Chapter 85: Let's Change Jobs!

The lowest room in the building.

"How much do you make in a year?"

Old Wang looked at Fitz and Simmons with open curiosity. "I don't really know much about what government agencies pay. I've recently hired a lot of people, including several scientists, and I haven't the faintest idea what kind of salary I ought to offer them. Tell me, give me a reference."

It was actually true.

Sky was one of his own people, so there was no salary; the money was all in her hands anyway, free to spend as she pleased. Paying her would be less reliable than paying himself.

As for the old stick-wielder, there was no need to mention him. He had brought the whole True Pure Society, which amounted to two people, to join him, and he was old besides—no children, no wife—and Matt would take care of him in his old age.

Erica had no father, no mother, a car, a house, and the riches of a wealthy woman. She did not care about such things.

But Matt, Robbie, Gabe, and the others still needed salaries. There was no question of that.

Lucy, Eli, and the other scientists all had families, too. If he found a chance to have S.H.I.E.L.D. help solve their identity problems, they would also need wages to feed their households and raise children. What would be appropriate? Old Wang truly did not know.

He only knew that the old salaries were not low.

Eli had joined the Power New Energy Lab later to do engineering, and among everyone there his salary was the lowest. Even so, he could still afford a Dodge Charger. Private companies really were more generous than government agencies.

Fitz and Simmons exchanged a look.

This man looked fairly young, yet he actually had scientists under him, and several of them. Could he be the heir to some major corporation? No wonder he was so fair-skinned and well-fed.

As for an annual salary?

After glancing around and confirming that the small room had no cameras or microphones, Simmons named a figure that would not seem small to ordinary people.

"So little? I was planning to give those scientists ten times what you just said, and I still thought that might be too little!"

Old Wang was genuinely startled. That number was indeed quite a bit lower than Eli's old salary, though Eli had only barely qualified to shine Fitz's shoes. "What about field agents? I heard your S.H.I.E.L.D. has a combat division and a science division. Which one pays better?"

Fitz swallowed.

Ten times?

Simmons clearly knew about this sort of thing very well. Without even thinking, she replied, "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base pay follows government salary standards, so in general the two divisions are about the same. But field agents receive additional allowances for every mission... well, the allowances are usually more than the salary."

The last sentence seemed to carry a trace of grievance. Old Wang nodded in agreement. "Still feels too low. You can't shortchange science, and you can't shortchange experts either. With wages like that, when are you ever supposed to buy a house or a car? Do you even have a house and a car?"

"No." Fitz shook his head.

Simmons said, "Actually, salary isn't important. I joined S.H.I.E.L.D. because I wanted answers to a million scientific questions. I've had questions since I was a child. Elementary school, middle school, university, master's, doctorate... my teachers couldn't answer them. Later the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s science division found me and told me I could find the answers here, so I came."

Fitz hurriedly nodded. "I'm about the same."

Two pure scientists, scientists untouched by reality... Old Wang formed his judgment in his mind.

Fitz seemed somewhat tempted, but Simmons showed no reaction at all. Was it because her family background was too good, or because she had given her heart entirely to science?

Plan A was clearly not working, so Old Wang switched to Plan B. "So, have you found them?"

"Some, yes. Some, no."

Simmons frowned, looking troubled. "Fitz and I studied at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy for a year. In fact, about three months ago we realized no one could answer our questions anymore, not even the best teachers. So we applied to graduate and entered the science division, where there were better scientists, first-rate scientists."

I don't even have this problem. The troubles of academic prodigies, of geniuses... Old Wang did not know whether to feel happy or to mock himself. Then he asked, "Can the scientists in the science division answer your questions?"

"Some can. Some can't."

After thinking it over, Simmons said with some regret, "The science division actually doesn't have the very best scientists. The finest scientists are hired by private companies, or they found their own companies—like Mr. Tony Stark, Mr. Pym, and Mr. Hank."

Fitz cut in. "But S.H.I.E.L.D. has more scientists, and more opportunities to work on different projects. In that sense it's better than Stark Industries or Pym Technologies. For example, right now we're researching something called Azer—"

"Fitz!"

Simmons suddenly cut him off. "That's classified!"

Fitz immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Azeroth signature essence wine?" Old Wang's eyes lit up. "You two are in charge of researching the essence wine?"

"We call it 'Azeroth Essence.'"

Fitz and Simmons exchanged another look, then spoke in unison: "How do you know about it? That's classified. Only a very small number of people in the entire science division know!"

Old Wang reached into his trouser pocket, and the Everlasting Flask appeared in his hand. He shook it lightly before them and winked. "Because I was the one who gave this thing to S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

...

Ten minutes later.

The training ground.

Black Widow gasped for breath as she watched Erica get back up from the floor, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

She hadn't disgraced S.H.I.E.L.D.

She had won!

At first she had wanted to challenge five in a row in a ring match to boost the agents' morale, but first, most of those agents were unconscious and unable to see it, and second, even beating Erica had been such a struggle—there were still four more waiting. If she ended up losing at the last moment, wouldn't morale sink even lower?

Forget it.

Just as she was looking for a way to step down gracefully, she suddenly heard a round of applause.

Clap, clap, clap!

Old Wang walked over from not far away, unabashed in his praise. "Wonderful! Beautiful!"

Two women sparring, both master fighters—one had only just cultivated inner energy, the other had undergone bodily enhancement. Black Widow was a little stronger, but Erica was not far behind. It was a sight worth seeing.

Fitz and Simmons followed behind, each carrying a case like little assistants.

"Master Wang."

Black Widow secretly let out a breath of relief. She glanced at Fitz and Simmons, then looked at Old Wang. "Are you satisfied with the weapons?"

"Very satisfied. Fitz and Simmons are remarkable."

Old Wang gave a thumbs-up and praised them, then added, "Training isn't something that can be finished in a day or two. From now on, these few will stay here and help train your agents in hand-to-hand combat. I hope you can also help them get familiar with high-tech equipment."

"Mm." Black Widow nodded.

"I still have matters at the shop, so I'll be going." Old Wang felt a little guilty. With a wave of his sleeve, he took the cases from Fitz and Simmons and turned to leave.

Why does it feel like he was doing something shady... Black Widow thought.

Someone outside would naturally escort Master Wang away, so she did not worry about it.

Over the next period, she would also undergo training in preparation for future operations, whether against the Hand or against Hydra.

As for Fitz and Simmons, they were borrowed away in a private car.

The two of them remained silent the entire way.

Only when they got back to their residence did Simmons finally ask, "Fitz, Mr. Wang said that if I went to his laboratory, I could have as much Azeroth Essence as I wanted for research. Do you think it's true?"

Fitz seemed to be thinking about something, a little dazed. "He also said his lab is conducting the most cutting-edge, top-tier quantum mechanics research in the world—things like quantum communication, quantum computers, even quantum brains..."

Simmons said, "Mr. Wang also said that if I went, he would even let me study his body. A martial arts master's body must be different from an ordinary person's. The musculoskeletal system would be different, the respiratory system different, the immune system different, the reproductive system different. Maybe there isn't even reproductive isolation..."

Fitz said, "His lab also studies the most advanced virtual technology, relying on quantum computers to support billions of people online at once, perfectly simulating the real world. They're even planning to develop virtual games—was it World of Warcraft or StarCraft, or something like that..."

...

The two of them went back and forth for a long time. Then they suddenly looked at each other and said in unison:

"Fitz, Simmons, let's quit!"