Chapter 38

These days, the baby's condition has been fluctuating, and I have a headache.

Updates have been unstable, so I hope for your understanding, but I can still guarantee one update per day.

I hope everyone can help me bless the baby, so he can get better soon. Thank you.

...

Though Liu Rui'an had anticipated that S.H.I.E.L.D. would come to him again regarding the issue of Captain America, he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

What he didn't expect even more was that the visitor not only included Captain America himself, but also made a request that wasn't surprising.

"Captain, there's no need to rush. Let's sit down and talk about it slowly." Knowing that the other party's constitution was immune to drunkenness, Liu Rui'an directly picked up a bottle of Polish rectified vodka, Spirytus Rektyfikowany.

This stuff is known as "the water of life" in the West and is the strongest alcohol in the world.

After being distilled over twenty times, it has an alcohol content of 96%, making it the purest and strongest liquor in the world.

This kind of alcohol usually needs to be diluted to be consumed, otherwise, it could easily intoxicate someone to death. However, for Liu Rui'an and Captain America, who have superhuman constitutions, this "water of life" is no different from ordinary alcohol.

Steve Rogers, after taking the glass and finishing it in one gulp, almost choked on the fiery liquid, but after drinking the Polish rectified vodka, he showed no signs of discomfort.

"Liu, or should I say, Prophet, I know you have a gene optimization fluid that can save Peggy. I hope you can help me."

"Peggy? You mean Agent Peggy Carter, one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., who witnessed the birth of Captain America, defied orders to send you to the quarantine zone, and became your girlfriend but never got to dance with you?" Liu Rui'an, after taking a shallow sip of the alcohol, or rather, "flame," said.

"You really know." Steve Rogers, who had already heard certain things from Phil Coulson before coming, said with some shock.

"I know a lot about your relationship with Peggy Carter, and even what happened to her after you fell into the Arctic." Liu Rui'an nodded and pointed to his temple, smiling.

"So, what kind of transaction terms do you need to help me? For example, a large amount of blood, my blood?" Steve Rogers, eager to save his loved one, asked straightforwardly.

"No, no, no, Captain. While I adhere to the principle of fair transactions, I always make exceptions for friends." Liu Rui'an shook his index finger and said:

"So, this time, there's no need for a transaction. I'm willing to help you for free."

"Free?" Steve Rogers, who had expected the other party to make a huge demand, asked in surprise.

"Yes." Liu Rui'an nodded to confirm that he hadn't said anything wrong and that the other party hadn't misunderstood.

"Why?" Steve Rogers, who showed little emotional fluctuation, asked.

"Very simple, because I admire you, and I don't want you and Agent Peggy Carter to have any regrets."

Liu Rui'an, playing with the glass in his hand, said frankly and then instructed the air:

"Xen, is the medical area ready?"

"My master, the construction of the medical area is complete and ready for use." The sweet, young girl's voice of Xen immediately replied.

"Very good, prepare a medium-grade gene optimization fluid. Also, this patient's condition is special, so make the necessary preparations."

Liu Rui'an nodded and then explained the general condition of Agent Peggy Carter.

To live to this age, the biggest problem for Agent Peggy Carter is not a physical illness but the nearly collapsed bodily functions due to aging.

To restore her youth, it's not impossible with just gene optimization fluid, but it would inevitably come with some uncontrollable risks.

"Yes, my master, the relevant work has been arranged, and treatment can begin in about twelve minutes." Xen, who had quickly arranged the work, said.

Seeing that everything was arranged, Liu Rui'an smiled at Steve Rogers, who showed no expression:

"Don't worry, Captain. Given your willingness to sacrifice yourself for humanity, this kind of help, which is just a small effort for me, is nothing."

"You don't need to worry that I will make any excessive demands. If I have to make a request, it's only that you cherish the reunion with Agent Peggy Carter."

Unlike his previous interactions with Tony Stark, Phil Coulson, and Nick Fury, Liu Rui'an was genuinely not playing any mind games or calculations this time.

