chsdbacks Page 34
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Meanwhile, at S.H.I.E.L.D., Trident headquarters.
Nick Fury's single eye was also fixed on a similar data report on the screen, only his sources were far more diverse, including unusual records from the military and global research institutions. His expression was even more somber than Kingpin's.
“The same energy signature…appearing simultaneously in different places…” he muttered to himself. “This is no coincidence. Either some unknown global natural cycle has been triggered, or…there is something coordinating behind the scenes.”
He turned to Hill: “Inform the World Security Council that the Dragon-level threat warning is not an isolated case. We may be facing a multi-pronged, unprecedented disaster. Tell them to prepare for the worst. Also, the ‘Lighthouse Project’ has been elevated to the highest priority. We must find out the details of the Association, or rather, the system behind Kingpin, as soon as possible! I suspect they know something we don’t.”
Meanwhile, at Stark Tower, Tony Stark, faced with the scattered but consistent anomalies compiled by Jarvis, fell into a different kind of frustration.
“Earth vein energy? Biomass aggregation? That sounds more like what the mages at Kamar-Taj are interested in!” He scratched his head in frustration. “Jarvis, our detection methods are practically blind when it comes to the underground and that kind of…life energy realm!”
"Indeed, sir. Should I contact Kamar-Taj?"
“No…it’s not time yet.” Tony rejected the suggestion, his eyes sharpening. “But we can’t just wait. Jarvis, launch Project Mantle Listener and improve our deep-earth sensing technology. Also, analyze all the residual energy data related to ‘Deep Sea King’ and look for commonalities in the characteristics of this ‘Dragon-level’ energy! I refuse to believe there aren’t any commonalities!”
Faraway Brazil, in the favela of Rio de Janeiro.
The old radio in Bruce Banner's hands, after playing a routine news segment, was suddenly interrupted by a loud, unexplained static interference that lasted for nearly ten seconds before returning to normal. He sat bolt upright; his intuition as a top physicist told him this was no ordinary signal interference. The green energy within him seemed to stir slightly due to this unusual fluctuation, as if it had sensed a similar, yet more ancient and violent, aura.
He walked to the window, looked north, his gaze seemingly traversing continents and oceans, landing on the vast and perilous Amazon rainforest. An indescribable stirring spread through his heart.
The second dragon-level omen, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, did not create any huge waves, but it allowed all forces and individuals who sensed its presence to clearly feel the deeper darkness slowly unfolding beneath the water.
The storm is still brewing, but this time, it may come from the earth beneath our feet, from the silent rainforest, from the blind spots of human perception. The Hero Association, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and indeed the entire world, will face a true challenge in this test of seemingly unpredictable origin.
Chapter 82: The Global Hero Association Concept
The offices on the top floor of the Fisk Tower now resembled a strategic command center. The massive curved main screen no longer displayed a single map of New York or real-time threat monitoring; instead, it transformed into a dynamic, three-dimensional global projection. Above the azure ocean and continents of varying colors, dozens of points of light flickered, several—such as London, Tokyo, Paris, and Sydney—highlighted and connected to the headquarters logo in New York by striking lines.
Wilson Kingpin had his back to the screen, facing the core team members around the circular conference table: James Wesley, several heads of strategic planning, and two key figures who had just been appointed as interim heads of the London and Tokyo offices and were participating via encrypted holographic projection.
"The victory in Tokyo Bay has given us an unprecedented strategic window of opportunity." Kingpin's voice was deep and steady, without the slightest hint of complacency from the victory, only an extreme pragmatism. "But this window of opportunity will not remain open forever. The threat of Demon-class and even Dragon-class monsters is proving that they are global 'epidemics,' not regional 'incidents.' A passive response will only keep us running around in circles, and we will eventually be dragged down by the next 'Deep Sea King.'"
He turned around, his thick fingers precisely pointing to several bright spots on the global projection.
"The future of the association lies not in New York, but in globalization and networking." His words were like a pronouncement, leaving no room for doubt. "What we want to build is not a headquarters, but a system. A global emergency network that can cover major civilization nodes and achieve rapid delivery of information, resources, and combat power."
He first pointed to the light spot in London.
“European hub, London.” His gaze fell on the projection of the interim head of the London branch. “Your task is not merely to establish an outpost. Within six months, you must have the Association’s logo appearing on the banks of the Thames, and establish a surveillance and rapid response network covering at least the British Isles and parts of Northern Europe. Prioritize recruiting local individuals with potential for extraordinary abilities, especially those with abilities related to ancient traditions and elemental manipulation. Our ‘team collaboration tactics module’ beta version will undergo its first field stress test at the London branch.”
