Chapter 111: The Great Jin Braised Eggs (Eighth update, in honor of Book City Helmsman "Ai")

At present, when considering the most suitable financiers who not only have the means but can also procure nuclear materials, there were only two viable candidates: Tony and Egghead.

Luke believed that whether it was Tony or Egghead, as soon as he proposed the nuclear fusion project, neither would turn a blind eye.

The situation with Tony was more unpredictable; after all, their relationship had grown quite tense. Tony had likely already discovered Luke’s true identity. Tony had the capital to refuse—after all, compared to nuclear fusion technology, the Arc Reactor was not lacking.

There were uncertainties with Egghead as well. Luke suspected that S.H.I.E.L.D. might soon become Hydra. Offering nuclear fusion technology could mean aiding the enemy.

Luke did not believe Hydra had yet discovered him. They must have noticed him by now and were likely observing him covertly.

If he revealed the fusion technology, Hydra would undoubtedly be unsettled and would come after him without hesitation. He was not afraid of a few Hydra agents, but he simply found it troublesome.

With billions at his disposal and visions stretching across the stars and seas, a man determined to surpass Thanos had no time to waste on these World War II relics. Anyone daring to interfere would be crushed without negotiation.

As for Egghead himself, Luke still trusted him.

Of course, this trust was not in his character but in his regard for humanity’s interests. Character? That was hopelessly corrupt—just like his face. He would deceive you without a second thought.

After much consideration, Luke nodded to himself.

He decided to try reaching out to Egghead first.

If that failed, he would seek Tony again. At worst, he would take a humbler stance this time and actively seek cooperation. After all, Tony was a wealthy magnate; poor only in everything but money. Money made him the master.

...

When Luke called, Egghead was not home—Luke guessed he was probably off admiring the Tesseract again. That was Egghead’s treasured gem.

When Hill urgently relayed Luke’s strong desire to purchase nuclear materials through internal channels, Egghead was shocked.

His tone changed: “The kid wants to build nuclear weapons?! What else is there that he doesn’t want to do?!”

He had long feared this day would come.

He was worried that Luke, always tinkering with cutting-edge technology, would inevitably shift his focus to nuclear weapons.

Egghead had no doubt Luke was capable of producing nuclear weapons.

The only relief was that acquiring nuclear materials was a significant hurdle, so Egghead hadn’t been overly worried. But to Luke proactively come asking for nuclear materials? That was intolerable.

Thus, Egghead rushed back in a flurry.

Just as Luke suspected, Egghead had been in the underground lab, closely observing his most elite scientists studying the Tesseract. This research had been underway secretly for some time; while there were some results, they fell far short of Egghead’s expectations.

Returning to headquarters, Egghead raised an eyebrow and twitched his eyelids several times upon seeing the list of materials Luke had submitted on Hill’s desk.

Sure enough, nuclear materials. The quantities requested were not insignificant. By Egghead’s estimate, these materials could easily produce two low-yield nuclear bombs.

But the list also included a host of strange and rare materials, some Egghead hadn’t even heard of.

“What does the kid need so many rare elements for? Isn’t he specialized in mechanical engineering? Since when did he start studying nuclear physics and chemistry? No, I have to clarify this.”

Worried, Egghead decided to meet Luke in person.

The materials Luke proposed to buy were nominally from S.H.I.E.L.D., but he didn’t rush to tell Egghead that he was actually seeking funding, trying to find a backer.

Egghead was known to be particularly stingy, especially valuing money above all else.

Though he wielded great power and influence, even the cost of living was a concern for him. To Luke, Egghead was the greatest embezzler in human history. The International Security Council behind S.H.I.E.L.D. had been thoroughly exploited by him.

S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted to build a space carrier? Fine. Countries pooled 100 billion. At least 50 billion ended up in Egghead’s personal pockets.

S.H.I.E.L.D. needed new Windstorm fighters? Fine. The council allocated 10 billion. Probably less than a tenth was actually spent on the project. Egghead refurbished a few planes to suffice and pocketed 10 billion.

If Luke didn’t know what Egghead did with all that money, he would have thought anyone else would conclude he was a greedy black dragon.

Egghead had many secret projects. He bought land all over the world, built underground bunkers, island bases, secret fortresses, one after another.

He had the greatest say in S.H.I.E.L.D., and only he and Hill knew where the money truly went.

Luke was one of the few who knew Egghead was a major financier.

...

He left wearing SpongeBob slippers, and wasn’t even allowed inside.

Recently, Luke’s foster mother, Helen, often asked why the female tutor had only come once and never returned.

Luke didn’t know that after Agent May failed to resign, she settled scores with the kindly Agent Coulson and had been confined to the bureau for days, claiming severe illness.

He assumed that after the incident with Agent May, Egghead had abandoned the plan to place a tutor by his side.

Under the tree across the street from Luke’s foster parents’ home—the same place Coulson had last met him—Egghead found Luke dressed in SpongeBob pajamas and slippers, looking small and frail. It was hard to imagine this was the famed apostle demanding nuclear materials.

Egghead’s arrival surprised Luke not at all.

But he still feigned innocence: “Is there something wrong with my list?” he asked, looking genuinely naive, which Egghead found irritating.

Egghead wanted to say there were many problems but held back. He didn’t want to strain their relationship; he valued Luke’s role in his Avengers plan. Recently, for some reason, he had an uneasy feeling.

Patiently, Egghead asked, “What are you planning to build?”

“Here.” Luke tossed over an A4 sheet.

Egghead took it, his one eye fixed on it for a long time before looking up and asking, “What is this?”

Luke rolled his eyes, surprised that after all that time, Egghead hadn’t understood a thing.

He smirked, disdain clear on his face: “A standard thermonuclear fusion reactor core. This is a schematic.”

“Standard…”

Egghead was no fool. Though not a scientist, he knew what nuclear fusion was, and he knew what a reactor was. Together, the meaning was obvious.

“Thermonuclear fusion? You have this technology?” Egghead’s mouth opened slightly in shock.

Why else had he been studying the Tesseract? Officially, for inexhaustible clean energy for future generations; privately, to develop powerful weapons.

Nuclear bombs were powerful, but nuclear fission caused severe pollution and was shunned, making it unsuitable as a conventional weapon.

Nuclear fusion was different—clean, non-polluting, highly efficient, inexhaustible—a clear step forward in civilization’s ascent.

Egghead refused to believe Luke had already mastered this technology.