It's not hard to understand; someone like Captain America is hard to dislike.

Not to mention, his willingness to sacrifice himself for humanity is enough to make Liu Rui'an, who considers himself incapable of such a feat, admire him greatly.

In such a situation, helping out is just a small favor.

Moreover, if Peggy Carter can indeed be restored to her youth, even if Liu Rui'an has no ulterior motives, Steve Rogers will still owe him a significant favor.

Even if this favor doesn't make Captain America do anything detrimental to humanity, it could still be useful in critical moments. Why not do it?

"Do you have any concerns about the treatment?" Steve Rogers, seeing that the other party wasn't joking, temporarily set aside his doubts and asked.

"If it were a normal adult, I would say there's no problem at all, but Agent Peggy Carter is too old." Liu Rui'an, putting down the glass, said with a serious expression:

"Even though gene optimization fluid can significantly improve bodily functions, it still requires a foundation, which is precisely what Agent Peggy Carter lacks."

"I can treat most diseases, but natural aging is still an issue that cannot be effectively resolved. Therefore, whether or not to help is ultimately your decision."

Well, in this regard, Liu Rui'an wasn't exactly lying.

The medical platform in "Elysium" does have a significant effect on delaying aging, but the premise is that the user is not too old and must regularly use the medical platform for treatment.

While gene optimization fluid can strengthen the body, activate cells, and extend the user's lifespan, it still has the same problem.

Faced with this response, Steve Rogers, knowing he had no choice, said without hesitation:

"I want to try."

Whether it was because Nick Fury had already prepared, or because S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency was indeed high, about ten minutes after Steve Rogers made his decision and contacted S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Peggy Carter was brought to the newly completed Umbrella Technology building.

This time, in addition to Peggy Carter, Phil Coulson also accompanied her.

"Agent Peggy Carter, though we are meeting for the first time, I have long heard of you, especially your relationship with the Captain, which has deeply moved me."

"I hope that after you are cured, you and the Captain can make up for the past regrets." Liu Rui'an, looking at the old woman lying on the bed, smiled and said.

Unfortunately, at this point, Agent Peggy Carter had lost the sharpness and vigor of her youth. Due to Alzheimer's disease, she often experienced memory loss or even complete memory loss.

When she saw Steve Rogers, the elderly Peggy Carter didn't pay attention to what someone was saying.

Instead, she looked at Captain America with surprise and tears in her eyes, saying:

"Steve?!"

"It's me." Steve Rogers, who had encountered this situation before, held her hand and nodded with a smile.

"You're alive, you... you're back."

Looking at the person who was no different from his memory, Peggy Carter, who had forgotten that she had met him more than once, became increasingly agitated.

"Yes, Peggy." Steve Rogers, feeling a deep sorrow, said with a smile.

"Why did it take so long to come back?" Peggy Carter, with tears in her eyes, said: "So long..."

"I won't abandon my girlfriend." Looking at his beloved, Steve Rogers smiled: "She still owes me a dance."

Seeing the deep affection between this unfortunate couple, Liu Rui'an couldn't help but sigh and gave a look to Phil Coulson, then turned to leave, giving the space to the lovers who had missed each other for nearly seventy years.

"Liu, Agent Carter's condition is very poor. Do you have confidence?" Phil Coulson, who had taken on this mission, said with concern.

"To be honest, I don't have much confidence, mainly because Agent Carter is too old." Liu Rui'an shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"What do you plan to do?" Phil Coulson, who genuinely hoped his idol could reunite with his beloved, couldn't help but ask.

"I need some time to examine Agent Carter's body and try to adjust it to the best state, and then use the gene optimization fluid."

"This might take more than a day or two, or even a month or two, but the risk will be minimized." Liu Rui'an, standing by the corridor, said seriously.

Though he knew that such a response was already something to be grateful for, since it involved his idol, Phil Coulson couldn't help but ask:

"Is there a better way to solve this problem?"

"Well..."

Liu Rui'an, pretending to hesitate, had a look of uncertainty on his face.