The London coordinator, a former senior MI6 analyst, nodded solemnly: “Understood, Mr. Fisk. We have identified several potential recruitment targets and made initial contact with a few local ‘fringe heroes’ who are dissatisfied with the status quo. Regarding the issue of ‘coordination’ with MI6 and the London police…”
“Wesley will provide the necessary ‘lubrication,’” Kingpin interrupted him, his tone flat and unwavering. “Law, funding, public opinion—none of these are obstacles. I want to see results.”
His finger moved toward Tokyo.
(I set Xiao Rizi as the front line, the disaster area)
"Asia-Pacific Pivot, Tokyo." He looked at the projection of the Tokyo head, the former deputy of the branch who had demonstrated outstanding organizational skills in the Battle of Tokyo Bay. "You have the best foundation, and you have also borne the most direct impact. Public support is our advantage, but it is also a pressure. Your primary task is to consolidate the gains and deeply root the association in this land. Take advantage of the post-war reconstruction opportunity to comprehensively upgrade monitoring and defense facilities, making Tokyo Bay an unsinkable fortress against threats from the Pacific. At the same time, begin to radiate influence to the Southeast Asian region."
“Yes! We are planning to use the association’s technology to participate in the reconstruction of ports and coastal defenses, which will greatly enhance our public image and actual control,” the Tokyo representative responded quickly.
Then, Kingpin's finger swept across the projection, pointing to other points of light—Paris, Sydney, Cape Town, São Paulo…
"These are the goals for the second phase. Within a year, I want to see the association's flag take root in these cities. Standardized branch establishment processes, unified command and dispatch protocols, and cross-continental resource allocation mechanisms must be established simultaneously."
The strategic planning director promptly provided a detailed blueprint and supporting data:
• Information Network: Relying on system technology, an encrypted global satellite communication and data link is established to ensure that any abnormal energy fluctuations in any corner can be captured and analyzed by headquarters within seconds.
• Rapid Response: Deploy remotely activated "Hero Teleportation Platforms" (based on preliminary reverse engineering of system space technology) at key nodes to achieve intercontinental delivery of S-level and even A-level combat forces.
• Resource support: Establish regional logistics centers to stockpile standardized equipment and medical supplies, and leverage the association's commercial shell to build an independent and resilient global supply chain.
• Talent localization: Develop flexible recruitment and training strategies that adapt to different cultural backgrounds, with core loyalty to the association system, but the operating model can be appropriately localized.
The entire concept is vast, sophisticated, and extremely aggressive. It's not just about opening branches around the world; it's about building the prototype of a "state within a state" that exists independently of the existing national system and is ostensibly designed to deal with extraordinary threats.
“Sir,” a supervisor in charge of risk assessment began cautiously, “such a large-scale expansion will inevitably provoke a stronger backlash from local authorities, especially S.H.I.E.L.D., who will not stand idly by as we erode their global influence. Moreover, cross-cultural management and the integration of individuals with different standards are enormous challenges.”
“A backlash is inevitable.” Kingpin’s gaze swept over everyone present, with a calmness akin to overlooking a chessboard. “S.H.I.E.L.D. represents the old order—bloated, sluggish, and bound by politics and bureaucracy. We, on the other hand, represent efficiency, professionalism, and results. Resources will flow to whoever the people support.”
He paused, then emphasized, "As for the challenges... that's precisely where our existence lies. To bring uncontrollable variables into a controllable system. To unify chaotic differences into efficient standardization. The association's systems and culture are the best unifying agents."
“We want the world to get used to and eventually depend on our presence. When an extraordinary threat arises anywhere, people will no longer think of isolated official agencies or lone superheroes, but will call the association’s hotline and wait for ‘professionals’ in our uniforms to come and handle it.”
He took one last look at the points of light on the global projection that were lit up like stars, as if he could already see them connecting into a network and covering the entire planet in the future.
"Let's begin."
The meeting ended, the holographic projection went out, and everyone left with immense pressure and a sense of mission.
Kingpin walked alone to the window and gazed into the distance.
The Global Association's vision is a key step in his attempt to impose order on this chaotic world. It's not merely about expanding scale, but about exporting "rules." When the Association's standards become the de facto standard for global responses to extraordinary threats, the order he seeks will be largely achieved.
The fog of London, the scars of Tokyo, the romance of Paris, the sunshine of Sydney… all the unique personalities of these cities will ultimately be redefined under the cold yet efficient system of the Hero Association.
