Chapter 134 - 130
The little encounter in the alley didn't last long. Although Peter Parker was Spider-Man, he had a quieter self-confidence that contrasted sharply with Tony Stark's high-profile, conceited style. Yet, there was no denying they shared one trait: both loved to talk nonsense.
Drunk as he was, Tony didn't linger in the alley. While he wasn't a big fan of S.H.I.E.L.D., he couldn't deny their professionalism in situations like this. So, Tony soon left.
After Tony's interruption, Peter found himself a bit suspicious of Coulson's identity, but he eventually handed Bloody Mary over. Coulson ordered his special forces team to take her away, and before they did, they injected her with a tranquilizer to ensure she stayed quiet; after all, it's safest when someone that unpredictable is calm.
Before leaving, Coulson handed Peter a business card with just a phone number on it, mentioning that S.H.I.E.L.D. was quite impressed with him and hoped they could work together for the greater good. He casually noted that the job paid well, which piqued Peter's interest, given his family's financial situation. S.H.I.E.L.D. employment wouldn't prevent him from fighting crime in New York, but Peter liked the freedom of doing things his way.
Coulson wasn't in a rush for an answer, advising Peter to think it over before departing and leaving Peter alone in the alley, still nursing his injury.
Meanwhile, Leon was aware of the commotion in New York, but it didn't concern him much. As for Bloody Mary, he paid minimal attention, though he acknowledged her potential for further training. But at the moment, he was focused on other matters, like escorting Wanda, Pietro, and the others to an experimental base in Siberia.
The past three days had been hectic at the manor. Following rigorous training, Wanda and the others had experienced a significant boost in their abilities. Upon recovering from exhaustion, they found their strength had increased tremendously. Pietro, Sergei, and the others took a day to rest and recharge, then resumed their training with even more drive.
Natasha and Wanda even pestered Leon for a sparring session, though Leon suspected they were just looking for a little payback. But after three days of intense activity, Leon managed to redirect everyone's attention to other tasks.
The completion of the Sky Fortress attracted everyone's attention. After all, such advanced technology naturally piques curiosity. The team flew fighter jets to the experimental base, which was situated in a remote area of Siberia, built deep within a mountain range. For any organization seeking secrecy, mountains or underground sites are often the best choices due to their natural concealment.
Heavy snow had begun to fall across Siberia, turning the mountains and plains into a silver-white expanse. The experimental base left by Dreykov was enormous, with state-of-the-art equipment, living facilities, a sizable scientific team, and extensive logistics support. Maintaining such an operation required significant wealth—something only someone as resourceful as Dreykov could afford.