Natasha Romanoff]
[C. Thor]
[D. General Ross]
[Friendly reminder: Correct answer will be rewarded with the skill 'Curved Trajectory Shot';
Incorrect answer will result in a random deduction of one of the respondent's attributes, including but not limited to knowledge, experience, skills, possessions, etc...]
The appearance of a new question interrupted everyone's discussion, and they all looked up at the big screen.
Everyone was still a little surprised and unexpected by this question.
Someone could actually turn the Hulk back into Dr. Banner?
This was truly rare and astonishing.
"I never thought there was a way to turn the Hulk back to normal in this world." Tony Stark shrugged. "'The sun's getting low,' does this phrase have any special meaning?"
"Perhaps if we decipher this phrase, we can also master the method of turning the Hulk back to normal."
As he spoke, Tony Stark glanced at everyone present and said to them seriously.
Although after Captain America received the reward of the Sobering Bracelet, the Hulk was no longer an absolute insurmountable threat to everyone.
But who would dislike having more ways to restore the Hulk to normal? They couldn't always rely on Captain America.
Moreover, distant water can't quench a nearby thirst. If Captain America couldn't arrive in time, something bad might happen.
"Tin Man makes a good point! He hit the nail on the head!" Loki also chimed in emphatically, his eyes sparkling, as he spoke to everyone.
From his expression, it seemed he wanted to decipher the secret of that phrase more than anyone else.
Although the image of the Hulk smashing him hadn't happened yet, it still left a very deep psychological shadow on Loki.
If there was anyone on Midgard that Loki least wanted to encounter right now, the Hulk would definitely be at the top of the list.
Now, knowing that there was a way to deal with the Hulk, Loki naturally wouldn't let it go, and he was even more eager than anyone else.
"It seems Loki needs it more than any of us!" Black Widow said casually from the side, which immediately made Loki's face darken.
I don't need it!
"Alright, let's get down to business." Captain America interjected, looking at everyone and asking, "Does anyone have any thoughts about this phrase?"
Everyone present looked at each other, but without any related clues, no one knew what the phrase actually meant.
They had no clue.
"Nick Fury, hasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. been monitoring Banner all this time? Do you have any useful information you can share with us at this time?"
Captain America then looked at Nick Fury with a serious expression, hoping to get some useful information.
Unfortunately, Nick Fury also shook his head: "I'm sorry, Captain, I don't know any more about the Hulk than you do. I've already told you all the relevant information."
If that was the case, then this question was quite difficult.
Firstly, no one knew what special meaning the phrase "The sun's getting low" held.
Secondly, no one was clear about what conditions needed to be met to turn the Hulk back into Banner.
In this situation of complete ignorance, analysis was virtually impossible.
"Regardless, let's first look at the four options." Captain America refocused his gaze on the big screen and said to everyone.
"A, Doctor Strange. If it's him, I think it's possible."
Black Widow immediately spoke up, "In fact, I think the only possible one among the four options is him. He's a powerful sorcerer!"
"If the phrase 'The sun's getting low' is some kind of spell he recites, carrying magical power, then perhaps it really can turn the Hulk back to normal."
"I used my Sharingan to restore the Hulk to normal before, so mind magic and similar things should also work."
"As for the other three people, me, Thor, and General Ross? Subjectively speaking, I don't think the three of us have that ability."
"Objectively speaking, it means the three of us simply cannot be analyzed, but Doctor Strange, there is such a possibility!"
Many people present agreed with Black Widow's words. If they had to choose, they would make the same choice as Black Widow.
That was magic!
What is magic?
Magic is a miracle, it's doing things that seem impossible by normal standards.
Among the four "candidates" in the options, Doctor Strange was the only one who gave everyone a glimpse of the possibility of restoring the Hulk, so they naturally leaned towards choosing Doctor Strange.
"Although I haven't seen a sorcerer, the phrase 'The sun's getting low' doesn't sound much like a spell, does it?" Hawkeye Barton pondered for a moment, but then raised a question.
"Barton, although it doesn't sound like magic, some magic is indeed that 'unassuming'," Nick Fury immediately explained to Barton from the side.
"Sir, how do you know?" Hawkeye Barton looked at Nick Fury curiously and asked, "You sound very certain. Have you encountered magic before, sir?"
"I have indeed seen it." Nick Fury nodded. "But not in reality, but in the answer system. Odin stripped Thor of his divine power and cast a spell on Thor's hammer, both of which were those ordinary 'plain language' spells, not like some incomprehensible gibberish in some movies and TV shows."
"If that's the case, then I have no problem." Hawkeye Barton nodded and said nothing more.
"What about everyone else? Any other dissenting opinions?" Nick Fury then glanced at everyone with his one eye, asking for their opinions.
However, everyone remained silent, offering no objections.
"Fine!" Nick Fury nodded. "It seems we've reached a consensus. Everyone chooses A, and I also think A is the answer. So, which of you three will answer next?"
Only Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye remained who hadn't answered the question. They looked at each other, exchanged glances, and immediately made a decision.
"I choose A, Doctor Strange!" Black Widow unceremoniously stated her answer to the big screen.
After all, the reward for this question was the Curved Trajectory Shot skill, but Captain America and Hawkeye were both non-gun users, so it was more appropriate for Black Widow to answer.
[Incorrect Answer!]
But then, the system prompted that Black Widow had answered incorrectly.
[Respondent Natasha Romanoff will be punished by having one year of her lifespan erased, effective immediately!]
With the system's words, Black Widow immediately felt a void in her body, as if she had lost something.
She instantly knew that a year of her life was gone.
However, the feeling of emptiness quickly disappeared, and Black Widow soon returned to normal. She didn't dwell on the fact that her lifespan had been deducted.
She simply said to everyone, "The answer isn't A. It seems we can only choose from the other three options."
This made things difficult for everyone.
Doctor Strange at least showed everyone a possibility, but the remaining three candidates, no matter how everyone looked at them, seemed impossible.
"Could it be General Ross?" After some thought, Nick Fury mused, "Because General Ross might be the person who knows the Hulk best."
"The Hulk himself is a mutated product of a military experiment. In the past few years, General Ross has also been dedicated to hunting down the Hulk."
"They researched and tracked the Hulk, and even obtained blood samples from the Hulk, replicating another similar monster."
"Only that monster was eventually killed by the Hulk."
"In terms of understanding the Hulk, it's clear that General Ross is superior to Romanoff and Thor."
"So, in the future, it also sounds reasonable that General Ross actually researched a way to turn the Hulk back to normal."
"Sir, isn't that a bit far-fetched?" Black Widow immediately expressed her disagreement. "Ross tracking the Hulk for a long time doesn't mean his research on the Hulk surpasses others."
"For example... S.H.I.E.L.D. is far stronger than Ross in terms of mobilizing resources. It's possible that in the future, S.H.I.E.L.D. will gather top scientists from around the world, top scientists that Ross simply couldn't gather!"
"So, even though S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't researched the Hulk for as long as General Ross, it's not impossible that they analyzed a way to turn the Hulk back into a human."
"If that's the case, then only I am from S.H.I.E.L.D., so the answer could also be me."
Nick Fury spread his hands, unable to offer any counterarguments.
This was the difficulty of this question. Everyone had no related clues and could only make assumptions and guesses out of thin air.