Chapter 56: New Research Topic

Although it seemed like Nick Fury had injected him with a dose of adrenaline and he had joined the Avengers, Oaks was well aware of his position.

This was originally one of his goals, but he couldn't tell the sly Nick Fury that.

Appearing to be persuaded by Fury's impassioned reasoning, he could put this guy's mind at ease.

But as this guy said, at this stage, the Avengers were just a contingency plan. They wouldn't be activated unless a real crisis occurred, as if they didn't exist.

So, there was no talk of Avengers for now.

However, Oaks could clearly feel that the support from S.H.I.E.L.D. had increased significantly. This was the benefit of being a quasi-Avenger.

Currently, Oaks was in the Emerald Dream Plant Shop, earnestly reading a book.

"The Disappearance of Gaia: Final Warning," written by the mad scientist James Lovelock, who proposed the Gaia hypothesis.

"Tsk, he directly targets the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and his rhetoric is becoming increasingly pessimistic."

As a well-known environmental protection organization, it was natural to carefully study works related to environmental ideals.

This book was once reviewed by Nature magazine as reading it was "like hearing the BBC announce the coming of doomsday."

But for the Benevolence Society, which needed rapid development, this work undoubtedly matched their proactive approach.

"Old man Lovelock may be ninety years old, but his temper is still straightforward. He directly berates the Kyoto Protocol as a joke... truly..."

In March 2001, the United States withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, turning it into a laughingstock.

"It seems I should find some time to visit this 'World Environmental Science Master.'"

Oaks silently pondered. Just then, he received a text message on his phone.

Glancing at his phone, Oaks's calm expression immediately turned serious.

He put down the book, walked quickly to the store's entrance, hung up the "Closed" sign, locked the door, and then transformed into an orange cat, jumping out through the ventilation window.

In the alley next to the shop, a figure wearing a hooded sweatshirt leaned against the wall, frequently surveying the surroundings with a vigilant gaze.

"Meow~"

A big-faced chubby orange cat jumped onto the hooded man's shoulder, startling him.

"Wow!"

He shuddered and was about to swat it away when he heard a familiar voice from his shoulder.

"Long time no see, Dr. Banner. Let's talk inside."

"..."

The hooded man, Bruce Banner, widened his eyes and then forced a wry smile:

"You didn't tell me you could turn into a cat."

"You didn't ask, did you?"

The two of them arrived at the back door of the Emerald Dream, and Banner took out the key Oaks had given him to open the door. They walked inside, letting out a sigh of relief.

"That wasn't easy... Huh? The air here is fantastic!"

Oaks jumped off Banner's shoulder, reverting back to human form, and carefully observed Banner, who was enjoying the fresh air.

"Dr. Banner, I heard that you had entered U.S. territory, but I didn't expect you to come directly to find me."

Didn't he go to find his girlfriend?

"Do you know my whereabouts?"

Banner was momentarily stunned by the question. Oaks shrugged:

"My current identity is somewhat... special. I heard about what happened in Rio from someone recently."

"That's indeed special. You didn't encounter any danger, did you?"

Banner was a bit nervous. Oaks's abilities were more extravagant compared to his own. If the military found out...

"Don't worry, I have some backstage connections now. You don't need to worry about me."

Oaks brought Banner to the lounge area and poured him a cup of coffee.

"Dr. Banner, have you run out of those potions? How are you feeling now?"

"Very good... Oh, thank you, this coffee smells amazing."

Banner raised an eyebrow, and a faint smile finally appeared on his haggard face.

"With those potions, I can finally achieve a certain degree of self-control."

He sighed and his expression darkened again.

"I originally planned to hide from the military's pursuit in Rio, but an accident exposed me to them... They sent an elite team to hunt me down. It's ridiculous. It's Brazil, a foreign country. The U.S. military treats it like their own backyard."

Thinking about the way General Ross looked at him, Banner felt a chill.

The gamma radiation experiment was a trap set by General Ross from beginning to end!

Banner believed he was conducting research on radiation-resistant drugs.

After that accident, the U.S. military finally found him, who had been on the run for several years. But now he could control his powers!

Originally, Banner still wanted to escape, but General Ross directly threatened him with his job at the beverage factory, forcing him to take a chance.

The U.S. military's trump card in that operation, the special forces soldier Emil Blonsky, was almost crippled by the Hulk.

Banner, who protected the factory from the military, had a relatively stable situation with Hulk, but experienced another fluctuation.

Because Oaks's potions had been exhausted, the Hulk's exhilarating battle further intensified the suppressed blood activity.

"In Rio, I contacted an online friend called 'Mr. Blue' and sent him a blood sample, hoping to find another way to control the transformation."

Banner held the coffee cup and recounted his efforts during this time to Oaks.

"But Mr. Blue's proposed methods didn't work. To increase the success rate, he had to obtain the original data from the experiment that caused my mutation."

"But obtaining that data means I have to see Betty again..."

Banner set down the coffee cup and covered his face with his hands in anguish.

"But now I am not just Bruce Banner anymore. The Hulk has become a part of me..."

After a moment of silence, he removed his hands, revealing a resolute expression.

"I can't affect Betty's life again... I have to make a clean break with the past!"

"So, you thought of coming to me."

Oaks nodded understandingly. It seemed that Dr. Banner had finally thought carefully about his relationship with the Hulk in a calm state.

"Yes, Oaks, I've figured it out."

Banner nodded solemnly.

"The Hulk is another part of me. I... can't eliminate myself."

With the dual personalities sharing a body, if they couldn't be expelled, then they might as well coexist peacefully.

Banner was still Banner, and the Hulk was still the Hulk, but they now had a common small goal—

In their respective forms, their consciousness could remain clear.

"But using up the purifying potions, we can only barely achieve this state a few times."

Banner looked at Oaks earnestly.

"The feeling of being forcibly asleep is terrible, for both me and the Hulk."

"Dr. Oaks, I, or rather, we, need your help."

So, Banner and the Hulk reached an agreement to act as each other's guiding presence?

Oaks's eyes lit up with interest.

"That's intriguing... Well then, Dr. Banner, let's have a pleasant cooperation!"

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