The world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or pattern of the world) is quietly changing because of his will. And all of this is just the beginning.
Chapter 83: First Contact with Wakanda
In East Africa, hidden behind advanced holographic camouflage and natural barriers, lies Wakanda, a nation that blends ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology. Beneath its tranquil facade, however, it is not entirely unaffected by external disturbances. Deep within the royal palace, in a strategic analysis room adorned with futuristic yet tribal totem decorations, King T'Challa gazes at a suspended holographic projection displaying selected clips about the Hero Association, particularly the Battle of Tokyo Bay.
Beside the video, a dense stream of data flowed like a waterfall, representing a preliminary analysis report by Princess Shuri's technology team on the technology showcased by the association.
“Yet another organization attempting to institutionalize power.” T’Challa’s voice was calm, carrying the composure characteristic of a king, but his eyes revealed a hint of scrutiny and vigilance. “Moreover, their efficiency is astonishing.”
“Not only that, brother,” Su Rui’s voice came through the communicator, carrying her unique, energetic curiosity and meticulousness, “look at this, the energy barrier technology and the instantaneous crystallization method they used when dealing with ‘Deep Sea King.’ Our preliminary scan analysis shows that its energy utilization principle… is very peculiar, significantly different from vibranium technology systems, and even from any alien technology we know of. It’s more like a… um… convenient application at the ‘rule level’?”
She pulled up a slow-motion video of Flint the Sandman crystallizing sand, next to a complex energy spectrum analysis diagram. "Look here, the energy conversion efficiency is abnormally high, as if it skipped the complex physical processes in between and directly reached the result of 'defining the state of matter'. This is interesting, but also... very dangerous."
T'Challa nodded slightly. Wakanda had guarded vibranium and ancient traditions for generations, knowing all too well the calamities that could result from advanced technology falling into the wrong hands. They were accustomed to remaining hidden from the world, cautiously observing the conflicts outside. But the rise of the Hero Association, and the elusive and incompletely decipherable technological system behind it, made it impossible for this young king to remain completely observant.
"Their leader, Wilson Fisk, a former New York mob boss." T'Challa pulled up Kingpin's file, his massive frame and cold face appearing on the screen. "A man with such a background established a global superhuman organization aimed at 'maintaining order.' His true purpose is far more complex than it appears on the surface."
“According to our intelligence network, S.H.I.E.L.D. is extremely wary of them, and Stark’s technological analysis has also hit a wall,” Su Rui added. “This association is like a black hole that suddenly appeared, devouring the supernatural forces around it and systematizing them in ways we cannot fully comprehend. If left unchecked, it might become a tiger that threatens us.”
T'Challa paused for a moment. Wakanda had a long tradition of isolationism, but as king, he knew all too well that absolute isolation was not a foolproof solution in today's increasingly interconnected world, where extraordinary threats were constantly emerging. Some threats needed to be proactively understood, and even... prevented.
“We cannot intervene directly, nor can we expose the true situation in Wakanda,” T’Challa finally decided. “But we need to know more. We need to have our eyes on this association up close, to assess its technology, its intentions, and its potential impact on the global balance of power.”
His gaze fell upon Okoye, the captain of the female guard, who stood to the side as steady as a rock.
“Okoye”.
“Your Majesty.” Okoye placed his right hand on his chest and bowed.
"Select the most elite team to infiltrate New York under unofficial identities," T'Challa ordered, his voice leaving no room for doubt. "Mission objective: Gather all intelligence on the Hero Association, focusing on their technological origins, organizational structure, the backgrounds and loyalty of their core members, and Kingpin's true intentions. Prioritize non-contact reconnaissance methods and avoid conflict unless absolutely necessary."
“Understood, Your Majesty.” A sharp glint flashed in Okoye’s eyes. “We will blend into the city like shadows and bring back the information you need.”
“Sure,” T’Challa turned to the communicator, “provide Okoye’s team with the necessary technical support, especially counter-surveillance and intelligence analysis equipment. I need to know exactly what kind of ‘system’ that association is using.”
"Leave it to me, brother!" Su Rui's voice was full of confidence. "I'll have them bring our latest 'Stalker' reconnaissance unit and spectral analyzer, and I'll make sure they can even analyze the programming language of the association's sweeping robot!"
A few days later, a small aircraft, perfectly stealthy using vibranium technology, silently pierced through the clouds like a ghost, heading towards the east coast of North America. On board, Okoye, several elite members of Dora's Guard, and technical experts dispatched by Shuri were ready to infiltrate the "Big Apple." Their equipment was sufficient to conduct in-depth intelligence gathering right under the noses of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Hero Association.
