Chapter 41

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "No, you're overthinking it. Five years ago, it was Gordon who represented the organization and planted the seeds of friendship on Paradise Island, saving them from peril. The Amazonian Queen and Princess are highly impressed by his work capabilities and consider him a rare talent. They wouldn't look down on his rank."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound only): "But..."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "There's no 'but.' I know what you're thinking. Don't forget that the Chinese Gotham City branch and the Soviet Moscow headquarters share intelligence, technology, and research results. Otherwise, how would you have obtained the written report of the recent work of the Office of Super Natural Disaster Countermeasures? They didn't block the scientists sent by headquarters from conducting inspections and exchanges. You three should be clear about this."

s.h.i.e.l.d_03 (sound only): "..."

s.h.i.e.l.d_06 (sound only): "..."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "So whether the Amazonian Princess goes to headquarters or the branch, the organization's strength will be enhanced, and the research on witchcraft will make a qualitative leap."

Gordon: "A qualitative leap? As the saying goes, 'There's no such thing as a free lunch.' The Amazonian Queen wouldn't provide us with free witchcraft guidance, right? Otherwise, she wouldn't have been evading us for five years and suddenly come to her senses. The breakthrough in witchcraft research can't be so cheap. What kind of deal is there?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_08 (sound only): "You guessed right. The organization and Paradise Island do have a deal. The organization plans to exchange its high-tech for their witchcraft guidance. However, the specific terms of the deal haven't been finalized, and it's still at the bargaining stage. This time, the Amazonian Princess is coming to conduct the final negotiations. We know you have a good relationship with the Amazonian Princess and have fought alongside her, so we hope you can use your connections to find out the Amazonian Queen's bottom line, giving us more leverage in the negotiations to maximize our benefits."

I (voiceover): "So you want the old guy to charm the Amazonian Princess? Are you blind? Can he even do it? He'd need to be twenty years younger. If you really need someone to charm her, why not send Master Wayne? That might actually work."

@

Gordon: "Do we have to be so roundabout? Why not have the organization's telepathic superhumans take action? Or secretly kidnap one of the negotiation opponents when they're not paying attention, use truth serum, and combine it with hypnosis and psychological suggestion to find out their bottom line?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_09 (sound only): "You're thinking too simply. The negotiation representatives are very cautious and haven't left us any openings. All the methods you suggested have failed. We're left with using the most primitive espionage techniques."

s.h.i.e.l.d_03 (sound only): "Wait a minute, this is the final negotiation? Why didn't we know about this before? You guys from China have been keeping it from us? Do you still consider us as the big brothers?"

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "Stop, stop, stop. I've said many times not to attack based on origin. Whether you're from China, the Soviet Union, or anywhere else, we are all members of the organization. We should unite. Besides, 08 and 09 are in charge of the organization's foreign relations, and the negotiations with Paradise Island fall under their responsibilities. Even if you were informed at the beginning, you wouldn't have the authority to interfere. So, to avoid distracting you from your main duties, we didn't inform you until the negotiations were more advanced."

Gordon: "Exactly. You three manage the organization's research department and can freely share all the research results from the branches. Shouldn't you be satisfied? Many of these results were achieved by the scientific elites of the branches, who risked their lives."

s.h.i.e.l.d_02 (sound only): "What are you saying? For the research on witchcraft, the Soviet Union has also sacrificed many elite talents."

Gordon: "Oh? What significant achievements have you made? Can you share them with our Chinese branch?"

Jonathan: "Everyone, calm down. Don't forget what the General Secretary just said. We are all members of the organization and should not be divided by origin. Whether you're from China, the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, South Asia, or the Caribbean, let's not mention these distinctions. The five regions are interconnected, and after decades of alliance, we are like one family. Otherwise, we wouldn't have united and formed the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization." — Mediating

I (voiceover): "Five regions interconnected, like one family? This is not a good omen. You must not take the members to the cave on Mount Hua for a tour, nor hold meetings on Mount Lu. These are all taboos for the organization."

@

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "Everyone, stop arguing. I have made my decision. This task will be given to Gordon. This is the highest directive of the General Secretary of our S.H.I.E.L.D. organization."

Everyone: "We will follow the highest directive of the General Secretary."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "I hope you can complete the task successfully and not let us down."

Gordon: "I won't let you down."

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "Good. I will send you the encrypted file for the task. You must properly receive the Amazonian Princess (sending encrypted file)... Next is the final agenda item for this regular meeting, to hear the recent work report of 'Terror Shadow'... Leixiaogu, do you have anything to report?"

Leixiaogu (sound only): "Like the Office of Super Natural Disaster Countermeasures, all the big shots have the written report of 'Terror Shadow's recent work. I won't waste your time by reading it again. If you have any dissatisfaction with my recent work, please speak up directly. I will humbly listen to your opinions and make the necessary adjustments."

All the big shots: "..." — No one spoke

s.h.i.e.l.d_01 (sound only): "No one else to speak? Then I declare this regular meeting over. 05 (from Eastern Europe) will archive the meeting records. Everyone, you may leave."

I (voiceover): "Is this the aura of the old academic? I've seen it today. No one dares to speak when he enters, and even the General Secretary avoids him. Truly, he is the meeting terminator."

@

After the regular meeting, in the Office of Super Natural Disaster Countermeasures

Gordon: "These Soviet bastards still want to snatch the food from the tiger's mouth? They don't even consider the General Secretary's intentions. He wouldn't give this task to them. They're just asking for trouble."

Jonathan: "It's already 2012, and their second term is almost over. Without the pressure of re-election, it's not surprising that they would act without regard for their reputation. After all, getting the Amazonian Princess's assistance would save many elite talents in witchcraft research, which is a big benefit for any side. Everyone has their own calculations."

Gordon: "They just want to strengthen their region's power to gain more positions during the transition. But by acting so shamelessly, will they still be respected by the elders when they retire to the Council of Elders? Will they still have any say? They should think about why the Soviet headquarters can hold three positions but can't produce a General Secretary, allowing the one-eyed man from the Eastern European branch to gain the favor of the elders. Three shortsighted guys."

I (voiceover): "This is 'you can't have both fish and bear's paw.' They want more positions and the General Secretary's role. Where in the world is such a good deal?"

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