77: Chapter 77 The Hunter's Bargain

"Mr. Fury, let us make a fair deal."

Yan Zheng had been chewing over this sentence for two whole days.

From August 9th to August 10th, in the Antique Shop's Underground Room.

Yan Zheng did not go out, did not open the shop, and spent all his time doing one thing: preparing for the negotiation.

He spread out five sheets of paper on his workbench, numbered one through five, each labeled: Pros, Cons, Bottom Line, Chips, and Script.

Yan Zheng: ( ˵ ꐦ ˘ ͈ ꈊ ˘ ͈ ˵ )

"Let's start with the pros."

He picked up the first sheet.

"What can cooperating with Fury give me?"

"First, intelligence. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s database must contain registration files for Mutants, distribution maps of superpowered individuals globally, and reconnaissance reports on various underground organizations."

"E.S.S., MSR—things that would take me months or even years to investigate on my own—Fury's people could probably pull them out of a filing cabinet at a moment's notice."

"Second, protection. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s sphere of influence covers the globe. If I hang their label on me, many small-fry won't dare touch me."

"Third, access to higher-level extraordinary targets. Under Fury's command are super soldiers, top scientists, and all sorts of strange 0-8-4 unknown objects."

"For me, each of these things is a clue to top-tier materials."

Yan Zheng put down the first sheet and picked up the second.

"Cons."

"First, exposure. Fury is the most suspicious person in the World, and his subordinates are in every corner. Once I establish contact with him, my every move will be monitored."

"Second, loss of control. Fury has a habit of turning people into pawns. He doesn't give you benefits out of kindness, but because he needs you to do something. Once I accept his resources, I owe him a favor, and favors in Fury's hands are harder to break free from than handcuffs."

"Third, and also the most dangerous."

Yan Zheng's finger drew two exclamation marks next to the third point.

"If he discovers the existence of the Undead Body Collection System, I won't be a cooperative partner anymore, but a research subject."

"The thirty-seventh underground floor. Burns wasn't joking."

Yan Zheng: ( ꐦ ˘ ͈ ᗝ ˘ ͈ )

He placed the first two sheets side by side and picked up the third.

"Bottom line, the red line that cannot be conceded."

"First, the existence of the System must absolutely not be revealed. The external narrative is: I am a lone wolf with super abilities of unknown origin. The ability type can be vaguely described as 'manipulating non-living matter,' but the specific mechanism will not be explained."

"Second, the scale and composition of the Undead Legion must remain absolutely confidential. At most, Fury can know that I have 'some means,' but he must never see the scene of the Knight and the Brute appearing at the same time."

"Third, refuse any form of official affiliation. No joining S.H.I.E.L.D., no signing contracts, no accepting task assignments. My relationship with Fury is defined as a 'paid informant,' not a 'subordinate'."

Yan Zheng: ( ˵ ꐦ ✧ ω ✧ ˵ )

"Alright, the bottom line is set; next are the chips."

He picked up the fourth sheet, which already had three items pre-written on it.

"What can I give Fury to make him think that cooperating with me is profitable?"

"First, partial intelligence on The Hand's strongholds. I won't hand over the inscription fragments and Dark Energy samples I collected from the stronghold, but I can compile a 'sanitized version' of information like the structural diagrams of the strongholds, personnel distribution patterns, and ritual types for him. Fury has always wanted to understand the internal operations of The Hand; this intelligence is valuable to him."

"Second, clues about E.S.S. The information Liu Kun gave me—the Red Hook District warehouse, the Patterson farm, the physical description of The Gardener. I can't digest this intelligence on my own; I need a larger intelligence network to verify and expand it. I'll throw these to Fury, let his people run the errands for me, and I'll reap the benefits."

"Third, and also the most critical."

Yan Zheng's pen tip drew a star next to the third point.

"MSR."

"The hunting team I saw in The Bronx yesterday was well-equipped, well-trained, and openly capturing Mutants in New York."

"If MSR has no connection to S.H.I.E.L.D., then Fury definitely wants to know who is doing this kind of thing on his turf."

"If MSR is connected to S.H.I.E.L.D., then when I bring up the name, Fury's reaction itself will be an important piece of intelligence."

Yan Zheng: ( ꐦ ˘ ᗜ ˘ )

"Regardless, these three chips combined are enough to make Fury think that I am a 'valuable source of information'."

"A valuable source of information doesn't need to be locked away on the thirty-seventh underground floor."

"A valuable source of information needs to be protected, fed, and maintained in a state of cooperation."

He put down the fourth sheet and picked up the last blank fifth sheet.

"Script."

"What to say and do when we meet, when to reveal the chips, and when to set conditions."

Yan Zheng's pen wrote the first line on the paper: Opening Statement.

"Don't proactively show weakness, and don't proactively show strength."

"Portray someone who has their own business to run, just happens to have some abilities, and holds an open but not desperate attitude toward cooperation."

"Make Fury feel that it is not I who am begging him for cooperation, but that cooperation is beneficial to both parties."

Second line: Demonstration of Ability.

"If Fury demands proof of ability, only show one."

"Photon ability? No, it clashes with the Knight; if Fury sees the Knight later, he will associate it with me."

"Physical fitness? My true body is just an ordinary person right now."

"The most suitable demonstration is: Telekinesis."

Yan Zheng opened his material library and found the telekinetic gene extracted from the Mutant at the boxing ring.

"Low-level telekinesis, can only move small objects."

"Perfect, show a low-level and harmless ability, making Fury feel that I am somewhat useful but not too dangerous."

"The real trump card is never revealed."

Yan Zheng: ( ˵ ꐦ ≖ ꒳ ≖ ˵ )

He spent half an hour writing the entire negotiation script from beginning to end, including every question Fury might potentially ask and the corresponding prepared responses.

After writing it, he read through it, crossed out three parts, changed the wording in two places, and added notes next to two key nodes.

Then he folded the five sheets of paper and put them into the workbench drawer.

He stood up, stretched, and walked to the mirror opposite the workbench.

In the mirror, Yan Zheng was wearing a dark gray suit, a white shirt, gold-rimmed glasses, and his hair was meticulously groomed.

Gentle and refined, harmless to humans and animals.

A young man running an Antique Shop who just happens to have some super abilities and is full of curiosity about this World.

This is the face he wants to present to Fury.

Yan Zheng smiled at the mirror; the smile was just the right amount of gentle, just the right amount of sincere, and just the right amount of convincing.

"Perfect."

He took his phone out of his pocket and pulled up Burns's text message number.

He typed a reply.

"Mr. Burns, the day after tomorrow at 3:00 PM, at my Antique Shop. If Mr. Fury doesn't mind having some black tea."

Send.

He put the phone back in his pocket.

Yan Zheng: ( ˵ ꐦ ˘ ͈ ω ˘ ͈ ˵ )

"The chips are ready, the venue is chosen on my home turf, and the time is set by me."

"The rest depends on whether Mr. Fury is willing to condescend to come."

"If he comes, it means my value is high enough."

"If he doesn't come and only sends a representative, it means I need to add more Fire."

He turned off the Underground Room light and walked up the steps.

When he reached the middle of the stairs, his phone vibrated.

A reply from Burns.

Only two words.

"He is coming."

Yan Zheng stood on the dark stairs for a second, then continued walking up, his mouth curving into that small but certain arc.

"Mr. Nick Fury, welcome to 'Echoes of the Past'."

"Please rest assured, the black tea here does not contain any suspicious ingredients."

"As for the content of the conversation."

Yan Zheng pushed open the secret door of the Underground Room and walked into the dim back hall of the Antique Shop.

"It depends on how much you are willing to pay for the news of a body collector."