Chapter 117: Questioning
Oak Tree Environmental Technology Company, conference room.
Oaks, Tony, Banner, and Steve gathered here.
"It seems like there's something important. If it's about research..."
Steve looked at Oaks, who had a doctoral degree, Tony with several doctoral degrees, and Banner with seven doctoral degrees, and shrugged his shoulders. "If it weren't for spending a few months at the Benevolence Society, even understanding the information just now would have been quite challenging."
"No, Steve, although research is important, it's not the primary issue to be addressed right now."
Oaks shook his head and looked at the two top physicists engaged in research. "You've also noticed the problem, but Tony, your angle is too tricky. Nick Fury only needs to turn around to see you."
"...I just thought it would be awkward for him to look at things like that."
Tony shrugged his shoulders, putting on an innocent expression, then turned serious. "Captain, can we trust you?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
Steve was taken aback, but then he understood. "You mean S.H.I.E.L.D... I'm not affiliated with S.H.I.E.L.D, and as for Carter, she won't participate in this battle. Until the dust settles, I don't want her to worry... Seventy years ago, once was enough."
"Very well..."
Tony clapped his hands, and a holographic projection unfolded on the conference table—a creation of his own.
"The Tesseract, the spoils S.H.I.E.L.D confiscated from Hydra—my old man Howard personally salvaged it from the depths of the sea."
Tony paused. He had just been suppressed by Aunt Peggy Carter's aura, but now he suddenly remembered that Captain America should be...
His uncle?
This momentarily distracted him.
"During World War II, Hydra used its limitless energy to create super weapons—now we know that this thing is indeed from Asgard."
Oaks looked at Tony, who occasionally glanced inexplicably at Steve, and Tony's peculiar expression almost made him burst into laughter.
To save Tony's face, he had to take over the topic. Dr. Banner also found Tony's sudden awkwardness inexplicable.
"This is something from your time, Steve. Mr. Howard Stark not only founded S.H.I.E.L.D, but also firmly believed that technology is the primary productive force. He developed the Arc Reactor with the intention of creating endless clean energy, and the inspiration for the Arc Reactor came from the study of the Tesseract."
Oaks said this, and Tony finally shook off the strange feeling in his heart. He cleared his throat and regained his composure. "That's right, and this plan has only just been truly realized."
Tony pointed to the blue and white glow emitting from the arc reactor on his chest. "The element that powers the Arc Reactor is an isotope of the Tesseract, a newly synthesized element that does not exist on the known periodic table of elements. I named it..."
Seeing Oaks and Banner exchanging wry smiles in unison, Tony paused for a moment and waved his hand. "Well, the name doesn't matter. What's important is that S.H.I.E.L.D is well aware of this—because it was Nick Fury himself who gave me the manuscripts and data left by my old man. At that time, I was very grateful to them and felt like I owed them a great favor."
Banner was still not quite clear about the details, as only Tony and Oaks knew about this matter. However, that didn't prevent him from recognizing its seriousness.
"In other words, if S.H.I.E.L.D wants to study the Tesseract to obtain limitless energy, it would be the optimal solution to collaborate with you—because you already have the synthesis method for the isotope of the Tesseract, and the Arc Reactor is currently the cleanest energy source closest to the Tesseract. If you work together, it's not just a matter of achieving twice the result with half the effort."
"Yes, the problem lies here."
Oaks nodded and reached out to take the glowing Cosmic Cube from the holographic image in front of him. He glanced at it and then tossed it to Banner.
"Perhaps due to secrecy, strategic needs, and other reasons, Nick Fury had to keep it confidential. It's not a big issue. But since he called us here and disclosed part of the information, does that mean that what we currently know is not the kind of classified information that cannot be leaked at all?"
"Compared to so-called classified information and strategic needs, efficient and secure development of the Cosmic Cube undoubtedly takes precedence."
Banner played with the holographic image of the Cosmic Cube in his hand and gradually furrowed his brow.
"But Fury chose to keep this matter hidden from all of us before, including Oaks, who was once a consultant to S.H.I.E.L.D., and Tony, who is still a consultant to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"So, what did Fury conceal from us? Underneath the intelligence he shared with us, what else did he not tell us or cannot tell us?"
Tony, being his usual self, walked to the coffee table next to the conference table, rummaged around, and pulled out a bag of snacks.
"He said it himself, this is a global crisis. So, in such a crisis, what else must he hide? What is he guarding against?"
"Concealment?"
Having listened quietly until now, Steve finally understood their point.
"You mean Fury didn't tell the truth... or didn't tell us everything?"
Captain America was never just a soldier who followed orders without his own thoughts. In that case, he would only be a war machine, not a superhero.
He glanced at the three top scientists, wanting to defend this younger successor for his girlfriend, but sighed instead.
"For a soldier, the most terrifying thing is not misinformation, but deliberately concealed information."
As an intellectually advanced super-soldier, and with the three of them making their points so clear, Steve couldn't pretend not to understand.
"As the one leading the mission, if he really wants to win this battle but deliberately conceals information, the possibility I can think of is that if soldiers were to know the information, they would refuse to carry out the mission."
Steve looked seriously at the three of them.
"Or, this matter will cause a division among us and affect our unity."
"But I'm not just a soldier, and I don't like having someone speaking untruths over my head, pointing fingers!"
Tony's tone became somewhat agitated as he looked at Oaks.
"Buddy, I think it's necessary for me to take action. What do you plan to do?"
"No need to rush. Nick Fury can't keep this hidden forever."
Oaks shook his head and pointed outside.
"If we're going to the most advanced base of S.H.I.E.L.D., do you think the concealed information will appear there?"
"...Of course, that's certain."
Tony squinted his eyes and exchanged a glance with Banner.
"I think I need to go home first and get something... See you in an hour."
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