Chapter 692: The Infinite U Event (VIII)

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Even now, Schiller adamantly believed that it was Death who made the first move.

In Schiller's mind, Death was willing to collaborate with Asgard, to ally with the Egyptian Pantheon, but for reasons unknown, had excluded him from any potential cooperation. If this wasn't Death's fault, whose could it be?

Naturally, any partnership presupposes the willingness of both parties. Schiller was more than ready, but Death seemed less than enthusiastic. Schiller felt compelled to persuade her, to enhance her level of 'willingness.'

He had pursued a policy of courtesy before coercion. He had completed the 'courtesy' phase, having called Death numerous times via telephone, suggesting countless terms, and revising the contract dozens of times. Such treatment befitted entities existing on a Multiverse-level.

Yet, Death had departed as swiftly as a tornado, disappearing in a whiff of cigarette smoke, not forgetting to sabotage the Balance that Schiller had worked so hard to acquire before leaving.

Seeing his current strategy bear no fruit, Schiller knew it was time for a different approach. Since reason and negotiation couldn't sway Death, deceit and ambush became his next logical step.

After concluding his unproductive negotiations with Death, Schiller crafted this new plan. However, he still lacked a solid strategy for initiating a fully consensual second phase of cooperation with Death. That is, until he saw Otto Parker among the Spider-Army.

He recalled the backstory of Otto Parker, where a dying Dr. Octavius cheated Death by swapping bodies with Spider-Man, managing to survive against all odds. This meant that Death's rules weren't infallible. With Otto Parker's successful precedent, Schiller was convinced of the next cooperative venture's theme—Resurrection.

It was common knowledge that Death only desired more death. Whether it was allowing the resurrection of Asgardian Heroes, permitting the revival of Egyptian Followers, or constantly nudging Thanos to be recklessly murderous, all were essentially aimed at making these individuals work for her, creating more death.

If someone on the brink of death was suddenly resurrected, it meant one less tally in Death's achievements.

Schiller was, in essence, championing justice. Normally, Death should claim every demise, but she selectively refused certain deaths to fabricate more, akin to a form of rigging.

In simpler terms, it was like abusing her authority, erasing her $2 salary only to award herself a $500 bonus under a different pretext, netting an improper gain of $498.

As a moral paragon in the financial industry, Schiller abhorred this abuse of power. Therefore, he resolved to use his methods to erase Death's ill-gotten $498.

If he could develop a Resurrection Medicine to reduce death, he could negate the additional deaths that Death had unscrupulously acquired.

This was not out of a desire for revenge against Death. On the contrary, Schiller was preventing Death from straying into criminality. After all, if Death's superiors discovered her manipulation, there wouldn't be a Nick Fury to bail her out and offer re-employment.

If anyone later claimed that Thanos was the kindest individual in the universe to Death, Schiller would vehemently protest. Thanos was enabling Death's destructive path, while only Schiller genuinely had Death's best interests at heart.

Of course, the idea for the Resurrection Medicine, the GH Series of Serums, was inspired by the TV show S.H.I.E.L.D. In the series, Nick initiates a project called Tahiti to prevent the loss of valuable agents through sacrifice, avoiding a manpower deficit.

The essential ingredient for the GH Medicine in the Tahiti Project was Kree. Coincidentally, Earth currently held a Kree prisoner, a councilor captured during the Andromeda Galaxy war by mutants.

Initially, the councilor claimed to be a Skrull, but Charles eventually discovered he was actually a descendant of a Kree spy.

After acknowledging the Gifts of Nature, Schiller decisively proposed a plan to deal with the Kree during a Radiance Alliance meeting.

Regardless of the prisoner's fate, a thorough physical examination was mandatory, as human beings had not yet collected any Kree biological data. They needed to understand how this alien species differed from humanity.

Subsequently, under Schiller's instruction, Connors indicated during the examination that something in the Kree's genetic makeup could serve as a raw material for the medicine. At the time, Connors wasn't sure of this but mentioned it upon Schiller's insistent request.

Later inspections revealed the truth in Connors' suggestion. The Kree's self-healing and shapeshifting abilities stemmed from a unique gene segment that could indeed be transformed into medicine.

Thus began the experimental phase of the Medicine, with the best test subjects being SHIELD agents, or more specifically, Hydra agents dispatched within S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D. routinely undertook numerous perilous missions. Most Hydra agents would avoid these dangerous tasks, but with the organization infiltrated by Hydra, injuries among Hydra agents were inevitable.