Meanwhile, deep underground at the Hero Association headquarters in New York, a submodule of the system responsible for monitoring anomalous energy signals and network activity worldwide detected an extremely brief, peculiarly frequencyed, and seemingly nonexistent faint signal fluctuation. Its source was traced to an area of airspace over the Atlantic Ocean, but the signal vanished in an instant and could not be tracked.
[An unknown high-frequency band stealth scanning signal was detected, lasting 0.07 seconds. Signal characteristics have not been entered into the database.]
[Preliminary analysis: This is not a known military or civilian technology on Earth.]
Threat Level Assessment: Extremely Low (Single, Non-Aggressive).
[Recommendation: Improve the monitoring sensitivity of the relevant frequency bands and record signal characteristics for future reference.]
This message was categorized as a low-priority log and buried in the vast sea of system data, failing to immediately attract the attention of senior management.
Wakanda's gaze has already turned to New York. Meanwhile, the Hero Association, this rapidly expanding giant, remains unaware that an ancient kingdom lurking in the shadows, possessing technology that rivals or even surpasses its own, has quietly extended its probe towards its core.
The first contact, unnoticed by anyone, has begun. It is not a friendly handshake, but a silent, probing battle born of vigilance and inquiry. Two forces representing different technological paths and civilizational philosophies are about to engage in their first tentative clash in the shadows of New York, the city that never sleeps.
Chapter 84: Eccentric People: Procrastinators
In Lower Manhattan, New York, an open-plan office area that should be filled with the sounds of keyboards clicking, telephones ringing, and efficient meetings is now frozen in a chilling atmosphere.
Time here seems to have been infused with thick glue.
A man wearing a wrinkled shirt, with deep eye bags as if carrying the weight of the entire world, slumped at his workstation, his hands hanging limply at his sides. Within a radius of about fifteen meters around him, everything seemed to slow down abnormally.
An employee was getting coffee; the dark brown liquid flowing from the tilted coffee pot dripped into the cup at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, the tiny ripples seemingly frozen in mid-air. Another female office worker was hurrying towards the meeting room; her foot hovered in mid-air, her skirt swaying barely, her expression frozen between anxiety and helplessness. The scrolling data stream on the computer screen became slowly crawling pixels; even the dust particles floating in the air seemed to have fallen asleep, moving with extreme difficulty.
The source of all this was the man slumped over. Above his head, a semi-transparent, distorted symbol, like an hourglass constantly pouring illusory sand downwards, faintly appeared, radiating an inert energy field that induces drowsiness and despondency. He himself had vacant eyes, repeatedly muttering meaningless syllables: "Tomorrow...tomorrow definitely..."
"Alert! A high-intensity time flow anomaly and cognitive inertia field have been detected inside the 'Genesis' advertising agency in Lower Manhattan! Energy level: Tiger level (partially rule-disrupting type)! Target code generated: 'Procrastinator'!"
An alarm sounded at the association's monitoring center, but the analyst's tone was one of absurdity and bewilderment. This was already the third bizarre incident this week.
The command center responded quickly, retrieving on-site footage and energy readings.
"The force field effect forces all living beings and related physical processes within its range into an 'ultra-low speed' state, accompanied by a strong psychological delaying effect," the technical director quickly reported. "Conventional physical attacks will drop drastically in speed once they enter the force field's range, and energy attacks will also be severely delayed. The target seems to be in a passive state of self-abandonment; its physical defenses are unknown, but the force field itself is extremely difficult to deal with."
A nearby association squad quickly arrived at the scene, attempting to establish a perimeter and evacuate employees not yet affected by the force field. A Class B hero, "Heavy Punch," attempted to probe the area by throwing a piece of gravel from a distance. The gravel visibly slowed down the moment it entered the force field, like a slow-motion scene in a movie, its trajectory becoming clearly visible before finally landing softly a few meters away from its target.
"No way! Going in there will be as slow as a snail!" He withdrew his fist, his face grave.
Another hero with energy blast abilities attempted to fire a low-power beam. The beam was also rapidly stretched and diluted upon entering the force field, becoming almost harmless by the time it reached its target.
"The force field also has a strong effect on slowing down and dissipating energy! How can we fight this? We can't move even if we go in!" the squad leader shouted into the communication channel, feeling utterly helpless. These rule-based monsters are often more troublesome than those with purely destructive power.
Just as the team was at a loss and considering whether to request higher-level support, the association's task allocation system automatically retrieved and recommended a suitable candidate based on the on-site environment and target characteristics.
A few minutes later, a swift figure, as if defying gravity, leaped lightly between the glass curtain walls of the skyscrapers and arrived from afar, landing steadily outside the window of the floor where the "Genesis" advertising company was located. The newcomer wore a streamlined silver-gray uniform with abstract patterns of wind sweeping across it; it was none other than the newly promoted C-rank hero known for his speed—"Swift Wind."
"Gale has arrived at the scene." The young man looked through his mask at the eerie, slow-motion world inside the office, his voice tinged with eager excitement. "The situation is clear. Leave it to me."
Unlike previous heroes who attempted ranged attacks or forced breakthroughs, he took a deep breath, and a faint current of energy seemed to swirl around him. The next moment, he moved!
Without breaking through the window, his body began to move at high speed along the outer wall of the building, transforming into a silver afterimage that was difficult to detect with the naked eye! He was outside the force field, searching for the best angle of entry.
"Can his speed be faster than time delay?" the squad leader wondered.
Just then, Gale found an opportunity—at the edge of the force field, next to an employee who was being slowly affected and trying to crawl outwards, there was an open window.
The silver-gray figure moved as if by teleportation, leaving a faint afterimage in place. Its true form had already cut into the force field through the open window at a speed that exceeded the limits of human vision!
The moment he entered the force field, Gale could clearly feel a powerful resistance enveloping his entire body, as if he were immersed in sticky honey. Every movement required immense strength, and his thoughts seemed to become sluggish. But instead of trying to resist this force that slowed everything down, he…
Go with it, then transcend it!
He pushed his speed to its absolute limit! From the outside, his movements did appear slower after entering the force field, but that was only relative to his previous terrifying speed! Inside the force field, he remained the fastest being!
His figure drew a clear silver line in the frozen office, bypassing the coffee droplets suspended in mid-air, and passing by the white-collar workers frozen in a running posture. His speed was so fast that it left a series of afterimages in the slow-moving world! The powerful inertial force field tried to slow him down, but his absolute speed forcibly tore a path through it!
The eccentric procrastinator slumped at his workstation seemed to sense something. His empty eyes shifted slightly as he looked at the silver light approaching at a speed that violated the rules of his force field. For the first time, a look of surprise appeared on his face. The hourglass symbol above his head flickered, attempting to increase the strength of his force field.
But it's too late!
Gale appeared before him as if by teleportation, without using any weapon, but simply pointing his fingers like a knife, using the kinetic energy from the concentrated speed, and with a precise and swift chop, he struck the monster's neck!
The strange man grunted, the emptiness in his eyes quickly replaced by bewilderment, and the hourglass symbol above his head vanished like shattered glass. As he lost consciousness, the eerie, slow-moving force field that had enveloped the entire office area also disappeared rapidly, like the receding tide.
The suspended coffee cup splattered into the cup, the frozen office worker stumbled and almost fell, and the data stream on the screen resumed its normal scrolling... Time returned to its proper flow.
A brief, deathly silence fell over the office, followed by gasps and murmurs of relief.
Gale stood beside the unconscious monster, breathing slightly, a sense of satisfaction on his face beneath the mask. He reported through the communicator: "Target eliminated."
The association's team quickly entered the scene and began handling the follow-up matters.
Inside the command center, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the company's monitoring screens return to normal.
"Well done, 'Swiftwind'," the commander praised in the channel. "Perfect ability counter."
[Tiger-level threat "procrastination patient" has been eliminated.]
[Main contributor: Gale.]
[Note: Successfully utilized ultra-high speed to counteract the time-delay field, precisely executing a decapitation strike tactic. Efficiency assessment: Excellent.]
This battle lacked earth-shattering explosions and dazzling energy clashes; it was a contest of speed and rules. The association once again demonstrated the value of its vast talent pool and precise mission matching system. Even seemingly bizarre threats could always find the most suitable "antidote" within the system.
New heroes with special skills, like "Swift Wind," gradually emerge and find their place in these targeted missions, becoming an indispensable, high-speed cog in the intricate machine of the association.
Chapter 85: Efficiency First! The Time Management Master
The incident involving the "Genesis" advertising company was like a pebble thrown into a lake; before the ripples could fully spread, it was quickly absorbed, archived, and transformed into a stream of data for analysis by the Hero Association's efficient system. Within the association, this seemingly absurd yet highly representative victory was quietly triggering a deeper chain reaction.