During certain high-risk operations orchestrated by Nick, recently deceased Hydra agents were injected with the GH Series of Serums, resurrecting them from death.

However, as depicted in the TV series, resurrected agents suffered mental disarray, obsessively sketching symbols and outlining mysterious patterns.

Since these symptoms closely resembled certain mental disorders, Nick sought the assistance of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychological counselor, Schiller, hoping to find a solution to these side effects.

Schiller understood that in the show, these drawings were actually maps, leading to a crucial artifact—the Obelisk.

Schiller wanted this artifact, not for its potent capabilities, but because it was something known as the Obelisk, essentially the Inhumans' Terrigen Crystal, albeit an impure one. Its primary function was to awaken the abilities of the Inhuman race.

However, Schiller wasn't an Inhuman, nor did he need to awaken any latent powers. His interest in the Obelisk was sparked by something Red Skull had once claimed - that the Obelisk possessed the power to "interpret Death itself."

This statement was peculiar, sounding more like a philosophical explanation one might encounter during a meditation session at Kamar-Taj, and it had no apparent connection to the actual functions of the artifact. So, how did Red Skull arrive at this conclusion?

Determined to uncover the truth, Schiller aimed to acquire the so-called Obelisk to understand its unique properties.

Upon returning to his office at S.H.I.E.L.D., Schiller made a direct call to summon Ward, a former S.H.I.E.L.D. employee. Ward had previously been an undercover Hydra agent within S.H.I.E.L.D. and later worked for Schiller, even harnessing the Yellow Lantern Energy brought by Pikachu. Under Schiller's orders, he had lured Captain America to discover the Winter Soldier in an underground base.

When Ward arrived in Schiller's office, his myriad thoughts condensed into one question: "How did S.H.I.E.L.D. end up like this???"

Ward remembered how he used to be an outsider at S.H.I.E.L.D., living in constant fear of exposure as a Hydra mole. After taking a short leave, he returned to find that the agents he saw daily were all familiar faces... or rather, familiar snakes.

From then on, he realized the significant role of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s psychologists, as he often wondered if the world had gone mad.

Schiller tapped lightly on the desk, signaling him to sit. Once seated, Ward heard Schiller's instructions:

"I need you to retrieve something called the '084 Obelisk.' It should be in one of Hydra's warehouses. The item is corrosive, so direct contact is off-limits. Use your special abilities to bring it back."

"More eyes than yours are on this prize. You'll likely encounter opposition, individuals with abilities of their own. Use the Yellow Lantern Energy to counter them."

Looking into Ward's eyes, Schiller emphasized, "I can't afford any mishaps. By tomorrow morning, I expect to see that item on my desk."

In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s combat preparation room, Coulson loaded the last bullet into his handgun, briefing the agent in front of him: "The search for object 084 is in its final phase. We've identified the target warehouse. It's time to recover the item."

"Reclaiming lost special items is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s unequivocal responsibility. I won't tolerate any blunders. Prepare to move out."

With that, Coulson holstered his handgun and briskly exited the room.

Rapid footsteps echoed in the corridor as Coulson led the silent agents, quickly traversing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lobby.

As the elevator doors closed, a hint of fatigue was evident between Coulson's brows.

Once in the car, the driver glanced back at Coulson, "Boss, you seem tired. Are you sure you don't need a break?"

Leaning back, Coulson shook his head silently, aware of his weariness.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was understaffed, with many agents assigned to a Solar System construction project, leaving Coulson burdened with local defense responsibilities.

He had to manage internal affairs, oversee staff reassignments, and monitor every project closely. Meanwhile, the moral strain of the Tahiti Project weighed heavily on him. Unaware that some agents were Hydra, Coulson believed those suffering were loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. veterans like himself.

This mental torment was draining. Unnoticed by Coulson, his fingertips were trembling constantly, steadying only when he gripped his gun.

Upon reaching the mission location, Coulson emerged from the car, quickening his pace as if trying to shake off the intrusive thoughts, and headed into the warehouse.

Just as he spotted a crate marked "084," a whooshing sound heralded an attack.

Coulson drew his gun, spinning to face the sudden threat—a bald, muscular man.

Startled in the silent ambiance, Coulson's reflexes kicked in. Two shots rang out, hitting the intruder's arm and thigh.

Unexpectedly, instead of screaming in pain, the man stood unharmed.

Coulson observed, in disbelief, as the bullets absorbed into the man's body.

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